Simulation models have proven beneficial to commercial farmers in Australia when applied within a participatory action research approach. This paper reports on an attempt to combine a participatory research approach and computer-based simulation modelling to engage smallholder farmers in Africa on issues of soil fertility management. A three-day interaction with farmers in one village in Zimbabwe provided evidence that the fanners found the simulation outputs to be credible and meaningful in a manner that allowed 'virtual' experiential learning to take place. The paper concludes that simulation applied within an action research framework may have a role in direct interventions with smallholder farmers in such regions
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