Advising beef-cattle farmers: problem-finding rather than problem-solving. Characterization of advice practices in Creuse.

摘要

The aim of this work was to characterize the advice practices in beef-cattle systems in Creuse (France) and define farmers' and advisers' requirements according to future methods of providing advice. Surveys were carried out with both farmers (n=13) and advisers (n=13), which permitted the simultaneous analysis of the supply of and demand for advice. This analysis showed that the expression of the demand for advice, which concerns not only the interaction with the farmer but also the process of problem-finding, is the most critical step in providing advice. Existing methods of advice are shown to be ineffective in building up demand for advice. They do not enable advisors to consider farm changes as processes, nor do they give a global vision of farmers' needs and requirements in terms of the dynamic evolution of their breeding system. It is suggested that new methods should include support materials for discussion and reflection to help farmers to adapt their production systems to strategic problems..