MULTIPLE APPROACHES TO ENHANCE COMMUNICATION BETWEEN RICE FARMERS, RURAL SERVLCE PROVIDERS AND SCIENTISTS

摘要

When does a pest become a major problem? We entomologists, pathologists and weed scientists dive into our literature database and with a few clicks of the mouse come up with references that add both credibility and weight to our statement. But how do farmers in developing countries perceive the importance of pests and how do they get someone to do something about it? To quote Bentley et al., 1995 "Peasant farmers do not know everything. They often know nothing of causal agents of disease, of insect metamorphosis, of parasitoids or even of arthropod predators". Farmers know even less about diseases than they do about insect pests, followed by weeds. So how do we develop a common ground of understanding and stimulate learning to improve communication between actors?