|
Local
knowledge with global impact
 The
power of farmers' knowledge to describe the natural resources
they manage has been known for some time. This power is increased
substantially if it is linked with a more generalizable scientific
understanding. However, normal language seems too impoverished
to capture the richness of both sources of information, so
methods of participatory three-dimensional mapping have been
refined and advanced that use representations of the landscape
itself as a common language. A method was developed with farming
communities in Cauca (Pescador) and Valle del Cauca (Yotoco
and Restrepo) that allows farm-scale to catchment-scale joint
analysis of local and scientific perceptions of genetic and
biophysical systems using georeferenced participatory three-dimensional
models, which can be transferred to GIS for continued analysis.
The method has been presented at several workshops and a manual
is currently under preparation. A clear relation has been
revealed between a local land quality classification at catchment
scale and the biodiversity of the soil macro-fauna. It has
been shown that various land uses lead to different soil chemical
and physical conditions that have distinct impacts on soil
biodiversity at the catchment scale. This provides a basis
for practical, diagnostic soil quality indicators.
A
practical problem with farmer participatory methods is acquiring
hard data at the resolution that farmers like. A method is
being developed to acquire rapid, accurate, high-resolution
photography at low cost, using kites and balloons. This information
is georeferenced so that it can be merged with other information
(including that from participatory three-dimensional mapping)
in GIS, and enable spatial and temporal monitoring of genetic
and biophysical resources. This is an invaluable tool for
on-farm crop experimentation.
|
Millions
of farmers in the developing world find themselves in
Related Web Sites
Participative research in mountainous regions will give highly
variable results. Thus, the perceptions of both farmers and
scientists on the land's performance need to be combined to
help producers "adapt" the improved production options.
This also seeks to favor the adoption of sustainable practices
in agricultural production, local knowledge of soil fauna,
3-dimensional participative mapping, monitoring of natural
resources by means of low-altitude aerial photographs taken
from a kite, dynamics of land use, and the quantification
of spatial (or temporal) change of that use to determine critical
areas and the management of soil fertility.
Download
PDF
We
use 3-dimensional participative mapping and the monitoring
of natural resources by means of low altitude aerial photography
from a kite or balloon, to combine perceptions of farmers
and scientists on land use. This interaction will help farmers
"adapt" options of improved production. We also
promote the adoption of sustainable practices, and guide low-cost
diagnosis of pest and diseases.