Assessment of learning tools in the context of different learning approaches: the case of striga biology and management in Dodoma
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Date
2002
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
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Publisher
Sokoine University of Agriculture
Abstract
A study to assess learning tools and approaches for improving fanners’ and other
stakeholders’ knowledge as well
Dodoma rural, at Chipanga ‘A’ and Mvumi Makulu villages. Striga is a nuisance weed
in cereal production and fanners understand it as a primary yield reducer. Despite this
fact, there is a general lack of awareness of the problem, especially concerning the
biological aspects of Striga. Previous research findings reveal that fanners have little
understanding of Striga biology. A multi-phase data collection method was employed
whereby 133 respondents were consulted in a scries of focus group discussions, in-depth
and key informant interviews. The cut and sort analysis of information transcripts was
employed on the evaluation of radio as a learning tool.
Training needs for fanners and other stakeholders were assessed and various factors
influencing the use of knowledge were explored. The results revealed that farmers and
other stakeholders in Tanzania had known Striga before independence. Fanners were
noted assigning different names to Striga, which reflects the nature of the weed and its
effect on crops. They were able to describe the types of soils where Striga is prevalent as
well as some control measures. However most of the farmers control Striga by hand hoe
weeding and uprooting since their social economic conditions do not fit the new
methods. Moreover fanners and other stakeholders have indicated that Striga does not
only attack the fields of economically poor farmers, but rather cuts across all groups
regardless of their economical status and the weed has potential to increase and spread to
as understanding of Striga biology was carried out in
performed. Also SPSS was
neighbouring fanners, distant fanners as well as non-governmental organisations. No
loaming tool was taken as superior to others in conveying knowledge to farmers, rather
the suggestion is to use a combination of learning tools and approaches to meet this
crucial goal. Nevertheless, most (about 60 percent) farmers in Dodoma niral do not have
radios and a similar proportion farmers confessed that they never heard of any
agricultural programme through the radio. About ninety per cent of the farmers had
never heard about Striga through the radio. The study recommends the use community
theatres and competent resource fanners to send across messages concerning Striga. It
also recommends initiating radio farm forums in future as this approach has potential to
reach many farmers in the niral population
Description
Dissertation
Keywords
Learning tools, Striga biology, Cereal production, NATURAL SCIENCES, NATURAL SCIENCES::Chemistry::Biochemistry::Molecular biology