Conferences

News: Conferences

1. EUROSEAS CONFERENCE 16-18 AUGUST 2017, University of Oxford. http://www.euroseas.org/

Sacklokham, S., Larson, S., Alexander, K. and Khounsy, B. (2017) Can the Lao People’s Democratic Republic improve food security through policies designed to improve farming production and improve smallholder farmers’ livelihoods? Aspirations and reality. Ninth EuroSEAS Conference, University of Oxford, 16-18 August, 2017. Book of Abstracts. http://www.euroseas.org/

ABSTRACT

The Lao Government is intent on graduating from Least Developed Country status through economic growth initiatives to improve household incomes. The government’s 2030 Vision for Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) on agricultural policy reflects these aspirations. As a measure of progress, policy targets have changed from an emphasis on food security through decrees on explicit targets of ‘tonnes produced’, to evaluating improvements to ‘farmers’ income’. Meanwhile, rural households have been experiencing rapid change in their farming and livelihood systems with each household adopting individual livelihood strategies, usually diversifying production and maximizing labor productivity. As part of anAustralian Government sponsored initiative to study and improve agricultural technology adoption in Laos, we interviewed farmers, extension officers and Lao national experts to explore their perceptions of the importance of government policy in facilitating rural change. Our findings indicate that different stakeholder groups hold significantly different perceptions of importance of a range of drivers implicated in agricultural change. Extension staff emphasised government policy as the most important driver, yet women and households receiving remittances were significantly less concerned about policy. Lao national experts perceived farmer income as the most important driver, yet generally farmers were less concerned about incomes than were other stakeholders. We discuss implications of our findings, reflecting on international literature, Lao policy focus, and the personal preferences of farmers and their families.

2. AGRIPACE CONFERENCE 2018, 26 -28th Nov 2018, Bangkok, Thailand

a) Alexander, K. (2018) Visualizing Lao farmers’ agricultural production decisions using Q methodology. Third Agripace Conference, Bangkok, Thailand, 26th-28th November, 2018.

Scientific Track: Rural Sociology

ABSTRACT

In Lao PDR many rural households have been experiencing rapid change in their farming and livelihood systems. Rural households have been modifying their traditional livelihood strategies, diversifying production and maximizing labour productivity, with migration and remittances becoming attractive alternatives. Various technologies and agricultural practices have been introduced to smallholder farmers, yet farmers appear rarely to be taking advantage of the opportunities and adoption rates continue to be disappointingly low. We have adapted Q methodology using photographs to explore farmers’ viewpoints when contemplating their production goals. Photographs were very useful as a research tool and enhanced engagement between participants and researchers. The exercise was simple, easy to follow and bridged the complexity of a multi-lingual setting when working with semi-literate smallholder Lao farmers. Q methodology allows a description of farmers’ mental models to emerge, based on their concerns about trying new technologies and improving their farm productivity. Lao farmers’ production decisions were found to be largely based on their labour requirements. Findings describe the two emerging viewpoints among farmers as ‘labour saving productivity maximization’ and ‘traditional labour productivity using improved techniques’. The two viewpoints describe the different issues that may be guiding their production decisions. We suggest that farmers require specialized support, tailored to their livelihood and production goals to improve productivity. Furthermore, stakeholders should shift focus from preoccupations with introduced technologies towards users’ dispositions, perceptions and preferences.

b) Greenhalgh, G.R. (2018). Novel approaches to inter-disciplinary research generate practical solutions for smallholder farmers in Lao PDR.

Third Agripace Conference, Bangkok, Thailand, 26th-28th November, 2018.

Scientific Track: Rural Sociology

ABSTRACT

The authors used an integrative research approach into the barriers and constraints impacting smallholder farmers when adopting new technologies and innovations in rice growing communities in southern Lao PDR. The research involved a mix of qualitative and quantitative methods including: (i) a literature review (ii) an economic livelihood study (iii) semi-structured interviews (iv) an electronic voting survey (v) Q method (vi) a Bayesian Network model to synthesize the findings and (vii) gaming activities (Collective Behaviour Elicitation) to uncover tacit and explicit beliefs, and the pinch points that prevent or encourage the uptake of technologies. This approach generated insights into the factors that have the greatest influence on adoption rates. These factors were synthesized into a Research Discussion Tool (RDT) listing the 79 drivers, enablers, opportunities and barriers to be considered when farmers are introduced to new technologies and innovations. The RDT is a vehicle for discussions between the various actors in the agricultural sector such as: farmers, government officials, national and international researchers and agribusiness, to gain a common understanding of the technology and to better select suitable villages to introduce a chosen technology. A second key outcome was development of a ‘Solution Space’ consisting of nine areas, describing the elements that must be considered when proposing research that requires farmers to adopt new technologies and innovations. Research outcomes are currently being tested for efficacy by Lao researchers, farmers and agribusiness, collaborating together to assist smallholder farmers grow dry season crops on a commercial basis.

3. 2019 Australasian Aid Conference (AAC), 19-20 February 2019

Crawford School of Public Policy, ANU College of Asia & the Pacific http://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/ https://devpolicy.crawford.anu.edu.au/annual-australasian-aid-conference

Presenting Author: Dr Garry Greenhalgh and Dr Kim Alexander

Section: Aid effectiveness, at both the micro and macro level

Abstract

Enhancing agricultural aid effectiveness for smallholder farmers in Lao PDR

We present findings from a current project whose aims include enhancing ACIAR’s agricultural aid effectiveness in Lao PDR. Multi-disciplinary approaches were used to investigate farmers’ production goals and their capacity to take up ‘new’ agricultural technologies. The drivers, opportunities, barriers and constraints guiding farmers’ decisions to adopt ‘new’ technologies were synthesised into a Research Discussion Tool (RDT). The RDT was used as a vehicle for discussions between the various actors in the agricultural sector such as: farmers, government officials, national and international researchers and agribusiness. Discussions derived a shared understanding of the ‘new’ technology and the villages possibly more suited to the introduction of the technology. The tool was trialled with several concurrent projects and revealed barriers and constraints that were impeding adoption of technologies.

A second key outcome was development of a ‘Solution Space’ consisting of nine areas, describing the elements that must be considered when proposing research that requires farmers to adopt new technologies and innovations. The nine thematic areas included: (1) Proposal processes, (2) Markets, (3) Private sector, (4) Extension effectiveness, (5) Training, (6) Farmer organisations, (7) Policy support, (8) Institutional organisation, and (9) Monitoring and evaluation. Lao partner institutions chose specific challenges within the thematic areas to increase adoption potential for selected technologies, particularly in support of dry season cropping initiatives. This collaborative approach to identified challenges generated high levels of ownership by our Lao partners. This ownership has translated into significant and effective levels of leadership, motivation, discretionary behaviour and management by those involved in the planning and implementation of the Lao determined projects emanating from the research. Hence, in our presentation we describe extensive participatory, collaborative, multi-disciplinary and multi-institutional approaches that lead to greater aid effectiveness.

Authors:

Dr Kim Alexander, Adjunct Senior Research Fellow, James Cook University (JCU)*

Dr Garry Greenhalgh, Adjunct Senior Research Fellow, JCU*

Dr Silva Larson, Adjunct Senior Research Fellow, JCU*

Dr Magnus Moglia, CSIRO, Australia

Mr Phomma Thammavong, Senior Lecturer, National University of Laos (NUoL)

Ms Manithaythip Thephavanh, PhD candidate, Adelaide University and National Agricultural and Forestry Institute (NAFRI)

Professor Silinthone, Sacklohkham, Director of SEAMEO Regional Centre for Community Education Development

Dr Phonevilay Sinavong, Senior Manager, SEAMEO Regional Centre for Community Education Development

Professor Peter Case, Professor at JCU and University of Western England (UWE), Bristol

4. Seeds of Change Conference Canberra University 2nd-4th April 2019

1. Theme 2. Gender, Agricultural productivity and rural transformation

WHAT INFLUENCES SMALLHOLDER ADOPTION OF PROVEN AGRICULTURAL TECHNOLOGIES?

Identifying differences in men and womens’ agricultural production decision making in southern Laos using Collective Behaviour Elicitation (CBE) Gaming activities

Larson, Silva, Perez, Pascal; Giger-Dray, Anne; Moglia, Magnus; Thammavong, Phomma, Thephavanh, Manythaythip; Sodahak, Viengkham; Khounsy, Bountom, Josh Philip, Boyd, Davina, Alexander, Kim

Abstract

What influences farmers’ decisions to adopt introduced agricultural technologies is an important question for international agricultural research projects. Several research activities informed our understanding of the opportunities, barriers and constraints faced by smallholder farmers in southern Laos. Subsequently, Collective Behaviour Elicitation (CBE) interactive workshops were conducted with smallholder farmers. These gaming sessions aimed to elicit specific behaviours that prevent or facilitate adoption of introduced agricultural technologies. The game was developed from project data and from consultation with various experts. This was necessary to make scenarios presented to farmers as realistic as possible. As games were played through successive seasons the production ‘pinch points’ where farmers make ‘go/no-go’ decisions regarding uptake of technologies were identified. As such, CBE activities uncovered tacit and explicit beliefs, decisions and actions indicating the bottlenecks and barriers to technology diffusion.

CBE gaming activities were conducted with 79 participants representing farmers, traders and extension workers and were played in men’s and women’s groups. Findings indicated that the average productivity outcomes for women’s teams were higher than for men’s teams (i.e. women had more successful outcomes). Further findings from a gender perspective will be discussed during presentation, in the context of not only the implications of differing decision making behaviours on agricultural futures and productivity in Lao PDR; but rather as the wider implications for developing future market systems and the issue of labour availability in countries where rural regions are undergoing rapid transformational change from subsistence production toward engaging in the market economy.

ACIAR has funded three presenters for three oral papers offering different methodological approaches to gender exploration that have been employed across four ACIAR projects (FIS/2010/098; FIS/2015/038; ASEM/2014/052; SMCN/2012/075). The research group comprises three researchers whom are actively involved in ACIAR projects: Dr Libby Swanepoel, Dr Silva Larson and Dr Kim Alexander.

5 TropAg 2019

https://tropagconference.org/call-for-abstracts/

The role of leadership and local ownership in Research 4 Development (R4D) projects

Abstract

All researchers for development struggle to achieve lasting results on the ground. Regardless of the introduced technology, the fundamental basis for achieving lasting results involves: 1) strategic project leadership, 2) local ownership of research objectives, research design, outputs and overall results, and 3) local leadership and management of activities and finances. To support lasting results, research tools can assist in communicating the complexities of an introduced technology and can guide stakeholder interactions to bridge knowledge systems and create common understandings and new hybrid knowledge systems. We highlight a transdisciplinary process used to co-create a Research Discussion Tool and identification of 9 thematic areas which, in combination, enabled obstacles to technology uptake to be overcome and farmers to benefit from research-based innovations. The process involved assisting local researchers and extension agents to co-develop solutions, strategies and methods to improve technology uptake by farmers in Lao PDR, using a series of change management interventions. A complex ecology of factors involving farmers’ decision drivers and farmers’ decision enablers within farmers’ production systems influence technology uptake. The relative importance of each factor is dependent on the specific technology that is being introduced. Hence, projects that introduce new technologies grapple to address all relevant factors and often do not have the ability to deal with the complex array of factors that are at play. Co-constructed knowledge embeds local knowledge that becomes accessible to projects. The approach also has the potential to harness collaborative exchanges with other projects in similar geographical regions.

Dr Kim Alexander, Adjunct Senior Research Fellow, James Cook University (JCU)