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Farming for change: developing a participatory curriculum on agroecology, nutrition, climate change and social equity in Malawi and Tanzania

Author

Listed:
  • Rachel Bezner Kerr

    (Cornell University)

  • Sera L. Young

    (Northwestern University)

  • Carrie Young

    (Cornell University)

  • Marianne V. Santoso

    (Cornell University)

  • Mufunanji Magalasi

    (University of Malawi)

  • Martin Entz

    (University of Manitoba)

  • Esther Lupafya

    (Soils, Food and Healthy Communities)

  • Laifolo Dakishoni

    (Soils, Food and Healthy Communities)

  • Vicki Morrone

    (Michigan State University)

  • David Wolfe

    (Cornell University)

  • Sieglinde S. Snapp

    (Michigan State University)

Abstract

How to engage farmers that have limited formal education is at the foundation of environmentally-sound and equitable agricultural development. Yet there are few examples of curricula that support the co-development of knowledge with farmers. While transdisciplinary and participatory techniques are considered key components of agroecology, how to do so is rarely specified and few materials are available, especially those relevant to smallholder farmers with limited formal education in Sub-Saharan Africa. The few training materials that exist provide appropriate methods, such as compost making, but do not explain relationships and synergies between nutrition, social inequalities, climate change and agroecology. Some food sovereignty and agroecology courses aim at popular political education for those with more formal education. Here we describe the process of development of an innovative curriculum, which integrates agroecology, nutrition, climate change, gender and other dimensions of social equity across 2 weeks of training explicitly for smallholders in southern Africa with limited formal education. The curriculum is highly participatory; we use concepts in popular education, transformative and experiential-based learning, and theatre. It is also integrative; we link agroecology with climate change, human and soil nutrition, gender, and related components of social equity. Developed in partnership with Malawian farmers, community development experts and academics from five countries, the curriculum was piloted with 520 smallholder farming households in Malawi and Tanzania, and evaluated using qualitative techniques. Clashes of language, cultural norms, and terminology were as great of a challenge as agreeing on and conveying technical information, to weave into a coherent whole. However, farmers who participated in the curriculum training demonstrated high interest, comprehension of material and interest in immediate application to their lives.

Suggested Citation

  • Rachel Bezner Kerr & Sera L. Young & Carrie Young & Marianne V. Santoso & Mufunanji Magalasi & Martin Entz & Esther Lupafya & Laifolo Dakishoni & Vicki Morrone & David Wolfe & Sieglinde S. Snapp, 2019. "Farming for change: developing a participatory curriculum on agroecology, nutrition, climate change and social equity in Malawi and Tanzania," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 36(3), pages 549-566, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:agrhuv:v:36:y:2019:i:3:d:10.1007_s10460-018-09906-x
    DOI: 10.1007/s10460-018-09906-x
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    2. Carly Nichols & Halie Kampman & Mara Bold, 2022. "Forging just dietary futures: bringing mainstream and critical nutrition into conversation," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 39(2), pages 633-644, June.
    3. Kansanga, Moses Mosonsieyiri & Kangmennaang, Joseph & Bezner Kerr, Rachel & Lupafya, Esther & Dakishoni, Laifolo & Luginaah, Isaac, 2021. "Agroecology and household production diversity and dietary diversity: Evidence from a five-year agroecological intervention in rural Malawi," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 288(C).
    4. Carly E. Nichols, 2022. "Digesting agriculture development: nutrition-oriented development and the political ecology of rice–body relations in India," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 39(2), pages 757-771, June.
    5. Kansanga, Moses Mosonsieyiri & Bezner Kerr, Rachel & Lupafya, Esther & Dakishoni, Laifolo & Luginaah, Isaac, 2021. "Does participatory farmer-to-farmer training improve the adoption of sustainable land management practices?," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 108(C).
    6. C. R. Anderson & R. Binimelis & M. P. Pimbert & M. G. Rivera-Ferre, 2019. "Introduction to the symposium on critical adult education in food movements: learning for transformation in and beyond food movements—the why, where, how and the what next?," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 36(3), pages 521-529, September.
    7. Elizabeth Eldridge & Marie-Eve Rancourt & Ann Langley & Dani Héroux, 2022. "Expanding Perspectives on the Poverty Trap for Smallholder Farmers in Tanzania: The Role of Rural Input Supply Chains," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(9), pages 1-34, April.
    8. Shaun Beattie & Susannah M. Sallu, 2021. "How Does Nutrition Feature in Climate-Smart Agricultural Policy in Southern Africa? A Systematic Policy Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(5), pages 1-16, March.

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