| Popis: |
Agronomic problems tend to become more complex and their solution found at the interface between agro-ecological and social dynamics. They involve an increased diversity of actors having different objectives, strategies and perceptions of the issue depending on their type of knowledge and empirical experience. In this context the transfer of technology method does not operate anymore. There is a need for innovative approaches linking researchers, extension agents and farmers in a more inclusive and adaptive fashion. The two-way exchange and integration of different (scientific, technical, expert, empirical, indigenous, institutional) types of knowledge among stakeholders to facilitate the emergence of a shared understanding of the problem to be solved is widely considered as a necessary step before launching a joint search for innovative solutions acceptable to all parties involved. A collaborative modelling process was carried out for such a purpose in the rainfed lowland rice (RLR) socio-ecological system of northeast Thailand. In this largest RLR producing region of the country, the low average yield (1.8 t/ha) is mainly due to erratic rainfall distribution and coarse textured soils, leading to low farm incomes and the highest poverty rate in the kingdom. Seasonal or more permanent migrations of young labourers have long been a key farmer strategy to mitigate climatic risk and diversify sources of income. Seasonal migrants move during the dry season, but stay on the farm during wet months to participate in RLR transplanting and harvesting. The current higher mobility of farm workers and increase in permanent migrations create labour scarcity on large rice farms during peaks of labour demand periods. A regional plan for major investments in irrigation infrastructures underlines the importance of understanding how increased water availability could impact on current migration patterns. The objectives were (i) to understand the relationships between land & water use and labour migrations and (ii) to test a participatory modelling approach to facilitate dialogue among research, extension and diverse types of farmers while enhancing the capacity of expression of the marginal farmers, knowledge integration, joint learning, and the collective identification, simulation and assessment of scenarios of change. |
