Participatory research approaches and social dynamics that influence agricultural practices to improve child nutrition in Malawi

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dc.contributor.authorBezner Kerr, Rachel
dc.contributor.authorChirwa, Marko
dc.date.accessioned2010-03-26T16:54:55Z
dc.date.available2010-03-26T16:54:55Z
dc.date.issued2004
dc.description.abstractThe Soils, Food and Healthy Communities project in Malawi uses an interdisciplinary participatory approach to improving child nutrition with resource-poor farmers. The overall research question is: Can legume systems improve soil fertility, food security, and child nutrition? Over 2000 farmers are now experimenting with legume systems in the region. While this article examines the social issues that mitigate the potential success of legume options tested by the farmers, it does not aim at discussing extensively the complex web of interactions between soil fertility, food security, and nutritional status of children. Instead, its focus is on the research process, and more specifically on the social dimensions and participatory approaches, which influenced farmers’ adoption of organic matter technologies and legume options. The Farmer Research Team was critical in mobilizing community interest in changing agricultural practices to improve child health, but faced challenges in village politics and workload. The linkage with child nutrition was a major reason for increased adoption of legumes, and gender relations played a key role in the adoption. A deeper understanding of the limits of participatory approaches helped to develop innovations that may be replicated elsewhere, such as inclusion of grandmothers and a farmer apprenticeship program.en
dc.formatTexten
dc.format.extent1 digital file (p. 109-119)en
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10625/42528
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherEcoHealth Journal Consortium, Springer, New York, NY, USen
dc.relation.ispartofEcoHealth, v. 1, suppl. 2, November 2004en
dc.subjectON-FARM RESEARCHen
dc.subjectPARTICIPATORY RESEARCHen
dc.subjectCROP DIVERSIFICATIONen
dc.subjectLEGUMESen
dc.subjectNITROGEN FIXATIONen
dc.subjectSOIL IMPROVEMENTen
dc.subjectCHILD NUTRITIONen
dc.subjectFOOD SECURITYen
dc.subjectGENDER ANALYSISen
dc.subjectMALAWIen
dc.subjectSOIL FERTILITYen
dc.titleParticipatory research approaches and social dynamics that influence agricultural practices to improve child nutrition in Malawien
dc.title.alternativeEcoHealth journal special supplement November 2004en
dc.typeJournal Article (peer-reviewed)en
idrc.dspace.accessIDRC Onlyen
idrc.project.componentnumber101829001
idrc.project.componentnumber100840015
idrc.project.number101829
idrc.project.number100670
idrc.project.number100840
idrc.project.titleSoils, Food and Healthy Communities (Malawi) - Phase IIen
idrc.project.titleSoils, Food and Healthy Communities : Monitoring Change in Northern Malawi - Phase Ien
idrc.project.titleInternational Forum on Ecosystem Approaches to Human Health (Year 2003)en
idrc.rims.adhocgroupIDRC SUPPORTEDen

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IDRC Research Results / Résultats de recherches du CRDI
2000-2009 / Années 2000-2009
Research Results (Ecohealth) / Résultats de recherches (Écosanté)
Sub-Saharan Africa / Afrique subsaharienne