Email this article 
Hide
Show all
Training as Part of the Capacity-Building Ladder in Australian Agriculture
Abstract
To maintain the efficiency and economy of their farming, Australian farmers and advisers perceive a need to continually update their skills and knowledge by attending informal and formal training activities such as field days, workshops and grower group meetings. Using a mixed methods approach, this research evaluates: a) what types of training events farmers and advisers prefer; b) why they prefer that type; and c) if their knowledge increased as a result of training. The data were analysed using non-parametric tests and inductive thematic coding before triangulating the results. Farmers preferred field days held on farms, because of the relevance of the location and field experiments and the opportunity for informal interactions, but thought workshops were redundant. Advisers preferred formal workshops, because they provided interaction with specialists. Participants liked to attend grower groups because they were local, interactive and informative. However, the majority of grower groups are made up of farmers and only half the advisers surveyed belonged to one. Participants’ knowledge increases after training and is related to the activity attended. Many participants indicate that they would use their new knowledge on their farm or in the workplace. This research shows that the demographic characteristics of farmers and advisers influence the type of training they will attend; this information can be used to refine existing and develop new training events.
Keywords
References
Alvarez, K., Salas, E., & Garofano, C. M. (2004). An integrated model of training evaluation and effectiveness. Human resource development Review, 3(4), 385-416.
Amudavi, D. M., Khan, Z. R., Wanyama, J. M., Midega, C. A. O., Pittchar, J., Hassanali, A., & Pickett, J. A. (2009). Evaluation of farmers' field days as a dissemination tool for push-pull technology in Western Kenya. Crop Protection, 28(3), 225-235.
Anil, B., Tonts, M., & Sidique, K., H.M. (2015). Strengthening the performace of farming system groups: perspectives from a community of practice framework application. International Journal of Sustainable Development and World Ecology, 22(3), 219-230.
Carberry, P. S., Hochman, Z., McCown, R. L., Dalgliesh, N. P., Foale, M. A., Poulton, P. L., . . . Robertson, M. J. (2002). The FARMSCAPE approach to decision support: Farmers', advisers', researchers' monitoring, simulation, communication and performance evaluation. Agricultural Systems, 74(1), 141-177.
Coutts, J., & Roberts, K. (2011). Theories and approaches of extension: Review of extension in capacity building. In J. Jennings, R. Packham, & D. Woodside (Eds.), Shaping Change: Natural Resource Mangement, Agriculture and the Role of Extension. Australia: Australasia-Pacific Extension Network (APEN).
Crisp, J. (2010). Planning extension activities for impact. Extension Farming Systems Journal, 6(1), 137.
Cristovao, A., Ferrao, P., Madeira, R., Tiberio, M. L., Rainho, M. J., & Teixeira, M. S. (2009). Circles amd Communities, Sharing Practices and Learning: Looking at New Extension Education Approaches. The Journal of Agricultural Education and Extension, 15(2), 191-203.
Dart, J., Petheram, R. J., & Straw, W. (1998). Review of Evalutation in Agricultural Extension. Retrieved from Canberra.
Dillman, D. A., Smyth, J. D., & Christian, L. M. (2009). Internet, Mail and Mixed-Mode surveys: The tailored design method (Third ed.). United States of America: John Wiley and Sons, Inc.
Eckert, E., & Bell, A. (2006). Continuity and change: Themes of mental model development among small-scale farmers. Journal of Extension, 44(1).
Feder, G., Birner, R., & Anderson, J. R. (2011). The private sector's role in agricultural extension systems: potential and limitations. Journal of Agribusiness in Developing and Emerging Economies, 1(1), 31-54.
Fereday, J., & Muir-Cochrane, E. (2006). Demonstrating rigor using thematic analysis: A hybrid approach of inductive and deductive coding and theme development. International journal of qualitative methods, 5(1), 80-92.
Field, A. (2013). Discovering Statistics Using IBM SPSS Statistics (4th ed.). London: SAGE.
Fowler, F. J. (2009). Survey Research Methods (Fourth ed. Vol. 1). United States of America: SAGE.
Franz, N. K., Piercy, F., Donaldson, J., Westbrook, J., & Richard, R. (2010). Farmer, agent, & specialist perspectives on preferences for learning among today's farmers. Journal of Extension, 48(3).
Fulton, A., Fulton, D., Tabart, T., Ball, P., Champion, S., Weatherley, J., & Heinjus, D. (2003). Agricultural extension, learning and change. Retrieved from Canberra.
Gianatti, T. M., & Carmody, P. (2007). The use of networks to improve information flows between grower groups and researchers. Field Crops Research, 104(1–3), 165-173. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.fcr.2007.05.015.
Glaze, J. J. B., & Ahola, J. K. (2010). Training sessions provide working knowledge of national animal identification system. Journal of Extension, 48(1), 1-6.
Grower Group Alliance. (2016). Grower Group Alliance: One-stop Shop for Collaborative R,D & E in Western Australia. Retrieved from http://gga.org.au.
Haccoun, R. R., & Hamtiaux, T. (1994). Optimizing knowledge tests for inferring learning acquisition levels in single group training evaluation designs: The internal referencing strategy. Personnel Psychology, 47(3), 593-604.
Jones, G. E., & Garforth, C. (1998). The history, development and future of agricultural extension. In B. E. Swanson, R. P. Bentz, & A. J. Sofranko (Eds.), Improving Agricultural Extension. A reference manual (pp. 1-16). Rome: FAO.
Keogh, M., & Julian, C. (2014). Optimisng Future Extension Systems in the Austrailan Grains Industry, Part 1: Background, literature and demographics of the Australian grain production sector. Retrieved from Sydney, Australia.
Kilpatrick, S. (1997). Effective Delivery methodologies for education and training to rural Australia. Retrieved from Tasmania.
Kilpatrick, S. (2000). Education and training: Impacts on farm management practice. Journal of Agricultural Education and Extension, 7(2), 105-116.
Kilpatrick, S., & Fulton, A. (2003). Developing effecting learning programs: What extension can learn from the field of adult education and learning communities. Paper presented at the Australasia-Pacific Extension Network National Forum: "Extending extension: beyond traditional boundaries, methods and ways of thinking", Hobart, Tasmania.
Kilpatrick, S., & Johns, S. (2003). How farmers learn: Different approaches to change. The Journal of Agricultural Education and Extension, 9(4), 151-164. doi:10.1080/13892240385300231.
Likert, R. (1932). A technique for the measurement of attitudes. Archives of psychology.
Llewellyn, R. S., Pannell, D., Lindner, R., & Powles, S. (2006). Targeting key perceptions when planning and evaluating extension. Animal Production Science, 45(12), 1627-1633.
Malcolm, J., Hodkinson, P., & Colley, H. (2003). The interrelationships between informal and formal learning. Journal of Workplace Learning, 15(7/8), 313-318.
Maredia, M. K. (2009). Improving the proof: Evolution of and emerging trends in impact assessment methods and approaches in agricultural development (Vol. 929). Intl Food Policy Res Inst. Marsh.
S. P., & Pannell, D. J. (2000). Agricultural extension policy in Australia: the good, the bad and the misguided. Australian Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics, 44(4), 605-627.
Marsick, V. J., & Watkins, K. E. (2001). Informal and Incidental Learning. New Directions for Adult and Continuing Education, 2001(89), 25-34.
Merriam, S. B. (2001). Andragogy and Self-Directed Learning: Pillars of Adult Learning Theory. New Directions for Adult and Continuing Education, 2001(89), 3-14. doi:10.1002/ace.3.
Miller, R. L., & Cox, L. (2006). Technology transfer preferences of researchers and producers in sustainable agriculture. Journal of Extension, 44(3), 1-6.
Roberts, K., & Coutts, J. (2011). Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting of Extension. In J. Jennings, R. Packham, & D. Woodside (Eds.), Shaping Change: Natural Resource Management, Agriculture and the Role of Extension. Australia: Australasia Pacific Extension Network (APEN).
Salas, E., & Cannon-Bowers, J. A. (2001). The science of training: A decade of progress. Annual review of psychology, 52(1), 471-499.
Schmitt, M. A., Durgan, B. R., & Iverson, S. M. (2000). Impact assessment and participant profiles of extension's education programs for agricultural chemical/seed retailers and crop advisors. Disease Management, 2(2.7), 3.0.
van de Berg, H., & Jiggins, J. (2007). Investing in Farmers - the impacts of farmer field schools in relation to integrated pest management. World Development, 35(4), 663-686.
Vanclay, F. (2004). Social principles for agricultural extension to assist in the promotion of natural resource management. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture, 44(3), 213-222. doi:10.1071/ea02139.
Vanclay, F., & Leach, G. (2011). Enabling Change in Rural and Regional Australia. In J. Jennings, R. Packham, & D. Woodside (Eds.), Shaping Change: Natural Resource Management, Agriculture and the Role of Extension (pp. 6-11). Australia: Australasia-Pacific Extension Network (APEN).
Victorian Grower Group Alliance. (2016). Victorian Grower Group Alliance (Inc). Retrieved from http://ghana.iafd.org/assets/uploads/ghana/introduction-to-vgga-victorian-grower-group-alliance-tony-kent.pdf.
Wenger, E. (2000). Communities of practice and social learning systems. Organization, 7(2), 225-246.
Wenger, E. (2009). A social theory of learning.
Wortmann, C. S., Glewen, K. L., & Williams, S. N. (2011). Impact of Crop Management Diagnostic Clinics on Advisors' Recommendations and Producer Practices. Journal of Extension, 49(4).
Wright, D. (2017). Are we going against the grain in training; developing an information and training framework for farmers and agronomists in Australia. (PhD), The University of Western Australia.
Wright, D., MacLeod, B., Hammond, N., & Longnecker, N. (2016). Can grain growers and agronomists identify common leaf diseases and biosecurity threats in grain crops? An Australian example. Crop Protection, 89, 78-88.
Yang, P., Liu, W., Shan, X., Li, P., Zhou, J., Lu, J., & Li, Y. (2008). Effects of training on acquisition of pest management knowledge and skills by small vegetable farmers. Crop Protection, 27, 1504-1510.
Refbacks
- There are currently no refbacks.
Copyright (c) 2018 Dominie Wright, Ann Grand, Bill MacLeod, Lynette K Abbott
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
