The evaluation of a participatory extension programme focused on climate friendly farming. (May 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Knook, Jorie; Eory, Vera; Brander, Matthew; Moran, Dominic
• Is Part Of: Journal of rural studies. Volume 76(2020)
• Page Start: 40
• Page End: 48
• Publication Date: 2020-05
• Subjects: Climate change -- Agriculture -- Extension programme -- Evaluation -- Mixed-methods; Sociology, Rural -- Periodicals; Country life -- Periodicals; Rural development -- Periodicals; Land use, Rural -- Planning -- Periodicals; Rural conditions -- Periodicals; Sociologie rurale -- Périodiques; Vie rurale -- Périodiques; Développement rural -- Périodiques; Sol, Utilisation agricole du -- Planification -- Périodiques; Conditions rurales -- Périodiques; Country life; Land use, Rural -- Planning; Rural conditions; Rural development; Sociology, Rural; Periodicals; 307.72
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jrurstud.2020.03.010
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0743-0167

Abstract

Abstract: Agriculture is a major source of global greenhouse gas emissions and therefore effective policy interventions are required in order to mitigate these emissions. One form of intervention used within the agricultural sector is participatory extension programmes (PEPs). PEPs are advisory programmes based on voluntary participation where farmers, researchers, and rural experts collectively learn by sharing information and experiences. To evaluate the contribution of these programmes towards more climate friendly farming, this paper conducts an ex-post evaluation of a PEP focused on the voluntary uptake of on-farm emissions mitigation practices in the UK. We use a mixed-methods approach to understand both the adoption of new practices and a range of human-social outcomes such as social learning, resilience and improved decision-making. We find that participants in the PEP show a higher level of practice adoption compared to non-participants. However, the evaluation of the human-social indicators shows that the change cannot always be attributed to PEP participation. The paper contributes to the current literature by conducting the first evaluation on a climate change PEP in a developed country and by developing and applying an effective evaluation framework for climate change PEPs, in order to achieve an understanding of the change achieved by PEPs. Highlights: Understanding change due to PEP participation requires a mixed methods approach. Holistic evaluation shows increased practice adoption cannot always be attributed to the PEP. A wider set of measures is required to achieve a sustained change towards climate friendly farming.