Farmer to farmer education: learnings from an international study tour

ABSTRACT

The article captures the perceived impacts of participation in an international study tour (IST). Using interpretive case-based methodology, the article explored how participation has contributed to improved management practices relating to sweet potato production and marketing in Papua New Guinea. Findings from the paper provide insight into how a thoughtfully designed IST incorporating social cohesion can support practice change and development outcomes within agricultural development projects. Further research into how an IST and its design can incite practice change in other contexts is recommended.

KEYWORDS:

• Aid effectiveness
• capacity development
• education
• Region – Oceania and Japan
• agriculture

Acknowledgements

Ethical approval was granted through CQUniversity's Human Research Ethics Committee (# 0000021920).

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This article is based on work funded by the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) under the project “Supporting commercial sweet potato production and marketing in the PNG highlands [grant number HORT/2014/097]”.

Notes on contributors

Kirt Hainzer

Kirt Hainzer is a Senior Researcher at the Institute for Future Farming Systems at CQUniversity, focussing on value chains and agricultural extension.

Catherine O’Mullan

Catherine O'Mullan is a Senior Lecturer in Public Health for the School of Health, Medical and Applied Sciences at CQUniversity. She has extensive practical experience working with Indigenous communities and is passionate about capturing the voices of marginalised populations through participatory approaches.

Christian Bugajim

Christian Bugajim is an agricultural scientist and the In-Country Project Leader for the project “Supporting commercial sweet potato production and marketing in the PNG highlands” and has been working with farming communities throughout PNG.

Philip Hugh Brown

Philip Hugh Brown is a Professor of Horticultural Science and Director for the Institute for Future Farming Systems at CQUniversity and is currently leading agricultural development projects in the Pacific.