The novelty of simple and known technologies and the rhythm of farmer-centred innovation in family dairy farming in Brazil

Abstract

Family dairy farming is under threat from the expansion of the sugarcane economy in south-eastern Brazil. This paper analyses an intervention programme which aimed to intensify dairy production and make family dairy farming sustainable in this competitive context. The case study of the ‘Balde Cheio’ Programme (Full Bucket) can be seen as an alternative method of knowledge generation to that of the dominant research approach which prioritizes cutting-edge technologies. This paper characterizes this farmer-oriented innovation programme for dairy farming systems, in which research, development and extension are seen as a long-term learning process. It analyses how the programme has been adapted to fit the diversity of situations found amongst farmers and to heterogeneous production conditions. The study relates the circulation of knowledge, the search for innovation by recombining apparently simple and known technologies, the use of experiments on the farm and the adaptation of the rhythm of innovation to the specific situation of the farm as the critical issues to achieve sustainable production systems.

Keywords:

• family dairy farming
• researcher–farmer relations
• technological innovation
• sustainability

Notes

1 The already established species are quite variable. The most common are the Brachiaria decumbens, Brachiaria brizantha and Napier grass (Pennisetum purpureum, usually planted as ‘capineiras’ which requires manual chopping during the whole year). The more productive grasses with higher quality fodder are Panicum maximum cv. tanzania; P. maximum cv. Mombaça and Tifton or Jiggs grasses (Cynodon dactylon varieties).

2 More complex irrigation systems mean that the pump, the electric motor, the distribution system and sprinklers have to be the correct size to spread the right amount of water with as little energy and labour as possible. Low-pressure systems are the most common solution for this.

3 On the problems of one-sided social learning, see Stone (2007).

4 This is a form of distributed cognition as discussed by Jansen and Vellema (2011) and Richards et al. (2009).

5 The initial name of the programme was very long (‘Projeto de viabilização da pecuária leiteira e capacitação dos técnicos da extensão rural por meio do uso de uma pequena propriedade familiar de leite como “sala-de-aula”’) and confusing in external communication. The shorter name ‘Balde Cheio’ was selected via a poll of assisted farmers and technicians.