Incorporating Farmers Knowledge in International Rice Research Essay

Incorporating Farmers experience in International Rice Research The longevity of numerous destinations can be attributed to their fond regard to tradition, specifically subsistence practices. More likely than not, trying to push modern technology into these cultures will only result in disaster. Such is the case with the Green renewal and the rice situation Stephen Lansing covered in The Balinese. It simply does not seem logical to disrupt traditional practices that have supported a culture for so long. There is a reason received practices have been around for so long and that is because they work the best for certain people in certain locations. Sam Fujisaka supports this notion which is the basis for his article Incorporating Farmers Knowledge in International Rice Research. Fujiskas article describes his research done examining traditional farming techniques of the Claveria people of the Confederate Philippines, so that their methods of rice farming may be used to improv e research of agriculture. This article sets a good example for researchers of more developed countries who aim such indigenous cultures. Rather than trying to see which modern technology from the outside world will best tending these cultures, Fujisaka attempts to learn from these cultures traditional methods to help improve the farming industry. Fujisakas study of rice farming in the Philippines is much like Lansings study in Bali, in that both cultures rely heavily on rice farming and both cultures suffered much the same from the effects of the Green Revolution. Thus, finding what improvements need to be made and how, is an important task that could help many people. Fujisaka began exploring these improvements by interviewing local Clave... ...ys best for everyone. This is a point that is necessary for people (specifically anthropologists) to bring into the light when dealing with other cultures. Understanding as much as possible about a culture is essential before att empting to get involved with their lives and, as Fujisaka shows, before getting their lives involved in others. He concludes that the friendship of farmers can be used first to identify and prioritise research issues (139), and considering the respect for these cultures with which he conducted his research, Fujisakas study can be considered more sound than most. ReferencesFujisaka, Sam. Incorporating Farmers Knowledge in International Rice Research. The Cultural Dimension of Development IndigenousKnowledge Systems. Ed. Warren, D. Michael et al. 1995 124-139. Lansing, J. Stephen. The Balinese Fort Worth Harcourt, 1995.