What skills do I need to do Participatory Research well? 

To work effectively with farmers as partners in developing new agricultural technologies, you will need to practice some essential communication and facilitation skills. These include

• neutrality• good body language• good questioning skills and • good facilitation skills

What skills do I need to do Participatory Research well? 

To work effectively with farmers as partners in developing new agricultural technologies, you will need to practice some essential communication and facilitation skills. These include

• neutrality• good body language• good questioning skills and • good facilitation skills

Why is it important tobe neutral? 

The way you ask questions will influencethe answers you get. As you are interested in farmers’ opinions, do not influence their answers by asking leading questions.

Example of a leading question:

“This is an excellent variety, don’t you think?”

What skills do I need to do Participatory Research well? 

To work effectively with farmers as partners in developing new agricultural technologies, you will need to practice some essential communication and facilitation skills. These include

• neutrality• good body language• good questioning skills and • good facilitation skills

Why is it important touse good body language? 

Your body language also influences farmers’ answers. Show that you value farmers’ opinions through good body language.

What skills do I need to do Participatory Research well?  

To work effectively with farmers as partners in developing new agricultural technologies, you will need to practice some essential communication and facilitation skills. These include

• neutrality• good body language• good questioning skills and • good facilitation skills

What type of questionsshould I use? 

Try to use open-ended questions and follow these up with probing questions. Open-ended questions invite farmers to reply freely and openly. Probing questions help you gain more insight into the farmers’ answers. .

Examples of open-ended and probing questions…

  What do you think about these grass varieties?” (O)

….I like this variety the best.

Why do you like this variety better than the others? (P)

….Well, it has soft green leaves.

Why is that important? (P)

….They are easy to cut and my animals like to eat soft leaves.

Is there anything else you like about this variety?” (O)

….It stays green in the dry season while the others turn brown quickly”

What skills do I need to do Participatory Research well?  

To work effectively with farmers as partners in developing new agricultural technologies, you will need to practice some essential communication and facilitation skills. These include

• neutrality• good body language• good questioning skills and • good facilitation skills

What are good facilitation skills? As part of your work with farmers, you will need to facilitate many meetings with villages and focus-groups. Here are some ideas which will help you become a better facilitator:

• Use open-ended questions to stimulate discussion

• Follow-up ideas with probing questions

• Stop anyone from dominating

• Encourage participation by all farmers

What are good facilitation skills?  • Guide the meeting towards its goal

• Keep the meeting moving to maintain farmers’ interest

• Take breaks when people are tired

• Respect local customs and etiquette

• Summarise the result of the discussion

• Use cards to help organise ideas

• Maintain neutrality

• Anticipate what might happen and be prepared

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