The cultures and the way the people
live together structures are always becoming different, the process is often
slow. In the short term, there will be features of society and culture that may
stand as barriers to change in agriculture. It is important that the extension
officers be aware of the existence of such barriers and to take them into consideration
in their duty execution.
Regards for
tradition
Most of the rural areas look upon new
methods with indifference and sometimes with suspicion. Regards for elders
often results in the attitude that the old ways are best and appropriate.
Farmers do not only fear the unknown and untried but they also fear criticism
for doing something that is different from other farmers work. In such
circumstances, the motives of the extension officer and others seeking to
promote change can often be misunderstood in their duty execution. Some of the village
people may think that the extension officers are introducing changes to enrich
and benefits themselves. Such attitudes explain the behavior of farmers who
seem to agree that a new method is good but are not prepared to put it into
practice the method.
Being certain in
their own culture
The people of the society believe that
their way of life is best. These new methods of farming may be all right for
some people but they are no good for us says some farmers. This attitude
results in reluctance to try something new that is being provided. How can it
be better than our way of farming that we are used to? And we know what is best
for us, are all reactions that the extension officer may meet in opposition to
suggestions for change to the farmers.
Feeling of
satisfaction and dignity
The farmers which the extension
officers are sent to may be too proud to practice ways of farming that could
result in other farmers looking down on them. For instance, they might be too
proud to carry cattle droppings (manure) to the fields. Many young people who
have left school look down on farming and its activities, even though some
successful farmers earn more than most government employees and school teachers
in their areas.
Measures in
comparison of values
Extension officers often emphasize the
improved yield or cash return that can be gained by adopting new farm practices
and techniques. However, farmers may value taste, appearance or some other
factor more than the level of output of farm produce. They may also value their
leisure time so highly that they are not prepared to work longer hours on their
farm lands. Certain improved varieties of maize have been ignored by small-scale
farmers in several rural areas due to the fact of their poor flavor, even
though they have shown a much better yield than local maize. Farmers and their
families have to eat what they produce as well as sell some of it, so taste and
cooking quality are very important to them.
Duties and social
obligations
Every individual that is within a
society or a kinship group have some responsibilities which they are expected
to run with. People who always avoid such responsibilities in their society anger
other people of the society. As an individual, income increases, so legal duties
to society or family also increase. The more money a farmer earns the more help
kinsmen will expect from him. This can be a very serious barrier to change if
the individual sees little advantage in improving his or her position because
there is not much personal benefit from the improvement. However, this may be
overcome by concealing wealth, by distributing animals among friends, or by
burying or banking money so that relatives can be told that no money is
available to help them with. This may result, for instance, in a farmer being
reluctant to carry out visible farm improvements such as fencing, buying farm
implements and other things which might suggest to kinsmen that the farmer is
wealthier than they think he is.
Practice of local
occasions
Occasions such as village weddings,
funerals and religious festivals can take up so much time that the farmer may
be unable to work to the maximum efficiency in his farm. The farmer is,
therefore, unlikely to adopt new methods which are available, which, while they
might increase income, would mean that more time had to be devoted to working
the farm and less to occasions and social rights.
The extension officers need to
understand and to be sensitive to these potentials, both social and cultural
barriers to change; however, by carefully selecting what he encourages farmers
to do, and how to convey the message to the farmers, their effect can be
reduced. Winning the support of traditional community leaders, for instance,
may lessen the effects of tradition. Furthermore, by making sure that popular
food crops are included in agricultural programmes and that the recommended
varieties are acceptable on grounds of taste as well as cooking quality, the
extension agent can increase the likelihood of his advice being accepted.
Extension programmes aiming at introducing new methods should take into account
the possible effect on the whole society and its culture, and not merely the
technical results of the methods which is being recommended to the farmers.
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