Article: Farmers facing rapid agricultural land condition changes in two villages in the Upper Amazon, Peru: can action learning contribute to resilience? Journal: International Journal of Agricultural Resources, Governance and Ecology (IJARGE) 2009 Vol.8 No.5/6 pp.457 - 483 Abstract: The article presents findings of local experimentation for managing land degradation problems in swidden farming, and the institutional setting for such experimental activities within a resilience theory framework. By using action research (AR) methodology, which included in-depth interviews and joint field experiments, the research process facilitated collective learning related to land degradation management. Framed by a local institution (choba choba), learning situations of field experimentation were created in order to speed up the joint learning process between farmers, a local NGO and researchers. The authors argue that AR, as methodology, not only enhances contextual learning processes by working within farmers| existing institutional framework for learning, but also has the advantage of integrating local and scientific knowledge into a joint learning process. AR methodology can therefore be one answer to the question of |how| to build up and maintain resilience of an agricultural system, particularly its adaptive capacity. Inderscience Publishers - linking academia, business and industry through research

Title: Farmers facing rapid agricultural land condition changes in two villages in the Upper Amazon, Peru: can action learning contribute to resilience?

Authors: Kristina Marquardt, Lennart Salomonsson, Ulrika Geber

Addresses: Department of Urban and Rural Development, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, P.O. Box 7012, SE-75007 Uppsala, Sweden. ' Department of Urban and Rural Development, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, P.O. Box 7012, SE-75007 Uppsala, Sweden. ' Agriculture Unit, County Administrative Board, P.O. Box 22067, SE-10422 Stockholm, Sweden

Abstract: The article presents findings of local experimentation for managing land degradation problems in swidden farming, and the institutional setting for such experimental activities within a resilience theory framework. By using action research (AR) methodology, which included in-depth interviews and joint field experiments, the research process facilitated collective learning related to land degradation management. Framed by a local institution (choba choba), learning situations of field experimentation were created in order to speed up the joint learning process between farmers, a local NGO and researchers. The authors argue that AR, as methodology, not only enhances contextual learning processes by working within farmers| existing institutional framework for learning, but also has the advantage of integrating local and scientific knowledge into a joint learning process. AR methodology can therefore be one answer to the question of |how| to build up and maintain resilience of an agricultural system, particularly its adaptive capacity.

Keywords: Amazon; Peru; swidden agriculture; land management; resilience; action research; farmer learning; adaptive capacity; local institutions; land degradation; swidden farming; field experimentation.

DOI: 10.1504/IJARGE.2009.032645

International Journal of Agricultural Resources, Governance and Ecology, 2009 Vol.8 No.5/6, pp.457 - 483

Accepted: 06 Nov 2009
Published online: 09 Apr 2010 *

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Title: Farmers facing rapid agricultural land condition changes in two villages in the Upper Amazon, Peru: can action learning contribute to resilience?

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