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The role of culture in farmer learning and technology adoption: A case study of farmer field schools among rice farmers in central Luzon, Philippines

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Abstract

The goal of this paper is to show how culture – shared norms and values – is challenged and used to facilitate cooperative behavior within the context of farmer field schools (FFS) in central Luzon, Philippines. The success of the FFS is primarily associated with cultural norms that encourage experiential and collective learning and eventually lead to the adoption of integrated pest management (IPM) methods among the farmers. The study was conducted in central Luzon, the rice granary region of the Philippines, from 1992 to 1995 and again in 1999. Both qualitative and quantitative research methods were employed. Results indicate that a keen understanding of Filipino culture and values is essential if FFS is to be successful and if farmers are to successfully learn and practice IPM.

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Abbreviations

FFS:

Farmer field school

IPM:

Integrated pest management

IRRI:

International Rice Research Institute

SIR:

Smooth interpersonal relations

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Acknowledgements

The author acknowledges the mentorship, encouragement, and support of Dr. Mahabub Hossain, the Division Head of the Social Sciences Division at IRRI and Stephen Morin, former IRRI anthropologist. She is also grateful for the guidance of her PhD committee members, Drs. Francisco Datar, Realidad Rolda, and Michael Tan. Many thanks are due for the critiques and comments of external reviewers, Drs. Stephen Morin, and Manuel Bonifacioas well as for the financial support of Dr. K. L. Heong, the project leader of IPM at IRRI and the assistance of Melina Magsumbol, Marcelino Rivera, Nelia Garcia, Tess Yarcia, and Liza and Brenda Alcaraz in data collection. Thanks go to Joe Catindig for her assistance in clarifying entomology terms and to Rica Joy Flor for her assistance in revising the manuscript. Finally, the author thanks Dr. Bill Hardy for editing the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Florencia G. Palis.

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Florencia Palis has a PhD in anthropology and is working as a post-doctoral fellow at the Crop and Environmental Sciences Division (CESD) of the International Rice Research Institute in the Philippines. She is also an adjunct faculty member at the Department of Agricultural Systems of Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand.

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Palis, F.G. The role of culture in farmer learning and technology adoption: A case study of farmer field schools among rice farmers in central Luzon, Philippines. Agric Hum Values 23, 491–500 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10460-006-9012-6

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