Manuel Luís Tibério

Circles and Communities, Sharing Practices and Learning: Looking at New Extension Education Approaches

Abstract We live today in a ‘knowledge society’, but ‘knowledge transfer’ is no longer the dominant extension education paradigm. The principle of ‘learning to learn’ and the concepts of self-directed, collaborative and action learning are more crucial today then ever. The key principles are to stimulate knowledge discovery and facilitate learning through group exchanges and active participation, building on peoples’ motivations and projects. This conceptual background was key to the formulation and implementation of the two action-oriented projects which are analysed in this paper: two ‘Study Circles’ linked to the ‘Olive Oil’ and ‘Port Wine’ Routes of northern Portugal, created to share experiences, promote initiatives and enhance the performance of these two organisations in terms of rural development; and five different ‘Communities of Practice’, in distinct stages of development, functioning as lifelong collaborative learning instruments. Do such projects show the way to relevant extension education approaches and methods? Which strengths and weaknesses do they present? How did they evolve? Are there cultural bound constraints to their functioning and outputs? If yes, which strategies should be adopted in order to overcome them? What are the major lessons to be learned? One of the major conclusions is that extension and development facilitators can benefit from such approaches in different ways and levels. More than using personal networks, the challenge these agents face is to help build and maintain social networks like the ones studied, involving different development stakeholders from the institutional, research and practice arenas, serving as learning and action systems.

Selling directly fresh and local products, looking at a new localized rurality: the case of PROVE Project in Portugal

espanolEn Portugal, los cambios en el mercado de productos agricolas y alimentarios han dado lugar a una enorme concentracion de la oferta en cuatro grandes distribuidores, que representan alrededor de las tres cuartas partes de las ventas. Este proceso excluye o dificulta el acceso al mercado de un gran numero de productores a pequena escala. Estos avances contribuyen en gran medida a la exclusion economica de los pequenos productores, al abandono de zonas agricolas, a la disminucion del numero de explotaciones y al estancamiento de la economia rural en muchas regiones. La supervivencia de estos pequenos productores y la revitalizacion de las zonas rurales requieren medidas innovadoras en varios campos, mirando a una nueva ruralidad localizada. La organizacion y acceso a los mercados son fundamentales. El proyecto PROVE, apoyado por la red Leader portuguesa, es una experiencia de venta directa/proxima, a traves de cestas de frutas y verduras frescas, teniendo como objetivos: apoyar a los productores en la promocion y marketing de sus productos, garantizar la frescura y calidad de los productos, y fortalecer los lazos entre las comunidades rurales y urbanas. Este trabajo presenta los resultados de un estudio que analizo la contribucion de este proyecto al desarrollo sostenible y mantenimiento de las dinamicas territoriales locales. La informacion que se presenta es el resultado del analisis de documentos y cuestionarios de encuestas a 56 productores en diferentes regiones del territorio continental de Portugal. Los resultados muestran que los agricultores aumentaron la zona y diversificaron la produccion, y mejoraron las condiciones de comercializacion y los ingresos del hogar. EnglishIn Portugal, changes in the market of agricultural and food products have led to a huge concentration of supply in four large distributors, who represent about three-quarters of sales. This process excludes or hinders the access to the market of a large number of small-scale producers. These developments contribute greatly to the economic exclusion of small producers, the abandonment of agricultural areas, the decline in the number of farms, and the stagnation of the rural economy in many regions. The survival of these small producers and the revitalization of rural areas require innovative measures in several domains, looking at a new localized rurality. Organization and market access are fundamental. The Project PROVE, supported by the Portuguese Leader network, is a direct/proximity selling experience, through baskets of fresh fruits and vegetables, having as objectives: to support producers in the promotion and marketing of their products; to ensure the freshness and quality of the products; and to strengthen the ties between rural and urban communities. This paper presents the results of a study that analysed the contribution of this project to sustainable development and maintenance of local territorial dynamics. The information presented is the result of document analysis and questionnaire interviews to 56 producers in different regions of mainland Portugal. The results show that farmers increased the area and diversified the production, and improved marketing conditions and household income.