Participatory action research and quantitative analysis for nutrient management in southern Mali. a fruitful marriage?

A farmer participatory action research process was developed by the Malian Farming Systems Research team to assist farmers improving the practices of soil fertility management. The process is based on a relatively simple and quick analysis of farm diversity regarding soil fertility management, follo wed by resource flow models made by test farmers. These models are farmers' major tool to diagnose the way they manage soil fertility, and to plan and evaluate improvements over time. To evaluate the process, an analytical fr amework has been developed, using the data from the resource dow models. Bo th management performance indicators based on farmers' perception of good s oil fertility management and farm level nutrient flows and partial balances have been monitored. It allowed assessment of differences between farm cla sses and changes over time, and comparison of farmers' performance with sta ndard references. The results show that resource flow models are an operati onally useful tool. They assist farmers in analysing their soil fertility s trategies, and in planning step-wise improvements. The visualisation of flo ws also allows for reliable and complete data collection, because omissions and mistakes are directly visible. Moreover, farmers not only provide info rmation, but actively participate in the analysis itself. Evidence is given that information obtained through quantitative analysis based on data gain ed from resource flow models can improve knowledge and perception of the ma jor actors involved in the process: researchers and farmers. Examples are g iven that show that marrying participatory action research and quantitative analysis can lead to planning, experimenting and adapting ways to improve the use of scarce local resources. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All right s reserved.