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Traditional farming practices in the highlands of Lesotho are briefly described, and a methodology to help farmers build on indigenous knowledge as they develop a community research agenda aimed at improving crop production is outlined. At a series of village-based workshops, farmers analysed the strengths and weaknesses of their cropping system and targeted strategic knowledge to be expanded through research. Subsequently, a non-governmental organization (GROW) worked with volunteer farmers to develop and implement on-farm agronomic experiments. Treatments were replicated in plots throughout the Mokhotlong area and, in some cases, over multiple growing seasons. Volunteer farmers were trained to make observations concerning the growing season and sample yield data at harvest. These farmers trained other farmers during field days at the research plots and end-of-season seminars. Following the 2000 growing season, more than half of the farmers working with GROW had trained other farmers in crop rotation, manure application, intercropping, or potato production. Indigenous Knowledge and Development Monitor (Netherlands). 2001, v. 9(1) p. 3-7.
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