ISSN 2756-3642
International Journal of Agricultural Extension and Rural Development ISSN 2756-3642 Vol. 11 (3), pp. 001-012, March, 2023. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Main-streaming participatory and cross-disciplinary approaches in animal science research in developing countries
Jens Aagaard-Hansen1*, Carl Erik Schou Larsen2, Niels Halberg3, Carsten Nico Hjortsø4, Quentin Gausset5 and Jolly Kabirizi6
1DBL – Centre for Health Research and Development, Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
2Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
4Centre for Forest and Landscape Denmark, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.
5 Institute of Anthropology, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
6Namulonge Agriculture and Animal Production Research Institute, P. O. Box 7084, Kampala, Uganda
Accepted 23 January, 2023
Abstract
Conventional research approaches have lost considerable momentum after their astonishing achieve-ments during the green revolution. The negative side of focusing rigorously on production improve-ment was eminent around 1980 and led to considerations of environmental, gender and equity aspects - making agricultural development much more complex than previously. In the search for new ways of addressing the persisting problems of food insecurity and malnutrition, new ways should be explored. Based on the experiences from three international, African research projects, the article argues the case of participatory action research and cross-disciplinarity as some of the key elements in future animal science research in developing countries. The benefits are outlined as well as the challenges for the researchers and the donor agencies.
Key words: Action research, agriculture, agro-forestry, animal science, cross-disciplinarity, developing countries, livestock systems, paradigms, participation, poverty.