An agricultural development project for rural women: its evolution and flow of communication

Date

1994

Abstract

This case study focused on the a) evolution of the agricultural development project for rural women based on ten project phases; b) perception of policymakers/ planners (PMPs), agricultural technicians (ATs), and rural women (RW) toward women's involvement in the project and vice versa; and c) flow of communication in the project. Policy implications were then derived.Data were gathered from questionnaires, face-to face-interviews, and participant observation.Frequencies, averages and percentages were used in interpreting the data.The respondents were 45 PMPs, 2 ATs and 14 RW.In the project phases, the PMPs and ATs were involved more in planning, budgeting/resource allocation and evaluation whereas the RW were involved more in implementation, decision-making, monitoring, leading/ organizing, problem-solving, and benefit-sharing.Top-down approach in planning/ conceptualizatiOn of the project was evident. The project was ready for implementation when it was presented to the RW.The agricultural rural development project for the RW was affected by the reorganization at the national level. With the weakening of the project, the RW members individually started their own income generating activities.All the respondents have positive attitude and perception on rural women's participation in their project - arrowroot production and processing (APPP), and agricultural rural development (ARD) projects. Also they expressed positive values toward involvement of women in development.Both one-way and two-way flow of communication werepresent. It improved the respondents' attitudes andbehavior toward each other and the project. Generally,it broadened the rural women's knowledge on various aspects - technical and non-technical. It also helped the respondents solve problems objectively.Information, knowledge and skills improvement of rural women were supported by seminars, trainings, and publications. Seminars and trainings were found to be more useful to the RW compared to the use of publications, since majority of the RW had attained little or no education at all.It was recommended that a) target beneficiaries be involved in designing projects for them to balance the top-down and bottom-up approaches; b) social preparations must come with physical arrangements through more non-formal education on technologies, social values and self-reliance; c) publications be produced in ""comics"" style to attract and encourage readership; d) use radio extensively to make information dissemination faster; e) sustainability of the project be studied and worked out; and f) projects must be appropriate to the target group's skills and capabilities.

Document Type

Master Thesis

Degree

Master of Development Communication

Language

English

LC Subject

Rural women -- Philippines, Agricultural development projects, Women -- Philippines

Location

UPLB Main Library Special Collections Section (USCS)

Call Number

LG 995 1994 D46 P35

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