Researching the Culture in Agri-Culture Social Research for International Development

• Other Authors: Cernea, Michael M. (Editor), Kassam, Amir H. (Editor)
• Format: Book
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge, MA CABI Pub. 2006
• Subjects: Agriculture > Congresses > Sociological aspects > Research
• Online Access: Click Here to View Status and Holdings.
• Item Description: Based on papers from a conference of social scientists, mainly from within the CGIAR (consultative group on international agricultural research) held in CIAT, Colombia
• Physical Description: xxv, 497 pages illustrations 24 cm
• Bibliography: Includes bibliographical references and index
• ISBN: 9780851990033; 0851990037; 9780851990262; 0851990266

This book analyzes the functions, content, methods, findings, and impacts of social and cultural research carried out by the worldwide network of 16 International Agricultural Research Centers of the CGIAR(Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research). Its two main parts - "insiders" and "outsiders" - bring together the perspectives of over 50 eminent scholars and social researchers from 30 countries, working within the Centers or within outside academic and development institutions. The authors examine critically the priorities, strengths, and weaknesses of research on the socio-structural, behavioral, cultural, and institutional variables of developing agriculture, forestry, livestock, and fisheries. The studies focus on farmers' values, needs and knowledge, their patterns of social organization, issues of food security, natural resource management and poverty reduction. Alternative models of multidisciplinary research, reuniting biological, natural, economic and social sciences are scrutinized in the light of experience and results, with emphasis on the nature of social science research as a source of international public goods and a key contributor to induced development.