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APEN 2001 International Conference

Toowoomba, 4th-5th October 2001

Report No:

41

Title of Topic:

Suitability of a Network Approach to Improve Water Use Efficiency.

Name of Leader:

Maria Rose

Names of Participants:

Trish Cameron, Maxine Scache, Lucia Boxelaar, Michelle Rawlings, Chris Lineham, Daniel Armstrong, Jess Kenway and Andrew Craig.

Main points of discussion

Using a horizontal network approach gives insights into:

  • Targeting stakeholders for learning and creating knowledge
  • Understanding the issues underlying farmers thinking and negotiation processes around water use efficiency
  • A better understanding how knowledge is socially constructed.

Major outcomes (what have you achieved from this discussion; how can this make a difference; what else do you need to do?)

  • Finding out who are in individual farmer networks can make a difference by achieving a less threatening approach to change.
  • Thinking more about where you yourself are placed in a network can offer a different perspective in thinking about your approach to extension
  • Thinking and finding out more about the type of networks farmers and service providers are in (ie. Are they formal? Informal? High trust? Low trust?) can make a difference in how we approach specific issues.

A few people in the group expressed that they wanted to know more about horizontal networks. I am happy to pass on details of relevant references or any material I have written about them. Please indicate by e-mail if you are interested in references on horizontal networking. My email address is maria.rose@nre.vic.gov.au

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