This thesis is concerned with an investigation into current on-farm grain storage
practice and with ascertaining what educational interventions, if any, are appropriate
for future and more detailed consideration. The Australian grain growing, handling,
and marketing industry has changed in recent times. A few years ago (1989), the grain
growers only essential contact with grain marketing was through the bulk handling
authorities and the Australian Wheat Board. Advice was freely available from state
departments of agriculture, and the only requirement to store grain on-farm was that
necessary for the grower's own needs.
Now (1994), there is a possible advantage that grain stored on-farm may be used for a
wide range of selling options, amongst other reasons, and market requirements are
much more complex and stringent. There is a substantial body of research on grain
storage techniques. At the same time there is a significant gap between researched
knowledge and the use of this knowledge for on-farm storage. A major purpose of this
study is to identify an improved approach to extension and farmer education that may
help to reduce this gap.
This thesis contains a review of the general literature on extension followed by an
overview of extension in the developed world to establish the international context for
Australia. Then the historical context of extension is examined briefly to understand
the current situation in each state. Some educational models are reviewed to identify
relationships between stakeholders and the opportunities available for and constraints
to development of educational strategies. Information channels are reviewed to
comprehend extension interaction and grain storage technologies are reviewed to
ensure comprehension of techniques.
On the basis of the literature review a field study was designed to investigate current
on-farm storage practice, current extension sources for storage information and
preferences for future educational interventions. This was done by a survey using a
stratified random sample of grain growers and cluster selection of individuals for
personal interviews. This information was complemented by informal discussion with
farmers at field days.
The results of the study confirmed the gap between research knowledge and on-farm
implementation of this knowledge. They also demonstrated that grain growers wanted
more information and gave some indicators of how this might be achieved. Major
findings of the research included the need for extension coalitions and the desirability
for active involvement of the grain grower.
Major conclusions, for on-farm storage and extension, are drawn to form a basis for
development of future extension interventions. These are aimed at ensuring grain
growers have available the information needed for good storage practice. This includes
an essential understanding the grain growers' needs and perceptions, early, in any
planning process. It also includes the necessity for coordination of extension/education
activities at local, regional and national levels.
The research has some major implications for an improved approach to extension and
on-farm storage. These include the establishment of a farmers-as-researcher program to
implement grain storage innovations and the recognition that implemented change will
need long term maintenance; often more resource intensive than the original
intervention.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:ADTP/218750 |
| Date | January 1995 |
| Creators | Annis, Margaret Catherine, n/a |
| Publisher | University of Canberra. Education |
| Source Sets | Australiasian Digital Theses Program |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Rights | ), Copyright Margaret Catherine Annis |
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