PESQUISA, EXTENSÃO E O AGRICULTOR: ENVOLVIMENTO, PARTICIPAÇÃO OU INTERVENÇÃO? O PAPEL DO PROFISSIONAL

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to discuss the importance of farmer's intervention as a policy to be adopted by research and extension in the search for improving technology generation and adoption. The paper starts with research and extension historical and theoretical overview, stressing its view on farmers and their relationship with agricultural professionals. The study of this pro- cess leads to the analysis of researcher and extension worker interventions, arriving to the reasons that justify the need of farmer's own analysis for intervention. The paper points out the approaches and methods for intervention which are theoretically based upon Farmer Participatory Research and Participatory Rural Appraisal. The study ends challenging the technicians to the assumption of transforming the existing picture. This will make possible farmer's autonomous intervention, stimulating re- search and extension bodies to consider farmers as a main subject.