ISSN 2756-326X
Advances in Agriculture and Agricultural Sciences ISSN 2381-3911 Vol. 4 (5), pp. 001-012, May, 2018. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Mainstreaming participatory and cross-disciplinary approaches in animal science research in developing countries
Jens Aagaard-Hansen1*, Carl Erik Schou Larsen 2, Niels Halberg3, Carsten Nico Hjortsø4, Quentin Gausset5 and Jolly Kabirizi6
1DBL – Centre for Health Research and Development, Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
2 Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
4 Centre for Forest and Landscape Denmark, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.
5Institute of Anthropology, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
6Namulonge Agriculture and Animal Production Research Institute, P. O. Box 7084, Kampala, Uganda
Accepted 09 January, 2018
Abstract
Conventional research approaches have lost considerable momentum after their astonishing achieve-ments during the green revolution. The negative side of focusing rigorously on production improve-ment was eminent around 1980 and led to considerations of environmental, gender and equity aspects - making agricultural development much more complex than previously. In the search for new ways of addressing the persisting problems of food insecurity and malnutrition, new ways should be explored. Based on the experiences from three international, African research projects, the article argues the case of participatory action research and cross-disciplinarity as some of the key elements in future animal science research in developing countries. The benefits are outlined as well as the challenges for the researchers and the donor agencies.
Key words: Action research, agriculture, agro-forestry, animal science, cross-disciplinarity, developing countries, livestock systems, paradigms, participation, poverty.