This section provides definitions of key terms and concepts 1.9.1 Access
Farmers access information through a number of sources and channels. These include meetings, neighbours, researchers, farmer field schools, farmer groups, opinion leaders, extension officers and researchers. Tadesse (2008) defined access as messages farmers receive related to agricultural production from sources such as mass media, extension service and on-farm research. The media farmers use to access information includes radio, Television, mobile phones, person and internet. Access to information enables users to adopt innovations which enhance their livelihood. In this study, access is defined as the ability of farmers to receive information on climate change and variability from sources.
19 1.9.2 Adaptation
Smit, Burton, Klein and Wandel (2000:228) defined adaptation as the process of adjusting to the resulting outcome or condition aiming at better suiting the new conditions. There are methods which help individuals to cope with the impacts of climate change and variability.
Nyong, Adesina and Elasha (2007) describe adaptation methods as strategies which enable individual or community to adjust or cope with the impacts of climate change and variability in their local settings. The strategies include among others, the adoption of efficient agricultural and environmental practices such as planting of early maturing crops, new drought resistant varieties in areas where there is a decline in rainfall.
1.9.3 Adoption of Innovations
Rogers (1995:21) defines adoption as a decision to make full use of an innovation as the best course of action available. Rogers (2003:12) defined an innovation as any idea, object or practice that is perceived as new by members in a social system. For the purpose of this study, adoption of innovations refers to the ability of farmers to accept and embrace new information on adaptation to climate change and variability to improving yields. Innovation in this study is perceived in the context of climate adaptation measures which have been introduced to farmers as a result of climate change and variability.
1.9.4 Climate Change and Variability
Hellmuth, Moorhead, Thomson and Williams (2007:4) defines climate change and variability as variations of the climate system, which includes oceans and the land surface as well as the atmosphere, over months, years and decades caused by from human activities. In this study the climate change and variability definition by Hellmuth, Moorhead, Thomson and Williams (2007) will be adopted.
1.9.5 Communication Channels
A communication channel is the means by which information flows from one individual to another (Rogers 2003). They are described as dissemination pathway used by information providers to disseminated information to users (Garforth 1998). The communication channels are categorised into interpersonal or mass media. Interpersonal channels include researchers, extension officers, NGOs, farmers groups and civil societies. Mass media channels include radio, mobile phones, Television, internet, newspapers, fliers and meetings/gatherings.
20 1.9.6 Diffusion of Innovations Model
Diffusion is the process by which an innovation is communicated through certain channels, over time, among the members of a social system (Rogers 2003:5). For the purpose of this study, innovation is new information available to farmers in the context of climate change and variability which have been introduced to farmers to enhance their adaptation capacity.
1.9.7 Indigenous Knowledge
Orlove, Roncoli, Kabugo and Majugu (2010) described indigenous knowledge (IK) as the knowledge based on a place originated in local cultures and associated with communities which have long lived in that particular area and have strong ties to their environments. IK is built through people’s day to day experience emanating from present and previous generations’ observation and testing of the knowledge in their surrounding environment (Nyong, Adesina and Elasha 2007; Orlove, Roncoli, Kabugo and Majugu 2010). Meyer (2000) noted that IK is mostly communicated orally from one generation to another through storytelling, poetry, drama, songs and taboos and ceremonies. In this study, IK is defined as the knowledge possessed by a community in as a result of a long interaction with their environment.
1.9.8 Information Dissemination
Feather and Sturges (2003) define information as data which has been processed into a meaningful form. Information dissemination is the spread of information from the source to a wider targeted audience. This study defines information dissemination as the process of sharing information and knowledge from researchers to a wider community of farmers to promote access to and use of innovations.
1.9.9 Information Packaging
Sturges and Chimseu (1996b) use the term to refer to organising the information content in an efficient and effective way to make it useful so that it can reach a wider community in a format which is understandable. In this study, information packaging and repackaging will be used intercheangable describing the preparation and tailoring agricultural information before disseminating to farmers to promote usage.
1.9.10 Knowledge
Knowledge is described by Davenport and Prusak (1998) as a fluid mix of framed experience, values, contextual information, and expert insight that provides a framework for
21
evaluating and incorporating new experiences and information. Alavi and Leidner (1999) defined knowledge as the information related to concepts, procedures, ideas, observations and facts in the mind of a person. In the context of this study, knowledge will be defined as the level of understanding possessed by a farmer and which has been received through experience.