The overall goal of the project is to understand the impacts of farmer-led participatory agroecological research in rural Malawi on student learning, and to strengthen Cornell faculty and students’ ability to conduct this type of research. The specific aim is to examine the impacts of farmer-led engaged learning approaches to food security on students involved with this research.
Eight students were involved in farmer-led participatory research over the past 2 years, including 4 graduate students and 4 undergraduate students. Students participated in a range of activities, including participating in social and ecological data collection, community education activities and farmer training. They spent between 2 – 10 weeks in the field on each occasion, and also participated in research lab groups before and after their experience. In-depth interviews were conducted with students before and after their fieldwork experience. Students also submitted weekly reflections during their fieldwork experiences to Dr. Bezner Kerr. In addition, 20 SFHC staff and farmers were interviewed before the students conducted their fieldwork, and 4 focus groups held with staff and farmers before they began the fieldwork with students.
In 2019, 3 students will travel to Malawi as part of this study, and will participate in several ongoing research projects with SFHC.
Out of a desire to protect our region from this virus, all of SFHC’s field work activities will finish by April 7. Although the Malawi government has not yet confirmed any cases of COVID-19 in the country, SFHC… Read More
For twenty years, we have been working here in Northern and Central Malawi. We are very proud of the work we’ve done: a participatory approach to agroecological farming to improve nutrition, livelihoods and equity. And since 2000, we… Read More
After a productive first year of data collection, FARMS4Biodiversity held its annual meeting in February. We are really proud of this year’s work: SFHC has taken the lead in a complex network of interdisciplinary collaboration between five universities,… Read More
Farmer-led Research in Malawi Deepening Knowledge of Impact
Funded by Engaged Cornell, Farmer-led Research in Malawi Deepening Knowledge of Impact explores and evaluates the experiences of Cornell students participating in SFHC projects and activities.
The overall goal of the project is to understand the impacts of farmer-led participatory agroecological research in rural Malawi on student learning, and to strengthen Cornell faculty and students’ ability to conduct this type of research. The specific aim is to examine the impacts of farmer-led engaged learning approaches to food security on students involved with this research.
Eight students were involved in farmer-led participatory research over the past 2 years, including 4 graduate students and 4 undergraduate students. Students participated in a range of activities, including participating in social and ecological data collection, community education activities and farmer training. They spent between 2 – 10 weeks in the field on each occasion, and also participated in research lab groups before and after their experience. In-depth interviews were conducted with students before and after their fieldwork experience. Students also submitted weekly reflections during their fieldwork experiences to Dr. Bezner Kerr. In addition, 20 SFHC staff and farmers were interviewed before the students conducted their fieldwork, and 4 focus groups held with staff and farmers before they began the fieldwork with students.
In 2019, 3 students will travel to Malawi as part of this study, and will participate in several ongoing research projects with SFHC.
The project is co-led by Rachel Bezner Kerr and Esther Lupafya, with Heidi Mouillesseaux-Kunzman collaborating. Additional funding from CALS Global Fellows supports student travel to Malawi.
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Updates & News
COVID-19: Updates on SFHC activities
March 28, 2020
By Rachel Bezner-Kerr
Out of a desire to protect our region from this virus, all of SFHC’s field work activities will finish by April 7. Although the Malawi government has not yet confirmed any cases of COVID-19 in the country, SFHC… Read More
Twenty Years of Agroecology: Mapping SFHC’s Impact
April 1, 2020
By Rachel Bezner-Kerr
For twenty years, we have been working here in Northern and Central Malawi. We are very proud of the work we’ve done: a participatory approach to agroecological farming to improve nutrition, livelihoods and equity. And since 2000, we… Read More
FARMS4Biodiversity’s second Annual Meeting yields exciting results!
April 2, 2020
By Rachel Bezner-Kerr
After a productive first year of data collection, FARMS4Biodiversity held its annual meeting in February. We are really proud of this year’s work: SFHC has taken the lead in a complex network of interdisciplinary collaboration between five universities,… Read More