Adapting the Cropcheck extension model to rice production systems in Lao PDR

Cropcheck developed following the identification of limitations to the Transfer of Technology (TOT) extension model which occurred through the 1970’s and into the early 1980’s (Lacy 2011). Irrigated wheat yields stagnated with high variability from year to year and no understanding as to why this occurred. This was despite several communication methods (farm visits, demonstrations, plot trials, field days, mass media communication and crop competitions) being used to pass on latest research findings and farming techniques. Importantly, the TOT model did not allow farmers to formulate their own questions, explore, learn and understand the new technology in terms of their own world view (Webber and Ison 1995). Cropcheck evolved for irrigated wheat using a participatory approach where famers were collaborators and team players in the process. The model process is a planning, action and review cycle with extension practitioners, farmers and researchers learning from their participation in growing each crop (Lacy 2011).