2013, Volume 21, Paper 4
ISSN: 1883-5675

Improving access to credit for smallholder sweet potato farmers in Papua New Guinea: A participatory action research approach

Hui-Shung Chang
Eleo Dowa
Regina Malie
Conrad Anton
Iga Anamo
Peter Dekene
Debra Bubun

A participatory action research (PAR) approach was used to address the priority issue of lack of access to credit identified by smallholder sweet potato farmers in Papua New Guinea. The main lesson learned was that PAR, when applied to international agricultural research projects, has the benefit of stakeholders identifying local problems and locally appropriate solutions, but its drawbacks include the lack of capacity and support services on the ground. To improve outcomes, more resources are required to build extension and development capacities on the ground.

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