Digital Communication for Agricultural and Rural Development: Participatory Practices in a Post-COVID Age
Oxford: Routledge (2025), 315 pp.
Contains illustrations
Series: Earthscan Food and Agriculture Series
ISBN 978-1-04-008953-8; 978-1-03225209-4 (pbk)
"This volume presents insights on the challenges of digital communication and participation in agricultural and rural development. The COVID-19 pandemic has revealed that digital technology and mediated participation is more important and essential in managing ongoing communication for development projects than ever before. However, it has also underscored the various challenges and gaps in knowledge with digital participatory practices, including the further exclusion of marginalized groups and those with limited access to digital technology. The book considers how the concept of participation has been transformed by the realities of the pandemic, reflecting on essential principles and practical considerations of communication for development and social change, particularly in the context of global agriculture and food security, the well-being of rural communities, and evolving environmental challenges, such as climate change. In gathering these insights, this volume highlights lessons for the future of participatory development in communication for development and social change processes." (Publisher description)
1 Introduction / Ataharul Chowdhury and Gordon A. Gow, 1
PART 1: REFLECTING ON THE PARTICIPATORY PARADIGM IN C4D
2 Non-negotiable components of participation in the digital age of communication for development and social change / Ricardo Ramírez, 17
3 Datafication, aggregation, and heteromation: Participation in a digitally mediated world / Katherine Reilly, 35
PART 2: CRITICAL PERSPECTIVES ON DIGITAL PARTICIPATION
4 Data-driven digital participation in agri-food context: Why should C4D and CfSC scholars and practitioners pay attention to information disorder? / Khondokar Humayun Kabir, Ataharul Chowdhury and Uduak Edet, 51
5 Agricultural extension, social media, and the dilemma of path dependency / Gordon A. Gow, 71
PART 3: LESSON FOR A POST-COVID ERA: PRACTICES, EXPERIENCES, CASES, AND TOOLS
6 DigitalNWT — Adapting digital tools to support remotely managed digital literacy research, education, and communications in Northern Canada / Rob McMahon, Michael B. McNally, Samantha Blais, Murat Akcayir, Kyle Napier, Leanne Goose and Kevin Zhu, 91
7 The paradox of digital participation and misinformation: Lessons from online agri-food communities of practice in Trinidad and Tobago / Jeet Ramjattan, Ataharul Chowdhury, Khondokar Humayun Kabir and Wayne Ganpat, 111
8 Inclusive digital pathways for agricultural extension: Exploring micro-level innovation with technology stewardship training in Sri Lanka and Trinidad / Gordon A. Gow, Ataharul Chowdhury, Uvasara Dissanayeke, Jeet Ramjattan and Wayne Ganpat, 134
9 School closures on rural education: Examining remote learning experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic in Chile / Isabel Pavez Andonaegui and Catalina Farías, 159
10 Are rural smallholders ready for agricultural digitalization? Farmer (In)competencies and the political economy of access in digital agricultural extension and advisories in Northern Ghana / Abdul-Rahim Abdulai, 175
11 Redefining the use of ICTs as tools for empowering farmers and rural communities: A Malawian case study / Fally Masambuka-Kanchewa and Mary T. Rodriguez, 193
12 Internet use genres: A lens for analyzing patterns of Internet adoption in rural communities of Canada, Chile, and Vietnam / Maria Bakardjieva, Isabel Pavez Andonaegui, Teresa Correa and Trang Pham, 211
13 Teaching community engagement in the Digital Age: Reflexive pedagogical experiences / Judy Lawry and Linje Manyozo, 223
14 Masculinity and participation in China: Exploring ideals and practices of development in a Heyang village / Byron Hauck, 240
15 Participatory practices and lessons from scientific animations without borders and WhatsApp network in a post-COVID age: The case of video animations for rural agriculture / Anne Namatsi Lutomia, Julia Bello-Bravo, Noel Iminza Lutomia, James Kamuye Kataru, John W. Medendorp and Barry R. Pittendrigh, 253
16 Conclusion / Ataharul Chowdhury and Gordon A. Gow, 271
PART 1: REFLECTING ON THE PARTICIPATORY PARADIGM IN C4D
2 Non-negotiable components of participation in the digital age of communication for development and social change / Ricardo Ramírez, 17
3 Datafication, aggregation, and heteromation: Participation in a digitally mediated world / Katherine Reilly, 35
PART 2: CRITICAL PERSPECTIVES ON DIGITAL PARTICIPATION
4 Data-driven digital participation in agri-food context: Why should C4D and CfSC scholars and practitioners pay attention to information disorder? / Khondokar Humayun Kabir, Ataharul Chowdhury and Uduak Edet, 51
5 Agricultural extension, social media, and the dilemma of path dependency / Gordon A. Gow, 71
PART 3: LESSON FOR A POST-COVID ERA: PRACTICES, EXPERIENCES, CASES, AND TOOLS
6 DigitalNWT — Adapting digital tools to support remotely managed digital literacy research, education, and communications in Northern Canada / Rob McMahon, Michael B. McNally, Samantha Blais, Murat Akcayir, Kyle Napier, Leanne Goose and Kevin Zhu, 91
7 The paradox of digital participation and misinformation: Lessons from online agri-food communities of practice in Trinidad and Tobago / Jeet Ramjattan, Ataharul Chowdhury, Khondokar Humayun Kabir and Wayne Ganpat, 111
8 Inclusive digital pathways for agricultural extension: Exploring micro-level innovation with technology stewardship training in Sri Lanka and Trinidad / Gordon A. Gow, Ataharul Chowdhury, Uvasara Dissanayeke, Jeet Ramjattan and Wayne Ganpat, 134
9 School closures on rural education: Examining remote learning experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic in Chile / Isabel Pavez Andonaegui and Catalina Farías, 159
10 Are rural smallholders ready for agricultural digitalization? Farmer (In)competencies and the political economy of access in digital agricultural extension and advisories in Northern Ghana / Abdul-Rahim Abdulai, 175
11 Redefining the use of ICTs as tools for empowering farmers and rural communities: A Malawian case study / Fally Masambuka-Kanchewa and Mary T. Rodriguez, 193
12 Internet use genres: A lens for analyzing patterns of Internet adoption in rural communities of Canada, Chile, and Vietnam / Maria Bakardjieva, Isabel Pavez Andonaegui, Teresa Correa and Trang Pham, 211
13 Teaching community engagement in the Digital Age: Reflexive pedagogical experiences / Judy Lawry and Linje Manyozo, 223
14 Masculinity and participation in China: Exploring ideals and practices of development in a Heyang village / Byron Hauck, 240
15 Participatory practices and lessons from scientific animations without borders and WhatsApp network in a post-COVID age: The case of video animations for rural agriculture / Anne Namatsi Lutomia, Julia Bello-Bravo, Noel Iminza Lutomia, James Kamuye Kataru, John W. Medendorp and Barry R. Pittendrigh, 253
16 Conclusion / Ataharul Chowdhury and Gordon A. Gow, 271
