Research Paper Carter, I. 1999 Educational Paper No. 31, DFID, London, UK, ISBN 1 86192 079 2, 132 pp. The research explored in detail the sources and types of information accessed by
grassroots farmers. Printed information about sustainable agriculture is a much
neglected area. It is widely assumed that many grassroots farmers are non-literate and
that print is an ineffective medium of communication with this target audience. What
little printed information that is produced on agriculture is usually aimed at resource
rich, commercial farmers.
This research sought to establish the viewpoints and priorities both of grassroots
farmers in Uganda and Ghana and of organisations producing printed information in
developing countries. The research comprised a postal survey of nearly 200 organisations, in-depth research with 75 autonomous farmer groups in Uganda and Ghana and an overview of 95 organisations sharing agricultural information in Uganda
and Ghana.