Cognitive blocks as a critical variable in the communication and adoption of the integrated pest management (IPM) technology
1998
Pedro, T.O.
Results of the study showed that the concept mapping technique was able to generate information about the farmers' farming practices before and after the IPM [integrated pest management]-Kasakalikasan training. The technique was able to dig deeper into the farmers' reasons for their practices that eventually led to the development of their cognitive blocks. The study showed that cognitive blocks among farmers exist. These were: 1) all insects are pests; 2) insecticides are medicines; 3) insecticides go hand-in-hand with modern varieties; 4) all crop diseases are brought by insects; 5) leaf damage at an early stage of the crop lead to yield loss; and 6) it is difficult for the plant to recover against leaf feeder damages during the vegetative stage of the crop. Several factors that include communication approach, credibility of communicator, availability of resources/information, farmers' knowledge level, farmers' perceptions and attitudes, peer influence and common practice or tradition affected farmers' cognitive blocks. The IPM-Kasakalikasan that used the FFS [farmer field school] as an approach to promote the IPM technology was effective in changing farmers' knowledge and skills. Several activities in the farmer field school (FFS) approach such as: 1) agro-ecosystems analysis (AESA); 2) simple hands-on experiments through simulations and insect zoos and informal group reporting and discussions altered the farmers' cognitive blocks which led to their immediate and full adoption of the technology. The IPM technology was successfully communicated because concepts were packaged in simple demonstrations that were easily done by farmers therefore, it was adopted easily by the farmers
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