The purpose of this study was to develop strategies to enhance farmers' learning and on-farm implementation. For this purpose, the study carried out literature reviews on farmer learning and transfer theory; an analysis of farmer learning related services and policies; a survey of 485 farmers on learning characteristics and needs; and a case analysis of domestic and foreign best practices of farmer learning and human resource development approaches of other industries.
Based on the reviews and analyses, this study developed strategies to enhance farmer learning and on-farm implementation, including a basic direction and fifteen specific steps.
The basic direction is that more farmers should be promoted to participate in learning programs such as education and training, learning organization, expert consulting, and informal learning such as discussion with peer farmers, reading agricultural books, newspapers or magazines, internet searching, etc.; participating farmers should be provided with more various forms of learning resources to have access to best contents, anywhere, and anytime; and more learning outcomes of farmers should be implemented on their farms.
The specific steps to foster farmers' learning and practice include the following: ① develop a trusting relationship between learning program providers and participants; ② strengthen the public relations of farmer learning programs; ③ promote the value of farmer learning; ④ develop the competences of HRD practitioners and facilitators in farmer learning institutes; ⑤ activate "Blended-Learning"; ⑥ develop national occupational standards for agriculture; ⑦ indicate various learning pathways after training courses; ⑧ consolidate small learning institutes; ⑨ stimulate learning programs on farm management; ⑩ encourage learning by on-farm implementing units; ⑪ equip farmers with a learning map and a farm business plan; ⑫ encourage learning activities customized by farming levels and careers; ⑬galvanize the learning network among farmers (organizations), learning institutes, and the government; ⑭ strengthen the participants' evaluation of farmer learning institutes; and ⑮ set up an agricultural human resources development center.
Researchers: Sang-jin Ma, Kyung-eun Choi
E-mail address: msj@krei.re.kr