Teaching beekeeping in Nepal: a field test of the FAO's development communications process model

Abstract

This thesis explores the problem of integrating women into rural development programmes. Specifically, it examines the potential of Development Communications as a strategy for achieving sustainable development, with particular reference to the author’s beekeeping project for women in Nepal. The thesis also addresses typical failures in development programmes relating to women and gender issues. Women are effectively excluded from the majority of development programmes because of their low social and economic status. However, they do make up half the adult population, and can play a vital role in family and community development. It is therefore crucial to ensure their participation in the development process. Indeed, the thesis argues that this is the key to achieving sustainable development. Therefore, strategies are considered for involving and empowering women in development programmes - this is done principally through income-generating activities - and one activity in particular, modern beekeeping, is identified as being most appropriate for rural women living in the Sindhupalchowk district of Nepal. Development Communications is hence seen as the essential means for motivating and enabling such a target audience to adopt these new activities. The theoretical and practical issues involved in Development Communications are then surveyed in a number of projects from Nepal and other parts of Asia. The author describes her own case study, called "Communications for the Future", in which the FAO's Development Communications Process Model is evaluated and specific improvements are recommended. Solar power is used to run the communications equipment in the field, and this is identified as the most appropriate means of activating video-training systems in remote rural areas. However, successful Development Communications depends not only on technology but also on interpersonal communication and on an interactive approach. The thesis suggests that potential problems, such as differences of language or culture, can be overcome by taking a bottom-up rather than top-down approach, involving the target audiences in all stages of the communications process and producing educational material which is culturally specific. Finally, the thesis demonstrates the practical value of its approach to Development Support Communications. It shows that involving women in income-generating activities can have positive effects for the local economy, for the status of women and for integrated rural development.