Group extension methods are widely recognized as the most effective extension
method in agricultural development internationally. Research in this area tends to
look at group function, and factors that inhibit or promote successful group activity.
Most development projects start with an analysis of whether groups exist or may
need to be formed, and then focus on group function. However, very little research
to date has considered the farmer group from a whole community context, when
assessing knowledge and information dissemination in rural areas. This paper
presents and discusses research findings from a case study with three communities
in Gulu district of Northern Uganda, where household surveys were used to map
networks within and between community members and external organizations
identified as promoting agricultural development in the region.
The potential impact of inclusion or exclusion in such a group within small
communities emerged as a significant issue, as well as the strong disconnect
between community and external organizational perceptions of group existence,
function and impact.