570
to validate extension messages and assist with future policymaking. The methodology could also aid future project design as a useful tool within monitoring and
evaluation and project management.
1 Introduction: Digital Storytelling in Agricultural
Extension Communication
Digital storytelling (DS) is an innovative tool that can communicate agricultural
extension messages and help address the commonly occurring gap between knowledge and action in research and education. Within appropriate contexts, DS can
form the core of baseline studies, document the impacts of projects, and supplement
projects’ qualitative data. We utilised DS to highlight the impact, through the eyes
of the beneficiaries, of two selected projects in Malawi: “Reducing carbon footprint
through breeding and feeding based technologies for improved productivity”
(REDCAP) at Dzaonewekha Milk Bulking Group in Dedza district – approximately
an hour’s drive south-east of the capital, Lilongwe; and “Sustainable environment
and enterprise development for climate change adaptation in fisheries” (SEEDFish) in Vinthenga village on the shores of Lake Malawi in Nkhotakota district –
approximately a 3-hour drive north-east of Lilongwe. The two projects are part of
the wider Capacity Building for Managing Climate Change in Malawi (CABMACC)
programme which is funded by the Royal Kingdom of Norway.
Our method was developed to shift focus from the science of a project to the reality of a project for the beneficiary. It should be able to effectively communicate
agricultural extension messages in a farmer-to-farmer capacity, overcome some of
the challenges associated with such a task in rural Malawi, and provide a record of
a project’s impact for all stakeholders. Furthermore, from a capacity-building perspective, it combines classroom learning and field practice to highlight how DS as a
potentially powerful new tool in agricultural communication can help develop a
context-specific knowledge base. The resulting stories showcase small-scale farmers’ and fishers’ perspectives of the two projects and reveal how new agricultural
technologies impact their lives. This chapter presents an overview of the context,
methodology and results of DS as it was developed and used as part of agricultural
extension communication and capacity building.
2 Image-Based Digital Storytelling: A Hybrid Methodology
Traditional storytelling as a presentation form can help increase access to information, generate, and share knowledge, especially in communities with lower education levels (Mkwizu 2016). Digital stories add value by being both auditive and
visual. The narratives and images that are the foundation of digital stories stimulate
N. G. Davey and M. K. Moulton
to validate extension messages and assist with future policymaking. The methodology could also aid future project design as a useful tool within monitoring and
evaluation and project management.
1 Introduction: Digital Storytelling in Agricultural
Extension Communication
Digital storytelling (DS) is an innovative tool that can communicate agricultural
extension messages and help address the commonly occurring gap between knowledge and action in research and education. Within appropriate contexts, DS can
form the core of baseline studies, document the impacts of projects, and supplement
projects’ qualitative data. We utilised DS to highlight the impact, through the eyes
of the beneficiaries, of two selected projects in Malawi: “Reducing carbon footprint
through breeding and feeding based technologies for improved productivity”
(REDCAP) at Dzaonewekha Milk Bulking Group in Dedza district – approximately
an hour’s drive south-east of the capital, Lilongwe; and “Sustainable environment
and enterprise development for climate change adaptation in fisheries” (SEEDFish) in Vinthenga village on the shores of Lake Malawi in Nkhotakota district –
approximately a 3-hour drive north-east of Lilongwe. The two projects are part of
the wider Capacity Building for Managing Climate Change in Malawi (CABMACC)
programme which is funded by the Royal Kingdom of Norway.
Our method was developed to shift focus from the science of a project to the reality of a project for the beneficiary. It should be able to effectively communicate
agricultural extension messages in a farmer-to-farmer capacity, overcome some of
the challenges associated with such a task in rural Malawi, and provide a record of
a project’s impact for all stakeholders. Furthermore, from a capacity-building perspective, it combines classroom learning and field practice to highlight how DS as a
potentially powerful new tool in agricultural communication can help develop a
context-specific knowledge base. The resulting stories showcase small-scale farmers’ and fishers’ perspectives of the two projects and reveal how new agricultural
technologies impact their lives. This chapter presents an overview of the context,
methodology and results of DS as it was developed and used as part of agricultural
extension communication and capacity building.
2 Image-Based Digital Storytelling: A Hybrid Methodology
Traditional storytelling as a presentation form can help increase access to information, generate, and share knowledge, especially in communities with lower education levels (Mkwizu 2016). Digital stories add value by being both auditive and
visual. The narratives and images that are the foundation of digital stories stimulate
N. G. Davey and M. K. Moulton