Development planning in The Gambia: The gap between planners' and farmers' perceptions, expectations and objectives

Abstract

This paper challenges the prevalent view that irrigation development largely depends on engineering, agricultural and managerial inputs and argues with reference to Gambian irrigation projects that new technologies may be adapted by farmers in ways that are incompatible with planners' objectives. The conclusion is that planners need to give greater attention to the organization and control of production and consumption within the household. This would require a change in attitudes among many planners, the recruitment of more social scientists into planning teams, and greater co-operation between planners, farmers of all socio- economic categories and extension agents.