Abstract
M.A.
The success of participation in research for development depends upon its ability to change
power relations in the development setting. The central problem adressed by this study is
the question whether participatory methodologies are able to change power relations. A
case study is made of the Tshikonelo irrigation scheme of the Agricultural Corporation of
Venda, now called the Agricultural and Rural Development Corporation (Pty) Ltd. This
case study identifies obstacles relevant to developmental interventions which cast a critical
light upon the claims of participatory methodologies. The following methodologies are
discussed: Action Research, Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA), and the Actor-oriented
perspective on rural development.
The origin of the methodologies that use participation in research is located in the use of
social scientific knowledge for development. Consequently, the use of social scientific
knowledge is fundamental to the realisation of Participatory Development. This relationship
problematises the role of social scientific knowledge for the development process, as social
scientific knowledge for development cannot be limited to the context of the development
project, and its ability to critique development efforts should be primary.
Action Research is relevant to intervention if collaboration with other similar projects is
possible. The focal point of this methodology is the degree to which Apartheid and the
accompanying strategy of "Separate Development" continues to affect the lives and
activities of the farmers involved in the Tshikonelo project. In this respect, it can be used to
disseminate alternative agricultural techniques. This approach is important as it can bring
about changes in the agricultural establishment.
PRA is a positive contribution to the field by virtue of the innovative way in which it
approaches development problems. The efficacy of PRA, however, depends upon factors
that are external to the project context, such as the receptivity of the agricultural and
development establishment to the participation of small farmers in the research process.
Problems with PRA are highlighted which run parallel to the problematics of the use of
social scientific knowledge for the development process. The strength of the Actor-oriented perspective lies mainly in the possibility of exposing the
hidden power relations and dynamics of the irrigation project. As such, it has a unique and
important role to play vis-à-vis the other methodologies, with regard to intervention in this
project.
A debate is constructed between the methodologies in question, covering the following:
The degree of homogeneity of target groups; the "vision" of what participatory
development should be like; and the identity of the community that has to validate the
knowledge under discussion. "Participation" as paradigm for development should be
refined in terms of these issues if it is to address deeper methodological problems. It can be
seen as a methodological innovation as the community that is responsible for the final
validation of knowledge is strange compared to the scientific community.
The strategy of participation in development promotes the interests of the participants in
two ways. Within the arrangement of how research is done, it promotes the interests of the
participants before those of the individual scientist, and it is capable of promoting the
interests of marginalised groups in terms of the present political economy. Participatory
development is strongly influenced by those participating in the development process and is
by no means an easy solution providing a more justifiable establishment.