Information Maps

Information Maps

This method produces a list of all the organizations, institutions and individuals with which farmers are linked, and which are therefore actual or potential channels of communication.

The linkages between the various organizations and institutions can then be explored later, through interviews with key informants at different levels (e.g. village, district, national). These linkages between organizations and institutions can be represented either in a map or in a matrix.

Although the background is different, these techniques are very similar to those used in Concept Mapping or Mind-Mapping.

	Procedures
	References and Further Reading

See also:

Concept Maps

Access to and use of information sources is likely to vary between categories of farmer, and between men and women. It is therefore a good idea to develop separate maps for different categories.

Procedures

	Assemble a group of participants representative of a particular category of farmers
	Divide a large sheet of paper into three sections, representing the local area (e.g. within the village), the district and the national levels. Draw a circle representing the farmers in the middle of the “local area” section.
	Beginning with the local area, ask participants who they get information from, and who they communicate with. Draw a circle for each one they identify, and draw a line between each circle and the circle representing the farmers.
	For each of these sources or contacts, ask participants to describe (and make notes against the lines on the paper, or on a separate piece of paper): what kinds of information are exchanged between them? how frequently are they in contact with them? what are the advantages and disadvantages of each one, as a source of information on agriculture? how easy it is to make contact with them (e.g. are they always available, or is it difficult to find them?)
	Then repeat the process for the district level, and then for the national level.
	At the district and national level, explore their access to mass media (radio, newspapers etc.).
	Once the “information map” is complete, ask participants what they think are their main information gaps, and their main difficulties in getting access to useful information .
	Compare the information maps produced by different categories of farmer, and see if there are any differences which might have implications for the design and implementation of extension and advisory services.
	Through follow-up interviews with key informants at village, district and national levels, assess the extent and nature of linkages between the various sources and contacts (e.g. to what extent do they share information? or use each other as channels to communicate with farmers?).

For an example of the use of Information Maps see an information needs assessment done in the early stages of an LPP project which used information mapping (see the figure below, which is figure 1 on page 10 in the report).	go to this project
	view the report

References and Further Reading
Concept Maps: A Theoretical Note on Concepts and the Need for Cyclic Concept Maps
Concept Maps: CmapTools web site (http://cmap.ihmc.us/)
Mind Mapping web site (http://www.mind-map.com/)
Mind Maps - a powerful alternative to conventional note taking. (A brief general article on how to make concept maps). (http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newISS_01.htm)
Cañas, A.J., Leake, D.B. and Wilson, D.C. (1999). Managing, Mapping and Manipulating Conceptual Knowledge. AAAI Workshop Technical Report WS-99-10: Exploring the Synergies of Knowledge Management & Case-Based Reasoning, AAAI Press, Menlo Calif, (July 1999).
Galpin, M., Dorward, P.T. and Shepherd, D.D. (2000). Participatory Farm Management methods for agricultural research and extension: a training manual. Department for International Development and The University of Reading. pp 112.
Ramirez, R. (1997) Understanding Farmers’ Communication Networks: Combining PRA with Agricultural Knowledge Systems Analysis Gatekeeper Series no. 66. London. International Institute for Environment and Development.
Rees, D. et al. (2000). Agricultural Knowledge and Information Systems in Kenya – Implications for Technology Dissemination and Development AgREN Network Paper no. 107. London . ODI. July 2000.