With reference to India.

This work evaluates the merits of a widely-used approach to natural resource management, participatory action research (PAR), an approach to resource management that strives to link researchers with farmers and other local residents whose lives are effected by long-range conservation programmes. The authors begin the book with the history of PAR, and then use a variety of case studies that chronicle sustainable development efforts in Brazil. They evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of these efforts and suggest specific ways to improve on future PAR efforts.

Addressing the concepts behind participatory monitoring and learning (PM&L), such as collaborative review and problem solving through the generation and use of information on a regular basis, this reference focuses on how this system leads to corrective action and improvement within a project, based on shared decision making from a number of stakeholders. Offering field-tested techniques from an initiative that experimented with PM&L within three World Bank–assisted rural development areas, this resource provides facilitators with practical information on how to prepare and apply these tools, as well as how to present the results.

Robert Chambers, 1802-1871, Scottish publisher and writer.

The competitive examinations have become a routine procedure of recruitment and admissions for higher position and education. Now-a-days a large number of short/objective type questions appear in the examination. These questions call for quick answering for success within a specified short period of time. A sincere effort has been made by the authors to present them in most easy, short and understandable language for the benefit, students, farmers and those who are interested in agriculture and agricultural extension. “Indira’s Objective Agricultural Extension” for competitive exams in agricultural extension discipline contain 15 chapters covering all related discipline. The chapters included such as: Introduction, historical perspective in relation to agriculture and extension, extension principles, approaches and programming, extension education, teaching and methods, extension learning and evaluation, communication and communication technology, audio - visual aids, innovation, evaluation and adoption, participatory rural appraisal, rural development and panchayati raj, economic principle, sociology and social work, training manual, agricultural statistics and appendix. This book has given due importance and whole syllabus was covered as per UGC, ICAR and SAU’s programmes in relation to agriculture extension. Each chapters contains multiple choice questions and total about 9000 objective questions with multiple choice have been framed and arranged sequentially for the easy understanding of the students. Recent information and development in the field of agriculture extension have been incorporated in the text. This book is primarily intended to serve as a appearing in competitive examinations of undergraduate, post graduate and doctorate programmes in agricultural extension of various universities. Thus this book is based on the syllabus of student of agriculture stream, it may be useful not only to students but also teachers, researchers as well as extension workers. The chapters are chosen in view to cover the course contents of competitive examinations like IAS, IFS, ARS, PCS, Banking, SAU’s, UGC and to get admissions in various degree programmes of SAU’s and other universities. This book will fulfill the requirement of students of agriculture and agricultural extension stream for appearing in different competitive examinations.

Participatory Processes for Natural Resource Management Ortwin Renn University of Stuttgart, Stuttgart, Germany Need for analytic-deliberative processes Inviting the public to be part of the decision making process in natural resource management has been a major objective in European and American environmental policy arenas. The US-National Academy of Sciences has encouraged environmental protection agencies to foster citizen participation and public involvement for making environmental policy making and natural resource management more effective and democratic (Stern and Fineberg 1996). The report emphasizes the need for a combination of assessment and dialogue which the authors have framed the "analytic-deliberative" approach. Unfortunately, early public involvement of the public in deliberative processes may compromise, however, the objective of efficient and effective policy implementation or violate the principle of fairness (Cross 1998, Okrent 1998). Another problem is that the public consists of many groups with different value structures and preferences. Without a systematic procedure to reach consensus on values and preferences, the public's position often appears as unclear (Coglianese 1997, Rossi 1997). Participatory processes are thus needed that combine technical expertise, rational decision making, and public values and preferences. How can and should natural resource managers collect public preferences, integrate public input into the management process, and assign the appropriate roles to technical experts, stakeholders (i. e.