An investigation of soil conservation programs and practice

Group Conservation Areas (GCA's) have been recognised by the Soil Conservation Authority of Victoria as potentially the most efficient strategies for controlling soil erosion and achieving soil conservation on agricultural land. GCA's had several economic and technical advantages over individual farm programs, because conservation programs could be carried out in a planned and co-ordinated manner over contiguous farms. There has been concern in recent years that farmers were not seeing the relevance of and accepting responsibility for maintenance of their mechanical environmental works, nor were they adopting environmental management and improvement practices they had agreed to in their farm conservation plans. The factors which influenced farmers' behaviour as soil conservationists in GCA's were investigated in this research. The focused interview and repertory grid techniques were used to gather information concerning farmers' perceptions about their Soil Conservation programs and practices. This information was interpreted in relation to a theory which explained adult learning and change in soil conservation - Personal Construct Theory. The results show several weaknesses in GCA programs. If such programs are to remain viable several changes are recommended in their strategies. The major areas of weakness are derived from methodological failings; a paternalistic attitude by the Authority is limiting farmers' involvement in direct experience of conservation practices and extension education activities. Recommendations were made for possible changes to help redirect GCA strategies so they became better aligned with the philosophy of adult education