INNOVATIVE AGRICULTURAL ACTORS’ INFORMATION GATHERING AND UTILIZATION PRACTICES IN THE SZEKLERLAND AREA

ZOLTÁN BIRÓ A.
WAC – Center for Regional and Anthropological Research, Sapientia Hungarian University of Transylvania
birozoltan@uni.sapientia.ro

MÁRIA-MAGDOLNA SZÁSZ
szaszmariam@gmail.com

2020. (V. évfolyam) 1-4. lapszám. 175-194.

Abstract

Our analysis aims at providing specialist information to support policy and planning work in Szeklerland that is focused on organizing specialist information dissemination programmes or events. Based on the research program carried out since 2011 by WAC – Center for Regional and Anthropological Research and Pro Agricultura Hargitae Universitas Foundation, we looked into 90 interviews with a view to examining the passages related to information acquisition, particularly statements, opinions, or references having to do with information acquisition. In keeping with the studied material, we would like to draw attention to two conclusions: (1) The adopted information acquisition practice indicates the dominance of the spot-like operating model, (2) Views taken on information sources indicate that the regional agricultural actors show preference for informal solutions in information acquisition and learning and even try to render formal, institutional solutions informal in their ways of resorting to them.

Keywords: innovative agricultural actors, information acquisition, Szeklerland

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