Abstract

Informal transfer of information among vegetable growers in Khartoum State, Sudan was investigated through a cross-sectional survey with 120 growers from six typical vegetable production villages (20 growers from each each) in peri-urban Omdurman (2 villages) and Eastern Nile locality (4 villages). The focus was on inventor growers (72, 60%) employing their information, skills and experience exchange to improve and develop their production. Growers from each village were selected following the systematic random sampling technique on geographical basis. Field data was collected using questionnaires in face to face interviews for literacy reasons, in depth interviews and group discussions. Extension workers and researchers took part in the group discussions. The results showed that most of the growers (85%) had contacts with one or more other growers in a personal level. Most of them did not receive any extension information from the officials entrusted with this task. This led growers to develop their own system of information exchange. Vegetable production skills were learnt mostly from family members (81%) and they do not trust information delivered by extension. Growers mostly (90%) made consultation with other growers on their inventions. Cooperation between growers in minimal due to lack of time and communication. The majority of the inventor-growers did not transfer their own inventions to others.

Key Words: Vegetables production in Khartoum State, technology, techniques and practices, information transfer, grower' inventions, communication and skills learning, cooperation and consultation.