Combining role-playing games and policy simulation exercises: An experience with Moroccan smallholder farmers

Mathieu Dionnet, Marcel Kuper, Ali Hammani and Patrice Garin
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Mathieu Dionnet: Cemagref, France, mathieu.dionnet@cemagref.fr
Marcel Kuper: CIRAD, France, kuper@cirad.fr
Ali Hammani: IAV Hassan , Morocco, a.hammani@iav.ac.ma
Patrice Garin: Cemagref, France, patrice.garin@cemagref.fr

Simulation & Gaming, 2008, vol. 39, issue 4, 498-514

Abstract: Moroccan agriculture is currently undergoing major political, socioeconomic, and environmental transitions. Smallholder farmers involved in large-scale irrigation schemes need to modernize their systems to face these challenges. In this study, a participatory process incorporating different simulation and gaming tools was designed and applied to accompany farmer groups in designing joint irrigation projects, generally drip irrigation systems. A role-playing game was used in the first phase of the process to raise awareness among farmers about the scope and contents of a joint irrigation project and list the different knowledge gaps. During the second phase, a policy simulation exercise based on the actual field situation enabled farmer groups to design their own joint drip irrigation project. As a result, several farmer groups produced a feasibility study for their joint drip irrigation system. Our experience highlighted the complementarity of these tools in a process of change. The abstract role-playing game provided valid learning experience while the realistic simulation supported concrete decision making.

Keywords: irrigation; participatory innovation development; policy simulation exercise; role-playing game; smallholder farmers; Tadla irrigation scheme (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2008
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:sae:simgam:v:39:y:2008:i:4:p:498-514

DOI: 10.1177/1046878107311958

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