Formation professionnelle et recherche participative : Actions combinées pour développer la riziculture biologique en Camargue (France)

In 2006 and 2007, INRA’s Joint Research Unit, Innovation, was a partner in a European professional training project within the framework of the Leonardo da Vinci programme. The objective of this project was to help develop organic rice farming in the major European rice-growing regions where rice is mainly cultivated in ecologically-sensitive areas. In France, the rate of conversion to organic production is much lower that what would be expected, since organic rice farming presents particular technical problems. The availability of expert support is critical to successful conversion and no structured training was available in the past. This is the reason why we developed a participatory training method that helps rice growers and stakeholders to convert to organic farming and to improve their organic rice production. Different training sessions were organised. The participants shared their thoughts about technical problems encountered and identified possible solutions. Some of the topics developed were weeds, soils and fertility, and varieties. At the end of these sessions, a motivated workgroup was set up. Some of its members even proposed to assess the efficiency of some of the techniques that were discussed during the work sessions in fields on their own farms. Furthermore, field visits were organised in the Camargue region of France and in Spain. Scientists and group members hope to be able to continue to work together after the O.R.P.E.S.A. project is over. In order to make this possible, we are now planning to initiate new research and development actions using the same approach. Nous avons développé une méthode de formation participative permettant d’accompagner les riziculteurs et les principaux acteurs de la filière dans leur démarche de conversion et de production biologique. Les différentes sessions et actions de formation organisées ont permis aux participants d’avoir une réflexion sur des problèmes techniques qu’ils rencontrent et d’identifier des solutions envisageables. Au terme de ces séances, un groupe de travail dynamique s’est constitué. Certains participants se sont portés volontaires pour évaluer sur leurs parcelles l’efficacité de techniques évoquées lors des réunions. Pour répondre à une volonté partagée entre chercheurs et praticiens de poursuivre l’expérience engagée, le dispositif sera mobilisé pour conduire de nouvelles actions de recherche-développement.