Interpretive Perspective of Knowledge Management Stance in Agricultural Knowledge Information System to Fostering Research/Extension Linkage

Abstract

Problem statement: Knowledge Management (KM) as a "starter" and Agricultural Knowledge Information System (AKIS) act as an "engine" to sustainable development. Approach: This article explored the role of KM as Agricultural Knowledge Initiative (AKI) to link up agricultural research and extension to foster agricultural development. A dominant-less dominant design was applied to describe the KM and AKIS integration frameworks as an interpretive process. Clarification of KM stance in AKIS was made through hermeneutic approach in the qualitative part of the study. In quantitative part of the study, ‘Expedite Finding Transmission of Agricultural Research (EFTAR) Project was explained as the empirical evidence. Results: Although KM and AKIS were not new concepts in agricultural science, but AKI and the New Agriculture (NA), in the way that we intermingled them in this article to encourage the end-users’ partnership and agricultural development, are quite new issues. Conclusion: To provide the domain of any use of proposed models elsewhere and facilitate the international application of KM in AKIS and AKI, practical suggestions were presented. Applying this state of art in agricultural development in over 1000 production units, caused obtaining 57% increase in rain fed wheat production in probationary areas in Iran.