The problem and solution game

This paper is based on socio-economic research on the Isiolo Livestock Development Programme in Kenya. It describes a ranking game which was played by the research team with the inhabitants of Isiolo. The game was based on a well-known and commonly played board game. The aim was to get groups of farmers to identify and rank their own problems, and then suggest ways of solving them. Even though the groups were entirely free to select their own problems and allocate their own priorities, a high degree of consensus emerged. This was based on differences in wealth rather than on differnces between production systems or geographic areas. Livestock management problems were the overwhelming concern of the rich while the poor were more concerned by their lack of livestock.