International Journal of Agriculture Extension and Social Development

author(s)
Jabez Moyo

abstract
There are complex ethical considerations that extend beyond standard research protocols in conducting field research. Their importance includes maintaining the integrity and trustworthiness of research output. This paper also explores these challenges through an incidental study arising from a primary research on modelling entrepreneurial competences and agricultural performance. The primary study was conducted in the non-metropolitan provinces of Zimbabwe. This incidental study adopted interpretivism philosophy using qualitative data to examine ethical considerations in agricultural fieldwork. The research arose incidentally during a prior study in 2024. During the preliminary analysis of the quantitative data, recurring concerns related to informed consent, data privacy, and researcher-community relations emerged, warranting a deeper investigation. The study also examines the role of local leadership, local governance structures in ethical oversight. Findings proffer that ethical conduct in agricultural research requires a context-specific, participatory approach that prioritizes community engagement, mutual respect and that researchers should be security conscious. This case underscores the importance of reflexivity, transparency, and long-term relationship-building as upholding ethical principles fosters collaboration and trust among researchers thereby creating an environment conducive for knowledge advancement, capacity building, skills transfer and innovation.