13 pages, via online journal, In recent years there has been a great deal of interest in farming systems research (FSR) as a means of getting formal research and extension systems to work with and respond to the needs of resource-poor farmers. However, the results of many FSR programmes have been disappointing. This paper reviews a number of ‘successful’ FSR activities and argues that the development and use of research approaches and methods cannot be separated from the political, economic and institutional context in which they were developed and used. A closer examination of some of the new FSR methods shows that an understanding of the specific context in which these activities were developed and used is essential to understanding the potential relevance of the methods/approaches to other circumstances. A lack of an historical perspective concerning the source and advocacy of new FSR approaches and methods is one of the reasons why many FSR programmes in the past have given rise to disappointing results.
Anandajayasekeram, P. (author / International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center, Eastern African Economics Program, P.O. Box 25171, Nairobi, Kenya)
Format:
Conference paper
Publication Date:
1984
Published:
International
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 95 Document Number: C07381
Notes:
INTERPAKS, Mimeographed, 1984. Paper presented at the Farming Systems Research Symposium, Kansas State University, October 7-10, 1984. 20 p., Describes Kenya's restructuring of the research and extension network to meet the needs of the majority of small farmers. In order to improve the extension services the government of Kenya adopted the T and V approach to extension. It also became necessary to re-direct agricultural research towards definite goals, related to national needs rather than the customary disciplinary interests. To make the research process more efficient in generating appropriate recommendations for the target group of farmers, the on-farm research with farming systems perspective (OFR/FSP) has been accepted and will be integrated into the research process in Kenya. The major task is that a strong linkage mechanism is established to make sure the limited research and extension resources are utilized efficiently. Concludes with a discussion of the linkage mechanism that could be established within the existing institutional framework to improve the technology generation and dissemination process.
McAllister, Jean (author) and Merrill-Sands, Deborah (author)
Format:
Report
Publication Date:
1988-09
Published:
International
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 93 Document Number: C07079
Notes:
James F. Evans Collection; Table of Contents and Summary, The Hague: International Service for National Agricultural Research, 1988. OFCOR Comparative Study Paper No. 1. 61 p.
Norman, David W. (author / Professor of Agricultural Economics, Kansas State University)
Format:
Report
Publication Date:
1980
Published:
USA
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 94 Document Number: C07263
Notes:
Evans, cited reference, East Lansing, MI: Department of Agricultural Economics, Michigan State University, 1980. MSU Rural Development Paper No. 5. 26 p.
