Issues in farming systems research.

Abstract

There is growing concern about the gap between maximum yields obtained in research stations and actual farmers' yields. Farming systems research (FSR) aims to study the production constraints of small farmers in the Third World outside the research station with a view to developing technologies that fit their needs. Stages in FSR are: definition of fields for recommendation, diagnostic survey, design and on-farm testing of technology, and dissemination. Major methodological and institutional issues in the FSR approach are discussed. It is concluded that a future role for FSR lies in broadening the scope of existing agricultural research programmes. Thus, FSR is not a separate discipline but provides a focus for the different disciplines involved in agricultural research. (Abstract retrieved from CAB Abstracts by CABI’s permission)