Farming systems research and rural poverty: Relationships between context and content

Biggs, Stephen

doi:10.1016/0308-521x(94)p4409-u

Cited by 28 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 7 publications

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“…This shift was set in after increased awareness concerning the limitations of the Transfer of Technology approach, with its 'top-down' transfer of technology to farmers (Rogers 1962). The farming systems approach, although still rather 'top-down', reflected increased attention for the socioeconomic and agro-ecological context of the farm and its household (Biggs 1995). More bottom-up approaches actively sought farmers' participation (Chambers et al 1989), also in research through joint learning by means of e.g.…”

Section: Explaining the Pip Approach And Related Conceptsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Bringing ISFM to scale through an integrated farm planning approach: a case study from Burundi

Kessler

Duivenbooden

Nsabimana

et al. 2015

Nutr Cycl Agroecosyst

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Integrated soil fertility management (ISFM) is generally accepted as the most relevant paradigm for soil fertility improvement in the tropics. Successes however are mainly reported at plot level, while real impact at farm level and beyond remains scattered. As a consequence, many Sub-Saharan African countries continue experiencing soil nutrient mining and insecure and insufficient agricultural production. Since technology-driven projects at the plot level failed to bring ISFM to scale, a different approach is needed. This paper describes a bottom-up approach developed in Burundi, the ''PIP approach''. It starts at farmer family level with the creation of an integrated farm plan (Plan Intégré de Paysan in French-PIP) and aims at wide-scale spreading of farmers' intrinsic motivation to invest in activities that make the household more resilient and profitable, while moving towards sustainable agricultural intensification based on concepts of ISFM. As such, and once firmly embedded in and supported by village or district plans, agriculture becomes a business rather than a default activity inherited by parents, and ISFM an intrinsic aspect of farm management. In this paper the PIP approach as currently being implemented in Burundi is explained and discussed, with special reference to soil fertility management and some preliminary promising results.

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Section: Explaining the Pip Approach And Related Conceptsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Bringing ISFM to scale through an integrated farm planning approach: a case study from Burundi

Kessler

Duivenbooden

Nsabimana

et al. 2015

Nutr Cycl Agroecosyst

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“…The associated farming systems research debate has been mainly methods driven and has struggled to find explicit form in an appropriate institutional framework. For example, the integration of different disciplines has been particularly difficult to achieve organisationally as has the ability of existing institutional structures to genuinely accommodate farmers in the research process (Biggs, 1989;Ewell, 1989;Farrington and Martin 1991;Biggs and Farrington, 1993;Biggs, 1995). 13.…”

Section: Notesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Abundant examples of this methods-driven debate can be found in PLA notes. For criticism see Tripp 1989;Biggs 1995;Biggs and Smith 1998;Nahdy 1999. 15.…”

Section: Notesmentioning

confidence: 99%

New agendas for agricultural research in developing countries: Policy analysis and institutional implications

et al. 2000

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This article argues that the goals of agricultural research in poor countries have changed substantially over the last four decades. In particular they have broadened from the early (and narrow) emphasis on food production to a much wider agenda that includes poverty alleviation, environmental degradation, and social inclusion. Conversely, agricultural research systems have proved remarkably resistant to the concomitant need for changes in research focus. As a result many, at both the national and international level, are under great strain. In terms of public policy the article goes on to suggest that shortcomings of existing conceptual approaches to technology development could be supplemented by adopting analytical principles that view innovation in systemic terms. An approach where flows of knowledge between institutional nodes is a key to innovative performance (the "National Systems of Innovation" approach) is suggested as one such conceptual framework that might help supplement conventional policy analysis.Hall et al. 71

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“…Some definitions equate the farming system to a farm system or a 'unit of production' (Norman and Gilbert, 1981); 'a unique and reasonably stable arrangement of farming enterprises that a household manages' (Shaner et al, 1982). Part of the difficulty is that some use the term 'farming system' interchangeably with 'system of farming', so farming systems are 'systems with the goal of producing biomass' (Biggs, 1995), 'an approach' (Turner and Brush, 1987) or 'a resource management strategy' (Lal and Miller, 1990).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Can We Define the Term ‘Farming Systems’? A Question of Scale

Giller

2013

Outlook Agric

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Farming systems research and rural poverty: Relationships between context and content

Cited by 28 publications

References 7 publications

Bringing ISFM to scale through an integrated farm planning approach: a case study from Burundi

Bringing ISFM to scale through an integrated farm planning approach: a case study from Burundi

New agendas for agricultural research in developing countries: Policy analysis and institutional implications

Can We Define the Term ‘Farming Systems’? A Question of Scale

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