Institutionalizing the Farming Systems Perspective in Multi-commodity Research Institutes: The Role of Systems-based Research Groups

Abstract

Research institutes in Africa have had limited success in producing new technologies appropriate to the needs of small farmers because of an inadequate understanding of small farmers' goals and resource limitations and over-reliance on the transfer of technologies from other regions. Farming systems research (FSR) is an effective way of improving the focus of scientists on the problems farmers face. Vertically segmented thematic research programmes make institutionalization of FSR difficult within multi-commodity research centres, particularly the International Agricultural Research Centres. The Farming Systems Research Group has proved effective at overcoming such difficulties at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture. Its organization, operation and effects on the performance of the research programmes are described. D. S. C. Spencer: Institucionalizacion de la perspectiva de los sistemas agricolas en los institutos de investigation de genero multiple -el papel desempenado por los grupos de investigacion en base a sistemas.

Looking back and moving forward: 50 years of soil and soil fertility management research in sub-Saharan Africa

“…In the 1980s, multi-disciplinary diagnostic surveying came in vogue as an essential component of the farming systems approach to research (Spencer, 1991). There has been a historic debate since the inception of FSR on the usefulness of detailed socio-economic characterization and typology of smallholder farms and households.…”

Sustainability, growth, and poverty alleviation: a policy and agroecological perspective

“…Poor sectoral management policies, price policies, and trade and exchange rate imbalances have been cited as major causes of declining income (World Bank 1984b;Jaeger and Humphreys 1988;Binswanger 1989b). An insufficient stock of appropriate agricultural technologies has also limited growth (Matlon and Spencer 1984;Spencer 1985;Carr 1989;Vitta 1990).…”

“…Farming systems research is an effective way of improving the focus of scientists on the problems farmers face. Interdisciplinary farming systems research groups are needed to ensure that research programs are more effective at taking into consideration the environmental and socioeconomic conditions of poor farmers when designing new technologies (Spencer 1991).…”

An assessment of the impact of Farming Systems Research/Extension on the adoption of agricultural technologies in the Middle-Belt region of Nigeria

“…Valleys were focused mainly on the development of up-stream prototype technology, and not the direct transfer of technology to farmers (Spencer, 1991) it was not the purpose of the study to blame the non-adoption of technologies on the IITA. It should also be borne In mind that technology transfer usually Involves a host of complex Intervening variables and institutions (Anderson and Herdt, 1988) which makes it often impracticable to blame non-adoption on a particular institution.…”

“…As a result of the low capacity of many National Agricultural Research Systems (NARS) to conduct down-stream adaptive on-farm research with the prototypes of technologies emanating from the lARCs, many lARCs had to get involved in these type of research activities (Jahnke et al, 1987). (Spencer, 1991;Palada et al, 1986). The study was carried out within the original Bida ADP where the IITA has been implementing a FSR project for the development of technology for lowland rice production in the inland valleys for over ten years.…”