Farming systems adaptive research strongAchievementsstrong and prospects.pdfVIP

CIMMYT Institutional Multimedia Publications Repository / CIMMYT Socioeconomics Farming systems adaptive research: Achievements and prospects in Southern Africa Low, A.R.C. 1991 Downloaded from the CIMMYT Institutional Multimedia Publications Repository ExplAgric. (1991), volume 27, pp. 115-125 FARMING SYSTEMS SERIES-2 9 Printed in Great Britain FARMING SYSTEMS ADAPTIVE RESEARCH : ACHIEVEMENTS AND PROSPECTS IN SOUTHERN AFRICA By ALLAN LOWf and S. R. WADDINGTON International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre (CIMMYT), Southern Africa Regional Programme, PO Box MP 154, Mount Pleasant, Harare, Zimbabwe (Accepted 20 August 1990) SUMMARY Farming Systems Adaptive Research (FSAR) has contributed much to the understanding of maize production constraints on smallholder farms in southern Africa in the last six to eight years. But its production impact has been constrained by the often inappropriate technology available to FSAR from component research and the ineffective use of its results by extension staff. However, FSAR has demonstrated the utility of a problem (client) orientated approach to technology development, which is now being taken up by some maize commodity research and extension programmes, though effective linkages have not usually been developed. Neverthe- less, experience in southern Africa suggests that the FSAR approach can provide a framework for developing more effective integration between key groups involved in technology gener- a