The farming systems approach to development and
appropriate technology generationThe farming systems approach to development and
appropriate technology generationD.W. Norman
F.D. Worman
J.D. Siebert
E. Modiakgotla
FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS
Rome, 1995
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M-61
ISBN 92-5-103644-6
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Part I - Conceptualising the farming systems development approach
2. Rationale and philosophy of the farming systems development approach
2.1 Objectives of the chapter
2.2 Evolution of the FSD approach
2.3 Comparing station-based research and FSD
3. General approaches to the farming systems approach to development
3.1 Objectives of the chapter
3.2 Introduction to FSD
3.3 Approaches within farming systems research
3.4 Some characteristics of FSD
3.5 A systems or reductionist approach?
3.6 FSD in the context of other agricultural institutions
3.7 Challenges facing FSD
4. Some key concepts important in the farming systems approach to development
4.1 Objectives of the chapter
4.2 Definition of a farming system
4.3 The limited-resource household: status, goals, and appropriate technology
4.4 Equitability considerations - intra- and inter- generational
4.5 Recommendation domains
4.6 Participatory research
Part II - Implementation of the farming systems development approach
5.1 Objectives of the chapter
5.2 Step involved in FSD
5.3 Selection of target areas
5.4 Selection of research areas
5.5 Selection of villages
5.6 Selection of cooperators
5.7 Descriptive/diagnostic
5.8 Design
5.9 Testing/implementation
5.10 Dissemination and impact
6.1 Objectives of the chapter
6.2 Interdisciplinary cooperation
6.3 Linkages
6.4 Leverage and handling constraints
6.5 Research resource considerations
Part III - Methodology for the farming systems development approach
7.1 Objectives of chapter
7.2 Common data collection methods
7.3 Major data collection methods by FSD stage
8.1 Objectives
8.2 Obtaining farmer cooperation
8.3 Formal (structured) and informal (unstructured) surveys compared
8.4 Informal surveys: features, types and uses
8.5 Formal surveys: value, design, and implementation
8.6 Direct physical survey measurements
9.1 Objectives
9.2 Types of trials
9.3 Functions of different trial types
9.4 Some issues in planning trial work
9.5 Trial designs appropriate to crop research
9.6 Approaches to livestock trials
9.7 Testing within crop-livestock systems
9.8 Implementation of trials with farmer involvement
10.1 Objectives
10.2 Trial analysis: integrated analysis
10.3 Suitable evaluation criteria -- farmer viewpoint
10.4 Technical feasibility
10.5 Economic viability
10.6 Social/societal acceptability
10.7 Formulating recommendations
10.8 A case study: Example of double ploughing technology in Botswana
10.9 Ways to assess adoptions
Appendix A2: Definitions of acronyms
Appendix A3: Estimating crop densities and yields
A3.1 Introduction and use of density measurement
A3.2 Measuring plant densities
A3.3 Introduction to crop yield estimation
A3.4 Yield measurements of sorghum and millet plots
A3.5 Yield measurements of legume plots
A3.6 Yield estimation for mixed cropping
A3.7 Method for estimating whole-farm production and average grain yield