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Farming Systems Adaptive Research: Achievements and Prospects in Southern Africa

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 October 2008

Allan Low  and
S. R. Waddington
Allan Low
Affiliation:
International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre (CIMMYT), Southern Africa Regional Programme, PO Box MP 154, Mount Pleasant, Harare, Zimbabwe
S. R. Waddington
Affiliation:
International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre (CIMMYT), Southern Africa Regional Programme, PO Box MP 154, Mount Pleasant, Harare, Zimbabwe
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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. Nevertheless, experience in southern Africa suggests that the FSAR approach can provide a framework for developing more effective integration between key groups involved in technology generation, dissemination and support.

Type
Research Article
Information
Experimental Agriculture , Volume 27 , Issue 2 , April 1991 , pp. 115 - 125
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1991

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