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Strengthening Linkages in Agricultural Research through a Farming Systems Perspective: The Role of Social Scientists

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 October 2008

Derek Byerlee  and
Robert Tripp
Derek Byerlee
Affiliation:
International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre (CIMMYT), Lisboa 27, Apartado Postal 6–641, 06600 México, DF, México
Robert Tripp
Affiliation:
International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre (CIMMYT), Lisboa 27, Apartado Postal 6–641, 06600 México, DF, México
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Summary

The principal contribution that the farming systems perspective brings to agricultural research is a farmer and problem-solving orientation. Development of this orientation helps strengthen linkages in national research systems between commodity programmes and between disciplines for both applied and adaptive research. It can also strengthen linkages between research and extension and between research and policy analysis. Issues in strengthening each of these linkages are briefly reviewed with particular emphasis on the socio-economic dimensions and the potential role of social scientists. It is argued that the farming systems perspective in agricultural research should be seen as performing an integrative role in research systems. This can often be developed without significant institutional reorganization.

Type
Research Article
Information
Experimental Agriculture , Volume 24 , Issue 2 , April 1988 , pp. 137 - 151
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1988

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