Hostname: page-component-8448b6f56d-cfpbc Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-24T06:52:55.262Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Farmer Experimentation as a Basis for Cropping Systems Research: A Case Study Involving True Potato Seed

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 October 2008

M. J. Potts
Affiliation:
The International Potato Centre, PO Box 1586, Bandung, West Java, Indonesia
Greta A. Watson
Affiliation:
The International Potato Centre, PO Box 1586, Bandung, West Java, Indonesia
R. Sinung-Basuki
Affiliation:
Lembang Horticultural Research Institute, PO Box 1586, Bandung, West Java, Indonesia
N. Gunadi
Affiliation:
Lembang Horticultural Research Institute, PO Box 1586, Bandung, West Java, Indonesia

Summary

The radical concept of potato production from true potato seed (TPS) was adopted as a component of their farming system within three seasons by 23 farmers from Cibodas, West Java. The farmers showed an ability to conceptualize and experiment and desired concepts from which they could develop, through research, appropriate principles and field techniques. Information received solely as detailed practices or techniques hindered their progress, since they first needed to repeat the technique in order to understand the concepts and principles involved. Farmer experimentation resembled closely that of experimental station researchers, with the use of replication in space, often neighbouring farmers' plots, and time. Initial experiments covered a wide range of factors but within three seasons farmers had identified similar areas of concern which coincided with those of experiment station researchers worldwide. Farmer experimentation and the role of the researcher in this methodology for technology development are discussed.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1992

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Ashby, J. A. (1986). Methodology for the participation of small farmers in the design of on-farm trials. Agricultural Administration 22:119.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Chambers, R. & Ghildyal, B. P. (1985). Agricultural research for resource-poor farmers: the farmer-first-and-last-model. Agricultural Administration 20:130.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Farrington, J. & Martin, A. (1987). Farmer Participatory Research: A Review of Concepts and Practices. Discussion Paper 19, Agricultural Administration (Research and Extension) Network. London: Agricultural Administration Unit, Overseas Development Institute.Google Scholar
Gunadi, N., Potts, M. J., Sinung-Basuki, R. & Watson, Greta A. (1992). On-farm development of potato production from true seed in West Java. Experimental Agriculture 28:3139.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Haverkort, B., Hemstra, W., Reijntjes, C. & Essers, S. (1988). Strengthening farmers' capacity for technology development. ILEIA Newsletter. 4(3):37.Google Scholar
Lightfoot, C. (1987). Indigenous research and on-farm trials. Agricultural Administration and Extension 24:7989.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Malagamba, P. & Monares, A. (1988). True Potato Seed: Past and Present Uses. Lima, Peru: The International Potato Centre.Google Scholar
Malagamba, P. (1983). Reducing the effect of stress during the establishment and growth of potatoes from true seed in hot climates. In Research for the Potato in the Year 2000, 125126 (Ed. Hooker, W. L.). Lima, Peru: International Potato Centre.Google Scholar
Merrill, Sands D. (1986). Farming Systems Research: clarification of terms and concepts. Experimental Agriculture 22:87104.Google Scholar
Rhoades, R. E. (1987). Farmers and Experimentation. Discussion Paper 21, Agricultural Administration (Research and Extension) Network. London: Agricultural Administration Unit, Overseas Development Institute.Google Scholar
Rhoades, R. E. & Booth, R. H. (1983). Farmer-back-to-farmer: a model for generating acceptable agricultural technology. Agricultural Administration 11:127137.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sinung-Basuki, R. (1988). TPS (True Potato Seed) on experiment stations in Indonesia. In Proceedings of a Regional Workshop on TPS (True Potato Seed) Extension and On-Farm Technology Transfer, 22–25 August 1988, Bandarawela, Sri Lanka.Google Scholar
Umaerus, M. (1987). True potato seed. Proceedings of the 10th Triennial Conference of the European Association for Potato Research, 26–31 July, Aälborg, Denmark, 72102.Google Scholar
Upadhya, M. D. (1986). True potato seed quality parameters and production. Proceedings of the Seed Conference and FAO/DANIDA Regional Seminar on Hybrid Seed Production, 10–13 November, 1986, Surabaya, Indonesia.Google Scholar
Vander, Zaag P., Hoang, V. T. & Balanay, N. (1987). True potato seed utilization in S. E. Asia. Abstracts of conference papers of the 10th Triennial Conference of the European Association for Potato Research, 26–31 July 1987, Aalborg, Denmark, 178179.Google Scholar
Van Uyen, N. & Vander, Zaag P. (1983). Vietnamese farmers use tissue culture for commercial potato production. American Potato Journal 60:873879.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Van Uyen, N. & Vander, Zaag P. (1985). Potato production using tissue culture in Vietnam: the status after four years. American Potato Journal 62:237241.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wiersema, S. G. (1986). A method of producing seed tubers from true potato seed. Potato Research 29:225237.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wiersema, S. G., Cabello, R., Tovar, P. & Dodds, J. H. (1987). Rapid seed multiplication by planting into beds micro tubers and in vitro plants. Potato Research 30:117120.Google Scholar