Planning and adaptive production research program for small farmers: A case study of farming systems research in Kirinyaga District, Kenya
Material type:
TextLanguage: English Publication details: East Lansing, MI (USA) : Michigan State University, 1983Description: xiii, 279 pagesSubject(s): Summary: This thesis uses the farming systems research (FSR) methods of the International Maize and Wheat and Improvement Center (CIMMYT) to plan an experimental program for farmers in Iliddle Kirinyaga, Kenya, and to address several methodological issues concerning FSR. The approach includes three stages: (1) interviews with extension agents to identify recommendation domains (RD's), i.e., fairly homogenous groups of farmers; (2) an informal survey in which researchers interview farmers; and (3) a formal sample survey. An agronomist collaborated with the author in mounting the research. The two RD's identified in t1iddle Kirinyaga were high income farmers and low income farmers. Farmers' circumstances are described and “leverage points” are identified, which represent opportunities for increasing productivity in ways acceptable to and feasible for farmers. An experimental program is presented; the two most important research priorities are: 1.- Improving soil fertility and structure through on-farm experiments to test the effectiveness of readily available coffee husks as manure 2.- Reducing the draught power bottleneck by selecting bean cultivars with superior ability to withstand dry planting, treating seeds against ant damage, and deeper planting. Two methodological issues are addressed. The first is how to obtain normative and prescriptive information, i.e., information on farmers' values and decisions. Two techniques, repertory grid (RG) and hierarchical decision tree models (HDM), are incorporated into the informal and formal surveys and are evaluated. The techniques were found useful for assembling data concerning preferences and decisions in a systematic fashion and far assisting the researcher to develop an understanding of farmer decision-making. The second methodological issue concerns the quality of data at different stages of the investigation. First, data from the RD-identification exercise are evaluated in comparison to those of the formal survey. The exercise is found to be reasonably effective for tentatively classifying farmers into RD's. Next, the utility of the formal survey is evaluated by comparing its results with those of the informal survey. The formal survey contributed relatively little to the understanding of farmers' practices and constraints or to the experimental program developed in the informal survey. These findings support the hypothesis that the informal survey can be an effective and sufficient method for planning experimental programs for farmers.
| Item type | Current library | Call number | Copy number | Status | Barcode | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thesis | CIMMYT Knowledge Center: John Woolston Library | Look under author name (Browse shelf(Opens below)) | 1 | Available | 616554 |
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Nationality: US
Thesis - Tables, bibliography p. 273-279
This thesis uses the farming systems research (FSR) methods of the International Maize and Wheat and Improvement Center (CIMMYT) to plan an experimental program for farmers in Iliddle Kirinyaga, Kenya, and to address several methodological issues concerning FSR. The approach includes three stages: (1) interviews with extension agents to identify recommendation domains (RD's), i.e., fairly homogenous groups of farmers; (2) an informal survey in which researchers interview farmers; and (3) a formal sample survey. An agronomist collaborated with the author in mounting the research. The two RD's identified in t1iddle Kirinyaga were high income farmers and low income farmers. Farmers' circumstances are described and “leverage points” are identified, which represent opportunities for increasing productivity in ways acceptable to and feasible for farmers. An experimental program is presented; the two most important research priorities are: 1.- Improving soil fertility and structure through on-farm experiments to test the effectiveness of readily available coffee husks as manure 2.- Reducing the draught power bottleneck by selecting bean cultivars with superior ability to withstand dry planting, treating seeds against ant damage, and deeper planting. Two methodological issues are addressed. The first is how to obtain normative and prescriptive information, i.e., information on farmers' values and decisions. Two techniques, repertory grid (RG) and hierarchical decision tree models (HDM), are incorporated into the informal and formal surveys and are evaluated. The techniques were found useful for assembling data concerning preferences and decisions in a systematic fashion and far assisting the researcher to develop an understanding of farmer decision-making. The second methodological issue concerns the quality of data at different stages of the investigation. First, data from the RD-identification exercise are evaluated in comparison to those of the formal survey. The exercise is found to be reasonably effective for tentatively classifying farmers into RD's. Next, the utility of the formal survey is evaluated by comparing its results with those of the informal survey. The formal survey contributed relatively little to the understanding of farmers' practices and constraints or to the experimental program developed in the informal survey. These findings support the hypothesis that the informal survey can be an effective and sufficient method for planning experimental programs for farmers.
English
mierc
US-MichSU 1983 FRANZEL D rf
Thesis Collection
Thesis Supported by CIMMYT
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