000			04011nam a22004937a 4500
001			G32193
003			MX-TxCIM
005			20250801112536.0
008			250801s1983||||-us||||| |||| 00| 0 eng d
040			_aMX-TxCIM
041			_aeng
043			_aUS
072		0	_aE14
072		0	_aF08
090			_aLook under author name
100	1		_aFranzel, S.C.
245	1	0	_aPlanning and adaptive production research program for small farmers: _b A case study of farming systems research in Kirinyaga District, Kenya
260			_aEast Lansing, MI (USA) : _bMichigan State University, _c1983
300			_axiii, 279 pages
340			_aPrinted
500			_aNationality: US
500			_aThesis - Tables, bibliography p. 273-279
520			_aThis 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.
546			_aEnglish
591			_amierc
592			_aUS-MichSU 1983 FRANZEL D rf
595			_aTC
595			_aTSC
650		7	_aAppropriate technology _2AGROVOC _96671
650		7	_aExtension Activities _2AGROVOC _99091
650		7	_aInnovation adoption _2AGROVOC _91160
650		7	_aKidney beans _2AGROVOC _94601
650		7	_aMethods _91178 _2AGROVOC
650		7	_aProduction factors _2AGROVOC _96928
650		7	_aSmall farms _2AGROVOC _91260
650		7	_aVarieties _2AGROVOC _91303
650		7	_91314 _aZea mays _2AGROVOC
650		7	_91952 _aSoil fertility _2AGROVOC
650		7	_91109 _aFarming systems _2AGROVOC
651		7	_aKenya _2AGROVOC _93783
740			_a32193
740			_a57461
942			_cTH _2ddc
999			_c36232 _d36232