Since 1978, when several publications (e.g., CGIAR, Norman) drew attention to Farming Systems Research (FSR), interest in FSR has increased dramatically. This is reflected in a growing number of publications and workshops on the theme and a sharp increase in the commitment of resources to its implementation in developing countries (Byerlee et al.; Zandstra et al.; Shaner, Philipp, Schmehl). At the same time there are rising expectations about FSR's contribution to the effectiveness of agricultural research. While sharing this sense of optimism, we are concerned about the real possibility that expectations may be disappointed by hesitant, ponderous, and unfocused efforts.The term "farming systems research" has been applied to a wide variety of activities. In its broadcast sense, FSR is any research that views the farm in a holistic manner and considers interactions in the system (CGIAR). As such, "there is little activity concerned with agricultural and rural development which cannot claim some relationship with FSR, however tenuous" (Gilbert, Norman, Winch, p. 31). This explicit recognition of the importance of interactions in the farming system we will define as the farming systems perspective (FSP).Research with a farming systems perspective can have various objectives ranging from increasing the body of knowledge about farming systems to solving specific problems in the farming system. Expectations are highest in its problem-solving role where the aim is to increase productivity of the farming system by generating new technologies appropriate for farmers. This research is often further dividedThe authors are economists with the Economics Program, CIMMYT, Mexico.They are grateful to many of their colleagues in CIMMYT for helping to formulate and clarify ideas developed in this paper. However, views expressed are not necessarily those ofCIMMYT. The authors also thank E.
Community-managed irrigation systems are commonly faced with problems of low system-level performance. A comprehensive survey was undertaken to assess and quantify the causes of the low irrigation performance in a community-managed oasis in southern Tunisia. At the irrigation system level, results showed that irrigation intervals were double those that had been expected (19-21 days). The main cause was inappropriate farmers' practices at field level where the irrigation duration was almost twice the expected 10 h ha -1. The extension of date palm plantation and technical dysfunctions played a less important role as they were counterbalanced by cancellation of irrigation in some plots. At the field scale, excessively long irrigation duration resulted from the joint effects of small fields, poor maintenance of field-level water delivery systems, uncontrolled night irrigation events and low farmer commitment. This situation emphasizes the question of efficiency and sustainability of irrigation systems when farmers subvert collective rules. Further, the situation raises the question of equity among farmers which hinders their support for the water users' association and the strict application of water allocation rules. These findings should help identify an appropriate approach and lead to positive changes in the management of community irrigation systems.
Maize (Zea mays)-mucuna (Mucuna pruriens) systems have been promoted to the smallholder farmers of the Los Tuxtlas region of southeastern Veracruz, Mexico. To determine on-farm performance, an agronomic assessment was conducted in 1995-97 replicating farmer conditions in four fields. Treatments were firstand second-season maize with first-season mucuna (system Zm-Mp/Zm), first-season maize with first-and second-season mucuna (system Zm-Mp/Mp), second-season maize following first-season mucuna (system Mp/Zm), and first-and second-season maize, no mucuna control. Data on mucuna biomass amount and quality as well as maize yield, yield components, and nutrient status were collected. Highest mucuna biomass was obtained in system Mp/Zm (leaf-stem-mulch biomass in 1996/97, 7.34 t ha −1 , 147 kg ha −1 N), followed by systems Zm-Mp/Mp (5.06 t ha −1 , 101 kg N ha −1 ) and Zm-Mp/Zm (2.75 t ha −1 , 50 kg N ha −1 ). Second-season maize yield was increased over that of the control by 45-58 % (0.15-0.23 t ha −1 ) in system Zm-Mp/Zm and by 118 % (0.60 t ha −1 ) in system Mp/Zm. Mucuna did not increase first-season maize yield. Climatic constraints make second-season maize production risky and yield increases due to mucuna are low in absolute terms, perhaps not offsetting labour costs (systems Zm-Mp/Zm and Mp/Zm) or loss of first-season maize (Mp/Zm).
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