Training in Farming Systems Research: Review and Prospects

Abstract

A wide variety of training activites has been carried out related to farming systems research (FSR). The majority have had one or more of the following objectives: to introduce the farming systems perspective, to teach new research methods, and to promote the institutionalization of FSR. Many of these objectives are important, but FSR training is not usefully seen as a separate field of endeavour. The goals of FSR training will be better served by reconsidering the roles of universities, national research institutions, and international institutions.Robert Tripp y Jonathan Woolley: Capacitacion en la investigation en sistemas agricolas: revision y perspectivas futuras. RESUMENSe ha ejecutado una amplia gama de actividades de capacitacion relacionadas con la investigation en sistemas agricolas (ISA). La mayon'a ha tenido por lo menos uno de los siguientes objetivos: presentar la perspectiva de la ISA, ensenar nuevos procedimientos de investigation y promover la institucionalizacion de la ISA. Muchos de estos objetivos son importantes, pero la capacitacion sobre la ISA no debe considerarse una actividad independiente. Las metas de la capacitacion en ISA se lograran mejor por medio de una reevaluacion de la funcion que desempenan las universidades, institutos nacionales de investigation e instituciones internacionales.

A systems approach to evaluate research requirements for animal production in south-east Mexico

“…Thus a systematic approach to the identification and evaluation of constraints is required. Research /extension strategies such as 'farming systems research/ on-farm trials, participatory development, etc., have been developed with the aim of improving the effectiveness of research/extension work by researchers and farmers working in crop-based systems and little as yet has been done to apply a 'systems' approach to the evaluation of the research needs of livestock systems or the livestock component of mixed systems (Tripp and Woolley, 1990). At the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production of the Autonomous University of Yucatan (FMVZ-UADY) in Mexico it was decided to use a 'systems' approach to evaluate the problems existing in the regional animal production systems to derive research and teaching priorities for the faculty, and to monitor the use of improved animal production technology by farmers.…”