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nutritional aspect, changes in food intake that are reflected in better nutrition of the
farm family are also examined.
Macro issues
These issues generally relate to whether, during the process of adoption of the new
technology, there has been an effect on employment, education, and capital flows.
Associated questions are whether supporting institutions, such as extension, credit,
marketing, and input supplies, have responded to the demands of the new
technology, and to what extent, if any, have agricultural policies (particularly
pricing) been affected. In other words, have the adverse social and economic
environments facing the farmer been reduced or eliminated through the provision of
the support services that are normally needed for successful farm production?
The influence of agricultural research on the overall development process is
usually limited to providing only the technology. Other support services and
agricultural policies do not necessarily go in tandem with the technology
requirements. This often leads to a large degree of nonadoption of the new
technology.
Although researchers portray FSR as a strategy for agricultural development,
does it really provide the necessary answers to the multifaceted questions that are
being faced at the level of national agricultural development? Research is
concerned with exploring the uncertain. If the problem is successfully solved, the
probabilitj, of disseminating the research results in their exact form is low and the
chances of providing a positive effect on development with the equity goals
identified is uncertain.
Has the FSR approach provided adequate justification to be used to
spearhead agricultural development programs that will provide farmers with
adequate incomes to improve their quality of life? What this essentially asks is: what
impact has the FSR approach had on the way of life of farmers from a development
perspective? The ultimate aim of any improved agricultural system is to increase the
quality of life and improve the well-being of the farming community.
An impact study of FSR technology could identify the strong and weak
components of the technology itself, help make better resource-allocation decisions
(particularly for research managers), provide alternate choices for the research
planning process, and identify the support services and policy measures that are
needed to obtain real benefits from the technology. An analysis of the interplay of
farm resources with consumption and other activities can provide insights to the real
impact the new technology has had on farmers.