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systems research - the IDRC Digital Library - International ...

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stability and sustainability. 1nstitution:il support, particularly marketing facilities, is<br />

being considered. The PCARRD-supported FSSRI and developed Agricultural<br />

Suitability and Evaluation S!.stems (ASES) in 1990. The use of biophysical<br />

parameters in ASES has already been initiated. These are now integrated with<br />

socioeconomic parameters.<br />

There is increasing participation of farmers and farmer groups in <strong>the</strong> testing<br />

and evaluation process. The FSDP-Bicol provided major innovation with <strong>the</strong><br />

Porbaran approach, in which farmers were provided with a range of technology<br />

options during a community planning workshop. The farmers <strong>the</strong>mselves dec~ded<br />

what to try and how to do it. The project staff served as facilitators. Farmer-to-<br />

farmer extension has also been effective in FSDP-EV and FSDP-Bicol.<br />

Some statistical methods are used to evaluate OFR, but economic analysis is<br />

still given extra weight. Risks, stability, sustainability, gender effects, and<br />

practicability are also gaining wide consideration. Efforts have been made by <strong>the</strong><br />

RIARS to train noneconomists in <strong>the</strong> tools and techniques of economic analysis.<br />

The dissemination stage has suffered a set-back because of a lack of<br />

extension-<strong>research</strong> links during <strong>the</strong> last four stages of FSRcYrE. Successful cropping<br />

<strong>systems</strong> have been tested and evaluated by <strong>the</strong> RIARS, but <strong>the</strong> results have not been<br />

disseminated because of a lack of extension support. Ano<strong>the</strong>r f~ctor is <strong>the</strong> emphasis<br />

given to <strong>research</strong> compared ivith extension.<br />

IMPACT OF FARhlING SYSTEhlS ON FARM HOUSEHOLDS<br />

Assessment of <strong>the</strong> impact of FSR'QE has g;lined attention over <strong>the</strong> last 5 yr. Impact<br />

studies place emphasis on <strong>the</strong> rate and degree of adoption of tlie technology and its<br />

impact on resource use, productivity, and income. h4inimal consideration is given to<br />

factors that indicate an i~nprovenient in <strong>the</strong> socioeconomic well-being of <strong>the</strong> farm<br />

population. Also, little attention has been gi\.en to tlie impact on conimunities and<br />

institutions.<br />

Impact studies include significant changes in <strong>the</strong> cropping patterns practiced<br />

by farmers. An increase in cropping intensity from 1.3 to 2.4 was observed among<br />

KABSAKA farmers when <strong>the</strong> KABSAKA technology was adopted. KASATINLU<br />

farmers increased <strong>the</strong>ir cropping intensity froni 1.9 to 2.57, as did farmers in <strong>the</strong><br />

Capiz Settlement Project.<br />

Ano<strong>the</strong>r aspect of impact is physical changes that occur in <strong>the</strong> fiirm after<br />

project participation. An impact evaluation study of RRDP reported an increase<br />

from 0.5 ha to 2.75 ha in tlie average size of farms cultivated by <strong>the</strong> beneficiaries.<br />

This change was attributed to production opportunities that had been brought about<br />

by <strong>the</strong> project. There was also increased use of idle lands for crop production,<br />

improved soil fertility, better watershed protection, and decreased soil erosion.

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