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