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

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Opening Comments<br />

After 15 yr of farming <strong>systems</strong> <strong>research</strong>, what has been achieved? Has <strong>the</strong>re been an<br />

impact? Should governments as well as national programs and international<br />

agricultural <strong>research</strong> centers continue to support farming <strong>systems</strong> <strong>research</strong>? An<br />

impact on family incomes is overdue.<br />

These impact studies on farming <strong>systems</strong> <strong>research</strong> take a hard look at<br />

technologies and <strong>the</strong>ir impact on <strong>the</strong> productivity of farmers. We also need to<br />

understand <strong>the</strong>ir impact on farm income and on <strong>the</strong> level of nutrition of farm<br />

families. Farming <strong>systems</strong> <strong>research</strong> must also address sustainability issues. The role<br />

of women, and gender issues in general, also have implications on sustainability.<br />

After all, farming <strong>systems</strong> in many developin countries involve <strong>the</strong> husband, <strong>the</strong><br />

wife, and <strong>the</strong> children. Farming is actually a amily activity, a family concern.<br />

We must, as well, have a hard look at <strong>the</strong> institutionalization of <strong>the</strong> farming<br />

<strong>systems</strong> approach to <strong>research</strong>. Have national agricultural <strong>research</strong> institutes adopted<br />

<strong>the</strong> farming <strong>systems</strong> approach in most of <strong>the</strong>ir <strong>research</strong> projects? Many institutions<br />

now automatically adopt an interdisciplinary approach to <strong>the</strong> analysis of crop<br />

problems and conduct of on-farm trials. We know that some countries have<br />

established farming <strong>systems</strong> <strong>research</strong> institutes. This is good because it is a form of<br />

institutionalization. But it is not good enough. The farming <strong>systems</strong> <strong>research</strong><br />

approach must become an integral part of agricultural <strong>research</strong> in most agricultural<br />

<strong>research</strong> programs.<br />

' ~ e ~ Director u t ~ General, <strong>International</strong> Rice Research Institute.<br />

B<br />

- vii -

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