CIMMYT on-farm research

Final PES covers the period 12/82-12/84; no methodology is specified. The project has been successful in helping national agricultural services understand and accept FSR. On-farm FSR has been incorporated as a discrete function in Zambia and Malawi and is being integrated into research and extension in Kenya and Zimbabwe. CIMMYT has helped 7 contractors apply FSR in bilateral A.I.D. projects and trained a total of 470 agricultural officers through in-country training (completed in Zambia, underway in Malawi and Kenya), 7 CIMMYT-developed regional training workshops at the University of Zimbabwe, and 2 regional administrators" and 3 technical networking workshops. Demand for regional training is growing (seen in the number of self-funded participants), reflecting its positive impact on the diffusion of FSR. Networking activities have also included newsletter dissemination and inter-country study visits. Historically, CIMMYT has encouraged FSR by targeting key, sympathetic national agricultural officials for training; in this project, it has focused mostly on AID-supported country programs with potential for sustainable FSR, and secondarily on countries without AID-supported FSR, in which a strong A.I.D. interest exists. Due to a strong dollar, to CIMMYT"s ability to fund training through local A.I.D. projects, and to greater than expected host country support, only half of project funds have been spent. For nearly all training, follow-on visits greatly facilitate learning and retention; however, the project has emphasized formal training at the expense of informal operational assistance. Key action decisions are to: extend Phase I to 12/31/85; fund the proposed Phase II, devoting more attention to following training with operational assistance; add an agronomist and an economist to the FSR team; review national extension programs and determine the extent of integration of FSR methods; coordinate with the International Livestock Center for Africa and/or secure short-term livestock assistance; and develop a regional approach to data management.