Study of the role of extension in farming systems research in Tanzania

Based primarily on semi-structured interviews with 10 extension professionals, the study found that the involvement of extensionists allows FSR to: (1) reach a wider area by utilizing trained village and district level extension personnel; (2) ensure consideration of the socioeconomic perspective in farm-level diagnosis and an adherence to real farmer conditions in review of technology design; and (3) increase the number of replications of on-farm trials under close supervision and management, while incorporating extension workers in the process of developing technology. This paper also includes background information on the Tanzania Farming Systems Research project, which sponsored the study, a literature review on the role and structure of extension services relative to agricultural research, recommendations for institutionalizing the FSR approach in Tanzania (as mandated in a 1983 National Agricultural Policy directive), and suggestions for further research. Appendices provide the study questionnaire and graphically illustrate functional relationships within FSR.