SWAZILAND CROPPING SYSTEMS RESEARCH AND EXTENSION TRAINING DESIGN STUDY

project to assist the Swaziland Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) increase the self-sufficiency of Swazi small farmers on Swazi Nation Land (SNL), this three-part report outlines needs and strategies in the areas of cropping system research and training of MOA extensionists. The first two sections are prepared, respectively, by an agronomist and a cropping systems specialist. These sections review, in the context of Swailand"s general agricultural situation, cropping systems currently used by small farmers; and cropping systems" research needs in terms of facilities, equipment, commodities, and staff. Recommendations regarding cropping systems research include identifying production constraints to be considered by the A.I.D. Project Paper team; expanding experimental research by developing and testing several applicable and economically feasible cropping systems (crops and cropping systems are detailed); providing sufficient scholarships at the B.S. and M.S. levels to satisfy the program"s requirements for research personnel and restaffing and expanding the MOA"s Research Division to allow it to participate in onfarm cropping systems research; preparing simplified versions, directed to needs of small farmers on SNL, of annual reports on cropping systems research; and including local farmers in the decisionmaking and testing process. The report"s third section, prepared by an agricultural education and extension training specialist, analyzes the MOA"s Certificate Training Program for extensionists and makes recommendations to improve it. Recommendations for USAID assistance include upgrading the Program"s curriculum and facilities and expanding the staff, and developing a vigorous in-service training program for extension field officers, middle management, etc. Also recommended are improving MOA extension services by producing bulletins and pamphlets on research findings for use by extensionists and providing additional support, training and equipment for MOA"s Information Division. Each of the three sections specifies technical assistance to be provided by the proposed A.I.D. project and concludes with a list of references. Appendices include lists of Swaziland contacts and a pamphlet on programming in the cooperative extension service.