RESEARCH - HELP OR HINDRANCE TO GOOD FARMERS IN HIGH-RISK SYSTEMS

At least some groups of resource-poor farmers in risky environments ha ve developed sound, rational problem-solving practices. In such cases, agricultural research may lead to recommendations that are not superi or, or even equal, to farmers' practices. In other cases, research may help to solve specific problems which farmers were unable to solve an d for which potential solutions exist. Careful diagnostic research is needed to understand farmers' systems and, in so doing, to determine. (a) where further research might efficiently and effectively help to s olve problems; and (b) where further research may have few benefits. D iagnostic research may also shell, that recommended innovations can ru n counter to farmers' solutions. Case examples discuss dryland farmers in Ethiopia, vain-fed lowland rice farmers in eastern? India and bean farmers in the Andes of Ecuador. (C) 1997 Published by Elsevier Scien ce Ltd.