CRAFTING SMALLHOLDER-DRIVEN AGRICULTURAL-RESEARCH SYSTEMS IN SOUTHERNAFRICA

The National Agricultural Research Systems (NARSs) in sub-Saharan Afri ca have made enormous progress over the past four decades in replacing European with African scientists, increasing the number of scientists and shifting priorities from export to food crops. Nevertheless, most NARSs are having difficulty in producing a steady stream of new techn ologies for small-scale farms and in generating adequate financial sup port from their government. Zimbabwe and Malawi are among the first co untries in Africa to mount indigenous-led reforms of their NARSs. This paper documents the steps taken by the Agricultural Research Council of Zimbabwe to generate a consensus among scientists, farmers and poli cy makers to reform the National Agricultural Research System by incre asing the voice of smallholders and other stakeholders in setting rese arch priorities, making scientists more accountable to smallholders an d generating new sources of financial support from user fees and taxes on commodities. Malawi is pursuing a commodity approach to revitalizi ng its NARSs. The experience of both Zimbabwe and Malawi has shown tha t there is no blueprint for reforming NARSs in Africa. Donors can assi st the reform process by supporting local initiatives to craft smallho lder-driven research systems that are staffed with accountable scienti sts who are adequately financed from local sources. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.