ADAPTIVE RESEARCH FOR INTERCROPPING - STEPS TOWARDS THE TRANSFER OF INTERCROP RESEARCH FINDINGS TO FARMERS FIELDS

The papers in this special issue are mainly about intercropping resear ch with the aim of increasing our understanding of processes determini ng yields of component crops and overall intercrop productivity. It is necessary to conduct adaptive research which would benefit farmers di rectly by providing management options available to them in a particul ar location. This paper outlines a procedure for conducting such adapt ive research in intercropping. Seven steps are identified. They are: 1 .Problem identification and/or clarification of expected agronomic an d economic impact at farmer level. 2. Determination of crop responses to the several major limiting factors. 3. Choice of crops. 4. Determin ation of competitiveness between component crops under a standard cult ural practice. 5. Adjustment of competitiveness of component crops by agronomic methods. 6. Choice of cultivars. 7. Evaluation of a new inte rcropping system, or new components, in the farmers' fields.