4 



Cropping Systems Research Approaches and Methodologies 



Agri cultiiral research generally has been designed to investigate 

 component technologies based on objectives of increasing yields, product- 

 ion efficiencies, and profitabilities (37, 121). This research often 

 benefits large, commercial farmers. Smaill-scale farmers, however, are 

 seldom benefited because their objectives are influenced not only by 

 risk, but also by religion, culture and tradition (80, 118). Improved 

 technologies for small-scale farmers often fail and are sometimes un- 

 acceptable because these technologies are not appropriate to their 

 farming systems. For example, in the central hi^lands of Guatemala, 

 Hildebrand (80) reported that farmers do not fertilize their com 

 ( Zea mays L.) although they recognize that fertilizers increase yields. 

 These farmers would rather apply the fertilizer to their vegetables 

 where return to cash or to fertilizer is greater than for corn. In 

 northern Nigeria, where mixed cropping is practiced, Baker and Norman 

 (8) reported that farmers are reluctant to adopt recommendations for 

 single crops because these improved technologies were not relevant to 

 the local environment or their multiple cropping system. Upland rice 

 (Orvza sativa L.) farmers in the Philippines prefer a tall cultivar 

 over the short and high yielding cultivars because weed competition 

 is less serious (85). 



A lack of appropriate methods for conducting multiple cropping 

 research has hampered the development of more effective technologies 

 for small-scale farmers (177)- Development of relevant, farmer -oriented 

 methodologies that utilize a multidisciplinary, farm-oriented, farmer 

 participation, and resource utilization approach have recently been 



