Multi-disciplinary research and farmer participation

From the point of view of small-scale farmers in developing countries, the record of technology development and transfer has been rather disappointing. Despite good intentions, the innovations rarely reached the end-user; when they did, it was often with negative side-effects. One of the main problems in technology development for small-scale farmers is that there is usually little association between research units and potential clients. Consequently, researchers and policy-makers are often ignorant of the problems and needs of small-scale farmers, and priorities and goals are set through conclusions drawn from own theoretical models and value systems found to be appropriate. As a result some of the most impeccable "practical" pieces of research end up with disappointingly few adopters. Researchers blame the farmers for their failure to transfer innovations which have shown so much promise under experimental conditions. Farmers often perceive researchers as being incapable of providing answers to their problems and needs. Although the potential of biotechnology to address the problems of small-scale farmers is often mentioned, the technology has not "built-in" guarantees to do any better than previous technologies. If the gap between research and application is not successfully bridged, biotechnology research will do little of practical worth for small-scale farmers. In my presentation, I will discuss the achievements and pitfalls of several approaches which have been developed to bridge this gap. On the basis of this analysis I will argue that a thorough knowledge of farmers'needs and constraints is a prerequisite to successful technology development. However, if effective mechanisms for joint project design and implementation are not an integral part of technology development as well, information on farmer's needs and farming systems will not be used effectively; no matter how many surveys, experiments or demonstrations are carried out. If farmers do not fully participate in the whole process of technology development, the resulting innovation is unlikely to meet their needs