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Design and Planning of Adaptive Research Components
For research to be effective, it must be correctly focussed and supplied with the necessary staff and resources. Experiences with IFAD-financed projects in the study area indicate deficiencies, to various degrees, with all the pre-requisites for effective research. The lack of comprehensive analyses of farmers needs and constraints was a common failing. Projects need to devise a methodology to overcome these deficiencies.
In Egypt (114-EG, 157-EG), adaptive research was hindered by a lack of focus, funds for incentives for researchers and a lack of commitment by government authorities to strengthen extension/research linkages. Both projects benefitted by funding contracts, with individual research institutions, as a means of researching specific topics. Clearly, firm contracts, with defined goals, were preferable to non-specific contributions to research institutions in the hope of some support for project research objectives.
In Sudan, two rainfed projects (181-SU, SRS-016-SU) had yielded few identifiable benefits until in one project (181-SU) a short-term consultant identified some of the main agronomic constraints in the latter part of project life. The main identifiable negative contributing factors for the lack of output were the lack of comprehensive analyses of farmer needs and constraints which led to programmes which were, firstly, not sufficiently well defined and, secondly too ambitious; designs which did not match programmes to resources and did not take into account the difficult living and operating conditions in the project areas; the inability to provide effective long-term leadership; and, in one project (SRS-106-SU) the delegation of on-farm trial responsibility to extension. Extension are not equipped to conduct research -- certainly extension and their client farmers should be closely involved with on-farm trials, but researchers must take the final responsibility for trial design, establishment, at least periodical supervision, and final assessment. Experience in Sudan also highlighted the difficulties of involving research institutions, without adequate reward, in project-oriented research and the difficulty of recruiting Sudanese professional staff to remote areas.
Several lessons arise from the generally disappointing experiences with adaptive research in the study area. Firstly in planning an adaptive research component a clear perception of what the target groups prioritised needs are is essential and, secondly, that the final programme should not be overly ambitious. It should be matched to resources and it should give sufficient weight to living and working conditions in the project area. Research, and not extension, should have the ultimate responsibility for on-farm research.
In planning an adaptive research component, a clear perception of what the target group needs is essential. To this end, at an early stage (preferably before project formulation) detailed assessments of farmer needs and constraints should be made.
Next, an assessment is necessary of what existing technological packages, relevant to the target group’s farming systems and social conditions, are available and what additional information based on proven on-farm adaptive research exists.
Following the above two steps, specific programmes which match objectives to project inputs can be developed at appraisal. Ideally, it would be the responsibility of the country’s controlling research organisaton or specific institutions (if need be with the help of an IFAD-financed consultant) to develop the research programme in detail as a condition for the loan effectiveness.
Substantial infrastructural development should be generally avoided. Where more facilities are essential, tenders should be let well before project start-up and assurance with regard to the availability of construction materials and equipment sought.
Research should be responsible for on-farm trial work. While extension and farmers should be involved in planning trials and should assist with logistics, the actual field establishment and field trial assessment should be the responsibility of research.
Arrangements, either through the Cooperating Agency or as an activity of the research component, for a consultant to review progress annually are recommended. This would enable existing and possible future constraints to be identified and addressed and enable an independent assessment of results to be made.
References:
1. Egypt - Minya Agricultural Development Project,114-EG%R114EGBE, Interim Evaluation, 1992.
2. Egypt - Fayoum Agricultural Development Project,157-EG%R157EGBE, Interim Evaluation, 1992.
3. Sudan - Country Portfolio Evaluation, CPE94%CESSU94E IFAD 1992.
4. Sudan - Western Savannah Project - phase II, 181-SU%R181SUAE,Mid Term Evaluation, 1988.
5. Sudan - En Nahud Cooperative Credit, SRS 016-SU, 1988
6. Yemen - Country Portfolio Evaluation, CPE92%CESYE92E IFAD 1992.
