Ampt, P.

This report describes an exploratory RRA conducted in Forbes Shire, NSW, Australia. Producers were interviewed and the information analysed by a multidisciplinary team. The report includes descriptions of the farming systems in the area; a discussion of problems identified; some general recommendations for action available to the research institute which carried out the survey; and a recommendation to set up a collaborative on-farm research programme.

The first RRA was carried out in Australia in 1988 with the aim of "forging closer links between researchers and farmers, utilising farmers' expertise and determining possibilities for future agronomic research in the area". It was also hoped to evaluate RRA as a "problem identification method in a developed country context". The RRA was carried out in two phases (exploratory and topical) with two teams of researchers from agricultural and social science backgrounds.