Gundani, O.

This paper reviews the learning process that the project 'Conservation Tillage for Sustainable Crop Production Systems' in Zimbabwe went through with regard to gender issues in research/ technology development and extension. The factors which made the project adopt a gender perspective, the methodology applied and the impact which was achieved are described.
The paper concludes that promotion of gender as an isolated theme or component can be counterproductive and that it should be an integral element of any project.

This brief note describes the experience of integrating formal, quantitative research into participatory research (which included observations and informal discussions with farmers) in the context of a conservation tillage project in Zimbabwe. The report suggests that such an integration of formal and participatory research in the process of technology development not only facilitates the process of information sharing and co-operation between farmers and professionals, but also and more importantly helps the former to establish their own identity as human beings.