Lightfoot, C.

This paper attempts to rethink on-farm experimentation (OFE) in the light of farmer participatory approaches. It claims that a new protocol for OFE must involve a resource systems approach with the aim of improving the sustainability of the whole farming system through the increased integration and recycling of on-farm resources. This protocol will have three major elements: resource inventory and analysis; exposure to alternative resource use techniques; and, monitoring and evaluation of farming system transformation.

It deals with farming systems research and discusses the ingredients which make an analysis successful. Specifically, these issues are discussed in relation to the eastern Visayas upland region of the Philippines.

It reports on research whose aim is to develop methods that maximize farmers' inputs in problem identification, systems understanding, and hypothesis generation. For each of the three stages the paper describes process and discussion between farmers and researchers. Conclusions are given and the paper has ample figures and illustrations.

This paper presents examples of how farmers' diagrams put farmers' ideas and knowledge first in on-farm research priority setting, experimental layouts, and integrated farming-system design. Although they concern the integration of aquaculture and agriculture, these procedures are just as useful for those wanting to integrate agroforestry, livestock, or any new enterprise into the farming system. It advances the idea that farmers' diagrams can improve field methods in on-farm research.

This paper describes a method of farmer participation which aims at more sustainable farming systems. In this method groups of farmers draw conceptual models on paper or on the ground using sticks, seeds, ash, or whatever is to hand to improve on-farm experimental design. Material flow models help farmers see how diverse enterprises can be integrated. Examples from India, Bangladesh, Vietnam and Malawi are given. Farmers' drawings foster two-way communication between researchers and farmers.