Rhoades, R.E.

This paper presents the benefits of informal surveys and discusses how best to make use of informal surveys so as to guarantee its efficient and successful execution. It discusses the rationale for the use of informal surveys in agriculture, and its application as part of a flexible approach. The process is reviewed, from pre-fieldwork preparation, to the period in the field (incl. a section on interviewing farmers), to data analysis and writing up. An appendix discusses recommendations for on-farm agro-economic trials, using an example from Ca±ete in Peru.