PRA and its role in reorienting IGFRI's research agenda

The Indian Grassland and Fodder Research Institute (IGFRI), Jhansi has been involved in addressing a fodder deficit for livestock production in Indian agriculture. In spite of large investments of human and financial resources into research over 25 years, there was a general failure to serve the majority of the farmers. This posed a serious challenge for IGFRI to reorient its research to address the practical needs of the farmers. Before the introduction of PRA (Participatory Rural Appraisal) methods, IGFRI's research was concentrated on developing discipline-based specialised technologies, and there were few mechanisms for coordinating research between these disciplines. The lack of information integration and dominance of researchers' priorities for direction resulted in bad linkages with users and funders, and difficulties in dealing with the complex problems faced. To change this development and to mobilise the community action to sustain fodder technologies, 45 scientists from IGFRI have now been trained in PRA, and a few in Participatory Plant Breeding (PPB) methods. Some prominent changes has been observed in the instituteÆs work such as: the creation of a PRA cell of more experienced scientists to serve as a knowledge base, and to provide comments on integration of participative methods in research proposals; promotion of multidisciplinary approaches; better linkage to development organisations and the farmers; task driven, bottom-up directed research.