This collection offers a comprehensive view of the commonalities and diversities of the farming systems research and development (FSR&D) approaches being applied around the world. The authors–among the leading practitioners in FSR&D–discuss conceptual frameworks, research methodology, data collection, and several ongoing FSR&D programs. The book is a must for anyone interested in gaining a concise, yet broad view of this new and growing field of research and its importance to small-scale farming in developing countries.

In recent years, policy makers have been paying more attention to the problems of small farmers in developing countries with the idea of increasing their pro-duction and standard of living. The policy makers' objec-tives are twofold: I 1 I to help those whose welfare is materially below the rest of society, and 121 to help a coun-try increase its agricultural production. With adequate agricultural policies, these two objectives are mutually reinforcing. For example, increased food production gives farm households additional food for consumption and surpluses for sale. Farmers can then use the money from these sales to buy items they do not produce, and the buyers of farm products benefit from the increased sup-plies.

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