Linking research to extension in the Southern Highlands of Papua New Guinea: The problems of a modified farming systems approach

Abstract

Farming systems research and extension (FSR/E) and on-farm trials can be effective in bringing about change in rural areas. To be so, farmer participation in planning, implementation and evaluation is absolutely essential. This paper describes the attempts of a World Bank-funded agricultural research team (AFTSEMU) in the Southern Highlands Province of Papua New Guinea to carry out relevant research and on-farm trials. The problems and general lack of success are discussed. The hidden agendas of the research workers and extension officers, the lack of genuine participation by farmers, and the supposed pragmatic modification of an ideal FSR/E model are seen as the main problems.