Support or subversion: the relationship between farming systems research and Tanzania's rural development policy objectives

Abstract

Although farming systems research (FSR) programs have been initiated in many countries, insufficient attention has been devoted to their relationship with national rural development policies. While clearly in many instances the two will be working in a supportive fashion towards common goals, in other instances they may be operating at cross purposes. This relationship is examined through an ex post facto consideration of the historical record of rural development policies in the East African nation of Tanzania. Since independence, Tanzania has embarked on a wide variety of rural development initiatives including the introduction of communal production systems, massive resettlement programs, price controls, and the establishment of parastatal marketing firms. These policies have been formulated to achieve specific societal goals such as greater equity, the provision of social services, and the feeding of the urban population. In contrast to these broad concerns and policies, the FSR approach focuses on understanding the problems and opportunities of individual family units and on setting in motion a process of technology generation and dissemination that will increase the productivity of these families. The general conclusion is that although FSR practitioners and national policy makers often differ markedly in their perspectives on rural development, improved communications will provide substantial benefit to both sides. The FSR teams can provide new insights that will aid in the formulation of improved policies. Similarly, national policy goals that are handed down should provide the FSR teams with another basis to judge and modify potential technological interventions. The long-term success of any FSR program is dependent upon effectively fulfilling both of these roles.