Systems approaches to farm management in variable environments

Abstract

Under variable environments, farm management decisions involve a series of complex issues, since factors affecting the farm households are numerous, including not only biophysical, but also socioeconomic factors which interact with each other in a complex manner. There is also a significant diversity among farm systems in the biophysical environments and socioeconomic circumstances in which they operate. The concern on sustainability adds more complexity to the issues. Systems approaches to resolving these issues are, thus, essential. Farming Systems Research (FSR) has been the approach widely used over the past two decades. Although FSR has contributed significantly to the systems movement, it fell far short of expectations. The approach, however, still provides a logical framework for the development of farm management technologies that fit the farmers’ circumstances. In recent years, there has been significant progress in three broad areas of systems research methodologies: the development of conceptual and analytical tools for qualitative analysis; the participatory methodologies; and quantitative modelling and use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS). If what is available were to be used more widely and effectively, much improvement could be made to FSR. However, much more research is needed, particularly on simulation models for combination of crops and enterprises and the inclusion of a socio-economic dimension in the models. Problems still exist in evaluating alternative practices in the context of the whole-farm system with multiple enterprises, multiple goals and objectives, and land fragmentation. Much more attention needs to be paid to farmers’ decision-making criteria and processes. The focus of FSR only at the farm household level and with individual farmers appears to be inadequate for natural resource management, as many of the interventions have to be implemented at a higher level and with groups of farmers. Finally, research should aim at generating a range of management alternatives for the farmers to choose from rather than a fixed set, and farmers’ participation is still essential throughout the research process.