Farming System Research and Extension

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Before understanding farming system research, we have to understand the farming system. It is an arrangement of farm enterprises (Animal, fish, Agronomy crops, horticulture crops, etc.) and their management in response to biophysical and socioeconomic factors to fulfil the family goal.

Like the digestive system of our body whose parts are arranged in a definite order and operating together with coordination and carry out a specific activity, the farming system is a system of components like land, water, forest, household animal and crops which has their specific work and operating together as coordination and carry out a specific activity.

Farming system study helps in optimum use and conservation of available resources, gain sustainable production and increase the profitability of the farm by a suitable combination of the enterprise. Farming system research is an approach to agriculture research that view the whole farm as a system and focus on finding the interdependence between components under the control of members of the household and how these components interact with the physical, biological and a socioeconomic factor not under the household control.

Over the past few decades emphasis has placed on developing production technologies suitable to different agro-ecological zone in a country however these research efforts were concentrated primarily on single or few components of the farming system overlooking the importance of other farm enterprises and interaction among them.

Due to this real problem of farmer remain unsolved. It tries to find out the real problem that farmers face and look for the solution to these problems and way to increase production and productivity.

MAIN FEATURES
 Holistic
 Farmers participatory
 problem-solving
 gender-sensitive
 Interactive
 It strengthens research and extension linkages and increases the efficiency of
both research and extension systems
 Interdependence upon multiple clients emphasis feedback

ACTIVITIES
1. Target and research area selection
2. Problem diagnosis and development of research agenda
3. Planning and designing of on-farm research
4. farmers participatory on-farm research and its analysis
5. extension of research result.

MAIN STEPS OF FARMING SYSTEM RESEARCH
1- DIAGNOSIS OF PROBLEM
The major objective of this stage is to describe and understand the current production system
and to identify and analyse key farmer problem

2-PLANING AND DESIGN STAGE
In this stage, the main problem of a farmer is analysed and suitable technology for that problem is
selected. If no such technology is found, on-farm research or on station research is conducted
and the efficiency of technology is examined.

3- EXPERIMENTATION OR TESTING STAGE
In this stage, the suitability of technology is examined in the farmer’s field under farmers management.
Also determination of technology in the recommended domain by multi-location trial.

4- EVALUATION
In this stage, technology is evaluated by a multidisciplinary team. It includes adaptability study,
acceptance study and impact study.

5- RECOMMENDATION AND WIDER DISSEMINATION OR EXTENSION
Now, this technology is recommended to farmers and disseminated through extension workers.

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Suraj Sing Thagunna 
Baitadi
Bsc, Ag. 7th semister 
IAAS Paklihawa, Rupandehi