FARMER PARTICIPATORY RESEARCH AND AGROFORESTRY DEVELOPMENT - A CASE-STUDY FROM NORTHERN ZAMBIA

Finding methods to reach resource-poor farmers with suitable agricultural technologies has recently come into focus and involvement of the resource-poor farmers themselves in a participatory research (FPR) approach has increasingly been emphasized. This article presents experience from employing such an approach in agroforestry research for small farmers in northern Zambia where the objective is to develop improved sustainable farming systems for the target group. The experience demonstrates that many small farmers are willing to experiment and are actively searching for improved technologies. It is crucial that small farmers involved in technology development research are motivated and innovative and at the same time representative for the target group in terms of the available key resources land, capital (cash) and human capital (labour, skills etc.).