Agricultural Research Strategies for Favoured and Marginal Areas: the Experience of Farming Systems Research in Pakistan

Abstract

SummaryThis paper draws on the results of farming systems research (FSR) conducted over five years at eight sites distributed throughout Pakistan. The main research findings with respect to the irrigated plains, or favoured areas (four sites), and the marginal mountainous and rainfed areas (four sites) are summarized, with emphasis on the role of system interactions in technology development. In favoured areas, most system interactions occur between crops grown in multiple cropping patterns, whereas in marginal areas, crop-livestock interactions dominate. Appropriate research strategies for each kind of environment are discussed. It is concluded that although there is a need for quite different research strategies for favoured and marginal areas, the methods and perspective of FSR are equally appropriate and even critical for achieving future gains in agricultural productivity in each type of environment.Estrategias de investigación agricola en zonas favorecidas y marginales: Experiencias recogidas durante la investigación de sistemas agrícolas en Pakistán