Enquetes exploratoires pour la planification de la recherche

Les enquetes aupres des informateurs cles et les interviews des groupements villageois sont presentees ici comme des methodes permettant de mener des enquetes socio-economiques sur la gestion et la disponibilite des ressources dans les systemes de production. Des suggestions sont {sites sur la maniere de preparer des questions et de reaIiser des interviews. Les applica-tions de chaque type d'enquete sont discutees. Des exemples d'enquetes sont presents

Improved cassava for inland valley agroecosystems

A substantial impact on Africa agriculture can be made through research on crop improvement for the extensive inland valley agro-ecosystems (IVS) extending from the humid forest to the savanna zones in sub saharan Africa. Systematic surveys of farmers have shown that cassava is a favoured upland crop for the IVS. Screening of cassava for IVS adaptation in the sub Saharan Africa is a continued activity at IITA. Preliminary results indicate that elite clones TMS 85/00025 (15.9t/ha), TMS 63397 (13.3 t/ha) and TMS 84/00003 (12.6 t/ha) superceded the yield levels of local checks during a 6 month growing period. A scheme for the improvement of cassava targeted for IVS is described. In addition, for cassava and other upland crops to be suitable crop components in this highly fragile agro-ecosystem, attention has to be given to a combination of improved genotypes with appropriate water control, weed control and fertility management. Research at IITA to date has attempted to address these short and long term production constraints

A review of tropical forestry and agroforestry problem areas and policy research needs and the planned response of the CGIAR system

The idea of holding an international workshop on priorities for forestry/agroforestry policy research stemmed from discussions among a number of concerned scientists, some of whom (Hans Gregersen, Peter Oram, John Spears) had been involved in TAC, CGIAR, IUFRO, and other discussions on international research needs for the forestry sector, the potential role of the CGIAR and what IFPRI's contribution might be within this larger framework. IUFRO and USAID offered to fund such a workshop, and it was agreed to hold it in Washington with IFPRI as the operational focus and host. A key recommendation of this workshop was to follow up with similar workshops in each of the major geographical regions where tropical forestry is important, and IFPRI was asked to pursue this. The aim was to delineate more specifically the problems and priority areas for research, and to identify those researchable issues common to several countries, the results of which would have broad applicability; as well as where international action might be needed when problems transcended national boundaries or presented difficult methodological challenges. IFPRI agreed to take on this task, and Peter Oram, who had the primary responsibility for organizing the international workshop, was designated by IFPRI as task manager. John Spears and Hans Gregersen played an important advisory role, and John participated in the Asian and African workshops. Sara Scherr, who had been present at the international workshop and who joined IFPRI in 1991, participated in the Asian, African, and Latin American Workshops; Manuel Paveri of FAO also participated in the Asian, African, and Latin American workshops and provided a valuable link with FAO's Forest Policy Program. Marc de Montalambert, Director, Forest Policy and Planning Division in FAO, also attended the International and Asian workshops, and FAO was the lead agency managing the joint FAO/IFPRI Asian workshop in Bangkok. Ronnie de Camino was the main partner in the Latin American initiative. Peter Oram played the leading role in raising funds, organising all of the workshops jointly with IFPRI's partners in Asia (FAO), Africa (ICRAF), and Latin America (IICA), running the three regional meetings, and writing the reports. He, John Spears, Sara Scherr and Ann-Marie Izac participated in the Bogor workshop and contributed to the draft report. Neil Byron convened and organised this last meeting and also attended the Washington and Asian workshops

Agriculture at a Crossroads

The present path of agricultural development will not achieve development goals according to a recent assessment, but a solid foundation for improvements exists