The growth of Rapid Rural Appraisal (RRA) as an approach to the initial preparation of development projects has had a significant impact on research methodology. It has reflected the shift in development over recent years to listen more to the needs voiced by local people while still allowing development workers to conduct research in spite of budget constraints. RRA could be viewed as just a shift in approach, or as the introduction of a set of new techniques. In practice there is a danger of burdening it with too many expectations and ignoring useful lessons learned from other techniques in the past. The authors have drawn on the extensive field experience within the Natural Resources Institute to assess the strengths and weaknesses of RRA in practice, and to make suggestions for any deficiencies by drawing on elements of older methodologies. Needs Assessment for Agriculture: Practical Issues in Informal Data Collection is designed to provide a practical addition to the materials available to workers in the field as well as to generate discussion amongst those interested in RRA theory
