3 Review(s)

This publication provides a reasoned discussion on why it is desirable to incorporate elements of farming systems development (FSD) in handling issues related to the new approach to soil conservation and land husbandry. A conceptual framework is developed for the incorporation of the FSD approach, and FSD techniques are outlined that could be useful in identifying, designing, testing and implementing relevent soil conservation strategies.  Table of Contents Chapter 1: Introduction  The problem of soil erosion, Changes in thinking about soil conservative or land husbandry, Implications concerning the new approach to soil conservation  Objectives and contents of the publication  Chapter 2: Sustainability and the Farming Systems Research Approach  Introduction, Sustainability, Farming systems development (FSD)  Chapter 3: Using PSD for Soil Conservation Initiatives  Introduction, Possible soil conservation strategies, Interactive linkages, Involving the farmer, Studying the farm-household system, Studying the problems and causes of soil degradation, Short-term needs and long-run payoff, Preventing rather than curing soil erosion through improved land husbandry, Sustainability criteria  Chapter 4: Implementing the New Soil Conservation Approach: The Conceptual Framework  Introduction, Description/diagnoisis, Start-up activities, Definition of recommendation domains, Description of the degradation processes, Assessment of causes, effects and risks of degradation  Ranking of constraints (problems) to be addressed, Design, Preliminary selection of potentially suitable solutions, Ex ante evaluation of proposed strategies, Assessment of the need for policy adjustments, Final selection of strategies for testing/implementation, Testing/implementation, Introduction, Testing, Implementation (ie, dissemination), Implementation/dissemination impact, Monitoring degree of adoption, Proposed modifications  Chapter 5: Implementing The New Soil Conservation Approach: Steps,Tools and Techniques  Introduction, Specific steps in addressing the new approach to soil conservation, General background on data collection methods, The descriptive/diagnostic phase, Preparatory planning, Collection and review of secondary data, Field reconnaissance, Preliminary characterisation of farm household circumstances, Primary data collection to assess household circumstances and problem identification: informal exlploratory survey and analysis, Primary data collection to assess household circumstances and problem identification: verification activities, Analysis and description, Broad scale consideration for development of solutions, The design phase, Review of land use enterprise/farm management options, Selection of potential land use enterprises/farm management options, Development of technical and policy action proposals, Ex ante appraisal and possible revision, The testing/implementation phase, Determine the research needs, Research and extension planning, Implementation of research and extension activities, Dissemination impact phase, Monitoring and evaluation, Revision of research and extension activities and policy/support systems  Chapter 6: Implementing The New Soil Conservation Approach  The institutional setting for implementation, Concluding comments.