College of Agriculture & Natural Resources Department of Agricultural, Food, and Resource Economics

Non-AFRE Co-Principle Investigators: M Esmay, Program Leader (Agricultural Engineering); D. Isleib, Administrative Coordinator (Institute of International Agriculture); R. Freed (Crop & Soil Science); M Andrews (Cooperative Extension); H. Bittenbender (Horticulture); J. Artis (Sociology)

Name:                        Farming Systems Support Project *
Donor:                       University of Florida with funds from the Agency for International Development
Contract No:              Memorandum of Understanding 
Account No:              71-4248
Location:                   MSU campus, Worldwide
Duration:                   September 1983 - August 1986
Budget:                      $50,000 (augmented annually)

Key MSU Faculty:     M Esmay, Program Leader (Agricultural Engineering); D. Isleib, Administrative Coordinator (Institute of International Agriculture); R. Freed (Crop & Soil Science); M Andrews (Cooperative Extension); H. Bittenbender (Horticulture); J. Artis (Sociology); Darrell Fienup, Eric Crawford (Agricultural Economics)

 Documents:               (Click here to view)  

 Project Goals:           To provide a Michigan State University support resource for the Farming Systems Support Project at the University of Florida, Gainesville,  that conducts farming systems projects in developing countries.

 Project Plans/Objectives:

•  To assist in the design and evaluation of projects;
• To train a group of associates (faculty and graduate students) on the MSU campus to participate in teams as farming systems researchers;
• To provide training seminars to interested parties in order to promote and broaden interest in the farming systems concept.

 Cooperating Institutions: Six other U.S. universities acting as "entities" coordinating activities with the University of Florida

 Project Summary:     MSU entered into an agreement with the AID/Farming Systems Support Project under the leadership of the University of Florida. This program provided technical assistance, training, and networking support to practitioners and administrators of farming systems research programs.  In August 1983, MSU conducted the first intensive farming systems research and development workshop to be held off the University of Florida campus.  The MSU leaders of the workshop were trained in intensive sessions at the University of Florida in June and July, and then conducted the MSU program for nearly 30 faculty and U.S. and international graduate students from MSU and other universities.  This was the first workshop among several that were held in the U.S. and overseas.  Africa received special emphasis under this project.  On campus, MSU used the materials and modules to conduct farming systems research and development training sessions for many more professionals, and to develop course offerings with a farming systems emphasis.

Documents From/About this Project:

•  MSU Farming Systems Support Project Working Papers.  University of Florida Digital Collections
• Farming Systems Research and Agricultural Economics.  1981. Crawford, Eric W. Working P{aper - Farming Systems Research Group, Michigan State University No. 1.
• The 12th Annual Farming Systems Symposium Program. 1992. Hosted by Michigan State University
• Farming System Support Project – Final Evaluation. 1988. Prepared For: USAID/S&T/AGR
• Other MSU Agricultural Economics/AFRE Publications on Farming Systems Research
  • Farming Systems Research in Eastern Africa: The Experience of CIMMYT and Some National Agricultural Research Services, 1976-81. 1982. By Collinson, Michael P.  MSU International Development Paper No 3.
  • Farming Systems Research (FSR) in Honduras, 1977-81,  A Case Study. 1982. By Galt, Daniel L. MSU International Development Paper No. 1.
  • Farming Systems Research a Critical Appraisal. 1980. By Gilbert, Elon H, Norman, D. W., and Winch, Fred E.   MSU Rural Development Paper No. 6.
  • Farming Systems Approach: Relevancy for the Small Farmer. 1980. By Norman, D. W.  MSU Rural Development Paper No. 5.
  • El Método de Investigación de Sistemas Agropecuarios: Su Pertinencia Para el Pequeno Productor. 1980. Por  Norman, David W.  MSU Rural Development Paper No. 5. (Spanish version)

* This description is adapted from work by Nancy E. Horn, an MSU alumnus from the Anthropology Department, published in 1985 “A Project History of Michigan State University’s Participation in International Development for the period 1951 – 1985”.  See AFRE Emeritus Faculty - Acknowledgements