This paper describes the implementation of a multipartner effort, under the coordination of
Embrapa Tropical Agroindustry, one of the research centres of the Brazilian Agricultural
Research Corporation (Embrapa), located in the State of Ceará, Northeast Brazil. The project had as its main objective to improve the quality of cashew nuts produced by small farmers, through the introduction of improved producing and processing technologies,
together with sound managerial and organisational aspects, using a highly participatory
ICRAF¿s Research and Development Programme is now focused at developing technical, institutional and
policy innovations, in an Integrated Natural Resource Management Research (INRM) Framework. The scale
of analysis of our work begins at the farm and household level¿to the village and municipal levels¿and, to
the provincial and national levels (annex 1). The links at various levels are clearly defined along with the
strategic interplay of technical and social researches at each level. This Research and Development
In this paper, we provide some conceptual landmarks and theoretical orientations
for analyzing new approaches for analyzing change in agricultural research. So, we need to clarify
some basic concepts and representations to be able to debate more meaningfully on methodological
issues.
A research is currently being carried out in the Aguié District (Maradi Region, Niger) under the
responsibility of the International NGO ENDA GRAF Sahel, with IFAD (International Fund for
Agricultural Development) financial support, concerning an on-going process of collaboration
between farmers, researchers and development project field staff started in 1998. In synthesis, the
purpose of this research is twofold: (i) highlight the changes occurred in the wake of a radical shift in
A presentation for GFAR Evaluation Team
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GFAR: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow