ABSTRACT
The ROC would have to define its research and development roles to be different from those of the MAF Agricultural Research Stations (such as RLRS) on the one hand and the MAF regional extension centres on the other hand. Whilst research of a more fundamental nature, on particular topics, would be undertaken on the research stations, the ROC would in part focus on 'adaptive research' objectively to test technologies and methods in the field. Its primary research task however would be to integrate different aspects of fundamental research to produce coherent farm production systems which not only fitted the current (and likely future) local, physical, economic and human constraints and opportunities being faced by the rural communities but which were also systems that the farmers could, and would in practice, adopt. The proposed relationship between the ROC, the Agricultural Research Station (such as RLRS), extension centres and farmers is illustrated in Figure 36. In addition to taking its fundamental research data from the ARS, the ROC would gain its knowledge of local farm systems from the farmers and other rural producers. Working closely with the farmers it would then suggest modifications to those systems taking current and likely future options and constraints into consideration, not neglecting those affecting the market. These suggestions, presented as farm systems packages, would then be more widely disseminated through the extension centres.
