ABSTRACT
This chapter aims to describe the attempts of the Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute (CARDI) at incorporating intra-household dynamics in farming systems research (FSR) in the Eastern Caribbean. CARDI's FSR/D project is designed to facilitate the growth of a more diversified agriculture consistent with the changing political and economic requirements of the Eastern Caribbean states. Agricultural development projects and researchers largely work with male farmers and field production. Traditionally female dominated aspects of farming systems have gone without much attention. There were many implications of the area focused study to CARDI's agricultural and livestock specialists for technology generation. CARDI decided to work with the women in the farm household because the data revealed that women make decisions pertaining to family consumption and food preparation. The proposed Integrated Backyard System is an attempt at incorporating both gender and nutrition issues into CARDI's programs.
