บทคัดย่องานวิจัย

Improving the impact of post-harvest research and development on root and tuber crops: the needs-assessment approach.

Westby, A.; Kleih, U.; Hall, A.; Bockett, G.; Crentsil, D.; Ndunguru, G.; Graffham, A.; Gogoe, S.; Hector, D.; Nahdy, S.; Gallat, S.;

Tropical Agriculture Year: 1998 Vol: 75 Issue: 1/2 Pages: 143-146 Ref: 11 ref.

1998

บทคัดย่อ

Improving the impact of post-harvest research and development on root and tuber crops: the needs-assessment approach.

Resources for research and development activities are limited and, therefore, it is important to accurately target research work and technical interventions to the true needs and opportunities of farmers, processors, or traders. This paper details the use of needs-assessment techniques to assess the constraints and opportunities in post-harvest systems. Two examples of needs-assessment studies and subsequent adaptive research and technology dissemination activities, are presented to demonstrate the use of needs assessment in the planning and implementation phases of the project cycle. The examples are taken from work in Tanzania and Uganda. Needs-assessment techniques have the potential to improve the relevance of post-harvest research and development and are recommended as part of a participatory approach to prioritizing research, technology generation, and diffusion. The methods do, however, have their weaknesses and shortcomings and these are discussed.