Photo: Lance Bellers. More workshop photos
In July 1987, some 50 social and natural scientists of roughly equal numbers met at the Institute of Development Studies (IDS) at the University of Sussex, UK, for a workshop on ‘Farmers and Agricultural Research: Complementary Methods', later more generally known as the ‘Farmer First' workshop. That workshop marked a key moment in the development of approaches to farmer participation in agricultural research and extension, drawing together experiences from a diverse range of individuals and organisations from both North and South. Since then, methodological, institutional and policy experiments have unfolded around the world, aimed at putting farmers first.
Twenty years on, at a time of renewed interest in agriculture for development and a wide recognition of the importance of effective research and development systems, it is worth asking how have these participatory experiments panned out? What have been the successes and failures, and what lessons have been learned? Moreover, given the radically changed contexts facing poor farmers in the developing world today – including increasingly globalised and vertically integrated agri-food systems, changed configurations of public and private R&D, and new governance arrangements affecting innovation systems – how should the challenges and priorities of farmer participation in agricultural research and extension be seen in the 21st century?
Overview paper >>>
Post-workshop summary paper >>>
To address these urgent questions, reflect on past successes, failures and missed opportunities, and look forward to new challenges, the Future Agricultures Consortium in association with the STEPS Centre at Sussex hosted an international workshop, ‘Farmer First Revisited', at IDS from 12-14 December 2007 to coincide with the 20th anniversary of the original ‘Farmer First' event. This website presents information for participants and other interested readers on this major workshop and related efforts that aim to put farmers first. We invite you to contribute to the debates highlighted in these pages through the blog and the ‘wiki' timeline.
Robert Chambers' opening speech (27mins)
Wale Adekunle of FARA
(38mins)
Final wrap-up panel
(73mins)
New Agriculturist: Points of view
New Agriculturist: Farmer First Revisited Podcast
New Agriculturist: FFR programme for African radio stations
Post-workshop summary
Ian Scoones, John Thompson and Robert Chambers
Farmer First Revisited: Some Reflections on the Future of the CGIAR
Ian Scoones, John Thompson and Robert Chambers
Farmer First Retrospect and Prospect
Workshop Overview paper
Ian Scoones, John Thompson and Robert Chambers
