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Journal of Integrative Agriculture  2015, Vol. 14 Issue (8): 1478-1489    DOI: 10.1016/S2095-3119(15)61069-3
Special Focus: Systems Research Helping toMeet the Needs and Managing the Trade-offs of a Changing W Advanced Online Publication | Current Issue | Archive | Adv Search |
Impact of systems modelling on agronomic research and adoption of new practices in smallholder agriculture
 D J Connor, H van Rees, P S Carberry
1、The University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia
2、CropFacts, Mandurang South 3551, Australia
3、Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization, To owoomba, Queensland 4305, Australia
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摘要  An analysis of the impact of simulation modelling in three diverse crop-livestock improvement projects in Agricultural Research for Development (AR4D) reveals benefits across a range of aspects including identification of objectives, design and implementation of experimental programs, effectiveness of participatory research with smallholder farmers, implementation of system change and scaling-out of results. In planning change, farmers must consider complex interactions within both biophysical and socioeconomic aspects of their crop and animal production activities. For this, whole-farm models that include household models of food, workload and financial requirements have the most utility and impact. The analysis also proposes improvements in design and implementation of AR4D projects to improve the utility of simulation modelling for securing positive agronomic and livestock outcomes and lasting legacies.

Abstract  An analysis of the impact of simulation modelling in three diverse crop-livestock improvement projects in Agricultural Research for Development (AR4D) reveals benefits across a range of aspects including identification of objectives, design and implementation of experimental programs, effectiveness of participatory research with smallholder farmers, implementation of system change and scaling-out of results. In planning change, farmers must consider complex interactions within both biophysical and socioeconomic aspects of their crop and animal production activities. For this, whole-farm models that include household models of food, workload and financial requirements have the most utility and impact. The analysis also proposes improvements in design and implementation of AR4D projects to improve the utility of simulation modelling for securing positive agronomic and livestock outcomes and lasting legacies.
Keywords:  agricultural systems       animal production       crop production       modelling       research for development  
Received: 16 March 2015   Accepted:
Fund: 

The authors express thanks to the many team members of the various projects and others who participated in the review and to ACIAR and CSIRO for logistical and financial support.

Corresponding Authors:  D J Connor, E-mail: djconnor@unimelb.edu.au     E-mail:  djconnor@unimelb.edu.au
About author:  D J Connor, E-mail: djconnor@unimelb.edu.au

Cite this article: 

D J Connor, H van Rees, P S Carberry. 2015. Impact of systems modelling on agronomic research and adoption of new practices in smallholder agriculture. Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 14(8): 1478-1489.

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