UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA

INSTITUTE OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES


UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA
GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA 32611


FOOD AND RESOURCE ECONOMICS DEPARTMENT

MCCARTY HALL

MEMORANDUM



TO :R. S. Kalabacher

FROM : P. E. Hildebra

SUBJECT :Jamaica project

DATE :August 10, 1989

I have received and gone over the project proposal for Forage Research in
Jamaica. I as afraid the nature of the proposal is sufficiently outside my
interests that I do not feel it would be worthwhile for as to participate.

I as concerned that apparently all the participation of the UF faculty is
through the coordinators (see p. 3), rather than directly with the Jamaican
counterparts.

The research appears to be strictly top-down and any on-farm activity is
strictly to "demonstrate the usefulness and practicality" of the technology
which has already been conceived (see pp 8-9).

The diagnostic studies are not related to the forage research which has
already been planned. Item 5 of the comments of the Livestock Research
Advisory Committee (p. 55 of the Working Group Report) expresses the concern
that characterization and diagnosis should precede initiation of the biologic
research.

The Farming Systems approach to technology generation is based upon first
characterizing and diagnosing farmers' situations and then designing and/or
evaluating technologies with them and on their farms. It is also based on the
maximation interaction of all persons involved including both technical
persons (either research or extension) and farmers. I will enclose a brief
description of the approach for your information.

I thank you for giving me the opportunity to participate and I wish you well
in the endeavor.

cc: Larry Libby 4/Aug10.02
COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION COOPERATIVE EXTENSION SERVICE
SCHOOL OF FOREST RESOURCES AND CONSERVATION CENTER FOR TROPICAL AGRICULTURE


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