FIG. 2. Organizational scheme for FSR/E Program Regional Approach, University of Florida, USA.



 UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA
 ADMI NISTRATION



 REGIONAL ADVISORY GROUP FARMER

COUNTIES AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH MAIN CAMPUS
 8 EDUCATION CENTER (AREC) ADVISORY GOUPS
COUNTY EXTENSION RESEARCH REPRESENTATIVE RESEARCH COOP-
DIRECTORS FSR/E REGIONAL COORDINATOR ERATORS
 FSR/E CAMPUS CO-
 ORDINATOR



 REGIONAL RESEARCH/EXTENSION WORK GROUP
 (TECHNICAL PRODUCTION UNIT)

 COUNTY AREC CAMPUS
 FACULTY RESEARCHERS FSR/E CAMPUS COORDINATOR
 STAFF REGIONAL FSR/E COORDINATOR RESEARCH COOPERATORS
 REGIONAL SPECIALTY AGENTS GRADUATE STUDENTS
 (VEGETABLE, MARKETING, ETC.)
 FSR/E SUPPORT PERSONNEL
 PARAPROFESSIONALSS, AG. TECHNICIANS,
 OTHER CAREER SERVICE PERSONNEL)





 REGIONAL ON-FARM TRIALS


well as on the station, i.e., the entire range of environments.
 This type of information is absolutely essential for understand-
ing the recommendation domain of a technology, be it a corn
cultivar or other recommendation. In this example, it was clear that
information diffusion of the new corn cultivar should be restricted
to areas characterized by a high environmental index. The time
period required to gather such data is relatively short, but the
results provide a firm basis for making sound recommendations,
which also reinforces institutional credibility with the farmer.
 In Florida the FSR/E work has been carried out in a designed
fashion both on-farm and on-station. During the three and a half
years the program has operated, this work has resulted in the
generation and validation of technology in various areas which
range from improved information diffusion to grazing of early
maturing wheat, establishment and overseeding of perennial
peanut, fertility recommendations on wheat and others. The
focus of this work has always been to meet the needs of the farm
family within their environment and do it rapidly.

FSR/E Success
 In contrast to the U.S., Guatemala and many other nations
have one overriding but simple national agricultural policy, that
is, to increase food production. ICTA has the charge of increasing
Guatemala production of corn, beans, rice, and sorghum. Ten

VOL. XX-PROCEEDINGS of the CARIBBEAN FOOD CROPS SOCIETY


years after its beginning, ICTA can boast of achieving most of its
goals and more by attaining self-sufficiency in corn and beans,
with surplus bean production for export (Table 1). This for-
midable task was carried out in a relatively short period of time in
a designed program of on-station and on-farm technology
generation and validation. This effective and rapid means of
achieving technology generation, validation and diffusion has
come to be called Farming Systems Research/Extension.

TABLE 1. Guatemala average national yield of corn, beans, rice and sorghum for
1973 and 1984.

 Before ICTA Goals Today
 Yield Yield Yield
 (kg/ha) (kg/ha) (kg/ha)

 Corn 1.156 1,450 1,636
 Beans 724 769 986
 Rice 2,136 3,600 2,850
 Sorghum 936 1,344 2,080

 Source: El departamento de Investigaciones Agropecuarias Industriales.


109