countries has been increasing more rapidly than in
industrialized countries because of increased yields per
hectare on some farms and because of a significant
expansion in land under cultivation. Still, with higher
population growth rates, the rate of increase in food
availability per capital in developing countries has been
less rapid than in developed countries. On the African
continent, where agricultural research systems are less
developed, per capital food availability has been
declining.
 Throughout this period, evidence began to accumulate
that the supply of unused arable land was rapidly being
exhausted and that existing research and technology
transfer systems were still not meeting the needs of a
majority of farm families who could be characterized as
being on small-scale, limited-resource holdings. If
adequate food and fiber production targets are to be met
in the future, a new approach to applied research,
technology development, and dissemination has to be
implemented to generate the kinds of new technology
acceptable to these limited-resource farmers.
 Research and extension programs are now entering a
fourth, client-participatory phase. The term "farming
systems" was applied in the 1970's to several different
activities that had common threads and similar purpose,
but used different methods to pursue their goals. The
common threads were:
 1. A concern with small-scale, limited-resource
family farmers who were reaping a disproportionately small
share of the benefits of organized research, extension,and
other developmental activities.
 2. Recognition that a firsthand and thorough
understanding of the farmers' situation is critical in
increasing their productivity and helping to improve their
welfare.
 3. The use of scientists and technicians from more
than one discipline as a means of understanding the farm
as an entire system, rather than isolating components
within the system.
 Farming systems research and extension (FSR/E) is an
approach to technology generation, evaluation, and
delivery. It is applied, farmer-oriented, agro-biological
research, supported by the socioeconomic sciences in a
team effort that includes extension responsibilities. The