The nature of the relationship


 Farmers should be aware from the beginning exactly
what to expect from the relationship. Above all, they
must be informed that the work is research, from which
both researcher and farmer will learn, and not a
demonstration designed to show how much better the
researchers can do what the farmers are already doing.
(In most cases, the farmers know how to do it better, but
they cannot afford to.) Farmers must be aware of who will
be expected to provide what, who will take what risks, who
will get what product. It is critical that farmers
understand the timing of the various activities and
whether it is to be at their initiative or at the
initiative of the researchers. For example, in a yellow
maize area, if some white varieties are to be used, the
farmers should know if they can expect some yellow maize
in return for the white maize they will not want, or if
they should just expect to lose that which was produced.
They should also agree to include white maize and
understand why it should be included. They must know who
should provide the fertilizer, if it is to be used, and
when it must be available; who is going to harvest, when
and how.
 Farmers understand risk and are willing to (or are
forced to) accept it as a normal part of their production
environment. If an experiment is lost because of normal
environmental conditions, farmers will understand it and
will not be concerned about compensation (although they
would probably accept it if offered). In order to avoid
paternalism in the research process, it is better not to
consider compensation for these cases. If, on the other
hand, certain treatments are lost because they were poorly
thought-out or obviously not adapted to the production
environment of the farmers, the farmers can be expected to
think compensation is warranted unless they were well
advised beforehand of this eventuality. In this case,
payment in kind, of the quantity and quality that
otherwise would have been produced, is probably indicated.
It is better, of course to avoid the situation by having
well-thought-out, simple interventions and adequate farmer
involvement in the design of the trial.
 Farmers must understand the importance of the trial
to the researchers. The risk of not completing on-farm