approach, has been designed in Guatemala. The project is based in a
model known as the Modular System for Technology Transference
which has it origin in a working experience that ICTA had in the
Guatemalan Highlands (Waugh, 1980; Whyte, 1981), and will provide
the opportunity to the research and extension agencies to participate
together in a joint effort for the generation and transference of
appropriate technology for small family farms.

THE RESEARCH-EXTENSION SYSTEM
IN GUATEMALA

 The Research and Extension System was adopted by the Ministry
of Agriculture of Guatemala in 1954. This decision was financially
supported by the U.S. Government through the Program for Technical
Assistance, and it was designed following the same concepts of the
research and extension system of the Land Grant Universities in the
United States. The organizers tried to adapt this system to the local
conditions, but the university did not participate and the administrative
structure stayed within the rigid bureaucratic framework of the
Ministry. Besides the lack of specialized and motivated technical staff
that would generate technology to support the extension activities,
there was never a serious effort to establish a constructive dialogue
between research and extension, even though both activities were
under the same institution. Relative to the research conducted,
technology was generated mostly in experiment stations under
conditions that contrasted strongly with those existing in small, limited-
resource farms. There was hardly any impact on production,
consumption began to exceed production, and the country was forced
to resort to frequent imports of basic grains to satisfy the national
consumption requirements.

 The continuous inefficiency of the research-extension system
during the 50's, and 60's as it was adapted and structured in
Guatemala, led the authorities of the Ministry of Agriculture to re-
examine and define the causes contributing to this failure. A critical
analysis of the work conducted made some faults evident within the
adopted system (Waugh, 1975):