System approaches to agricultural systems analysis for development

Abstract

Appropriate agricultural development or research must be based on understanding of target areas.Each area is different on physical, biological, economic and society especially, people or society in the each area.People in different areas think differently due to different contexts and conditions. We must respect their differences.However, most of the agricultural development activities or agricultural production researches narrowly focus on a practice or any particular activity which may not fit their contexts and conditions without considering complexinteractions within the area. Because each households’ productions are holistically managed, not only farmingpractices but they also engage in other activates in their livelihood inside or outside their farms. System approaches will enable us to analyze and understand complex interaction of components and behaviors of household andcommunity existing system holistically in each area. There are principles and processes that can be applied insystem approach such as area oriented development, systems thinking and concepts, human ecology, agro-ecosystemanalysis, and rapid rural appraisal technique for data collection and analysis. However, analyzer must learn methodor technique for systems analysis and inCharoenwatanaisciplinary team working. This approach has 3 steps startform; (1) systems definition as well as finding the research or development issue, objective, scope, and conceptualframework, (2) pattern analysis by applying conceptual tools and other tools (3) systems identification, problem,potential, and present guideline for development or research. This system approach can be applied for analysis atvarious levels and/or issues, especially in agricultural sector such as application to rice production analysis for presentextension and development guideline to meet organic rice production systems based on each area oriented.