This book analyzes the functions, content, methods, findings, and
impacts of social and cultural research carried out by the worldwide
network of 16 International Agricultural Research Centers of the
CGIAR(Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research). Its
two main parts - "insiders" and "outsiders" - bring together the
perspectives of over 50 eminent scholars and social researchers from 30
countries, working within the Centers or within outside academic and
development institutions.
The authors examine critically the priorities, strengths, and weaknesses
of research on the socio-structural, behavioral, cultural, and
institutional variables of developing agriculture, forestry, livestock,
and fisheries. The studies focus on farmers' values, needs and
knowledge, their patterns of social organization, issues of food
security, natural resource management and poverty reduction. Alternative
models of multidisciplinary research, reuniting biological, natural,
economic and social sciences are scrutinized in the light of experience
and results, with emphasis on the nature of social science research as a
source of international public goods and a key contributor to induced
development.
