Applied Economics and Politics (TTP's)

[Surferbeetle]

War is a conflict between various parties who employ a wide variety of warfare methods in order to impose their will upon their opponents. I understand War best as a system which is comprised of various sub-systems. Security, Economics, and Politics are inter-related subsystems which can be used to describe a larger conflict system. As with any model of reality it's best to keep in mind the heuristic all models are wrong but some are useful.

IMHO we as an institution display a good understanding of Security as a standalone system, however, we are just now beginning to realize that Economic and Political systems can significantly impact the Security system. This statement is evidenced by the reocurring need for one-off designs which have been constructed by various actors. This appears to be the result of our (the institution that is the USG, or at least, all of the elements fielded to address the 'problem' found in Iraq and Afghanistan) working without the benefit of a shared understanding of the underlying principles, definitions, roles, responsibilities, and requirements which comprise Economic and Political systems.

In line with the above observations it has been my experience that open source FMs are very, very thin on Economics and Politics TTP's for USG units which work within the Operating Environment found in Full-Spectrum Operations. Since I can't find what I need in the open source FM's of which I am aware of I have expanded the scope of my search. My search for a deeper understanding has included completing a graduate degree, participating in the Socratian experience that is SWJ over the last few years, and practicing what I learn in my small sphere of influence.

Upon further reflection, it's a long-winded way of stating the purpose of the thread.

Topic Area: Agriculture
Geographic Area: Zambia
Focal Question: Has Zambia's Farming Systems Research and Extension (FSR/E) approach to agricultural expansion facilitated sustainable development?
Sources:
(1) Bezuneh, M., Ames, G.C.W., and Mabbs-Zeno, C., 1995. "Sustainable agricultural development using a farming systems approach in Zambia". Ecological Economics, vol. 15, no. 2, pp. 149-156.
(2) World Bank, 1980-1994. World Bank Development Report. New York, NY: Oxford University Press.
Reviewer: Marc Small, Colby College '96

According to the World Bank, over the last twenty years agricultural production in Zambia has accounted for, on average, only fourteen percent of total GDP. In comparison, industrial production and manufacturing, combined, have made up approximately eighty three percent of total GDP over the last twenty years. Clearly, the agricultural industry is not one of the most economically powerful industries in Zambia. Consequently, the Zambian government has neglected the agricultural industry in order to pay more attention to the politically and economically influential industries such as manufacturing and industrial production.

Since the 1970's, Zambia has relied on simple, relatively inexpensive agricultural research programs to enhance agricultural productivity. In the early stages of the research programs, research was conducted in order to develop productivity enhancing technologies (i.e. fertilizers, pesticides and capital intensive crops). During this period, research took place on research stations, which did not imitate the typical conditions of a Zambian farmer's fields. In general, the research programs were designed by wealthy bureaucrats, who were only interested in fast results, and short term productivity gains.

By the late 1970's, the Zambian Ministry of Agriculture and Water Development recognized that the needs of small scale and traditional farmers were not being appropriately addressed by the previously implemented research programs. In 1978, with the help of CGIAR (The Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research), the Zambian government implemented the Farming Systems Research and Extension (FSR/E) approach to agricultural development.

The FSR/E approach to agricultural development involves development and implementation of production technologies for the traditional and small scale farming sectors. The FSR/E methodology relies on provincial Adaptive Research Planning Teams (ARPT) to carry out the appropriate farming system research. Each provincial ARPT has at least one agronomist, one economist, and one research extension liaison officer, who acts as the middleman between the farmer and the ARPT. In addition, each team is supported by a national ARPT rural sociologist and nutritionist (Bezuneh et al. 151).

Although the Zambian FSR/E approach to agricultural development has achieved some success, there is little indication that the FSR/E program promotes sustainable agriculture. The FSR/E program, like Zambia's original research programs, has continued to emphasize fast results and the meeting of farmers short term needs. Productivity gains have often come through the expansion of cultivated land. Far too often, this expansion has been into marginally productive areas that are susceptible to soil erosion. Also, the Adaptive Research Planning Teams have placed too much emphasis on developing environmentally harmful, capital intensive technologies such as toxic fertilizers and pesticides. According to the World Bank, fertilizer consumption in Zambia more than doubled between 1970 and 1987. Not enough emphasis has been placed on developing "farming systems that are compatible with the particular environmental attributes constraining small scale producers" (Bezuneh et al. 153).