The task of preparing a training manual on Agricultural Research Institute Management began with the FAO Expert Consultation on Strategies for Research Management Training in Africa, held at the International Livestock Centre for Africa (ILCA), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 12-16 December 1983. Following the recommendations of the consultation, and on the basis of the curriculum design adopted, FAO embarked upon the preparation of this manual. In the process of its preparation, many agricultural research managers and management specialists have contributed. Besides the two main consultants, namely Dr Ronald P. Black, Denver Research Institute, University of Denver, USA, who prepared the first draft, and Dr V.N. Asopa, Professor at the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad, India, who prepared the current version of the manual, the contribution of the following specialists in various fields must be singled out: Ramesh Bhat, J. Casas, A.K. Jain, F.S. Kanwar, V. Martinson, Gopal Naik, P. Nath, R.K. Patel, T.P. Rama Rao, S.K. Sharma, E.S. Tayengco, and J.S. Woolston. FAO expresses its gratitude to them all.
Special thanks are due to the International Service for National Agricultural Research (ISNAR), which has willingly made available its valuable experience and relevant materials throughout the preparation of the manual.
FAO also thanks all those authors and publishers who have allowed the use of copyright material from their publications, even though the courtesy is recognized in each case.
This manual has been prepared under the responsibility of the Research Development Centre, Research and Technology Development Division, FAO, with the guidance of: Mohamed S. Zehni, former Director; and J.H. Monyo, E. Venezian and B. Müller-Haye, past Chiefs of the Research Development Centre. Scientific supervision was provided by G. Beye, Senior Officer, now Chief, Research Technology Development Service.
MODULE 2 RESEARCH PLANNING
This module consists of six sessions:
1. PRINCIPLES OF RESEARCH PLANNING
2. THE INSTITUTE-LEVEL PLANNING PROCESS
3. SETTING GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
4. FROM OBJECTIVES TO AN OPERATIONAL PLAN
5. PARTICIPATORY PLANNING EXERCISE
6. CASE STUDY: PLANNING AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH IN MUGHAL SULTANATE
Sessions 1 to 4 describe the principles of research planning and development of an operational plan in the context of stated goals and objectives. These are essentially lecture-discussion sessions. The common reading for all these sessions is Long-term planning of a national agricultural research system in the Third World: a new method.
The case study on Planning for agricultural research in Mughal Sultanate emphasizes ground realities which necessitate a pragmatic approach in planning and use of a simple technique.
The participatory planning exercise is intended to integrate all the concepts and techniques discussed in this module.
Depending upon the time available and the participant profile, the resource person may wish to re-schedule the sessions. One possibility is to combine sessions 1 to 4 into one session, with the Reading Note - Long-term planning of a national agricultural research system in the Third World: a new method - providing background material. Next discuss the case study on planning agricultural research in the Mughal Sultanate. Finally, the participatory planning exercise can be scheduled.
