Abstract

In recent years agricultural scientists have been encouraged to build upon farmer practice and knowledge. Although some researchers continued to view farmer practice as irrelevant, others responded with: a) experiments using “farmer practice” as a treatment, b) attempts to transform practices, c) research to better understand practices, and d) research to improve productivity of practices. Researchers generally have not reached the point of testing farmer practices in new areas in anticipation of wider extension. A widespread eastern Indian farmers' practice provides an example: beusani combines direct dry seeded rice, wet plowing at 20–35 days after emergence, laddering, and seedling redistribution as a set of techniques to loosen soils, thin seedlings and improve tillering, control weeds, and optimize plant stand. Results of a survey of the practice are presented; and work on or related to beusaniis reviewed to see how research has built upon farmer practice and how the process can be improved