Chris Garforth
MA, PhD (Cambridge)
Professor of Agricultural Extension and Rural Development
Email: c.j.garforth@reading.ac.uk

My current research interests are in two main areas: communication, and the reform of public sector extension services. A key focus in the former is on the uptake and use of the outputs of natural resources research, and in particular on information and knowledge constraints which make it difficult for people to develop their production systems in support of their livelihoods. I am conducting research in the UK, for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, on farmers' response to new knowledge and technologies. In partnership with overseas researchers, I am involved in research on these issues for five of DFID's research programmes - the Livestock Production, Crop Protection, Natural Resources Systems, Fisheries Management Science, and Animal Health Research Programmes. Recent consultancy assignments in Uganda and Nepal, for DFID and The World Bank, have contributed to the debate on what role the public sector should continue to play in advisory and other support services for farmers. Before joining the university in 1980, I taught at the University of Nigeria, and worked as a Research Officer for Newcastle upon Tyne City Council and as an Action Research Officer in the Agricultural Information Services of the Botswana Ministry of Agriculture. I studied Land Economy at Cambridge for both my first degree and my PhD on land tenure and agricultural land use in Nigeria.

Research projects

Review of methodologies for analysis of uptake of RNR research and technology (DFID: NRSP)

Equity effects of reforms in financing and provision of agricultural extension (DFID: NRPAD)

Socio-economic factors in agroforestry research in Nepal (DFID: NRSP)

Seed uptake pathways (DFID: Plant Sciences Programme)

Promotion of disease-resistant Phaseolus beans in Tanzania (DFID: CPP - joint project with NRI)

Demand assessment for technologies for on-farm management of natural resources in semi-arid areas of Tanzania and Zimbabwe

Analysis of farmers' decision making in pest management (DFID: CPP - through CABI) R7500

Biophysical and socio-economic tools for assessing soil fertility (DFID - NRSP: through Silsoe Research Inst.)

Development of a strategy to enhance uptake and adoption of research outputs

Analysis of local agricultural knowledge and information systems, Eritrea

Upscaling field level pilot research experiences

Linking field level findings with policy and decision making in Nepal

Co-ordination of Livestock Production Programme dissemination activities in East Africa DFID: LPP)

Sustainable Livelihood Diversification in South Asia (DFID: PRP through ODI)

Implications of environmental and sustainability issues for the organisation and management of agricultural extension

Assessment of techniques for persuading farmers to adopt nitrate reducing practices

Terai Options Study, Nepal (World Bank)

Factors in the uptake of crop protection technologies in rice systems in West Africa

Recent publications

Regmi, B. N. and C. Garforth (2004). Problems and prospects of farm forestry: a case of Chitwan district, Nepal. Human Dimensions of Family, Farm and Community Forestry International Symposium, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA, Washington State University Extension.

Mubangizi, N., M. N. Mangheni, and C J Garforth (2004). "Information sources and constraints under national agricultural advisory services programme, of service providers in Uganda." Uganda Journal of Agricultural Sciences 9: 257-264.

McKemey, K. and C. Garforth (2004). Sheep farmers' attitudes and practices regarding the breeding and marketing of lambs. Report to the Better Returns Programme of EBLEX. Reading, The University of Reading: 126.

Garforth, C. (2004). Policy relevance of demonstration farms in the context of knowledge transfer. Evaluation of the Forward Farming pilot demonstration farm project. Report to Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra). B. Angell, C. Garforth, T. Scott et al. Wolverhampton and Reading, ADAS Consulting Ltd. and The University of Reading: 51-59.

Garforth, C. (2004). ADAS and the privatization of advisory services in England and Wales. Extension reform for rural development. Volume 2: Privatization of extension systems - Case studies of international initiatives. G. Alex and W. M. Rivera. Washington, World Bank: 56-64.

Garforth, C. (2004). Demand-led approaches: Introduction. Demand driven approaches to agriculture extension. G. Alex and W. M. Rivera. Washington, World Bank. 3: 3-6.

Garforth, C., Rehman, T., McKemey, K., Tranter, R.B., Cooke, R.J., Yates, C.M., Park, J.R., and Doward, P.T. Improving the design of knowledge transfer strategies by understanding farmer attitudes and behaviour. Journal of Farm Management 12, 2004, 17-32.

Garforth, C . (2004). Knowledge management and dissemination for livestock production: global opportunities and local constraints. Responding to the Livestock Revolution: the role of globalisation and implications for poverty alleviation. E. Owen, T. Smith, M. A. Steele et al. Nottingham, Nottingham University Press: 287-298.

Angell, B., Garforth, C. , Scott, T., Beedell, J., Bailey, A.P., and Beechener, S. (2004). Evaluation of the Forward Farming Pilot Demonstration Farm Project. Report to the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra). Wolverhampton and Reading, ADAS and The University of Reading: 82 + Annexes.

Rehman, T., C. M. Yates, K. McKemey, C. Garforth, R. J. Cooke, R. B. Tranter, J. R. Park and P. T. Dorward (2003). Modelling the uptake of new technologies on dairy farms in South West England using the Theory of Reasoned Action and Mathematical Programming. A contributed paper presented at the Agricultural Economics Society Conference, April 2003, Seale Hayne, England: 37.

Garforth, C., T. Rehman, K. McKemey, R. B. Tranter, R. J. Cooke, C. M. Yates, J. R. Park and P. T. Dorward (2003) Improving the targeting of knowledge and technology transfer in the livestock sector by understanding farmer attitudes and behaviour. Final project report for LINK Sustainable Livestock Production Programme project LK0647. July 2003. 60pp plus Appendices and Annexes

Garforth, C., B. Angell, J. Archer and K. Green (2003). "Fragmentation or creative diversity? Options in the provision of land management advisory services." Land Use Policy 20 : 323-333

Garforth, C., B. Angell, Archer, J., and Green, K. (2003). Improving farmers' access to advice on land management: lessons from case studies in developed countries. Agricultural Research and Extension Network (AgREN) Network Paper No. 125. London, Overseas Development Institute.

Kebreab, E, France, J, Ellis, R H, and Garforth, C (2000) "An evaluation of uptake and developmental impact in the semi-arid tropics of four crop production models" Journal of Agricultural Science 134(2) 173-180

Garforth, C (1999) 'Dissemination of information and training materials for agricultural development' in Sutherland, JA, and Mundy, P, (eds.) Towards increased use of demand driven technology: Volume 2: synthesis of themes and group discussions from the KARI/DFID NARPII Project End of Project Conference 23rd.-26th. March 1999. 80-85. Nairobi. DFID and KARI.

Garforth, C., Malla, Y.B., Neupane, R., and Pandit, B. (1999) "Socio-economic factors in the uptake of technologies for the enhancement of soil fertility in the hills of Nepal" Mountain Research and Development 19(3) 273-278

Bakang, J.A., and Garforth, C.J. (1998) "Property rights and renewable natural resources degradation in north-western Ghana" Journal of International Development 10, 501-514

Garforth, C.J., and Warren, K (1998) Seed Uptake Pathways. Report to DFID Plant Sciences Programme. Reading. AERDD, The University of Reading.

Garforth, C, (1998) Dissemination pathways for Renewable Natural Resources Research Socio-Economic Methodologies Best Practice Guide. Chatham. NR International. ISBN 0 85954 496 6

Garforth, C, and Harford, N. (1997) Extension experiences in agriculture and natural resource management through the 1980s and 1990s. Chapter 3 (pp.15-22) in Scarborough, V., Killough, S., Johnson, D. and Farrington, J. (eds.) Farmer-led Extension and Research: Agricultural Services Responding to Poor Farmers' Needs. London. Intermediate Technology Publications

Garforth, C, and Usher, R (1997) "Promotion and uptake pathways for research output: a review of analytical frameworks and communication channels" Agricultural Systems 55(2) 301-322

Garforth, C, and Lawrence, A. (1997) Supporting sustainable agriculture through extension in Asia Natural Resource Perspective no. 21. London. Overseas Development Institute. 4pp. ISSN 1356-9228

Subedi, A, and Garforth, C (1996) "Gender information and communication networks: implications for extension" European Journal of Agricultural Education and extension 3(2), 63-74