David W. Norman is professor of agricultural economics at Kansas State University. Emmy B. Simmons is an agricultural economist in the Program and Policy Coordination Bureau of the U.S. Agency for International Development in Washington, D.C. Henry M. Hays is associate professor and head of the Department of Economics and Business at Bethany College.

• LIST OF TABLES -- LIST OF FIGURES -- LIST OF MAPS -- ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS -- LIST OF ACRONYMS -- 1 INTRODUCTION: FARMING SYSTEMS, AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT OBJECTIVES -- 2 THE FARMING SYSTEMS APPROACH TO RESEARCH -- 3 AGROECOLOGY OF THE NIGERIAN SAVANNA -- 4 FARMING COMMUNITIES AND INSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENTS IN NORTHERN NIGERIA -- 5 FARMING SYSTEMS IN THREE ZARIA VILLAGES, NORTHERN NIGERIA -- 6 DIVERSITY AND THE CONTEXT FOR CHANGE IN FARMING SYSTEHS -- 7 IMPROVED TECHNOLOGY: ASSESSING SUITABILITY BY USING A FARMING SYSTEMS APPROACH -- 8 PROMOTING AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT -- References -- Author Index -- Subject Index.