This proceeding report is divided in three sessions. In the first session papers on African forage plant genetic resources in Zimbabwe, Botswana, Malawi and the PANESA region are presented. The second session discusses forage germplasm evaluation. In this session experiences of ILCA, Tanzania, Mauritius, Uganda, Malawi, Ethiopia and Kenya are presented. Species involved in the studies included Brachiaria, Cynodon, Trifolium, Lablab, Zornia, Stylosanthes and Crotalaria. The third session deals with extensive livestock production systems.

Discusses the Development of alley cropping and alley farming, uses of trees and shrubs in fallow systems, hedgegrow establishment and management and benefits for crop production and livestock. Examines the economic aspects and social acceptability of alley farming.

Men and women interact with water resources and landscapes in different ways, and there are frequent criticisms that little research is undertaken across disciplines to address this issue. Biophysical scientists in particular struggle with how to integrate “gendered” water uses into models that are necessarily based on prevailing laws and equations that describe the movement of water through the hydrological cycle, independent of social constructs.

The papers in this proceedings provide a cross section of science research in international agricultural research centres (IARCs), where the objectives and research foci within the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) have changed substantially in the 1990s. The book is divided in five sections. The first explores priority setting and research evaluation of commodity programmes. The second looks at institutional issues. The third explores issues related to commodity policies and food security.