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.