This manual on the farming systems approach to technology development is based on the experiences of the authors over the last two decades. Much of the documentation of these experiences has occurred over the last five years with the production of three sets of documents on the methodology for undertaking the farming systems research approach. These were a!; follows: The production of a farming systems research manual for Botswana [Worman, Norman et al, 19901 which was first published under the auspices of the Department of Agricultural Research in the Ministry of Agriculture in Botswana. A slightly revised edition was later printed in 1992 by courtesy of the Food and Agricultural Organisation/Swedish International Development Agency (FAO/SIDA) sponsored Farming Systems Programme headquartered in Gaborone. Botswana. A series of lectures given at Mahalapye Rural Training Centre, Botswana, in May 1992 at a Fanning Systems Research In-Service Training Course for Research and Extension Staff in the Ministry of Agriculture A series of lectures given as part of a Sustainable Farming Systems Course at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SUAS). Uppsala, Sweden in November 1992, which resulted in a publication [Norman et al, 19941 produced by the FAO/SIDA project with its headquarters in Gaborone, Botswana.