Are research-development projects socially useful? Taken as a whole, the aim of the four researchdevelopment projects is clearly to be socially useful, in which they succeed at several levels, although the extent of their success differs. However, this objective could both be better presented in the final reports and better developed during the projects. It may be noted as well that the usefulness which is ultimately observed, may exceed the expected results. Finally in the last project, which defined itself as extension research, this immediate social usefulness was the very condition for its existence. This particularity raises a specific issue, in that fundamental science is also useful to society even though its usefulness is generally perceived over much longer periods of time.
Farmers, researchers and agricultural extension workers visiting an experimental cotton field on direct seeding mulch-based cropping systems (DMCs), Northern Cameroon. Š K. Naudin
This claim of researchers to be development mediators is an innovative experimental position which offers much potential, both for the fight against desertification and for the development of partnerships with the civil society. It has the merit of showing that the role of researcher is not to carry out development policies but to relay ideas and the projects of various actors so that they can achieve the development together. Naturally, this position requires an ethical stand on the part of those who implement these methods, in that most of the other actors who are partners in development are not able to use the mediation tools; the researcher should also allow the clearest possible expression of the stakes underlying discussion. Finally, in spite of the neutrality of his position, he is never entirely neutral with respect to political commitment or opinion. Without making too much of his opinions, which might be counterproductive, he should nevertheless not hide them.
How can exchanges between science and civil society be developed for the fight against desertification?
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