Estimation of indices of research necessity for major agricultural products in the state of Santa Catarina

Abstract

With the increasing scarcity of resources for agricultural research, grows the feeling that subjective methods of decision making based on intuition and common-sense are insufficient. Due to this fact, a study was carried out in the State of Santa Catarina, by the end of 1987, in order to estimate percentage indices of research necessity for 30 agricultural products, using the method of scores. A questionnaire with 14 items was filled out by 14 experienced researches representing EMPASC's headquarters and experimental stations. Quesdons had different weight and each on had five answer options with a score from on to five. The method of scores produced consistent results. Indices of research necessity varied from 25,3 to 65,8. The ten products with the highest index were: milk (65,8), pears (58,5), grapes (58,1), plums (53,8), apples (52,9), beans (50,9), erva-mate (50,7), beef cattle (50,7). Bananas (49,2), and garlic (47,8).