A baseline survey was conducted in the Hararghe region in Ethiopia in 1989 to identify constraints to agricultural production and environmental protection measures. The survey included not only agricultural support services, but also people's assessment of rural institutions, the rural energy crisis, environmental constraints and community participation. In the concluding chapter, the author gives his assessment of an alternative strategy which avoids the identified constraints by putting the peasants in the centre of attention and supporting their efforts with integrated institutional and material support services.