The concept of the Technological Improvement File (TIF) was introduced into CARDI in 1985 as a research and development tool as one of the outputs of the CARDI/USAID Farming Systems Research and Development (FSR/D) Project No. 538-0099.

The format of the TIF took the form of four major sub-files.

SUB-FILE #1
This sub-file provided a description of the nature of the existing target production system and the characteristics of the resources of the target farmers for whom the technology would be applicable. A description of the agro-ecological and socio-economic environments in which the target production and farm systems functioned, was provided.

SUB-FILE #2
This sub-file provided a description of available technologies to improve the existing target production systems. Thus firmly established and recommended technological practices that were known to effect improvements over traditional practices in the target systems were reviewed. Emphasis was placed on technology that had been tested, validated and applied successfully but possible alternatives especially those with potential were considered.

SUB-FILE #3
Agro-Economic Rationale.
This sub-file provided information on the technical and economic justifications for the technological improvements to be recommended, e.g. experimental evidence, results of marketing results etc. Back up data for technology that had been tested, validated and applied with biological and economic benefits had to be provided. Only technology that had been generated by project activities were considered here since that was the project's major contribution to technological improvements that could benefit target farmers.

SUB-FILE #4
The Technological Improvement File was to be so structured to allow for continuous additions to the technology generation process since one was dealing with dynamic agro-biological as well as socio-economic systems. Thus, there would always be room for improvement with changing circumstances whether biological, social or economic. In order to provide for this flexibility, this sub-file was an 'open' file that would accommodate information on research activities that were being implemented or planned for the future.

The Technology Audit (TA)
In the course of carrying out the CARDI/EDF Technology Transfer and Applied Research Project, the methodology used in the FSR/D Project gave way to the development of a Technology Audit (TA), in which all the information on a selected commodity was collected and put into a file according to the following categories.

• Breeds and Breeding
• Production
• Pests and Disease Management
• Post Harvest and Marketing
• Economics
• Additions

While this approach was valuable, it did not provide any critical analysis of the component technologies. Hence, it did not lend itself to readily identifying which technologies were ready for application to a particular environment. Further, it did not attempt to identify gaps in technology.

Furthering the Development of Technological Improvement Files.
In 1998, an approach was made to improve the TIF and update the TA. This involved, first identifying the market requirements for the selected commodity and then determining whether or not the R&D carried out and resident in the TA was sufficient to enable the scientists or extension personnel to make a judgment as to whether the technology was sufficient on which to make farmer recommendations.

Abstracts were made for all the documents in the TA and for each section an analysis was given.

New Approach
Beginning in 1999, the work undertaken in 1998 moved a stage further in that the information obtained in 1998 was put into a web based information product. This format has the advantage of allowing the TIF to be easily updated and provides web links to other relevant sources of information.

The new format is designed so that it can make use of multi-media tools.