Publication and Citation Practices of Brazilian Agricultural Scientists

The formal communication system of agricultural scientists working at two major teaching and research centres in Brazil is investigated with an eye on formulating policies to improve it. To avoid the pitfalls surrounding the use of sources like the Science Citation Index in this area, a sample of the articles actually published by the scientists was used to construct the data base. Results are presented on where the scientists publish, on the content of their papers, on whom they refer to, and on the age distribution of their references. The picture which emerges is one of a fragmented scientific community whose members have only tenuous links with their colleagues in other domestic institutions, and whose work appears to be lagging behind the research frontier in their field. Policies for ameliorating this situation are suggested.