Farming Systems Research (FSR) is an interdisciplinary approach that directly involves farmers in addressing their challenges with a focus on understanding and improving the entire farming system. On-farm research and experimentation are components of FSR and aim to improve crop productivity and profitability by conducting experiments on farmers’ fields. Unlike top-down models, , FSR uses a bottom-up approach, that is farmer-centric and addresses smallholder farms’ diverse and complex nature. FSR approach has evolved through five phases since the 1960s, from the conceptualization stage to a focus on sustainability science. To implement FSR, there are five stages: diagnosis (characterizing the farm and identifying solutions), designing, implementation, data collection and analysis and finally dissemination and impact evaluation. On-farm experiments (OFE) aim to facilitate farmer-researcher collaboration, evaluate biophysical factors under diverse conditions and provide realistic input-output data for economic analysis. We explore four types based on participation levels: Type 1 (researcher-designed and managed), Type 2 (researcher-designed and farmer-managed), Type 3 (farmer-designed and managed) and Type 4 (farmer groups-designed and managed). OFE use the fundamental principles of experimentation to manage variability. Critical practices for successful implementation of OFE include nurturing partnerships, seeking farmer consent, capacity building and providing technical support. Data varies from individual plot to village level and includes biophysical, social and economic aspects. Key analytical techniques include analysis of variance (ANOVA) but also incorporate more advanced techniques, including tests for treatment-site mean interactions, adaptability analysis, multiple regression and mixed effects models. Challenges such as farmer cooperation and communication barriers highlight the need for strategic solutions. Future efforts should focus on enhancing collaboration, addressing communication issues and implementing innovative practices, including digitalization, to improve the effectiveness and scalability of OFE.