Agricultural Administration最新文献

In order to understand the ‘state of the art’ concerning the management of agricultural research projects in India, a study was undertaken involving the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) Institutes and Agricultural Universities. This is the first of two papers and it discusses various aspects of the planning of agricultural research projects in the country. Problems of farmers and field observations served as sources of ideas for research projects only in one third of the cases. Compatibility with an Institute's goals and resources availability were the major criteria considered for proposing research projects. Project leaders in consultation with project members formulated their research projects within six months. The majority of the projects were discussed, evaluated and approved by scientific bodies like the Staff Research Council (SRC) or the Project Advisory Committee (PAC). Only a smaller proportion of the project proposals were rejected because of lack of personnel and facilities, and poorly prepared project proposals. In a considerable number of cases research methodologies were modified after approval for want of funds, men and materials, and due to the discovery of new methods. Apart from lack of resources in terms of men and materials, human problems such as a poor relationship with superiors also played a significant role in the premature termination of research projects. In a number of cases, no deadlines were set for the completion of research projects, and inter-disciplinary co-operation was lacking.

From 1977 to 1980, the International Potato Center (CIP), in collaboration with Peru's Ministry of Agriculture and the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), conducted a series of farm-level surveys and experiments in the Mantaro Valley of Highland Peru. The lessons of the Mantaro Valley Project can be summarized in 12 points:

• 1.

  1. Ecological conditions and farm type strongly influenced farmers' production methods and technological requirements.

• 2.

  2. Small farmers were eager to improve their methods.

• 3.

  3. The recommended ‘technological packages’ had many deficiencies.

• 4.

  4. Technical knowledge was available to solve some farmers' problems.

• 5.

  5. Most technologies could not be directly ‘transferred’ to farmers, but needed to be tailored to their specific needs.

• 6.

  6. Scientific specialization presented several barriers to interdisciplinary research.

• 7.

  7. The project was costly, in terms of operating capital.

• 8.

  8. The project's most valuable result was an institutional innovation, not an impact on potato production.

• 9.

  9. Informal surveys and simple on-farm trials had many advantages over more ‘respectable’, formal methods.

• 10.

  10. Anthropologists played many useful roles.

• 11.

  11. Many results of the on-farm research could be extrapolated.

• 12.

  12. On-farm research was useful for identifying and solving production problems within existing systems, but not for designing entirely new systems.

This paper puts forward the proposition that a preoccupation of the development experts with ‘new ideas’ is prejudicial to the essential process of learning by experience and points to the widening gap between development theory and achievements in the field. It is stated that what is needed is not so much theory but practical solutions to basic local problems and concrete steps toward removal of basic deficiencies in national structures. The paper questions the general tendency to accept blindly anything presented under moralistic labels and suggests that rethinking is needed not for building a new development design but to eliminate faulty thinking accumulated over the years. A number of examples of this faulty thinking are cited. It is concluded that for its success rural development has to be growth oriented, egalitarian and democratic.

The last decade in Nigeria witnessed the genesis of many government-sponsored agricultural projects. These projects, which are financed partly through loans and partly from the oil revenue, are aimed at reversing the downward trend in food production and making the nation self-sufficient in food. The colossal investment in agriculture has, however, not shown appreciative results.

In this paper attempts are made at evaluating one of such projects and at developing a framework for such, especially where adequate time-series data are not available. The ANIMO project, which was initiated in 1976, was aimed at increasing rice production through the introduction of modern farming practices and new varieties of seeds. As at 1981 the social direct cost of production was estimated at

Farming systems research (FSR) is continuously challenged to maintain the motivation of farmers and scientists to collaborate in on-farm research. This is especially true for livestock farming systems research, which tends to be overlooked. Factors such as mobility of animals and their long life-cycle, lack of synchronization of experimental units, non-divisibility and size of units, multiplicity of outputs, and high statistical variability also constrain livestock-oriented FSR and aggravate the problems of on-farm livestock research. During the testing stage of FSR, Regular Research Field Hearings (RRFH) can improve communication between scientists and farmers, thereby increasing mutual understanding and willingness to collaborate in evaluating potential technologies, and test results. Attendance records and discussion-participation rates indicate that RRFH have been successful in Indonesian small-ruminant research.

The nature of the relationships between industry and public agricultural research programs in USA land-grant universities (LGUs) is explored historical

The indigenous source of agriculturalists for Malawi's National Rural Development Programme (NRDP) has been, since 1967, Bunda College, University of Malawi. In Part 1, administrative experience of the College's Rural Development Department provided insights into professional linkages to overcome the divergence of disciplines related to rural development. These linkages can provide a basis for the administration of rural development projects. The historical background to the NRDP, an evolutionary stage of development policy, and an examination of selected indicators of economic progress are considered here in Part 2.

During Malawi's colonial history, early policy protected smallholders' rights and encouraged commercialization in estates. The fundamental importance of smallholders came gradually into focus, gaining increasing emphasis with the movement toward independence. Then, in the mid-1970s, the NRDP was conceived as a multi-dimensional means of redressing the inequitable distribution of benefits resulting from the earlier, agriculture-focused development policy.

Indicators of economic progress suggest that rural Malawi is currently faring less well than a decade ago despite the expanding proportion of resources channelled into the NRDP. This is the context for which the University must have the capability for appropriately training personnel who can integrate the technical problems and complex issues in the administration of rural development in Malawi.

An analysis has been made of industry-oriented reasons for the inclusion of new material in a sample of 267 single lectures given by lecturers in 55 agricultural colleges in England and Wales. Nine categories of reasons are identified and are quantified in terms of six subject groups.

Variation in the level of lecture renewal between the subject groups is discussed in terms of the nature of the source and of the subject matter. Comparisons are made with the practice adopted in agricultural education and extension in Australia and India. Recommendations are made for the management of curriculum development and related staff development.