Agricultural Administration最新文献

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.

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.

Chemicals to control the diseases and pests of cocoa have been used in Nigeria for over three decades. This paper examines the marketing system for these chemicals with the aim of identifying the causes of inefficiency in the system in relation to the problems of on-farm acquisition of subsidized chemicals. All channels through which the chemicals (subsidized and unsubsidized) are distributed were examined. Village markets were visited and 266 farmers from the main cocoa belt of Nigeria were interviewed as to the problems they encounter in acquiring and using chemicals. Over 72 per cent of farmers indicated that they bought their chemicals in the open market, and about 51 per cent indicated that they were not even aware of subsidized chemicals. Other findings include lack of knowledge about new chemicals, inappropriate packaging of some chemicals, late release of subsidized chemicals and release of the chemicals during the ‘lean’ season. The paper concludes with some recommendations and suggests a distribution system which could ensure more and better utilization of subsidized cocoa spraying chemicals.

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