Agricultural Administration最新文献

Attention has been focused recently on improvements in research allocation to maintain productivity gains from research expenditure and undertake programs of greater social relevance. This paper addresses the latter objective in research project selection and proposes a framework for so doing. This framework makes use of a goal hierarchy and its applicability is shown by considering research thrusts at the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI). The set of goals used are those that apply to the Philippine agricultural sector.

Two main conclusions can be drawn. First, it appears both feasible and attractive to consider demand side factors in institute level selection of research programs, as well as in national research funding allocations. This can be facilitated by a systematic listing and ranking of goals in a familiar goal hierarchy. Secondly, one can meaningfully interpret IRRI research work and changes in research direction in the context of these goal hierarchies.

The demise of the agricultural tenancy as the preponderant form of land tenure in England and Wales, expressed either in number of tenancies or area of farmland subject to tenancy, has become a matter of growing comment and concern. The most rigorous study of this phenomenon was undertaken by the Committee of Inquiry into the Acquisition and Occupancy of Agricultural Land, appointed by the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food in 1977 under the chairmanship of the Rt. Hon. Lord Northfield. However, to some extent, this Committee, and certainly the majority of subsequent commentators, have failed to take account of the behavioural determinants of the agricultural tenancy.

This paper considers some of the behavioural characteristics of the agricultural tenancy which contributed to its successful establishment yet which have failed to prevent its dominance from being eroded under the pressure of modern social and economic conditions.

This paper contends that the major problem of development efforts in pastoral areas has been inappropriate and inadequate policies, not the ‘traditionalism’ of pastoralists or the inadequacies of administrators. Success in pastoral development will require increased understanding and consideration of a number of key issues (environmental and land tenure constraints, the meaning of ‘development’, the potential conflict between pastoralism and commercial beef production, assumptions regarding a ‘cattle complex’ and the dilemma between the individual and communal interests of pastoralists) so that relations between pastoralists and governments can be improved and better policies can be developed and implemented. The paper is based on research in eastern Africa, but the analysis may also apply to other regions.

This paper briefly outlines the historical background and development of growth centres in Zimbabwe. It discusses the political thinking and the aims of the growth centre policy during colonial days, and how the broader concept of growth centres has been grafted onto the old since independence. Outlined are some of the problems related to poor planning, lack of an economic base, finance and poor infrastructural provisions. The paper also highlights the dreams of the planners and proponents of what an ideal growth centre would be. Envisaged in the plans was that the growth centres would become foci for rural development, provide services, employment and markets and undertake primary processing, as well as curb rural urban migration.

The paper, however, concludes that the growth centres are not the panacea that was envisaged, due to the fact that the economic base is poor and no meaningful economic linkages exist between the centres and the national economy. To date, these centres have been reduced to mere service centres and dormitory towns accommodating agricultural labour. The paper also concludes that the mere establishment of a centre cannot bring about rural development.

Finally, the paper suggests that, for growth centres to succeed, a deliberate policy of professional selection of the centres, planning and channelling of investment and resources into these centres, is a prerequisite to development. Planners have to recognize the relationship between these centres and agricultural production, and hence plan in that context. A further point is that political decisions will not bring about desired economic development unless a planned programme of action is executed.

Over the years, Nigeria's food problems have prompted the initiation of various government-sponsored agricultural development programmes. The National Accelerated Food Production Project (NAFPP), is one of the more recent of such initiatives. The primary goal of this paper is to give an overview of the NAFPP system and to indicate major problems that tend to constrain its success, with particular reference to sorghum, millet and wheat. Problems highlighted by the paper include the introduction of seed varieties which do not meet farmers' traditional preferences, the shortage of field extension staff, poor funding by state governments and inadequate co-ordination of NAFPP activities with other related government agricultural programmes. Prospects of the NAFPP as a strategy for increased food production are examined. The paper concludes that the NAFPP, if well managed, provides the true basis of a ‘Green Revolution’ in Nigeria.