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Crop yields from new technologies
By M. Ather Mahmood and Dr A.D.
Sheikh
Low agricultural productivity of developing countries is a
common feature. One of the reasons is non-adoption of
improved and recommended technologies. Crop production
technologies are there but their adoption is low.
 Increase in the productivity has always remained a concern
of scientists. Many technologies have developed by the
researchers to improve the efficiency of crop production
systems. In agriculture, production technology may be an
input, use of an implement, practice or a procedure to
overcome a difficulty, to increase yield or save time.
Agricultural department of the provinces publish brochures
and booklets for recommended production technologies for
each crop. These are considered as recommended technological
package for crops.
The technologies explained in the package include varietals
selection, land preparation, application of fertilizers,
irrigation schedule, weed control, insect pest and disease
control and harvesting schedule.
It is believed that by adopting these recommended
technologies farmers can get yields closer to potential
yields. It has been reported by the scientists that on an
average, the gap between potential and actual yields
obtained for various field crops is more than 50 per cent.
One of the major reasons for this is the non-adoption of
recommended technologies.
Recently a survey was conducted on awareness and adoption of
rice technologies among the farmers of the rice-wheat areas,
(Kallar belt) of the Punjab. The survey revealed that about
70 per cent farmers were aware of it and 90-97 per cent
fully aware of the technologies like the varieties, land
preparation, fertilizer applications, irrigations and
harvesting time.
However, the awareness about exotic inputs and
non-traditional methods of seed treatment, pest and disease
control is comparatively low. The knowledge does not
guarantee the adoption of technologies.
It depends on the flow of information system, farmers'
resources, behaviour and the socio-economic conditions. The
findings of the study conclude that many rice technologies
are well adopted while others not. Those based on indigenous
knowledge have widely been adopted. These include variety
selection, raising paddy nursery, land preparation, paddy
transplanting, irrigation.
However, super impositions of non-traditional treatments on
local technologies have made the adoption partial. These
include chemical treatments like seed treatment and chemical
weed control and use of pesticides. This is true for all
crops.
On the basis of survey results, the following suggestions
are made to enhance adoption of technologies, which
ultimately leads in reducing the gap between actual and
potential yields.
* Creation of awareness is the prime step towards the
adoption process. A well established extension system is in
force for the dissemination of agricultural technologies.
Unfortunately, there is dichotomy between the research and
the extension system, lacking proper dialogue on technology
generation, development and dissemination among farmers.
The situation is severe at lower level of extension and
research systems keeping the extension agent deprived of
proper technical knowledge necessary for dissemination of
technologies.
In this situation regular training programmes, workshops and
seminars about innovations and crop production technologies
are to be developed in collaboration with research
institutes to update the extension agents' knowledge.
The activity may be carried out at Markaz level (Agriculture
office/officer level). Equipping the extension agent with
the updated knowledge would help in the delivery of
information about production technologies with confidence.
* The strengthening of linkages between research, extension
and farmer has always been emphasized. However, a proper
system could not be brought in scene. For strengthening
effective links a proper information exchange forum can be
initiated at lower level where farmers can participate with
ease.
All stakeholders interested in agriculture development can
be the members of the forum and they could participate
freely. Seminars, workshops, discussions or any other mode
of communication can be sought according to situations for
creating awareness regarding agricultural production
technologies.
The idea can be thrashed out and matured through proper
meetings and discussions among research, extension,
educationists, farmers and other interested groups. It will
help to create awareness among the farmers.
* The farmers are approached from various sources to
motivate them for adoption of recommended technologies for
crop production. Many times recommended technologies
delivered to farmers do not match with each other. It
creates a state of confusion among farmers, to which source
they should choose to consider authority for adoption of
technologies when these differ in practice.
The common example is the preparation of recommendation for
crop production by research system and extension system
separately without collaboration and discussions. Sometimes
mass media is also used to disseminate the conflicting
technologies.
To avoid such instances of confusions, all stakeholders,
generating and delivering production technologies, are
required to hold meetings for thorough discussions before
preparing documents (pamphlets, brochures, booklets or
documentaries). The messages from various sources should
carry the similar recommendations for specific areas and
specific crops.
* Personal contacts are the best to create awareness and
motivation for dissemination of technologies. But to
approach each farmer through personal contacts is difficult
rather impossible. The alternate mode of communication is
the use of mass media (electronic media and print media),
which is spreading at a faster rate.
Each source of mass media is beneficial for specific target
groups. Literate farmers can make use of both print and
electronic media, radio, TV and Internet, according to their
capacity of use. Farmers can benefit from radio and TV.
Thus, if technologies are disseminated through mass media,
it can be widely circulated in a short possible time.
* Currently radio and TV is used for technologies, but the
timings are not suitable for farmers. The times for
broadcast/telecast of agricultural programmes need be
reviewed. At prime time various programmes are broadcast and
telecast which commercial companies sponsor. A special
channel devoted to agriculture perhaps may solve the
problem.
* Role of education has always been recognized for the
adoption of technologies. Education helps in increasing the
general understanding level. Many studies and forums have
emphasized to increase rural education and many projects and
agencies are involved in uplifting literacy rate, but these
are localized in nature leaving little effect on rural
communities.
A perspective planning is needed to target the real aim in
increasing the literacy rate. Ultimately, it would help
farmers understanding the crop production technologies.
Courtesy: The Dawn
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Pakissan.com;
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