GLOBAL VILLAGE AGRICULTURE
Author: Ghulam Mohyuddin Wani
3. GLOBAL VILLAGE AGRICULTURE The world has shrunk into a global village and as such technological developments taking place in any advanced country become known instantly, which help other countries like ours to adopt and follow their techniques to remain updated. One of such countries is Israel, which is characterized by topographical variations and a wide range of soils, enabling the growing and raising of a variety of crops and animals. A large increase in population immediately after 1948 required a rapid increase in food production, followed by development of research and extension facilities and services. In recent years Israel, like many other countries, has faced difficulties in continuing the supply of services it previously provided. This difficulty led agricultural organizations to begin assuming the responsibility of partially financing extension for a few years, and later trying to reflect the cost into the farmers. Farmers are apparently willing to pay for on-farm extension visits. Under this system, the Flower Board is financing many public extension activities and charging the farmer for partial costs of on-farm visits. This system operates successfully, aided by reports that are filed electronically by agents all over Israel to the Floricultural Department Head Office, and from the Head Office to the Flower Board. Advantages of the new system being a tremendous increase in agent-to-farmer commitment; the professional level of agents remains at least the same as before; and the financial situation of the majority of agents is better than before. The disadvantage is that some farmers are consuming less extension than before.
Similarly, Californias land grant extension programme has been successful in assisting agricultural Industries develop as major world producers. Extension has been a leader in facilitating quality-of-state. However, population explosion has transformed California into an urban state, with changing societal issues, values and priorities. Agricultural extension programmes continue to directly serve a declining number of clientele that represent less than 1.5% of the population. Financial support for extension is decreasing at the country and state levels, thus such models used by us in SAU could be catastrophic and need change.
As far as Horticulture sector is concerned, Iran has marched ahead in this field and is one of the worlds top ten horticultural producers. However, post-harvest losses in Iran are six times greater than the world average. Even after establishing an agricultural extension service, Iran still experiences great problems in reducing post-harvest losses. Results revealed that education, material possession, mass media exposure, extension contact, scientific orientation and risk preference were significantly and positively correlated with the knowledge level of farmers pre- and post training. Its model can be adopted after attempting to contain post-harvest losses so that horticultural potential could be exploited and harnessed to improve our economy in J&K State.
We must remember that agricultural development programmes often produce unexpected results as we have come to know from the history sheet of several countries of the world. This can be attributed to the fact that the target farmers already have their own knowledge and competencies that determine their practices. In order to improve their knowledge, it would be appropriate to adopt models of those countries, which have earned laurels in different sectors of Agriculture. Ours being an agricultural-based economy, so this sector needs to be given due thrust, especially after having failed to revolutionize Industrial sector in Kashmir valley, suggested a group of keen Watchers of Kashmir valley.
From the study of advanced countries of the world, it has emanated that the attitudes of the farmers have been significantly and positively related to education, organizational membership, land holdings, contact with extension agent, mass media exposure, socio-economic status, awareness, income and material possession. Lack of proper technical knowledge, lack of irrigation facility and high cost of fertilizers/chemical can be the retarding factors to reduce the level of production of agricultural products. Hence, we must lay emphasis on the adoption of models of agriculturally advanced countries of the world so that hackneyed methods are discarded and agricultural base revolutionized to become responsive to our present and future needs in J&K.
Experts suggest replacement of top down planning with grass root planning, improved seeds and extensive participation of farmers With launching Grow More Food slogan, we witnessed green revolution, freedom from hunger, but harmed environment. We have to look for alternate options for the execution of research and develop database for patent formulations. We need replacement of top down planning with grass root planning. And more farmers participation reduced risks. Research in past, cantered on improved seeds, irrigation, and chemical use.
Extension education, dissemination of information to farmer has to be the first concern of the public and private establishments and planners. Birds eye viewers have to be replaced with visionary professors and professionals.
Farmer farming and farm business shall be the first ranking scientific. Pursuit investing at least an equivalent amount on it has to be spent on health or nuclear establishments. Our polity should be Independent and self-conscious farmers, with records of annual balances, gains and losses, risks and benefits.
We shall have to bring self-reliant proud farmer trained & well versed in Agri-business. Farming concepts and international zoo-phytosanitation recommendations and regulations. We need to stop WTO restrictions or options till our farming and farmers are not completely knowledge driven and economically resourceful to face the global farming competitions.
Four paradigms of Agricultural Extension consists of Technology transfer, prevalent since colonial times & later National Agriculture Extension Project (NAEP), reshaped in 1970-80 as training and visit system across Asia. It involved top down approach. Its role needs discussion. The second paradigm called as Advisory work is what is present system of extension, where, government agencies, NGO and technical industries respond to farmers inquiries which we call advisory role. The third paradigm consists of Human Resource Development. This innovation helped Europe and North America. The Universities gave training to rural youth. It is these educated, trained youth, which became future farmers in developed countries. What is known as outreach system of colleges and universities is still unknown in our Agricultural Research System including State Agriculture Universities. A half hearted attempt as Agri-business and Agri-clinical is still to be backed with University, research, banking and economic support. Is it, which can help us to increase productivity in India or Asia needs consideration?
We must remember that the impact of National Agricultural Research Project (NARP) (1986-92) revealed that technologies generated were few and adoption rate not high, even then an estimated monetary benefit of Rs. 2000/ per hectare was observed. Low relationship between technologies developed and adopted a mixed farming technology capsule as 65% of our farmers of our farmers are small and marginal farmers. This needs a total shift to left in our agricultural extension methodology. T&V Programme initiated with central assistance in state have around all round technological awareness among agricultural experts. Its dialogue and technology transfer from University (Scientists) to experts agricultural extension workers was nearly total revolution. The (ZAREC) Zonal Agricultural advisory Research and Extension counselling was the best plate farm to discuss main issues impeding agricultural development. The missionary publication of production recommendations helps a lot in transfer to technology. The presentation of production recommendations in local language is helpful in increasing productivity in many countries.
Brinjal production technology adoption in Parbani, Maharashtra was the result of social participation, risk management guarantee, marketing orientation, information websites and communication methods. Various limitation of transport, extension staff was the reasons of poor productivity gains in Malakhand agency of Pakistan. The adoption of legume production technologies under Jodhpur arid conditions was low. The problems as indicated by farmers are small farm size. Small holder farmer was less interested to adopt these technologies. Non-existence of market and pricing policy, risk of failure, feeding habits, social taboo and lack of Post Harvest Technology (PHT) were identified. Proper guidance or information support was the major constraint to 60.8% non-adoption rate among farmers. Other contributory factors are technological unawareness (13.33%), sloppy land (11.31%), farm input cost (9.41%), non-availability of irrigation (8.29%) and lack of inputs (7.95%), said a few experts. ...................................................................................................(To be continued). Agriculture becoming less remunerative The adoption of improved varieties and biotechnological use to make Agriculture more attractive has to be on our top agenda. We in developing countries in future will have Industrial expansion to have more economic security. This will mean fewer people being attracted to agriculture or in other words agriculture becoming less remunerative. We need improved varieties, their rapid propagation through biotechnological use. We may have little options not to use modern bio techniques.
This is where we talk now of molecular farming, using biotechnology for more transgenic crops, animals, aquaculture and commercial floriculture.
Besides methodologies for analysis of farming system, options for development & sustainable eco-friendly farm science technology are need of the hour. We do have subject-matter-specialists, but the agents for evaluating the composite effect of various discipline oriented technology cover is yet to be structured. This is exactly where we should intervene and restructures the discipline, programmes and divisions of extension education in the country. In fact a total change from existing slow action, low innovative, conventional and disintegrated extension system has to be refined into analytic, manage mental, social, economical, marketable system, so that the whole technology transfer could be evaluated in terms of productivity and combinations need to be evaluated & monitored. The impact analysis of wide range of agricultural technology transfer be it training, entrepreneurship or agric business is needed, both before and after technology application.
A survey conducted among 120 farmers in Kurnool district, Andhra Pradesh, India, revealed that education, social participation, scientific orientation, risk management, mass media exposure, economic and market orientation were positively and significantly correlated to the extent of adoption recommended hybrid jowar (sorghum) seed practices by the farmers. Majority of the farmers (43.33%) had a medium level of the adoption of the recommended practices. (Kumar et al, 2005). It is suggested that five categories of factors determine the adoption of irrigation systems and are the keys to designing relevant, effective and innovative irrigation extension programmes among horticulturists. The five categories of factories being soil type and topography; crop quality; sowing time; saving water and crop yield (Kaine & Beswell, 2005). We in J&K under SREP Strategic Research extension plan of Districts notice lack of information on sowing time, seed rate and fertilizer application in almost all the crops. The available research results have to pierce the farmers farming practices. Non-adoption is the result of our low productivity levels per unit of land. Inspire of tremendous yield gains, the per unit profitability has not raised the economic conditions of our farmers. Our farm economy still fluctuates between seasons rainy years among regions. Now for any widespread rains farm technology, it is essential to know its impact and adaptability rate. It is therefore necessary to develop new technologies after considering socio-organizational arrangements, local existing soil, water, human needs and resources. The local skills need to be known and refinement is made to improve profitability. Our experience under IVLP showed a net productivity gains of 2 /hac in rice production by improving local village driven plough. Similar innovative ideas and local technologies with improved or exotic ones gave good results in development of profitable farming, remarked some knowledgeable persons of Kashmir valley.
Hence conscientious citizens suggest that improved varieties and adoption of latest technologies need to be adopted to revolutionize agricultural production to woo farmers, who can get attracted by industrial expansion to earn quick bucks. It is not the question of monetary considerations, but the level of agricultural production to ensure food security . Low agricultural production is attributed to untested fertilizers, economic constraints and lack of advanced technology Hence application of Precision Agriculture needs to be clubbed with information and communication networking to boost productivity in J&K In Kenya, use of advanced information and communication technologies reduced gaps in yields of agricultural crops between research and farmers fields. It is the country where 70% population is connected with agriculture for livelihood directly or indirectly and 80% of its export is agricultural oriented. Reduction in yield gaps through effective use of information and communication technology will have a significant impact.
This stands proved by the low productivity in Soybean, which was found to be due to partial adoption of production recommendations by farmers in Maharashtra. The low yield factors were analyzed. Economic constraints, situational factors and communication gaps on crop production, protection, seed treatment and fertilizer application were found responsible for it. The modernization of agricultural production and rural development on a pilot basis could have worked well.
It has been observed that Precision Agriculture till date has focused on site-specific data collection for soil and crop management. The technologies for the site-specific field operations and automated data recording are available, but precision agriculture rarely involves them for improvement. The application of precision agriculture has to be clubbed with information and communication networking to harvest the gains and to improve productivity. This network may consist of an open software platform, which can be operated by the farmer himself. For efficient communication Internet and mobile telecommunication have been identified as important components. The development of an information and communication network integrating modern software and hardware technologies in a new user-friendly manner is necessary to achieve better acceptance of technologies and improved productivity.
It is worth mentioning that the Australian centre for remote sensing (ACRES) has introduced a new service to provide satellite data for near real time applications. The STAR (Speedy Transmission after reception) service provides access to digital satellite data products in full resolution or compressed format within 12 hrs of a Satellite overpass. The data obtained from ground stations is processed at a facility via a high-speed communication link and high priority procession. This system provides Satellite data on critical applications, like crop yield modelling, pre-harvest crop production forecasting, detecting crop diseases, monitoring crop stress, pest infestation, floods, fires and oil-spills. SPOT late is a low cost, off the shelf satellite data product from ACRES that is ideal for use in Geographical information system (GIS). SPOT-LIFE can be accessed at any time via the Internet and is available in the form of tiles covering most of Australia. Advance studies with high applications for increasing agricultural production needs quick dissemination. The effect of rooting zone restriction (RZR) on vegetative and reproduction growth of fruit trees via grapes, peach and citrus has been investigated. It is known that it improved crop productivity under low availability of water.
The available communication facilities for agricultural information in 15 states of India were studied. The results suggest that while communication networking opens up agricultural economy, it is not cost effective. The communication networking has to become cost effective. An attempt to have better communication between various forest research divisions and other organizations interested in sustainable forestry has shown encouraging results. An attempt was made to have quick information flow among and between researchers, extension officers and dairy farmers in East Azerbaijan. The information input, output and intersystem communication were studied. The information likes advertising, public relation and personal selling was found to be best promoters, said a group of knowledgeable persons of Kashmir valley.
In the Unique Selling approach of the communicator effects target audience, the impact of integrated approach utilizing computers in agricultural information & dissemination in Greece and Poland was studied. The gap in technology known and applied at farmers field was found. Researchers lack training in using new information technologies. Thus improvement in agricultural productivity has to keep pace with advanced communication and information technology using computers. Hence application of Precision Agriculture needs to be clubbed with information and communication networking to boost productivity in J&K China, Denmark and other countries have made remarkable progress in the field of Agriculture, Animal husbandry Hence Experts suggest copying their models to gain experience and improve our socio-economic conditions in J&K In order to improve our socio-economic conditions, we must undertake study of other countries of the world to see how they have marched ahead. Chinese experience needs a try as their successful improvement of Sheep and yak herds can be a good example for use in India. Under this project, they first took stock of rangeland and livestock resources. Then socio-economic conditions of the livestock breeders were analyzed. Livestock and pasture management by rodents was studied. Rangeland revelation methods were tested and propagated. Seeded fodders and effect of these improved methods of pasture development on disease control and profits from livestock were analyzed. Thus, the extension education programmes should ensure facilitation of Farmer empowerment and not dependence on subsidy. This means incorporating studies and programmes of Agri-livestock economics, grassland and rangeland management, crop and tree production in Agri-extension curricula.
Similarly, a new participating approach of clubbing local and outside knowledge to solve the agricultural problem is needed. Innovate approaches for soil and water conservation in Ethiopia and Tanzania was helpful. A new model of particularly modified Technology development approach is first being recognized, as the only way of clubbing traditional and modern technologies for agric-development.
The Dutch Model for total reformation of agricultural technology transfer shall need refinement of elementary methodologies used in extension consisting of PRA, PERT or other specific management, communication and modern IS-Geographic Information System use. This would involve a total change in Extension Education, objectives, methodology & course curriculum. We need agricultural networking for bringing out results of transferable technologies. Experimental learning and knowledge sharing has to be incorporated, as research on farmers field. Farmers have to be part of our learning, and experimentation process. Dutch model could be used. In India to ensure quick technology use. Let us evaluate technology use. It been seen that some progressive farmers have awareness of technology but being absentee farmers, their workers have no knowledge or skills to use them in the field. It is time to come out of Technology dissemination Scenario to Technology Use Status in the field and Productivity gain assessment models.
Besides experience learning, market designs, farm economics, sustainable agriculture, Agri-information, communication skills and farm business shall be the knowledge bank available to Agri-Extension & communication experts, whom we should name FBM Farm Business management Experts, suggest a group of experts of Kashmir valley.
The Extension Education is outdated and too often used and misunderstood phrase. Extension includes now every attempt to communicate with farmers. Todays Extension agencies can be university scientists, Subject matter specialists, Agri experts, farmers or even partially Agri known NGO or their agents. Thus, the whole blame of others has to be shared by University experts. Agri-University, applied knowledge has to be communicated to farmers as end product as pharmaceutical companies do. Thus all the current building block, known knowledge has to be computerized and stored. This has to be reshaped and re-arranged as knowledge packs for innovative and whole farming capsules rather than one commodity knowledge sharing as in the West. We do have commodity but not composite agriculture packages. A booklet on its composite effects has been published as Broad Based Extension Education. Training & visits on farm level failed but farmer-training & farmer-research participation or demonstrations at farmers field did achieve a great success. With constraints of men and resources and crop insurance in vogue, we must induce researchers to have direct participatory research at farmers doors, on their fields. This venture can be on cost-sharing basis or with participatory involvement of Industry.
Our farm economy still depends on seasonal rains, lacks assured irrigation facilities and lacks technological back up New strategies and our missions Hence people demand development of Canal-networks and adoption of Chinese Model to improve food production in J&K Methodologies for analysis of farming system, options for development & sustainable eco-friendly farm science technology are needs of the hour. We do have subject-matter-specialists, but the agents for evaluating the composite effect of various discipline oriented technology covers is yet to be structured. This is exactly where we should intervene and restructures the discipline, programmes and divisions of extension education in the country. In fact a total change from existing slow action, low innovative, conventional and disintegrated extension system has to be refined into analytic, management, social, economical, marketable system, so that the whole technology transfer could be evaluated in terms of productivity and combinations need to be evaluated & monitored. The impact analysis of wide range of agricultural technology transfer be it training, entrepreneurship or agri-business is needed, both before and after technology application.
The available research results have to pierce the farmers farming practices. Non-adoption is the result of our low productivity levels per unit of land. Inspire of tremendous yield gains per unit profitability has not raised the economic conditions of our farmers. Our farm economy still fluctuates between seasons, rainy years and among regions. Now for any widespread rains from technology, it is essential to know its impact and adaptability rate. It is therefore necessary to develop new technologies after considering socio-organizational arrangements, local existing soil, water, human needs and resources. The local skills need to be known and refinement made to improve profitability.
Chinese experiences need a try under our socio-economic conditions. Besides successful improvement of Sheep and yak herds in China can be a good example for use in our country in general and J&K in particular. Under this project they first took stock of range-land and livestock resources. Then socio-economic conditions of the livestock breeders were analysed. Livestock and pasture management by rodents was studied. Rangeland revelation methods were tested and propagated. Seeded fodders and effect of these improved methods of pasture development on disease control and profits from livestock were analysed. Thus extension education programmes should ensure facilitation of Farmer empowerment and not dependence on subsidy. This means incorporating studies and programmes of Agri-livestock economics, grassland and range land management, crop and tree production in Agri-extension curricula, suggested a few prominent experts of Kashmir valley.
A new participating approach of clubbing local and outside knowledge to solve the agricultural problem is needed. Innovate approaches for soil and water conservation in Ethiopia and Tanzania were helpful. A new model of particularly modified Technology development approach is first being recognized, as the only way of clubbing traditional and modern technologies for agric-development. The total reformation of agricultural technology transfer shall need refinement of elementary methodologies used in extension consisting of PRA, PERT or other specific management, communication and modern IS-Geographic Information System use. This would involve a total change in Extension Education, objectives, methodology & course curriculum. We need agricultural networking for bringing out results of transferable technologies. Experimental learning and knowledge sharing has to be incorporated, as research on farmers field. Farmers have to be part of our learning, and experimentation process. Dutch model could be used in India to ensure quick technology use. Let us evaluate technology use. It been seen that some progressive farmers have awareness of technology but being absentee farmers, their workers have no knowledge or skills to use them in the field.
Small farmers are neglected by extension services and need proper awareness. Agricultural extension specialists must specialize in community structure, development, education learning tools, technology and policy issues. Thus these disciplines or topics need incorporation in Farm business Management curriculum. Partnership process, management and communication should be the main thrust. Co-operative mechanism, farm business management and evaluation and monitoring tools should be used.
But for revolutionizing our farm economy, people demand development of Canal-networks and adoption of latest Models to improve food production in J&K.Our irrigation system has not come up to our requirements despite pumping huge sums of money in this Sector. Therefore, there is urgent need to develop scientific irrigation system to reduce dependence on rains and share experiences of other advanced countries, particularly that of China to boost food production in J&K State.
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