The gains of technology transfer have not reached all farmers,
while productivity growth is declining. The excessive use of pesticides and
fertilizers has brought into question the long-term sustainability of Asia-Pacific
agricultural production systems. There is also a lack of evidence of what works
for smallholders and how the successful use of improved technology can be
scaled up. There is, therefore, a need for improved documentation and data
management to inform policymaking in support of technology transfer to promote
sustainable agriculture, food security and poverty reduction.
These were among the issues before the second panel
discussion during the Policy Dialogue. The panel was moderated by Michael
Williamson and included Mr. Kipp Sutton, Agricultural Team Leader, USAID
Regional Development Mission – Asia, Thailand; Dr. Mak Soeun, Deputy Director
General, General Directorate of Agriculture and In Charge, Food Security,
Agricultural Extension and Agricultural Cooperatives, Cambodia; Dr. Ramesh
Chand, Director, National Centre for Agricultural Economics and Policy Research,
India; Dr. Rozhan Bin Abu Dardak, Director, Economic and Technology Management
Research Centre, Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute, Malaysia;
and Dr. Virginia Cardenas, Deputy Director-Administration, Southeast Asian
Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture, Philippines.
Policymaking
information requirements for effective technology transfer
The discussion began with Mr. Sutton stating: “Farmers
need to believe in technology in order to adopt it.” Offering a donor’s
perspective, the USAID official said his organization focused on the following
questions in its work:
- What is the exact problem we are trying to address from the farmers’ perspective?
- What is already out there in terms of agricultural technologies and what has been accepted by farmers?
- What are farmers’ preferences and socioeconomic circumstances that would provide a basis for technology adoption?
- Do we have good evidence and data of what is successful and can be scaled up?
Responding, Dr. Dardak defined policy as the setting of a
strategic direction for different development sectors. It is, therefore, very
difficult for policymakers to obtain information because one policy cannot fit
both – communities and governments’ economic direction. There is a need for data
that can:
1. indicate the impact of technology transfer on the
national economy
2. help farmers to sustainably develop
Policymakers need data that can lead all development
sectors and can be used by farmers
and government officials. While research generates the key scientific database
for technology transfer, the government needs information directly from farmers
for a better assessment of how agricultural productivity and produce quality can
be improved.
The evidence base is always growing and evolving because
it takes into consideration the socioeconomic and environmental context of agricultural
livelihoods. Therefore, it is important for policymakers to be supported and
advised by research.
Information
needed for enhanced agricultural technology transfer impact
The many competing criteria for research data
requirements include productivity, efficiency, national and regional equity
(inclusiveness), self-sufficiency and surplus.
The supply and demand side, intellectual property rights and
responsibilities of government and funding agencies, institutions for
commercializing research outputs, communications support and advocacy, need to
be looked at.
Reducing
information gaps
For Dr. Dardak, the most important challenge for
researchers is the sharing of the information because they are reluctant to
lose control of ownership of their research. Researchers must be convinced to
share their knowledge by ensuring acknowledgement of their ownership.
Dr. Chand added that the biggest technology gap arises from
forgetting that adopters need simple and not complex technologies. Understanding
the real needs is key to reducing the gap. Evaluation at different stages of
technology development and transfer is crucial to understand the adoption of
the technology, Mr. Sutton stressed.
There seems to be a lot of information of value to
farmers that is not being shared with them. Panelists wondered how information could
be taken out of the different silos in which it was slotted and used to promote
informed decision-making. It was pointed out that the biggest gap was between
what was already out there and what was still needed.
Tools such as the Internet can facilitate information
sharing. However, the challenge is to sift through the huge amount of online information.
While websites such as Wikipedia are useful, this does not address the needs of
those seeking highly specialized information. It was suggested that SATNET
could play such a role.
Role
of SATNET in improved sharing of knowledge and good practice
Dr. Cardenas suggested a role for SATNET as the lead
knowledge management institution, particularly on issues relevant to
agriculture. It could help mobilize global initiatives on and connect with
other platforms to share information as well as to create online mechanisms and
simple tools for knowledge-sharing. Dr. Soeun added that the primary role of SATNET
should be related to networking, followed by policy research. Dr. Chand
suggested that SATNET could play a role in sorting out (organizing) information.
Providing
information to smallholder farmers in future
Regional and South-South cooperation can speed up
innovation, it was observed. Developed countries do not have a monopoly on innovation,
Mr. Williamson said, pointing out that the most innovative ideas were emerging
from the least developed countries. This is why international cooperation is
important to develop and share knowledge. More knowledge will have to be shared
than before to make it easier for farmers to access the information they need.
Reporter: Martina Spisiakova, Knowledge Management Consultant, SATNET Asia
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