Developments for Technology Transfer – A Case Study of Agricultural Biotechnology Transfer in Pakistan
Innovations necessitate to be passed on to the consumers in an appropriate manner, or else, the true remuneration cant be acquired even they could have drastic bearing. There is no rule of thumb to disseminate each and every technology on a similar pattern. Transfer of agricultural technologies is unique in this context as the peasants have a special cultural background and social attitude towards innovations acquiescence. Other barriers in the way of acceptance, especially in the resource deprived countries include low literacy, poor economic conditions and returns, little awareness, false beliefs, and scarce communications in the rural areas. Worldwide, the green revolution technologies based on poisonous chemicals and natural resource devastating inputs have become catastrophic due to their environmental and health hazards. It has been long since a viable alternative to them could be available; the farmers had no choice except using them blindly. Last two decade witness the turning of agricultural scientists and technologists towards exploiting biotechnologies for sustainable food production systems. One has become available in the form of EM-Technology, which is based on the use of effective microorganisms (EM) to enhance land productivity and protect the crops biologically against pests and diseases. Since its inception in Pakistan in 1990, an extensive trialing was undertaken in the universities, research stations and farmers fields to have the feasibility for its adaptation.Further, a model was developed to launch this technology throughout the country. As a pre-requisite to this model a network of agricultural scientists was created. The satisfactory reports needed to launch the technology on large scale appeared in 1995 after extensive research. Under this network, along with research, other activities like seminars and meetings were held at different institutions to create general awareness among the scientists. Then according to this model, field demonstrations on large scale were carried out, information was given to the government who officially agreed to take up EM-Technology, and a public awareness campaign was initiated through pressmedia and mass contacts. The major steps in the dissemination of EM-Technology were taken in the beginning of 1996. These included developing methodologies for the use of EM inoculum under different agro-ecological and socio-economic conditions, publishing and distribution of literature, contacts with NGOs and government extension services, founding of Nature Farming Research & Development Foundation (NFRDF), making large infrastructure for EM inoculum preparation, and developing large scale EM supply and technology transfer system. It was exactly after ten years in 2000 when technology of its products manufacturing and supply to the farmers was handed over to private sector. Still the bindings to them included supplying EM at reasonable rate affordable by farmers, and pre and after-sale service for its proper utilization. Thus the paradigm shift that Pakistan was looking for has come about through this successful model; and now being followed by many countries.
Ghulam JILANI
Department of Soil Science, University of Arid Agriculture, Rawalpindi 46300, Pakistan
国际会议
The Fifth InternationalSymposium on Management of Technology(ISMOT07)(第五届技术与创新管理国际研讨会)
杭州
英文
954-957
2007-06-01（万方平台首次上网日期，不代表论文的发表时间）