Introducing New Technologies for Sustainable Agricultural Development in Mongolia: Towards a Collaborative and Effective Extension System
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INTRODUCING NEW TECHNOLOGIES FOR SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT IN MONGOLIA: TOWARDS A COLLABORATIVE AND EFFECTIVE EXTENSION SYSTEM A Thesis Submitted to the College of Graduate Studies and Research in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Interdisciplinary Studies University of Saskatchewan By Delgermaa Chuluunbaatar 2011 © Copyright Delgermaa Chuluunbaatar, May 2011, All Rights Reserved PERMISSION TO USE In presenting this thesis in partial fulfillment for a postgraduate degree from the University of Saskatchewan, I agree that the libraries of the University may make it freely available for inspection. I further agree that permission for copying this thesis in any manner, in whole or in part, for scholarly purposes may be granted by the professors who supervised my thesis work or, in their absence, by the Head of the Department or the Dean of the College in which my thesis or parts for financial gain shall not be allowed without my written permission. It is also understood that due recognition shall be given to me and to the University of Saskatchewan in any scholarly use which may be made of any material in my thesis. Request for permission to copy or to make other use of material in this thesis in whole or in part should be addressed to: Chair of Interdisciplinary Studies College of Graduate Studies University of Saskatchewan 105 Administration Place Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 5A2 i ABSTRACT A major goal for Mongolia is to eliminate rural poverty through sustainable rural development. To accomplish this, the agricultural sector must become more profitable and sustainable. Declining crop yields can be addressed by the adoption of new technology. Barriers to introduction of new agricultural technologies were evaluated using an inter-disciplinary perspective. Field research was carried out to understand the factors affecting Mongolian farmers’ decisions to adopt conservation farming practices. A semi-structured survey questionnaire was completed by 42 farmers and 30 extension agents and in-depth interviews were conducted with ten adopter-farmers in Mongolia. The introduction of conservation tillage was used to illustrate a technology transfer system and the challenges it poses. To most of the farmers, the main advantages of this technology were reduced soil erosion, increased cost efficiency, and higher crop yields. The main disadvantages found were high investment costs, unreliable input supply, and a lack of knowledge of the technology. Factors that encourage adoption of new technologies include government financial incentives, reduced labor requirements, and increased production due to better soil and water conservation. A lack of investment capital, required inputs, and relevant knowledge were all identified as barriers for the utilization of such new technologies. In general, early adopters and non-adopters of conservation tillage differed in that the early adopters tended to have more farmland, livestock, and equipment. The field studies in Mongolia were complemented by field research trials in Canada that evaluated new technologies for weed control in conservation tillage systems. One key to the successful adoption of new agriculture technologies is an effective and responsive research and extension system. Currently, for Mongolian farmers and extension agents, international projects are the main source of information with respect to new agricultural technologies. The capacity of local research and extension institutions is fairly limited. It will be important to establish better linkages among ii researchers, extension agents, farmers, and policy makers through reorganization and strengthening of Mongolia’s “top-down” research and extension system. Meaningful farmer participation must take place at all stages of any technology transfer process. Based on these principles, an interdisciplinary, inclusive, and responsive national agricultural research and extension model is proposed. iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I wish to acknowledge and thank my supervisory committee members–Rick Holm, Jeff Schoenau, Michael Gertler, Grant Wood, Don Cochrane, and Darwin Anderson for their patient support and guidance throughout this study. Special thanks to my co- supervisors, Rick and Jeff, for your priceless guidance and patient encouragement throughout this interdisciplinary program. You were instrumental in providing valuable assistance in all phases of this challenging journey. Michael, you have my deep gratitude for your belief in me and your help in pulling this interdisciplinary research and thesis together. Grant, I thank you for expanding my horizons and in helping me to explore different extension models for Mongolia. Don, you have been a wonderful addition to the committee and I thank you for your significant contribution to my thesis. Darwin, I thank you for your guidance and thoughtful advice throughout my program. I would like to acknowledge Dr. Helen Hambly-Obame, the external examiner of this thesis, for providing further insight and useful suggestions. I wish to extend my thanks to the College of Graduate Studies & Research at the University of Saskatchewan and the Canadian International Development Agency’s (CIDA) “Training for Rural Development Project” for the financial assistance during this study which made the research in Mongolia possible. Particularly, I would like to mention my deep gratitude to Paul Stevens who has generously supported this study. I also would like to acknowledge and thank those who helped me in various field research projects: Ken Sapsford, Gerry Stuber, Teri Ife, Cory Fatteicher, Tom King, Baldan Tumur, Bayarsukh Norov, and many other fellow graduate students. My acknowledgement also goes to those who participated in the field studies and provided information: grain farmers, researchers, extension agents, government officials, university professors, agribusiness and NGO representatives, and international project managers. I wish to acknowledge many friends and family for supporting, encouraging, and inspiring me. Special thanks go to my family: my sisters for giving me endless support and confidence, Ken Kotowich and Carol Tanner for taking care of me and providing a home (family) away from home during this challenging and rewarding journey. My deepest gratitude goes to my dear parents, Chuluunbaatar and Bayambajargal, who have given me a wonderful vision and perspective on life, one that has been and continues to be my driving force. I also wish to thank my husband, Scott Willems, for his courage and support in finalizing this journey. Finally, completing a research project and graduate thesis requires a team effort and this is a team product. You all played well on this team and I thank you all sincerely. iv DEDICATION This thesis is dedicated: To my mother, Bayabajargal Dorj, who taught me how to love and appreciate simple but important things in life; To my father, Chuluunbaatar Sonom, who always inspired and supported me to climb the steep ladder of professional success; Thanks, Mom and Dad. -In Mongolian - Энхүү Докторын бүтээлээ: Амьдарлын энгийн болоод нандин чанаруудыг олж харж, хайрлан хүндлэх тэрхүү эрхэм чанарыг өвлүүлсэн, ачлалт ээж Бямбажаргал; Амжилтын анхны амт, ирээдүйд ихийг бүтээх урам зориг, ухаан баялагаар дэмжин урамшуулсан, хайрт аав Чулуунбаатар; Нартаа зориулнам. v TABLE OF CONTENTS PeRMISSION TO USe………………………………………………………………….. i ABSTRACT………………………………………………………………………………. ii ACKNOWLeDGeMeNTS………………………………………………………………. iv DeDICATION ……………………………………………………………………………. v TABLe OF CONTeNTS…………………………………………………………………. vi LIST OF FIGUReS………………………………………………………………………. ix LIST OF TABLeS………………………………………………………………………… xi CHAPTeR 1: INTRODUCTION………………………………………………………… 1 1.1. Objectives ……………………………………………………………………… 8 1.2. Methodologies ........................................................................................... 9 CHAPTeR 2: KNOWLeDGe AND NeW TeCHNOLOGY: CReATION, TRANSFeR, AND ADOPTION ………………………………………… 11 2.1. Knowledge in Relation to Information.......................................................... 12 2.1.1. Types of knowledge................................................................................. 15 2.1.2. Agricultural knowledge: formal versus informal....................................... 16 2.1.3. Agricultural knowledge management...................................................... 18 2.1.3.1. Creation of new agricultural knowledge and technology............... 20 2.1.3.2. Organization of new knowledge: storage and retrieval.................. 22 2.2. Information and Technology Transfer in Agriculture......................................... 22 2.2.1. Agricultural extension.............................................................................. 23 2.2.2. extension models.................................................................................... 25 2.2.2.1. Typical Developing Country extension Model................................ 26 2.2.2.2. Training and Visit extension Model (T&V) .................................... 28 2.2.2.3. Research and Development extension Model (R&D) ................... 29 2.2.2.4. Cooperative extension System Model .......................................... 30 2.2.3. Technology transfer and extension tools and approaches...................... 30 2.2.3.1. Tools for technology transfer and extension ................................. 33 2.2.3.2. Approaches to technology transfer and extension......................... 34 2.2.4. Factors for effective agricultural extension