Technology Transfer and Agricultural Development: A Comparative Study of Asia and Africa

Abstract

As in the case of any other sectors of the economy, the engine of agricultural growth in developing countries is the transfer of technology. This chapter pays a special attention to the role of transfer of intensive rice production systems from Japan to the former colonies of Taiwan and Kore before World War II, to tropical Asia in the 1960s to 1980s, and further to sub-Sharan Africa at present. What is found is that compared with other cereal crops lowland rice production technology is highly transferable from one major region to another. Another important point is that improved rice production system is not only intensive in the use of improved seeds and chemical fertilizer but also in “management,” including bunding, leveling, and straight-row transplanting. Therefore, in order to realize rice Green Revolution in Africa, it is critical to invest in training of rice farmers and extension workers. This chapter also explains how various other chapters dealing with agricultural issues in this volume are related with the issue of productivity growth of agriculture discussed in this chapter.