TECHNOLOGICAL TRANSFER WITH EMPHASIS ON AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT A CASE STUDY OF SOME SELECTED FARMERS CO-OPERATVE SOCIETIES IN IDEATO –SOUTH L.G.A OF IMO STATE

ABSTRACT

Agriculture in Nigeria is the mainstay of Nigeria Economy. The welfare and the livelihood of the rural dwellers is the major concern of extension. In recent years several efforts have been made to enhance rural development. Agricultural extension is a non- formal system of education where farmers are taught how to use new agricultural innovations to improve their economic conditions. The transfer of agricultural technology innovation is therefore essential for sustainable rural development. The choice of communication methods is used on the target participants. The subject matter, the steps involves in teaching, the resources available, The situations. Meanwhile, modern agricultural technology has contributed significantly to agricultural development. This is particularly important when it recalls that the gap between development to differences in the level of technological development adaptation and transfer process.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title Page

Approval Page –      –      –      –      –      –      –      –      -ii

Dedication      –      –      –      –      –      –      –      –      -iii

Acknowledgement  –      –      –      –      –      –      –      -iv-v

Abstract  –      –      –      –      –      –      –      –      –      -vi

Table of Contents   –      –      –      –      –      –      –      vii-ix

CHAPTER ONE

1.0 Introduction     –      –      –      –      –      –      –      1-8

1.1 Background of the Study –      –      –      –      –      8-11

1.2 Statement of the problem       –      –      –      –      –    11-14

1.3 Objectives of the study    –      –      –      –      –    14-15

1.4 Research Questions  –      –      –      –      –      –    15-16

1.5 Statement of Hypothesis  –      –      –      –      –     16

1.6 Significance of the Study –      –      –      –      –    16-18

1.7 Scope of the Study –      –      –      –      –      –     18

1.8 Limitation of the Study    –      –      –      –      –    18-20

1.9 Definition of Terms  –      –      –      –      –      –    20-21

CHAPTER TWO

2.0 Literature Review     –      –      –      –      –      –      – 22

2.1 Introduction     –      –      –      –      –      –      –    22-27

2.2 Conceptual Approaches to the study of Technological Transfer –  – 27-30

The concept of Agricultural co operative Societies in Nigeria –      –      33-34

Technological Transfer Strategies for small farm Mechanization   –      –       –      –      –      –      –    35-36

Contribution of Agriculture to Economic development in Nigeria  –      –       –      –      –      –      –      –    36-38  

Theoretical Consideration of the adoption of Technological Transfer    –       –      –      –      –    38-44

Programme of action for successful Transformation of Nigeria Agricultural co operative Societies –    44-50

Key Agricultural development, supportive and service delivery programme of the federal government and its effects on agricultural co operative development in Nigeria.  –      –      –      –      –      –      –      –   51-58

Reference       –      –      –      –      –      –      –      –   59

CHAPTER THREE

3.0 Research Design ands methodology –      –      –    60

3.1 Introduction     –      –      –      –      –      –      –    60

3.2 Research Design      –      –      –      –      –      –    60

3.3 Source/ Method of data Collection   –      –      –   61-62

3.4 Population and Sample Size     –      –      –      –   62-64

3.5 Sampling Techniques       –      –      –      –      –      –   64

3.6 Validity and Reliability of Measuring Instruments-  64-66

3.7 Method of data Analysis   –      –      –      –      –    66-67

CHAPTER FOUR

4.0 Presentation and Analysis of Data   –      –      –      68

4.1 Introduction     –      –      –      –      –      –      –      68

4.2 Presentation of Data –      –      –      –      –      –      68

4.3 Analysis of Data       –      –      –      –      –      –      –  68-77

4.4 Test of Hypothesis   –      –      –      –      –      –  78-80

4.5 Interpretation of Results  –      –      –      –      –  80-81

CHAPTER FIVE

5.0 Summary, Conclusion and Recommendation  –   82

5.1 Introduction     –      –      –      –      –      –      –      82

5.2 Summary of Findings      –      –      –      –      –      –    82-84

5.3 Conclusion –      –      –      –      –      –      –      –    84-85

5.4 Recommendation     –      –      –      –      –      –    85-87

Bibliography    –      –      –      –      –      –      –      –    88-89

Appendix –      –      –      –      –      –      –      –      –      90

Questionnaire –      –      –      –      –      –      –      –    91-93

CHAPTER ONE

1. INTRODUCTION

A cooperative movement represents a unique method of organizing business. It grows out peoples desire to provide satisfactory services for their benefits. It’s spread demonstrated that tradition business methods did not satisfy the needs of all the people. People have come together to achieve common objectives. This coming together was always encouraged as the need arose. Cooperative associations are example of this gathering.

According to encyclopedia American volume 7, A cooperative society is defined as a voluntary economic association in which the members share the earned dividends the financial benefits that result from doing business at cost or without profit. A good example of a cooperative movement is agricultural cooperative.

Adegeye et al (1982) defined cooperatives as business enterprises or organizations owned and controlled by members (members- patron) and they aim at rendering service for the mutual benefits of all members. Since agriculture is the main employer of labour in Nigerian economy.

In Yanga (1998) emphasized farmers cooperative and opined that cooperative is a form of organization where persons (farmers) voluntary associated together on the basis of equality for the promotion of their economic interest. Cooperatives offer an ideal way of mobilizing the resources and energies of the masses for their own good under their own initiative and control. In this way, they contribute increasing agricultural production.

Agricultural cooperative is a system which related workers or businessmen are organized to help members increase their productivity and profit from their business (Ogujiofor 2001). Agricultural cooperatives achieve this goal by providing members with the products and services they need to reduce their operational costs and to operate more efficiently. Emphasis on the members of the cooperative society.

The idea of technology transfer was to help the inappropriate agricultural technologies, poor developing countries to move from traditional based credit systems especially for women inadequate supply agriculture to science and technology base agriculture of inputs, low crop yield and back of enough markets. Use of appropriate technological capabilities of an organization and technologies, provide storage facilities fortnightly increasing the performance of a particular organization training field demonstration and linking these women to agriculture. The result obtained from this research work would serve according to literature, in 1970’s to 1990’s.

The term agricultural development all over the world has posed problems whose solutions are difficult for countries concise to solve. However, it has been considered by specialists all over the world not only from the agricultural technical point of view or economic planning but equally from social and political point of view. But since the problems appear to be more of economic in character, both social and political aspects seem to be forgotten. We have to be reminded that since agricultural development affects the fundamental interests of the people, who are often the victims of outdated agricultural methods of production, it stands therefore, that the international exchange of experts opinion should be published more so to developing countries. Though the scope of this work may not cover all but it will be good to mention that the result of the exchange of opinion, mentioned above falls under the following headings,

Interrelation between the development of agriculture and other sectors of the economy. 

The institutional structure for agricultural development

The role of government in agricultural development

Land tenure system e. t. c

Agriculture is the most widespread of all the human activities that exist in nature today. This involves the use of the land as a home for crops and animals to grow and provide man with the basic needs of life. The most important of these needs is food. Throughout the ages his major pre-occupation has been on how to obtain food from these plants and animals. This past knowledge and skills had helped him to develop a number practices that employed to obtain his food.

From the discovery of agriculture, with time the primitive man observed that after throwing away waste or excess food materials new plants grew where such fruits or pieces landed. Thus he accidentally discovered that the old plants could be deliberately sown to grow and yield fruits. He also realized that as time went on some of the wild animals that he captured earlier grow and reproduced within his premises. Instead of going out to hunt for animals whenever he needed meat, he kept some alive in his dwelling place in order to grow, reproduce and possibly perform other duties for him. Such animals could be slaughtered for meat, skin and bone or be used as a companion for working and hunting.

Meanwhile, the term technology has been derived to apply to all these areas of existence in which man has successfully utilized scientific knowledge in order to create a better environment for himself. In other words, technology is good to man’s existence in order to create a better life and environment.

Better technology, which will make the study and application of technology more efficient. It is therefore evident that for the full scope or that used to derived and appreciated, they should both be considered together.

Within a given society technical change involves a process of invention, innovation and diffusion of the new technique by imitation and acceptance. But an accepted technology transferred to another society involves commercial risks, a need to change, so that the transfer becomes more an innovative process. To receipt society is new technology however much accepted in the disseminating society.

In Nigeria, land reform and consolidation of fragmented holding will be needed. This will not only help to accelerate technological change and stimulate production in the long run but also will help to generate rural employment. From history, we have learnt that land reform is seldom to tidy affair. It is always time consuming.

Land reform has posed serious problems all over the world which, left to farmers alone they cannot solve it. It is an axiom all over the world, that farmers find it very difficult to attract any credit from banks in the absence of commercial acceptable securities to enable them reform the land. In view of this fact, countries like India, Ceylon, Israel, Japan, Canada, Germany and Denmark farmers have jointly with their governments solve their land reform and agricultural problems through effective farmers cooperative. Some developing countries who have emulated this ideology have not achieved rapid result but lasting one of the problems rural developments which invariably lies in agriculture.

The rural farmers in the communities are very poor individually for them to undertake responsibility of increasing agricultural production. One of the agencies recognized as an instrument for the economic development of the masses is cooperative movement. In spite of several arguments posed by some schools of thought about this type of cooperative organization, the generally acceptable argument in the context of our rural community is that farmers multipurpose should be a service center for all the needs of the farmers in the village communities. Added to this, it should provide necessary services to non farmers; such as artisans, tailors carpenters, fishermen who are living in the villages and whose economy is blended with that of the agriculturist. In effect, through the medium of farmers multipurpose cooperatives the cultivators and others in the village communities have to be in touch for all or many of their requirements. Since farmers are in the best mode to reform the land through cooperative movement, let us examine it.