Transfer of Technology in Indian Agriculture: Experience of Agricultural Universities

Agricultural research in India is a mega effort involving about 25,000 scientists and a 100,000 strong support staff. It has a large network of teaching, research and extension groups. There is a point of view that the productivity and utilization of this massive effort is only about a third. The undoubted competence of agricultural scientists is globally acknowledged but still the system seems to be suboptimal. While the more obvious and widely discussed problems of effectiveness of agricultural extension exist, there are also issues concerning direction of research; the appropriateness of solutions; and the absence of an effective interface between crop research, agricultural engineering and industrial technology. The book presents case studies by eminent agricultural scientists on research utilization in the sectors of agricultural extension, agricultural production systems, post production systems and human resource development, and puts the findings in a context of wider concerns. The case studies were discussed in two seminars organised by the South Asia office of the International Development Research Centre, New Delhi in collaboration with the Indian Council of Agricultural Research and the States Agricultural Universities in October 1988 and November 1989. The book discusses the complex process of research utilization and technology transfer involving, inter alia, innovator-entrepreneur-consumer interface, non homogenous group of end users with varying risk perceptions, diverse value systems of universities; ICAR and state administration; and sharp differences in factor endowments. An important conclusion of the book is that complex systems like agriculture, management and research can be as important as research activity itself. The necessity of research networks, participatory research and university-industry linkages for maximising research utilization are highlighted as are factors constraining utilization of research by resource poor farmers, and in arid and semi-arid zones. It is hoped that the book will prove useful to agricultural scientists, innovators, policy makers, R&D administrators and venture capital institutions. It is expected that the book will contribute significantly to optimizing management of R&D.