McLaughlin, Martin M. (author / Senior Fellow, Overseas Development Council, Washington, D.C.) and Senior Fellow, Overseas Development Council, Washington, D.C.
Format:
Conference paper
Publication Date:
1978
Published:
USA
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 34 Document Number: B03652
Notes:
James F. Evans Collection; Burton Swanson Collection, In: Proceedings of Special International Conference on Agricultural Technology for Developing Nations : farm mechanization alternatives for 1-10 hectare farms; 1978 may 23-24; University of Illinois, Urbana, IL. 1978.
INTERPAKS, The introduction of coffee to the Poka of northern Malawi in 1930 was met with indifference and opposition. By 1966 the Poka were reasonably convinced that growing coffee was a profitable venture. However, wholesale adoption of coffee had not yet occurred. Examines specifically how introduction of coffee to Africans at a period of declining coffee value, low margin of African subsistence, and labor pattern, operated against wholesale adoption. The land tenure system has not been a problem. Describes briefly the people and their traditional economy. Examines the introduction of coffee to Malawi and the Poka, and discusses the twin problems of subsistence and labor patterns as they affect existing and potential growers. Compares the experiences of European and Poka coffee growers.
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 130 Document Number: C19360
Notes:
In "Agricultural technology for developing nations : farm mechanization alternatives for 1-10 hectare farms. Proceedings. Special International Conference. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign May 23-24, 1978", Burton Swanson Collection, pp 45-52
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 130 Document Number: C19361
Notes:
In "Agricultural technology for developing nations : farm mechanization alternatives for 1-10 hectare farms. Proceedings. Special International Conference. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign May 23-24, 1978", Burton Swanson Collection, pp 53-59
INTERPAKS, This paper is concerned with the transfer of post-harvest technologies to small farmers as part of the total rural development effort. Post-harvest systems needs to be tailored to the needs of the people it serves. Professional development technicians and politicians are now paying increased attention to small farmer problems, characterized as having limited access to productive services, technical assistance, income and political influence. The job of improving the welfare of small farmers through the transfer of technologies to reduce post-harvest losses is difficult; the small farmer is not usually a likely candidate to adopt innovations, assuming they are available and appropriate, since he cannot afford the inherent risk. Recent studies also suggest that low adoption rates are the result of the new technologies being appropriate for small farm situations and hence an alternative approach - that of adjusting production and distribution technology to the social and economic system of a given rural area - is gaining some acceptance. The problem of increasing income and food production, and improving nutritional levels on small farms, must be approached from a base of existing farm systems, in terms of applying appropriate, practical post-harvest technological innovations, In addition, an improved agricultural extension or technical assistance systems is considered essential for transferring the appropriate pos-harvest technologies to small farmers. Several step are suggested as a means to solving this problem, and a possible plan of action is outlined.
