Sustainable Food-Crop Production in the Semi-Arid Tropics: Strategy for Technology Transfer in Millet Research

Abstract

ABSTRACT Technological options available for increased millet production and productivity in the West and Central Africa are many in the National and International agricultural research institutions. Research information is available on the constraints associated with both the crop and the environment. Solutions in the form of improved technologies to several of these constraints are known. This paper addresses two fundamental questions: 1. What is technology transfer? 2. How to transfer technologies to the farmers to promote sustained millet production in the semi-arid tropics? The research conducted by scientists in the millet research network (sensu lato) is reviewed to partly answer the above questions. An indepth analysis of the achievements of the concepts involved in the process of technology transfer is presented to assess its implications both on NARS scientists research activities, farmers fields, and to identify critical elements for strategy development and implementation. The scope of the millet research network includes: technology transfer to farmers (appropriate varieties for respective production systems), development of improved insect control methods, control of mildew, and improvement of millet based cropping systems. The strategy or conceptual framework provides operational definitions of some key concepts involved in technology transfer namely: participation, collaboration, adoption, performance, and impact. These definitions involve shared values, expectations, competencies, ideas, resources, meaningful interactions, tension reduction/conflict resolution mechanisms, results, benefits shared among the various actors, and a clear vision of the future. All these factors can be pulled together to make up what is known as the technological transfer mix or the foundation of program impact planning and impact assessment. The paper concludes with a model based on the hypothetical relationships between the critical variables involved in explaining research performance and impact in transferring technologies to the farmers. The main concern and contribution of this paper is centered on construct discussion, and model operationalization for prediction purposes. These two notions are important in strategy development and impact assessment.