Technology Extension Services Research Articles

Improving the net energy and energy utilization efficiency of maize production systems in the North China Plain

Energy analysis of agricultural production is essential to promote sustainable agricultural development. However, the current research on agricultural sustainability in the North China Plain (NCP) mainly focuses on improving grain yield and nitrogen utilization efficiency (NUE), while there are few studies on their energy utilization. This study evaluated the energy utilization characteristics of different yield and NUE category farms and three integrated agronomic approaches in the NCP based on farmer surveys and farm experiments. Compared with the average level of smallholder farms, the net energy (NE) and the energy utilization efficiency (EUE) of high-yield and high-NUE group farms increased by 17% and 22%, respectively, the NE of the high-yield and low-NUE group farms increased by 9%, but the EUE decreased by 12%. The control experiment showed that the NE and EUE achieved using high-yield and high-efficiency agronomic practice (HH) increased by 34% and 18% compared with achieved using traditional farmers' practices, respectively. In conclusion, there is a great opportunity to improve the NE and EUE of the maize production in the NCP by optimizing agronomic practices. Popularizing HH technology by improving agricultural technology extension services is of great significance for improving farmers’ EUE and promoting sustainable agricultural development.

Effect of Agricultural Social Services on Green Production of Natural Rubber: Evidence from Hainan, China

It is vital to concentrate on conserving the ecological environment and promoting production efficiency in the process of planting natural rubber. Agricultural social services (ASSs) play an essential role in helping rubber farmers to achieve green production. Based on the survey data of 552 natural rubber farmers in Hainan Province, this study builds an index system regarding socialized services for rubber production from three factors: technology extension services, financial insurance services, and market information services. This research uses the slack-based measure (SBM) model and the Tobit model to analyze the green production efficiency (GPE) and the influences of rubber production socialized services on the rubber growers’ green production efficiency. Our results revealed that (1) the average green productivity of rubber planting in Hainan is approximately 0.41, which means that there is ample space for improvement; (2) ASSs have a significant positive effect on increasing the green rubber production efficiency; and (3) among ASSs, the technical extension service has the most significant effect on improving the green production efficiency of the growers. To further raise GPE of natural rubber, the socialized service system can be strengthened in terms of technology, capital, and information. ASSs have noticeable potential in improving the efficiency of rubber green production while ensuring economic, social, and ecological sustainability.

Productivity Effect of Technology Extension Services: Evidence from Japan's Kohsetsushi

Productivity Effect of Technology Extension Services: Evidence from Japan's Kohsetsushi

Driving forces of the efficiency of forest carbon sequestration production: Spatial panel data from the national forest inventory in China

In response to climate change, carbon emission reduction has become an important goal worldwide. Forests are the largest carbon pool in terrestrial ecosystems with a high carbon density and a fast carbon accumulation rate, and play a key role in the global carbon cycle. In this paper, the dynamic change and influence factors of forest carbon sequestration efficiency was analysis using the Data Envelopment Analysis Malmquist method in province level of China. The results showed that Heilongjiang, Yunnan, Tibet, Sichuan, and Inner Mongolia had the highest carbon sequestration, while northern China, eastern China, and southwestern China had the highest carbon sequestration efficiency. Furthermore, the factors of gross domestic product (GDP) per capita, urbanization, and the length of the highway network had significant positive impacts on the carbon sequestration efficiencies, while the total imports and exports had a significant negative impact. Ecological afforestation, temperature, GDP per capita, urbanization, population, and total imports and exports had spillover effects. It is recommended that the northeastern, central-southern, and southwestern regions with high carbon sequestration efficiencies should be used as the main areas to enhance carbon sinks in the future, and the areas with low efficiencies should respect the laws of nature more. Provinces should take into account the characteristics of the science and technology needs of forest areas and should provide forestry technology extension services. The results of this study are of great significance to improving the efficiency of financial investments, forest quality, and carbon sinks.

Prospects and Challenges of Sugarcane Development in Nepal: Production, Market and Policy

Sugarcane is a major cash crop and contributes 2.1% in AGDP of Nepal. This paper attempts to review and analyze the status and issues of sugarcane subsector in reference with production, market and policies. Nepalese sugarcane production contributes less than 1% among SAARC countries and ranks 41st position among global sugarcane production status. Per capita consumption of sugar in Nepal is 8 kg/year and the annual production of the sugar contributes 60% of total national demand. Average recovery percentage of sugar in Nepal is very less (8.83%) as compared to other major producer countries. Very limited research activities on varietal development and technology enhancement in sugarcane has been done by Nepal Agricultural Research Council. Policy intervention of government to promote sugarcane are mainly limited to cash subsidy to the farmers, simple technology extension services, fixation of minimum procurement price and farm facilitation. There is an absence of dedicated sugarcane development organization in present context. Delay payment to the farmers, traditional technologies, lack of high yielding varieties and poor access of farmers to the agriculture loan and insurance are found as major challenges of sugarcane production in Nepal. The study suggested to establish dedicated organization to promote the sugarcane technology extension and policy facilitation from the government. Establishment of quick and transparent payment mechanism to the farmers is must to encourage farmer for sugarcane cultivation in Nepal.

Chazuta: subnational governments and internationalization of the agro-industrial value chain

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the role and contribution of San Martin and Chazuta subnational governments in promoting development and internationalization of the cocoa and chocolate value chain from the stakeholders’ perceptions. This work was based on a qualitative approach in which information triangulation method, information processing with evaluation rubric and WebQDA software were used. The results showed that stakeholders of both value chains perceive that the subnational government’s actions taken to develop and internationalize these value chains are poorly valued and insufficient. Likewise, six internationalization barriers were identified in which two are perceived as the main limitations: low productivity levels and access to innovations and technology. These results contribute to enrich the decision-making process of political authorities and public officials from the San Martin subnational governments. Moreover, they provide information, according to the Peruvian national requirements, on the perceptions needed to rethink and improve the governmental services available, especially productive activities in the rainforest area (Presidencia del Consejo de Ministros, 2015; Wiener Fresco, 2010). This can improve or create new extension services to increase the quality of the Chazuta’s cocoa and chocolate products and to facilitate their entry into more demanding and profitable markets (Shapira, y otros, 2015). Design/methodology/approach This paper has been developed by using a qualitative approach with an exploratory and descriptive scope. The objective was to examine a study case of how subnational governments contribute in the promotion of development and internationalization of agro-industrial value chains as alternatives to illicit crops (Hernandez, Fernandez, & Baptista, 2010). The Chazuta case was selected because it is representative of the region in terms of coca eradication and is located between two regions of high biodiversity – Cordillera Escalera Regional Conservation Area and Cordillera Azul National Park. Findings One of the issues hindering the ability of the Chazuta cocoa and chocolate producers is based on their perception that the subnational governments’ efforts are focused on meeting already-established goals and little emphasis is placed on solving productive problems. On the other hand, at an articulation level, the most relevant efforts have been connecting the cocoa and chocolate customers to Chazuta producers through events. In spite of this, such events are not considered a permanent activity and the producers do not perceive that these mechanisms enable them to maintain these long-term trade relationships. This can be explained by the fact that Chazuta cocoa and chocolate organizations recognize that they still have incipient productive capacities to meet the foreign market’s demand. Furthermore, associations, cooperatives and SMEs are not able to maintain constant levels of production quality, except the family-based business. Knowledge and techniques provided by subnational governments and private organizations are not fully used or implemented by the associations’ members. This low level of knowledge application can be explained by cultural factors and also because the producers receive multiple and sometimes contradictory information from various providers of technology extension services. This leads to inadequate use or non-implementation of productivity improvements, thus generating a virtuous circle in which production and quality of the goods remain at low levels, which hinders their entry into demanding and profitable markets. Research limitations/implications This paper has been developed with a qualitative approach considering an exploratory and descriptive scope. Chazuta case was selected because it is representative of the region in terms of eradication achievements and it is located between two regions of high biodiversity. A rubric is an evaluation method of individuals or organizations performance, taking into consideration the evaluator’s pre-established criteria to determine if the objectives and goals are being met. Based on these criteria, evidence and performance information is collected. Following, performance is graded based on the researcher’s predetermined criteria and finally a merit-based judgment is made on the performance. Practical implications The results contribute to enrich decision making of political authorities and public officials from San Martin subnational governments. They provide information, according to Peruvian national requirements, on the perceptions needed to rethink and improve provided government services, especially in rainforest area productive activities. This adds up to improvement or creation of new extension services to increase the quality of Chazuta’s cocoa and chocolate products, and to facilitate their entry into more demanding and profitable markets. Social implications The situation of San Martín region and Chazuta district is contextualized and emphasis is given to socioeconomic conditions and the value of cocoa as an alternative crop to coca. From 1980 to early 2000, Peru lived a period of generalized violence due to narcoterrorism, which had large-scale outreach in southern highland and rainforest areas. To deal with this situation, subnational governments in collaboration with international cooperation decided to consolidate agro-industrial value chains in order to generate legal income for rural populations. For this purpose, alternative crop policies were implemented and San Martin region achieved the best results. Originality/value This fieldwork was carried out as part of the undergraduate thesis but after fieldwork, with the use of online software tool WebQDA, codes were created to systematize and quantify the collected information in the content manager. The codes were created taking into account assessment and evaluation variables. Each value represented a code referred to a performance level as perceived by Chazuta cocoa and chocolate value chains stakeholders.

The impact and spatial difference of agricultural producer services industry on agricultural development: an empirical analysis based on provincial panel data

The acting mechanisms of agricultural producer services industry on agricultural development remains much debated. This study applied provincial panel data in China to empirically research the influence of agricultural producer services on agricultural structure adjustment, income of farmers and agricultural production efficiency. Results indicate that agricultural information, science and technology promotion significantly promote agricultural development. But from regional perspective, results show that there are geographical differences in the roles of different types of agricultural production service industry playing. In major grain producing area, the agricultural production service industry is not a major role in optimising the agricultural structure, and financial and insurance services, agricultural technology extension services and agricultural sale services have play positive roles in increasing agricultural income and upgrading efficiency of agricultural production. However, the agricultural financial and insurance services and information services promote agricultural industrial structure optimisation, income and agricultural production efficiency in economic crops production areas.

Efficiency Analysis of Grain Production Inputs: Utilization in China from an Agricultural Sustainability Perspective

Agricultural input surpluses cause severe environmental pollution and natural resource depletion; thus, the need to improve the utilization efficiency of agricultural inputs has become urgent. For this purpose, a data envelopment analysis was used to analyze the technical efficiency of agricultural inputs for major grain production in 13 grain-producing provinces at a macrolevel; farmers’ behavioral characteristics with regard to input application were subsequently determined at a microlevel. The results indicated that most provinces had lower technical efficiency scores. Liaoning (0.697) and Jiangxi (0.724) had much lower technical scores for rice production; Hebei (0.758), Jiangsu (0.720), Anhui (0.719), Shandong (0.762) and Henan (0.702), which had larger yields, tended to have lower technical efficiency for wheat production. Finally, Neimenggu (1), Liaoning (1), Jilin (0.868) and Heilongjiang (0.976), which had higher maize yields, had much higher technical efficiency scores for maize production. Many provinces were operating on decreasing returns to scale and the need to decrease planting scale systems. The regions with larger grain output or lower technical efficiency scores tended to have higher optimal savings of agricultural inputs. Respondents in the main grain-producing area had higher ages and lower education levels. The respondents lacked knowledge regarding environmental regulations and input safety usage standards. Most farmers thought that it was important to apply agricultural inputs properly, but they continued to operate as they usually did with such behaviors as ignoring instructions or changing the dosages casually. Moreover, the farmers rarely adopted eco-friendly production technologies. Therefore, it is necessary to promote scientific-technical progress, improve technology extension services, highlight market-based decisions, and improve supportive policies.

Appalachian Information Technology Extension Project

AbstractThrough the NSF-funded Appalachian Information Technology Extension Services (AITES) grant, Family and Consumer Science (FCS) professionals are utilizing an Extension model to solve an Information Technology (IT) talent crisis for girls. The goal is to increase community capacity over five years in five states in rural Appalachia through a sustainable program of change concentrating not on the girls, but by mobilizing the social capital in their lives. In the first year approximately 365 parents, teachers, and counselors were involved in at least one session provided by the Virginia Community Cohort Teams of middle and high school teachers and counselors and FCS and 4H Agents. FCS professionals are pioneering an innovative model to build community capacity and social capital that brings more females into the IT career pipeline. The model builds on the commitment of the profession to empower communities and also becomes an economic development, workforce development, and human development engine. While this model is in its early stages, if successful, it will provide a template for professionals in other rural regions to mobilize communities to help solve the IT talent crisis.

On the Subject of China's Agricultural Science and Technology Optimization

With the change of the pattern of agricultural science and technology extension system gradually, the construction of the main body of China's agricultural science and technology extension services is more and more important. The paper analyzes the problems of the main body of China's agricultural science and technology extension services, and gives us the proposals: cultivating diverse main bodies, playing the synergistic effect of the main body, and improving the capacity and vitality of the agricultural science and technology.

The National Bureau of Standards becomes the National Institute of Standards and Technology

On August 23, 1988 President Reagan signed the Omnibus Trade and Competitiveness Act and changed the name of the National Bureau of Standards to the National Institute of Standards and (NIST). Under a section of this new law known as the Technology Competitiveness Act, several new assignments designed to boost U.S. industry in the world marketplace are added to the traditional functions of NIST. NIST will continue to serve as the Nation's central laboratory for developing and disseminating measurement standards and scientific data for science, engineering, manufacturing, commerce, industry, and education. NIST will continue to provide a variety of services to the scientific and technical communities, including calibration services, standard reference data, and standard reference materials. These activities and the continuing research programs will continue to form the technical core of NIST. New activities NIST has been assigned to develop are: 1. Create a series of Regional Centers for the Transfer of Manufacturing that will be affiliated with non-profit institutions and organizations; 2. Develop a program to provide assistance and make Federal technology available to State and local technology programs and technology extension services; 3. Establish an Advanced Program to encourage the commercialization of new high-technology products; and 4. Support a Department of Commerce Clearinghouse for State and Local Initiatives on Productivity, Technology, and Innovation to provide technical and analytical help to State and local officials making decisions on technology policy. In keeping with the new name of our laboratories, we have changed the name of this journal to:

The federal role in commercial technology development

Technology and science are linked in many ways, sometimes tightly, sometimes loosely, but development of new technologies is a fundamentally different activity from scientific research. The U.S. Government, therefore, cannot assume that expenditures for scientific research will automatically translate into the commercial products and processes vital for an internationally competitive economy. Nor can it assume that expenditures on military R&D will contribute broadly to the civilian technology base. If governments wish to support commercial technology development, they must do more than support research. Many American companies, for example, could benefit from programs aimed at the development of generic technologies with broad commercial relevance. Examples include: applied research in microelectronic devices; combustion processes and automobile safety; disciplines such as engineering design; the science base for manufacturing; common technical concerns such as lubrication and wear or structural integrity. They could also benefit from improved mechanisms for the diffusion of such technologies domestically. To fill R&D gaps on both a technology-specific and an industry-specific basis, the existing system — small in scale and largely experimental — of government-supported centers for generic and cooperative R&D could be broadened and strengthened. The U.S. Government could also provide partial support for technology extension services run by State Governments.