Influence of technological change on agricultural development.
A lecture delivered by Jubreal Akintayo on IDC whatsapp page on 11/04/2016
As we all know, technology is the application of knowledge of nature for achievement of goals. Technology in agric has been in existence from time immemorial. A technology that is sufficiently pure to be composed of arts and artifacts of a society, developed over the years among the people and peculiar to the people is called 'indigenous technology. The use of tools and instruments to complement human energy in carrying out activities like tillage and land preparations is an indigenous technology. Tools like cutlass, hoe, etc has been useful to farmers. It however differs from one tribe to the other. Nupe type of hoe is peculiar to them and is quite different from Yoruba's type. Technology of cultivation, pest control, harvest and storage also differ from tribe to tribe. Various tribes have developed techniques for managing pest and diseases both on field and storage, making use of local materials. Example is the use of water from locust bean processing(omi iru), neem leaf(dongoyaro) and palm kernel oil.
Also, some communities are attached to the belief that cultivation of some certain crops has to be ushered in with festivals and rituals. Some people will not harvest yam until rituals are done (odun Isu). Another example is the use of cloth or\and noise making materials like stone and bottles to scare away squirrel and other rodent pest. Those are some of agricultural indigenous technology used by our local farmers. However, the use of indigenous technology limits the scope of agriculture. Hence the need for technological change.
Technological change occurs when ideas and innovations in a society are being introduced and adopted in another society. Example is in transportation where the art of trekking and the use of beast of burden are being replaced by vehicles. Another example is communication where the use of signs, gestures like the use of palm fronds to signal the conveyance of corpse are being replaced by evolving technologies of phones, radio etc. Heath is another example where traditional healing based on superstitious beliefs in supernatural forces are largely being replaced by scientific medicines and hospital care. Education, where socialization by imitation and direct teaching of basic skills has been enriched by formal instructions in school books and audiovisuals. Traditional houses constructed with muds, sticks and leaves are giving way to permanent structures made of cements, glass, iron etc. Traditional farming has been transformed through the introduction of viable seeds, improved breeds of crops and livestock, agric chemicals, improved processing and storage equipments. The resultant effects of these tech changes in an agrarian society is no doubt an increase in agricultural productivity. The introduction of biotechnology has gone a long way in moving agric sector.
The provision of viable and pest resistant crops and breeding of highly resistant and productive livestock cannot be overemphasized.
Integrated Pest Management (IPM), habitat preservation, resource conservation technology, farm machineries(like tractors) are some of the brainchildren of tech change and these has led to a remarkable feat in stabilized food production, regular market supply, constant provision of raw materials etc.
As much as technology has positively influenced the agric sector, the undesirable influence cannot be left unattended to. It has relegated some useful indigenous tech that are thought to be relatively advantageous over new invents. For example, it is cost-effective, non toxic to use neem leaf to prevent storage pest rather than the use of chemicals. Digital divide is another negative impact of tech change. However, it is evident that the positive influence outweighs the negatives. But we can still do more.
On a final note, it is pertinent to state that IDC can adopt agricultural extension as one of its programmes. Iwoland is largely an agrarian society. Agric extension is less costly, cost effective, less strenuous, less-laborious and it will surely go a long way in bettering the lots of the poor farmers around us. Provision of advisory services, teaching of new innovations, provision of viable and economic seedlings, supply of fertilizers and agrochemicals are some of the little ways to help. It is on this note I submit
Thanks for your time
God bless Iwoland
A lecture delivered by Jubreal Akintayo on IDC whatsapp page on 11/04/2016
As we all know, technology is the application of knowledge of nature for achievement of goals. Technology in agric has been in existence from time immemorial. A technology that is sufficiently pure to be composed of arts and artifacts of a society, developed over the years among the people and peculiar to the people is called 'indigenous technology. The use of tools and instruments to complement human energy in carrying out activities like tillage and land preparations is an indigenous technology. Tools like cutlass, hoe, etc has been useful to farmers. It however differs from one tribe to the other. Nupe type of hoe is peculiar to them and is quite different from Yoruba's type. Technology of cultivation, pest control, harvest and storage also differ from tribe to tribe. Various tribes have developed techniques for managing pest and diseases both on field and storage, making use of local materials. Example is the use of water from locust bean processing(omi iru), neem leaf(dongoyaro) and palm kernel oil.
Also, some communities are attached to the belief that cultivation of some certain crops has to be ushered in with festivals and rituals. Some people will not harvest yam until rituals are done (odun Isu). Another example is the use of cloth or\and noise making materials like stone and bottles to scare away squirrel and other rodent pest. Those are some of agricultural indigenous technology used by our local farmers. However, the use of indigenous technology limits the scope of agriculture. Hence the need for technological change.
Technological change occurs when ideas and innovations in a society are being introduced and adopted in another society. Example is in transportation where the art of trekking and the use of beast of burden are being replaced by vehicles. Another example is communication where the use of signs, gestures like the use of palm fronds to signal the conveyance of corpse are being replaced by evolving technologies of phones, radio etc. Heath is another example where traditional healing based on superstitious beliefs in supernatural forces are largely being replaced by scientific medicines and hospital care. Education, where socialization by imitation and direct teaching of basic skills has been enriched by formal instructions in school books and audiovisuals. Traditional houses constructed with muds, sticks and leaves are giving way to permanent structures made of cements, glass, iron etc. Traditional farming has been transformed through the introduction of viable seeds, improved breeds of crops and livestock, agric chemicals, improved processing and storage equipments. The resultant effects of these tech changes in an agrarian society is no doubt an increase in agricultural productivity. The introduction of biotechnology has gone a long way in moving agric sector.
The provision of viable and pest resistant crops and breeding of highly resistant and productive livestock cannot be overemphasized.
Integrated Pest Management (IPM), habitat preservation, resource conservation technology, farm machineries(like tractors) are some of the brainchildren of tech change and these has led to a remarkable feat in stabilized food production, regular market supply, constant provision of raw materials etc.
As much as technology has positively influenced the agric sector, the undesirable influence cannot be left unattended to. It has relegated some useful indigenous tech that are thought to be relatively advantageous over new invents. For example, it is cost-effective, non toxic to use neem leaf to prevent storage pest rather than the use of chemicals. Digital divide is another negative impact of tech change. However, it is evident that the positive influence outweighs the negatives. But we can still do more.
On a final note, it is pertinent to state that IDC can adopt agricultural extension as one of its programmes. Iwoland is largely an agrarian society. Agric extension is less costly, cost effective, less strenuous, less-laborious and it will surely go a long way in bettering the lots of the poor farmers around us. Provision of advisory services, teaching of new innovations, provision of viable and economic seedlings, supply of fertilizers and agrochemicals are some of the little ways to help. It is on this note I submit
Thanks for your time
God bless Iwoland
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