No abstract

The agronomist views the problems of worldwide rural poverty as having common underlying causes including soil erosion and nutrient depletion, lowyielding varieties, weeds, and plant diseases. Often these problems are ameliorated by use of new or improved techniques. Agronomic research aims, nevertheless, to facilitate the development of human resources and potentials from three humanistic perspectives, i.e., the family, community, and population (demography). For example, the Chinese Agricultural Technical Mission in the Dominican Republic directed its efforts to increase rice (Oryza sativa L.) production by establishing substations where crosses were made, and foreign and domestic rice varieties were introduced, selected, and tested. The effort markedly increased rice yield, particularity after the introduction of hybrid varieties developed at the Mission. The techniques were taught to farmers at the community level, increasing their expertise and productivity without major innovations.In West Africa, the research effort was directed to the family unit. Under shifting cultivation, maize (Zea mays L.) was grown as a second crop in the same year after rice on the identical site (multiple cropping). This provided the family unit with increased revenue without drastically altering work patterns.In general, to be acceptable, an innovation must 1) serve a basic need, 2) be easily evaluated, 3) be highly recommended, and 4) require only minor changes in life patterns. Primarily, agricultural technology must be directed to increase the quality of life for rural people. Additional index words: Rural poverty. International development, Agronomic innovations.

No abstract

No abstract

No abstract