Learning about Agricultural Technologies: Thoughts Based on Low-income Areas

Colin Barlow ； Jacob Nulik ； Ria Gondowarsito ； Debora Kana Hau

《Southeast Asian Social Science Review》 8卷1期 (2023/05) Pp. 5-27

https://doi.org/10.29945/SEASSR.202305_8(1).0001

摘要

This paper addresses the immensely significant process of how best to acquire familiarity and skills in using new agricultural technologies in low-income areas. Adopting such technologies can enable large increases in outputs and quality, but is fraught with difficulties and hard to implement. The topic is notably relevant in developing the remote rural peripheries of South and Southeast Asia. Their incomes are generally far below the national averages, but there are often big potentials for technological improvement. The question of technology adoption is crucial especially how it could be enhanced through contrasting modes of 'social engineering', comparing a 'bottom-up' approach in eastern Indonesia with the 'top-down' strategy of Felda in Malaysia. This paper discusses the actual process of learning, scrutinizing how people in low-income contexts are best enabled not only to acquire new knowledge but apply it effectively in transforming their circumstances. The focus will be on agricultural extension and on relations between the work of extension officers and the thought, learning and implementation processes of targeted individuals and families. The influence of social and cultural contexts is appraised, exploring how learning can be best facilitated within different local milieus. How can the extension be enhanced, and how is an effective learning relationship between officer and villager established?

關鍵字

agricultural technologies ； imparting skills ； extension officers ； social and cultural contexts ； Nusa Tenggara Timur (NTT)