Unit 1 Notes, set 1

I. UNIT 1 NOTES

UNDERSTANDING AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT: THE CONTEXT OF AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION

UNDERSTANDING AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT

DEFINING DEVELOPMENT

• going beyond criteria based on indices of per capita income (statistical forms as well as those which concentrate on the study of gross income are misleading). Basic criterion is whether or not the society is a “being for itself”, i.e., its political, economic and cultural decision-making power is located within.” -Paulo Freire
• need oriented, geared to meeting both material and non material human needs; endogenous, stemming from the heart of each society; self-reliant; ecologically sound, utilizing rationally the resources of the biosphere; and based on structural transformation as an integrated whole.
• (60s) most accurate measure of development was gross national product - total money value of goods and services produced by a country in a given year. (70s) development does not only mean GNP but also on the improvement of the quality of life of the individual; person has become the yardstick.
• Should be defined to include both growth and distribution under periods of both stability and change in institutional arrangements (Havens, 1972)
• Normative concept, almost synonymous with improvement, growth, advancement, progress
• Creating the conditions for the realization of human personality (Seers, 1972)
• no universal, fixed definition - it is relative, multi-dimensional, and process oriented.

AIM OF DEVELOPMENT

• to help people become more productive
• to improve quality of life for individuals, families, communities and countries as a whole
• As people become more productive, country is in better position to trade with others
• more trade means more goods and services to continue improving living conditions

ASPECTS OF DEVELOPMENT

1. Economically - accumulation of human capital and its effective investment in the
dev’t of economy
2. Politically - process which prepares people for participation in political affairs, especially as citizens of a democratic country
3. Socially and Culturally - helps people lead fuller, richer lives less bound by traditions
4. Ethically - entails improvement in the quality as well as quantity of life

SOME DEVELOPMENT THEORIES

1. Growth Theories
a) Balanced Growth Theory- agriculture and industry sectors receive equal shares of investment
b) Lewis Dual Theory
It tries to prove that modern industrial sector will attract workers from the rural areas. But the theory is not all that perfect, it has its lapses. it may have helped the farmers to work better and easier, but the theory can't stand on its own two feet. The Lewis model explains how labor transfers in a dual economy. For Lewis, growth of industrial sector drives economic growth. The Model argues that economic growth requires structural change in the economy whereby surplus labor in agricultural sector with low or zero marginal products, migrate to the modern industrial sector where high rising marginal product is available.
c) Unbalanced Growth Theory - includes the following theories:
c.1 Deliberate unbalancing theory - involves the prioritization of two sectors (agriculture
and industry). One sector receives greater portion of investments. As this sector
develops, the effects spill out to other sectors, thus development still occurs
c.2 Capital accumulation theory involves the utilization of the unlimited supplies of labor
found in agriculture sector. The assumption here is that once the unlimited supplies
of labor are used, development occurs. However, this theory occurs only in the
capitalist (industrial sector of society)
c.3 Growth through savings and investment theory-states that every economy must
save a certain proportion of its national income if only to replace wornout capital
goods. The latter includes buildings, equipment and materials. However, to grow, a
country needs new investments representing net additions to the capital stock

2. Structural Theories
a) Dependency theory (Rostow)- views developing countries as being beset by
institutional and structural rigidities and caught up in a dependent and dominant
relationship with rich nations. The development of a dependent country is conditioned
by the powerful country with which the former is attached. First World nations
actively, but not necessarily consciously, perpetuate a state of dependency through
various policies and initiatives. This state of dependency is multifaceted, involving
economics, media control, politics, banking and finance, education, sports and all
aspects of human resource development.

b) Developmentalism theory-it is basically welfare-oriented. It believes that the major goal of development is human welfare. It opts for structural reforms that are equity-oriented or redistributive

3. STAGE THEORY
Rostow’s Linear Theory is a good way of transforming an underemployed rural society to a productive urban– industrial society. The transformation or the development is on a stage-by-stage basis, no shortcuts. Though not a fast transformation, but still sustainable if properly practiced. Savings and capital formation (accumulation) are central to the process of growth. The key to development is to mobilize savings to generate the investment to set in motion self generating economic growth. Development requires substantial investment in capital equipment; to foster growth in developing nations the right conditions for such investment would have to be created. That is, in order to achieve modernization and sustain the economic development, proper and right practice especially with regards to savings and investments should be done.

4. Liberation Theory
It focuses on the poor and the oppressed. Gustavo Gutiérrez is known as the father of liberation theology. The causes of social issues such as Christian poverty, female criminality, differences in class, in social and economic power, in educational opportunity and achievement, in health and physical well-being, are the expressions and result of institutionalized inequalities in opportunity. Liberation is possible to recover the buried memories of our socialization, to share our stories and heal the hurts imposed by the conditioning, to act in the present in a humane and caring manner, to rebuild our human connections and to change our world. Gutiérrez has emphasized a commitment of solidarity with the poor, with those who suffer misery and injustice.

5. KARL MARX THEORY
For Karl Marx, the basic determining factor of human history is economics. According to him, humans even from their earliest beginnings are not motivated by grand ideas but instead by material concerns, like the need to eat and survive. This is the basic premise of a materialist view of history. At the beginning, people worked together in unity and it wasn’t so bad. But eventually, humans developed agriculture and the concept of private property. These two facts created a division of labor and a separation of classes based upon power and wealth. This, in turn, created the social conflict which drive society. Societal power relationships are dialectical All of this is made worse by capitalism which only increases the disparity between the wealthy classes and the labor classes. Confrontation between them is unavoidable because those classes are driven by historical forces beyond anyone’s control. That power relationships in the modern society are based on economic relationships. The economic factors are the key to social changes. Labor has become the means of creating wealth of a society. The society is the product of its people's actions. The society reflects what kind of people it has.

6. Advantage Theory
The principle of comparative advantage is clearly counter-intuitive. Many results from the formal model are contrary to simple logic. Secondly, the theory is easy to confuse with another notion about advantageous trade, known in trade theory as the theory of absolute advantage. The logic behind absolute advantage is quite intuitive. This confusion between these two concepts leads many people to think that they understand comparative advantage when in fact, what they understand, is absolute advantage.

The model assumes only two countries producing two goods using just one factor of production. There is no capital or land or other resources needed for production. The real world, on the other hand, consists of many countries producing many goods using many factors of production. Each market is assumed to be perfectly competitive, when in reality there are many industries in which firms have market power. Labor productivity is assumed fixed, when in actuality it changes over time, perhaps based on past production levels. Full employment is assumed, when clearly workers cannot be immediately and costlessly moved to other industries. Also, all workers are assumed identical. This means that when a worker is moved from one industry to another, he or she is immediately as productive as every other worker who was previously employed there.

7. Staple Theory
Staple theory says: extensive growth for primary export leads to diversification and industrialization if the country exports the "right staple". Staple theory was developed with Canada in mind, and has been the most widely accepted explanation for Canada's economic development. Canada's economic development is thus seen as having depended on the early development of the wheat economy.


APPROACHES TO DEVELOPMENT

1. Welfare – spontaneous response to manifestation of poverty usually done by the rich;commonly referred to as “dole-out” by solving the problem and by filling the gap. basic needs are minimum requirements essential for decent human existence,

2. Modernization (project) – introduces all resources lacking in the community (e.g. capital, technology, infrastructure, etc.)

3. Ethical – treats a person as the end of the development process and not the means to the end it is also known as “humanism approach” that aims to provide all men the opportunity to live full human lives

4. Liberationist – empowering the poor and the marginalized to break away from unjust structure/system so that they can pursue their interests. It is also known as “conscientization” which is the state of the problems affecting oneself and the society (reflection) and working towards solving such problems collectively with others (action)

In 1973, the Development Academy of the Philippines listed the following development indeces, each is measurable and quantitative:
1. health and nutrition
2. education and skills
3. income and consumption
4. employment
5. capital and non-human resources
6. housing, utilities and environment
7. public safety and justice
8. social mobility
9. political values


AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT

What is Agricultural development?

 The process of making fuller and more rational use of agricultural resources of a country (or of an area) with special reference to improving the efficiency of agriculture and level of the agricultural population
 An intentional change of an agricultural system, which is considered desirable by people.

This could be affected by:
 Change in access to productive resources
 Change in technology
 Change in interrelationships between persons and institutions
 Change in environment such as demand for a certain commodity produced in the area and the price relations
 Active intervention by an agency from outside

Among the changes in agriculture are the evolving technologies of modern agriculture and sustainable agriculture

Features of Modern Agriculture:
1. Dynamic society that welcomes innovation and change
2. Highly productive and competitive because it uses modern production and
management technology
3. Manned by an enterprising tiller who exercises hi or her right to choose what
technology to apply, what crops to raise and when, and to whom to sell his or her
product to get the highest returns.



SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE

Framework And Dimensions

1. Ecologically and Environmentally Sound
-biodiversity (where a diverse host of creatures live with other species promotion to multiple varieties/cropping, crop rotation, integration, genetic conservation, alternative/ecological pest management, use of natural pesticides/biological control/ water management/multiple cropping/locally adapted seeds, diversifies integrated farming systems)

2. Economically Viable (hidden costs on health, soil, water, environment)

3. Socially Just and Humane
- respects human dignity
- equitable
- land to till
- access to services
- intergenerational equity
- consumers’ rights on toxic free products
- fair trading
- farmers’ control on production inputs

4. Culturally Sensitive and Appropriate
- respects traditions, values, beliefs and culture of people
- indigenous knowledge
- local knowledge
- sharing of resources/knowledge
- local communication systems (participatory extension)

5. Appropriate Technology
- location specific (crop, climate, soils, management, market, pests/diseases, etc.)
- participatory research
- affordability

6. Grounded in Holistic Science
- integrative of local/indigenous knowledge, non-reductionist
- values in farming
- respect on the integrity of creation
- spiritual dimension

7. Total Human Development
- capacity
- confidence
- analytical ability
- head, mind, heart and body

Sustainability Concerns and Issue:

• SURVIVAL - Main requirement is sufficient food and the means to achieve this is Agriculture
• ECOLOGICALLY ACCEPTABLE PRODUCTION - Where everything removed is replaced so as not to harm ecological system
• THRIVING ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL ORDER - With production structures and relationships which ensure a fair distribution of income, power, and opportunities, providing basis for social peace
• LONG-TERM CARRYING CAPACITY OF REGIONS – Where there is no negative impact on the environment.



AGRICULTURE LAWS

Republic Act 3639 - The Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) was created to take over the tasks on plant research on crop production. Strengthened by Act No. 4007 also known as Reorganization Law of 1932

Executive Order 216 - Farm Operation division was created to plan and program research utilization and assignment of arm machinery, to introduce effective farm crop practices and to provide assistance inefficient management to the bureau’s farm

EO 116 - Placing BPI as staff bureau under the production Group

Presidential Decree 1433 - The plant Quarantine Law
- Plant Quarantine being an activity necessary in crop protection specifically mandates BPI to “prevent the introduction of exotic pests in the country and prevent further spread of plant pests already existing from infested to pest-free areas and to enforce phytosanitary measures for the export of plants, plant product and related articles.

RA 7308 - The National Seed Industry development Act
- Cognizant of the BPI roles in the development of the seen industry and it inherent function for seed and plant material certification, the Act strengthens the Seed Quality Control Section to become the National Seed Quality Control Service and given control supervision over existing field inspections and control services and seed testing laboratories and those which shall have to be established

RA 6657 - Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law of 1988
- (An act to promote a more equitable distribution and ownership of land with due regard to the rights of landowners to just compensation and to the ecological needs of the nation)

RA 7900 - High Value Crops Development Act of 1995
- (An act to promote the production, processing, marketing and distribution of high-
valued crops)

RA 8435 - Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization Act of 1997
-(An act prescribing urgent related measures to modernize the agriculture and fisheries sectors of the country to enhance profitability and prepare said sectors for the challenges of globalization)

RA 7394 - Consumer Act of 1992
-This act reiterates BPI functions by specifically mandating BPI to ensure safe supply of fresh agricultural crops, and improve the quality of local fresh agricultural crops and promotes its export

RA 7607 - Magna Carta for Small Farmers
- Recognizing BPI expertise and inherent functions pesticides residue analysis and pesticide formulation, seed production and certification, research, technology transfer and crop protection


MO No. 12 (03 March 2006)
Temporary Ban on the Importation of FMD-Susceptible Animals, their Products and By-Products Originating from Argentina

AO No. 5 (07 March 2006)
Delineation in the Registration of Animal Feeds and Veterinary Drugs and Products

AO 06 (18 April 2006)
Guidelines on the Production, Regulation, Promotion, Procurement and Distribution of Seeds and Planting Materials

Department Order No. 03 series of 2007 designates the Agricultural Training Institute as lead agency for the provision of e-Extension services in collaboration with the various agencies, bureaus and organizational units of the DA. This is to integrate and harmonize ICT-based extension delivery system for agriculture and fisheries.

The electronic delivery of extension service is a network of institutions that provide a more efficient alternative to a traditional extension system for agriculture, fisheries and natural resources sectors. It maximizes the use of information and communication technology to attain a modernized agriculture and fisheries sector. It focuses on creating an electronic and interactive bridge where farmers, fishers and other stakeholders meet and transact to enhance productivity, profitability and global competitiveness