Agricultural Innovation in Rural India: The Paradox of Farmer Nonadoption in Bajwada, Madhya Pradesh

Agricultural Innovation in Rural India: The Paradox of Farmer Nonadoption in Bajwada, Madhya Pradesh PDF

Author: Natasha Malpani

Publisher: Universal-Publishers

Published: 2011-08-19

Total Pages: 53

ISBN-13: 1612337678

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Farmer adoption of sustainable agricultural practices is key to sustainable development, as changes at the farm level are essential to ensuring food security and environmental protection. Reasons for converting to sustainable farming have been studied in a number of instances. However, the underlying rationale that motivates this behaviour is not always made clear. The village of Bajwada in Madhya Pradesh is used as a case to investigate farmer perceptions and attitudes regarding sustainable farming. An innovator has been promoting what seems to be a highly productive and lauded method of sustainable farming called Natu-eco farming for the past five years. Strikingly, this technique has had practically zero adoption in the village. This study aims to examine this paradox by exploring farmer narratives about sustainability, futures and development. Semi-structured interviews were conducted using 18 farmers in Bajwada. Participatory observation was also undertaken for ten days. The development discourse, the drive for modernity and urbanization were found to be important in shaping farmer s perspectives on Natu-eco farming and sustainable agriculture. An understanding of the dominance of certain discourses and narratives offers a new approach to understanding farmer adoption and non-adoption. The results of this study are meant to attract the attention of policymakers and practitioners who are involved in the planning and implementation of schemes and projects promoting sustainable agricultural innovation.

Disenchanting India

Disenchanting India PDF

Author: Johannes Quack

Publisher: OUP USA

Published: 2011-11-22

Total Pages: 381

ISBN-13: 0199812608

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India is frequently represented as the quintessential land of religion. Johannes Quack challenges this representation through an examination of the contemporary Indian rationalist organizations: groups who affirm the values and attitudes of atheism, humanism, or free-thinking. Quack shows the rationalists' emphasis on maintaining links to atheism and materialism in ancient India and outlines their strong ties to the intellectual currents of modern European history. At the heart of Disenchanting India is an ethnographic study of the organization ''Andhashraddha Nirmulan Samiti'' (Organization for the Eradication of Superstition), based in the Indian State of Maharashtra. Quack gives a nuanced account of the Organization's specific "mode of unbelief." He describes the group's efforts to encourage a scientific temper and to combat beliefs and practices that it regards as superstitious. Quack also shows the role played by rationalism in the day-to-day lives of the Organization's members, as well as the Organization's controversial position within Indian society. Disenchanting India contributes crucial insight into the nature of rationalism in the intellectual life and cultural politics of India.

Unleashing India's Innovation

Unleashing India's Innovation PDF

Author: Mark Dutz

Publisher: World Bank Publications

Published: 2007-10-15

Total Pages: 224

ISBN-13: 9780821371985

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India's recent growth rate has been impressive, with real GDP rising by over 8 percent a yearsince 2004. The country is also becoming a top global innovator for high-tech products andservices. Still, India is underperforming relative to its innovation potential. Even a dynamicyoung population--more than half of whom are under 25 years of age--is constrained when skillstraining and higher education are insufficient. To sustain competitiveness, economic growth, andrising living standards over the long term, India needs to aggressively harness its innovation potential. The term innovation is broadly defined in this book to include both the creation andcommercialization of new knowledge and the diffusion and absorption of existing knowledge in newcontexts. A unique feature is the book's focus on inclusive innovation, that is, knowledge creationand absorption activities most relevant to the needs of the poor. Concrete recommendations aremade for increasing productivity and welfare through the disciplining role of competition, includingtraining and education, information infrastructure, and public and private finance as supportmechanisms for broad-based innovation. 'Unleashing India's Innovation: Toward Sustainable and Inclusive Growth' provides nationaland local policy makers, private sector enterprises, academic and research institutions, international organizations, and civil society with a better understanding of the power of innovation to fuel economic growth and poverty reduction.

Resource Management for Sustainable Agriculture

Resource Management for Sustainable Agriculture PDF

Author: Vikas Abrol

Publisher:

Published: 2012

Total Pages: 308

ISBN-13: 9789535153344

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In this book, papers pertaining to resource management for sustainable agricultural development are presented in four parts divided into ten chapters. Part I discusses the usage of water and waste management for sustainable agricultural development including aspects like irrigation management to prevent soil and ground water salinization, production of solid fuel from oil palm waste, sustainable ecomaterials and biorefinery from agroindustrial waste, nonpoint pollution from agriculture and livestock activities on surface water. Part II discusses sustainable management of dryland resources especially carbon sequestration under changing climate scenario. Part III deals with efficient nutrient management for sustainable crop productivity in different agro-climatic conditions, soil quality and productivity improvement under rainfed conditions. Part IV throws light upon effect of conservation tillage on soil properties and impact of agricultural traffic and tillage on soil properties.

Ideas that Have Worked

Ideas that Have Worked PDF

Author:

Publisher: Viking Penguin

Published: 2004-01-01

Total Pages: 294

ISBN-13: 9780670057924

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Based on a series of lectures organized by the department of administrative reforms and public grieves, this book is a collection of twenty fascinating stories of some of India's leadings personalities.

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