The theoretical and empirical basis for analyzing agricultural technology systems

The premise of the study is that improved technology is necessary to implement successful agricultural development programs aimed at increasing the food supply and raising the standard of living in rural areas, especially in developing countries. This study seeks to establish the theoretical and empirical basis of an analytical framework designed to describe, assess, and identify constraints in national agricultural technology systems. The analytical framework is important because its holistic nature represents an expanded concept of a technology system that includes public policy relating to agricultural technology, technology development, technology transfer, technology utilization, and the linkages that integrate the whole.; The study was implemented by examining a set of indicators associated with the framework selected by a panel of experts. An exhaustive review of the literature, based in part on five computer databases, was carried out focused on 14 indicators and their related measures. Case studies of Malawi, Mexico, Jamaica, and Taiwan, which were based on the analytical framework, provided empirical data.; It was found that measures associated with an indicator tended to overlap and not all measures functioned at the national level. Because the measures were examined outside an experimental or quasi-experimental framework, it was not possible to assess their empirical validity. In examining the literature, validity was assigned to a measure when it is widely used. However, common usage could be a result of ready access to data. Therefore, estimation of validity was based more on judgement of the accuracy and breadth of a measure than on formal assessment.; The more important recommendations included (a) the need to include all relevant measures when assessing an indicator, (b) that indicators and measures associated with each subsystem can be used independently to assess a single subsystem, (c) equity measures should be included in future studies, and (d) final decisions on the identification of constraints within a system should be reserved until a flow analysis of the technology system can be completed.