地域農業の展開と技術研究の役割

技術開発を中心に

抄録

A major determinant of rural agricultural development is the effectiveness of technology research. Through research, the productivity of exisisting resources is increased, new higher-productivity inputs and ways of producing food are generated, and new or improved institutional arrangements are designed. Examples of research outputs in natural sciences include higher-yielding plant varieties, better methods for controlling insects and diseases, mechanical technologies. On the other side, examples of research outputs in social sciences include econometric analysis of agricultural technology progress, economic analysis of mechanized farming structure, economic evaluation for dissemination of farm mechanization. Research creates the potential for increased agricultural production, reduced pressure on the natural resource base, encouraged rural society, and many other positive results. Especially, new technology innovations for hobby farming or part-time farming have a good chance of rural agricultural development. In near future, three technology innovations (environmental conservation technologies, modern biotechnologies, information technologies) are expected to accelerate the progress of rural agricultural productivities.