Farmer-managed irrigation systems(FMIS) in the high altitude valleys of the Karakorum,Pakistan, continue to be managed effectively despite increased pressure on the social arrangements that sustain them. Colonial era ...Farmer-managed irrigation systems(FMIS) in the high altitude valleys of the Karakorum,Pakistan, continue to be managed effectively despite increased pressure on the social arrangements that sustain them. Colonial era records shows that over a century ago government agencies undertook irrigation support projects. In the past three decades,government agencies and the non-government agency Aga Khan Rural Support Programme(AKRSP), which channels foreign funds into the region, have actively engaged in the provision of irrigation support. This article seeks to explore whether such projects support or undermine farmer-managed irrigation systems and the complex institutional arrangements that underpin them. Field research using ethnographic and participatory methods was conducted in spring 2013 in the upper Shigar valley, Skardu district, GilgitBaltistan. The findings show that irrigation development is a political activity that involves village-based actors, religious leaders, local politicians,and government and non-government agencies.Government agencies operate in a largely top-down,engineering mode, their larger projects limited to villages suffering water scarcity. The local government provides small funds for renovation work of FMIS,though allocation of funds is highly politicized. Nongovernment agencies, for a variety of reasons including donor-funding cycles, apply a one-size-fitsall ‘participatory' model in an attempt to socially engineer rules and institutions. In communities divided by factionalism the use of such external models that stress formation of committees are unlikely to yield positive results, and could instead contribute to undermining the very systems they seek to support. This research argues that irrigation interventions should take care to build upon the rich and complex social arrangements that have sustained FMIS through the centuries.展开更多
Final year project is an important training and assessment component incorporated in many courses of academic institution.The ability to translate ideas,research,and creativity into actual products,services,or busines...Final year project is an important training and assessment component incorporated in many courses of academic institution.The ability to translate ideas,research,and creativity into actual products,services,or businesses shows how successful and impactful people or institutions can be in the wider economy.However,in most of the cases,the outcomes of the final year project usually remain as academic discussion without maximizing their potential to be converted into a commercialized product or services.In this review,theory and applications are discussed to understand how entrepreneurial skills and networking abilities,components of individuals’human capital can impact the commercialisation of final year projects.Furthermore,determinants affecting commercialization of final year projects will also be explored namely:entrepreneurial skills,networking ability,access to resources,institutional support as well as creativity and innovation.展开更多
Institutional support is an essential antecedent for lecturer＇s preparedness for e-learning. The purpose of this study was to determine the influence of institutional support through appropriate training programs and...Institutional support is an essential antecedent for lecturer＇s preparedness for e-learning. The purpose of this study was to determine the influence of institutional support through appropriate training programs and budgetary allocation on lecturers＇ preparedness for e-learning at the University of Nairobi. A cross-sectional survey design was applied to source data from 212 lecturers and 96 administrative staff. Both quantitative and qualitative techniques were applied to process, analyze, and interpret the data. Quantitative analysis yielded descriptive statistics as well as cross tabulations with Chi-square （x^2） statistic. The study found lack of significant relationship between lecturer＇s preparedness for e-learning and knowledge of the existence of an Information and Communication Technology （ICT） training program. The existing training program was still underdeveloped in terms of funding and strategies. Lecturers＇ preparedness for e-learning was also not significantly associated with perceived effectiveness of the existing training program; but was significantly related to training in software tools, as well as the source of funding for training. Although a team of ICT experts has been mandated to help academic staff prepare for e-learning, the team＇s functionality was constrained by under-funding and multiple roles. Lecturer＇s preparedness for e-learning also significantly associated with perceived adequacy of budgetary allocation for ICT program at the departmental level. Under-funding was a key factor constraining access to computers at the workplace, reliable internet connectivity and timely technical support, all of which significantly associated with lecturers＇ preparedness for e-learning. Universities in resource-poor settings should consider creating necessary partnerships to create avenues for information and resource sharing, revamp existing training programs with fmancial and human resources, create linkages with funding institutions, as well as improve budgetary allocation to ensure universal access to functional computers at the workplace, reliable internet connectivity and timely technical support.展开更多
The current growing demand for Conservation Agriculture(CA)at the national level in the countries of the Asia-Pacific region presents an opportunity to promote its widespread adoption and up-scaling through national p...The current growing demand for Conservation Agriculture(CA)at the national level in the countries of the Asia-Pacific region presents an opportunity to promote its widespread adoption and up-scaling through national policy and institutional support that appears necessary.Despite the obvious benefits of CA,it does not spread automatically unless the constraints that hinder adoption are understood and addressed in specific situations.These can include a combination of intellectual,social,financial,biophysical,technical,infrastructure constraints,or policy related support.Knowing what the bottlenecks are is important in developing strategies to overcome them.This paper presents:(a)some of the generic policy opportunities that exist for the adoption and uptake of CA;(b)a summary proceedings and outcome of the Regional Expert Consultation Workshop held in Beijing and sponsored by FAO Regional Office for Asia-Pacific which describes the status of CA in the Asia-Pacific region;(c)the challenges to CA adoption and uptake in the Asia-Pacific region;and(d)the conditions that need to be taken into account in designing and promoting policy and institutional support strategies for up-scaling CA.展开更多
基金funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), Germany
文摘Farmer-managed irrigation systems(FMIS) in the high altitude valleys of the Karakorum,Pakistan, continue to be managed effectively despite increased pressure on the social arrangements that sustain them. Colonial era records shows that over a century ago government agencies undertook irrigation support projects. In the past three decades,government agencies and the non-government agency Aga Khan Rural Support Programme(AKRSP), which channels foreign funds into the region, have actively engaged in the provision of irrigation support. This article seeks to explore whether such projects support or undermine farmer-managed irrigation systems and the complex institutional arrangements that underpin them. Field research using ethnographic and participatory methods was conducted in spring 2013 in the upper Shigar valley, Skardu district, GilgitBaltistan. The findings show that irrigation development is a political activity that involves village-based actors, religious leaders, local politicians,and government and non-government agencies.Government agencies operate in a largely top-down,engineering mode, their larger projects limited to villages suffering water scarcity. The local government provides small funds for renovation work of FMIS,though allocation of funds is highly politicized. Nongovernment agencies, for a variety of reasons including donor-funding cycles, apply a one-size-fitsall ‘participatory' model in an attempt to socially engineer rules and institutions. In communities divided by factionalism the use of such external models that stress formation of committees are unlikely to yield positive results, and could instead contribute to undermining the very systems they seek to support. This research argues that irrigation interventions should take care to build upon the rich and complex social arrangements that have sustained FMIS through the centuries.
文摘Final year project is an important training and assessment component incorporated in many courses of academic institution.The ability to translate ideas,research,and creativity into actual products,services,or businesses shows how successful and impactful people or institutions can be in the wider economy.However,in most of the cases,the outcomes of the final year project usually remain as academic discussion without maximizing their potential to be converted into a commercialized product or services.In this review,theory and applications are discussed to understand how entrepreneurial skills and networking abilities,components of individuals’human capital can impact the commercialisation of final year projects.Furthermore,determinants affecting commercialization of final year projects will also be explored namely:entrepreneurial skills,networking ability,access to resources,institutional support as well as creativity and innovation.
文摘Institutional support is an essential antecedent for lecturer＇s preparedness for e-learning. The purpose of this study was to determine the influence of institutional support through appropriate training programs and budgetary allocation on lecturers＇ preparedness for e-learning at the University of Nairobi. A cross-sectional survey design was applied to source data from 212 lecturers and 96 administrative staff. Both quantitative and qualitative techniques were applied to process, analyze, and interpret the data. Quantitative analysis yielded descriptive statistics as well as cross tabulations with Chi-square （x^2） statistic. The study found lack of significant relationship between lecturer＇s preparedness for e-learning and knowledge of the existence of an Information and Communication Technology （ICT） training program. The existing training program was still underdeveloped in terms of funding and strategies. Lecturers＇ preparedness for e-learning was also not significantly associated with perceived effectiveness of the existing training program; but was significantly related to training in software tools, as well as the source of funding for training. Although a team of ICT experts has been mandated to help academic staff prepare for e-learning, the team＇s functionality was constrained by under-funding and multiple roles. Lecturer＇s preparedness for e-learning also significantly associated with perceived adequacy of budgetary allocation for ICT program at the departmental level. Under-funding was a key factor constraining access to computers at the workplace, reliable internet connectivity and timely technical support, all of which significantly associated with lecturers＇ preparedness for e-learning. Universities in resource-poor settings should consider creating necessary partnerships to create avenues for information and resource sharing, revamp existing training programs with fmancial and human resources, create linkages with funding institutions, as well as improve budgetary allocation to ensure universal access to functional computers at the workplace, reliable internet connectivity and timely technical support.
基金the Program for Changjiang Scholars and Innovative Research Team in University of China(Grant No.IRT13039).
文摘The current growing demand for Conservation Agriculture(CA)at the national level in the countries of the Asia-Pacific region presents an opportunity to promote its widespread adoption and up-scaling through national policy and institutional support that appears necessary.Despite the obvious benefits of CA,it does not spread automatically unless the constraints that hinder adoption are understood and addressed in specific situations.These can include a combination of intellectual,social,financial,biophysical,technical,infrastructure constraints,or policy related support.Knowing what the bottlenecks are is important in developing strategies to overcome them.This paper presents:(a)some of the generic policy opportunities that exist for the adoption and uptake of CA;(b)a summary proceedings and outcome of the Regional Expert Consultation Workshop held in Beijing and sponsored by FAO Regional Office for Asia-Pacific which describes the status of CA in the Asia-Pacific region;(c)the challenges to CA adoption and uptake in the Asia-Pacific region;and(d)the conditions that need to be taken into account in designing and promoting policy and institutional support strategies for up-scaling CA.
