IMPACT OF RESEARCH STATIONS ON TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER IN THE CROP LIVESTOCK PRODUCTION SYSTEM

SUMMARY The present study was carried out to measure the impact of research stations, as an agency for technology transfer, on crop/livestock production system in surrounding areas. Four clusters of farmers were aggregated in two research stations which belong to APRI (Sakha, S1 representing the Delta and Seds, S2 representing Upper Egypt). Within each station two sub clusters were composed of 30 farmers each; one for farmers who never received any service from the station (G1), the second for beneficiaries of the station (G2). The data collection took place between June and September 2005 using semi-structured questionnaire. For measuring the impact of the research stations, two different approaches were adopted. The first measured satisfaction of farmers towards performance of station while the second compared performance indicators of the production system for G1 and G2. Data were analyzed using the linear model procedure of SAS (1999). Results obtained indicated indispensable role for research stations in the transfer of technology to small farmers under the crop/livestock production system. Beneficiaries (G2) adopted more innovative technologies and achieved higher gross margin. Sakha station (S1) exerted more clear impact on the adoption of technology and economical performance than did Seds station (S2).