Back Z. Altaf1, T. Hussain2, G. Jilani2 and T. Javiad2
Pakistan Agricultural Research Council, Islamabad, Pakistan1 and
NFRC, University of Agriculture, Faisalaba, Pakistan2
Full Paper (PDF File: 73KB)
Abstract
It has been long since a viable alternative to the catastrophic green revolution
technologies has become available in the form of EM-Technology. Since the
introduction of EM-Technology in Pakistan in 1989, experimentation is going
on at research stations and farmers' fields. Further, a model was developed
to launch the EM-Technology throughout the country. As a pre-requisite
to this model a network of the agricultural scientists was developed. The
satisfactory reports needed to launch the EM-Technology on large scale
appeared in 1995 after extensive research. Under this network, along with
research, other activities like seminars and meetings were held at different
institutions to create general awareness among the scientists. Then according
to this model, field demonstrations on large scale were carried out, information
was given to the government who officially agreed to take up EM-Technology,
and a public awareness campaign was initiated through press-media and mass
contacts. The major steps in the dissemination of EM-Technology were taken
in the beginning of 1996. These include developing methodologies for the
use of EM inoculum under different agro-ecological and socio-economic conditions,
publishing and distribution of literature, contacts with NGOs and government
extension services, founding of Nature Farming Research & Development
Foundation (NFRDF), making large infrastructure for EM inoculum preparation,
and developing large scale EM supply and technology transfer system. Thus
the paradigm shift that Pakistan was looking for, has come about.