Implementing Technological Change in Agriculture

In 1978-79 the authors interviewed 5 leading Southeast Queensland farmers to identify the most factors involved in the continuing viability of their enterprises. The farmers were selected on the advice of local officers of the Department of Primary Industries as being very successful businessmen. The conversations covered finance (establishment and operating), labour, managerial initiatives and control, marketing systems and technology. Of all these factors technology emerged as being the most worrying, particularly the choice and implementation of appropriate technology. Every grower felt the need for better ways of developing, implementing and evaluating schemes incorporating new technology. Following these discussions the authors set about establishing a framework for the introduction and evaluation of new schemes, based on case studies including farm packing sheds, market terminals and a flower handling and distribution facility. This paper describes a perspective of agricultural enterprises which provides a basis for planning. The implementation of technology is then discussed in terms of some systems thinking. The limitations of 'hard' systems in matters of value judgements is recognised and the application of 'soft' systems thinking is reviewed. The paper concludes with a discussion of the place of both hard and soft systems thinking in implementing technological change in agricultural enterprises.