ISABB Journal of
Food and Agricultural Sciences

OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY OF AFRICAN BIOTECHNOLOGISTS AND BIOSCIENTISTS
  • Abbreviation: ISABB. J. Food and Agric. Sci.
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 1937-3244
  • DOI: 10.5897/ISABB-JFAS
  • Start Year: 2011
  • Published Articles: 38

Review

Application of science and technology in rural areas (ASTRA): An Ethiopian context

P. N. Ananth
  • P. N. Ananth
  • Ambo University, Ambo, Ethiopia.
  • Google Scholar
M. Karthikeyan*
  • M. Karthikeyan*
  • Department of Cooperatives, Institute of Cooperatives & Development Studies, Ambo University, P.B.No.19, Ambo, Ethiopia.
  • Google Scholar


  •  Received: 28 December 2011
  •  Accepted: 05 November 2013
  •  Published: 30 June 2014

Abstract

Developing countries face the challenge of improving living standards of rural people for their sustainable livelihoods. Majority of developing nations are agrarian economies characterized by low productivity operating on smallholdings with inadequate and poor infrastructure. There are several interventions for development and one such potential instrument is the “application of science and technology in rural areas (ASTRA)” which intends to transform rural areas towards development for sustainable and profitable livelihood. It is evident that science and technology has to be adopted to increase efficiency in production, productivity and marketing phases of rural sector. What obstructs science and technology to transform rural areas? The authors of the paper have analyzed taking Ethiopian context to derive the status and other relevant issues on ASTRA in Ethiopia. Ethiopia is one of the poorest countries in the world struggling to transform its rural areas. The country has a well-articulated science and technology policy however; much progress has not been witnessed due to the slow social and economic development process. In generic sense the paper also focuses on the different aspects of the application of science and technology in rural areas. A base document for development workers on ASTRA was the felt need for this publication. This paper will be a pedestal for professionals working on teaching, research and extension on different aspects of ASTRA.

 

Key words: Application of science and technology in rural areas (ASTRA), economic development, Ethiopia.