The perils of technology transfer : the Australian wheat/medic System in the Near East/North Africa region

Abstract

Yields and production of rainfed areas in the Near East and North Africa are stagnating. The Australian wheat-medic system has been tried out in several countries of the region, Increases in soil fertility and yields were expected as well as better crop-livestock integration. Difficulties were more serious than foreseen. The farmer of the region differs from his Australian counterpart by the much smaller size of his farm and by his preference for keeping his land-use options open to match climatic variability.

Keywords

• Wheat
• Medicago
• Near East
• North Africa
• Australia
• Farming Systems
• Livestock