![image.png](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmRvR1DnEpk48t4YWp71BDaXncwR5nEizDCB43dYktfqso/image.png) asparagus, vegetables, asparagus time credit: [Piqsels](https://www.piqsels.com/en/public-domain-photo-isggs), license: [CC](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/publicdomain/) *** Agricultural technology encompasses agricultural technology devices, agricultural technology knowledge, and agricultural technology practices, Agricultural Technology can be defined as the science and technology used in Agricultural production to increase the agricultural productivity of a land. Agricultural Technology has progressed from Agricultural Technology Devices such as Agricultural Technology Knowledge including Agricultural Technology Practices that help agricultural businesses work more efficiently. Agricultural technology practice is what a farmer needs to do to get productivity in their farm or ranch. These practices will vary depending on region, field or livestock but they include; plowing fields by hand with a plow pulled by either horses or tractors, planting seeds with hand shovels and dropping them into holes dug by hand or then using different kinds of agricultural seeders are all agricultural practices. ![image.png](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmTPX2GX8vT7tKSPeidzEy99YJVp5zVumjUJUSUvHTQXBP/image.png) Undertaking the survey with farmers credit: [Flickr](https://www.flickr.com/photos/cgiarclimate/26524121224), license: [CC 2.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/) *** A continuous process of invention is demonstrated to occur when natural selection and human intentional selection and experimentation are used in conjunction with one another. Farmers and scientists working in both formal and informal research and development systems are forced on a "innovative treadmill," which means they are constantly coming up with new ideas. In this article, the advantages and disadvantages of informal research and development are discussed in detail. Formal research and development systems are characterized by a number of positive and negative characteristics. As a result of this discussion, certain key policy concerns that are special to agricultural research resources have been identified and discussed. They are- * Functions * Techniques * Applications ![image.png](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmY8SeJwDeGHM6tUqtbyJXr1fWRDAkHSQVkSZWj83d9MWB/image.png) CGIAR breeding programs credit: [Excellenceinbreeding](https://excellenceinbreeding.org/blog?page=1), license: [CC 2.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/) Technology is the creation and application of knowledge through techniques. The techniques are: The benefits of technology are that it can increase crop yields or other produce, reduce the cost of producing, and increase productivity. Disadvantages include food loss due to spoilage or poor transportation, lack of new products and discoveries, low income for small farmers, lack of self-sufficiency in non-subsistence areas where few people have access to agriculture such as parts of Africa. Technology has improved the quality, quantity and variety of foods available to us through crops and livestock production systems. Also technology has been used to process food into items that can be stored for long periods such as canned fruits or vegetables. The technology used in agricultural production varies depending on the type of product created, the time and place of creation, and local resources. Examples of these differences include ancient Egyptian irrigation systems and Roman aqueducts contrasted with modern drip irrigation systems and chemical fertilizers. In agricultural science, an agricultural tool is a (small) machine for practical use in an agriculture, farming or garden; even a simple hoe is a tool. ![image.png](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmStpvpjVMd6RL87jucVWWUhijeYRAxv6xX5S3Njy3mEoX/image.png) Agriculture Winery Grapevines Wine credit: [Pixabay](https://pixabay.com/photos/agriculture-winery-grapevines-772794/), license: [CC 0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/publicdomain/) Agricultural research depends on scientific methods including experimental design, quantification, prediction, modeling and experimentation to establish empirical relationships between factors (both biological [plant and animal] or non-living [e.g. soil, climate]) and processes. Several general models have been proposed to explain the relationships between various agricultural variables and production performance in agriculture. These models include: A combination of several of these models can also be used to explain relationships between other factors and performance, such as "perception", and how it affects agricultural production. (see perception–action model). ![image.png](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmUUsBK9CEzuCiMeJnN1wF7kFq9bg27jKwqMsiBB2sHVdD/image.png) American, Pakistani Scientists Increase Pakistan’s Wheat Harvest credit: [Flickr](https://www.flickr.com/photos/usembpak/8567327951), license: [CC 2.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/2.0/) These models have been accepted by many mainstream economists who use empirical analysis of farm level data for their research. However, some prominent economists such as Friedrich Hayek, Milton Friedman and Knightian economists believe that most of these models are too general to be useful in predicting individual fields or farms. #### References: * https://www.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/irrigation/ * https://www.jstor.org/stable/40647993 * https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/china-quarterly/article/abs/developments-in-agricultural-technology/269F95A73DB4AFE8D5DE286101CF5479