CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION 1.1 Background of the Study The development of new agricultural technologies, their wide spread diffusion and adoption has created a remarkable shift in agricultural practices leading to rapid agricultural productivity, the division of labor and specialization in agriculture which were absent in the hunter-gatherer cultures of early human history. Within the overriding objective of increasing aggregate agricultural output in the third world countries, a primary goal of agricultural development has been to improve the welfare of rural families through enhancing productivity of small farms and promoting equitable access to resources, markets and technical assistance (Food and Agriculture Organization, 1986).