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Simple Summary: Small-scale egg farmers in China face challenges related to a shortage of protein feed and environmental pollution caused by excessive nitrogen in manure. To address these problems, a sustainable feeding solution known as low-protein diets (LPDs) has been proposed. However, many farmers are unaware of this option, and some believe that more protein in feed is always better for egg production. This study aimed to understand farmers' awareness and attitudes toward LPDs and to evaluate its environmental and economic benefits. By surveying farmers in Quzhou County, the study found that most had never heard of LPDs, and that those who did typically did not use it. The study also used methods such as life-cycle assessment and cost analysis to show that adopting LPDs can reduce nitrogen pollution and lower feed costs. The findings suggest that more education and support are needed to encourage the use of LPDs, which could lead to more sustainable farming practices and better environmental outcomes. This research provides important insights into how science can help improve agricultural practices and support environmental protection. China, the world's largest egg producer, faces challenges of protein feed shortages and nitrogen pollution from manure. Low-protein diets (LPDs) offer potential solutions, but their adoption by small-scale farmers is uncertain. This study used surveys, meta-analysis, life-cycle assessment, and life-cost analysis to address these gaps. A field survey in Quzhou County (a typical representative of small- and medium-scale farmers in China's egg farming industry) found that 84% of egg farmers were unfamiliar with LPDs and believed higher protein levels were better. On average, pre-laying and late-laying diets exceeded national LPD recommendations by 0.3% and 0.5% crude protein (CP), respectively. The main barriers to LPD adoption were perceived low quality, lack of veterinary recommendations, and limited technical support. A meta-analysis of 30 studies (published before July 2024) showed that reducing CP by less than 1% did not compromise productivity. Local LPD demonstrations and training improved farmer confidence. Results indicated a 10% reduction in the nitrogen footprint and a 115% increase in earnings for LPD-demonstration farmers. The study suggests a coupled pathway integrating research and technology diffusion, highlighting the need for collaboration among scientists, feed companies, and technical experts to overcome misconceptions and promote LPD adoption. This integrated framework offers valuable insights for sustainable agricultural development in China and other resource-limited countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Developing nations like Bangladesh are particularly vulnerable to poultry diseases, notably Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza. Adopting biosecurity approaches that assist farms in disease control and prevention can decrease the industry-wide dissemination of infectious diseases. In light of these factors, this study was carried out to investigate the implementation of biosecurity practices on layer farms in Bangladesh. Using a stratified random sample method, a total of 315 layer farms from fourteen upazilas (sub-districts) in seven districts were surveyed using a semi-structured interview schedule. The study explored layer farmers' experiences with biosecurity procedures adopted on farms that included equipment, employees, and visitors. The study found that the overall biosecurity score was 72.5 out of 100. It was concluded that internal biosecurity was better than external biosecurity. The study also revealed that layer farms have a larger proportion of partial adopters based on the adoption index. The application of the Tobit model identifies that education, farming experience, attitude towards risk, price of layer sheds, return from layer production, and access to biosecurity knowledge had a substantial influence on adopting biosecurity measures. The findings might be helpful for farmers and policymakers to ensure the required modifications to improve compliance with biosecurity protocols and could assist relevant authorities in implementing particular biosecurity initiatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The excessive use of pesticides has been identified as a main barrier to sustainable agriculture in the developing countries, that can lead to several negative consequences, posing a significant threat to the total environment. Therefore, the present study investigated the informedness of smallholder vegetable farmers on responsible use of pesticides, exploring how their knowledge, attitudes and protective practices (KAP) are associated with the safe use of pesticides. A questionnaire survey was conducted with 206 smallholder farmers in the central highlands of Sri Lanka to identify how KAP are associated with responsible use of pesticides. Secondly, two focus group discussion were conducted to gain insights into the farmers' awareness of the responsible use of pesticides. The analysis reveals an overall deficiency in informedness about responsible pesticide use, primarily stemming from moderate level of knowledge and perceptions related to protective practices. Furthermore, farmers tend to face constraints due to limited access to information on responsible use of pesticides and a heavy reliance on pesticides, believing pesticides to be a primary means of increasing crops. Results also indicate a significant association between knowledge, practice, and informedness, whereas attitudes did not significantly contribute to informedness. Significant disparities in informedness were identified among different demographic groups, with men and younger farmers exhibiting higher levels of awareness. Thus, we suggest that farmers' informedness can be improved by targeted efforts to enhance their knowledge and correct misconceptions on the use of pesticides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The study aims to analyze the interconnectedness of farmers' socioeconomic factors and their awareness of the One Health framework. Method: This study conducted a survey with 1,166 observations across Thailand, Lao, and Vietnam and employed binary logit regression for data analysis. Odds ratios were used for interpreting the results. Results: The results indicated that certain socioeconomic factors—particularly household income, age, gender roles within the household, and household size—significantly influenced farmers' awareness and engagement with One Health literacy. Awareness levels varied across the three countries: for example, the composition of adults in Thai farming households was correlated with awareness of environmental health and infectious diseases. In Lao PDR, gender was significantly associated with awareness of animal health, while in Vietnam, it was linked to awareness of animal disease transmission. Conclusion: These determinants contribute to the application of a more integrated One Health approach among farmers in these areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Small farmers in low-and-middle-income countries are disproportionately affected by uncertainties under which they have to make decisions. However, decision-making may not be purely rational as it could be influenced by affective or emotional states. Compared to integral mood, there are few studies investigating whether incidental mood influences farmers' monetary decisions under uncertainty. This paper applies the Cumulative prospect theory (CPT) model to determine farmers' attitudes under uncertainty and examines the association with farmers mood, measured by direct elicitation during an experimental session. Participants (farmers) were mostly uncertainty averse in the gain domain. In contrast, farmers were uncertainty-seeking for losses. A one-way ANOVA was conducted to examine the differences between groups in sad, neutral and happy mood states, followed by posthoc tests to determine which groups differed from each other. The results revealed statistically significant differences in uncertainty aversion, loss aversion, and the parameters representing how probabilities are perceived and weighted, i.e., sad, neutral and happy in the gain domain. However, there was an absence of a relationship between incidental mood and several CPT parameters in the loss domain. The paper highlights how understanding the association between mood and attitudes can be harnessed for a better quality of decision-making in various contexts. This finding has important implications for agricultural contexts where farmers often face uncertain outcomes and must make choices that involve potential gains and losses. Since the transfer of incidental moods to decision making is usually done unconsciously, it is crucial to eliminate or reduce the impact of negative moods on decision-making, especially where the outcome is likely to be suboptimal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sheep breeding is one of the most important economic activities in Ahar City, Iran. However, due to traditional production techniques, livestock farmers face the problem of low productivity. To address this issue, traditional breeds can be replaced with improved and high-yielding ones; in the first stage, this requires the acceptance of these new sheep breeds by the region's ranchers. This research aimed to evaluate the attitudes of the livestock breeders of Ahar City towards the improved breeds of sheep and the influential factors. We collected data through in-person interviews using a simple random sampling method, surveying 100 sheep breeders in Ahar. The breeders were categorized into three groups based on their attitudes towards improved breeds: negative, indifferent, and positive. Next, we employed data mining-based methods, including multilayer perceptron neural networks, random forest, and random tree algorithms. These helped identify essential variables affecting ranchers' attitudes. The results showed that several factors contribute to the ranchers' philosophy, with the number of sheep sold in the past year and the total sheep ownership being the most significant ones. Comparing statistical evaluation criteria, we found that the random tree algorithm outperformed other methods in predicting and classifying livestock farmers, achieving a prediction accuracy rate of 86% for a sample of 100 farmers. Based on our findings, promoting training courses and raising awareness about the benefits of breeding new sheep breeds, along with providing facilities and credits based on economic conditions, can foster a positive attitude among herders. Increasing the number of sheep owned and improving marketing strategies can further enhance this positive outlook. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to analyse the impact of government policy on the development of organic agriculture in Azerbaijan and to assess the effectiveness of support programmes for organic farmers. The methodology included an analysis of legislative documents, government support programmes for farmers, and reports of state and international organizations. The study found that organic agriculture in Azerbaijan is actively supported through legislative initiatives, such as the Law of the Republic of Azerbaijan No. 650-IIIQ "On Ecologically Clean Agriculture", adopted in 2008, and government support programmes. The law prohibits the use of genetically probmodified organisms and chemicals, and sets standards for the certification of organic products. As of 2020, the area of certified organic land was 40,779 hectares, indicating significant potential for the sector. The Azerbaijan 2020: Looking to the Future programme provides financial support to farmers by providing subsidies for fertilizers, seeds and other inputs that contribute to the development of organic production. In 2021-2022, AZN 61.8 million was paid to support agriculture. The study also identified significant challenges, including high certification costs, limited access to modern technologies and low demand for organic products in the domestic market, where only 15% of organic goods are sold. According to forecasts, with increased government support, the area of organic land could reach 500,000 hectares by 2030, which would help increase exports and improve the competitiveness of organic products in international markets. Further development also requires improving infrastructure and creating new sales channels for organic products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) for monitoring poultry welfare on farms, addressing public and socio-ethical concerns. While AI offers automated monitoring capabilities, barriers to implementation include technological limitations, financial implications, and consumer perspectives. Collaboration among stakeholders is crucial for transferring AI technology from laboratories to the poultry industry for on-farm application, with the aim of improving animal welfare and addressing industry challenges. [Extracted from the article]

Land use and land cover change determined by numerous situation specific factors at different locations and times. In Ethiopia inappropriate land uses land cover changes become pressing challenges. Similarly, in the Gurage zone, there is a significant change from agriculture to Eucalyptus plantations. Therefore, this study investigates the direct and indirect drivers of the change, as well as factors affecting farmers' decisions regarding the conversion to provide important policy input. The data collected from 311 households through household surveys, key informant interviews (KIIs), and focused group discussions (FGDs). Descriptive statistics and a binary logit model used for analysis. The result indicated that the direct driver for this land conversion included the ability to generate high income from forest, soil infertility, and increasing demand for forest products. On the other hand, the allelopathic effect of neighboring plantations, lack of adequate agricultural technology and increased accessibility to forest products market were the top indirect drivers. The binary logit results show that farmers' decision to convert agricultural lands to forestland is significantly influenced by land size, forest income, education level, and years lived in the area. The findings suggest creating awareness about appropriate land use techniques to sustain the development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Severe irregularities and implementation challenges in Mvomero District, Tanzania, marred the implementation of the Fertiliser Indicative Pricing Approach (FIPA). However, the questions on the levels of farmers' knowledge, attitudes and practices, knowledge categories that farmers have the least knowledge of, reasons informing attitudes and dominant ineffective FIPA practices are yet to be adequately addressed. This study assessed farmers' awareness, attitudes, and practices; knowledge categories that farmers have the least knowledge; reasons for informing attitudes; and dominant ineffective FIPA practices. Interview schedules and in-depth interviews were conducted during data collection. Qualitative data was analysed using content analysis. Farmers' attitude was gauged using a five-point Likert scale, and farmers' knowledge, knowledge categories farmers had the least knowledge, reasons informing attitudes and dominant ineffective FIPA practices were described using descriptive statistics. Results revealed that most respondents had low levels of knowledge, unfavourable attitudes and ineffective practices towards FIPA. Also, knowledge categories that farmers had the least knowledge of comprised fertiliser indicative prices, FIPA rules and regulations, and key FIPA actors. Results further indicate that high fertiliser prices, weak FIPA monitoring and low-quality fertiliser were the reasons for unfavourable attitudes. In addition, non-adherence to indicative prices, rules and regulations, and the presence of lowquality fertiliser were the dominant ineffective practices of FIPA. The study generally indicates that farmers' low awareness concerning FIPA is a major threat to FIPA implementation. The findings imply that a lack of farmers' awareness of FIPA contributes to irregularities and underperformance manifested in individualistic opportunistic behaviours. Rogue actors abuse farmers' ignorance of program key result areas by maximising their utility at the expense of the majority of farmers. Concerted efforts should be directed at training and awareness building, effective monitoring and contract enforcement on indicative price and quality standards. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines farmers' perceptions of drone technology in agriculture, highlighting its growing importance in modern farming. Despite the potential benefits of drones, there remains a research gap in understanding how factors like expectations, product quality, and perceived value influence adoption. This research seeks to fill that gap through a survey of 410 farmers in Thailand who have prior drone usage experience. The methodology employed a quantitative approach using structured questionnaires, with data analyzed through Structural Equation Modeling (SEM). The results indicate that expectations, mediated by perceived product quality and value, significantly influence farmers' attitudes toward drone technology. Product quality—particularly in terms of precision, durability, and ease of use—emerged as a key factor in shaping trust and adoption. Economic, social, and personal perceptions were also found to drive perceived value. The study concludes that aligning drone features with farmer expectations can increase perceived value, facilitating wider adoption. Policymakers and service providers are encouraged to focus on enhancing product functionality and offering targeted educational programs to build confidence among farmers. This research contributes to a deeper understanding of the socioeconomic factors influencing agricultural innovation and offers practical recommendations for promoting sustainable technological adoption in the sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The scarcity of water resources in South Africa remains a considerable challenge for water users. This study evaluated the impact of climate variability on the adaptive water-use behaviour of sugarcane producers by identifying the factors influencing their adaptation decisions. A survey, the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB), and structural equation modelling (SEM) were used to achieve this objective. The study involved 54 sugarcane producers from the Impala Irrigation Scheme, selected through random sampling. Socio-economic profiles revealed a largely male, older demographic with varied education levels and farm characteristics. Results indicated that attitude (β = 0.349, p < 0.1) and subjective norms (β = 0.281, p < 0.05) significantly influenced farmers' intentions to adapt, while perceived behavioural control had no significant effect (β = 0.051, p > 0.1). These findings suggest that improving farmers' attitudes and strengthening social support systems can enhance their intentions to adopt adaptive strategies. However, the model's explanatory power (R² = 0.276) suggests that other unexamined factors may also influence farmers' adaptive intentions, highlighting the need for further research. Overall, our findings suggest that interventions targeting attitudes, social support, and resource access can improve adaptive behaviours. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding interactions and a balance between iron (Fe) and manganese (Mn) as fertilizers is crucial for optimizing tuberose growth. Here, a field experiment considered the effects of various Fe and Mn concentrations on quantitative features, qualitative traits, microelement absorption, and microelement distribution in tuberose plants. The treatments included Fe concentrations of 0, 15, 30, and 45 kg ha-1 along with Mn concentrations of 0, 10, and 20 kg ha-1 from FeSO4 and MnSO4 sources, respectively. According to the results, high Fe concentrations (30 and 45 kg ha-1) negatively affected the uptake of Mn, Zn, and Cu in aerial parts and bulbs. However, an apt combination of Mn and Fe significantly improved several traits. In the first year, Fe (30 kg ha-1) and Mn (20 kg ha-1) significantly increased spike length (27.19%), floret length (46.22%), bulb count (43.60%), vase life (96.08%), and the percentage of opened florets (26.65%). In the second year, Fe (30 kg ha-1) and Mn (20 kg ha-1) resulted in even more improvements, including flower stalk count (78.48%), floret length (47.44%), vase life (32.02%), percentage of opened florets (41.31%), fresh (41.73%) and dry (54.40%) weights of the aerial parts, and bulb fresh (48.98%) and dry (61.54%) weights. The findings highlighted that the combined application of FeSO4 (30 kg ha-1) and MnSO4 (20 kg ha-1) had significantly positive effects on tuberose growth and relevant parameters. Tuberose development improved significantly in response to this combination treatment over the two years, which provides a valuable guideline for farmers and researchers when aiming to enhance tuberose yield. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Foot and mouth disease (FMD), which affects cattle and other animals with cloven hooves, is one of the greatest economic threats to agriculture and other businesses. This study sought to understand farmers' understanding and attitude toward FMD. The Bone district, South Sulawesi province was chosen as the site where the research is being done. Purposively, a sample of 41 breeders was selected. Data were collected using observation, questionnaire-assisted interviews, and focus group discussions (FGD). Both open-ended and closed-ended questions were asked. Identity, clinical symptom knowledge, knowledge of the FMD vaccination program, the impact to cattle market price and sources of information on the FMD vaccination program are the topics covered in the questions. The data was handled using the SPSS software version 23, the data was quantitatively and descriptively evaluated using averages, frequencies and percentages. The study's findings indicated that farmers' awareness of the clinical symptoms of FMD was in the high category (78.05%), farmers also had good knowledge of the usage of vaccination (95.12%). All farmers desired to immunize their cattle against FMD (100.00%). Cattle prices have fallen due to the FMD outbreak (92.68%), this shows that the percentage of farmers' knowledge of the impact of FMD on the price of cattle was good, because the price of cattle decreased. Buying and selling livestock can spread the FMD virus (80.49%), this shows that the percentage of farmers' knowledge of the impact of FMD on the spread of FMD virus was good. The local regional government and its employees, including extension agents, veterinarians, and technical officers, were the main sources of information regarding the vaccination program. It is advised that beef breeders receive assistance to prevent additional disease outbreaks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Within the context of agricultural green development, the construction of high-standard farmland plays a crucial role in enhancing agricultural productivity, ensuring food security, and achieving sustainable development. However, as the direct participants, farmers' willingness and enthusiasm to engage in high-standard farmland construction largely determines the success of these initiatives. Therefore, based on data from 326 samples in Qinghai Province, this study employs a structural equation model to analyze the impact of farmers' cognition and the current condition of farmland on the willingness to participate in high-standard farmland construction and verify the mediating effect of information trust. The results indicate the following: (1) the impact pathways of farmers' cognition on participation willingness vary across different dimensions, with subjective norms and behavioral attitudes having a direct positive influence, while perceived behavioral control shows no direct effect; (2) the current condition of farmland has a direct and significant negative effect on participation willingness; (3) information trust exhibits varying mediating effects across different pathways, showing a partial mediating effect on behavioral attitudes and subjective norms, a full mediating effect on perceived behavioral control, and a suppressive effect on farmland condition. This study, grounded in the context of China's green agricultural development goals, provides new insights into the relationship between government policy implementation and farmers' willingness to participate. It establishes a scientific foundation for policymakers to formulate strategic green development policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Farmers' livelihoods are critical for global sustainable development and the conservation and transmission of rural heritage. However, neglecting farmers' livelihoods increases the risks to living heritage conservation. Therefore, it is essential to explore the impact of livelihood capital on farmers' landscape services cognition and their behavioral intentions. Based on the Sustainable Livelihoods Approach, this study examines the rural areas of Mulanbei irrigation district, which was recognized as a World Heritage Irrigation Structure in 2014, and uses a structural equation model to investigate the relationships between farmers' livelihood capital, landscape services cognition and behavioral intentions. The study's key findings include the following: (1) The levels of human capital (0.541), social capital (0.671), and cultural capital (0.645) are relatively high, while the levels of natural, physical, and financial capital are comparatively low. (2) There are significant differences in landscape service cognition and behavioral intentions among farmers of different livelihood strategies, with diversified livelihood farmers demonstrating the highest levels of both cognition and intentions, while subsidy-dependent farmers show the lowest levels. (3) Natural, cultural and financial capital play a crucial role in influencing farmers' landscape services cognition and their behavioral intentions. Landscape service cognition mediates the relationship between livelihood capital and behavioral intentions. (4) To increase farmers' willingness to protect and promote rural heritage, efforts should focus on enhancing natural, physical, and financial capital while fostering cultural capital to promote advocacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Infections with Fasciola hepatica and Ostertagia ostertagi impinge upon dairy cow health and welfare and represent a major economic factor in livestock industry. Control measures largely rely on the use of anthelminthic drugs. However, reports of anthelmintic resistance necessitate sustainable approaches. Farmer characteristics such as attitude and personality are crucial for the implementation of control strategies and on-farm practices. Methods: In the present study, the HEXACO (Honesty-Humility, Emotionality, eXtraversion, Agreeableness, Conscientiousness, Openness to experience) model of personality structure, which conceptualizes human personality, was used to evaluate the relationship of farmer aspects with on-farm bulk tank milk seropositivity for F. hepatica and O. ostertagi. Moreover, information on farm structure, housing, management, and farmers' attitude was collected in a face-to-face interview. Farm-level seropositivity for F. hepatica and O. ostertagi was predicted via elastic net regression. Results: Out of 193 farms housing 8,774 cows in the German Federal State of Bavaria, 47 farms (24.4%) were seropositive for F. hepatica, 77 farms (39.9%) for O. ostertagi, and 42 farms (21.8%) for both endoparasites. The model for F. hepatica seropositivity selected the covariates pasture access, O. ostertagi seropositivity, higher farmer conscientiousness, and organic farming as relevant predictors. Seropositivity for O. ostertagi was predicted by F. hepatica seropositivity, pasture access, organic farming, and farmers being neutral regarding their satisfaction with animal health on their farm. Higher values for the HEXACO factors extraversion and emotionality were inversely associated with O. ostertagi seropositivity. Discussion: The present work emphasizes the importance of farmer traits in regard to animal health and parasite occurrence. For the effective acceptance and implementation of sustainable control strategies for livestock helminth infections, it is crucial to consider these aspects to holistically address the challenges of managing parasitic diseases. Moreover, tailored communication strategies can be developed incorporating the understanding of individual stockman characteristics and subsequently ensuring encouragement of stakeholders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Weather-based index insurance is a financial instrument which allows smallholder farmers to protect themselves against climate shocks such as droughts and floods. In many cases, insurance indices are based on one or more earth observation datasets (e.g., rainfall, soil moisture, vegetative health) which are partly covering periods of more than 40 years. While remote sensing products and their associated data have improved over this time, understanding the historical climate variability and trends remains an essential piece in ensuring the development of indexes that best represent farmers' risks. From a practical perspective, shortening time series to limit the risk of understudied climate variability, such as the Atlantic Multidecadal Variability, sometimes seems to be a quick solution. However, shorter time series jeopardize the overall robustness of the index. Therefore, understanding the links between climate variability, index design, and implications for farmers is key. Weather-based index insurance products in Sahelian West Africa usually face a challenge in robustly quantify underlying climatic decadal variation in seasonal rainfall. Methods: This study analyzes the influence of decadal shifts in rainfall patterns in Sahelian West Africa, in particular Senegal, on index insurance calibration and design, concluding with practical recommendations for the next generation of drought risk finance instruments in the region. Results: Our findings indicate that decadal variability has not led to a clear decrease in payouts in recent years compared to earlier years, despite an overall increase in seasonal rainfall. Rather, we find that interannual variability has increased which may be a more critical factor for assessing farmers' agricultural risk than the increase in total rainfall. Discussion: Focusing on key moments of the cropping calendar in the design of an index shows that an increase in the total average rainfall per season does not result in fewer payouts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Manure utilization in China is below optimum due to the inconsistency between farmers' behavior and their intention to apply manure to their crops. With increasing constraints on the availability of chemical fertilizer and their impact on the environment, understanding how farmers' perceptions affect their intention and behavior toward manure application is an issue for the implementation of sustainable agricultural development. This study uses primary survey data from 653 farmers. A probit model was used to assess the influence of cognition on farmers' intentions, behavior, and the inconsistency between them in the use of manure application. Heterogeneity analysis was conducted to identify differences between farmers with different education levels and operation scales. The results showed that enhancing subjective norms, perceived behavioral control, and behavioral attitudes could increase their intention and behavior. Furthermore, improving the perceived behavioral control and behavioral attitudes of farmers would reduce the inconsistency between behavior and intention. In addition, some differences were identified in the role of farmers' cognition with different education levels and operation scales. In general, it is necessary to enhance farmers' comprehensive cognition of the value of manure through publicity and popularization of technology, reduce farmers' perceptions about difficulties in applying manure through new policies and subsidies, and stimulate farmers' enthusiasm to participate in the practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sugarcane is vital to Belize's economy, significantly contributing to its Gross Domestic Product and supporting a large portion of the population. It is necessary to address the declining soil health in this nation due to excessive chemical fertilizer use, and Belize aims to promote organic fertilizers, which enhance soil quality and reduce environmental impacts. The primary purpose of this study was to investigate the determinants of adoption intentions regarding organic fertilizers among Belizean sugarcane farmers using the Extended Theory of Reasoned Action. Data were collected from 207 farmers in the Orange Walk and Corozal districts using a non-probability sampling approach via a self-administered questionnaire measuring perceived health risks, environmental concerns, attitudes, subjective norms, and adoption intentions. The results revealed that both perceived health risks and environmental concerns influenced farmers' attitudes and subjective norms, which, in turn, affected their adoption intentions, as revealed through path analysis; socio-economic factors, years of farming experience, and ownership background partially affected adoption intentions regarding organic fertilizers, as determined via binary logistic regression analysis. The findings suggest that raising farmers' awareness of health risks and environmental crises, as well as enhancing farmers' knowledge and their positive attitudes towards the use of organic fertilizers, will contribute to the sustainable development of the sugarcane industry in Belize. Some interventions by policymakers are recommended to support the transition to the use of organic fertilizers in sugarcane farming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we address a gap in the literature concerning pollination management, the pollinator deficit, and conservation objectives. By employing a farm level survey of UK farmers, we examine farmers' attitudes, understanding and management of pollinators. Based on descriptive statistics and regression analysis, we found significant variation in interest and understanding of the impact of pollinators on commercial crops meaning that many respondents did not consider they had a pollinator deficit in terms of crop quality, quantity, or financial impacts. At the same time, many farmers are willing to adopt environmentally beneficial land-use measures if suitable advice and financial incentives are offered. However, there is little evidence of coordination of actions between farms to support wild pollinators. These findings indicate a potential disconnect between a farmer's understanding of the impact on agricultural output from a pollinator deficit and the agricultural benefits from the adoption of specific environmental measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Ticks and tick-borne diseases (TBDs) significantly affect the health and production of small ruminants, particularly among resource-poor and small-scale farmers in the Balochistan province of Pakistan. This study surveyed 153 farmers across seven districts to assess their knowledge, attitudes, and practices using a KAP survey. The results revealed a significantly low level of awareness among farmers about the impact of climate change and the economic effects of ticks on animal health. The key preventive measures, such as proper acaricide use and wearing protective clothing, were often neglected, increasing the risk of TBDs. The roles of the government, non-government organizations, veterinary doctors, and local communities are essential to implement effective awareness and education programs to address these gaps. Ticks and tick-borne diseases (TBDs) pose potential health threats to small-scale farmers of grazing animals in the upper highlands of Balochistan, Pakistan. This study was conducted based on a questionnaire survey involving 153 farmers of grazing animals in seven districts to access their knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding ticks and TBDs. Odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals, based on Fisher's test, were used to assess risk factors for determining preventive measures. The findings revealed a low level of knowledge among the participants. For instance, there was a lack of awareness of the effects of climate change and the economic impact of ticks on animal health. The essential precautions, such as the non-indiscriminate use of acaricides, wearing dark-colored clothing, and limiting children's interaction with grazing animals, were often overlooked. However, the farmers had a positive attitude towards tick control, but they mostly relied on the knowledge of local communities. The neglect of such measures places these farmers and their children at risk of contracting TBDs. This study also indicates minimal involvement from the government in educating farmers and controlling ticks. The role of stakeholders, including the government, non-governmental organizations, veterinary doctors, and local farmer communities, is crucial to address these issues and to implement effective training programs that address misconceptions about ticks and TBDs. Overall, this study highlights the importance of implementing awareness and education programs to address the misconceptions about ticks and TBDs among farmers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Drought, a prevalent consequence of climate change, significantly impacts mental health among farmers. Enhancing psychological resilience is crucial to mitigating these effects. This study aims to explore the concept and factors affecting the psychological resilience of farmers living in drought-affected regions in Iran. Method: This study utilized a conventional qualitative content analysis method. Twenty-six participants, divided into two groups of experts and farmers, were selected through purposive sampling. Data collection was conducted via in-depth semi-structured interviews. The study adhered to the Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research (COREQ) checklist and was carried out between June 2023 and February 2024. Results: The factors affecting the psychological resilience of farmers living in drought-affected regions were categorized into two main categories with nine subcategories. The first category, environmental factors, included economic factors, socio-cultural factors, drought adaptation methods, government policies, and infrastructural factors. The second category, intra-individual factors, comprised personal characteristics, health factors, psychological factors, and perception and knowledge. Conclusion: The study revealed that both environmental and intra-individual factors influence the psychological resilience of farmers during droughts. It is recommended to implement intervention strategies, such as providing training and education on drought adaptation methods and managing agricultural and healthcare expenses. Further research is needed to expand this concept to various disasters and occupational groups in future studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context and background In Ethiopia, farmers do not have individual property rights to the land they occupy and cultivate since the 1995 Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (FDRE) constitution clearly states that land belongs to the state and the peoples of Ethiopia. To address concerns about the insecure tenure of farmers that could result from the absence of enduring private ownership of land, to eliminate land disputes, to promote sustainable use of land resources, and to support long-term land-related investments, such as soil conservation measures, the Ethiopian government introduced a land registration and certification program in 1998. In addition, cities and towns are also rapidly expanding horizontally, encroaching on fertile agricultural land, which could reverse the land tenure security expected from the land certification program. Goal and Objectives: This study aims to examine the effect of Ethiopia's land certification program on the soil conservation practices of rural and peri-urban farming households in the Tigray region of Ethiopia. Methodology: The study employs descriptive statistics and a binary logistic regression model to empirically assess the effect of the Ethiopian land certification program on investment in soil conservation practices. Results: The study found that 54.59%, said they conserved their plots, while the remaining 45.41% had not engaged in soil conservation practices. Conversely, 60.11% of the certified peri-urban respondents stated they did not conserve their plots. The logit model's marginal effects indicated that the influence of the Ethiopian land certification program on the probability of soil conservation depended on the geographic location of the farmers. Specifically, rural program participants were more likely to engage in soil conservation practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context and background: Agriculture is an important sector of the Nigerian economy. Farmland provides the most important means of agricultural production and is a basic resource and requirement for human survival; and the most important economic resource most particularly for developing countries with largely rural population, where most people earn a living through agriculture. It is the livelihood of many people across the globe, such as agricultural and livestock producers, developers, and investors. This explains the intrinsic value and premium placed on farmland particularly the rural populace whose major occupation is farming. Goals and objectives: The study examined farmland values and productivity of crop arable farmers in Imo State of Nigeria. The study specifically examined the farmland values in the study area and its determinants, the productivity of the arable crop farmers and the determinants of productivity of the farmers. Methodology A multi-stage sampling technique was used in selecting 180 respondents for the study. Primary data, collected using structured questionnaire, were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistical tools. Results: The results showed that the mean productivities of the male and female farmers were 6.85 and 5.65 respectively. Also, 46.67% of the farmers cultivated between 1.1–2.0 hectares with average productivity of 6.05. The mean age of the respondents was 48 years. The result showed that respondents who attained secondary education were more productive and about 77.78% were married with an average productivity of 7.46. The mean household size was 6 persons per household and the most productive group were those who had a household size of between 7-9 persons with an average productivity of 6.99. On the average, the respondents have spent about 24 years on arable crop farming. Majority (77.22 percent) of the farmers had no contact with extension agents and had lower productivity than their counterpart who had contact with extension agents. Also, only 13.89 percent of the farmers were members of cooperative societies and these farmers had higher productivity. Only 11 percent of the respondents had access to credit and they had higher productivity. The land ownership status showed that majority (77.78 percent) of the respondents are owner occupiers an average productivity of 5.91 and respondents whose major occupation was farming were 71.67% with a productivity of 6.37. The average farmland value was N235, 555. The significant determinants of farmland value were farm size, productivity, returns and duration of tenure which were all positive while and purpose of use was the only negative significant variable. The mean productivity of the farmers was 6.25. The significant determinants of productivity were innovations, education, marital status, farm size, labour and credit which were all positively related to productivity. About 58.33% of the farmers were food insecure. Farmland value had a significant positive effect on productivity. The study recommends that policies that will reduce the value/price of land and grant farmers increased access to land and finance should be implemented to enhance farm investment and hence increase the farmers productivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In many developing countries assignment of agricultural responsibilities is based on social and cultural norms. In Africa and Kenya, women take on most of the roles that involve spending long hours and use of lots of energy. The research objectives were to examine the effect of restricted access and land control in tea farming on gender equity in Singorwet ward of Bomet County. A cross-sectional study design was used and a sample size of 532 tea farmers' respondents (comprising 431 male tea farmers and 101 female tea farmers), two directors, and 10 farm laborers were involved in this study. Purposive sampling was used to pick two director zones in the Singorwet ward and stratified random sampling to pick five tea-buying centers within Singorwet Zone and Mugango Zone. Questionnaires, interviews, and observation schedules were used for data collection. From the findings, all major decisions on tea farming rest with the men, as well as all gender equity indices and access to and control of financial services in tea farming. The overall gender parity ratio stood at 0.2 which was in favor of men. This was also evident in directorship where woman directors appeared under nomination and not election. This study recommends thorough community awareness programs on land rights within the Kenyan Constitution 2010. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The academic field has limited studies on implementing nature-based solutions (NbSs) in Chinese agriculture, especially regarding households' and farmers' attitudes toward the acceptance of agricultural NbS technologies. Based on this, this study aims to fill this knowledge gap by examining the factors behind farmers' agricultural practices of NbS adoption in Northeast China. Accordingly, this paper constructs an extended theoretical framework of planned behavior (TPB) and empirically tests it using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) on data from 298 farmers in Inner Mongolia. It was found that incorporating institutional trust (IT) into TPB improves the prediction of Chinese farmers' intention to de-farm behavior. Unlike previous studies, this study identified two indirect pathways influencing farmers' intention to adopt agricultural NbS technologies: from institutional trust through attitude to intention, and from institutional trust through perceived behavioral control to intention. The findings broaden the research perspective in this area, provide empirical evidence for the application of NbSs in agricultural practices in China and other developing countries, and demonstrate in practice that NbS has been promoted as an essential tool to maximize nature's ability to provide ecosystem services and create direct economic benefits for farmers through increased yields and reduced costs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to determine the farmers' behavioural intention (BI) to adopt Internet of things platforms (IoT-P) in the agriculture context by comparing two well-known theories: the united theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT), and the decomposed theory of planned behaviour (DTPB) with the integration of innovation resistance theory (IRT). Design/methodology/approach: Purposive sampling was used to get responses from 267 potential farmers to examine their IoT-P adoption intention in Pakistan. The PLS-SEM, PLS model evaluation criterion and PLS model selection criterion were considered to determine the significance of path co-efficient, explanatory power, predictive power and more parsimonious model. Findings: The findings demonstrate that DTPB is the best model with the extension of functional barriers (FBs) and psychological barriers (PBs). It has more predictive relevance and explanatory power. The results show that farmers' attitude (ATT), based on the evaluation of three attributes (i.e. perceived usefulness (PU), perceived ease of use (PEOU) and compatibility (COMP)), is the strong predictor of farmers' BI to adopt IoT-P. In addition, self-efficacy (SEF) and facilitating conditions (FC) peer influence (PI) and superiors' influence (SPI) are required for adoption of IoT-P devices. Finally, FB and PB significantly and negatively influence the farmers' BI to adopt IoT-P. Originality/value: This research is the first to consider the two technology adoption models with the integration of IRT for explaining farmers' BI in the context of agriculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Regional Pest Control program represents a strategic intervention aimed at optimizing pesticide use in crop production, thereby mitigating the environmental impact of agricultural non-point source pollution from pesticides and fostering the development of high-quality agriculture. This study examines the influence of farmers' perceived risks on the adoption of the Regional Pest Control program and evaluates its effect on pesticide application across a nationally representative dataset from Heilongjiang, Jiangsu, Anhui, Hubei, and Sichuan provinces. To account for unobserved heterogeneity, an endogenous switching regression model was employed. The findings reveal that farmers' perceived risks associated with the Regional Pest Control program significantly deter its adoption. Furthermore, the program has been effective not only in reducing the frequency of pesticide applications but also in increasing the usage of pesticides with lower acute toxicity levels. Notably, the impact of the Regional Pest Control program on pesticide application demonstrates considerable variation in accordance with farmers' risk attitudes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rice farming in developing countries contributes significantly to economic growth, yet it confronts diverse risks. Strengthening its resilience necessitates systematically identifying and prioritizing these risks, allowing for optimized resource allocation. The majority of published literature, however, focuses primarily on individual risks rather than comparing or ranking them according to their importance. This regime needs to be more helpful for managers and policy-makers in achieving effective management. As a result, frequent management failures are causing substantial economic losses and threatening food security in the most populous regions of the world. This study addresses these existing research gaps by systematically identifying and prioritizing these risks, aligning with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 2, viz., Zero Hunger, ultimately contributing to enhanced risk management and developing countries' rice farming sector resilience. Data was obtained from Pakistan through a purposefully designed questionnaire and sourced from a pool of 412 respondents representing a spectrum of stakeholders selected by the snowball technique. Multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) was employed to deconstruct and comprehend the data statistically. A key observation is the recognition of the main risks within rice farming, notably revolving around resource-related and external environmental risks. These risks emphasize the critical management of sub-risks of water management and pest and disease. This study also identified several risk sub-factors that are critical but have yet to be extensively discussed in the literature. Furthermore, survey respondents expressed low levels of risk perception and suggested strengthening the management system through policy reforms. To enhance the resilience of rice farming, stakeholders must engage in effective risk communication, capacity building, and policy implementation. Therefore, more comprehensive integrated risk management interventions are urgently needed to address rice farming risks for achieving SDG 2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Prolificacy has become an important breeding goal in sheep farming to increase farm profitability. With the adoption of improved genetics and management practices leading to increased lambing percentages, the proportion of triplet-born lambs has also increased on farms. However, mortality rates of triplet lambs are higher than for single- and twin-born lambs, and additional management inputs may be needed to support survival. The aim of this study was to identify factors that affect management practices that are considered important for triplet lamb survival by commercial farmers from the United Kingdom (UK), the Ireland (IRE), and New Zealand (NZ). Methods: An online survey was developed and disseminated to farmers in each country, focusing on farmer demographics, flock characteristics, management practices and production outcomes. A total of 448 farmers completed the survey, from the UK (n = 168), IRE (n = 218), and NZ (n = 62). Results: Respondents had larger flocks, higher scanning and lambing percentages than the country average for the UK and IRE. The mean percentage of triplet litters born within flocks was 9%, and lambs lost between scanning and lambing were 14% for UK, 15% for IRE, and 25% for NZ respondents (P = 0.063). Overall, 60% of all respondents reported to lamb indoors and 40% lambed outdoors, however NZ farmers almost exclusively lambed outdoors, whereas UK and IRE farmers lambed in both systems (P < 0.001). NZ farmers were more likely to rear all triplet lambs with the ewe, whereas UK and IRE farmers were more likely to remove a lamb to rear by another ewe or artificially (P < 0.001). Factors that influenced triplet lamb management practices of respondents in this study were respondent country of origin, flock size, age, and gender. In general, younger respondents (P < 0.001), and female respondents (P < 0.05), were more likely to engage in management activities that were considered to promote better triplet lamb survival, compared to older and male respondents respectively. These practices were associated with better lamb survival reported by respondents but were less likely to be carried out when flock size increased (P < 0.001). Discussion: The results of this survey highlight future priorities or communication strategies needed to improve triplet lamb survival. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this paper is to investigate whether the more pro-environmental attitudes of farmers influence the technical efficiency of agricultural sectors in EU regions (NUTS-2). To answer this, I employed data envelopment analysis (DEA) for efficiency analysis combined with the double bootstrapped truncated regression to investigate the relationship between environmental attitudes and technical efficiency. I found that this relationship is positive, i.e. pro--environmental attitudes were related to greater efficiency. An increase in the environmental attitude variable by one standard deviation led to an improvement in efficiency of 2.8-6 p.p. The higher share of farmers with formal training also proved to be a positive and significant determinant of efficiency. The share of arable land on which conventional tillage was used, and soil erosion proved to be significant but negative determinants of efficiency. Policymakers should present to farmers the environmental benefits of agricultural policy but should also highlight that greater environmental awareness translates into a more efficient operation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of People & Nature is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Today, chemical inputs play an important and crucial role in increasing the production rate of agricultural products and the income of farmers in Iran. However, in parallel with this beneficial effect, the widespread and indiscriminate use of such inputs is considered to be one of the most significant barriers to environmental sustainability in Iran. The main objective of this research is to model the acceptance of the use of biological inputs among farmers living in the southwest of Iran. The research study was conducted using the cross-sectional survey method. The statistical population included all farmers of Meidavoud district located in Baghmalek county, southwest of Iran (N = 1,400). A sample of 302 individuals was selected according to Morgan's sample size table and random sampling method. A questionnaire was used to collect the data, the validity of which was confirmed by a panel of experts, and its reliability was approved by various coefficients. The data were analyzed using SPSSV26, Smart PLS3, and AMOS software. The results of the structural equations showed that among the variables influencing farmers' behavior toward biological inputs, the attitude and willingness variables could predict 80% of the variation in farmers' behavior. In addition, attitude, ease of use, and usefulness were identified as effective factors in farmers' willingness to use biological inputs. According to the results of the path analysis, the variables perceived usefulness and ease of use could predict 67% of the changes in farmers' attitudes. To convince farmers and promote desirable attitudes that, in turn, influence their willingness to use biological inputs, some persuasive interventions seem to be necessary. Farmers need to be externally or internally motivated if they adopt environmentally friendly practices such as use of biological inputs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The rapid development of agriculture has brought about significant negative impacts on the environment, such as land pollution and ecological degradation. The root cause of environmental issues lies in human behavior, with improper farming practices by farmers being a major contributor to agricultural pollution. This paper explores the relationship between farmers' digital literacy and their pro-environmental behaviors, examining the mediating roles of subjective norms, behavioral attitudes, and perceived behavioral control. Additionally, it investigates the varying impacts of digital literacy on PEB among farmers with different levels of education, social capital, and household income. Methods: Based on data from the China Land Economic Survey (CLES), this study utilizes an ordered probit regression analysis method to analyze data from 923 sample respondents in 24 villages in Jiangsu Province. All analyses were conducted using Stata 15.0. Results: The research findings indicate that digital literacy enhances the likelihood of farmers engaging in PEB. This practice is achieved by reinforcing farmers' subjective norms, strengthening their behavioral attitudes, and enhancing their perceived behavioral control (as the core elements in the Theory of Planned Behavior theory), thereby promoting the implementation of PEB among farmers. Further analysis reveals that digital literacy plays a crucial role in enhancing PEB among farmers with higher levels of education, social capital, and household income. Discussion: The results of this study suggest that policymakers should enhance farmers' digital literacy and implement specific measures to improve farmers' subjective norms, behavioral attitudes, and perceived behavioral control. When the digital literacy and willingness for PEB are improved, farmers may engage in environmentally friendly practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The implementation of cultivated land quality protection is fundamental for ensuring the sustainable use of land resources, and it is the inevitable choice for maintaining the balance of agricultural ecology and promoting the long-term healthy development of agriculture. Methods: Based on survey data from 927 grain family farms in 13 major grain-producing areas in China, this paper empirically tests the effects of participation in cooperatives on the cultivated land quality protection behavior of grain family farms by using a logit model, an ordered probit model and the propensity score matching method. Results: The results show that participation in cooperatives has a significant positive effect on the implementation of cultivated land quality protection behavior and the degree of cultivated land quality protection of grain family farms. A series of robustness tests reveals that the conclusion of the study does not change. Heterogeneity analysis reveals that the probability of implementing cultivated land quality protection behavior significantly increased, and the effect was greater for farms with the younger farmers, farmers of lower education level, farmers of non-party members, larger scale of operation, longer establishment years, larger labor force, or provincial demonstration. Discussion: On this basis, we should vigorously support and guide grain family farms to participate in cooperatives, give full play to the advantages of cooperatives, effectively encourage farms to implement cultivated land quality protection behavior, and promote sustainable agricultural development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change and its negative impacts pose a threat to crop production in Kenya. However, climate change adaptation strategies have the potential to address the challenges faced by crop farmers. Despite this, there is limited literature to inform policy on the best interventions to help farmers deal with climate issues. This study assessed the determinants of climate change adaptation strategies and the intensity of their use among 723 crop farmers in Busia County, Kenya, selected through a multistage sampling technique. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire and analyzed using principal component analysis (PCA), multinomial logit regression, and the ordered probit model. The climate change adaptation strategies were categorized into crop diversity, cover crops, use of drought-resistant crops, and irrigation. According to the results, the factors contributing to the uptake of the different adaptation strategies were age, household size, access to credit, training access, off-farm income, group membership, frequency of receiving climate change information, and extension services. The major factors influencing the uptake of multiple climate change adaptation strategies were access to credit and off-farm income. The study shows that certain adaptation strategies, such as using cover crops, do not require credit and offer an important option in an environment with limited resources. On the other hand, adaptation measures such as irrigation demand financial resources for farmers to implement them, highlighting the importance of information and awareness in adopting adaptation strategies and the supportive role of financial resources, particularly for adopting multiple strategies. Therefore, this study suggests implementing policies and interventions that encompass knowledge-based strategies such as extension services, training, climate change education, group participation, and financial mechanisms like income generation activities and access to credit. These integrated strategies will enable farmers to adopt various climate change adaptation methods for sustainable crop production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A sustainable transdisciplinary research network was established through a research practice partnership (RPP) between an urban farm, faculty and staff from a Historically Black College (HBC), and researchers at a medium-sized private university. We investigate student-worker resilience at this urban farm situated on the HBC campus, drawing on literature that explores tensions between informal learning environments and formal spaces, equitable food systems and farming systems, as well as the resilience of farm work, and which is grounded critical food systems education theory. Utilizing a participatory design approach, we conducted semi-structured interviews and deductively analyzed the data. The research questions guiding this paper are: (1) What topics of discussion are most important to the student-workers and staff working on an urban farm, (2) How do student-workers and college staff members perceive and experience resilience on an urban farm? We found that what participants on an urban farm discuss, relating to their experiences, include (1) how participants were eager to engage with the local community, (2) how participants demonstrated resilience while working on the urban farm, (3) how power dynamics played a pivotal role informing the direction of the urban farm, (4) how participants consider community access to healthy foods an important mission for the farm, (5) how the college acted as a power wielding entity, perpetuating its privilege over the farmers and the farm operations. These findings have the potential to enable community organizing spaces to promote resilience for their volunteers and workers, and for urban farms top partner with their community to promote the mission of increasing access to healthy and affordable food options. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organizational commitment is key to sustainable development and the success of farmer cooperatives. The relationship and effectiveness of contractual and relational governance as important means of managing partnerships remain debatable, and their impact on organizational commitment is unclear, particularly in the context of farmer cooperatives. Based on transaction cost theory and social exchange theory, we investigate how contractual and relational governance affect members' organizational commitment (MOC) under different market uncertainties. Using survey data of 239 farmer cooperatives in China, we examined the conceptual model utilizing hierarchical regression and bootstrapping techniques. The results showed that both contractual and relational governance have significant positive impacts on members' continuance and affective commitment, but relational governance exerts more positive effects. Contractual governance can significantly promote relational governance; the two have complementary rather than substitute relationships. Moreover, relational governance mediates the link between contractual governance and members' continuance/affective commitment, and this mediating role strengthens as market uncertainty increases. This study expands the literature on MOC from the perspective of alliance governance, and has important implications for cooperative governance mechanisms and partnership management. Plain language summary: Farmer cooperatives, as collective action organizations primarily formed by farmers for mutual benefit, play increasingly important roles in connecting smallholder farmers to markets and increasing members' well-being, but they are currently facing a challenge of declining member commitment with increasing heterogeneity in members' attitudes and perceptions as they grow and expand. The challenge is especially severe in developing-country cooperatives because their relationships with members are more akin to buyer-supplier relationships than ownership relationships. Contractual and relational governance are important means of managing partnerships; however, their relationship and effectiveness are debatable due to their context-dependence, and their impact on organizational commitment is unclear. This study takes China's farmer cooperatives as our research context and investigates how contractual and relational governance affect members' organizational commitment (MOC) under different market uncertainties. Based on face-to-face survey data from 239 farmer cooperatives, hierarchical regression and the bootstrapping technique were used to test the hypothesis. The results show that both contractual and relational governance can significantly enhance members' continuance and affective commitment. Contractual governance complements rather than replaces relational governance; it can significantly promote relational governance, thus increasing members' continuance and affective commitment. This positive indirect effect is reinforced by the increased market uncertainty for farmer cooperatives. This study expands the MOC literature from the perspective of alliance governance and offers new insights into cooperative governance mechanisms and partnership management. Such knowledge would assist cooperatives in scientifically leveraging contractual and relational governance according to market uncertainty, thereby increasing MOC and cooperative sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spring rice (Oryza sativa L.) plays a crucial role as Nepal's primary staple cereal crop. It has a high potential as an alternative during low rice production in the main season, ensuring food self-sufficiency. A field study was conducted on spring rice at a farmer field school, Kailari Rural Municipality-09, Kailali district, Nepal to identify the best-performing and the most preferred genotypes by the farmers through the participatory approach. The experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design (RCBD) with twelve spring rice genotypes including a local check variety. Each treatment was replicated thrice. Statistically significant differences in yield and yield-attributing traits were observed among the genotypes under observation. Average plant height was recorded as the highest in Hardinath-3 (101.75 cm) followed by IR17L1387 (99.78 cm), Jhumka (98.74 cm), and IR17A3019 (96.55 cm) with the lowest in IR16A3838 (84.79 cm). Similarly, the total number of tillers and effective tillers were found to be the greatest in IR18A1451 and IR17A3019 respectively at harvest. The sterility percentage was lowest in IR17A3012 followed by IR17A3019 whereas highest in Hardinath-4. Similarly, the Hardinath-1 variety matured earlier than, IR16A3838 and IR17A3019. Hardinath-4 variety followed by Jhumka was a late maturing variety. Maximum grain yield was found in IR17A3012 (6.06 t ha-1) which was followed by IR17A3019 (5.97 t ha-1) and superior to the local check variety (Jhumka). Thus, the farmers' preference score was found to be maximum (0.09) in the IR17A3019 genotype which signifies that this genotype has certain preferable traits such as early and uniform maturity, low disease and pest attack, a high number of effective tillers, panicle length, and sterility percentage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

California is the largest agricultural economy in the United States; however, its current and projected climate risks pose significant challenges. Farmers will need to adapt to climate change in their farming practices. The goal of this needs assessment was to understand farmers' perceptions and experiences with climate change exposures; the risk management practices they currently use; and what tools and resources would assist them in making strategic decisions. A statewide survey was conducted through Qualtrics with farmers (n = 341). Results showed that 67% of the farmers agree (agree + strongly agree) that climate change is happening, and 53.1% agreed that actions are required. Moreover, historically underrepresented farmers were very concerned about climate change-related impacts related to water, temperatures, and natural disasters. Farmers are currently implementing adaptation practices related to water management, soil health, and renewable energy and are also seeking insurance and government assistance programs to increase agricultural resilience. They also expressed interest and a high need for information on those adaptation practices to acquire skills and knowledge to manage various challenges of farming in variable climates. Also, the assessment established that farmers (47.5%) use decision-support tools, mostly weather stations (22.4%); and 51.9% indicated their interest in using online tools designed to translate climate information into forms that support production decision-making. Farmers (60.8%) responded that they would or may attend workshops to learn about adaptation practices. The findings of this needs assessment will inform the development of extension education programs on climate-smart agriculture for farmers in California and elsewhere. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In 2015, the government of Indonesia launched a crop insurance program to anticipate the economic impact of crop failure on farmers due to the climate crisis. Despite the government's high premium subsidy, farmers' participation rate in crop insurance remains very low. Therefore, a study is needed to determine which product attributes in an agricultural insurance product are important to farmers and can affect their participation rate. Purpose: This study aims to investigate the factors that farmers consider when selecting a crop insurance product. Design/methodology/approach: The study focuses on the features of the Rice Farm Insurance (AUTP) product: total sum insured, product type, premium, risk coverage, and claim. The research was conducted by sending questionnaires to 110 farmers in 15 villages in Sliyeg, Indramayu. The Bayesian Best-Worst Method was used to analyze the data. Using a scale from 1 to 9, the best and worst criteria are compared pairwise. Findings/Result: The findings indicated that the total sum insured is the most crucial consideration for farmers when choosing a crop insurance product, followed by the premium, risk coverage, terms of claims, and product type. The top two positions of the product attributes are financerelated, indicating a need for improved understanding of agricultural risk management among farmers, extending beyond dollar amount, through continuous education. With the findings in this study, the government and other stakeholders need to develop effective strategies to increase farmers' awareness of the importance of insurance in managing their business risks. This study's added value comes from convincingly showing that farmers prioritize the amount of sum insured over premiums and other aspects. Other researchers can use this research as a springboard to learn more about the importance of product attributes in creating crop insurance products. Conclusion: The top two positions of the product attributes are finance-related, indicating a need for improved understanding of agricultural risk management among farmers, extending beyond dollar amount, through continuous education. With the findings in this study, the government and other stakeholders need to develop effective strategies to increase farmers' awareness of the importance of insurance in managing their business risks. Originality/value (State of the art): This study's added value comes from its convincingly showing that farmers prioritize the amount of sum insured over premiums and other aspects. Other researchers can use this research as a springboard to learn more about the importance of product attributes in creating crop insurance products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Global Journal of Environmental Science & Management (GJESM) is the property of Global Journal of Environmental Science & Management and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

One of the ways to achieve economic, environmental, and social sustainability in agriculture is to introduce digitalization in the production process or its digital transformation. The primary research objective in this paper is to obtain empirical knowledge about the various economic aspects of investing in digitalization in Serbian agriculture. The research relies on interviews conducted in the period April-October 2023 using a semi-structured questionnaire, covering a sample of 53 agricultural holdings on the entire territory of Serbia. The results show that the interviewed farm managers do not show a high degree of satisfaction with the achieved level of digitalization on the farms they manage. Nevertheless, based on the analysis of economic parameters of investment in digital solutions (return on investment period, perceived benefits, costs, investment limitations, financial support), the largest percentage of respondents (56.6%) intends to intensify investments in digitalization on their farm in the next period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In many parts of the world, degradation of grazing lands is one of the most serious environmental issues. This study analyzed farmers' perception of area closure and its associated factors of participation in degraded grazing land restoration in Sede-Muja Woreda, Northwest Ethiopia. A cross-sectional research design and a mixed research approach were applied in this study. The 384 sample respondents were randomly selected. Household surveys, interviews, focus groups, and field study techniques were used to acquire the data. A binary logistic regression model was used to identify the determinant elements that affect farmers' participation in the area closure of degraded grazing land restoration. All of the total respondent farmers (100%) have a positive attitude towards multi-functionality benefits of area closures for local farmers. The model results show that the grazing experience (AOR = 2.981, 95% CI = (1.143-7.775), access to safety net program (AOR = 2.787, 95% CI = (1.146-6.77), access to livestock forage (AOR = 4.493, 95% CI = (1.149-14.028), access to extension service (AOR = 2.522, 95% CI = (1.917-6.6397), livestock ownership (AOR = 0.026, 95% CI = (0.008-0.087), improved cattle breeds (AOR = 4.955, 95% CI = (1.944-12.630), access to training (AOR = 3.169, 95% CI = (1.409-7.131), farmers' perception (AOR = 0.085, 95% CI = (0.023-0.310), and communities' consensus (AOR = 4.230, 95% CI = (1.377-12.996) were determinant factors that affect farmers' participation in the area closure of degraded grazing land restoration. To address the current grazing land degradation issues, every one of the relevant authorities as well as communities needs to work together to create modern grazing land management mechanisms such as grazing land enclosures, reduce animal size through improved cattle breeds, implement zero-grazing systems, and ensure the sustainability of existing enclosures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The adoption of new agricultural technologies is one of the key factors for achieving sustainable agricultural development. With the rapid development of China's economy and the widening gap between urban and rural areas, it has become the norm for farmers to seek employment outside their home villages. This phenomenon not only changes the lifestyle of farmers but may also affect their attitudes toward and adoption behavior of new agricultural technologies. However, existing research in this field is not yet sufficient. This paper aims to assess the overall impact, heterogeneous effects, and mechanisms of action of migrant work experience on farmers' willingness to adopt new agricultural technologies. Methods: Based on the 8,391 sample data from 243 counties in the 2018 China Labor Force Dynamic Survey (CLDS2018), this paper uses the Linear Probability Model (LPM), Two Stage Least Square (2SLS), Conditional Mixed Process (CMP) methods, and omitted variable test to estimate the impact of migrant work experience on farmers' willingness to adopt new agricultural technologies. Simultaneously, it explored the heterogeneity in the relationship between migrant work experience and the willingness to adopt new agricultural technologies from the perspectives of gender, age, and educational level. Lastly, the Karlson-Holm-Breen (KHB) model was utilized to analyze the mechanisms through which migrant work experience affects farmers' willingness to adopt new agricultural technologies. Results: Migrant work experience significantly enhances farmers' willingness to adopt new agricultural technologies, with the probability of willingness among farmers with migrant work experience being 26.65% higher than that of farmers without such experience. At the same time, compared to female farmers, those born before 1980, and those with primary education or less, this enhancing effect is more pronounced among male farmers, those born after 1980, and those with more than a primary education. Furthermore, it was found that migrant work experience not only directly enhances farmers' willingness to adopt new agricultural technologies but also indirectly promotes it by increasing capital accumulation, enhancing risk awareness, expanding social networks, and strengthening agricultural cognition, with risk awareness and agricultural cognition playing a larger indirect role. Conclusion: Based on the empirical results, this paper suggests actively guiding farmers with migrant work experience to adopt new agricultural technologies, and encouraging return migrant labor with the intention of resettling in rural areas to engage in agriculture again, to further promote the adoption of new agricultural technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The goal of public breeding programs is to develop and disseminate improved varieties to farmers. This strategy aims at providing farming communities with superior crop varieties than they are growing. However, the strategy rarely considers the needs and preferences of farmers, especially gendered preferences, failing to solve real field problems by addressing the differences and inequalities prevalent in the farming communities. Our research examines how personal, household, agronomic and ecological characteristics of wheat growers in Bihar, India's eastern Indo-Gangetic Plains, affect women and men's wheat trait choices. Data were obtained from 1,003 households where both male and female respondents from the same household were interviewed. We accounted for 23 traits of wheat from a careful assessment of production, environment, cooking quality, market demand, and esthetic criteria. Binomial logistic regression was used to determine women's and men's trait preferences. The results imply that gender influences the preferences of wheat traits. Some traits are favored by both women and men, however, in other instances, there are striking disparities. For example, men choose wheat varieties that are well adapted to extreme climate conditions, have a higher grain yield, and produce chapati with a superior taste, while women prefer wheat types with superior chapati making quality, higher grain yield, and high market prices. Other socioeconomic, agronomic, cultural, and geolocational factors have a considerable impact on trait preferences. These human dimensions of traits preferred by women and men farmers are important for trait combinations to develop breeding product profiles for certain market segments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agriculture in Maharashtra has immense importance in India, acting as the back-bone of the economy and a primary livelihood source for a significant population. Being the third largest state in India, Maharashtra has a high scale crop production in the country which also has an important impact on the economy. Initially the study focus on developing predictive models that guide farmers in selecting suitable crops for the divisions in the state of Maharashtra. This study presents a Crop Recommendation System (CRS) designed to support Maharashtra's agricultural sector by utilizing a comprehensive dataset from 2001 to 2022 provided by the India Meteorological Department. This study helps in improvising technical efficiency and productivity of the farmers. Harvesting crops in optimal condition can help to produce efficient harvest hence the research concentrates on providing best crop recommendation system (CRS) with the help of Machine Learning and Deep Learning techniques. The data, enhanced for accuracy using expectation-maximization optimization, underpins predictive models that guide crop selection. EM contributes to a more robust and reliable dataset for subsequent analyses and modeling by iterative estimating and updating missing values based on probabilistic expectations. Key findings show that the Random Forest algorithm excels in predicting suitable crops with 92% accuracy. Further precision is achieved through a Long Short-Term Memory network forecasting weather patterns three months ahead, accommodating temporal data variations. Subsequently, the proposed system leverages these forecasts to recommend five ideal crops per division within Maharashtra, aiding farmers' decision-making and adapting to regional climatic conditions. A supplementary crop calendar offers monthly district-specific planting guidance. An intuitive Graphical User Interface delivers this information effectively, ensuring practical and informed agricultural choices across the state. In essence, the study provides an innovative tool for enhancing economic stability and sustenance in Maharashtra through technology-driven agriculture recommendations aligned with future weather expectations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-tech vegetable production is becoming a priority in agricultural development in Vietnam in the context of digital economic development. This study aims at identifying factors involving the adoption of high technology in vegetable production by local farmers in Hanoi. We used the theory of planned behavior and other farmers’ personal, social and economic factors to develop empirical model and hypotheses. Primary data was collected from a survey of 450 vegetable producers in Hanoi using cluster sampling method combined with random selection. Then, binary logit model was used to analyze the impact of influencing factors. Results showed that there were 7 factors having significant influences the decision to apply technology in vegetable production of farmers including attitude on high tech production, access to information, size of farm, member of extension organization, education level, access to credit and perceived behavior control, in which attitude variable was the most influential factor. Main management implications raised included enhancing access to technological information, providing demostration visits, giving more extension services, improving social inclusion and implementing hi- tech training for farmers in vegetable production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sustainability in cotton production is inevitable because producing more cotton means more employment, economic acceleration, and industrial expansion. India, China, the United States, Brazil, and Pakistan contribute 74% of worldwide cotton production. Pakistan is contributing only 5%, despite the high potential of cotton. The average yield of cotton in Pakistan is stagnant at 570.99 kg hm−2, whereas it entails the highest cost of production among all other crops. The yield obtained in Pakistan is less than the potential, profitability is drastically lessening, and farmers are abandoning cotton for alternative kharif crops. Some traditional quantitative studies have unveiled different factors that affect cotton production. However, an in-depth qualitative study has never been conducted in Pakistan to explore the root causes of growing cotton crop failure. Following Moustakas's traditional phenomenological guidelines, this phenomenological study was conducted in the district of Rahim Yar Khan in the core cotton zone of Punjab province. A total of 10 interviews were conducted with purposively selected cotton growers based on a criterion: (i) having more than 10 years of cotton growing experience, (ii) being a cotton grower, and (iii) having at least 10 years of formal schooling. Interviews were conducted face to face on an interview guide. One interview lasted 45–50 min, and responses were recorded and analyzed using a thematic analysis approach. A total of 6 themes emerged from the collected data, including (i) climate change, (ii) varietal problems, (iii) pesticide usage, (iv) sense of institutional services, (v) attitude of farmers and (vi) soil health and environment. These six merging themes contributed to cotton crop failure and yield decline. The deep exploration further summarized that researchers, extensionists, and farmers need to seriously consider variety, sowing time, and the environment to revive cotton crops. The detailed recommendations and policy guidelines are presented in this paper, highlighting the cotton sector's research, development and investment areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]