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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]

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]

Copyright of Journal of Kirkuk University for Agricultural Sciences is the property of Republic of Iraq Ministry of Higher Education & Scientific Research (MOHESR) 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.)

This case study explores a decades long evolution towards a gender-responsive sorghum breeding program in Mali. With known disparities in men and women's access to the resources that improve agricultural productivity and evidence that gender roles and responsibilities shape knowledge and preferences about varieties, there is need for methods that support gender-responsive processes in plant breeding programs. Gender-sensitive and gender-responsive approaches in plant breeding may increase varietal options available to diverse end-users, increase adoption, and limit negative impacts on vulnerable populations. We assess a participatory plant breeding program in Mali to identify determinants of gender-responsive breeding programs. The analysis uses a case study methodology that draws upon project reports, theses, articles, and experiential knowledge to understand how the sorghum breeding program transitioned over time. This case study details (a) more than a decade of sorghum breeding activities and research that led to (b) the inclusion of women in participatory plant breeding, culinary tests, and large-scale participatory selection in onfarm trials, reaching hundreds of women each year and (c) iterative co-learning processes to develop preferred sorghum varieties and increase sorghum yields on men and women's fields. Analyses indicated that collaborations among many institutions on-farm with community actors, research across various disciplines such as agronomy and social sciences, context-specific breeding, and longterm funding were essential to increasing gender sensitivity and responsive in the breeding efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traditional agricultural production models are often accompanied by a large amount of resource waste and environmental pollution, causing serious damage to ecosystems. To achieve sustainable agricultural development and reduce adverse impacts on the natural environment, this study used discrete selection experiments to promote environmentally friendly agricultural technologies. This study visited two representative northern and southern provinces in rice cultivation in China and integrated three representative environmentally friendly agricultural technologies and policy subsidies into a survey questionnaire. Data analysis was conducted on farmers' selection preferences using a hybrid logit model and a latent category model to obtain promotion methods and suggestions for environmentally friendly agricultural technologies. The results indicated that some farmers in the southern region had a sense of self-environmental protection, and in addition, they provided training and learning, resulting in higher satisfaction with environmentally friendly agricultural technologies. However, another part of farmers' attitude towards choosing agricultural technology depended on the amount of policy subsidies. Due to the vast territory and sparse population, coupled with the impact of climate, the attitude of farmers in the northern region depended on the cost of time or labor. This study evaluated the feasibility and effectiveness of environmentally friendly agricultural technologies in agricultural production, promoting the application and promotion of environmentally friendly agricultural technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The standardization of planting techniques has substantially enhanced production efficiency and agricultural output. Understanding farmers' perceptions and adoption of standardized planting practices is essential. Methods: In this study, the binary logistic model and the interpretive structural model was employed to analyze the factors influencing farmers' adoption of standardized planting methods and the hierarchical structure and internal mechanisms of the influential factors. Results: The questionnaire responses of 244 farmers from Zhejiang Province, China, revealed farmers' predominantly positive perceptions of standardized planting methods. Farmers' planting experience and participation in cooperatives significantly affected their perceptions. The results of the regression analysis revealed that significant influencing factors included farmers' education level, planting experience, participation in cooperatives, awareness of standardized planting methods, the perceived effects of standardized planting methods on household income and on village ecological environment. The interpretive structural model results revealed that the surface level factors influencing farmers' adoption of standardized planting methods were farmers' village cadre status, participation in cooperatives, and awareness of standardized planting methods. Farmers' education level and planting experience were the fundamental factors. Discussion: In the future, the influence of farmers' education level and characteristics of arable land on the adoption of standardized planting methods by farmers should be further explored, as well as the need for non-value studies on farmers' willingness to accept standardized planting methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Smallholder farming systems are vulnerable to disruptions. The COVID-19 pandemic weakened the financial ability of the Malian government in the 2020–21 growing season to subsidize cotton farmers’ access to mineral fertilizers and the cotton company (CMDT) could not offer a good cotton price. Consequently, farmers refused to grow cotton, leading to a cotton crisis with implications on crop production and farmers’ livelihoods. We used data collected over three consecutive growing seasons in the old cotton basin of Koutiala and analysed them using two-way mixed ANOVA over selected indicators related to farm and household components. The analysis was done for farms of different resource endowment, through comparing the cotton crisis season to the two previous normal seasons. Besides the abandonment of cotton, the total cropped area and area devoted to maize reduced in 2020–21, while the area allocated to millet, sorghum and cowpea increased, especially for cotton farmers with medium and high resource endowments. In addition, the nitrogen use intensity dropped at the farm level and particularly for the cereal crops, but without negative effect on yields of maize, millet and sorghum. Food self-sufficiency and income per capita significantly increased for the medium resource farms, while income dropped for the high resource farms with large herds. The farming system was able to absorb the shock of limited access to fertilizer for one season, due to the elimination of otherwise strong labour competition between cotton and cereal crops, favourable weather conditions and farmers’ responsive coping with the cotton crisis. This study revealed the importance of disaggregated livelihood evaluations, because resource endowments have implications not only for the actual effect on livelihoods, but also for farmers’ adaptive capacity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Avocado cultivation holds substantial economic significance within tropical fruit production, prompting this research to investigate farmers' attitudes and behaviours concerning fertiliser and pesticide usage. Data were gathered through a survey conducted across 75 avocado farms in the Antalya districts of Alanya, Manavgat, Aksu, and Gazipaşa. The results highlighted that the primary challenge faced in chemical fertiliser use was predominantly due to high fertiliser prices (90.7%). Additionally, 76% of respondents expressed their intent to increase fertiliser application, given sufficient economic resources. However, only 25.3% of producers agreed that augmenting fertiliser usage would enhance yields. Regarding pesticide disposal methods, most growers disposed of pesticide packages through burning (60%), while nearly half of them identified collecting and reusing as the optimal approach for pesticide packaging disposal. The majority of producers acknowledge the detrimental environmental impact of excessive chemical usage. Nonetheless, their persistent use of these chemicals and improper disposal methods for leftover chemicals and packaging reveal inadequate awareness of environmental concerns. Similar to fertilisation, issues about agricultural pesticide supply were predominantly centred on the exorbitant rise in prices (94.7%), followed by inadequate spraying equipment (6.7%) and insufficient credit for pesticide procurement (5.3%). Consequently, providing financial support through incentive programmes, subsidies, or low-interest loan opportunities is imperative to mitigate costs associated with fertiliser and pesticide purchases. Simultaneously, developing environmentally conscious agricultural policies, reinforced by legal regulations, is crucial for monitoring and controlling the use of fertilisers and pesticides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Agronomía Colombiana is the property of Universidad Nacional de Colombia 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.)

Background: This study assessed the perceived influence of Agricultural extension on cassava production in southern Nigeria. Specifically, the study sought to; ascertain the socio-economic characteristics of the respondents, identify the perceived influence of agricultural extension on cassava production in the study area and constraints in the production of cassava by farmers in the study area. Methods: The study adopted a multi-stage sampling technique. Stage one was a purposive selection of municipalities in Southern Nigeria due to its endowment with cassava production. Stage two involved a random selection of five (5) municipalities in Southern Nigeria namely; Uyo, Calabar, Umuahia, Abakaliki and Owerri. Stage three equally involved a random selected of twenty (20) respondents from each of the municipals, giving a total of hundred (100) respondents used for the study. Data were obtained from primary sources using structured interview schedule. Objectives were analysed using descriptive statistics such as; percentage, frequency, mean, rank and standard deviation. Result: The result on the house hold size showed that 39% had between 6-10 persons, while 27% had 11-15 persons, 21% had 1-5 persons. Also 13% had 16 and above number of persons. The result also revealed that the respondents observed help in reducing soil compartment, training of farmers on pest/disease control, production practices, processing and marketing with mean scores of X = 2.43, X = 2.27, X = 1.92, X = 1.86 and X =1.69 respectively; as perceived influence of extension on cassava production. This implied that extension workers had no significant influence on cassava production in the study area, this may be attributed to inadequate funding of extension services in Nigeria. Majority (60%) believed that language barrier and unfavourable attitude of farmers with mean of X = 2.43 and X = 2.42 respectively were the constraints of agricultural extension workers in enhancing cassava production in the study area. This implied that influence of extension agents in the area may not be significant. This may be due to ineffectiveness of extension services in Nigeria. the study concluded that, rural farmers need to be involved in the mainstream of extension services in order to identify and prioritize their production activities. The study therefore, recommended that agricultural extension workers should be involved in all areas of agricultural production and not on cassava production alone, so as to improve on the gross domestic production of the nation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this research was to re-examine the factors influencing ICT adoption for agricultural information dissemination in Uganda. The study adopted a cross-sectional survey design of the ex-post facto type to guide the study, a structured questionnaire that was subjected to face and content validity and reliability test and analysed using descriptive statistics of frequency counts and percentages. Findings revealed that the foremost inhibiting factor influencing the adoption of ICT for agricultural information dissemination was the lack of training and re-trainings hindering farmers from getting the technical knowledge in the use of ICT devices in accessing and sharing of agricultural information. The study recommended that training and retraining by introducing government facilitated programs and other non-government programs in the usage of ICT devices be conducted for the farmers from time to time such that they become conversant and experienced with all the required and necessary devices and able to take advantage of the entire alternative device as each device is uniquely difference, serving uniquely different purposes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study assessed the usage of extension communication channels for disseminating crop production information to oil palm farmers in Birim South District. A sample size of 181 farmers was selected through purposive and simple random sampling techniques. The data collected were analyzed using frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, ordinal logistic regression, and Kendall’s coefficient of concordance. The results showed that radio, extension agents and colleague farmers were generally the most available communication channels for oil palm farmers. Radio, colleague farmers and extension agents were the communication channels that the farmers frequently used. Nursing and planting, pest and disease control, use of fertiliser, and harvest and post-harvest handling were the crop production information mostly sought by the farmers. It was also discovered that the majority of farmers do not get any agricultural information from farmer magazines, newspapers, or mobile text messages. Sex, level of education and household size were the most significant factors influencing oil palm farmers' frequency of use of the available/accessible communication channels for crop production information (p values =0.037, 0.010 & 0.034, respectively). The major challenges affecting the use of communication channels were low farmer-extension ratio, poor signals and the high cost of using such channels. The study recommends that the Ministry of Food and Agriculture and Non-Governmental Organisations facilitate the establishment and maintenance of farm radio programmes and encourage more peerto-peer extension among rural farmers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study is based on micro-survey data on rural household transfers in China. This study uses a multiple linear regression model (to analyze the relationship between variables), an instrumental variable model (to solve potential endogenous problems), and an intermediary effect model to explore the impact of farmland rights confirmation and clan network on farmers' investment in production and operation and the relationship between clan network confirmation of farmland rights and farmer household investment. The research shows that: (1) The confirmation of farmland rights in China substantially bolsters farmers' investments in agricultural production and operation. It serves as a secure foundation for land property rights, elevating farmers' confidence and significantly contributing to the growth of rural economies and the improvement of farmers' income levels in the Chinese context. (2) In the Chinese context, the existence of clan networks exerts a discernible adverse influence on farmers' investment decisions in agricultural production and operation. This is primarily attributable to the restricted flow of information within these networks, the enforcement of stringent social norms, and the prevalence of risk-averse attitudes. These factors collectively act as barriers, dampening farmers' enthusiasm for investment and impeding effective decision-making. (3) Importantly, the confirmation of agricultural land rights in China serves as a counterbalance to the inhibitory effects of clan networks. It achieves this by mitigating information asymmetry and reducing cooperation risks. This proactive approach not only promotes but also facilitates farmers' investments in agricultural production and operation within the Chinese context. Consequently, land rights confirmation emerges as a key driver of increased rural investments in China. This study conducts in-depth research on the impact of farmland ownership confirmation and clan networks on farmers' investment behavior and the mechanism of action, which provides a useful reference for formulating relevant policies, such as increasing the authority of cultivated land, promoting the modernization of clan networks, cultivating modern management capabilities, etc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Land is a precious resource in the Ethiopian highlands, where the entire agricultural system depends on rain-fed system. The resource faces multiple interconnected environmental and socioeconomic challenges. Among these, the absence of tenure security has significantly affected farmers' willingness to adopt soil and water conservation practices (SWCPs), leading to a decline in land productivity, hindering household food security, and contributing to an increase in land-related disputes. Bearing this in mind, the government of Ethiopia (GoE) has undertaken two rounds of land certification programs in selected regions, one of which was Amhara National Regional State (ANRS). This study examined how land certification strengthens tenure security, lowers land-related disputes, motivates farmers to employ SWCPs, and raises the productivity of farm plots in Dessie Zuria and Kutaber Woredas. The research followed an exploratory survey method which utilized both qualitative and quantitative data. The survey involved purposefully selected 401 household heads. Additionally, cross sectional data were collected from various sources, including Woreda and zonal agriculture, court, land, and Natural Resource Management (NRM) offices. Quantitative data were analyzed using frequency tables, percentages, graphs, figures, cross-tabulation, and descriptive statistical methods. Meanwhile, qualitative data were transcribed, grouped, and interpreted in line with the research's objectives. SPSS software version 26 was used for data analysis. The findings denoted a positive relationship between land certification and tenure security. Furthermore, enhanced tenure security has played a positive role in reducing land-related disputes, initiating farmers to invest in SWC practices and improving the productivity of farm plots. The research suggests the adoption of a cadastral land registration system, the encouragement of community involvement, and the enforcement of laws and bylaws. The research recommend implementation of cadastral land registration system, promote community participation, and enforcement of laws and bylaws. The work has implications for development practitioners, academia and policymakers working on land tenure, SWC practices, and food security. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study analyzes the government's absorption of rice in Indonesia. The government's rice absorption has decreased in the last three years (2018-2020). The decrease in absorption is in line with the decline in farmer production and the difference between the government's purchase price of rice and the market price. The purpose of this study was to test and analyze the difference between government rice prices and market prices (PBR) and the amount of rice production circulating in the community (JPB) on the government's rice absorption capacity (DBP) in 34 Indonesian Provinces for the 2011-2020 period. Regression results with the Panel Model show that (PBR) and (JPB) have a significant positive effect on (DBP). Government policies and roles are urgently needed, especially in setting purchase prices for government rice and sustainably increasing the amount of production by facilitating agricultural facilities and infrastructure so that they can affect the government's rice absorption capacity in Indonesia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using a sample of 1166 maize-planting farmers from Liaoning province in China, in this paper, we provide a new explanation for the slow-proliferation situation of straw return. Both our theoretical and empirical results indicate that the low rate of adoption of straw return can be partly attributed to the farmers' choice to undertake off-farm work. Probit, PSM, IV-probit, and bivariate probit models are utilized to estimate the interdependent nature of these two simultaneous decisions, with an identified causal effect ranging from −0.115 to −0.287. Instead of the "income-increasing effect", our research supports the dominant existence of the "lost-labor effect". Furthermore, intelligent and risk-tolerant farmers undertaking off-farm work are found to have additional negative impacts on the likelihood of straw return adoption. With regard to the mediating mechanisms, we find that the choice of off-farm work may decrease the probability of raising cattle and also downscale arable land, thereby reducing the likelihood of straw return adoption. In line with our proposed model, fluid cognitive ability contributes to the farmers' adoption of straw return by increasing their learning and updating efficiency. In contrast, crystal cognitive ability deters the undertaking of nonfarm work by establishing a comparative advantage in agricultural production, thus indirectly promoting the proliferation of straw incorporation. According to our theoretical and empirical findings, the proper policy interventions proposed mainly include three points. First, governments should endeavor to increase agricultural specialization by further promoting arable land transfer and human capital accumulation in farming. Second, it is beneficial to facilitate the process of learning by doing and social learning by enhancing the human capital levels of farmers. Last, it is necessary to cultivate farmers' inclination towards long-term investment by explaining the concrete benefits of straw return to farmers on a timely basis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Featuring complex and fractured terrain, the Loess hilly and gully regions suffer poor grain production capacity. The behavior of farmers, the major users of agricultural production space, significantly influences the agricultural production space. Hence, it is essential to explore the evolution rules of the agricultural production space under the influence of farmer behavior and reveal the influencing mechanism of agricultural production space change, which will facilitate the promotion of ecological protection and high-quality development of the Yellow River Basin. Relying on six-stage remote sensing images of the Yanhe River Basin from 1995 to 2018, this study utilized a land use dynamic index, transfer matrix and landscape pattern index to analyze the spatial pattern evolution of agricultural production in the Yanhe River Basin. Furthermore, the geographic detector model was applied to quantitatively analyze the influencing factors of the spatial pattern evolution of agricultural production. The results demonstrated the following: (1) From 1995 to 2018, the overall area of cultivated land in the Yanhe River Basin decreased by 927.02 km2, with a change degree of 21.07%. The spatial structure of agricultural production changed, mainly transferring the cultivated land to woodland and grassland. (2) The spatial form of agricultural production has changed from fragmentation to regularity, and the complexity of the production space shows a trend of first increasing and then decreasing. (3) The evolution of the spatial pattern of agricultural production was affected by multiple factors of farmer behavior, where significant interactive enhancement effects existed. Specifically, labor input was the dominant factor affecting the overall scale of the production space, with an influence value of 0.202; fertilization input and cultivated land transfer were the key factors affecting the spatial distribution of production, with influence values of 0.264 and 0.242, respectively; income level and social interaction were the base factors affecting the spatial form of production, with influence values of 0.558 and 0.438, respectively. The research results provide scientific support for the improvement of agricultural production quality and the spatial evolution mechanism of agricultural production in the Yanhe River Basin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 pandemic has had an unprecedented impact on humanity, and rural households have not been spared. Focusing on Goromonzi District in rural Zimbabwe, this article employs the sustainable livelihoods framework to investigate its effects on agricultural production and marketing by resettled farmers in the first year of the pandemic. It shows that COVID brought with it several shocks, stresses, and vulnerabilities that affected rural households. It goes on to explore the risk-coping strategies that such households employed. Rural households can be seen as having used their agency to engage in diversified livelihood activities, by which they strengthened their coping capabilities and thus responded to the pandemic. With livelihoods at the center of analysis and capabilities, assets, and resources framing the discussion, the article provides an empirically grounded contribution on the immediate ramifications of the pandemic on rural households in Zimbabwe and how they managed to cope. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study is to determine the role of Farm Advisory Services in order to offset the problems of the yield productivity gaps in the study area. The farmers' perceptions of the Model Farm Services Center (MFSC) were statistically examined via a comparison of the differences within two subgroups. A sample size of 120 was selected in order to enable equal representation from both the member farmers and the independent farmers of the MFSC. An independent sample t-test along with a dummy variable was used to identify differences in their farming practices and obtained yield respectively. It was found that 80% of the respondents entirely relied on farming, whereas 20% only partially relied on farming. Similarly, 70% of the farmers were living in a joint familial system, while 30% of them were individual households. Furthers some of the farmers 28% used canals while only 13% relied on tube-wells from the member respondents, whereas 30% of the independent farmers relied on canals and 10% used tube wells. The independent farmers were more productive with wheat, rice, and sugarcane crops, but a lower yield with the maize crop was identified compared to the member farmers. The study concludes that there are inefficiencies and gaps in the service delivery value chain of the MFSCs and recommends actions, such as by providing basic farm inputs, modern equipment, interest free credit as well as technical guidance. The study contributes by using the farmers' perceptions as a stepping stone for the policy input in regards to the agriculture laden productivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 pandemic has had an unprecedented impact on humanity, and rural households have not been spared. Focusing on Goromonzi District in rural Zimbabwe, this article employs the sustainable livelihoods framework to investigate its effects on agricultural production and marketing by resettled farmers in the first year of the pandemic. It shows that COVID brought with it several shocks, stresses, and vulnerabilities that affected rural households. It goes on to explore the risk-coping strategies that such households employed. Rural households can be seen as having used their agency to engage in diversified livelihood activities, by which they strengthened their coping capabilities and thus responded to the pandemic. With livelihoods at the center of analysis and capabilities, assets, and resources framing the discussion, the article provides an empirically grounded contribution on the immediate ramifications of the pandemic on rural households in Zimbabwe and how they managed to cope. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Weak and inefficient institutional arrangements have been identified as a major cause of the slow pace of agricultural growth in developing countries. Institutions – the humanly devised constraints that shape human interaction – play a significant role in Sustainable Crop Intensification (SCI) in Uganda. This study uses farmers' perceptions to assess institutions and their roles in SCI. We collected data from 135 rice and potato-producing households in Eastern and Southwestern regions of Uganda between January and February 2017. We used Focus Group Discussions to identify and categorize institutional typologies following which we asked households to evaluate several institutional aspects. Overall, institutional contributions to SCI were highly valued by farmers. Based on functional, organizational, and managerial obstacles, farmers perceived formal institutions to be ineffective while they perceived informal farmer's institutions to be the most relevant institutions as they provided financial resources that alleviated constraints to agricultural production and met livelihood needs. We found a lack of coordination between the micro, meso, and macro-level institutions, which then affected their institutional functionality to execute SCI. There is a need for innovation within existing institutions, and a status quo of institutional arrangements that would better respond to smallholders' needs. • The manuscript investigates institutional arrangements in the potato and rice sectors of Ugandaand determines locally efficient ways of coping with risk and transaction costs. • Farmers' perception reveal that both formal and informal institutions contribute towards sustainable crop intensification. • Informal institutions are more widely appreciated amongst actors than formal institutions. • Agents within informal institutions found innovative ways to transform them by providing a multiplicity of services within an organization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study examined crop diversification and its implications on farm productivity and income among small holder farmers in Abia State, Nigeria. A multistage sampling procedure was used to obtain a sample size of 250. Data were collected by the distribution of a structured questionnaire. Simpson Index of diversification, gross margin and land equivalent ratio were used as the analytical tools. The result revealed that crop diversification was high (Simpson Index = 0.76). Categorically, the generated net farm income of farmers was specialized diversification (₦51,472), low diversification (₦187,330), moderate diversification (₦402,300), high diversification (₦304,398) and complete diversification (₦169,130). Also, the Land Equivalent Ratio of farmers was specialized diversification (0.39), low diversification (1.16), moderate diversification (1.80), high diversification (1.40) and complete diversification (1.06). The study discovered that differences occurred in farmers’ productivity and income levels as a result of crop diversification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Tikrit University for Humanities is the property of Republic of Iraq Ministry of Higher Education & Scientific Research (MOHESR) 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.)

Feeding a large and growing population with scientifically sustainable food production is a major challenge globally, especially in smallholder-based agricultural production. Scientists have conducted a considerable theoretical research and technological innovation to synergistically achieve increased food production and reduced environmental impact. However, the potential and feasibility of synergistic smallholder-led agricultural production to achieve increased food production and environmental friendliness is not yet clear. Exploring the potential and feasibility of smallholders to synergistically achieve these two goals, this research collected survey data from 162 farmers implementing standard farming practices and 112 farmers engaged in Science and Technology Backyard (STB) in Quzhou County, Hebei Province, China. Grain yield, nitrogen use efficiency (NUE), greenhouse gas emissions (GHG), and emergy ecological footprint (EEF) of the wheat-maize cropping system dominated by smallholders were analyzed. The results showed smallholders in the STB group improved wheat and maize yields by about 13% and NUE by 20%, respectively. Also, a reduction of 23% in GHG emissions and 52% in EEF were simultaneously achieved in the wheat-maize cropping system. Compared with standard farming practices, 75 kg·ha-1 nitrogen-based fertilizer was saved in the STB farmers. In summary, this study shifts the main perspective of research from scientists to smallholder, and uses a combination of greenhouse gas emission calculations, EEF and material flow analyses to demonstrate from multiple perspectives that agricultural systems under the leadership of smallholders can synergistically achieve high crop yields and low resource use and environmental impacts. The results of this study also show that the smallholder-led scientist-farmer collaborative model established by STB can fully exploit the initiative and potential, and that this collaborative model can be a successful strategy for smallholders as operators to achieve food security at low environmental impacts. The results of this study can provide useful evidence for a sustainable shift toward more sustainable agricultural production systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agrivoltaic systems integrate agricultural production with solar photovoltaic electricity generation. Given the proven technical, economic, and environmental co-benefits provided by agrivoltaic systems, increased proliferation is anticipated, which necessitates accounting for the nuances of community resistance to solar development on farmland and identifying pathways for mitigation. Minimizing siting conflict and addressing agricultural communities' concerns will be key in continued deployment of agrivoltaics, as localized acceptance of solar is a critical determinant of project success. This survey study assessed if public support for solar development increases when energy and agricultural production are combined in an agrivoltaic system. Results show that 81.8% of respondents would be more likely to support solar development in their community if it integrated agricultural production. This increase in support for solar given the agrivoltaic approach highlights a development strategy that can improve local social acceptance and the deployment rate of solar. Survey respondents prefer agrivoltaic projects that a) are designed to provide economic opportunities for farmers and the local community b) are not located on public property c) do not threaten local interests and d) ensure fair distribution of economic benefits. Proactively identifying what the public perceives as opportunities and concerns related to agrivoltaic development can help improve the design, business model, and siting of systems in the U.S. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

At the beginning of the Ming Dynasty, Zhu Yuanzhang attached great importance to agricultural production and often held activities to advise farmers. Under the initiative of Zhu Yuanzhang, local officials often held activities to advise farmers before spring plowing, and urged the people to work diligently by issuing official documents of "advising farmers". In the Ming Dynasty, the form of "advising farmers" was implemented to a certain extent at the beginning of the Ming Dynasty and in the middle and late Ming Dynasty. As a strategy of advising and governing farmers in the Ming Dynasty, the official documents of "advising farmers" played an important role in promoting agricultural production, publicizing social education and strengthening social governance. However, when officials held activities to advise farmers, there were certain problems that disturbed farmers. Therefore, we should also give a deep understanding of the negative impact of the activities of advising farmers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article aims to describe and analyze social networking among farmers in a municipality in the state of Ceará. For this, the social networking of two farmers and their contacts were mapped, totaling eight participants. For data collection, interviews, observation and the name generator technique for mapping social networking were used. For data analysis, network indicators were used with the help of Ucinet and NetDraw softwares and Content Analysis. The results showed that the two work networks make use of friendship and kinship ties for their functioning, mobilizing social capital to make rural production viable in a configuration similar to socio-productive networks. However, they present differences, since one of the networks is more developed, with more diversified ties and a greater number of paid work relationships and hierarchy. The conclusion is that the networks are part of the organization of the work of farmers and make the production of agricultural goods viable, either through help to carry out activities, or through access to more varied information and resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agriculture is one of the most vulnerable sectors to climate change due to its intrinsic dependence on climatic factors and natural resources, especially family farmers. The impacts of climate change can be minimized through adaptation measures adopted, which must be appropriate to the context of the region. The aim is to identify the perception of producers and rural actors on the impacts of climate change on agricultural production, as well as the adaptation measures adopted, analyzing also the relationship between the perception of producers and rural actors and the climate and agricultural production data of the municipality of Nova Friburgo, Rio de Janeiro. Data results from interviews applied to producers and rural actors in Nova Friburgo and in secondary data base (municipal agricultural production and meteorological historical data); they were related to identify interviewees’ perception regarding climate change impacts and adaptation measures adopted. Most rural actors and conventional and organic producers perceive the impacts of climate change on agricultural production; however, they did not identify precisely the year when the impact occurred. The adopted incremental adaptations predominate and coincide with what is described in the scientific literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Large drops in net farm income can have a devastating impact on farmers' ability to sustain and recover production volumes. In turn, these drops could send shock waves through the supply chain and multiply the magnitude of value at risk. Although conventional risk management techniques have helped to moderate the impacts of specific sources of risk, they lack the ability to comprehensively cope with uncertainty. The concept of system resilience has emerged to complement conventional risk management options and is defined as the ability of a system to withstand predicted or unpredicted disturbance through development of effective buffering and adaptive capabilities. Researchers have posited that farm diversification is an adaptive capability that can enhance resilience. This study aims to evaluate this assertion by using 47 years of farmlevel data from the Kansas Farm Management Association database to calculate a diversification index and a resilience index of a farm i, during time period t, and specify an econometric model to estimate the effect of diversification and other farm characteristics on farm resilience. The contribution of this study to the growing body of literature on agri-food system resilience is threefold. First, it presents the first application of the resilience triangle method at the individual farm level. Second, it provides empirical evidence of the effect of diversification and other farm characteristics on resilience. Third, it highlights potentially fruitful areas for future research on farm resilience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The key objective of this study is to analyze the moderating effect of farmers' attitude between the resources of farmer and poverty incidence in rural areas. For this purpose, 650 small farmers were selected through the stratified random sampling technique and face to face interviews were conducted by using a structured questionnaire for data collection. The proposed model was analyzed through PLS-SEM technique. Empirical findings of the current study reveal that the resources of farmer has a significant and negative impact on multidimensional poverty indices. Moreover, the findings also concluded that the resources of farmer has a direct negative effect on poverty incidence, meanwhile, attitude of the farmer significantly and negatively moderates the effect of farmer's resources on poverty incidence. In framing the policies of rural development, the current study emphasized the need for strategies related to increasing agricultural productivity and allied activities. Similarly, the current research also recommends that seminars may be arranged to provide vocational training to improve the farmers' attitude for better utilization of common, social and human resources. In addition, credit support may also be offered to small farmers which can drastically reduce their poverty incidence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agricultural production accounts for 64.2% of the Vietnam's Mekong Delta. However, this sector has to face damage risks, especially from the natural disasters, such as flood, drought, severe soil salinity, pests, and erosion, which might factor into the farmers' risk attitude and their decision-making relative to investment in production activities. This study analyzes the factors influencing the risk attitudes of the rice farmers, based on evidence from the Vietnamese Mekong Delta. The data were collected through face-to-face interviews and experimental games with 145 rice farmers. An ordered probit regression model was applied to estimate how the factors affected the rice farmers' risk attitudes. The risk-neutral farmers comprised 53.72% of farmers in the survey, while 31.72% and 15.15% were risk-preferred and risk-averse farmers. The study results indicated that age, number of rice crops per year, household assets, income from rice production, and credit accessibility were the main factors affecting the farmers' risk attitudes. The results suggest that the financial incentives' policies to compensate for losses in uncertain conditions and increase the household income, diversification of income sources, and improving the accessibility of formal credit might be useful to increase farmers' willingness to accept the risks of investing in better profitability projects and gaining a higher income. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Cumhuriyet Ilahiyat Dergisi / Cumhuriyet Theology Journal is the property of Cumhuriyet Universitesi, Ilahiyat Fakultesi / Cumhuriyet University, Faculty of Theology 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.)

This research examined the efforts carried out by the Banten Provincial Government in empowering farmers to encourage social change during the COVID-19 pandemic. Qualitative methods were used with an exploratory approach. Data were collected by interview and documentation methods. The results showed that the Banten Provincial Government tried to empower farmers by: providing support for food production in the form of seeds, fertilizers, and agricultural machinery; assisting agricultural production through "field school" activities that included providing education and direct field practice to farmer groups; and enabling farmers to actively participate in agricultural production activities through conducting continuous monitoring and evaluation of various assistance and activity programs that have been provided to farmers in need. These efforts to empower farmers led to an increase in food production in Banten Province, especially for rice commodities. Another impact was increased social changes experienced by farmers through the use of appropriate technology and agricultural mechanization, which encouraged agricultural production to become more efficient, thereby increasing the Banten Province farmer's exchange rate. Farmer empowerment will have a major impact on food availability, especially during the pandemic, and therefore social changes for farmers in the use of agricultural technology are important. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent decades, the Chinese government launched a socialized agricultural service system to help smallholders quickly modernize. This system helps farmers adopt modern-day farming operations to meet ever-increasing food and fiber requirements. The present study was conducted to analyze the impacts of this system on agricultural production efficiency. To this end, the Hubei province of China was selected, and the required data were retrieved from the Hubei Statistical Yearbook and Rural Statistical Yearbook for the years 2008 to 2019. The entropy method was applied to measure the extent of the adoption of socialized and individual agricultural services, while a data envelopment analysis (DEA) was used for measuring production efficiency. Grey correlation and regression analyses were carried out to analyze the association between production efficiency and agricultural service availability/uptake and the determinants of the former, respectively. The results illustrate that the agricultural socialized service level has increased. Specifically, the service levels of agricultural mechanization and financial insurance increased most rapidly in terms of individual services with the largest numbers of adopters. Science and technology and material services were found to exhibit the most significant relationships with the production efficiency of farmers. The results indicate a greater role of service provision in moderate-to-high-scale development, leading to land productivity and thereby improving agricultural production efficiency. The results also imply a higher demand for socialized agricultural services among farmers considering the value-added potential of such an integrated system with greater spillover options for achieving self-sufficiency in agriculture and ensuring food security. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Management & Agribusiness / Jurnal Manajemen & Agribisnis is the property of IPB University 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.)

Copyright of Anadolu Tarım Bilimleri Dergisi is the property of Ondokuz Mayis Universitesi, Ziraat Fakultesi 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.)

Farmers of the coastal region in Bangladesh are vulnerable to various climatic hazards that affect agricultural productivity and livelihoods. This study investigated the yield gap, risk attitude, and poverty status of Aman rice farmers and also assessed the relationship among them in the climate-vulnerable southern coastal areas of Bangladesh. This study selected 125 Aman rice farmers using a simple random sampling technique to estimate three types of yield gaps. Risk attitude was calculated using the safety-first model, and the Foster-Greer-Thorbecke model was employed to estimate poverty status. Results revealed a significant amount of yield gaps in Aman rice production, while farmers had opportunities to increase their production through the optimal use and scientific management of inputs. The yield gaps are reflected in the farmers' risk aversion attitude, with the majority of farmers being highly risk-averse. The study also revealed that half of the sampled farmers were poor, with a poverty gap of 15%. However, an increased number of non-poor was revealed due to a reduction both in yield gaps and farmers' riskaversion attitudes. Therefore, the study suggests limiting the yield gap to manage farmers' risk-aversion attitudes, which would also facilitate improving their poverty situation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Against the background of fundamentally changing political and social requirements of agricultural production, the requirement profile of farmers has changed. The future of agriculture is widely discussed. To prepare a ground for future debates and policy programme design, it is essential to obtain an understanding of which values underlie the behaviour of farmers. This paper applies Schwartz's value theory to a large quantitative survey (N = 787) of German farmers. In addition to the overall value portrait, different value portraits within the sample of farmers are analysed. Farmers of the sample first and foremost prioritise self-transcendence values followed by openness to change. Conservation and self-enhancement are ranked to be less important within the value priorities of farmers. Furthermore, three different value portraits are identifiable within the sample. These groups differ significantly in their risk attitude and involvement in structural diversification. Implications for agricultural policy design and agricultural management are derived from the results. • Application of the Schwartz value portrait to a large farmer sample. • Farmers are particularly self-transcendent and open to change. • Unsupervised Machine Learning used to identify value clusters within the sample. • Risk affinity and structural diversification occur with distinct openness to change. • Rather conservative farmers more often pursue part-time farming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change challenges agricultural production in Eastern Canada by affecting water resource availability. Farmers' adoption of improved water management practices and technologies can play an important part in the region's climate change adaptation strategy. To facilitate the diffusion of agricultural beneficial management practices (BMPs), it is essential to examine the factors that influence farmers' decision-making, and the barriers and facilitators of adoption. While determinants of adoption have been studied extensively, past research suggests that they are context dependent and that a gap exists in relation to understanding how BMP characteristics are perceived and how they shape adoption. Therefore, this article identifies some of the key factors in the adoption of improved water management systems in Ontario and Québec by focusing on differences between adopters and non-adopters. This study uses data from a survey of 70 fruit and vegetable growers. Results show that Canadian growers find important being good stewards of the land – being interested in minimizing their farms' impact on the environment and making good use of scarce resources. Farmers also believe society should help support the costs associated with safeguarding the environment. Growers interested in adopting the BMPs were likely to have less farming experience, diverse farming goals, higher educational attainment, and a higher degree of specialization in the production of tomatoes, cranberries or onions. While the majority of growers perceived the BMPs to be profitable, a better alternative and having capacity to reduce water use and improve yields, growers not interested in adopting these BMPs identified several issues that in their view act as barriers – initial cost of investment, and market instability. Policy responses aimed at enhancing diffusion of the BMPs, can be better targeted on priority regions and growers, incorporating in their communication strategy messages that resonate with growers' needs and take note of concerns they raise. • SBasd on a a survey of 70 fruit and vegetable growers n eastern Canada. • Farmers believed society should support costs of safeguarding environment. • BMPs were conveived as profitable, and have capacity to reduce water use. • Initial cost of investment, and market instability identified as barriers to adoption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil quality restoration and sustainable crop production in the rainfed ecosystem of the Indian Himalayas can be achieved through effective conservation tillage and organic management. Hence, a six‐year (2013 to 2019) study was conducted to quantify the effect of tillage and organic nutrient management on soil properties, productivity, and profitability of the maize‐vegetable pea (Pisum sativum) system. Three tillage practices [conventional (CT), reduced (RT), and no‐till (NT)] and four organic nutrients management practices [(ONM)‐farmyard manure @ 8 Mg ha−1 farmers practice (ONM1), 100% recommended dose of nitrogen (RDN) through manures (ONM2), 75% RDN through manures + maize/vegetable pea stover in either of the crops (ONM3), and 50% RDN through manures + maize/vegetable pea stover in either of the crops (ONM4)] were tested. The results indicated that the NT had higher soil organic carbon (SOC, 16.49 g kg−1), available N (354.5 kg ha−1), and lesser bulk density (1.31 Mg m−3) and penetration resistance (1.85 MPa) in comparison with that of CT at 0–10 cm depth. The system productivity under NT was 9.6% higher than that obtained under CT. The ONM3 had higher SOC content, plant‐available N, soil microbial biomass carbon (SMBC), and dehydrogenase activity (DHA) than ONM1. The integration of RT‐ONM2 enhanced SMBC, DHA, maize, and vegetable pea yield by 27.2%, 35.7%, 38.0%, and 60.3%, respectively, over CT‐ONM1. Thus, the study suggested that the adoption of effective conservation tillage with adequate organic nutrient management has the potential to advance the soil properties and productivity of maize‐vegetable pea system in the Himalayan Region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Economic & Regional Studies/Studia Ekonomiczne i Regionalne is the property of Sciendo 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.)

Increasing production and productivity of agriculture in general and root and tuber crops in particular require a strong linkage between the agricultural and non-agricultural sectors. The growing in agriculture sector does not occur without non-agricultural sectors. The major root and tuber crops production and productivity in South Omo Zone, Southern Ethiopiais very low in relation to the land coverage under the crops, due to poor and under recommended rate of improved agricultural technology utilization and low skill of management and related practices by the producers. To solve these root and tuber related problems and increase the production and productivity of the crops, strong and result based farmers training centers and interlinked research extension system are important and strongly interconnected. This study was conducted in five districts of South Omo Zone namely Debub Ari from agricultural based, Malle and Bena-Tsemay from agro-pastoral, Hammer, and Dasenech from pastoral. The districts are selected purposively based on root and tuber crop production potential. The result shows that the area coverage, production and productivity of the major root and tuber crops decreases from time to time and their diseases and pests increases thoroughly. Farmers in the study area should use disease resistance varieties and the production inputs at a recommended rate and time. The major root and tuber crops that are grown in the study area are sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas), potato (Solanumtuberosum), cassava (Manihotesculenta), taro (Colocasiaesculenta), and enset (Enseteventricosum). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article investigates the stability of farmers' risk attitude over time. To this end, we estimate responses to changes in agricultural policies and production shocks. We use a unique panel data of over 36,000 Italian farms specialised in cereals, during the period 1989–2009. We find evidence of risk preference changes over time in response to changes in the European Union Common Agricultural Policy and possibly after a drought-induced production shock. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper focuses on the establishment of agricultural innovation platforms (AIPs) in the communal areas of Hwedza in Zimbabwe. Through the efforts of non-governmental organisations (NGOs), there have been initiatives to improve agricultural productivity in Africa and Zimbabwe in particular. One such intervention has been the AIPs that seek to bring together all stakeholders who can meaningfully contribute to the improvement of agriculture. Using largely qualitative approaches, data was collected through interviews from small scale farmers as well as different actors who were involved in the AIPs. The respondents in the study also included NGO workers, academic researchers, government workers, traditional leaders, agricultural financiers, extension workers and state-owned institutions. Using Norman Long's interface analysis as the central theoretical framework, key findings showed that communal areas were active communities that had their own socio-economic network systems which govern how smallholder farmers operate. It also emerged that IPs are a result of a combination of the social and the formal/institutionalised structures that interacted in Hwedza. The paper concludes that IPs were established in Hwedza through a series of interactive processes among actors and these were not always smooth and successful. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The agriculture sector in Pakistan is confronted with massive floods and other climate-induced disasters. Resultantly, the farmers are compelled to adopt several risk-management activities to cope with these risks. Therefore, the study aims to explore the risk management tools and their association with farmers' risk perception, risk-averse attitude, and other socio-economic factors. We collected data from 200 respondents from two districts in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The study employed a multivariate probit model to investigate the association among dependent variables (risk management tools) and explanatory variables. Findings indicated that floods and heavy rains were not the sources of risk for most of the large farmers. The majority of small farmers were risk-averse. The multivariate probit model results exposed that farmers' age, their risk perception about the heavy rains, and the size of landholding were positively associated with the adoption of assets depletion as a risk management tool. Farmers' age, education, off-farm income, and farmers' risk-averse attitude were positive, while the farming experience was negatively associated with consumption reduction. Moreover, farming experience, risk perception about the floods and heavy rains, and risk-averse attitude are positively associated with the adoption of diversification. Farmers in the study area were vulnerable, and they were relying on traditional tools of risk management. Hence, the government is suggested extending agricultural credit and crop insurance facilities to these farmers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Consumers have varying levels of trust in agricultural production practices, which can influence attitudes, shift opinions, and change behaviors. The purpose of this study was to determine what agricultural messages are considered the most trustworthy among consumers and what differences exist among five dimensions of trustworthiness. With a pro-agriculture video as the stimulus, this study used continuous response measurement (CRM) to collect data from 151 post-secondary students who were randomly assigned to evaluate one of five trustworthiness dimensions (trust, honest, sincere, dependable, reliable). Participants used handheld dials to continuously rate their evaluation of the messages in the video then completed a questionnaire to provide additional insights. Overall, participants trusted agricultural messages, although some specific phrases were rated more positively than others. Participants had more trust in messages that portray agriculture as a family endeavor and create connection between producers and consumers. Participants indicated skepticism in messages revolving around farmer/rancher motivation in agriculture. The results support the importance of strategically tailoring and crafting effective messages. Recommendations for future practice and research are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The global farming conditions have gone profound mutations that steadily increased vulnerability among smallholder farmers. As consequence, rural households have set mechanisms of livelihood adaptation in order to preserve consumption requirements and secure the family living. They define livelihood through a complex system and interactions, taking place across scales that lead to emergent properties and self-regulatory mechanisms. This paper provides a detailed account on how traditional agriculture in Burundi, has evolved over time, what triggered the changes and how they have affected the household food security and farmer's attitude in the communities. The country is an agricultural based economy faced by land constraints, market and policy failures, and rapidly changing local climate patterns. The paper gives a historical overview of the organisational and functional features of the agrarian system, and the adaptive changes in farming practices. This brings a good understanding of the relationships between them and their implication on farmer's behaviour and livelihoods. Results show that despite the deteriorating conditions, farmers have managed, over time, to adapt agricultural production to new opportunities and constraints. The paper concludes by showing that farmer's adaptation is not everlasting. The findings of this study highlight that endogenous adaptation has reached some limits in Burundi. Today, the rates of conflicts over resources, poverty and food insecurity among households are very high. Stringent policy support is needed to help farmers sustain agricultural intensification and restore the country's self-sufficiency in food production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the publication of this research results, we want to demonstrate that individual efforts that aim at the sustainability of agricultural production can give good results. This work corresponds to a case study in the social sciences, and is based on the experience of two farmers who work in the field and who are committed to respect the environment. When the food production is used looking for the generation of income as the main objective, it attacks nature. Here we demonstrate that there can be compatibility between profits and ecological respect when good soil management practices and adequate administrative techniques are applied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Improved biosecurity and livestock disease control measures in low resource settings are often regarded as beneficial for agricultural productivity, rural incomes, global health, and sustainability. In this paper we present data from a study of shrimp and prawn aquaculture in Bangladesh to argue that this relationship is not as straightforward as it would seem. Analysing quantitative and qualitative data from a multi‐method field study involving 300 "missing middle" farmers, we demonstrate the importance of socio‐economic and ecological conditions to any disease management strategy. We describe how a technical programme to introduce "disease‐free" seed faltered partly as a result of the farmers' tendency to offset disease and livelihood risks by frequently re‐stocking their ponds. Changes to seed provision were accompanied by calls to alter farmers' livestock production practices. Paradoxically, these changes exposed farmers to more intense risks, potentially locking them into unsustainable disease management practices. The analysis emphasises that vernacular farming practices should be considered as key assets rather than barriers to disease management strategies, and that closer attention be paid to value chain and other risks as drivers of unsustainable practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]