Search

ABSTRACT: The objective of this review was to outline current implementation of biosecurity, the impact of biosecurity on the industry, and producers' and veterinarians' perceptions of biosecurity, with a focus on the Canadian dairy industry. Biosecurity has an important role in farm safety by reducing the spread of pathogens and contaminants, improving animal health and production, and maintaining human safety. Implementation of biosecurity practices varies among farms and countries. Because Canada's supply management system is different than other countries, different barriers and perceptions of biosecurity may exist. Producers may have negative perspectives on biosecurity, such as it being expensive or time consuming. Producers are motivated or deterred from biosecurity implementation for many reasons, including perceived value, disease risk, and financial incentives or deterrents. In addition, because veterinarians are a trusted source of information, their approaches to discussions on biosecurity implementation are important to understand. Veterinarians and producers appear to have differing opinions on the importance of biosecurity and approaches to discussing biosecurity. Improving biosecurity implementation requires a multifactorial approach, such as individualized education and awareness for producers, further research into efficacy of and barriers to biosecurity, and development of strategies for effective communication between veterinarians and producers.

The available literature has ignored farmers' perceptions on the benefits and drawbacks of adopting climate-smart agriculture (CSA) in favor of focusing primarily on profitability and economic constraints. We use the Ethiopian Socioeconomic Survey (ESS) and the General Household Survey from 2018 and 2019 to compare Nigeria and Ethiopia, both of which have sizable rural populations to assess farmers' climate change perception and their adaptation options in promoting CSA. We first hypothesize that farmers with high tolerance for risk and stable financial resources are more likely to adopt CSA techniques, relying on the adopter perception theory of agricultural innovations and technologies. We address potential selection bias using the Heckman selection model, and estimate our data using multinomial logistic estimator, as well as standard logistic regression for robustness checks. We find that in both Ethiopia and Nigeria, household income and plot size influence farmers' adaptations to climate change mitigation practices. However, farmers with bigger plots who run the risk of massive production loss tend to adopt measures of coping with climate change. We show that in both Ethiopia and Nigeria, rural farmers' adaptation decisions are heavily influenced by agricultural extension programs and community social networks. Overall, our work highlights the important role of income, farm size, and climate-related information for investing in climate-smart agricultural methods to curb food insecurity in Sub-Saharan Africa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effectiveness of simple weirs and the ability of rural farmers to construct durable weirs are still areas of concern in rural areas in Zambia. The objective of this study is to investigate the factors contributing to the varying levels of durability of the simple weir structures used for the diversion of river flows. This study was conducted in five districts where 33 simple weirs located in similar geographical zones were analyzed for their longevity. The research delved into catchment and climatic variables, as well as the social and psychological perception of simple weirs. This study conducted interviews with key informants who were familiar with the use of simple weirs in Muchinga Provinces between 26 December 2023 and 15 January 2024 using semi-structured questions. The findings of this study indicated that simple weirs constructed on relatively square-shaped catchments and narrow-shaped catchment areas were less vulnerable to damage and easy to operate and maintain. The study also found that climatic factors such as storm rainfall events had little impact on the operation and maintenance of these weirs in Muchinga province, as most sites are in the rainfall shadow while farmers' views about the structures varied from site to site. Overall, planning is necessary for implementing small or large irrigation structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Düzce University Journal of Forestry / Düzce Üniversitesi Orman Fakültesi Ormancılık Dergisi is the property of Duzce 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.)

This study delves into the perceptions and practices of the agricultural community regarding eco-friendly technologies and air pollution through a detailed clustering analysis of survey data. The primary objective is to identify distinct groups within the agricultural sector based on their responses to various factors, including demographic information, types of crops grown, perceptions of air pollution, and attitudes toward sustainable practices. The analysis employs K-Means clustering to categorize respondents into three distinct clusters, each representing a unique combination of views and practices. The findings are visualized using scatter plots and box plots, offering a clear depiction of the variations and commonalities within each cluster. The study reveals significant diversity in the adoption and perception of eco-friendly practices in agriculture. Some groups demonstrate high satisfaction and effectiveness, indicating successful integration of sustainable methods, while others show skepticism and challenges, possibly due to economic constraints or lack of access to resources and knowledge. The economic interpretation of these clusters suggests that varying levels of resource availability, technological access, and knowledge dissemination influence differences in the adoption of sustainable practices. The study concludes with recommendations for targeted policy-making, educational initiatives, and resource allocation to support and enhance the adoption of eco-friendly practices across different segments of the agricultural community. This tailored approach can significantly contribute to the broader objective of promoting sustainable agriculture and environmental stewardship.

Fruit tree–based agroforestry has been promoted as an alternative farming practice in upland Northwest Vietnam to replace monocultures of staple crops. Although many studies have focused on evaluating the performance of agroforestry systems at the plot level, research on how farmers perceive and evaluate agroforestry considering whole-farm contexts is limited. We explored the perceptions and reasoned management decisions of agroforestry farmers to uncover challenges that hinder the wider use of agroforestry, and we assessed farmers' strategies for effective management of adoption challenges. We combined the Q methodology and the systems thinking approach. With the Q methodology, we explored prevalent discourses among the members of the farming community on the impact of agroforestry. Systems thinking elucidated a system-wide understanding of farmers' adaptive decision-making processes. By combining the two approaches, we uncovered the dynamics that shape farmers' perceptions and the rationale behind their management of the adoption process. Through the Q method, we identified three distinct discourses among participants. Two of these discourses are in favor of agroforestry, highlighting its beneficial impacts on livelihoods and the environment, e.g., through diversification of household income and through soil erosion control. We also generated a collective development pathway outlining how farmers navigated and adapted agroforestry practices to overcome adoption challenges through a whole-system approach to farm resource management. We identified structural barriers, such as unstable farm-gate prices, that may need high-level interventions. Our study adds a new dimension to the assessment of agroforestry through farmers' perspectives and contributes to the existing body of research on knowledge systems in agroforestry. Considering farmers' views and their ways of reasoning during innovation processes may allow tailoring appropriate innovations by accounting for unique farm situations and local farming systems. Such locally generated knowledge will have relevance for real-world contexts and therefore be useful for guiding actions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Son yıllarda Covid-19 salgını ve Rusya-Ukrayna savaşı gibi nedenlerle tarım sektöründe yaşanan sorunlar sektörün önemini bir kez daha ortaya çıkarmıştır. Çünkü salgının neden olduğu tam kapanma politikaları ve savaş nedeniyle oluşan güvenlik gerekçeleri tedarik sorunlarını ve buna paralel olarak enflasyonist baskıları beraberinde getirmiştir. Tarım sektöründe ortaya çıkan bu sorunların çözümünde uluslararası iş birliğine ulusal önlemlerin eşlik etmesi gerekmektedir. Gerekli ulusal ve uluslararası önlemler alınmazsa tahıl ürünlerinin üretiminde veya tedarikinde yaşanacak sorunlar gıda krizlerine dönüşebilir. Tarım sektörünü destekleme amacıyla Dünya Bankası (DB) ve Birleşmiş Milletler (BM) bünyesinde bulunan Gıda ve Tarım Örgütü (GTÖ) gibi uluslararası kuruluşlar aracılığıyla uluslararası politikalar geliştirilmektedir. Bunun yanı sıra her ülke kendi politikalarını çeşitli desteklerle uygulamaktadır. Tarım sektörünün geliştirilmesi ve güçlendirilmesi için ülkelerce çeşitli ekonomik ve teknik destekler sunulmaktadır. Bu destekleri doğrudan ve dolaylı gelir desteği, fiyat desteği ve diğer destekler şeklinde gruplandırmak mümkündür. Ülkelerce sektöre yönelik sunulan çeşitli desteklere rağmen finansmana erişim sorunlarının bulunduğunu söylemek mümkündür. Finansmana erişim sorununun farklı nedenleri olmakla birlikte temel nedenlerinden biri kredilerin yüksek faiz içermesidir. Bu nedenle sektörün finansmana erişimini kolaylaştıracak alternatif finansman araçlarının geliştirilmesi gerekmektedir. Tarımı finanse edecek alternatif araçlardan biri de selem finansmanıdır. Genel hatlarıyla malın vadeli, ödemenin peşin yapılması esasına dayanan selem finansmanı faizsizlik özelliğiyle tarımsal destek yelpazesini genişletebilecek finansman araçlarından biri olabilir. Hâlihazırda dünya genelinde selem finansmanı İslami bankalar eliyle sunulmaktadır. Ancak İslami bankalar tarafından çiftçilere sunulan selem finansmanı düşük düzeylerdedir. Diğer taraftan selem finansmanın İslam bankaların yanı sıra tarımsal kurum ve kuruluşlarca sunulması da mümkündür. Bu bağlamda İslami bankalarca veya tarımsal kurum ve kuruluşlarca selem finansmanının bir finansman aracı olarak sunulması hususunda bu aracı talep edecek çiftçilerin uygulama esaslarına dair düşüncelerinin keşfedilmesi uygulamanın başarılı olması için elzem görülmektedir. Bu amaçla çalışmada İslami finansman araçlarından olan selemin İslami bankacılıkta veya tarımsal kurum ve kuruluşlarca uygulanabilirliği konusunda çiftçi algısını keşfetmeye odaklanılmıştır. Söz konusu çiftçi algısını keşfetmek için nitel araştırma yöntemi benimsenerek yarı yapılandırılmış görüşme tekniği kullanılarak 17 çiftçiyle yüz yüze görüşme yapılmıştır. Görüşmelerden elde edilen veriler tasnif edilerek sekiz tema belirlenmiştir. Her bir tema ayrıntılı bir şekilde analiz edilerek mevcut literatürle karşılaştırılmaya çalışılmıştır. Araştırma sonuçları, selem finansmanının faizsiz olması ve çiftçilere sermaye sağlaması nedeniyle, hem katılım bankacılığı hem de tarımsal faaliyet yürüten kuruluşlar tarafından uygulanabileceğine dair olumlu bir algı olduğunu ortaya koymaktadır. Ancak, uzmanlık ve güven gibi nedenlerle tarımsal kuruluşlar tarafından uygulanmasına odaklanmak, bu aracın yaygınlaşmasını en azından kısa vadede kolaylaştırabilir. Selem uygulamasının başarılı olması ve yaygın hale gelmesi için, tespit edilen risklerin azaltmak önemli bir husus olarak değerlendirilmektedir. Özellikle tarım sigortası ve çiftçilerin üretim potansiyelinin altındaki miktarlar için selem sözleşmesi yapılması, riskleri azaltabilir. Uygulanması durumunda selem finansmanını tercih edeceğini ifade eden katılımcıların oranı, faizsizlik ilkesi nedeniyle selem finansmanını tercih edeceğini ifade eden katılımcılardan daha yüksektir. Bu durum selem finansmanının sadece faiz hassasiyetine sahip olan çiftçilere değil, tüm çiftçilere sunulabilecek bir araç olduğunu göstermektedir. Sonuç olarak tarım sektörünü geliştirmek ve bu sektörde yaşanacak finansman sorunlarının neden olacağı olumsuz sonuçları azaltmak için selem finansmanı alternatif bir araç olarak değerlendirilip geliştirilmelidir. Bu kapsamda özellikle kamu katılım bankalarında ve tarımsal kurum ve kuruluşlarda selemi yaygınlaştıracak politikaların geliştirilmesine odaklanmak ve gerekli yasal düzenlemeleri yapmak gereklidir.

Climate change presents a significant global challenge, particularly for developing nations. It is crucial for long-term investment decisions to incorporate measures for climate change adaptation and resilience. The uncertainty surrounding future climate conditions has made it difficult and expensive to design structures supporting climate adaptation. This study reflects the perspectives of farmers regarding climate change and identify the major adaptation strategies. A bottom-up approach, involving data collection data from 208 households in Beng Cham Aor and Sala Kru sub-districts of Nong Sua, Pathumthani, Thailand was used. The independent variables influencing the farmers' decisions to adopt agricultural adaptations and potential barriers in implementation were studied. A multivariate Probit model was employed to identify the factors that impact selection of adaptation strategies at the farm level. Factors such as age, income, household size, distance from the market, and farming experience significantly influenced farmers' choices regarding farm-level adaptations. The development of policies to support research in science and technology, to provide necessary assistance to farmers in adapting to the changing climate are recommended. The study assessed farmer's level of satisfaction based on their income/assets, agricultural practices, social/community aspects, and family characteristics. The case study of small-scale water resource management in Bueng Cham Aor, demonstrated that farmers were able to effectively secure more water during drought periods by employing local knowledge and data systems, with the support of the Ministry of Science and Technology, Thailand. The significance of comprehending the viewpoints of farmers regarding climate change and the factors that affect their strategies for adapting to it are emphasized. The results offer valuable insights for policymakers and researchers who are dedicated to formulating effective measures to alleviate the adverse effects of climate change on the agricultural industry in developing countries.

Land consolidation is defined as the arrangement of water and road networks in these fields by combining fragmented and scattered parcels, that is, fields. It is also necessary to carry out adequate social and cultural studies. However, consolidation is not at the desired level in Turkey. In the study, it is aimed to examine the ongoing land consolidation process in the Yörük village of Tekirdağ Province Malkara district, the thoughts before and after the consolidation, the effective factors in adopting the consolidation and the problems arising from the consolidation. The information before and after parcellation, road and irrigation connections, relations between production resources, where producers' perspectives on land consolidation were also evaluated. The data used in this study were obtained from the survey data made with 50 enterprises from the Yörük village of Tekirdağ Province Malkara district, and the data obtained from the relevant institutions. Consequently, it was determined that the average number of parcels decreased from 10.14 to 8.24 after land consolidation. In addition, it was understood that 32 of the enterprises had irrigation networks before consolidation, but the distribution of water at network level after consolidation has not been completed yet. In the study, it was determined that although 66% of the people attended the information meeting, As a result of the factor analysis, farmers' judgments about land consolidation are grouped under five headings: "information", "economic satisfaction", "structural satisfaction", "social changes" and "agricultural satisfaction". 90% did not give their consent. It can be thought that this situation could be affected by the fact that most of the information is made by friends, neighbors and demarch. For this reason, it was observed that to provide better and long-term training and information to the authorized institutions in land consolidation is necessary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A survey was carried out in the Mayo-Danay Division, Far-North Cameroon to assess rice farmer indigenous knowledge of the impact of climate change on rice production, their adaptation strategies. A sample of 140 of rice farmers was chosen at random in four rice growing municipality and was interviewed using a structured questionnaire with open and closed questions. The results showed that farmers clearly perceive climatic variations and their impact on rice production through the delay (89.00%) and decrease (87.00%) of rains, flooding (88.60%) and drought (85.00%). The impact of these climate changes on rice production was directly observed on the variation in yield according to the rice growing seasons and confirmed the perception of farmers. To cope with these climate variations, two types of adaptation strategies have been developed by farmers in area. This concerns varietal adaptation such as the use of improved varieties, and that of cultural practices such as direct seeding, transplanting, construction of protective or anti-erosion bunds and use of the fodder. It was a question of analyzing the farmer perception of the impact of climate change on rice production in Mayo-Danay Division. It appears that the farmers of Mayo-Danay perceived climatic disturbances in irrigated and rainfed rice cultivation. These preliminary results could contribute to sustainable management of rice cultivation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding smallholder farmers' perceptions of climate change, technology, association involvement, and government policy, including its indicators, impacts, and impediments, is critical for promoting sustainable agriculture. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the most significant social and environmental factors restricting the agricultural development of small farmers in terms of credit facilities and government subsidies. The agriculture area of Colon (Ecuador) was selected for a stakeholder analysis to identify and assess the priority, needs, goals and requirements of key people regarding agriculture and environmental management. Besides, a logistic regression model was applied to estimate the effect of social and environmental independent variables on credit facilities and government benefits. According to results, smallholder farmers face many challenges, but targeted policy development, supporting the perception of climate change, and enhancing access to markets can help them overcome these obstacles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The synthetic chemical residue-free rice cultivation technology is through organic rice cultivation technology. Organic plant cultivation technology started in 2007 and continues its expansion, even though not as expected. This research aims to study the development of community-based organic agriculture from the perspective of sustainable agriculture. In this study, the researchers used questionnaires and quantitative research approaches. The primary and secondary data were obtained through observation on rice cultivation land, then interviews were conducted with farmers managing rice cultivation in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. The data obtained descriptive-explanatory analysis was carried out. Based on the results, the development of organic farming in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, did not go well. The category of Moderately Sustainable in the perspective of sustainable agriculture was demonstrated with a Sustainability Value of 60.78%. The availability of production facilities independently, the perception and appreciation of the community towards organic agricultural products became obstacles and constraints of organic farming development. The contribution is beneficial for sustainable agriculture to achieve food security. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Apkarkusi adalah sebuah kelembagaan yang menjadi wadah berkumpulnya petani karet Kabupaten Kuantan Singingi untuk melaksanakan pemasaran karet secara bersama. Tujuan dari penelitian ini adalah Menganalisis persepsi petani di Desa Lubuk Terentang terhadap peran Apkarkusi. Penelitiaan ini menggunakan metode Purposive Sampling dengan jumlah sampel sebanyak 61 yang terbagi dalam 6 kelompok tani, dan 1 sampel diambil dari pengurus Apkarkusi. Hasil analisis Multidimensional Scalling yang berada pada kuadran I memberikan modal dan pinjaman kepada petani, hal ini menunjukkan peran Apkarkusi dalam memberikan modal dan pinjaman sangat dibutuhkan petani. Atribut yang berada di kuadran II memiliki persepsi petani yang kuat terhadap peran Apkarkusi. Membantu dan memudahkan pemasaran, dan sistem 4S harus dipertahankan dalam kegiatan pemasaran karet sistem lelang. Kuadran III atribut pemotongan harga lelang karet, penyewaan sekretariat dan gudang, kesepakatan harga, subsidi pupuk pestisida dan cairan pembeku, melakukan pertemuaan, dan mengatasi permasalahan kelompok tani memiliki persepsi yang rendah terhadap peran Apkarkusi. Apkarkusi is an institution that serves as a gathering place for rubber farmers of Kuantan Singingi Regency to carry out rubber marketing together. The purpose of this study is to analyze the perception of farmers in Lubuk Terentang Village towards the role of Apkarkusi. This research used the Purposive Sampling method with a total of 61 samples divided into 6 farmer groups, and 1 sample was taken from the Apkarkusi management. The results of the Multidimensional Scalling analysis which is in quadrant I provide capital and loans to farmers; this shows the role of Apkarkusi in providing capital and loans is needed by farmers. The attributes that are in quadrant II have a strong peasant perception of the role of Apkarkusi. Assist and facilitate marketing, and the 4S system must be maintained in the rubber marketing activities of the auction system. Quadrant III attributes of rubber auction price cuts, secretariat and warehouse rentals, price agreements, subsidies for pesticide fertilizers and freezers, conducting meetings, and addressing the problems of farmer groups have a low perception of Apkarkusi's role.

Increased urbanisation in recent decades has created a knowledge gap between farming and the Irish public. Mainstream media has begun filling this gap through reports on farm animal welfare (FAW) incidents that sometimes frame farming in a negative way. This negative framing can influence how farmers perceive the information communicated in these media stories and colour their experiences. Furthermore, perceived societal pressures may contribute to farmers feeling overwhelmed or negatively impact their mental health. In the context of FAW, the latter is particularly relevant as poor farmer mental health has been associated with poorer animal welfare. However, little is known about how the negative framing of FAW stories influence farmers’ perceptions and experiences. The aim of this study was to explore how negatively framed media stories about FAW incidents affect cattle farmers’ perceptions of animal welfare. Face-to-face interviews were conducted with seven Irish beef and dairy farmers using vignettes displaying negatively framed FAW incidents presented in the media. Five themes were identified: (1) job satisfaction and motivation, (2) impact on the human–animal relationship, (3) the importance of community, (4) negative portrayal of farmers and (5) need for FAW education. Findings suggest that negative framing of FAW in the media, as well as rural restructuring in Ireland, may negatively affect farmers’ motivation which could have indirect implications for the welfare of their animals.

ABSTRACT: Drying-off practices to reduce milk production before dry-off are gaining attention because high milk yields at dry-off are becoming more common and increase the risk to cow health and welfare during the dry period. Incomplete milking for the last days before dry-off is one approach for reducing milk production. We conducted an online survey to determine the currently used drying-off practices on Swiss dairy farms and to identify the adoption potential of integrating incomplete milking before dry-off. In March 2021, the online survey was sent to a representative sample of 1,974 Swiss dairy farmers. A total of 518 completed questionnaires were analyzed. The mean number of dairy cows per farm was 39 (range: 11–140 cows). Thirty-five percent of cows produced considerable quantities of milk (>15 kg/d) at dry-off, and milk yield at dry-off increased with increasing annual milk yield. Abrupt dry-off was applied on 45% of the farms. The participants reported observing behavioral changes of cows such as increased vocalizations and decreased lying time associated with dry-off. Selective dry cow therapy was applied on 74% of the farms, and 44% of the participants indicated the use of antibiotics at dry-off as being “rather often,” “often,” or “always.” Correlation analysis revealed that with increasing annual milk yields, the frequency of observed behavioral changes and antibiotic use at dry-off increased as well. Therefore, drying-off approaches that reduce milk production while supporting cow welfare are needed. We found that farmers showed an interest in testing the presented drying-off approach of incomplete milking. In addition, the farmers indicated that they would be more willing to test incomplete milking before dry-off if it became available for automated use in milking parlors or robots. Uncertainties regarding udder health appeared to be the main barrier for the adoption potential of this approach.

Abstract Fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) is an invasive pest in South Asia. The current paper documents farmers’ perceptions of fall armyworm in India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Nepal and explores the current management practices adopted by farmers. A structured survey was conducted with 526 farmers regarding current cropping practices, identification of fall armyworm and its damage, management, capacity-building activities, and support from government and non-government extension services. The results suggested that most of the farmers reported very high to moderate damage from fall armyworm, and that the damage and spread increased over time. Although farmers used a range of management practices to control fall armyworm, chemical pesticides were still the dominant tool. Farmers learnt about the pest and its identification from their fellow farmers and individual experiences, while services from government and non-government offices were limited. Therefore, there is a need for an innovative extension approach, including the promotion of digital technologies. Similarly, the evaluation and promotion of new technologies as part of integrated pest management strategies (IPM) must be deployed to manage fall armyworm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sorghum is an important food crop commodity in the midst of climate change conditions and the threat of a global food crisis. Sorghum, which has an adaptive advantage to all land conditions, is suitable for use as a food substitute for rice and wheat. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the economic value, farmers' perceptions, and specific strategies for developing sorghum in Central Java and Yogyakarta, Indonesia. The research was conducted in Wonogiri Regency, Central Java, and Gunungkidul Regency, Yogyakarta from September to November 2022. The research was carried out through the observation of 120 respondents with indicators of farming characteristics and farmers' perceptions of sorghum development, as well as focus group discussions (FGD) and depth interviews with indicators of internal and external factors for sorghum development. The analysis used is benefit cost (BC) to evaluate the economic value of sorghum farming, the Likert scale to determine farmers' perceptions of sorghum, and Strength Weak Opportunity Threat (SWOT) to determine specific strategies for developing sorghum. The results showed that sorghum farming is feasible to develop in Wonogiri Central Java and Gunungkidul Yogyakarta because it provides a profit value greater than production costs with a BCR value of >1. The perception of farmers in Central Java regarding the development of sorghum is included in the very good category with an average value of 3.31, and the perception of farmers in Yogyakarta is included in the good category with an average value of 2.55. The operational policy strategy for developing sorghum in Wonogiri Central Java and Gunungkidul Yogyakarta is an expansion strategy (S-O). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Under short-term submergence (7–15 days), submergence-tolerant rice genotypes (e.g. TDK1-Sub1) have been reported to be higher yielding than their intolerant equivalents without the Sub1 gene. This paper examined whether TDK1-Sub1 was superior to Other locally-preferred genotypes, with and without submergence, using 66 on-farm comparisons in southern Lao PDR. Data were examined for 2 genotype categories (TDK1-Sub1, Other) in 3 environment groups (Favourable, Drought, and Submergence), with 22 farms per group used as replicates. Farmers saved seeds of TDK1-Sub1, planted it again in flood-prone fields, and disseminated its seeds to relatives, neighbours and friends, but they did not do so in areas with lower flood risk. Grain yield was generally higher under Favourable conditions (2.42 ​t ​ha−1) than under Submergence (1.94 ​t ​ha−1) or Drought (1.90 ​t ​ha−1). Under Submergence, the grain yield of TDK1-Sub1 (2.22 ​t ​ha−1) was significantly higher than the Other genotype (1.65 ​t ​ha−1; P ​

Conservation practices in agricultural landscapes can greatly mitigate biodiversity loss. However, agricultural landscapes are embedded in complex, social-ecological systems and therefore require a strong social-ecological approach for effective conservation measures. The Galapagos Islands are globally recognized for their high levels of biodiversity. Nevertheless, in recent years, Galapagos landbirds have suffered rapid declines, specifically in the agricultural zone. Our study is the first to examine the farmers' perception of landbirds in the agricultural zone of Santa Cruz, Galapagos Islands. We conducted semi-structured interviews with 38 farmers to characterize the relationship between farmers and landbirds including how landbirds affect farmers and farmers' perceptions of landbirds. The interviewed farmers managed a diverse array of farm types including coffee in agroforestry settings (23.7%), small-scale fruit and vegetable (60.5%) and livestock production (15.8%). We found that 86.9% of farmers had a positive or neutral perception of birds despite 52.6% of farmers finding finches bothersome. The most common techniques farmers employed to deter birds were putting out food and water, using nets to protect seedbeds and crops and using protective tubes around young plants. Our results suggest a positive potential for future conservation work targeted on farmland biodiversity. Future conservation projects should also address disservices and the mitigation of crop raiding by landbirds, the uninformed use of pesticides and other pest issues such as ants and rats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was conducted to assess the current status of famers' perceptions of animal welfare and technical efficiency in broiler farms using a stochastic frontier analysis (SFA). In this study, 355 farms registered in Heilongjiang Province, China were surveyed, with 240 of them responding. The results showed that 75% of farmers recognize the importance of animal welfare, and 56.3% of them expressed their willingness to implement animal welfare on their farms without conditions or having a negative attitude. The technical efficiency of the farmers' ranged from 55% to 99%. All the variables assessed in this study had a statistical influence on production. Education, experience, and gender of farmers were significant variables and increased efficiency, while age and distance of a farm to the main road increased inefficiency. Based on our survey, we suggest that the implementation of animal welfare measures will require government subsidy or incentive, which could encourage 35% of farmers to implement animal welfare measures. To increase production efficiently, farmer needs to control the mortality rate, but the contribution of vaccine during production is below 1% (0.09%). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to (1) determine the perceptions of farmers about coconut shell liquid smoke technology and (2) determine the factors that influence it. The research method used a descriptive quantitative approach with a survey method. Sampling using saturated samples with some 34 people. Data analysis was performed with descriptive data analysis and multiple linear regression analysis to measure the X factor (age, business experience, business income, cosmopolitan expectations, and interests) to factor Y (Perception). The results of the study showed that farmers with positive/good perceptions of coconut shell liquid smoke technology were 53%, while farmers who had negative perceptions were 47%. The analysis results obtained multiple linear regression equation Y = (4.179) + (-0,119) X1 + (0.208) X2 + (0.114) X3 + (1,475) X4 + (0.297) X5 + (0.490) X6 with R of 0.547 and R2 equal to 0.859. The results of the model summary explain the summary of the model consisting of multiple correlation values (R), 0.927. This shows that there is a high relationship between the variable x (age, business experience, business income, cosmopolitan, hopes, and interests) and the farmers' perceptions of coconut shell liquid smoke technology. The t-test results show the t-count value of the cosmopolitan factor (4.142) and the factor of interest (2.114)> t-table (2.051) at the significance level of α 5%. The factors that influence farmers' perceptions of liquid smoke technology are cosmopolitan and interest. In general, breeders have good perceptions of liquid smoke technology, so that the application of liquid smoke technology in animal husbandry can be applied repeatedly to suppress environmental pollution due to the odor generated by laying chicken manure.

Organic fertilisers could contribute to addressing the issues of declining soil fertility, food security and waste management by recycling human waste for use in sub-Saharan Africa. The variable nutrient content of such products can make targetted application more difficult than in chemical fertilisers. One solution to this could be the use of in-field soil testing and information, particularly with the expansion of mobile technology. This research investigated the role of information and soil testing in 43 farmers using human waste derived fertilisers in Kenya and Ghana. Interviews were conducted to understand the use and sources of information in farming and the perception of soil testing technologies. It was found that mobile based testing was unlikely to be adopted for reasons of low priority, the type of knowledge being shared and trust after failures of different projects. Farmers did not see soil testing as the major issue that they needed to solve. Mobile technology was mostly used for visual and oral communication whereas soil testing often provided information in an unsuitable way. Farmers also had limited trust in new projects as they had previously had project failures that did not help them. In order to achieve sustainable adoption of technology there needs to be improved methods of disseminating and learning from project failures to prevent repeated attempts at inappropriate technology in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The impacts of land tenure security on investment have long been recognized. Land certification has been undertaking in most zones of the region including Jimma zone. Therefore this study assesses farmers’ perception on land certification and factors affecting long term land related investments specifically tree, fruit tree and coffee planting. It was conducted in three Woredas of Jimma Zone namely Omonada, Limmu Kossa and Seka Chekorsa. Multi-stage sampling techniques were employed to select respondent farmers from each Woreda and a total of 200 household heads, of which 79.5% are them secure land certification, were selected for the analysis. The findings’ indicates that most of the respondents have positive and strong agreements with different attributes of land certification. These are land certification encourage investment activities, soil conservation measures, and farmers to venture in area that could enhance productivity, provide increased land tenure, feel sense of ownership and current system is satisfactory, have lifelong use right and support both woman and man to share equally. There is significant relationship between land certification and long term land related investments specially tree and fruit planting. In addition long term land related investments are influenced by total land holding, land certification, oxen ownership, extension service and annual income. Thus, land certification and other socio-economics and institutional factors need to be considered to encourage farmers’ involvement in long term land related investments