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This study examines farmers' perceptions of agrochemical use in maize production and their harmful environmental effects. A convergent parallel mixed design was used to collect quantitative data from 254 respondents via structured interviews and qualitative data through in-depth interviews and Focus Group Discussions. The findings revealed that among those who were using agrochemicals, 98.9%, 59.2% and 49.7% used inorganic fertilizer to enhance soil fertility, pesticides to control pests and herbicides to kill weeds, respectively. Those who did not use agrochemicals were limited by many factors, including adverse effects of agrochemicals on the environment and lack of access to and the high cost of agrochemicals. Also, more than half of the respondents (51.2%) had limited knowledge about the harmful effects of agrochemicals on the environment. The perceived harmful effects of agrochemicals on the environment included being harmful to domestic animals and non-targeted insects and causing air pollution. The study provides insights for the government on how it could design and enforce educational programmes that would increase farmers' knowledge of the proper use of agrochemicals to protect the environment while maximizing maize production. This study contributes to the existing literature on how unawareness of farmers on the use of agrochemicals can adversely affect the environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Shelter forest systems in the sandy areas mainly comprise farmland shelter forests (FSF) and windbreak and sand-fixing forests (WSF). Through a questionnaire survey of farmers in the oasis–desert transition zone of the windy desert areas of the Hexi Corridor in China, a perception assessment model of farmers' perception of the status quo and ecosystem service function of shelter forests was constructed, and the willingness of farmers to pay for shelter forest construction and protection was measured. Influencing factors for the farmers' perception of shelter forests were analyzed by a multiple regression analysis. The results showed problems with pests and diseases all present in FSF and WSF, the destruction of farmland in FSF, and water scarcity in WSF. Farmers evaluated the ecological role of shelter forests as the most obvious in windbreak and sand fixation; intermediate in the four ecological roles of leisure and recreation, agricultural production, a sense of locality, and climate regulation; and the smallest in soil improvement. Nearly 95% of farmers are willing to donate funds to shelter forest construction and protection, and the average amount the farmers were willing to pay was CNY 54.30 per year. Willingness to pay, annual household income, gender, environmental experience, age, and interview area have significant effects on farmers' perception of shelter forests. Finally, in this paper, we recommend increasing motivation through government financial support and training for farmers to address pests and diseases, water security, and the destruction of farmland in shelter forests to ensure healthy and sustainable growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: The active participation of farmers in adopting eco‐friendly practices is vital to mitigate the environmental and health risks linked to pesticide usage. Farmers' awareness of these risks significantly influences their adoption of integrated pest management (IPM) methods over traditional pesticide applications. This study sought to explore the range of understanding on pesticide effects, categorize IPM strategies employed in pest management, and examine the correlation between knowledge levels and IPM strategy choices. Data was gathered through structured questionnaires from 391 rice farmers in Sari County, Mazandaran province, Northern Iran. RESULTS: Exploratory factor analysis revealed three distinct dimensions of pesticide risk knowledge: personal risk of pesticide, environmental risk of pesticide, and community risk of pesticide. Furthermore, the study identified three primary categories of IPM strategies: high familiarity, intermediate familiarity, and low familiarity. The results of the regression analysis indicated that the personal risk of pesticides (β = 0.556; P < 0.01) and the environmental risk of pesticides (β = 0.262; P < 0.01) are significantly correlated with the adoption of high familiarity IPM strategies. Furthermore, the study revealed that there was no significant statistical evidence to support the notion that different types of pesticide risk knowledge had any influence on the adoption of intermediate and low familiarity strategies. CONCLUSION: The findings of this study imply the critical importance for agricultural extension programs to focus on enhancing farmers' knowledge of pesticide risks and various IPM strategies. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Bangladesh is a low-lying deltaic nation in South Asia, and as such, its agriculture is continually threatened by various natural disasters, including floods, drought and storms. Additionally, from March 2020 to the end of 2021, Bangladesh’s agricultural productivity encountered grave challenges of the pandemic COVID-19, just like the rest of the world. Therefore, the research was designed to examine how COVID-19 affected agricultural productivity from the perspective of farmers in southwest Bangladesh. Research Method: Face-to-face interviews, paired t-tests, Pearson’s product-moment correlation, multiple linear regression analyses, principal component analyses and cluster analyses were done. Findings: Significant variation was recorded in yield, production cost, gross income and net income between Covid-19 and non-Covid times. During COVID-19, farmers’ perception of crop production was positively correlated to experience, training and in-field extension service whereas market value positively impacted crop yield. During a pandemic, the respondents had the strongest concerns regarding 1) unavailability and the high price of seed, 2) limited transportation facilities and high fair and 3) unavailability of labor and high wages. Principal component analysis (PCA) identified 9 key variables out of 24 explaining the maximum variance of the study. Cluster analysis (CA) categorized all surveyed crops into three clades with cabbage, sweet gourd, eggplant and potato in clade-I being least affected, resulting in relatively higher economic return than others. Value: All things considered, the study’s findings provide insight to policymakers about how to maintain food security and the food supply chain in the event of a future pandemic or other catastrophic event by guaranteeing a steady supply of farming inputs and transportation facilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article assesses the perceptions and societal attitudes of farmers toward agro-forestry practices in Gujarat, India. The study explores indigenous and traditional agroforestry practices including the conservation and management of tree growth in agricultural and forested areas. Factors affecting societal attitudes toward agroforestry include education, environmental conditions, location of trees planted, choice of plant species, preferred planting sites and motivations for tree planting.

The Moringa stenopetala tree is a highly versatile plant with numerous applications. It serves as a reliable source of food, feed, and income for farming households in Ethiopia. A study conducted in the Southern region of Ethiopia aimed to evaluate the potential of the Moringa stenopetala as a livestock feed resource. The study examined various factors, including year-round availability, usage trends, farmers’ attitudes, and livestock preferences, through a survey of 379 households using diverse techniques. Results revealed that the abundance of Moringa stenopetala trees ranged from 1 to 100 trees per household. Most households (95.5%) supplied the edible parts of the tree to their livestock for sufficient amounts of quality protein. However, the study identified a lack of awareness regarding harvesting, conservation, and processing during ample yield of trees for dry and seasonal fluctuations, limiting the potential of the tree for farming households. The study found that in the Gofa and Gamo zones, 64.8% and 52.73% of households, respectively, supplied cattle with edible parts of Moringa stenopetala, while 56.69% of households in the Konso zone mainly provided for goats. Livestock preferences for tree parts differ, with the earliest leaves being the most popular choice. Providing Moringa stenopetala parts in fresh and dried forms was important in replacing feed quality and quantity gaps during dry seasons. In conclusion, promoting the planting of the Moringa stenopetala tree and raising awareness of its nutritional composition of edible parts could help further utilize this valuable resource in drought-prone areas.

This study, conducted in the Agogo Traditional Area of the Ashanti region of Ghana, where there are numerous conflicts between crop and animal farmers due to insufficient pasture for livestock, especially during the dry seasons, has yielded positive findings. The study used cross-sectional data from 150 farmers selected via a multi-stage sampling technique. Financial viability indicators such as Net Present Value (NPV), Benefit-Cost Ratio (BCR), Internal Rate of Return (IRR), and perception index based on a five-point Likert scale were used. The establishment of pasture for small ruminant production was positive. The study found the pasture business as a viable concept with a BCR of 1.18, a positive NPV of GH₵3,160, an IRR of 40.1%, and a payback period of 2.61 years. Farmers' positive perception of pasture establishment for small ruminant production was a significant finding. The SWOT analysis identified the prospects and potential challenges of the concept as follows: availability of land, support to the government policy of establishing 'fodder banks' for sustainable land use, low technical know-how, and land tenure issues, among others. The study recommends the establishment of pasture as a venture since it is financially viable and has the potency to significantly reduce farmer-herder conflicts, instilling hope in the audience about the positive impact of the study's recommendations. Concerned institutions should also empower farmers through technical education on pasture establishment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has mentioned that coastal areas would be the worst sufferers of climate change-induced variabilities and extremes, severely affecting the farming community, particularly in developing countries. Farmers are developing different field-based and livelihood-based adaptive mechanisms depending on several socio-economic, institutional and locational factors. Previous studies were concentrated on agriculture and its adaptation strategies against climate change, but considering coastal agriculture in the context of climate variability is largely unexplored. This study aims to find controlling factors of coping mechanisms against climate variability for coastal agriculture on the east coast of India. A questionnaire survey and focused group discussion have been conducted to collect and validate farmers’ perceptions of climate variability. The study has applied a binary logit model and established that socio-economic farming system attributes and locational factors influence farmers’ decision to adopt farm-level and livelihood adaptations. Most farmers (> 80%) have perceived that rainfall variability has increased, which is a major issue for agriculture in this area. The logistic regression models successfully predicted nearly 70% of the variables in each model. The model indicated that variables like experience, education, land ownership, involvement with marine fishing and distance from the coast influenced adaptation mechanisms against climate variability. The findings of the study have underlined the factors that need more attention for better management of coastal agriculture in the context of climate variability and can help to formulate better climate adaptation policies in the coastal areas of India and areas with similar backgrounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study attempted to observe the perception and adaptation strategies of farmers in the context of climate change. It observes that the majority of the farmers are aware of climate change and understand that they are facing problems due to it. The major problems faced by the farmers are the long duration of dryness due to lack of rainfall, weed pressure, very high temperatures, and crop disease. However, farmers are not very aware of technological adaptation and have changed the cropping time due to changes in the time of monsoon. The study recommends that there is a need for intensive micro and macro policy initiatives in terms of modern green sustainable technology along with awareness and skill development of the farmers. The government should also focus more on policy initiatives for sustainable agricultural practices in line with sustainable development goals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Burkina Faso, sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) is the second most important export crop after cotton. In the rural commune of Bérégadougou, it is the second most important cash crop after groundnuts. This oilseed is essentially a rainfed crop and is there-fore largely dependent on rainfall. The aim of this article is to analyze sesame production in a context of climatic variability. To achieve this, the research methodology is based on a global geographical approach that integrates meteorological data (1991-2021), climatic parameters and fieldwork. The results show a rainfall pattern with a rainy season (May to October) and a dry season (November to April). Inter-annual rainfall trends over the analysis period show that rainfall is always above 500mm, whatever the year. Similarly, whatever the year, the average temperature is always above 27°C. These variations in rainfall and temperature have no impact on sesame production. Family farmers also gave 92% of their produce as evidence of their acceptance of climatic variability.

The dependence of agriculture in tropical countries in general and in Cameroon in particular on rain-fed agriculture makes them more vulnerable to the effects of climate change and variability. In order to align their agricultural practices with frequent variations in climatic conditions, farmers according to agro-ecological zones have developed a set of climatic indicators allowing them to assess climatic disturbances and develop consequent adaptation strategies. This study aimed to analyze the evolution of climatic parameters from 1990 to 2020 in the Western Highlands region of Cameroon, to document the links between farmers' perceptions and the observed variations as well as adaptation strategies adopted. The climate data were collected at the meteorological station at Bamougoum airport and at the Institute of Agricultural Research for Development at Dschang. Ethnobotanical and sociological surveys were carried out among 414 arborists distributed in the divisions of Menoua, Haut-Nkam, Bamboutos and Noun. The resulting results show that climate parameters have varied over the past three decades with highest temperatures recorded during the years 2010 to 2013 (22.36°C and 22.5°C) and the years 2011, 2014 and 2018 were the ones that experienced major rainfall (164.61mm, 181.46mm, 191.16mm respectively). Regarding perception, 61.65% of arborists observed a drop in rainfall quantities and 73.79% of respondents observed an increase in temperature. These variations have a negative impact on the production and yields of rain-fed crops. As a result, arborists have opted for several adaptation strategies including the cultivation of fruit trees such as Persea americana, Dacryodes edulis, Mangifera indica, Citrus recticulata. It would be wise for decision-makers to better develop fruit growing as an adaptation strategy for rural populations in order to make them less vulnerable and effectively combat the effects of climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Access to reliable and skillful Climate Information Service (CIS) is crucial for smallholder farmers in Bangladesh to mitigate the impacts of rainfall variability and extremes. This study aims to systematically evaluate the performance of CIS in providing Scientific Forecast (SF) and Local Forecast (LF) to smallholders in Bangladesh. The results were then compared with farmers’ perceptions of the forecast accuracy. Additionally, the skill of a simple hybrid forecast (HF), which is an integrated system of SF and LF, was assessed using the ERA5 and ground observation datasets as benchmarks. The SF and LF data were obtained from the meteoblue hindcast and from the interview, respectively. The results indicate that, overall, LF exhibits slightly higher skill compared to SF when evaluated against the ERA5 dataset. The forecast performance, however, declines by almost half when the ground-based observations are used, associated with high false alarms. Farmers, on the other hand, perceived SF to possess superior performance compared to LF. This study demonstrates that combining the SF and LF into a simple HF yields higher forecast skill than either individual forecast, highlighting the importance of HF to deliver a reliable and trustworthy weather forecast.

Foot and mouth disease (FMD) is a severe, highly contagious viral disease of livestock that has a significant economic impact. A cross-sectional study was conducted from September 2019 to June 2020 in three selected districts of Sidama region, southern Ethiopia with the objectives of determining the sero-prevalence of cattle against foot and mouth disease virus (FMDV), identifying potential risk factors and assessing farmers' perception on vaccination against FMD. Purposive and systematic random sampling techniques were employed to select the districts and study animals, respectively. A total of 510 cattle were tested for FMDV antibodies using 3ABC-ELISA. The overall cattle and herd level sero-prevalence were 15.5% and 24.7%, respectively. Among the considered risk factors age, herd size, and season were significantly associated with the sero-positivity of FMDV (P

ABSTRACTLand degradation continues to be a major concern for agriculture in developing countries, including Tanzania. Agroforestry is one solution that benefits food production and reduces land degradation. However, various challenges hinder its widespread adoption. This study uses an integrated assessment framework, combining MESMIS (an indicator-based sustainability assessment framework) and ScalA (a scaling-up assessment tool), to evaluate sustainability and constraints to the widespread implementation of agroforestry in semi-arid Tanzania. The main goals are to: 1) identify existing agroforestry technologies adopted by smallholder farmers; 2) evaluate farmers’ perception of sustainability regarding each technology's environmental, economic, and social impact; and 3) identify constraints related to the widespread adoption. Results show that farmers consider the following four technologies as the most sustainable: (i) tied ridge + tree intercropping; (ii) contour planting + tree intercropping; (iii) Chololo pits + tree intercropping; and (iv) tree intercropping alone. The findings indicate that, although farmers perceive the technologies positively, adoption is also influenced by local climate, socio-economic status, and institutional factors. The study highlights that a positive perception alone cannot ensure widespread adoption, emphasizing the importance of considering contextual factors. Further testing and application of the proposed framework in similar and comparative settings is encouraged as it provides valuable guidance when evaluating different agroecosystems holistically.

Wheat, the first grain crop in the world, can be negatively impacted by varying temperatures and precipitation patterns, which may pose a threat to the food security. Therefore, the objective of this study is to investigate wheat farmers perception of and adaptation to climate change. Cross-section and historical data on climate variables were used. Cross-section data was collected from 600 wheat farmers in various Agroecological Zones (AEZ) through face-to-face interviews. Descriptive statistics, time-trend regression, and the multinomial logistic regression (MNL) model were used to analyze the data. Using actual meteorological data, a climate change analysis corroborated the farmers' perceptions regarding the variability of temperature and precipitation. Changing planting dates (23 %) and cultivation of short duration wheat varieties (17 %) were identified as the major adaptation measures to climate change, while about 19 % of farmers did not undertake any adaptation measures. Access to climate information increased the likelihood of adopting short-duration wheat varieties by 8.57 % and changing planting date by 9.32 %, while credit access increases the likelihood of adopting short duration wheat varieties by 8.86 %. Increasing awareness of climate change, intensifying extension activities, increasing access to climate information, and modifying wheat production techniques can all help farmers become more resilient to climate change, thereby ensuring food security under changing climate.

Background: The adaptability and forage yields of some alfalfa varieties are very low compared to the other varieties. Thus, this experiment was conducted to evaluate the adaptability, forage yield potential and farmers' preference of seven alfalfa genotypes across two agro-ecological conditions of Chena and Gimbo districts, Southwestern Ethiopia in the year 2019 and 2020. Methods: Seven varieties of alfalfa forage including Magna 788, Magna 801, FL-L77, Hunter river, FG9-09, FG10-09 and Pioneer 1995 were used as experimental treatments. The genotype was arranged using an RCBD with three replications. All the relevant data were collected and then subjected to SAS software. To assess the adaptability and productivity potential of the selected varieties, all necessary data were recorded. Result: The effect of varieties on adaptation performance and yield potential showed significant differences (P≤0.05) for all parameters except the date of emergence at both locations. Dry matter yield, biomass yield, leaf weight and stem weight were significantly (P≤0.01) affected among all varieties of alfalfa. Therefore, all varieties of Alfalfa were found to be adaptable and performed well for most growth parameters and yield components except seed production under the conditions of Gimbo and Chena agroecology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the perception and adoption of IoT technologies for crop monitoring among farmers in Jizan, Saudi Arabia. The research investigates the relationship between farmers' awareness of IoT technologies, their perception of benefits, and willingness to adopt them. It also explores the influence of factors like access to information, training, and the perception of government support on adoption behavior. A structured questionnaire was distributed to 550 farmers, with a response rate of 90.91%. The analysis reveals a significant association between farmers' awareness of IoT technologies and their perception of benefits. The perceived benefits show a moderate positive relationship with farmers' willingness to adopt IoT technologies. Access to information, training, and the perception of government support also have a positive influence on adoption. The findings highlight the importance of increasing farmers' awareness and providing access to information and training on IoT technologies. The study emphasizes the need for government support in facilitating adoption. Recommendations include exploring additional factors, conducting longitudinal studies, and developing tailored training programs. Collaboration among stakeholders and financial support mechanisms is also crucial. This study contributes to the understanding of IoT technology adoption in agriculture, providing insights for policymakers, agricultural extension agencies, and technology providers. By embracing IoT technologies and implementing the recommended actions, farmers in Jizan can enhance their crop monitoring practices, improve productivity, and promote sustainable farming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The diverse sources of agricultural extension information do not guarantee increased farmers’ capabilities to adopt agricultural innovations. Consequently, efforts to accelerate the adoption of agricultural innovations should pay particular attention to farmers’ compatibility with different information sources. This study aims to analyze farmers’ perceptions of various information sources about rice commodity innovations and determine the information sources influencing farmers’ capabilities in adopting rice innovations. The study was conducted from June to December 2019 through a structured survey approach with 270 rice farmers in Subang, West Java and Boyolali, Central Java, Indonesia, by using structural equation model analysis. The results showed that rice farmers had positive perceptions of government, private, and self-subsistent extension. The capability level of rice farmers showed that all indicators were significantly different. Farmers could improve their capabilities and sustainability of rice farming by adopting agricultural innovations. Information from government and private extension providers had a positive effect on the capacity and capability of rice farmers. The role of self-subsistent extension was more of a facilitator and did not directly affect the capacity and capability of farmers. Participatory extension activities are recommended as a form of intervention that can improve rice farmers’ capacity and capability in terms of technology adoption processes. The extension activities should be provided as a series, rather than one-off events, so that farmer knowledge accumulates over time through a style and pace to match their skills and level of education.

Local farmers' expertise in soil quality and management strategies is essential for preserving the fertility of farmlands and for the collaborative development of strategies to sustain farm productivity. This study aims to investigate farmers' and scientific-based assessment of soil quality in the Choke agroecosystems, Upper Blue Nile Basin, Ethiopia. One hundred twenty-three households were selected purposively from the five agroecosystems (lowland and valley fragmented (AES 1), midland plain dominated by Vertisols (AES 2), midland plain dominated by Nitosols (AES 3), sloppy midland (AES 4), and hilly and mountainous highlands (AES 5)) of the Choke watershed. A total of 20 composited soil samples were taken from 0 to 20 cm soil depth from plots of surveyed farmers. Farmers' perceptions of soil quality are based on visible crop performance, soil-related and biological indicators, and the area's slope. There is some inconsistency in the classification of soil quality across different AES due to variations in soil and crop management practices, as demonstrated by the difference between the perceived high soil quality by farmers in the midland part and the higher nutrient content found in the sloppy and mountainous highlands. The current study disagrees with the result from scientists, where higher content of OM is found in areas where farmers perceive light/ yellowish soil color (AES 4 & 5) and low OM is recorded in the black color of soil (AES 2). Thus, the result suggested that local soil knowledge should be constructed for the site-specific agroecosystem to sustain soil and crop production.

Introduction and Objective: Soil plays an important role in sustainable development. Therefore, protecting and controlling of soil erosion greatly contributes to the well -being, security and sustainability of societies. In order to solve the growing problems of the country in the field of natural resource destruction and soil erosion, assessment of farmers' awareness about soil erosion and their perception and attitudes toward soil erosion phenomena would be essential. Because perception is a kind of mental inclination and the main cause of behavior changes, and hence changing the perceptions alters human behavior. Hence, the study of people's perceptions in different fields would be important to help managers and executives to be aware of people's ways of thinking about specific issues, and if necessary, to develop some plans to change the people's perceptions. Therefore, the main goal of this research is to understand the perception of the farmers of the Chehlchay watershed in Golestan province towards soil erosion. Also, appropriate training methods, the effect of some human factors on soil erosion and the reasons for not implementing conservation works at the level of agricultural fields from the farmers' point of view are surveyed and is introduced as sub -objectives of this research. Material and Methods: In this study, to understand farmers' perception on soil erosion, a conceptual model with seven components including familiarity and understanding of the concept of soil erosion, the effect of natural factors on soil erosion, the effect of human factors on soil erosion, responsibility for causing soil erosion, the consequences of soil erosion, how to deal with soil erosion and control and prevention of soil erosion was designed and following this model, 45 items were defined to cover all aspects of this model. Then, 200 questionnaires were filled out with face -to -face interview with farmers in four villages and the results were analyzed. Statistical analysis of the questionnaires was performed using SPSS software. Results: In this research, Cronbach's alpha coefficient was estimated 0.804. The results of this research showed that about 31% of farmers have more than average knowledge of soil erosion, 22% have average knowledge and 37% have less than average knowledge. Also, the results of evaluating the scores of the seven components of the conceptual model of farmers' perception towards soil erosion showed that the farmers with an average score of 2.4, 2.3, and 2. 2 had the lowest level of awareness, respectively. Conclusion : According to the presented data on the awareness of farmers in the region, in general, the majority of farmers (about 68%) have intermediate and low knowledge about the phenomenon of soil erosion, so it can be concluded that the farmers' low knowledge and inappropriate perception about soil erosion causes insufficient attention to be paid in this regard and therefore no serious works are carried out to improve the soil erosion in the region. Therefore, according to the significance of the relationship between the level of education and the amount of education and promotion about soil erosion, it is suggested that by improving the provision of educational and promotional services, a background is provided for improving the perception of farmers in the region. Additionally, by increasing the awareness of farmers, an effective step will be taken to improve the rate of soil erosion in the upstream watersheds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent studies suggest that smallholder farmers' perceptions rather than exact meteorological data strongly influence how they adapt to the changing climate. Therefore, we explored the climate change (CC) perceptions and adaptation strategies of coffee farmers in dependence on the meteorological data (1983–2020) along an elevation gradient (1,600–2,000 masl) in the Sidama region, Ethiopia. In total, 351 coffee farmers were randomly selected for household interviews, complemented with key informants (KIs), focus group discussions (FGDs), and field observations. Severity Index (SI) was computed to measure farmers' perception of CC, followed by a Mann–Kendall test to ascertain climate trends. Weighted Average Index (WAI) was also used to rank adaptation strategies. We detected an increasing temperature and annual rainfall trend. Nevertheless, while farmers agreed on rising temperatures, they perceived rainfall reduction, contradicting the meteorological data. The highest SI was recorded for the rising temperature, followed by the uncertainty of rainfall distribution, increasing number of hot days, late-onset, and reduced amount of rainfall. The SI results with KIs and FGDs confirmed that weather events seemed more variable than in the past two to three decades and affected coffee production. As the most important CC adaptation strategies, the respondents practise agroforestry, application of compost, terrace construction, modification of farming calendar, and crop diversification. Our results also revealed that gender, education, farming experience, family size, access to agricultural and farmer-to-farmer extensions, and credit services affected adopting adaptation strategies. This study confirms that farmers' perception is more important in shaping the applied adaptation strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Maize Lethal Necrosis (MLN) is a disease of maize reported in Kenya in 2012 that results in yield losses of up to 100%. The epidemiology of MLN is complex as the disease is caused by the synergistic interaction of 2 viruses (Maize chlorotic mottle virus (MCMV) and a potyvirus). In addition, multiple reservoirs and transmission pathways exist for the spread of MLN. The current study was conducted to understand farmers’ maize production practices, their understanding of MLN, and the status of MLN in Kenya. Therefore, a survey of 406 randomly selected farmers was conducted in Bomet, Narok, Kirinyaga, Embu, and Nakuru. To confirm the presence of MLN, maize leaf samples were collected from 18 fields and tested for MCMV and SCMV by molecular techniques. MLN Symptoms observed included chlorotic mottle on leaves, necrosis, and premature plant death. MCMV and SCMV were detected in all the maize growing regions at varying levels of incidence, and severity. Sequence analysis of the partial coat protein genes of randomly selected positive samples of the two viruses showed little variability within the studied isolates and those retrieved from the GenBank. The results indicated that MLN is still prevalent in Kenya with farmers’ planting susceptible varieties.

The possible future challenge for food agriculture development led to the transition from conventional to modern agricultural management using smart farming technology (SFT). Some factors detaining the use of SFT for food commodities, specifically in small farmers’ communities, are global climate change, low-quality human resources of farmers, and extension workers. Small farmers generally have relatively small land, limited access to capital and farming input, and grow different kinds of commodities according to seasons. This research examined the adoption readiness in using SFT for three food commodities in Aceh Province, Indonesia, namely rice, maize, and potatoes. The sample comprises 70 farmers per commodity and 48 extension workers, obtained through the quota sampling method, culminating in 258 respondents. The readiness measurement for SFT adoption was conducted by introducing various models, images, videos, and RITX applications. The collected data were investigated and analyzed using the Mann–Whitney and Kruskal–Wallis for two or more categories. The result showed that both farmers and extension workers have a positive perception of the application of SFT. However, in terms of readiness, farmers have a relatively lower readiness level than the extension workers due to their low capacity. This means it is essential to focus on the economic and capacity building of farmers by providing them with appropriate SFT devices to overcome the high investment cost and provide the technical skill for its application to overcome this situation.

Coastal Kenya is arid and semi-arid. Farmers in coastal Kenya use saline borehole irrigation water for crop production. There is limited information regarding the perception of farmers on effect and management of salinity on crop production. This study assessed farmers' perception on effects and management of saline water on soil and crops in coastal Kenya. The study was carried out in Kilifi County (Kaloleni, Magarini and Kilifi sub-Counties) and Kwale County (Msambweni and Matuga sub-Counties). A purposive sampling procedure was used to select farmers from the two study sites. Farmers owning boreholes and practicing irrigated agriculture for at least three calendar years were selected per site resulting in a sample size of 30 farmers from each county. Data were obtained from sampled farmers through interviews and structured questionnaires. The farmers' survey was undertaken using a single - visit survey approach. Data collected were divided into four subsections, which include, socio-demographic profiles, farmers' sources of information on crop production, history of borehole water, crops grown and soil and water management. Survey data were coded and analyzed using SPSS software, version 14. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results revealed that all (100 %) household size in Kilifi County and 92.2 % of Kwale County consisted of four or less members, showing that the smaller household sizes depended on irrigated crop production either for food or income generation. Radio was the most common means of communication (Kilifi 90 % and Kwale 87.5 %) through national and vernacular languages. Farmers in Kilifi County (93.3 %) and Kwale County (86.7 %) did not belong to any agricultural society. This meant that some farmers lacked information on the advantages and how agricultural societies are formed. Farmers growing crops under irrigation in Kwale County obtained water from boreholes. Farmers in both counties never tested the quality of borehole water used to irrigate their crops. All farmers (100 %) in Kwale County and 86.7 % in Kilifi County reported gradual decline in yield, 13.3 % of famers in Kilifi County reported stunted growth, 84.6 % of farmers from Kilifi County and 78.6 % from Kwale County reported that salts in irrigation water (indicated by white residues on soil after irrigation) accumulate in soil over time that degraded the soil and harmed plants. Farmers in both counties (Kilifi 84.6 % and Kwale 64.3 %) use manure during planting to manage their soils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change has posed a serious threat to agriculture over the last few decades. It has become a source of concern for a country like Bangladesh, which is heavily reliant on agriculture. Therefore, it is necessary to understand possible changes in climatic variables and their impact on agriculture on a microscale. The present study was designed to assess the farmer's perception of climate change in Rajshahi and Bogra Districts of Bangladesh. This study also investigated whether farmers' perceptions of climate change were consistent with climatic records. Furthermore, the study investigated the selection of various adaptation strategies taken by farmers to cope with climate change and mitigate its effects. The annual rainfall trend from the MK/mMK test portrayed that most stations experienced decreased rainfall. Similar results were also achieved on a seasonal scale. In contrast, the annual and seasonal temperature trends had shown an increase in most of the stations. The results were perfectively in line with the farmers' perception. Results also showed that farmers had adopted four broad strategies to deal with the climate change scenario viz. technological development, government programs, farm production, and financial management. However, the dominant strategies adopted by farmers were changes in planting dates, crop rotation, supplementary irrigation, and fertiliser changes. Overall, the study's findings highlight the need for immediate actions to mitigate the negative impacts of climate change and help develop sustainable adaptation strategies to maintain agricultural productivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amid the epoch of global overpopulation, the agroforestry system can intervene as a novel practice that can safeguard agricultural sustainability, provide a means of livelihood, yield ecological benefits, and contribute to household food security. However, the adoption of sustained agroforestry practices requires an understanding of both farmers' personal characteristics and perceived statuses, constituting a difficult task to anticipate, analyze, and visualize. To this end, it is crucial to understand and identify the most significant factors driving the adoption of agroforestry. This research attempts to examine the determinants and psychological drivers of smallholder farmers' intention to plant trees on farmland and the factors that may discourage them from doing so. The conceptual framework of the study was developed based on the theory of planned behavior. We draw on survey data from 400 smallholder farmers in a northern irrigated plain of Pakistan. A binary logistic regression model was employed to explore how socio-psychological drivers influence farmers' decision to adopt agroforestry practices. The study results reveal that 60.5% of the respondents prefer to adopt agroforestry practices. The results from a logit estimation showed that socio-economic variables such as family size, land ownership, subsidies, livestock rearing, sources of energy, and total income had a significant positive influence on the planting of trees on farmland, while age had a negative influence. Moreover, runoff control and the control of heat significantly affect the perceptions of farmers regarding the adoption of agroforestry. The findings suggest that implementing policies that enhance the delivery of robust agricultural extension services and training programs for farmers could disseminate the agroforestry system countrywide, which might offer substantial benefits for farmers in the long term while maintaining environmental integrity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pakistan is included in top 50 countries which are estimated to face serious agriculture and food deficiency related challenges due to the worldwide pandemic coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19). The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of COVID-19 on food supply chain and agriculture in Punjab, Pakistan, by using space–time scan statistic (STSS). A survey was conducted at 720 points in different districts of the province. The STSS detected "active" and emerging clusters that are current at the end of our study area—particularly, 17 clusters were formed while adding the updated case data. Software ArcGIS 10.3 was used to find relative risk (RR) values; the maximum RR value was found to be 42.19 and maximum observed cases 53,265 during June 15–July 1, 2020. It was not always necessary that if the number of active cases in Punjab increased, there should be higher relative risk for more number of districts and vice versa. Due to the highest number of cases of COVID-19 and RR values during July, mostly farmers faced many difficulties during the cultivation of cotton and rice. Mostly farmers (72%) observed increase in prices of inputs (fertilizers and pesticides) during lockdown. If the supply chain of agriculture related inputs is disturbed, farmers may find it quite difficult to access markets, which could result in a decline in production and sales of crops and livestock in study area. It is suggested that to protect the food security and to decrease the effect of the lockdown, Punjab government needs to review food policy and analyse how market forces will respond to the imbalanced storage facilities and capacity, supply and demand and price control of products. The findings of this study can also help policy-makers to formulate an effective food security and agriculture adaptation strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study was conducted to assess the impact of cultivating green grass on farmers’ livelihood in major milk pocket areas of Bangladesh. A total of 180 farmers were interviewed following stratified random sampling technique from Sirajganj, Pabna and Rangpur districts. A combination of descriptive, mathematical and statistical techniques was used to analyze the data. Green grass is one of the major ruminant foods and its nutritive value is very high. Profitability analysis showed that benefit cost ratio of green grass production was 1.84 and it was comparatively profitable than the competing crop Boro rice. Age of household head, annual income from grass production, households’ training and experience in green grass production were the significant factors influencing farmers’ decision to adopt green grass production. The study found that more than 50% of the farmers’ socioeconomic status and livelihood assets increased after adopting green grass production. SWOT analysis indicated nutritive value of green grass as major strength and its high demand for as major opportunity. The study recommended that input support, training programmes and extension services by government and non-government organizations should be organized, and contract-based cooperative groups should be established to raise farmers’ awareness on producing green grass.

China’s livestock and poultry industries have undergone massive transformations, with far-reaching implications for resource consumption and environmental issues. Utilizing waste resources from livestock and poultry, which requires increased farmer participation, is critical for China to meet its goal of lowering carbon emissions while also advancing high-quality animal husbandry. To this end, this study develops a model based on stimulus-organism-response (SOR) theory to explore the impact of different policy instruments on farmers’ willingness to utilize resources, as well as the mediating effect of farmers’ perception and the moderating effect of farmers’ attitude toward risk. Using OLS and Bootstrap estimation on survey data from 607 farmers from 11 counties in China’s Hunan province, this study reaches the following main results. First, incentive policies have a significant positive effect on farmers’ willingness to utilize resources. The service policy has the greatest positive impact among the various incentive policies considered, followed by the subsidy policy, while the impact of the propaganda policy is insignificant. Second, farmers’ perceptions mediate the effect of incentive policies on their willingness to utilize resources. Finally, risk attitude negatively impacts farmers’ willingness to utilize resources, indicating that the more conservative a farmer’s risk preference, the greater the impact of farmers’ perception on willingness to utilize resources, and vice versa. To achieve sustainable livestock production, policymakers should prioritize measures that can improve and strengthen regulatory control, encourage education and technology adoption related to resource utilization, and offer subsidies for manure treatment and utilization.

One of Tunisia's main challenges is to conserve and protect water resources for current and future generations. Using non-conventional water in agriculture, such as treated wastewater, can be a sustainable water-saving solution. Therefore, the objectives of this study are (i) to analyze the value chain of treated wastewater for olive growing farms production and (ii) to apply mathematical modeling to maximize the olive production in optimizing irrigation distribution and nitrogen amendment in olive growing farms. The work is carried out in a peri-urban irrigated perimeter of Msaken, Sousse, which is mainly occupied by olive trees and irrigated by treated wastewater. A SWOT analysis is also applied to identify the strengths and weaknesses of reuse in this study area. Moreover, mathematical models are used to determine the optimal schedule for fertigation with treated wastewater. In this process, data on rainfall, soil, water quality and olive production were collected from local farmers, local decision makers, field and laboratory experiments. SWOT results determine farmers' perceptions of reusing treated wastewater for irrigation. The viability analysis, in terms of soil humidity and nitrogen, shows that the nitrogen stress is not a limiting factor for olive biomass production, but water stress is. This analysis provides numerical values for the maximum irrigation rate and total amount of irrigation water to ensure maximum olive production. It was found that the maximum irrigation could be 5.77 m3/day/ha and the total annual water requirement is 1240 m3/ha. Modeling appears to be an important tool to help local decision makers and to support and encourage local farmers to reuse treated wastewater under safe conditions and without environmental risks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Whitefly is a populous insect pest among tomato insect pests, causing significant crop loss through direct and indirect attacks. The current study aimed to assess the knowledge of tomato farmers on the populousness of whiteflies compared to other tomato insect pests and explore the management options available in their farming context in three tomato-growing regions, Arusha, Morogoro, and Iringa, in Tanzania. The study used a questionnaire to collect the data with backup information obtained through key informants' interviews and focus group discussions. The study findings indicated whitefly to be populous among tomato insect pests. However, tomato farmers showed varying knowledge of whitefly aspects, including differing control options for the pest. Such findings indicated a knowledge gap between farmers' understandings of the pest and their practices in fighting it compared to the standard and required practices in controlling the pest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Land degradation continues to be a major concern for agriculture in developing countries, including Tanzania. Agroforestry is one solution that benefits food production and reduces land degradation. However, various challenges hinder its widespread adoption. This study uses an integrated assessment framework, combining MESMIS (an indicator-based sustainability assessment framework) and ScalA (a scaling-up assessment tool), to evaluate sustainability and constraints to the widespread implementation of agroforestry in semi-arid Tanzania. The main goals are to: 1) identify existing agroforestry technologies adopted by smallholder farmers; 2) evaluate farmers' perception of sustainability regarding each technology's environmental, economic, and social impact; and 3) identify constraints related to the widespread adoption. Results show that farmers consider the following four technologies as the most sustainable: (i) tied ridge + tree intercropping; (ii) contour planting + tree intercropping; (iii) Chololo pits + tree intercropping; and (iv) tree intercropping alone. The findings indicate that, although farmers perceive the technologies positively, adoption is also influenced by local climate, socio-economic status, and institutional factors. The study highlights that a positive perception alone cannot ensure widespread adoption, emphasizing the importance of considering contextual factors. Further testing and application of the proposed framework in similar and comparative settings is encouraged as it provides valuable guidance when evaluating different agroecosystems holistically. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to analyze the perception of the health risk of chemical pesticides and the use of personal protective equipment among farmers. A crosssectional study was conducted among maize farmers in Ardabil province (N=1507) which was determined by multi-stage sampling and the table of Bartlett et al. (N=306). First, by determining the initial indicators, farmers' perceptions of pesticide health risk were assessed by the composite index (CI) technique. Farmers' groups were then analyzed based on the total composite index. According to the findings, the use of boots was the first priority and goggles the last priority was the use of personal protective equipment. There was a significant correlation between perceptions of health risk and use of personal protective equipment; but the perception of health did not necessarily correspond to the degree of toxicity of pesticides. According to the results of the composite index, 2,4-D herbicide was considered the most dangerous pesticide for farmers. Also, the most important differentiating variables of perception of health risk were mental norm, history of training courses and farm size, respectively. Despite the high perceptual and educational gap on pesticide health risks, special attention to group training methods, ongoing training feedback, involvement of local trustees and skilled farmers, and the use of local media and warning brochures can Improve perceptions of farmers' health risk (especially on a small scale). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The research was based on the assumption that despite farmers' risk perception regarding climate change, they have lower adaptation capacity due to various problems. In this context, the study examined farmers' perception of climate change effects, the extent of their use of adaptation strategies and the constraints they face. To fulfil these objectives, the study used both quantitative and qualitative data. For quantitative data, 347 farm household heads were surveyed from multiple agro-ecological zones in Bangladesh, applying a four-stage sampling technique. Focus group discussion (FGD) and key informant interview (KII) were used to gather qualitative data. Household survey and Problem Confrontation Index (PCI) were employed for quantitative data. The multi-method approach was used to maximise reliability of the findings. The results revealed that about one-third of the farmers (32%) were low adaptation strategy users, and only 8% were high adaptation users. However, the majority (86%) believed that climate change is a risk to desired crop production. The multi-method (PCI, FGD and KII) approach was applied to identify the major problems in expanding adaptation capacity, such as a shortage of farm inputs, lack of knowledge on adaptation practices, lack of credit facilities, shortage of land and inadequacy of flood and saline tolerant varieties. The results could contribute to decision and policy making to minimise the barriers to adaptation. Moreover, future researchers can benefit from the methodology applied to identify the barriers to climate change adaptation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change and climate variability drive rapid glacier melt and snowpack loss, extreme precipitation and temperature events, and alteration of water availability in the Himalayas. There is increasing observational evidence of climate change impacts on water resource availability and agricultural productivity in the central Himalayan region. Here, we assess the farmers' perception of climate change and its impacts on agriculture in western Nepal. We interviewed 554 households and conducted eight focus group discussions to collect farmers' perceptions of temperature and rainfall characteristics, water availability, onset and duration of different seasons, and the impacts of such changes on their lives and livelihoods. Our results indicate that the farmers' perceptions of rising annual and summer temperatures are consistent with observations. Perception, however, contradicts observed trends in winter temperature, as well as annual, monsoon, and winter precipitation. In addition, farmers are increasingly facing incidences of extreme events, including rainfall, floods, landslides, and droughts. These hazards often impact agricultural production, reducing household income and exacerbating the economic impacts on subsistence farmers. Integrated assessment of farmers' perceptions and hydrometeorological observations is crucial to improving climate change impact assessment and informing the design of mitigation and adaptation strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The green revolution and climate change have become a promising Indonesian rice production strategy to reach self-sufficiency through the application of improved agricultural technology such as organic rice farming (ORF). ORF is an eco-friendly agricultural practice that increases production, income, and sustainable agriculture. This study assessed farmers’ perception, motivation, constraints, awareness, and belief in adopting ORF. The study used a multi-stage sampling procedure. The primary data were collected from 203 households in West Java Province using a structured questionnaire. Weighted average index (WAI) was used to assess the farmers’ perception, motivation, awareness, and belief regarding the adoption of ORF. The results reveal a significantly different perception between ORF and conventional rice farming (CRF) farmers on production, quality, health and safety, market price, environmental concern, and certification aspects. ORF farmers had a more positive perception than conventional farmers. The results of the WAI reveal that CRF had a lower yield (0.63), risk-averse (0.70), and no cash compensation (0.62), whereas ORF had a higher price (0.82) and organic farming lifestyle (0.83). The ORF farmers also still have a strong positive belief in organic farming for the future, even though they lack organic fertilizer resources and certification. The strategies for adopting ORF are infrastructure improvement and community empowerment, compensation and incentive strategy, more intensive socialization, provision of assistance and training related to ORF, marketing facilitation, and subsidies on the prices and certification of organic rice.

By summarizing research projects performed over the past 10 years on grasslands in cattle production, we seek to understand the way of farming with grassland and cattle farmers' way of thinking about it. Based on the combined perspective of sociologists and animal scientists, the cross-analysis we realized reveals that the local context is the main element necessary to understand grassland management practices on livestock farms. Many groups of drivers influence how farmers develop their perceptions about forage services, think about forage production and practice it (i.e., "forage rationales"): (i) soil and climate conditions, (ii) professional network and (iii) existence of networks bringing together farmers and other stakeholders to discuss grassland issues. From the diversity of production contexts, we reveal different perceptions that livestock farmers have about the services that grasslands provide mainly at farm scale: animal production, economic, agronomic, ecological and environmental. The structuring of these perceptions outlines an array of forage rationales in which grasslands have a relatively central place in cattle production. Finally, we show that the farmer's rationale can evolve over time due to debates with peers and non-agricultural stakeholders. This leads us to discuss how evolution of livestock farmers' grassland rationales and practices can be supported, and finally to formulate recommendations for maintaining grasslands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Expansion of aquaculture in the Sundarbans Biosphere Reserve (SBR) is irreversibly replacing agricultural land and the drivers of this change are disputed. Based on in-depth interviews with 67 aquaculture farmers, this paper characterizes major aquaculture types in the SBR, their impacts, and identifies drivers of conversion from agricultural land. Aquaculture types included traditional, improved-traditional, modified-extensive, and semi-intensive systems. Extensive capture of wild shrimp larvae is environmentally harmful but constitutes an important livelihood. Semi-intensive aquaculture of exotic shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) has much higher unit-area profitability than other types but involves greater financial risk. Profitability is the main driver for the transition from agriculture, but environmental factors such as lowered crop yields and cyclone impacts also contributed. Many conversions from agriculture to aquaculture are illegal according to the stakeholders. Existing legislation, if enforced, could halt the loss of agriculture, while the promotion of improved-traditional aquaculture could reduce the demand for wild seed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change has become one of the highlighted issues of the world, resulting in vulnerability and adverse effects on livelihoods. It leads to an undeniable challenge for policymakers, the government, and other respective associations to formulate effective strategies; however, before formulating any coping, adaptation, or mitigation strategies, understanding the reality and perception of local people is crucial. This study investigated whether local farmers inhabiting Lower Mustang are aware of climatic change. The study comprised various methodologies, such as household surveys, field visits and focus group discussions (FGD). The farmers' responses were consistent with the actual temperature and precipitation data recorded between 1973 and 2018 at meteorological stations situated near the aforementioned regions. The finding shows that the average annual temperature of this region has risen by 0.021 °C/year over the last 45 years. Similarly, the annual precipitation increased 1.83 mm/year on average, which was also acknowledged by local farmers. From the field visit, it was also noticed that the vulnerability of climate change is considerably high and has insufficient capacity to cope with climate change. Thus, the government, and other stakeholders should assist in building the adaptive capacity of this Himalayan region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increase in the intensity and frequency of climate extremes threatens socioeconomic development. This study examines variability of mean and extreme climate, farmers' perception of the changes, and impacts in the Awash River Basin. Daily rainfall and temperature data were used to analyze 23 extreme climate indices. The Mann–Kendall test was used to assess the magnitude and significance of the changes. Results show an increase in minimum (0.019–0.055 °C/year) and maximum temperatures (0.049–0.09 °C/year), while total rainfall is on a downward trend (from −3.84 mm/year to −10.26 mm/year). Warm extreme temperature indicators, including warmest day (TXx), warmest night (TNx), warm day (TX90p), warm night (TN90p), and warm spell duration indicator (WSDI), show a significant increasing trend (p < 0.05). Nevertheless, except the tepid–cool humid agroecology zone, cold extreme temperature indicators in cool days (TN10p), cool nights (TX10p), and cold spell duration (CSDI) are declining. Extreme precipitation indices, including maximum 1-day precipitation amount (RX1day), count of days when precipitation ≥10 mm (R10 mm), maximum 5-day precipitation amount (RX5day), count of days when precipitation ≥20 mm (R20mm), very wet days (R95p), extreme wet days (R99p), and total precipitation (PRCPTOT), show a decreasing trend. The perception of most farmers' on climate change and climate extremes agreed with climate records. The major impacts perceived and asserted over all agroecologies are food price inflation, crop productivity decline, crop pests and diseases spread, livestock disease increase, and the emergence of pests and weeds. The increasing trend in extreme warm temperatures, decreasing trend in the cold extreme, and declining trend in precipitation indicators affected agricultural productivity and farmers whose livelihood depends on rainfed agriculture. This agroecology-specific study provides critical information to policymakers, decision makers, and farmers about the potential impacts of climate change and extreme events, leading to the development of agroecology-based adaptation measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]