Pesticide toxicity assessment and geographic information system (GIS) application in small-scale rice farming operations, Thailand

The objectives of the study were to evaluate the impact of pesticide exposure on farmer health during non-active rice farming and active rice farming periods and present the change in the individual cholinesterase activities (%reduction) on the geographic information system (GIS) mapping in Nakhon Ratchasima Province, Thailand. Acetyl- and butyryl-cholinesterase (AChE and BuChE) activities were monitored during both study periods using Test-mate ChE (Model 400). The location of paddy fields was specified using Garmin geographic positioning system MAP 62s. Fifty-eight farmers who participated in this study had an average age of 49.2 ± 6.9 years. Higher prevalence of all health symptoms was observed among farmer participants during the active rice farming period comparing to the non-active rice farming period (p < 0.01). Furthermore, farmers had significantly lower activities of AChE and BuChE during the active rice farming period comparing to the non-active rice farming period (p < 0.01). Our findings indicate that the GIS mapping indicate that the cases with a significant enzyme inhibition have dispersed across the agricultural and the nearby residential areas. This, investigation can be used to promote safer use of pesticides among farmers and mitigate pesticide exposure among residents living in close proximity to a rice field.

What Influences Rice Farmers’ Choices of Credit Sources in Côte d’Ivoire? An Econometric Analysis using the Multinomial Conditional Logit Model

In Côte d’Ivoire, the low participation of smallholder farmers in the credit market remains a matter of concern. This study examines the key determinants of rice farmers’ participation in the credit market. We use a Multinomial Conditional Logit model to consider the characteristics related to the use of different credit sources. A total of 588 rice farmers were randomly sampled from seven rice areas. Our findings reveal that gender, age, education level, experience in rice farming, rice plot size, lowland rice farming, extension contact, membership of a farmer-based organization, marketing of paddy rice, and off-farm income significantly influence the use of different credit sources. While credit requirements such as saving plus collateral, kinship/friendship, membership, favoured client, loan maturity, and the distance between borrowers and lenders are credit source-specific variables that significantly determine rice farmers’ choices between different credit sources. These empirical results show that in addition to farmer-specific variables, policymakers should consider the characteristics of credit sources for developing a credit market suitable for smallholder farmers.

Analysis of the suitability of rice farming land as an opportunity for determining the agricultural planting calendar in Ajibarang District, Banyumas Regency, Central Java Province

Ajibarang District is one of the areas in Banyumas Regency with a high level of productivity, but the decrease in rainfall in 2017-2019 caused Ajibarang District to have difficulty in developing their agriculture so that farmers experienced crop failure. The impact that occurs from crop failure causes the land to not be cultivated and if it is cultivated, farmers plant secondary crops. It is also greatly influenced by climate change that occurs. In fact, Ajibarang Subdistrict is included in the B2 Climate Zone with an average rainfall of 1000 - 2000 mm/year which is a climate zone business. The purpose of this study was to determine the opportunities for the rice planting that is very suitable for rice farming. In addition, the Ajibarang Sub-district is also drained by a large river, namely the Serayu River and the Tajum River which are tributaries of the river. So, it is necessary to adjust the climate to be able to determine a suitable planting calendar for agricultural calendar in Ajibarang District. Method The research used is the Forward Sampling and Backward Sampling analysis methods. So, the results of this study resulted in a rice and secondary cropping calendar with three planting seasons in one year and two dry seasons in one year.

Technical efficiency of rice farming in Aceh Province, Indonesia

This study measures the technical efficiency of rice farming in Aceh Province, Indonesia. A sample of 5,351 households from the 2017 Household Farming Cost Structure Survey conducted by the Central Bureau of Statistics of Aceh Province, Indonesia were gathered and analysed using the Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA). Three inputs (i.e., number of labour working days, fertilizer, and seeds) and one output (i.e., number of rice harvest) were used to measure the technical efficiency of rice farming in the province. The study recorded a very low average level of technical efficiency either using a Constant Return to Scale (CRS) or a Variable Return to Scale (VRS) approaches. Two inputs were found not optimal for rice farming activities, namely the number of labour working days and the use of fertilizers, while the use of seeds was found optimal. The study suggests that the farmers should use fertilizers proportionately to the land area. The use of agricultural technology should be intensified to minimize the use of excess labour to reduce wage spending.

Analysis of farmers’ perceptions of the rice farming AUTP program in Landak Regency

Farmers in Landak Regency more frequently face uncertainty and risk of rice farming failure. Therefore, a program that can protect the farmers from the risk is required. Rice farming business insurance (AUTP) is an alternative to overcome the risk of loss due to crop failures. The limited information and knowledge of farmers regarding the AUTP have led to different perceptions among farmers and have affected the farmers’ enthusiasm to become the insurance participants. This research aimed to analyse the farmers’ perceptions of the AUTP program and its implementation mechanisms in Sengah Temila Subdistrict, Landak Regency. A descriptive method with Likert scale was used to analyse the farmers’ perceptions. The research results show that the farmers’ perceptions are at high category with the total score of 3048, indicating that they agree with the AUTP; the highest indicator (195) was that the program objective is protecting the farmers from crop failures, and the lowest indicator (153) was that the program gets success when the farmers agree to pay the insurance premium fully. In general, the implementation of the AUTP in Landak Regency was in accordance with the 2018 AUTP Premium Assistance Guidelines.

Biodiversity And Arthropod Abundance In Organic Semi Rice In Swamp Lowland in Palangka Raya City

Palangka Raya has the potential for swamp lowland to be used for rice farming. For this purpose, knowledge of arthropod biodiversity is required. The study aims to determine the biodiversity and abundance of arthropods and arthropods dominant in semi-organic rice plantations in swamp lowlands. The study was conducted from September to November 2019 in Palangka Raya City. The study was carried out on 1.148m2 farmer's paddy fields. The land is divided into three trial plots, each measuring 28x13 m2. Observations were made at the age of 8-15 WAP. Samples were taken using a net trap (Sweep net). Arthropod biodiversity was analyzed using the Shannon-Weaver diversity index (H'). The results showed that in the semi-organic rice ecosystem were obtained 10 orders, 58 families with a total of 8973 individuals, consisting of pests 92.61%, predators 6.59%, parasitoids 0.28%, pollinators 0.06%, Detrivore 0.35%, and 0.07% neutral insects. Diversity index (H') is low to moderate (0.10-2.19), dominance index (C) is in the low to high (0.18-0.97); Evenness index shows that the community is depressed until unstable (0.04-0.67); and The abundance index on the criteria of less to very much (8.96-25.03). The dominant arthropods are dominated by the Rice bug (Leptocorisa acuta).