Linking Trees on Farms with Biodiversity Conservation in Subsistence Farming Systems in Nepal

2006 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 631-646 ◽  
Author(s):  
Krishna Prasad Acharya
Keyword(s):  
Biodiversity Conservation ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Subsistence Farming ◽  
Trees On Farms

The Use of Manure on Smallholders' Farms in Semi-Arid Eastern Kenya

1995 ◽  
Vol 31 (3) ◽  
pp. 371-381 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. E. Probert ◽  
J. R. Okalebo ◽  
R. K. Jones
Keyword(s):  
Current Practice ◽  
Ammonia Volatilization ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Poor Quality ◽  
Soil Samples ◽  
Scarce Resource ◽  
Subsistence Farming ◽  
Important Resource ◽  
Semi Arid

SummaryThe manure that is returned to croplands each year is an important resource in the subsistence farming systems of eastern Kenya. Measurements on several farms have shown that the manure being used is of very poor quality. Analyses of soil samples from beneath the bomas (small enclosures) where animals are kept indicate that substantial losses of nutrients occur through leaching; ammonia volatilization and denitrification may also be involved. Current practice is to apply the manure at rates that appear to make poor use of this scarce resource. The findings are discussed in terms of what changes to the system may be feasible to reduce losses of nutrients, and to improve the quality of the manure and the effectiveness of its use.

Transaction Costs and the Marketable Surplus of Milk in Smallholder Farming Systems of the Gambia

2005 ◽  
Vol 34 (3) ◽  
pp. 189-195 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jacques Somda ◽  
Eric Tollens ◽  
Mulumba Kamuanga
Keyword(s):  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
The Gambia ◽  
Perfect Competition ◽  
Subsistence Farming ◽  
Smallholder Farming ◽  
Economic Paradigm ◽  
Marketable Surplus ◽  
Milk Marketing ◽  
Cost Factors

The neoclassical economic paradigm views market linkages as efficient mechanisms for trading. However, the validity of this position is questionable, as markets frequently do not possess the structural conditions necessary for perfect competition. In subsistence-farming systems, factors that prevent greater participation of smallholders in markets can be found from the production level to the access to markets themselves. This study investigates the transaction-cost factors operating in smallholder dairy farms in The Gambia. The results indicate that access to market at the farm gate, the number of local cows and the distance to the nearest city increase the likelihood of market participation by producers and the marketing of surpluses of dairy products. Increases in home consumption lead to decreases in sales and of farmers' participation in milk marketing. To achieve pro-poor rural growth, it is therefore essential to address explicitly the low productivity of dairy cattle, low capital endowments and market accessibility for smallholder farmers.

scholarly journals Organic but Also Low-Input Conventional Farming Systems Support High Biodiversity of Weed Species in Winter Cereals

Agriculture ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (9) ◽  
pp. 413 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adam Kleofas Berbeć ◽  
Mariola Staniak ◽  
Beata Feledyn-Szewczyk ◽  
Anna Kocira ◽  
Jarosław Stalenga
Keyword(s):  
European Union ◽  
Biodiversity Conservation ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Conventional Farming ◽  
Weed Species ◽  
Organic Farms ◽  
Invasive Weed ◽  
Low Input ◽  
Winter Cereals ◽  
Conventional Farms

In recent years, the European Union has been paying particular attention to the problem of biodiversity loss. The possibilities of its assessment and conservation are included in the latest European Union (EU) policies and reflected in the European Biodiversity Strategy. The biodiversity of weeds in winter cereals in organic and conventional low-input farms in Eastern Poland was investigated during a 3-year period. Significantly more species and larger abundance were found in organic than in conventional farming systems. The biodiversity of these communities was described by Shannon’s diversity and Simpson’s dominance indices, which showed diversity to be well maintained in both farming systems; however, significantly higher Shannon’s index and significantly lower Simpson’s index values were observed in organic farms. Both farming systems were the mainstay of endangered and rare species, as well as some invasive weed species. Weed communities of organic farms were dominated mostly by Setaria pumila and Elymus repens, while conventional farms were dominated by Juncus bufonius and Setaria pumila. The study showed the importance of organic farming systems for biodiversity conservation. It was also shown that low-input (traditional) conventional farms are also beneficial for biodiversity conservation.

scholarly journals Understanding the Dynamic of Rice Farming Systems in Southern Mozambique to Improve Production and Benefits to Smallholders

Agronomy ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 1018
Author(s):  
Fátima Ismael ◽  
Aires A. Mbanze ◽  
Alexis Ndayiragije ◽  
David Fangueiro
Keyword(s):  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Multinomial Logit Model ◽  
Farming System ◽  
Rice Production ◽  
Rice Farming ◽  
Subsistence Farming ◽  
Rice Farmers ◽  
Crop Types ◽  
Mixed Crops

Rice farming systems (RFSs) in southern Mozambique are very heterogeneous and diversified, which has implications for smallholders’ adoption of each RFS, as well as on rice production and productivity in the region. In this regard, it is important to understand: (i) which RFS typologies can be leveraged to improve rice production and productivity; (ii) the drivers for smallholder farmers’ decisions to adopt an RFS; and (iii) which policies/incentives could enhance existing RFSs. The present study was based on surveys of 341 smallholder rice farmers in the Chókwè Irrigation Scheme (CIS), southern Mozambique. Data on the productivity of rice, size of the herd, and total other crop types were used to frame the RFS typologies. A multinomial logit model (MLM) and multiple linear regression (MLR) were applied to determine the driver for each RFS, and predict the constraints for production and yield. Based on cluster analysis, four typologies of RFSs were identified: the subsistence farming system (FS), specialised rice FS, mixed crops FS, and rice–livestock FS. Farms with longer experience reported applying more fertiliser and seedlings per unit hectare. The availability of labour increased the likelihood of adopting the mixed crops FS and rice–livestock FS. Older households were more likely to adopt the subsistence FS, and live closer to the farming fields. Yield of rice was positively associated with inputs such as fertilisers, pesticides, and seedlings, as well as years of experience of the household. Our results suggest that smallholder farmers need more assistance and technical support to identify and adopt more productive and less costly RFSs in this region.

Occurrence of Toxigenic Fungi and Aflatoxin Potential of Aspergillus spp. Strains Associated with Subsistence Farmed Crops in Haiti

2017 ◽  
Vol 80 (4) ◽  
pp. 626-631 ◽  
Author(s):  
Junior Aristil ◽  
Giovanni Venturini ◽  
Alberto Spada
Keyword(s):  
Low Income ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Weather Conditions ◽  
Subsistence Farming ◽  
Fusarium Spp ◽  
Toxigenic Fungi ◽  
Low Income Country ◽  
Growing Season Length ◽  
Species Specific

ABSTRACT Subsistence farming and poor storage facilities favor toxigenic fungal contamination and mycotoxin accumulation in staple foods from tropical countries such as Haiti. The present preliminary study was designed to evaluate the occurrence of toxigenic fungi in Haitian foodstuffs to define the mycotoxin risk associated with Haitian crops. The objectives of this research were to determine the distribution of toxigenic fungi in the Haitian crops maize, moringa, and peanut seeds and to screen Aspergillus section Flavi (ASF) isolates for production of aflatoxins B1 and G1 in vitro. Maize, moringa, and peanut samples were contaminated by potential toxigenic fungal taxa, mainly ASF and Fusarium spp. The isolation frequency of Aspergillus spp. and Fusarium spp. was influenced by locality and thus by farming systems, storage systems, and weather conditions. Particularly for ASF in peanut and maize samples, isolation frequencies were directly related to the growing season length. The present study represents the first report of contamination by toxigenic fungi and aflatoxin in moringa seeds, posing concerns about the safety of these seeds, which people in Haiti commonly consume. Most (80%) of the Haitian ASF strains were capable of producing aflatoxins, indicating that Haitian conditions clearly favor the colonization of toxigenic ASF strains over atoxigenic strains. ASF strains producing both aflatoxins B1 and G1 were found. Understanding the distribution of toxigenic ASF in Haitian crops and foodstuffs is important for determining accurate toxicological risks because the toxic profile of ASF is species specific. The occurrence of toxigenic fungi and the profiles of the ASF found in various crops highlight the need to prevent formation of aflatoxins in Haitian crops. This study provides relevant preliminary baseline data for guiding the development of legislation regulating the quality and safety of crops in this low-income country.

The distribution and incidence of banana Fusarium wilt in subsistence farming systems in east and central Africa

2016 ◽  
Vol 84 ◽  
pp. 132-140 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patrick Karangwa ◽  
Guy Blomme ◽  
Fenton Beed ◽  
Celestin Niyongere ◽  
Altus Viljoen
Keyword(s):  
Fusarium Wilt ◽  
Central Africa ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Subsistence Farming

PROFITABILITY OF BARLEY AND PEAS MIXED INTERCROPPING IN THE SUBSISTENCE FARMING SYSTEMS OF THE NEPALESE HILLS

1998 ◽  
Vol 34 (4) ◽  
pp. 465-474 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. D. SUBEDI
Keyword(s):  
Grain Yield ◽  
Agricultural Research ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Farming System ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Research Centre ◽  
Pure Stand ◽  
Subsistence Farming ◽  
Traditional Practice ◽  
Land Equivalent Ratio

Experiments were conducted during the winter seasons of 1992–93 and 1993–94 at the Lumle Agricultural Research Centre and its off-station research site at Lopre in Nepal to study the agronomic performance and profitability of barley (Hordeum vulgare) and peas (Pisum sativum) mixed intercropping (that is, without any row arrangement) in the subsistence farming systems of the Nepalese hills. Sole crops of barley (cv. Bonus and Local) at 100kg seed ha−1 were compared with a pure stand of peas (cv. Tikot Local) sown at 60kg seed ha−1 and with peas intercropped with both varieties of barley at 100:40 or 100:20 kg seed ha−1. Results across two locations for two seasons showed that the barley+peas intercropping was advantageous in terms of overall grain yield, land equivalent ratio (LER), monetary advantage, economic return and dietary provision in the subsistence farming system. It also provided yield stability under adverse climatic conditions. Barley genotypes differed in their suitability for intercropping with peas. The yield of Local barley was reduced when peas were intercropped with it at both seed rates but this was not so with Bonus. The most appropriate combinations to realize the maximum advantage from intercropping were Bonus barley+peas at 100:20 kg seed ha−1 and Local barley+peas at 100:40 kg seeds ha−1. A combination of Bonus barley and peas at 100:20 kg seed ha−1 enabled farmers to harvest an additional 400 kg grains ha−1 from peas without significantly reducing the grain yield of barley. The study also verified through formal experimentation that the traditional practice of mixing barley and peas is advantageous.

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