scholarly journals Farmer typology to understand differentiated climate change adaptation in Himalaya

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Roopam Shukla ◽  
Ankit Agarwal ◽  
Christoph Gornott ◽  
Kamna Sachdeva ◽  
P. K. Joshi
Keyword(s):  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Adaptation Strategies ◽  
Western Himalayas ◽  
Institutional Conditions ◽  
Farming Communities ◽  
High Resource ◽  
Resource Endowment ◽  
High Investment ◽  
Farmer Typology ◽  
Farming Households

AbstractSmallholder farmers’ responses to the climate-induced agricultural changes are not uniform but rather diverse, as response adaptation strategies are embedded in the heterogonous agronomic, social, economic, and institutional conditions. There is an urgent need to understand the diversity within the farming households, identify the main drivers and understand its relationship with household adaptation strategies. Typology construction provides an efficient method to understand farmer diversity by delineating groups with common characteristics. In the present study, based in the Uttarakhand state of Indian Western Himalayas, five farmer types were identified on the basis of resource endowment and agriculture orientation characteristics. Factor analysis followed by sequential agglomerative hierarchial and K-means clustering was use to delineate farmer types. Examination of adaptation strategies across the identified farmer types revealed that mostly contrasting and type-specific bundle of strategies are adopted by farmers to ensure livelihood security. Our findings show that strategies that incurred high investment, such as infrastructural development, are limited to high resource-endowed farmers. In contrast, the low resourced farmers reported being progressively disengaging with farming as a livelihood option. Our results suggest that the proponents of effective adaptation policies in the Himalayan region need to be cognizant of the nuances within the farming communities to capture the diverse and multiple adaptation needs and constraints of the farming households.

scholarly journals Fruit Tree-Based Agroforestry Systems for Smallholder Farmers in Northwest Vietnam—A Quantitative and Qualitative Assessment

Land ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (11) ◽  
pp. 451
Author(s):  
Van Hung Do ◽  
Nguyen La ◽  
Rachmat Mulia ◽  
Göran Bergkvist ◽  
A. Sigrun Dahlin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Management Practices ◽  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Knowledge Exchange ◽  
Fruit Trees ◽  
Agroforestry Systems ◽  
Fruit Tree ◽  
Rapid Expansion ◽  
Qualitative Assessment ◽  
Forage Grass ◽  
High Investment

Rapid expansion of unsustainable farming practices in upland areas of Southeast Asia threatens food security and the environment. This study assessed alternative agroforestry systems for sustainable land management and livelihood improvement in northwest Vietnam. The performance of fruit tree-based agroforestry was compared with that of sole cropping, and farmers’ perspectives on agroforestry were documented. After seven years, longan (Dimocarpus longan Lour.)-maize-forage grass and son tra (Docynia indica (Wall.) Decne)-forage grass systems had generated 2.4- and 3.5-fold higher average annual income than sole maize and sole son tra, respectively. Sole longan gave no net profit, due to high investment costs. After some years, competition developed between the crop, grass, and tree components, e.g., for nitrogen, and the farmers interviewed reported a need to adapt management practices to optimise spacing and pruning. They also reported that agroforestry enhanced ecosystem services by controlling surface runoff and erosion, increasing soil fertility and improving resilience to extreme weather. Thus, agroforestry practices with fruit trees can be more profitable than sole-crop cultivation within a few years. Integration of seasonal and fast-growing perennial plants (e.g., grass) is essential to ensure quick returns. Wider adoption needs initial incentives or loans, knowledge exchange, and market links.

scholarly journals How the timing and location of video shows influence learning among rice farmers in Uganda

2017 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 77-81 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gabriel Karubanga ◽  
Paul Kibwika ◽  
Florent Okry ◽  
Haroon Sseguya
Keyword(s):  
Women Elderly ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Farming Communities ◽  
Rice Farmers ◽  
Catchment Areas ◽  
Production Practices

Videos have the potential of enhancing learning among smallholder farmers. The study intended to establish whether timing and location of video shows influence learning among rice farmers in Kamwenge district, Uganda. A cross-sectional study was conducted by interviewing 48 focus group participants; 100 individual video participants and 16 key informants. Geographical Positioning System (GPS) mapping was used to establish the video catchment areas and distribution of video participants. Farmers approved the video for providing timely, useful and reliable information and bringing extension service providers closer to the farming communities. Majority (94%) of the farmers said that video provided useful information that fostered change in rice production practices and technologies. A one sample T-test indicated that the timing and location of video events are significant in influencing learning among farmers particularly by women, elderly and distant farmers. The implication is that locating video shows far away and running them late at night seriously compromised involvement by females, elderly and distant people. Thus, modalities suggested by farmers need to focus on adjusting the timing of video shows and ensuring rotational operational of videos in the respective villages or parishes purposely to reach out to the elderly, distant and women farmers.Int. J. Agril. Res. Innov. & Tech. 6 (2): 77-81, December, 2016

Using ICT to Overcome Constraints in the Agriculture Value Chain

2013 ◽  
pp. 689-699
Author(s):  
Siegfried Kofi Debrah ◽  
Isaac Kwadwo Asare
Keyword(s):  
Value Chain ◽  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Relevant Information ◽  
Monitoring And Control ◽  
Farming Communities ◽  
Development Partner ◽  
Management Context ◽  
Pertinent Information ◽  
Real Time Information ◽  
And Control

Development partner efforts and private sector initiatives on ICT applications in agriculture have brought new opportunities for farmers and traders to reduce transaction costs and increase incomes. The applications are primarily used for linking actors in the agricultural value chain, accessing real time information on prices, buyers and sellers, transport and haulage, and other relevant information services in the agricultural value chain. Limited evidence from Ghana and elsewhere show that cell phone applications have resulted in increased incomes but the impacts and sustainability of other ICT applications have proven elusive. The role of ICT in overcoming the key constraints in the agricultural value chain and for making evidence-based decisions will be greatly enhanced if farmers, aggregators, and other stakeholders in the value chain pay attention to their business scope and schedule planning, executing, monitoring and control, procurement, risk planning, and stakeholder communications in a “project management” context. When this is done, ICT applications will facilitate supply chain management through sharing of timely and pertinent information on producers, buyers and other services, thereby helping to promote industry competitiveness. The major challenges to the widespread use and sustainability of ICT remain access to the appropriate ICT tool, poor road and storage infrastructure (particularly in the farming communities) and illiteracy on the part of the majority of smallholder farmers.

Determinants of Relevant Constraints Inhibiting Farmers’ Adoption of Climate Change Adaptation Strategies in South Africa

2020 ◽  
pp. 002190962093483
Author(s):  
KT Thinda ◽  
AA Ogundeji ◽  
JA Belle ◽  
TO Ojo
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Climate Change Adaptation ◽  
Agricultural Sector ◽  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Probit Model ◽  
Adaptation Strategies ◽  
Multivariate Probit ◽  
Agricultural Credit ◽  
Multivariate Probit Model ◽  
Climate Change Adaptation Strategies

The adverse effects of climate change on agricultural productivity are on the increase. This study employed both descriptive statistics and the multivariate probit model to estimate factors constraining the adoption of climate change adaptation strategies among smallholder farmers in the study area. The empirical results of the multivariate probit model showed that a lack of knowledge of climate change constraints was influenced by smallholder farmers’ age, gender, off-farm activity, susceptibility and membership in farmer-based organizations. Thus, to improve the adaptive capacity of farmers, government and development partners should work together to improve the conditions under which farmers can gain access to climate change information and suitable agricultural credit as well as policy incentives aimed at lowering the stringent conditions of borrowing in the agricultural sector.

scholarly journals Farmer Perception and Resources for Calf Fattening Under Smallholder Production System

Proceedings ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 36 (1) ◽  
pp. 117
Author(s):  
Humera Iqbal ◽  
Anam Afzal ◽  
Khizar Hayat ◽  
Emma Hand ◽  
David McGill
Keyword(s):  
Value Chain ◽  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Group Discussion ◽  
Primary Source ◽  
Limited Resources ◽  
Secondary Products ◽  
Smallholder Farming ◽  
Market Strategy ◽  
Good Market ◽  
Farming Households

In Pakistan, smallholder farmers are primarily engaged in dairy farming while keeping beef animals as secondary products. Farmers experience poor production due to lack of focus on beef farming, traditional calf rearing practices and limited resources. The objective of this study was to understand the perceptions of smallholder farming households of beef production and the available resources for farmers to engage in beef fattening to increase overall farm profitability. Data was collected using a focus group discussion approach, from farming households in villages across Punjab (n = 7) and Sindh (n = 8). An integrated framework incorporating gender and value-chain considerations was used as a tool to assess farmer interest, goals and resources for rearing livestock. The data was analyzed using content analysis. The majority of farmers interested in calf fattening were more resource rich, with livestock as their primary source of income. A smaller proportion of farmers, with limited resources, also took interest in calf fattening. Women from a few villages mentioned that they were reluctant to be involved in beef businesses due to an emerging focus on childhood education as well as a lack of agency for livestock sales and control over income. Another factor contributing to farmer perceptions of beef included their enterprise focus (dairy or cropping). Overall, smallholder farmers perceived that calf fattening could be a profitable business if claves were reared properly, had adequate feed resources and good market return. Training and farm support targeting these areas is critical for calf fattening to become a profitable market strategy.

Helping the Helpless: Contribution of Rural Extension Services to Smallholder Farmers’ Climate Change Adaptive Capacity and Adaptation in Rural Ghana

2019 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 244-268 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter Asare-Nuamah ◽  
Ebo Botchway ◽  
Justina A. Onumah
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Adaptive Capacity ◽  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Active Role ◽  
Adaptation To Climate Change ◽  
Extension Services ◽  
Farming Communities ◽  
Multiple Strategies ◽  
Transfer Of Skills

While there is no doubt that extension services play an active role in promoting smallholder farmers’ adaptive capacity and adaptation to climate change, there is a dearth of information and research on how this institution champions climate change adaptation in rural farming communities in Ghana. This study employed a qualitative case study design and interviewed 15 extension officers and 26 smallholder farmers to understand how extension services enhance smallholder farmers’ climate change adaptive capacity and adaptation in the rural Adansi North District in Ghana. The findings indicate that extension services adopt multiple strategies to build the adaptive capacity of farmers to climate change. Through the transfer of skills and knowledge, technology and innovations, supply of inputs, technical advice and liaison role with existing local institutions, farmers are able to adapt to climate change. The study further revealed that extension services are hindered by geographical, sociocultural and economic challenges which affect their alignment and fitness to effectively assist smallholder farmers. The study recommends strengthening the capacity of the extension institution. Moreover, more experts must be trained to provide special, targeted and important services to smallholder farmers in respect of climate change sensitization and adaptation.

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