Digital Transformations in Agri-Food Systems: Innovation Drivers and New Threats to Sustainable Rural Development

The paper proves that sweeping digital transformations are a global trend in agri-food development. Significantly improved economic efficiency, rational use of natural resources, operational exchange of relevant information, new markets, and economic opportunities under modern climate change are possible owing to digital transformations. It is grounded that the elimination of world hunger based on the provided internal food security and secured rural communities should be the primary goal of the digital innovations in agri-food systems within Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The paper states that along with the significant benefits of digital technologies, the great destructive impact on the overall societal development is possible due to the corporate monopolization of digital processes. Thus, there is the risk of the development of food systems, which are characterized by decreasing in the food supply, loss of biodiversity and rural livelihoods. Proposals to mitigate the threats of digitalization, strengthen internal food security and enhance the development of rural communities through information and communication technologies (ICT) are substantiated. The specific of the agri-food digitalization in Ukraine is outlined, which is determined by the duality of the organizational structure of agriculture (corporate and individual sector) with a tendency to the concentration of land, power, and financial resources in favor of corporations expanding opportunities for digitalization. Appropriate safety measures to mitigate the negative impact on the development of small producers, rural areas, and Ukrainian society are identified.

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Food Security and Rural Livelihoods in the Doldrums: Exploring Alternatives for Sanyati through Sustainable Development Goals

Africanus Journal of Development Studies ◽

10.25159/0304-615x/4752 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 48 (2) ◽

Author(s):

Tinashe Mitchell Mashizha ◽

Munyaradzi Admire Dzvimbo

Keyword(s):

Sustainable Development ◽

Food Security ◽

Rural Communities ◽

Food Insecurity ◽

Sustainable Development Goals ◽

Smallholder Farmers ◽

Rural Livelihoods ◽

Climatic Conditions ◽

Development Goals ◽

Food Security And Nutrition

The topical issue of sustainable development has received significant attention from scholars, social commentators and decision-makers, yet it seems there is a gap with regard to the examination of alternatives and sustainable methods of combating food insecurity. This article makes a number of observations that point to a deepening food insecurity, and it makes recommendations to avert further catastrophes. Findings from the study indicate that the Sanyati district in Zimbabwe faces perennial food shortages and relies on government food handouts, drought relief and donor food aid. The study found that command agriculture (a government initiative) is perceived as a catalyst for ensuring food security and nutrition and enhancing self-sufficiency among smallholder farmers in rural communities. Knowledge of sustainable development goals can lead to an expanded understanding of food security in general and the manifestations of alternative rural livelihoods strategies in particular. In this article, we recommend the implementation of climate-smart agriculture at local and national levels to help farmers adapt to the changing climatic conditions. However, there is a need to make subsidised inputs available in time so as to increase household adaptive capacity and improve livelihoods.

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Socio-economic impact of Jatropha-based biofuel promotion on rural livelihoods in northern Tanzania

10.21203/rs.3.rs-25918/v1 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Moses Olotu

Keyword(s):

Developing Countries ◽

Food Security ◽

Rural Communities ◽

Fossil Fuels ◽

Negative Impact ◽

Smallholder Farmers ◽

Renewable Energy Sources ◽

Rural Livelihoods ◽

Cash Crop ◽

Biofuel Crops

Abstract Background In recent years, there have been global concerns regarding the continuous use of non-renewable fossil fuels as the major source of energy. The utilization of non-renewable fossil fuels has negative effects on global warming and climate change. So far, efforts to curb the situations have tended to focus on promoting alternative renewable energy sources such as the use of biofuels to cut down emissions of green house gases. However, the production of biofuel crops has become an issue of concern in many developing countries. This is because the expansion of land for biofuel crops cultivation is directly linked to food security and the livelihoods of rural communities. The present study, therefore, aimed to evaluate the contribution of non-food biofuel crops (Jatropha curcas) to the improvement of rural household livelihoods and its impacts on food security. A survey was conducted in 84 households in Arumeru and Siha Districts in the northern Tanzania.Results The results revealed that the introduction of Jatropha as a cash crop had no significant impact on the rural livelihoods since the five capitals of the framework have not optimally been utilised despite their presence. It was further revealed that Jatropha cultivation has not affected food security. This is contrary to fears that biofuels could generally have a negative impact on food security especially in developing countries. The crop had not been regarded as a cash crop or a biofuel; thus, a very little percentage of land owned by the respondents had been allocated for its cultivation. The importance of Jatropha in the study area has yet to be recognised and given the special attention it requires.Conclusions It can be concluded that, the current situation does not indicate any significant impact of Jatropha cultivation on food security. However, it has little contribution to livelihood improvement of the smallholder farmers. Therefore, research on the improvement of Jatropha productivity under optimum conditions and pricing should be further undertaken in different areas of the country.

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Requirements Engineering in the ICT4D Domain

Computer Engineering ◽

10.4018/978-1-61350-456-7.ch201 ◽

2012 ◽

pp. 187-200

Author(s):

Kristina Pitula ◽

Daniel Sinnig ◽

Thiruvengadam Radhakrishnan

Keyword(s):

Rural Communities ◽

Software Development ◽

Requirements Engineering ◽

Information And Communication Technologies ◽

Rural Areas ◽

Local Population ◽

Communication Technologies ◽

Social Contexts ◽

The People ◽

Information And Communication

Requirements engineering is an important stage in any software development. It is more so in the case of software development for social development projects in rural areas of the developing countries. ICT4D which stands for “Information and Communication Technologies for Development” is gaining more and more attention as computing is more widely affordable. This article is concerned with requirements engineering in the ICT4D domain. In many developing counties, a significant effort is being put into providing people in rural areas with access to digital content and services by using Information and Communication Technologies. Unfortunately most ICT4D projects pursue a top-down development model which is driven by the technology available and not by the very needs and social problems of the people living in rural communities (Frohlich et al., 2009). Existing technologies are often applied in a non-inclusive manner with respect to the local population, without sufficient adaptation or re-invention, and often without regard for user’s needs and their social contexts.

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Ecological Governance and the Sustainability of Rural Household Water Conservation Systems in the Savannah Region of Ghana

10.4018/978-1-7998-8809-3.ch001 ◽

2022 ◽

pp. 1-46

Author(s):

Prosper Bazaanah

Keyword(s):

Rural Communities ◽

Rural Areas ◽

Water Conservation ◽

Rural Livelihoods ◽

Domestic Water ◽

Chi Square ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Gender Inclusion ◽

Ecological Governance ◽

And Gender

This chapter examined the link between ecological governance and water conservation as sustainable pathways for enhancing rural livelihoods in the Savannah Region. Designs adopted were post-positivist and cross-sectional. Probability sampling techniques were used to sample 450 household and official respondents. Questionnaires were administered, while descriptive statistics and chi-square test were utilised to analyse the data. Findings showed significant relationship between conservation initiatives, finance, rehabilitation/maintenance, and gender inclusion and domestic water conservation. Therefore, with commitment to maintenance, funding, and gender inclusion in water decisions, there is the likely for water to be locally sustainable in rural communities of the region. Democratic, decentralised, and participatory approaches to ecological governance and empowerment of the local communities are recommended as essential preconditions for achieving ecologically self-governing communities and sustaining domestic water systems in the rural areas of the region.

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Implementation of Bioenergy Systems towards Achieving United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals in Rural Bangladesh

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su11143814 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 11 (14) ◽

pp. 3814 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Khondokar M. Rahman ◽

David J. Edwards ◽

Lynsey Melville ◽

Hatem El-Gohary

Keyword(s):

Sustainable Development ◽

Rural Communities ◽

Rural Areas ◽

Indoor Air Pollution ◽

Sustainable Development Goals ◽

Clean Energy ◽

Easy Access ◽

Time Saving ◽

Energy Deficiency ◽

Development Goals

This research presents a conceptual model to illustrate how people living in rural areas can harness bioenergy to create beneficial ‘community-driven’ income-generating activities. The research is contextualised within the rural developing areas of Bangladesh where people live in abject poverty and energy deficiency. The research methodology applied in this study aims to determine the basic requirements for implementing community-based anaerobic digestion (AD) facilities and illustrate how an AD facility positively impacts upon the lives of rural communities directly after its installation. The survey results demonstrate that implementing a biogas plant can save 1 h and 43 min of worktime per day for a rural family where women are generally expected to for cook (by the long-term tradition). In addition to the positive impacts on health and climate change through adoption of clean energy generation, this time saving could be utilised to improve women′s and children’s education. The research concludes that, by providing easy access to clean bioenergy, AD can change people’s quality of life, yielding major social, economic and environmental transformations; key benefits include: extending the working day; empowering women; reducing indoor air pollution; and improving people’s health and welfare. Each of these tangible benefits can positively contribute towards achievement of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. This work demonstrates the potential to increase the implementation of AD systems in other developing world countries that have similar geographic and socioeconomic conditions.

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The Contribution of Sugarcane Partnership for the Livelihood Structure and the Development of Rural Areas in Lampung Province of Indonesia

International Journal of Current Science Research and Review ◽

10.47191/ijcsrr/v4-i7-08 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 04 (07) ◽

Author(s):

Arya Hadi Dharmawan ◽

Keyword(s):

Rural Communities ◽

Rural Areas ◽

Raw Materials ◽

Forest Products ◽

Farm Income ◽

Sustainable Rural Development ◽

Sugarcane Farming ◽

Non Timber Forest Products ◽

Survey Approach ◽

Sugarcane Industry

Sugarcane is a mainstay commodity crop as raw materials for sugar. Therefore, increasing domestic production through partnerships is an effort to suppress the high value of imports. The purposes of this study are to identify the farmer’s household land use, to analyze the income structure and livelihood strategies, and then to conduct an economic dependency analysis on the sugarcane industry in relation to rural area development. The research method used a survey approach of 131 households and interviews with the head of village and the heads of farmer groups. For data analysis, descriptive statistics and analysis of farm income were used. The results show that farmers use land for sugarcane partnership with a choice of Kerjasama Operasional (KSO) or operational cooperation, the Independence (Mandiri), and Hutan Tanaman Industri (HTI) or industrial forest plantation partnership. The sources of livelihood structure of farmers are from non-sugarcane agriculture, sugarcane farming, Non-Timber Forest Products (HHNK), and non-farm. Engaging in sugarcane partnership is a new livelihood strategy for the rural communities surrounding the plantations with benefits that are affected by the area of owned land. While farmers who do not own land, they earn a living by becoming plantation laborers. Farmer involvement in sugarcane partnership contributes to the household income, the existence of uneven welfare, and the emergence of household economic dependence on sugarcane plantations. The sugarcane partnership is a source of income and an engine of rural economic growth; however, the realization of sustainable rural development has not yet emerged.

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Food Security is one of the Most Important Conditions for Economic Development

International Conference on Eurasian Economies 2012 ◽

10.36880/c03.00579 ◽

2012 ◽

Author(s):

Kasira Nazarmatova ◽

Saule Ermekbaeva

Keyword(s):

Economic Development ◽

Food Security ◽

Rural Areas ◽

Negative Impact ◽

Raw Materials ◽

Local Population ◽

Practical Interest ◽

Food Products ◽

Economic Security ◽

Social Stability

Food security is one of the most important aspects of socio-economic development in Kyrgyzstan. Therefore, studies done in this field of research are of significant theoretical and practical interest. Resolutions of food security issues are one of the conditions for the preservation of state sovereignty, economic security and social stability in society, ultimately, national security. Food safety is important, in terms of strategic interests of the country, and its solution requires: to satisfy public demand for food products; providing industry with raw materials of local manufacture; preservation of social, political and social stability in society; to prevent dependency of the national economy on changes; conditions related to the world markets, the development of internal agricultural production, food and processing industry; neutralization of some import to ensure stable employment and income in rural areas; preservation of ethnic - national characteristics of the local population by creating opportunities for 'survival' of the village: prevention of major foreign exchange expenditure on food imports: the neutralization of the negative impact on the local food market crises in foreign countries - exporters and importers of food products.

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Spatial planning and design for food security. Building Positive Rural-urban Linkages

10.47472/rymx6371 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Aishwarya Talluri ◽

◽

Keyword(s):

Food Security ◽

Rural Areas ◽

Food Systems ◽

Smart Cities ◽

Human Life ◽

Cumulative Effect ◽

Urban Migration ◽

New Paradigm ◽

Systems Methodology ◽

Food Imports

Food is vital for human survival. Food has had a significant impact on our built environment since the beginning of human life. The process of feeding oneself was most people’s primary job for the greater part of human history. Urban Migration moved people away from rural and natural landscapes on which they had been dependent for food and other amenities for centuries.1 Emergence of the cities leads to a new paradigm where the consumers get their food from rural hinterland where the main production of food products happens2 . In a globalized world with an unprecedented on-going process of urbanization, There is an ever reducing clarity between urban and rural, the paper argues that the category of the urban & rural as a spatial and morphological descriptor has to be reformulated, calling for refreshing, innovating and formulating the way in which urban and rural resource flows happen. India is projected to be more than 50% urban by 2050 (currently 29%). The next phase of economic and social development will be focused on urbanization of its rural areas. This 50 %, which will impact millions of people, will not come from cities, but from the growth of rural towns and small cities. Urbanization is accelerated through Government schemes such as JNNURM (Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission ) , PMAY (Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana), 100 smart cities challenge, Rurban Mission are formulated with developmental mindset. The current notions of ‘development’ are increasing travel distances, fuels consumption, food imports, deterioration of biodiversity, pollution, temperatures, cost of living. The enormity of the issue is realized when the cumulative effect of all cities is addressed. Urban biased development becomes an ignorant choice, causing the death of rural and deterioration of ecological assets. Most people live in places that are distant from production fields have been observed as an increasing trend. Physical separation of people from food production has resulted in a degree of indifference about where and how food is produced, making food a de-contextualized market product as said by Halweil, 20023 . The resulting Psychological separation of people from the food supply and the impacts this may have on long term sustainability of food systems. Methodology : . Sharing the learning about planning for food security through Field surveys, secondary and tertiary sources. Based on the study following parameters : 1. Regional system of water 2. Landforms 3. Soil type 4. Transportation networks 5. Historical evolution 6. Urban influences A case study of Delhi, India, as a site to study a scenario that can be an alternative development model for the peri-urban regions of the city. To use the understanding of spatial development and planning to formulate guidelines for sustainable development of a region that would foster food security.

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Model collaborative governance dalam pembangunan desa pada masa covid-19: studi di Kabupaten Lampung Selatan

Publisia Jurnal Ilmu Administrasi Publik ◽

10.26905/pjiap.v6i1.5393 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 6 (1) ◽

pp. 15-31

Author(s):

Ardian Prabowo ◽

Mujibur Rahman Khairul Muluk ◽

Ainul Hayat

Keyword(s):

Rural Communities ◽

Rural Areas ◽

Urban Areas ◽

Negative Impact ◽

Health Sector ◽

Collaborative Governance ◽

Infrastructure Development ◽

Cultural Resilience ◽

Governance Model ◽

The Government

At present, the Covid-19 contagious disease outbreak can spread rapidly throughout the world, including Indonesia. Apart from having a negative impact on the health sector, it also impacts the economic, social, cultural, resilience, tourism and other sectors. This can threaten people in rural areas who have gaps in health accessibility and high levels of poverty compared to urban areas. So it is necessary to carry out village economic development, but still protect the health of rural communities from the Covid-19 disaster. This cannot be done by the government alone. Interdisciplinary and field cooperation is required by referring to the principles of collaborative governance. The research objective was to determine the ideal collaborative governance model in village development during the Covid-19 pandemic. This research uses qualitative methods with a descriptive approach. This method can be studied comprehensively and deeply. The results of this study indicate that in South Lampung Regency there are already several priority activities in the economic and health sectors, some of these priority activities such as Covid-19 Response Village, Village Cash Intensive Work, Village Fund Direct Cash Assistance (BLT), and other Infrastructure Development. These priority activities are collaborations carried out by the government, society and business

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Foraging Wild Food in Urban Spaces: The Contribution of Wild Foods to Urban Dietary Diversity in South Africa

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su12020678 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (2) ◽

pp. 678 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Hesekia Garekae ◽

Charlie M. Shackleton

Keyword(s):

South Africa ◽

Food Security ◽

Rural Communities ◽

Food Systems ◽

Dietary Diversity ◽

Wild Food ◽

Potential Contribution ◽

Food Groups ◽

Wild Foods ◽

Vegetables And Fruits

Globally, approximately one billion people benefit from contributions of wild foods to their food security and dietary diversity. Wild foods are known to be important in rural communities in terms of food and micronutrient provision, diversifying diets, reducing vulnerability to non-communicable diseases and overall health. However, the potential contribution of wild foods towards food security and dietary diversity in urban food systems has been largely overlooked. This study examined the contribution of wild foods to household dietary diversity in two towns in South Africa, based on a survey of 137 households. Household diets were quite diverse, with half (51%) having consumed ≥ 8 food groups, 39% consumed 6 or 7 food groups, and only 10% recorded ≤ 5 food groups in the previous 48 h. Wild foods were prevalent across the sample, with 62% of the households consuming them to some degree. Wild vegetables and fruits were the most common wild foods, consumed by 96 and 79% of the households, respectively. Although wild foods had limited significance on overall dietary diversity, they exhibited substantial contributions within particular food groups. For example, the consumption of vegetables and oil and fats was most prevalent among households consuming wild foods than those who did not. The findings show that wild foods could contribute towards diversifying urban diets at a micro-level, within particular food groups consumed, such as vegetables and fruits. Hence, wild foods are important in ameliorating the monotonous diets of some households and in turn promoting dietary diversity.

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