Social and Environmental Implications of Plantation Agriculture in Malaysia and Indonesia

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jean-François Bissonnette ◽  
Rodolphe De Koninck
Keyword(s):  
Oil Palm ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Ecological Knowledge ◽  
Family Farms ◽  
Environmental Implications ◽  
Early 21St Century ◽  
European Colonialism ◽  
Important Cash Crop ◽  
The Tropics

Plantation farming emerged as a large-scale system of specialized agriculture in the tropics under European colonialism, in opposition to smallholding subsistence agriculture. Despite large-scale plantations in the tropics, smallholdings have consistently formed the backbone of rural economies, to the extent that they have become the main producers of some of the former plantation crops. In the early 21st century, oil palm has become the third most important cash crop in the world in terms of area cultivated, largely due to the expansion of this crop in Malaysia and Indonesia. Although in these countries, oil palm is primarily cultivated in large plantations, smallholders cultivate a large share of the territory devoted to this crop. This is related to the programs set up by governments of Malaysia and Indonesia during the second half of the 20th century, to provide smallholders with land plots in capital intensive large-scale oil palm schemes. Despite the relative success encountered by these programs in both countries, policymakers have continued to insist on the development of private centrally managed large-scale plantations. Yet, smallholding family farming has remained the most resilient economic activity in rural areas of the tropics. This system has proven adaptive to environmental change and, given proper access to markets and capital, particularly responsive to market signals. Today, many small-holdings are still characterized by the diversity of crops cultivated, low use of chemical inputs, reliance on family labor, and high levels of ecological knowledge. These are some of the main factors explaining why small family farms have proven more efficient than large plantations and, in the long term, more economically and ecologically resilient. Yet, large-scale land acquisitions for monocrop production remain a current issue, highlighting the paradox of the latest stage of agrarian capitalism and of its persistent built-in disregard for environmental deterioration.

The Earth Is (Still) Our Mother

2021 ◽  
pp. 115-125
Author(s):  
Chad S. Hamill
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
World Wide ◽  
Climate Science ◽  
Indigenous Communities ◽  
Ecological Knowledge ◽  
Small Islands ◽  
Adaptive Power ◽  
Circumpolar Arctic ◽  
European Colonialism

As many large-scale protests by Indigenous people have articulated, lands inhabited by Indigenous communities (such as desert margins, small islands, lakes and rivers, high-altitude zones, and the circumpolar Arctic) are particularly vulnerable to the dramatic shifts in climate currently underway. The delicate ecosystems upon which Indigenous communities rely are in flux, and the accelerating rate of climate change—outpacing the direst scientific projections—amounts to a crisis that is every bit as threatening as the legacy of European colonialism. Fortunately, for millennia Indigenous communities have cultivated an intimate awareness of their ecology and have remained, throughout the era of world-wide industrial devastation, adept at adapting to environmental change. This awareness and adaptive power has been discussed within the framework of Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK). Using traditional stories and songs in Indigenous communities as a touchstone, this chapter will explore three interrelated aspects of TEK: (1) its role in assisting Indigenous communities in adapting to the effects of climate change; (2) its potential to inform and influence Western-generated climate science; and (3) its promise as a unifying thread tying Indigenous communities together, strengthening global self-determination.

scholarly journals An Empirical Diagnosis of the School-to-Work Process for Rural and Agricultural Development in China

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 778
Author(s):  
Jiangsheng Chen ◽  
Gideon Bolt ◽  
Yiwen Wang ◽  
Xiaoli Feng ◽  
Xuke Li
Keyword(s):  
Food Security ◽  
Sustainable Agriculture ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
School To Work ◽  
University Graduates ◽  
Family Farms ◽  
Work Process ◽  
The Government

Rural areas in China struggle with a scarcity of young farmers and the rapid aging of farming labor. Attracting and retaining university graduates in rural areas is key to achieving the goals of The Rural Revitalization Strategy of the government, which ultimately seeks to guarantee sustainable agriculture and food security in China. This study examines whether the school-to-work process in China is beneficially aligned to these goals. Survey data were collected from graduates in June 2016, and logistic models were generated to identify the probabilities of, and explore the influences on, school-to-rural outcomes. The findings reveal that most graduates who relocate to rural areas are more likely directed there from urban areas. Graduates with rural backgrounds are more likely to become rural successors than graduates with urban backgrounds. The phenomenon of children taking up the occupation of a parent is observed among those with agricultural degrees and rural backgrounds, which will facilitate the school-to-work process and improve agricultural production. In order to achieve a mix of family farms, large-scale farmlands, and educated farmers to improve food security and sustainable agriculture, the following key considerations for agricultural policy in China are proposed: provide adequate incentives, remove obstacles, and streamline the process of school-to-farming.

scholarly journals State of development of service agricultural cooperation in Ukraine

Ekonomika APK ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 309 (7) ◽  
pp. 102-109
Author(s):  
Hanna Trutenko
Keyword(s):  
Rural Areas ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Market Competition ◽  
Balance Sheet ◽  
Practical Significance ◽  
Agricultural Cooperatives ◽  
Scale Production ◽  
Family Farms ◽  
Current State ◽  
Effective Development

The purpose of the article is to analyze the current state, development and role of agricultural service cooperatives in the functioning of households and family farms in the regions of Ukraine. Research methods. The theoretical and methodological basis of the research is the works of domestic and foreign scientists and practitioners, as well as the normative-legal acts of Ukraine that regulate relations in agricultural service cooperatives. The methods of analysis, synthesis, grouping, balance sheet were used to assess the development status of agricultural service cooperatives; when establishing production volumes - estimated, graphic; to substantiate the principles of effective development of the service cooperative - comparative analysis. Research results. The article presents the analysis of the current state of agricultural cooperatives in Ukraine, identifies and analyzes the principal reasons hampering the development of production and service cooperatives. It is established that agricultural service cooperative is a key mechanism of self-organization of rural producers, protection of small households and family farms against unscrupulous intermediary structures. Scientific novelty. The main reasons for the development of agricultural service cooperatives have been identified and analyzed. It is established that under the conditions of fierce market competition, enterprises are forced to evolve in order not to stay ahead of progress and entrepreneurship. Practical significance. The priority measures that will promote the development of cooperative movement in rural areas are proposed. Along with the strengthening of family farming and large-scale production, it is necessary to develop agricultural service cooperation as a foundation for structural restructuring of agriculture. Tabl.: 3. Figs.: 1. Refs.: 13.

Diffuse pollution from agriculture - a worldwide outlook

1999 ◽  
Vol 39 (3) ◽  
pp. 1-13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vladimir Novotny
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Sustainable Agriculture ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Agricultural Practices ◽  
Organic Fertilizers ◽  
Chemical Pollution ◽  
Family Farms ◽  
Sources Of Pollution ◽  
The 1950S

Until the 1950s most farming was carried out on smaller family farms that used organic fertilizers and essentially their waste production was easily assimilated by soils and receiving water bodies. The period post 1950 has seen a worldwide shift to larger monocultural, intensively operated farm units. The farm yields have increased dramatically, however, to sustain the increasing yields and productivity farms are using large quantities of chemical fertilizers and pesticides. At the same time, deforestation has occurred on a large scale since the 1950s and the deforested land has been converted to agricultural (mostly in developing countries) and urban (both developed and undeveloped countries) land uses. Also, a massive shift of population from rural areas to the cities has occurred in developing countries since the 1950s. Surface and groundwater quality degradation due to agricultural practices and conversion of land to agriculture can be categorized as follows: a) degradation due to land use conversion from native lands to agriculture; b) increased erosion and soil loss due to agricultural practices; c) chemical pollution by fertilizers and pesticides; and d) pollution from animal operations. Abatement of agricultural diffuse sources of pollution can and must be conducted in the context of moving toward sustainable agriculture. Some trends toward sustainable agriculture are already emerging in the US and Europe.

Training Aides to Screen Children for Speech and Language Problems

1976 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 236-241 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marisue Pickering ◽  
William R. Dopheide
Keyword(s):  
Rural Areas ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
School Personnel ◽  
School Age Children ◽  
Speech And Language ◽  
Elementary School Age ◽  
Evaluation Procedures ◽  
Language Problems ◽  
Competency Based ◽  
Large Scale Screening

This report deals with an effort to begin the process of effectively identifying children in rural areas with speech and language problems using existing school personnel. A two-day competency-based workshop for the purpose of training aides to conduct a large-scale screening of speech and language problems in elementary-school-age children is described. Training strategies, implementation, and evaluation procedures are discussed.

Why Has There Been No People’s Power Rebellion in North Korea?

2018 ◽  
pp. 1-34
Author(s):  
Andrew Jackson
Keyword(s):  
Rural Areas ◽  
North Korea ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Political Elite ◽  
Information Control ◽  
Al Jazeera ◽  
The North ◽  
New Information ◽  
Effective System ◽  
The Right

One scenario put forward by researchers, political commentators and journalists for the collapse of North Korea has been a People’s Power (or popular) rebellion. This paper analyses why no popular rebellion has occurred in the DPRK under Kim Jong Un. It challenges the assumption that popular rebellion would happen because of widespread anger caused by a greater awareness of superior economic conditions outside the DPRK. Using Jack Goldstone’s theoretical expla-nations for the outbreak of popular rebellion, and comparisons with the 1989 Romanian and 2010–11 Tunisian transitions, this paper argues that marketi-zation has led to a loosening of state ideological control and to an influx of infor-mation about conditions in the outside world. However, unlike the Tunisian transitions—in which a new information context shaped by social media, the Al-Jazeera network and an experience of protest helped create a sense of pan-Arab solidarity amongst Tunisians resisting their government—there has been no similar ideology unifying North Koreans against their regime. There is evidence of discontent in market unrest in the DPRK, although protests between 2011 and the present have mostly been in defense of the right of people to support themselves through private trade. North Koreans believe this right has been guaranteed, or at least tacitly condoned, by the Kim Jong Un government. There has not been any large-scale explosion of popular anger because the state has not attempted to crush market activities outright under Kim Jong Un. There are other reasons why no popular rebellion has occurred in the North. Unlike Tunisia, the DPRK lacks a dissident political elite capable of leading an opposition movement, and unlike Romania, the DPRK authorities have shown some flexibility in their anti-dissent strategies, taking a more tolerant approach to protests against economic issues. Reduced levels of violence during periods of unrest and an effective system of information control may have helped restrict the expansion of unrest beyond rural areas.

scholarly journals Characteristics of Models of Farms in the European Union

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (9) ◽  
pp. 4772
Author(s):  
Hanna Klikocka ◽  
Aneta Zakrzewska ◽  
Piotr Chojnacki
Keyword(s):  
European Union ◽  
Minimum Wage ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Family Farms ◽  
Agricultural Income ◽  
Commercial Farms ◽  
Standard Output ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
The Eu

The article describes and sets the definition of different farm models under the categories of being family, small, and large-scale commercial farms. The distinction was based on the structure of the workforce and the relationship between agricultural income and the minimum wage. Family farms were dominated by the farming family providing the labour and their income per capita exceeded the net minimum wage in the country. The larger commercial farms feature a predominance of hired labour. Based on surveys, it was found that in 2016 in the EU-28 there were 10,467,000 farms (EU-13—57.3%, EU-15—42.7%). They carried out agricultural activities on an area of 173,338,000 ha (EU-13—28.5%, EU-15—71.5%). Countries of the EU-28 generated a standard output (SO) amounting to EUR 364,118,827,100 (EU-13—17.2% and EU-15—82.8%). After the delimitation, it was shown that small farming (70.8%) was the predominant form of management in the European Union (EU-13—88.2% and EU-15—79.8%) compared to family farming (18.4%) (EU-13—10.5% and EU-15—29%). In most EU countries the largest share of land resources pertains to small farms (35.6%) and family farms (38.6%) (UAA—utilised agricultural area of farms).

scholarly journals Optimal Design of Novel Blade Profile for Savonius Wind Turbines

Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (12) ◽  
pp. 3484
Author(s):  
Tai-Lin Chang ◽  
Shun-Feng Tsai ◽  
Chun-Lung Chen
Keyword(s):  
Wind Energy ◽  
Drag Force ◽  
Wind Turbines ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Design Method ◽  
Angular Position ◽  
Vertical Axis ◽  
Blade Profile ◽  
Main Concept

Since the affirming of global warming, most wind energy projects have focused on the large-scale Horizontal Axis Wind Turbines (HAWTs). In recent years, the fast-growing wind energy sector and the demand for smarter grids have led to the use of Vertical Axis Wind Turbines (VAWTs) for decentralized energy generation systems, both in urban and remote rural areas. The goals of this study are to improve the Savonius-type VAWT’s efficiency and oscillation. The main concept is to redesign a Novel Blade profile using the Taguchi Robust Design Method and the ANSYS-Fluent simulation package. The convex contour of the blade faces against the wind, creating sufficient lift force and minimizing drag force; the concave contour faces up to the wind, improving or maintaining the drag force. The result is that the Novel Blade improves blade performance by 65% over the Savonius type at the best angular position. In addition, it decreases the oscillation and noise accordingly. This study achieved its two goals.

scholarly journals Global climatology and trends in convective environments from ERA5 and rawinsonde data

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mateusz Taszarek ◽  
John T. Allen ◽  
Mattia Marchio ◽  
Harold E. Brooks
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Climate Models ◽  
Global Climate ◽  
Convective Available Potential Energy ◽  
Global Climate Models ◽  
Convective Precipitation ◽  
The Past ◽  
The Tropics ◽  
Rawinsonde Data

AbstractGlobally, thunderstorms are responsible for a significant fraction of rainfall, and in the mid-latitudes often produce extreme weather, including large hail, tornadoes and damaging winds. Despite this importance, how the global frequency of thunderstorms and their accompanying hazards has changed over the past 4 decades remains unclear. Large-scale diagnostics applied to global climate models have suggested that the frequency of thunderstorms and their intensity is likely to increase in the future. Here, we show that according to ERA5 convective available potential energy (CAPE) and convective precipitation (CP) have decreased over the tropics and subtropics with simultaneous increases in 0–6 km wind shear (BS06). Conversely, rawinsonde observations paint a different picture across the mid-latitudes with increasing CAPE and significant decreases to BS06. Differing trends and disagreement between ERA5 and rawinsondes observed over some regions suggest that results should be interpreted with caution, especially for CAPE and CP across tropics where uncertainty is the highest and reliable long-term rawinsonde observations are missing.

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