scholarly journals Trends in agriculture and food production

2009 ◽  
Vol 3 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 99-110
Author(s):  
János Lazányi

Agricultural reform resulted a shift from collective farming to small-scale production in China. This reform also has resulted a strong increase in gross agricultural output, which coincides with a slower increase in labour productivity. At the beginning of the reforms, agriculture accounted for 70 percent of total employment in China and still employs more than 50%. As a result of these reforms, China has undergone impressive economic growth also in the agriculture; the country has become one of the world’s top exporters and is attracting record amounts of foreign investment. The government has also stepped up investments in rural areas to meet the market demand for agricultural products. Results are very competitive compared to Central and Eastern European countries, where agriculture accounted for only 15 percent of total employment, but agricultural reform resulted a strong decline in gross agricultural output, which coincides with a similarly strong decline in employment. When approaching the issue of sustainable agriculture, we have to take into consideration, which China and India feed the largest populations in the world and both countries have had its own agricultural successes in the past 50 years. China has used land far more efficiently than many developed countries. With nine percent of the world’s arable land, China is responsible for the greatest share of agricultural production worldwide. Volume of produced pork, eggs, wheat, cotton, tobacco, and rice has increased and China exports an increasing amount of product each year. China has opened his borders, but do not expose food consumers to price shocks and producers to risks and disincentives. In this paper, the land-tenure system and the trends of agricultural developments are analysed in China and selected countries of EU.

2020 ◽  
Vol 33 ◽  
pp. 2
Author(s):  
Miguel Ángel Mejía-Ramírez ◽  
Verónica Valadez Rocha ◽  
Carlos Iván Pérez-Rostro

The snail Pomacea patula catemacensis is an endemic mollusk from the southeast Gulf of Mexico, which is commercially exploited and in decline since 2010. This decline is associated with an increasing market demand and illegal capture. We designed a small-scale production system for P. p. catemacensis and determined its financial feasibility for a base scenario. We used information gathered from stakeholders and stochastic modeling to predict the impact of uncertain variables on the economic indicators to assess the financial viability under varying conditions. The small-scale intensive production system, designed to yield 3.9 tons/year of unshelled product, requires an investment of about US $65,000. The production unit was financially assessed using the Modified Internal Return Rate and The Net Present Value of cash flow, considering a 14% discount rate and a 7% reinvestment rate. We obtained a Net Present Value of $67,000 and a Modified Internal Return Rate of 20% for the base scenario, which indicates the viability of the project. A Monte Carlo simulation was run to assess the robustness of the project to variability of three parameters: labor cost, energy cost, and market price; with random and simultaneous variation, resulting in 95% probability of getting a Modified Internal Return Rate larger than the current interest rate (8%) and a low probability (2.8%) to be financially unviable. This production system is worthy of consideration as an option to reduce the fishing pressure on the tegogolo natural populations of the Catemaco Lake while satisfying the market demand.


2021 ◽  
pp. 8-12
Author(s):  
В.М. Велесницкий ◽  
И.С. Бутов

Столинский район Брестской области по праву называют главным регионом белорусского овощеводства. Помимо различных с.- х. организаций, в районе сосредоточено около 10 тыс. личных подсобных хозяйств, специализирующихся на производстве различных овощных культур. На 1 января 2021 года за всеми субъектами хозяйствования было закреплено 2354 га земли, сельхозугодий – 2066 га, в т.ч. пашни – 872 га. Именно овощеводческое направление в решающей степени определяет уклад жизни, быт, культуру и уровень благосостояния жителей района. Деятельность некоммерческой организации местный фонд «Центр поддержки сельского развития и предпринимательства Столинского района» направлена на стимулирование различных инициатив местных мелкотоварных с.-х. производителей: внедрение новых для района культур, передовых элементов технологии, продвижение различных социальных и природоохранных проектов. Развитие идет главным образом за счет иностранных грантов. По данным Центра, все большее распространение получают довольно редкие для этой части Белорусского Полесья культуры (баклажан, перец, брокколи, пекинская и цветная капуста, арбуз и др.). Приведены данные об особенностях оптовой и розничной торговли, необходимых для этого разрешительных документах, о доступности для такого рода фермеров кредитных ресурсов банков и наличии действующих программ помощи, подходящих для ЛПХ. Показано, в какие регионы в основном поступает местная продукция и сложности, сопровождающие все этапы процесса реализации. Значительное внимание уделено организации с.-х. кооперативов и их взаимодействию с торговыми сетями. Обобщается практический опыт по новым механизмам взаимодействия с потребителями продукции и поставщиками необходимого для работы инвентаря, удобрений, семян и СЗР. Рассматривается проблема, связанная с отсутствием первичной доработки, сортировки, мойки и упаковки выращенной продукции. Рассказано о специфических местных требованиях к той или иной выращенной продукции (томат, капуста и др.). Продемонстрированы пути взаимодействия между владельцами ЛПХ Столинского района и селекционно-семеноводческими компаниями. Stolin district of the Brest region is rightly called the main region of Belarusian vegetable growing. In addition to various agricultural organizations, the district has about 10 thousand personal subsidiary plots specializing in the production of various vegetable crops. On January 1, 2021, 2354 hectares of land were assigned to all economic entities, 2066 hectares of farmland, including 872 hectares of arable land. It is the vegetable growing direction that determines to a decisive extent the way of life, housekeeping, culture and the level of well-being of the residents of the district. The activities of the local non-profit foundation Center for Support of Rural Development and Entrepreneurship are aimed at supporting various initiatives of local small-scale agricultural producers: the introduction of new crops for the district, advanced elements of technology, the promotion of various social and environmental projects. The development is mainly due to foreign grants. According to the Center, crops that are not widely distributed in this part of the Belarusian Polesie (broccoli, peking and cauliflower, watermelon, etc.) are becoming more widespread. The data on the features of wholesale and retail trade, the necessary permits, the availability of credit resources of banks for such farmers, and the availability of existing assistance programs suitable for small and medium-sized PSP are presented. It shows which regions mainly receive local products and the difficulties that accompany all stages of the implementation process. Considerable attention is paid to the organization of agricultural cooperatives and their interaction with trade networks. Practical experience on new mechanisms of interaction with consumers of products and suppliers of inventory, fertilizers, seeds and agricultural products necessary for work is summarized. The problem associated with the lack of primary processing, sorting, washing and packaging of grown products is considered. It describes the specific local requirements for a particular grown product (tomato, cabbage, etc.). It demonstrates the ways of interaction between the owners of private farms in the Stolin district and breeding and seed companies.


2021 ◽  
Vol 346 ◽  
pp. 03025
Author(s):  
Lyudmila Tipner ◽  
Yuliya Markova ◽  
Nikita Vasiliev

The need to increase labour productivity and improve the competitiveness of engineering products, as well as to increase high-tech exports, are urgent tasks for the development of industry in the Russian Federation. The creation of competitive products implies flexibility in the approach to the consumer, which leads to an increase in the share of enterprises operating in conditions of small-scale production. The purpose of this study is to assess the reserves of productivity growth at machine-building enterprises of small-scale and unit-type production in the Ural region. Research has shown that organizational factors, such as the automation of production preparation processes, the use of photo-timing studies in the conditions of small-scale production, have a significant impact on labour productivity. In this case, the solution of organizational problems helps to create informational database for introduction at the enterprises of mechanical engineering complex life cycle management of products (the PLM).


2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Bùi Thị Bích Lan

In Vietnam, the construction of hydropower projects has contributed significantly in the cause of industrialization and modernization of the country. The place where hydropower projects are built is mostly inhabited by ethnic minorities - communities that rely primarily on land, a very important source of livelihood security. In the context of the lack of common productive land in resettlement areas, the orientation for agricultural production is to promote indigenous knowledge combined with increasing scientific and technical application; shifting from small-scale production practices to large-scale commodity production. However, the research results of this article show that many obstacles in the transition process are being posed such as limitations on natural resources, traditional production thinking or the suitability and effectiveness of scientific - technical application models. When agricultural production does not ensure food security, a number of implications for people’s lives are increasingly evident, such as poverty, preserving cultural identity, social relations and resource protection. Since then, it has set the role of the State in researching and building appropriate agricultural production models to exploit local strengths and ensure sustainability.


Author(s):  
Hariyadi DM ◽  
Athiyah U ◽  
Hendradi E ◽  
Rosita N ◽  
Erawati T ◽  
...  

The prevention of Diabetic Mellitus (DM) and its complications is the main aim of this study, in addition to the training of lotion foot care application and the development of small scale industry. The research team delivered knowledge in the form of training on Diabetic Mellitus, healthy food, treatment and prevention of complications, and small-scale production of cosmetic products. The aim of this study was to determine the correlation between training on diabetic and lotion foot care application as preventive measures against diabetic complications on the patient's blood glucose levels in the community of residents in Banyuurip Jaya, Surabaya. It was expected from this training that the knowledge of the residents increases and people living with diabetic undergo lifestyle changes and therefore blood sugar levels can be controlled. The parameters measured in this research were blood glucose levels, the anti diabetic drug types consumed, and compliance on diabetics. This study used the data taken from 60 patients with DM over a period of one month. Questionnaires and log books was used to retrieve data and changes in blood glucose levels in diabetic patients. The results showed the demographic data of patients with type 2 diabetic of 85% female and 15% male, with the range of patients aged of 61-70 years of 46.67% and had history of diabetic (90%). The history of drugs consumed by respondents was anti diabetic drugs such as metformin (40%), glimepiride (33.37%) and insulin (6.67%). In addition, the increased knowledge of DM patients after being given the training compared to before training was shown in several questions in the questionnaire. A statistical analysis using t-test analyzed a correlation between training provided in order to enhance understanding of the patient, as well as correlation with blood glucose levels. A paired T-test showed that there was a relationship between the knowledge of trainees before and after training (p less than 0.05). An interesting result was that there was no relationship between blood glucose levels before and after training provided (p> 0.05).


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Soad A. Abdelgalil ◽  
Nadia A. Soliman ◽  
Gaber A. Abo-Zaid ◽  
Yasser R. Abdel-Fattah

AbstractTo meet the present and forecasted market demand, bacterial alkaline phosphatase (ALP) production must be increased through innovative and efficient production strategies. Using sugarcane molasses and biogenic apatite as low-cost and easily available raw materials, this work demonstrates the scalability of ALP production from a newfound Bacillus paralicheniformis strain APSO isolated from a black liquor sample. Mathematical experimental designs including sequential Plackett–Burman followed by rotatable central composite designs were employed to select and optimize the concentrations of the statistically significant media components, which were determined to be molasses, (NH4)2NO3, and KCl. Batch cultivation in a 7-L stirred-tank bioreactor under uncontrolled pH conditions using the optimized medium resulted in a significant increase in both the volumetric and specific productivities of ALP; the alkaline phosphatase throughput 6650.9 U L−1, and µ = 0.0943 h−1; respectively, were obtained after 8 h that, ameliorated more than 20.96, 70.12 and 94 folds compared to basal media, PBD, and RCCD; respectively. However, neither the increased cell growth nor enhanced productivity of ALP was present under the pH-controlled batch cultivation. Overall, this work presents novel strategies for the statistical optimization and scaling up of bacterial ALP production using biogenic apatite.


2021 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
pp. 100153
Author(s):  
Armel Gougbedji ◽  
Pamphile Agbohessou ◽  
Philippe A. Lalèyè ◽  
Frédéric Francis ◽  
Rudy Caparros Megido

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (13) ◽  
pp. 2462
Author(s):  
Stanislav A. Ermakov ◽  
Irina A. Sergievskaya ◽  
Ivan A. Kapustin

Strong variability of Ka-band radar backscattering from short wind waves on the surface of water covered with surfactant films in the presence of internal waves (IW) was studied in wave tank experiments. It has been demonstrated that modulation of Ka-band radar return due to IW strongly depends on the relationship between the phase velocity of IW and the velocity of drifting surfactant films. An effect of the strong increase in surfactant concentration was revealed in convergent zones, associated with IW orbital velocities in the presence of a “resonance” surface steady current, the velocity of which was close to the IW phase velocity. A phenomenological model of suppression and modulations in the spectrum of small-scale wind waves due to films and IW was elaborated. It has been shown that backscatter modulation could not be explained by the modulation of free (linear) millimeter-scale Bragg waves, but was associated with the modulation of bound (parasitic) capillary ripples generated by longer, cm–dm-scale waves—a “cascade” modulation mechanism. Theoretical analysis based on the developed model was found to be consistent with experiments. Field observations which qualitatively illustrated the effect of strong modulation of Ka-band radar backscatter due to IW in the presence of resonance drift of surfactant films are presented.


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