scholarly journals Evaluation of the Sustainability of Urban Market Gardens in the City of Meknes (Morocco)

2021 ◽  
Vol 17 (40) ◽  
pp. 121
Author(s):  
Ibrahim El Ghazi ◽  
Janvier Egah ◽  
Claude Ahouangninou ◽  
Imane Berni ◽  
Aziza Menouni ◽  
...  

Market gardening constitutes a basis for food security of urban and peri-urban households. However, market gardening is subject to the use of chemical inputs, selected varieties, and genetically modified organisms. These practices are increasingly controversial and are likely to affect the sustainability of vegetable farms. This study assessed the sustainability of 120 randomly selected market garden farms (Meknes) using the surveys and the market garden production sustainability indicator. The results show that the majority of the farms identified are characterized by low sustainability, with the agroecological dimension being the limiting factor. The improvement of the components "Ecological diversity", "Spatial organization", and "Agricultural practices" are the ways to improve the global sustainability of vegetable production in Meknes. The socio-territorial sustainability of production is characterized by a lack of training for producers, a lack of hygiene and safety in production activities, and a low contribution to employment. The economic dimension is characterized by low viability, low economic transmissibility, and financial autonomy. To perpetuate the market gardening in the city of Meknes, it appears necessary to promote ecological intensification, integrated diversification, and promotion of local inputs to the various types of market gardening farms

2021 ◽  
Vol 234 ◽  
pp. 00098
Author(s):  
Sami Chbika ◽  
El Mahjoub Aouane

Many studies were carried out in Morocco to show that the dynamics of the market gardening is characterized by frequent use and often uncontrolled use of chemical inputs to the detriment of the preservation of natural resources, the health of consumers and the producers themselves. This reality, calls for appropriate structural actions, based on the levels of sustainability of the sector. The IDEA method (Farm Sustainability Indicators) is one way of giving practical expression to the concept of sustainable farms. Based on 40 sustainability indicators covering the three dimensions of sustainability: agro-ecological, socio- territorial, and economic. Using the IDEA method, we conducted this research with a view to analyze the sustainability of market gardening exploitations in three rural communities: Mnasra, Sidi Mohamed Benmansour, and Benmansour. We conducted questionnaire interviews with 180 producers. The results obtained have generally shown that the market gardening farms in this region have low sustainability scores. The sustainability of farms is lowest on the socio-territorial scale due to the absence of product quality approaches, poor human development, and poor employment conditions and services. On the economic scale, the low viability stands out. The agro-ecological scale shows higher values due to the good organization of space and diversified systems.


2021 ◽  
pp. 251-256
Author(s):  
Sibiri Sylvain Rouamba ◽  
François Tapsoba ◽  
Bazoin Sylvain Raoul Bazié ◽  
Ollo Youl ◽  
Saybou Savadogo ◽  
...  

Background and Aim: The use of pesticides in vegetable production can cause public health problems because these agrochemicals can leave residues in foodstuffs and disrupt the appropriate functioning of the organism. The aim of this study was to assess the level of contamination of lettuce and tomato by pesticide residues. Materials and Methods: This study was conducted from February 12 to May 3, 2021, in concerned five market gardening sites in the city of Ouagadougou. A survey was conducted among 58 market gardeners selected at random from the sites of Boulmiougou, Tanghin No. 1 and 2, Bissigin, and the National School of Public Health. Simultaneously, 25 lettuce samples and 25 tomato samples were collected in a randomized manner for the examination and determination of pesticide residues using the quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and safe method. Results: The market gardening population was predominantly represented by women who had a low level of education. The cultivated species were a mixture of exotic cultures and traditional cultures. These crops were treated with various pesticides, the most common of which belonged to the organochlorine family. The tomato was the crop most contaminated by pesticide residues. However, no active ingredient from the synthetic pyrethroid family was found on lettuce or tomato. Conclusion: Raising the awareness of market gardeners on good practices in the use of pesticides and on alternative methods to synthetic phytosanitary products is of paramount importance for the health of consumers.


Land ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. 479
Author(s):  
Julian Laabs ◽  
Daniel Knitter

In this study, we present a transparent and reproducible approach to model agricultural production with respect to environmental characteristics and available labour. Our research focuses on the city of Pergamon and its surroundings, with an emphasis on the transition between the Hellenistic and Roman Imperial Period, where widespread demographic changes took place. We investigated the degree of local self-sufficiency using different concepts of a city’s complementary region. Using simple topographic derivatives, we derive a measure of environmental suitability that we translate into a carrying capacity index. Our results show that workforce was not a limiting factor for local self-sufficiency. However, environmental carrying capacity may have been limiting in a scenario with a large population. An active investment into the environment, e.g., by the construction of terraces, could have helped to increase the degree of self-sufficiency. Future research should investigate the level of resilience of such a coupled socio-ecological system in relation to environmental and socio-cultural dynamics.


2006 ◽  
Vol 78 (4) ◽  
pp. 667-686 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luiz F.L. Reis ◽  
Marie-Anne Van Sluys ◽  
Richard C. Garratt ◽  
Humberto M. Pereira ◽  
Mauro M. Teixeira

Biosafety of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and their derivatives is still a major topic in the agenda of government and societies worldwide. The aim of this review is to bring into light that data that supported the decision taken back in 1998 as an exercise to stimulate criticism from the scientific community for upcoming discussions and to avoid emotional and senseless arguments that could jeopardize future development in the field. It must be emphasized that Roundup Ready® soybean is just one example of how biotechnology can bring in significant advances for society, not only through increased productivity, but also with beneficial environmental impact, thereby allowing more rational use of agricultural pesticides for improvement of the soil conditions. The adoption of agricultural practices with higher yield will also allow better distribution of income among small farmers. New species of genetically modified plants will soon be available and society should be capable of making decisions in an objective and well-informed manner, through collegiate bodies that are qualified in all aspects of biosafety and environmental impact.


2010 ◽  
Vol 39 (4) ◽  
pp. 29-51 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexander Des Forges

This article argues that a certain type of Shanghai film of the Republican period, exemplified by 1937's Street Angel ([Formula: see text], Malu tianshi), makes use of a specific mode of spatial organization, modelled on the theatre, to represent the urban environment. In the case of Street Angel, and later on in 1964's Stage Sisters ([Formula: see text], Wutai jiemei), the interaction between performers and audiences characteristic of the Shanghai theatre experience serves as a crucial ground on which to base calls to political action. For a variety of related reasons, both the city of Shanghai and this mode of spatial organization so closely associated with it vanish from the big screen in the 1980s and 1990s, and begin to make a return only at the turn of the new century.


Author(s):  
Amy Spring

AbstractFrom 2000 to 2010, the segregation of male same-sex couples from different-sex couples declined in almost all of the nation’s largest cities. This trend toward a more even distribution of male same-sex couples across city neighborhoods calls into question the demographic future of gay neighborhoods. However, it is unclear how exactly male same-sex couples are spatially reorganizing within desegregating cities. Multiple processes could be driving declining segregation, including declining shares of same-sex households within gay neighborhoods, the emergence of gay neighborhoods in new parts of the city, and/or a general dispersal of same-sex couples to almost all neighborhoods. Moreover, it is unclear what characteristics—like urbanicity, housing values, or racial/ethnic composition—define neighborhoods that have gained (or lost) same-sex partners. This chapter uses data from the 2000 and 2010 Decennial Censuses to investigate neighborhood-level changes within desegregating cities. The small number of increasingly segregated cities are also explored. Results indicate that increasing representation of male same-sex households across most neighborhoods and an expanding number of gay neighborhoods are important contributors to the trend of declining segregation. In contrast, the loss of gay neighborhoods from a city was fairly uncommon—most neighborhoods that obtained large concentrations of same-sex partners tended to keep those concentrations over time. Finally, the same residential expansion of same-sex households that occurred within desegregating cities did not occur in cities that experienced increasing segregation. These results have important implications for the spatial organization of same-sex households into the future. The chapter concludes with a discussion and critique of census data for the continued study of the geography and segregation of same-sex partners.


2017 ◽  
Vol 126 (5B) ◽  
pp. 17
Author(s):  
Trần Huỳnh Bảo Châu

<p><strong>Abstract:</strong></p><p>This study estimates the impact value of the VietGAP program when applied to vegetable production on the health of farmers in Thua Thien Hue province. By employing the propensity score matching (PSM) method, our findings show that the VietGAP program has a significant impact on farmers’ health. In particular, the program reduces farmers’ health problems due to pesticide exposure by 15.6 %, 22.9 %, 25.5 %, and 23.6 %, respectively, from four types of matching. This study provides evidence of the positive impacts of the VietGAP program on the health status of farmers in Thua Thien Hue province. It is therefore hoped that the production, consumption, and management solutions provided by the VietGAP program can encourage farmers to use environment-friendly agricultural practices.</p><p><strong>Keywords: </strong>propensity score matching (PSM) method, VietGAP program, farmers’ health</p>


Author(s):  
Asish Panigrahi ◽  
Satarupa Modak ◽  
Chitrasena Padhy

Turmeric Cultivation is one of livelihood for the Kondh tribes of Kandhamal District of Odisha. These farmers were cultivating this crop with their traditional knowledge of crop practices without any intervention of chemical inputs. From the studies, it is found that farmers of the district were economically and educationally backward. Turmeric of Kandhamal is well known for its healing property, color, aroma etc. and received GI tag for its unique features. From the secondary data it was found that there were few public and private extension actors trying to promote organic recommended package of practices for Turmeric.  And, to boost willingness among farmers towards recommended organic Turmeric various socio-economic variables might be responsible. In this view the present study was carried out (2020-21) in Kandhamal district of Odisha to understand attitude towards recommended organic Turmeric and socio-economic variables effecting willingness to adopt organic package of practices of Turmeric. It was found that turmeric growers had medium to high level of willingness to adopt the recommended agricultural practice. And among selected socio-economic variables respondent’s total family member, Members help in family farming and adult male had negative and significantly relationship with willingness to adopt the recommended agricultural practices of organic turmeric. Private extension actors and State Horticulture Department training were continually motivating them to adopt recommended agricultural practices of organic turmeric. 


2011 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 175 ◽  
Author(s):  
Antonio Martínez R. ◽  
Belem Avendaño R. ◽  
Ana Acosta M.

<p>La producción de hortalizas en la región Noroeste de México es una actividad económica relevante, lo cual se atribuye a factores naturales como el clima, calidad de los suelos y la cercanía al mercado de Estados Unidos de Norteamérica. Es evidente la creación de ventajas competitivas mediante la diferenciación del producto, por su calidad, a través de la aplicación de normas. La adopción de estándares es una práctica generalizada, sin embargo no está cuantificado el rol de las instituciones en estos procesos y su contribución a aumentar o inhibir los niveles de adopción de los mismos. El objetivo de este trabajo es analizar los factores que mas influyen en la implementación de grados y estándares en el sector hortícola en la región noroeste de México. Para la medición de la adopción se utilizó un modelo logit que permite determinar el efecto de las variables del entorno microeconómico que incide en la adopción de estándares. Se concluye que los cambios en los sistemas de producción mediante la aplicación de buenas prácticas agrícolas y las organizaciones de productores con actividades de capacitación, seguimiento y acompañamiento son lo que han contribuido en mayor forma al proceso de adopción de estándares por parte de las empresas productoras de hortalizas.</p><p> </p><p><strong>Determinants of the adoption of standards in the horticulture subsector of Northwestern Mexico.</strong></p><p>Vegetable production in the northwestern region of Mexico is an important economic activity; this is attributed to natural factors such as climate, soil quality, and proximity to the U.S. market. Clearly, the creation of competitive advantages gained by product differentiation, while maintaining quality, is extremely important and can be achieved through the application of standards. The adoption of standards is widespread; however, the role of institutions in these processes and their contribution to enhancing or inhibiting levels of implementation has not yet been quantified. The aim of this paper is to analyze the factors that most influence the execution of grades and standards in the horticultural industry in the northwest region of Mexico. Implementation levels were measured using a logit model that determined the effect of microenvironmental variables on them. The paper concludes that changes in production systems through the application of good agricultural practices and changes in organizations through training, monitoring, and support are what have helped companies that produce vegetables adopt and implement more standards.</p>


2021 ◽  
pp. bs202103
Author(s):  
Yachana Jha

Applications of synthetic chemical fertilizers and pesticides lead to several environmental hazards, causing damages to entire ecosystem. To reduce damage caused by such chemical inputs in agriculture and environment required a serious attention for replacement of chemicals input with eco-friendly options. In this study decaying macrophytes were selected as an option for organic agriculture, by analyzing its ability to provide important mineral nutrient to the maize crop grown in low nutrient soil as well as for providing resistant towards many common phyto-pathogens to enhance yield. The results of the study showed that decaying macrophytes have high concentration of stored important mineral nutrient in their body mass, which get released in the soil during its decay and to be used by the maize plant. The decaying macrophytes leaf extract have considerable amount of phenolic and flavonoids also having antimicrobial activity. The antimicrobial activity of the leaf extract has been analyzed against the common phyto-pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa , and S. aureus by agar disc method and the formation of clear zone indicate its potential as bio-control agent. So under intensive agricultural practices, application of such biological waste is of particular importance for enhancing soil fertility without chemical input, to ensure sustainable agriculture.


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