scholarly journals Evaluating the Effectiveness of Rhizobium Inoculants and Micronutrients as Technologies for Nepalese Common Bean Smallholder Farmers in the Real-World Context of Highly Variable Hillside Environments and Indigenous Farming Practices

Agriculture ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 20 ◽  
Author(s):  
Malinda Thilakarathna ◽  
Tejendra Chapagain ◽  
Bhawana Ghimire ◽  
Roshan Pudasaini ◽  
Bir Tamang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Symbiotic Nitrogen Fixation ◽  
Cultural Practices ◽  
Agronomic Traits ◽  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Crop Rotations ◽  
Traditional Practices ◽  
Farming Practices ◽  
Yield Losses ◽  
Vegetative Biomass ◽  
On Farm

Studies have shown the potential of rhizobia and associated micronutrients to enhance symbiotic nitrogen fixation in legumes. Tens of millions of smallholder farmers, however, farm on mountain hillsides in highly variable soil and microenvironments, with different crop rotations, inputs and cultural practices. Here, on the terraces of the Nepalese Himalayas, we evaluated rhizobium inoculants (local, exotic), micronutrients (molybdenum, boron) and their combinations as technologies for smallholder farmers under highly variable microenvironments and traditional practices. The study was conducted as a series of participatory on-farm trials with 39 terrace farmers in two mid-hill districts of Nepal (Dhading, Kaski) from 2015 to 2017. Plots were measured for relevant agronomic traits. As expected, when comparing treatment plots with adjacent control plots within each farm, the results demonstrated tremendous farm-to-farm variability for nodulation, vegetative biomass, shoot nitrogen content, grain yield, and grain N content. Despite the variation observed, the data showed that the number of farms that showed yield increases from the rhizobium interventions, compared to those that suffered yield losses, was generally 2:1. We discuss potential experimental and socio-agronomic reasons for the variable results, including rainfall, which appeared critical. The results demonstrate the promise of rhizobium interventions for hillside smallholder farmers, even in a highly variable context.

scholarly journals The role and limitations of the unmanned aerial vihicle in the precision small and middle-size crop production

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 ◽  
pp. 29-40
Author(s):  
Ádám Lászlop
Keyword(s):  
Crop Production ◽  
Cultural Practices ◽  
Precision Farming ◽  
Unmanned Aircraft ◽  
Environmental Data ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Farming Practices ◽  
Eu Directives ◽  
Available Technology ◽  
On Farm

Internet of Things (IoT) could prove significantly potential in precision farming, facilitating the acquisition of real-time crop’s, soil, and environmental data through the use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) with their capabilities to capture high spatial and temporal resolution imagery. The effective deployment of such vehicles and linking them with on-farm sensors can transform agriculture that would allow it to move into the next era of agriculture. The Precise data collection can enable small and middle-size growers to make planting decisions well ahead of time and follow the cultural practices based on the model extracted from the data collected for the multiple factors from their farm locations. This data can significantly help farmers while making quick decisions, reducing agricultural inputs costs such as seeds, insecticides, and fertilizers, and can boost agricultural production. We will also look into different roles that UAVs can perform in precision farming and their limitations in line with recent EU Directives (EU) 2019/947 and (EU) 2019/945 on the rules and procedures for the operation of Unmanned Aircraft in the European Union air space. We will also review the entire range of precision farming practices that can help farmers taking full advantage of the available technology for automating farming practices that save their time and money with accuracy, effectively.

Does the Contract Type Matter? Impact of Marketing and Production Contracts on Cashew Farmers’ Farm Performance in Ghana

2021 ◽  
Vol 0 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Caroline Dubbert ◽  
Awudu Abdulai
Keyword(s):  
Driving Forces ◽  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Spot Markets ◽  
Switching Regression ◽  
Farm Productivity ◽  
Production Contracts ◽  
Marketing Contracts ◽  
On Farm ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Substantial Heterogeneity

Abstract Many studies show that participation in contract farming has positive impacts on farm productivity and incomes. Most of the literature, however, does not take into account that contracts vary in their specifications, making empirical evidence scarce on the diverse impacts of different types of contracts. In this study, we investigate the driving forces of participation in marketing and production contracts, relative to spot markets. We also study the extent to which different contract types add additional benefits to smallholder farmers, using recent survey data of 389 cashew farmers in Ghana. To account for selection bias arising from observed and unobserved factors, we apply a multinomial endogenous switching regression method and implement a counterfactual analysis. The empirical results demonstrate that farmers who participate in production contracts obtain significantly higher cashew yields, cashew net revenues, and are more food secure compared to spot market farmers. We also find substantial heterogeneity in the impact of marketing and production contracts across scale of operation. Small sized farms that participate in production contracts tend to benefit the most. Marketing contracts, however, do not appear to benefit cashew farmers.

scholarly journals Prediction of bulk milk fatty acid composition based on farming practices collected through on-farm surveys

2013 ◽  
Vol 96 (7) ◽  
pp. 4197-4211 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Coppa ◽  
A. Ferlay ◽  
C. Chassaing ◽  
C. Agabriel ◽  
F. Glasser ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fatty Acid Composition ◽  
Fatty Acid ◽  
Acid Composition ◽  
Milk Fatty Acid ◽  
Farming Practices ◽  
Bulk Milk ◽  
On Farm

An Ethos of Deconstruction in Multi-Cultural and Multi-Religious Contexts

2016 ◽  
Vol 23 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 368-385
Author(s):  
Johann-Albrecht Meylahn
Keyword(s):  
Cultural Values ◽  
Cultural Practices ◽  
Local Context ◽  
Traditional Practices ◽  
Ethical Norm ◽  
Ethical Conflicts ◽  
Textual Space ◽  
Alternative Practices ◽  
Dominant Narratives

The essay will focus on the role of Derrida’s différance in opening a space for an alternative ethos in religious or cultural plural contexts. In postcolonial contexts individual human rights, as the universal norm, is challenged by religious and cultural traditional practices. Some of the traditional practices are incompatible with individual rights and this is aggravated in a postmodern context as there is no universal meta-narrative to arbitrate between the conflicting practices. The result of this conflict is often a stalemate between the universal rights of individuals, often marginal individuals (children, homosexuals and women), over against religious and cultural values and traditions of the particular local context or religious or cultural group. The question this article focuses on is how deconstruction can help to move beyond such ethical conflicts. The article proposes that deconstruction can offer a way of reading, interpreting and understanding these cultural practices within their contexts, by taking the various practices (texts) within their contexts seriously as there is no beyond the text. This reading creates an inter-textual space between the various dominant narratives for the emergence of an alternative ethos. This emerging ethos is not presented as the ethical norm, but rather as an open, expectant attitude towards all the texts involved. This attitude can maybe open the space for alternative practices beyond the stalemate in multi-religious and multi-cultural contexts.

On-Farm Evaluations of Reduced Input Fungicide Programs in Peanut Fields with Low, Moderate, or High Levels of Disease Risk

2014 ◽  
Vol 41 (1) ◽  
pp. 50-57 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. E. Woodward ◽  
T. B. Brenneman ◽  
R. C. Kemerait ◽  
A. K. Culbreath ◽  
N. B. Smith
Keyword(s):  
Leaf Spot ◽  
Cultural Practices ◽  
Disease Risk ◽  
Sclerotium Rolfsii ◽  
Stem Rot ◽  
Cercospora Arachidicola ◽  
Production Region ◽  
Net Returns ◽  
Peanut Production ◽  
On Farm

ABSTRACT In 2003, 2004, and 2005 standard and reduced input fungicide programs were evaluated throughout the peanut production region of Georgia for control of early leaf spot (Cercospora arachidicola), late leaf spot (Cercosporidium personatum), and southern stem rot (Sclerotium rolfsii). Disease risk was determined for each field based on the cultural practices implemented and ranged from low to high. Six to eight fungicide applications were made in the standard programs, versus three to six applications in reduced programs. Leaf spot ratings were higher for the reduced programs in five of the fourteen trials with substantial defoliation occurring in one trial. Overall, southern stem rot control for the reduced programs was equal to or better than that for the standard program, which could be attributed to the differences in fungicide selection or timing. Pod yields for the reduced programs were equal to or greater than the standard programs in all but one trial. Net returns were higher for the reduced programs in half of the trials; however, the reduced program resulted in lower net returns in one trial in 2004. Our results indicate that reduced input fungicide programs can be used to adequately manage fungal diseases of peanut without compromising yield or profitability, and that the use of cultivars with moderate levels of disease resistance may enhance disease control.

Smallholder large ruminant health and production in Lao PDR: challenges and opportunities for improving domestic and regional beef supply

2017 ◽  
Vol 57 (6) ◽  
pp. 1001 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Nampanya ◽  
S. Khounsy ◽  
J. R. Young ◽  
V. Napasirth ◽  
R. D. Bush ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cultural Practices ◽  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Bos Indicus ◽  
Lao Pdr ◽  
Rural Poverty ◽  
Rural Livelihoods ◽  
Bubalus Bubalis ◽  
Large Ruminant ◽  
Challenges And Opportunities ◽  
Marketing Systems

Indigenous yellow cattle (Bos indicus) and Asiatic swamp buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) are important livestock species in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Laos). Data from 2011 estimated there was a national herd of 1 586 200 cattle and 774 200 buffalo, with average numbers of 5.3 cattle and 3.4 buffalo per farm household, indicating that the majority of farm households with large ruminants were smallholders, retaining large ruminants as a storage of wealth, for sale as meat, and as a source of manure fertiliser. Increasing demand for red meat in both domestic and neighbouring markets, driven by rapidly growing economies and urbanisation, offers opportunities for Lao smallholders to gain more income from their livestock. However, improving cattle and buffalo production and a more sustainable supply of safe beef and buffalo meat, requires that numerous production, health and welfare constraints be addressed, including: prevalence of important infectious and parasitic diseases, nutritional deficits particularly in the dry season, undeveloped trading, meat processing and marketing systems, limited veterinary and extension service capacity, adverse impacts from climate change and cultural practices specific to buffalo husbandry, plus policy developments that recognise and adapt to changes in land use. Improvements in large ruminant health, processing and marketing are of particular importance as these will enable poor smallholder farmers to participate in emerging beef markets and expand other agricultural enterprises, improving rural livelihoods, with potential reductions in rural poverty and increased food security. This paper identifies the strategic interventions that may increase the supply of cattle and buffalo and improve rural livelihoods in Laos and the Greater Mekong Subregion.

scholarly journals Effect of Nitrogen Fertilizer on some Attributes of SorghumGrown in Saline Soil under Irrigation

2018 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 12-17
Author(s):  
Abubaker Haroun M.Adam ◽  
Mohammed Ahmed Taleim
Keyword(s):  
Nitrogen Fertilizer ◽  
Cultural Practices ◽  
Agronomic Traits ◽  
Optimal Level ◽  
Agronomic Characters ◽  
College Of Agriculture ◽  
Nitrogen Levels ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Number Of Leaves ◽  
Sorghum Bicolor L

The main objective of this study was to investigate the effects of 4 levels of Nitrogen (N) fertilizer (0, 25, 50 and 75 Kg N/fed) on some attributes of Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L). This study was conducted in the farm of College of Agriculture, University of Bahri-Sudan; during the period 2014-2015. Where the soil is classified as saline with pH ranging from 7.5 -7.8. A randomized completely block designed (RCBD); with 3 replications and four (4) treatments was adopted. All recommended cultural practices were carried out timely. Data; pertaining some plant attributes were collected and analyzed. The result showed that the application of 75KgN/fed has increased both; the average number of leaves as well as the plant height compared to other levels of Nitrogen fertilizer including the control (Figure 1, Figure 2). For the average number of tillers concern, there is non -significant difference between all Nitrogen levels and average number of tillers (Figure 3). The study concluded that the Nitrogen fertilizer has variable effects on the studied agronomic characters, and the application of 75kgN/fed is the optimal level of fertilizer for improving the agronomic traits of Sorghum under Alkadaro conditions.

A Behavioural Explanation of Smallholder Entrepreneurship with Empirical Evidence from KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fortunate Nosisa Zaca ◽  
Edilegnaw Wale ◽  
Unity Chipfupa
Keyword(s):  
Psychological Capital ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Farm Income ◽  
Tobit Regression ◽  
Entrepreneurial Spirit ◽  
Kwazulu Natal ◽  
Social Grant ◽  
On Farm ◽  
The Impact

Abstract This study aimed to investigate the impact of social grant dependence on on-farm entrepreneurial spirit of smallholders. A sample of 175 farmers was obtained from two communities in KwaZulu-Natal. The study employed Principal Components Analysis and Tobit regression. The entrepreneurial spirit indices were constructed from revealed preference-based questions. The study found a positive relationship between the social grant and on-farm entrepreneurial spirit. The positive impact on rural household farming activities implies that the prevailing low entrepreneurial levels among farmers are not the result of social grant dependence but lack of opportunity and other resource constraints. However, to remain effective, policy should ensure that the grant money benefits (directly/indirectly) the intended beneficiary and their households. The other factors found to be associated with on-farm entrepreneurship include age of the farmer, gender, psychological capital, access to training, access to education, access to land, inadequate farming assets, water insecurity, extension, off-farm income and group membership. The study also recommends the need for strategies that improve psychological capital and thus enhance positive on-farm entrepreneurial behaviour among smallholder farmers. Addressing institutional and farming constraints related to access to resources and services (land, credit, extension, and water) and collective action will positively contribute to on-farm entrepreneurship.

SMALLHOLDER FARMER’S LIVELIHOOD DIVERSIFICATION AS A RESPONSE TO CHANGED CLIMATIC PATTERNS IN CHONGWE DISTRICT, ZAMBIA.

2020 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-17
Author(s):  
Mbewe Jacqueline ◽  
Kabwe Harnadih Mubanga
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Rainfall Variability ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Theory And Practice ◽  
Farm Income ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Rainfall Patterns ◽  
On Farm ◽  
Impacts Of Climate Change

Purpose: Climate change affects local and global rainfall patterns and hence has a counter effect on smallholder agriculture. Impacts of climate change on agriculture are largely due to rainfall variability resulting in reduced yields due to crop-water stress and emergency of pathogens and diseases. In Zambia, climate change has been manifested through increased intensity of droughts and floods. These rainfall anomalies adversely affect agriculture and food systems. In order to survive the impacts of climate change and variability, smallholder farmers in Chongwe have adopted their livelihoods and farming systems to the new climatic patterns.Methodology: This study assessed how smallholder farmers in Chongwe District have adopted their livelihoods as a response to changed climatic conditions. It also investigated the perceptions of smallholder farmers as regards changes in aspects of their climatic conditions. Data collection involved a critical review of literature related to climate change and agriculture, observations, semi- structured interviews with 60 smallholder farmers and eight key informants. The data were analysed using multiple analysis techniques which included the descriptive statistics, One-way analysis of Variance (ANOVA), and the post-hoc Least Square Difference for pairwise comparisons of incomes from different livelihoods engaged in by smallholder farmers .The gendered comparisons of livelihood engagement was done using the chi-square test of association.Findings: The results showed that all farmers perceived occurrence of changes in climatic conditions in the light of changed rainfall patterns in that there has been uncertainty in onset of rains, short rainy season, more intermittent rainfall and increased frequency of intra-seasonal droughts. These changes have led to farmers to adopt such farming techniques as potholing in preference to oxen and tractor ploughing when farming is done on smaller pieces of land. There was a significant difference in the mean annual incomes generated from on-farm livelihoods (ZMW 3677.59; n=58) and off-farm livelihoods (ZMW 6840.91; n = 58) (p= 0.001). Farmers generated the highest income returns by engaging in casual work (ZMW 10307.69; n = 13) compared to every other livelihoods common in the area such as gardening (p=0.002), petty trade (p=0.002) and on-farm livelihoods (p=0.001).Contribution to policy, theory and practice: It was therefore concluded that diversification of income through diversified livelihoods would help smallholder farmers enhance their resilience in the face of changed climatic conditions. On-farm livelihoods should not always be the main income source for farmers as results indicated that farmers engaged in casual work generated higher incomes than those who depended on farming. It was recommended that policy direction should be towards introduction of a gender responsive credit facility that can help improve women’s engagement in off-farm income generating livelihoods, as well as encourage climate change resilience.

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