scholarly journals Trade-Offs between Sustainability Indicators in Response to the Production Choices of Different Farm Household Types in Drylands

Agronomy ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (7) ◽  
pp. 998 ◽  
Author(s):  
Loubna El Ansari ◽  
Roza Chenoune ◽  
Yigezu A. Yigezu ◽  
Christian Gary ◽  
Hatem Belhouchette
Keyword(s):  
Resource Use ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Farm Income ◽  
Farm Household ◽  
Resource Use Efficiency ◽  
Trade Offs ◽  
Limited Food ◽  
Use Efficiency ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Farming Households

A lot of national and international effort has been made to promote sustainable agricultural production systems in drylands. However, success has been seriously limited due to lack of thorough characterization of the impact of the diversity of farm household types on productivity, resource-use efficiency and economic and nutritional status. This study applied hierarchical ascendant classification to a random sample of 286 cereal-producing farm households in Morocco and identified distinct household typologies. It also carried out an analysis of trade-offs between economic, nutritional and environmental factors induced by the production decisions of the different farm household typologies. Our analysis identified three dominant farm household typologies in the production system, namely: (i) intensive predominantly-vegetable farming households with high input intensities, (ii) semi-intensive cereal mono-crop farming households with moderate input intensities and (iii) extensive mixed cereal-legume farming households with low input intensities. Extensive mixed cereal-legume farming households exhibited the highest resource-use efficiency and high biodiversity. These benefits, however, came at the expense of a much lower farm income and limited food supplies relative to the other two systems. These results show that, as is the case for many dryland regions, all three farm types showed precarious conditions for one or more of the sustainability-related indicators.

Yield, resource use efficiency or flavour: Trade-offs of varying blue-to-red lighting ratio in urban plant factories

2022 ◽  
Vol 295 ◽  
pp. 110802
Author(s):  
Hao Zhou ◽  
Rhydian Beynon-Davies ◽  
Nicola Carslaw ◽  
Ian C. Dodd ◽  
Kirsti Ashworth
Keyword(s):  
Resource Use ◽  
Resource Use Efficiency ◽  
Trade Offs ◽  
Use Efficiency

Analysis on Resource Use Efficiency of Smallholder's Rice Production Farmers in Federal Capital Territory of Nigeria: Probit Model Approach

2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-9
Author(s):  
Sanusi Saheed Olakunle ◽  
Alabi Olugbenga Omotayo ◽  
Ebukiba Elizabeth Samuel
Keyword(s):  
Resource Use ◽  
Educational Level ◽  
Probit Model ◽  
Household Size ◽  
Rice Production ◽  
Farm Income ◽  
Resource Use Efficiency ◽  
Extension Services ◽  
Rice Farmers ◽  
Use Efficiency

This study examined the resource-use efficiency of smallholder rice production farmers in Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria. The problem of resource use among small-scale rice production farmers is preponderance in the country. Hence, the study investigated the drivers of the problem in the Federal Capital Territory of Nigeria. Specifically, the study was designed to determine the factors influencing the resource-use efficiency of the respondents. A multi-stage sampling technique was used to select a total sample size of one hundred and seventy-five (175) rice farmers in Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria. Seven estimators such as age, household size, farming experience, educational level, extension services, access to credit, and off-farm income in the Probit model were found statistically significant. Results show that the probability of resource use efficiency of inputs used by the farmers increases with age, farm size, household size, educational level, extension services, experiences in farming, access to credits, but decreases where they have off-farm income. Mc Fadden Pseudo-R2 gives 0.6772, and the Probit model explains a significant proportion of the variations in smallholder farmers' resource use. The study concluded that the socio-economic variables in the model play an important role in influencing resource use efficiency. The study recommends that government agencies and donors should provide simplified, accessible and obtainable credits and grants to existing and prospective rice farmers in order to sustain the current giant stride in rice production in the country.

scholarly journals Impacts of climate smart jute farming on resource use efficiency, productivity and economic benefits in rural Eastern India

2019 ◽  
Vol 48 (1) ◽  
pp. 75-82
Author(s):  
AK Singh ◽  
SK Jha ◽  
B Majumdar ◽  
ML Roy ◽  
S Sarkar ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Resource Use ◽  
Scientific Evidence ◽  
Economic Benefits ◽  
Farm Income ◽  
Resource Use Efficiency ◽  
Planting Dates ◽  
Net Returns ◽  
Integrated Crop Management ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Use Efficiency

The study was conducted in jute-growing areas of West Bengal (India) to explore the potential resource use efficiency for economic benefits of selected climate smart practices to marginal landholder farmers. Integrated crop management (ICM) practices as part of climate smart jute farming (CSJF) was practised by 170 randomly selected farmers in six villages. An estimation of cost of adoption, change in fibre yields, net returns and human development index (HDI) before and after ICM interventions was done. The mean HDI value increased by 38.85% and farm income by 31.5%. The net benefits of adaptation to climate smart jute technologies were estimated based on specific adaptation actions. Empirical scientific evidence of the study indicates that the livelihoods of marginal landholders can be improved using new crop varieties, changing planting dates and bringing necessary changes in other variable inputs for line sowing, intercropping, weeding, nutrients, water and retting.

scholarly journals A New Standard Area Diagram Set for Assessment of Severity of Soybean Rust Improves Accuracy of Estimates and Optimizes Resource Use

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emerson Medeiros Del Ponte ◽  
Kaique Santos Alves
Keyword(s):  
Resource Use ◽  
Fold Increase ◽  
Soybean Rust ◽  
Phakopsora Pachyrhizi ◽  
Resource Use Efficiency ◽  
Severe Reduction ◽  
New Knowledge ◽  
Disease Reduction ◽  
Use Efficiency ◽  
The Impact

Soybean rust (SBR), caused by Phakopsora pachyrhizi, is the most important yield- damaging fungal disease of soybean due to severe reduction in healthy leaf area and acceleration of leaf fall. In experimental research, SBR severity is estimated visually aided/trained by a standard area diagram (SAD) developed and validated during the mid- 2000s (Old SAD). In this study, we propose a new SAD set for SBR with six true-colour diagrams following linear increments (c.15% increments) amended with four additional diagrams at low (<10%) severities, totaling 10 diagrams (0.2%, 1%, 3%, 5%, 10%, 25%, 40%, 55%, 70%, and 84%). For evaluation, 37 raters were split into two groups. Each assessed severity in a 50-image sample (0.25% to 84%), first unaided and then using either the Old SAD or the New SAD. Accuracy, precision, and reliability of estimates improved significantly relative to unaided estimates only when aided by the New SAD (accuracy >0.95). Low precision (<0.78) and a trend of underestimation with an increase in severity were the main issues with the Old SAD, which did not differ from unaided estimates. Simulation to evaluate the impact of the errors by different methods on hypothesis tests, showed that the new SAD was more powerful for detecting the smallest difference in mean control (e.g., 70% vs. 65% disease reduction) than the Old SAD; the latter required a 2-fold increase in sample size to achieve the same power. There is a need to improve some SADs, taking advantage of new knowledge and technology to increase accuracy of the estimates, and to optimize both resource use efficiency and management decisions.

scholarly journals Resource Use Efficiency as a Climate Smart Approach: Case of Smallholder Maize Farmers in Nyando, Kenya

Environments ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 5 (8) ◽  
pp. 93 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohamud Salat ◽  
Brent Swallow
Keyword(s):  
Soil Carbon ◽  
Technical Efficiency ◽  
Resource Use ◽  
Soil Conservation ◽  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Conservation Practices ◽  
Resource Use Efficiency ◽  
Maize Production ◽  
Use Efficiency ◽  
The Impact

To simultaneously enhance agricultural productivity and lower negative impacts on the environment, food systems need to be much more efficient in using resources such as land, water, and fertilizer. This study examines resource use efficiency of maize production among smallholder farmers in Nyando, Kenya. The main objective is to assess the degree of technical efficiency of smallholder farmers and identify the impact of so-called “climate smart practices” on technical efficiency. The method of Stochastic Frontier Analysis is used to simultaneously estimate a stochastic production frontier and a technical inefficiency effect model. Data for 324 subplots farmed by 170 households were available for this analysis. The study reveals that maize production in Nyando is associated with mean technical efficiency of 45% and that soil conservation practices such as residue management, legume intercropping, and improved varieties significantly increase farmers’ technical efficiency. Soil carbon is found to be a critical factor of production. These results imply that there is potential to more than double production using the same resources and that soil conservation practices can be very “climate smart,” at once increasing soil carbon, production, climate resilience, and technical efficiency.

scholarly journals Critical Systematic Review of Zoonoses and Transboundary Animal Diseases’ Prioritization in Africa

Pathogens ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (8) ◽  
pp. 976
Author(s):  
Serge Eugene Mpouam ◽  
Jean Pierre Kilekoung Mingoas ◽  
Mohamed Moctar Mouliom Mouiche ◽  
Jean Marc Kameni Feussom ◽  
Claude Saegerman
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Resource Use ◽  
Animal Health ◽  
Decision Makers ◽  
Parasitic Disease ◽  
Resource Use Efficiency ◽  
Animal Diseases ◽  
Trade Offs ◽  
Local Stakeholders ◽  
Use Efficiency

Background: Disease prioritization aims to enhance resource use efficiency concerning human and animal health systems’ preparedness and response to the most important problems for the optimization of beneficial outcomes. In sub-Sahara Africa (SSA), several prioritizations of zoonoses and transboundary animal diseases (TADs) have been implemented at different scales to characterize potential disease impacts. Method and principal findings: In this systematic review, we analyze the methodologies used, outcomes, and their relevance by discussing criteria required to align decision-makers’ perceptions of impacts to those of other stakeholders for different prioritization in SSA. In general, the sectorial representativeness of stakeholders for processes implemented with the support of international partners showed slight differences with the absence of local stakeholders. Whatever the tool prioritized, zoonoses were similar in general because of the structured nature of those tools in assessing decision-makers’ preferences through value trade-offs between criteria while ensuring transparency and reproducibility. However, by involving field practitioners and farmers, there were different outcomes with processes concerning only decision makers and experts who were more sensitive to infectious TADs, while the former raised parasitic disease constraints. In this context, multicriteria decision analysis-based zoonoses and TADs prioritizations involving a balanced participation of stakeholders might contribute to bridging these divergences, whatever the scale. Conclusion and significance: Prioritization processes were important steps toward building and harmonizing technical laboratory and surveillance networks to coordinate projects to address priority zoonoses and TADs at the country and/or sub-regional level. Those processes should be enhanced.

Farming systems methodology for efficient resource management at the farm level: a review from an Indian perspective

2008 ◽  
Vol 146 (5) ◽  
pp. 493-505 ◽  
Author(s):  
U. K. BEHERA ◽  
C. M. YATES ◽  
E. KEBREAB ◽  
J. FRANCE
Keyword(s):  
Linear Programming ◽  
Resource Use ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Farm Income ◽  
Resource Use Efficiency ◽  
Farm Level ◽  
Integrated Farming ◽  
Use Efficiency ◽  
Large Farms ◽  
Integrated Farming Systems

SUMMARYFarming systems research is a multi-disciplinary holistic approach to solve the problems of small farms. Small and marginal farmers are the core of the Indian rural economy constituting 0·80 of the total farming community but possessing only 0·36 of the total operational land. The declining trend of per capita land availability poses a serious challenge to the sustainability and profitability of farming. Under such conditions, it is appropriate to integrate land-based enterprises such as dairy, fishery, poultry, duckery, apiary, field and horticultural cropping within the farm, with the objective of generating adequate income and employment for these small and marginal farmers under a set of farm constraints and varying levels of resource availability and opportunity. The integration of different farm enterprises can be achieved with the help of a linear programming model. For the current review, integrated farming systems models were developed, by way of illustration, for the marginal, small, medium and large farms of eastern India using linear programming. Risk analyses were carried out for different levels of income and enterprise combinations. The fishery enterprise was shown to be less risk-prone whereas the crop enterprise involved greater risk. In general, the degree of risk increased with the increasing level of income. With increase in farm income and risk level, the resource use efficiency increased. Medium and large farms proved to be more profitable than small and marginal farms with higher level of resource use efficiency and return per Indian rupee (Rs) invested. Among the different enterprises of integrated farming systems, a chain of interaction and resource flow was observed. In order to make farming profitable and improve resource use efficiency at the farm level, the synergy among interacting components of farming systems should be exploited. In the process of technology generation, transfer and other developmental efforts at the farm level (contrary to the discipline and commodity-based approaches which have a tendency to be piecemeal and in isolation), it is desirable to place a whole-farm scenario before the farmers to enhance their farm income, thereby motivating them towards more efficient and sustainable farming.

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