scholarly journals Reducing Pesticides and Increasing Crop Diversification Offer Ecological and Economic Benefits for Farmers—A Case Study in Cambodian Rice Fields

Insects ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 267
Author(s):  
Cornelia Sattler ◽  
Julian Schrader ◽  
Rica Joy Flor ◽  
Makarakpakphea Keo ◽  
Sokunroth Chhun ◽  
...  

Rice production is often associated with high pesticide input. To improve farmers’ practice, sustainable management approaches are urgently needed, such as ecological engineering (EE), which aims at enhancing beneficial arthropods while reducing pesticides. Here, we implemented and tested EE in Cambodian rice fields by comparing: (i) fields not treated with pesticides (control); (ii) fields not treated with pesticides but with non-rice crops planted in the surrounding (EE); and (iii) conventionally farmed fields using pesticides (CR). Using benefit-cost analysis, we compared the economic value of each treatment. The non-rice crops preferred by men and women farmers as well as farmers’ willingness to implement EE were assessed using surveys. We sampled arthropod abundance and richness in rice fields and bunds during two seasons. During the dry season, we compared EE and CR among three Cambodian provinces. During the wet season, we specifically assessed the differences in EE, control and CR in arthropod abundance and rice yield in one province. While withholding from using pesticides did not result in a decrease in yield in EE and control treatments, parasitoid abundance was higher in both treatments during the wet season. The benefit–cost ratio was highest for EE and control treatments. Pesticides were likely the main driver causing low arthropod abundance, without any benefit towards increased rice yield. The proper implementation of EE coupled with farmers’ knowledge of ecologically based pest management is a promising solution towards sustainable rice production.

2018 ◽  
Vol 65 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
C. P. Balasubramanian ◽  
Shailesh S. Mhaskar ◽  
Krishna Sukumaran ◽  
A. Panigrahi ◽  
Kurmaraguru Vasagam ◽  
...  

Integrated multi-trophic aquaculture (IMTA), farming of species from different trophic levels and with complimentary ecosystem function, is regarded as a suitable approach to develop a sustainable aquaculture system. In order to establish an IMTA system, a study was carried out in Sindhudurg District, Maharashtra, India for selected tropical brackish-water species. Two equal sized pens (250 m2) were constructed for IMTA and control respectively in each land based system and open water cages were set in the estuary. Different combinations of fed species (Chanos chanos, Etroplus suratensis, Mugil cephalus, Penaeus indicus) and an extractive crop (Crassostrea madrasensis) were stocked in IMTA experimental system whereas monoculture of P. indicus served as control. Water quality characteristics were found to be within the admissible limits. Soil organic carbon was found to be lesser in the IMTA system compared to control. The productivity of IMTA system was higher than control: 3250 kg h-1 vs 2000 kg ha-1. Further, income and benefit-cost ratio was found to be higher in IMTA pens. The present study concludes that IMTA is a possible option for system diversification as well as species diversification without compromising economic profitability of culture.


2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 22-36
Author(s):  
Pierre C. C. DIEDHIOU ◽  
Antoine SAMBOU ◽  
Ousmane NDIAYE, NGor NDOUR ◽  
Seydou K. DIEDHIOU

The "System of Rice Intensification"(SRI) represents a sustainable alternative to improve household yields and incomes. This study aimed to evaluate the yields and the profitability of the SRI and the Traditional Practices (TP) in Ziguinchor district, Senegal. A directed sampling based on criteria for selecting the system used and the cultivated varieties common to both systems was applied to collect the yield parameters and yields of paddy rice. Thus, 18 producers in the Badiate, Essyl, and Fanda sites were selected, nine per system and four 1 m2 yield squares were installed in each selected producer plot. A total of 72 yield squares, 36 per system, were installed, and an individual questionnaire was randomly administered to 55 producers using at least one of the systems to collect data on rice production and costs. The yield parameters including the number of fertile tillers per m2, the number of spikes, the weight of the 1000 grains are significantly higher (p<0.05) in the SRI including yield compared to the traditional system. Transplanting density and plant duration are higher in TP (26±5.6 plants/m2 and 26 days) than in SRI (16±0.4 plants/m2 and 16 days). The lower the transplanting density, the higher the yield parameters and the yield. The economic profitability, determined based on the benefit/cost ratio, is higher in SRI (1.5) than in TP (1.2). The SRI required a lot of technicality in its implementation and generated more cost of production. However, SRI was more productive and economically more profitable than the traditional system.


2018 ◽  
Vol 35 (1) ◽  
pp. 203-209
Author(s):  
M. Basnet ◽  
H. Gurung

An experiment was conducted at Salyan, Nepal to assess the mother rhizome retrieval and organic treatment of the same retrieved plant on economic yield of ginger during 2015/16.‘ Kapurkot Aduwa-1’, a superior Nepalese variety was used for this experiment. Two dates i.e. 1 September and 7 September were used as a time of retrieval factor and seven organic treatments i.e. Trichoderma, Jeevatu, Bordeaux paste, mixture of neem and timur dust, vermicompost, jholmal and control as second factor and these 14 treatment combinations were laid out in factorial randomized block design with three replications. The plant height, leaf number, tiller number was found to be significantly highest with vermicompost treatment on all days 5 days interval after harvesting of the mother rhizome whereas the lowest was observed at control. The mother rhizome yield and fresh rhizome was found to be significantly highest on vermicompost applied field with 1.7 t/ha and 22.8 mt/ha respectively and lowest fresh rhizome yield (15.5. t/ha) was found with control. The disease yield was significantly lowest (0 t/ha) and highest (0.2 t/ha) with the control. Benefit cost ratio was found to be significantly highest (1.74) and lowest at control (1.32).


Author(s):  
Thomas A. Grigalunas ◽  
James J. Opaluch ◽  
Young Tae Chang

Port dredging to accommodate larger vessels can create substantial national economic benefits. However, how affected individual states fare economically with dredging is often unclear and can be an important issue. The benefits and the costs to Delaware residents of dredging—with the recent proposed deepening of the Delaware Bay and River main federal channel as a case study—are examined. Benefits include ( a) lower transportation costs that residents might receive on imported goods, ( b) profits that residents would realize if cost savings (e.g., on refinery products) were not passed forward to Delaware users, ( c) project costs that residents would bear as federal taxpayers, and ( d) benefits that residents would realize if the use of dredged sediments for planned beach renourishment created savings to the state. Sensitivity analyses are used to reflect uncertainty in outcomes. The estimated net present value to Delaware today of all future annual quantifiable benefits and costs ranges between $15,528,393 and $14,195,700 over 50 years at 5.875%. Stated another way, the quantified net benefits for Delaware imply a benefit-cost ratio between 2.07 and 1.89. Hence, for every dollar of the $7.5 million that Delaware would pay as a nonfederal cosponsor, estimated quantifiable net benefits to the state are $2.07 to $1.89. Some benefit and cost estimates are vehemently debated between interested parties, and not all benefits and costs can be quantified.


2018 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 179-188 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aasma Sharma ◽  
Khem Raj Neupane ◽  
Rajendra Regmi ◽  
Ram Chandra Neupane

Okra is one of the most important summer vegetables in South Asian countries including Nepal. However, the damage by insects like Jassid (Amrasca biguttula Ish.) and whitefly (Bemisia tabaci Guen) has resulted in significant reduction of its production. An experiment was conducted based on intercropping taking okra (Abelmoschus exculentus L. Moench) as the main crop in Arghau, Lekhnath-27, Kaski, Nepal from March 4 to May 24, 2018. The intercrops used were coriander (Corriander sativum), carrot (Daucas carota), fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) and parsley (Petroselinum crispum). The population of jassid and whitefly was recorded from three leaves representing the different strata (bottom, middle and top) of the vegetative parts; and related yield parameters were also observed to correlate with the level of population incidence of these pests. Least numbers of jassids (5.50±0.29, 6.94±0.43, 8.00±0.41 and 3.69±0.76) were observed respectively at 30, 40, 50 and 60 days after sowing (DAS) in okra+ coriander. Likewise, okra + coriander intercropping was effective in inhibiting the population of whitefly (7.50±0.59, 8.56±0.19, 10.25±0.66 and 7.06±0.42) at 30, 40, 50 and 60 days after sowing (DAS) respectively. In contrary, the highest number of jassids and whiteflies were observed in okra + parsley and control (okra only). Both pod length (cm) and yield (t/ha) were the highest (17.92±0.57 and 28.20±0.49 respectively) in okra + coriander and were the lowest (16.42±0.21 and 27.58±0.39 respectively) in okra + carrot. The benefit-cost ratio was in order okra + coriander > okra + carrot > okra + fennel > okra + parsley > control (okra only). Among the different intercrop combinations, the okra + coriander was found most effective that could be suggested as one of the alternative strategies to limit the population of pests; jassid and whitefly in okra.


2013 ◽  
Vol 655-657 ◽  
pp. 1479-1483
Author(s):  
Jiu Hui Ding ◽  
Bai Wei Guo ◽  
Shuang Wei

one hardware-in-the-loop simulation (referred to HILS) system for terminally guided projectile guidance and control system has been built, based on the analysis to the demand of HILS for the guidance and control system of the terminally guided projectile. The running process and the comparison results of the HILS & mathematical simulation have been given. The simulation results show that the movement of the terminally guided projectile could be simulated by the HILS system, which has a high benefit-cost ratio and confidence.


2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 29-41
Author(s):  
Sri Mulyani ◽  
Aqil Teguh Fathani ◽  
Eko Priyo Purnomo

Abstrak. Tujuan penelitian ini melihat ketahanan pangan berkelanjutan yang merupakan suatu kewajiban dan harus dilakukan untuk menjaga ketersediaan pangan khususnya padi. Pada saat ini di Sumatera Barat sedang maraknya terjadi alih fungsi lahan lawah. Alih fungsi lahan sawah ini disebabkan oleh pembangunan infrastruktur, perumahan, jalan, jalan tol, sarana umum dan fasiltas lainnya. Metode dalam penelitian ini menggunakan metode kualitatif dengan pendekatan rasionalistik. Hasil penelitian menyebutkan dengan adanya alih fungsi lahan sawah menyebabkan luas panen terhadap padi dan jumlah produksi padi terus berkurang. Pada tahun 2018 terjadi pengurangan luas panen dan produksi padi yang sangat signifikan dari tahun sebelumnya (2017) yaitu sebesar 220 ribu ha luas panen padi dan 1.4 juta ton produksi padi. Hal ini dinilai sangat berbahaya bagi ketahanan pangan yang berkelanjutan karena jumlah penduduk terus bertambah dan juga kebutuhan terhadap pangan juga semakin meningkat sedangkan jumlah produksi justru terus berkurang. Oleh karena itu perlu adanya peran dari semua unsur untuk mengkontrol dan mengendalikan lahan sawah serta pemerintah dengan segera membuat regulasi Peraturan Daerah untuk mengatur lahan sawah agar tidak terjadi alih fungsi lahan sawah secara berkelanjutan.Protection of Rice Fields in Achieving National Food SecurityAbstract. The purpose of this research is to see sustainable food security which is an obligation and must be done to maintain food availability, especially rice. The function of paddy fields is caused by the development of infrastructure, housing, roads, toll roads, public means, and other facilities. The methods in this study used qualitative methods with a rationalistic approach. The results of the study mentioned that the Land of rice field function caused the harvest area to rice and the amount of rice production continued to decrease. In 2018 there was a reduction in the vast harvest and rice production which was significantly from the previous year which amounted to 220 thousand hectares of rice harvest and 1.4 million tonnes of rice production. This is very dangerous for sustainable food security because the population continues to grow and also the need for food is also increasing while the number of production is steadily decreasing. Therefore, it is necessary to have the role of all elements to control and control the rice fields and government by immediately make the regulation of local regulations to regulate the field of rice fields to prevent the functioning of the rice field sustainability.


1995 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 173-179 ◽  
Author(s):  
J.M. White ◽  
P.G. Allen ◽  
L.J. Moffitt ◽  
P.P. Kingsley

AbstractAn areawide program for biological control of the alfalfa weevil showed expected economic benefits of $2.2 billion, expressed in present value terms. Alfalfa producers and consumers of livestock products are the main beneficiaries. The control program was highly successful, with a benefit/cost ratio of about 91. Not all areawide biological pest control programs will be as successful; a benefit-cost analysis like the one described here should be performed before areawide control is initiated to identify programs expected to provide economic benefits.


Author(s):  
Brendan Pender ◽  
Graham Currie ◽  
Nirajan Shiwakoti ◽  
Alexa Delbosc

A new approach explores the economic viability of dedicated bus reserves purely for bus bridging purposes. The approach estimates feet costs and user benefits of reduced delay by improving the response to unplanned rail disruption. The feasibility of dedicated bus reserves has not been considered in previous research. Sourcing buses for bus bridging purposes is problematic during weekday peak periods, which coincide with the highest demand for rail travel. At all other times spare buses are available. Consequently, a dedicated bus reserve would exist mainly to provide bus bridging in the peak. Results suggest that a dedicated bus bridging reserve can be economically viable. Of 18 corridors studied, a dedicated reserve was feasible for 78%. Economically viable corridors have a benefit–cost ratio ranging between 1.5 and 9.7 (average, 4.5). Reserves were not feasible where existing rail demand, disruption likelihood, or both were low. Sensitivity tests explored viability with more conservative assumptions. In each test, the dedicated bus reserve in most corridors remained economically viable. The research suggests that a dedicated bus reserve should be considered by rail operators worldwide because of strong net economic benefits. However, reserves are a net cost (with no income), so investment must be based on economic, not financial, benefits. This aspect suggests that government authorities, rather than commercial operators, may find a dedicated reserve more feasible. This approach illustrates where reserves might best be allocated to maximize investment returns.


2009 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
pp. 88-97 ◽  
Author(s):  
RB Bhujel ◽  
SP Ghimire

Hiunde (Boro) rice has not been popularized due to least attention given to this crop in Nepal. Inorder to estimate the production function of this crop, a field survey in Morang district during2002/2003 was carried out using a semi-structured questionnaire. The primary information wascollected through face to face interview. The result of the empirical model of Cobb-Douglasproduction function revealed the model significant at 1% level and defined 95% variation inHiunde rice production due to variation in independent variables included in the model. Thecoefficient of area, nitrogen, phosphorous, and tractor hour were found significant at 1% levelwhile the dummy for more than 10 times of irrigation was significant at 5% level and up to 10times of irrigation and potash was significant at 10% level. The effect of human and bullocklabor was found non-significant. Among the sampled farmers the average cropping intensity was194% and average yield of Hiunde rice was 4802.50 kg/ha. On an average 131 kg of nitrogen,phosphorous and potash was applied for one ha and 15 irrigations in average. The net benefitfrom Hiunde rice was found to be Rs. 14507.41/ha with 1.73 benefit cost ratio. About 31% costwas incurred in land preparation and transplanting which was highest among the operations. Itwas followed by the costs incurred in fertilizers and agrochemicals which counted 23%.Key words: Estimate; Hiunde rice; production functionDOI: 10.3126/narj.v7i0.1874Nepal Agriculture Research Journal Vol.7 2006 pp.88-97


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