scholarly journals Reliability of the Agricultural Extension and Technological Services among Rice Farmers in the Rural Areas of Tanzania

2021 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 18-31
Author(s):  
D. Kulyakwave Peter ◽  
Shiwei Xu ◽  
Wen Yu ◽  
Sar Sary ◽  
S. Muyobozi
Keyword(s):  
Rural Areas ◽  
Agricultural Extension ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Government Organizations ◽  
Rice Farmers ◽  
Agricultural Performance ◽  
Technological Information ◽  
Application Methods ◽  
Small Scale Farmers ◽  
Information Providers

This study provided insights into the availability and use of agricultural information by small scale farmers in the Mbeya Region of Tanzania. The research used structured questionnaires to interview 240 rice farmers in the Mbeya region. The findings revealed that farmers accessed agricultural information from various agents including local government extension staff, neighbors and friends, advertisements, electronic media including the internet, television, radio, and other channels. The identified technological information application methods included by lectures, field demonstrations, exposure visits to various places, and printed production. The majority of farmers perceived to have dissatisfied (43%), strongly dissatisfied (25%), strongly satisfied (20%), satisfied (8%), and no opinions (4%) concerning accessibility to agricultural information and technological services. The majority of farmers claimed that both agricultural information and technological communication are strongly needed for agricultural performance. The study suggests that government and non-government organizations should collaborate to bridge the existing information-sharing gap between farmers and  information providers. Keywords: extension communication, technological information, rural areas, rice farmers, Tanzania.

scholarly journals Insects and Their Products as a Potential Source of Food, Feed and Economic Security: A Review

2020 ◽  
Vol 36 (1) ◽  
pp. 71-80
Author(s):  
S. A Dattijo
Keyword(s):  
Rural Areas ◽  
Animal Feed ◽  
The United States ◽  
Economic Security ◽  
Added Value ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Potential Source ◽  
Global Commerce ◽  
Small Scale Farmers ◽  
High Level

Due to many ways by which they are exploited, insects and their products could be a very big business. They are sold for agricultural protection, crop pollination, as well as human, livestock and pet nutrition. In addition, their products are sold for pharmaceuticals, health, and the implements for research, art works and a host of other uses. This review focused on commercialization of insects and their products with a view of sharing existing knowledge on global commerce of various insects and their products. Available literature revealed that there was an increase in demand for edible insects in the United States of America and prices were as high as $150 kg-1. Similarly, between 2010 and 2015, animal feed market in the United Kingdom grew at 3.5% annually and is currently worth £5 billion. Because of its scarcity, high demand, and recognition of its healing properties, royal jelly, one of the most sought after from bee products commands astronomical price internationally. In addition, no any other industry could generate high level of employment as sericulture, especially in rural areas where it takes 11 workdays to produce a Kg of raw silk. The contribution insects and their products can give to improve the economy of a developing country such as Nigeria is considerable, but underestimated or neglected. Insects are unlikely to make a major contribution in the near future, but the idea that they are potential source of overcoming the economic problems is not as farfetched as it seemed. Therefore, there is the need to adopt an added value approach to insects and their products and sensitize as well as encourage small-scale farmers, who are disadvantaged in international market participation due to lack of access to information, services, technology or the capacity, to produce larger volumes of quality insect products.

scholarly journals THE DOMESTICATED DONKEY: III -ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE, UNCOMMON USAGES, REPRODUCTION TRAITS, GENETICS, NUTRITION AND HEALTH CARE.

2012 ◽  
Vol 2 ◽  
pp. 139
Author(s):  
Orhan Yılmaz ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Animal Species ◽  
Economic Importance ◽  
Farm Animal ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Nutrition And Health ◽  
Reproduction Traits ◽  
Small Scale Farmers

Donkeys are odd-toed, short-legged and long ears Equidae. Donkeys are used as traction animals in rural areas for small-scale farmers. They are an important farm animal species which adapted to the different environments, hard conditions and harsh climates

Analysis of Harvesting Sustainability

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 59-67
Author(s):  
Suchismita Satapathy
Keyword(s):  
Rural Areas ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Review Of Literature ◽  
Machine Cost ◽  
Small Scale Farmers

The existing harvesters for farming purposes are not affordable to small-scale farmers because of their financial reasons. Moreover, there is a requirement of a small, economic, more accessible & effective machine cost and also these are not available in most of the rural areas due to transportation or finance which would be easily operatable by the small scale farmers. In view of this, the present study was carried out by a depth review of literature s and expert concern is taken for existing harvesting practices and machines. Further, on the basis of ergonomic assessment followed by ISM analysis was done for considering the existing and the modified machines.

scholarly journals Small-scale Farming and Access to Market: Challenges and Opportunities in South Africa

2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (5) ◽  
pp. 50-63
Author(s):  
Confidence Ndlovu ◽  
Mandla Masuku
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Food Security ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Household Income ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Arable Land ◽  
Policy Formulation ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Limited Access ◽  
Small Scale Farmers

The paper has aimed to explore the effectiveness of small-scale farmers in improving household income and food security, particularly looking at the barriers to market access in rural areas. This study was undertaken in rural areas of Kanyamazane, Clau-Clau and Nyongane, South Africa, where small-scale producers depend on low-risk and low-return markets to generate household income from production, thus ensuring food security. To achieve the aim of this study, a qualitative approach was used to provide in-depth interpretation of the perspectives, experiences, and behavioural patterns of the small-scale farmers faced with market related issues. Small-scale farmers, agricultural extension officers, and municipal officials were purposefully selected to share their views, perceptions, and experiences on the effectiveness in accessing markets. The findings revealed that there was limited access to formal markets by small-scale farmers because of limited knowledge and capacity to meet market requirements. The study confirmed that a lack of marketing skills, institutional support services, and limited access to arable land, have directly negative effects on achieving livelihood outcomes. This study recommends a sustainable crop production method which reduces the costs of farming resources, such as pesticide and fertilizer, through organic methods to ensure food safety and enhanced nutrient quality. This study further encourages inclusive rural development, where small-scale producers are treated as stakeholders in agricultural policy formulation to enable access to financial resources and increase in production through the formation of cooperatives.

scholarly journals Growing and Eating Food during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Farmers’ Perspectives on Local Food System Resilience to Shocks in Southern Africa and Indonesia

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (20) ◽  
pp. 8556
Author(s):  
Nicole Paganini ◽  
Kustiwa Adinata ◽  
Nomonde Buthelezi ◽  
David Harris ◽  
Stefanie Lemke ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Informal Economy ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Food Systems ◽  
Food System ◽  
Local Food ◽  
Local Food Systems ◽  
Research Network ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Small Scale Farmers

The COVID-19 outbreak forced governments to make decisions that had adverse effects on local food systems and supply chains. As a result, many small-scale food producers faced difficulties growing, harvesting, and selling their goods. This participatory research examines local small-scale farmers’ challenges as farmers but also as consumers and their coping strategies during the month of April and one week in June 2020. The study was initiated and conceptualized in collaboration with small-scale farmer members of an existing research network in selected urban and rural areas in South Africa, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, and Indonesia. Participants co-designed the research, collected and uploaded data through digital survey tools, and contributed to data analysis and interpretation. A common observation across regions is that the measures imposed in response to COVID-19 highlighted and partly exacerbated existing socio-economic inequalities among food system actors. Strict lockdowns in Cape Town, South Africa, and Masvingo, Zimbabwe, significantly restricted the production capacity of small-scale farmers in the informal economy and created more food insecurity for them. In Maputo, Mozambique, and Toraja and Java, Indonesia, local food systems continued to operate and were even strengthened by higher social capital and adaptive capacities.

scholarly journals Factors influencing access to agricultural knowledge: The case of smallholder rice farmers in the Kilombero district of Tanzania

2016 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Wulystan P. Mtega ◽  
Mpho Ngoepe ◽  
Luyanda Dube
Keyword(s):  
Private Sector ◽  
Information And Communication Technologies ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Agricultural Extension ◽  
Extension Agents ◽  
Rice Farmers ◽  
Agricultural Knowledge ◽  
Factors Influencing ◽  
Knowledge Access

Background: Access to agricultural knowledge is important in transforming livelihoods of those relying on agriculture for a living and in enhancing food security. This access to agricultural knowledge is influenced by infrastructure needed for information dissemination. However, information infrastructure is not uniformly distributed within and between countries. It is because of this that some of the farming communities are information rich while others are information poor. In Tanzania, the agricultural sector is characterised by poor research-extension-farmers linkage and inaccessibility of agricultural knowledge at farm levelObjective: The study investigated the factors influencing access to agricultural knowledge among smallholder rice farmers in the Kilombero district of Tanzania. Specifically, the study identified categories of agricultural knowledge needed by farmers, determined how farmers access agricultural knowledge, and assessed the factors limiting the accessibility of agricultural knowledge among rice farmers in the Kilombero district.Method: Quantitative data were collected via semi-structured questionnaires administered face-to-face with rice farmers, community leaders, and agricultural agents in four villages at the Kilombero district of the Morogoro region in Tanzania.Results: The key finding indicates that farmers accessed and used agricultural knowledge in undertaking agricultural activities. It was further revealed that the level of acquisition of agricultural knowledge increased with an increase in age. Farmers needed agricultural knowledge on land preparation, seed selection, and rice planting, while few acquired knowledge on agricultural markets. Among the agricultural knowledge sources used, demonstration plots and agricultural extension agents were found to be used by the majority of the farmers. It was also found that a limited number of demonstration plots, late delivery of information services, a limited number of agricultural extension agents, and poor information and communication technologies infrastructure hindered access to agricultural knowledge among rice farmers in the district.Conclusion: A strong public–private partnership is needed to enhance access to agricultural knowledge in rural areas. In this regard, the government should set up policies and strategies that motivate private sector investment and involvement in provision of agricultural knowledge in rural areas. The private sector should extend their agricultural-related activities to most rural areas so that more people can have access to agricultural knowledge.Keywords: smallholder farmers; agricultural knowledge; access to knowledge;access to information; Tanzania

scholarly journals The Deviation of the Behaviors of Rice Farmers from Their Stated Willingness to Apply Biopesticides—A Study Carried Out in Jilin Province of China

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (11) ◽  
pp. 6026
Author(s):  
Hongpeng Guo ◽  
Fanhui Sun ◽  
Chulin Pan ◽  
Baiming Yang ◽  
Yin Li
Keyword(s):  
Influencing Factors ◽  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Deep Level ◽  
Jilin Province ◽  
Family Characteristics ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Agricultural Product ◽  
Rice Farmers ◽  
And Behaviors ◽  
Small Scale Farmers

The substitution of chemical pesticides by biopesticides is crucial to ensure the quality of agricultural products and to foster environmental sustainability. This study takes the willingness and the behaviors of rice farmers on the application of biopesticides as the research object. The survey questionnaire was designed based on the theory of rational small-scale farmers from three aspects: “individual and family characteristics of farmers”, “cognition of farmers” and “external factors”. The survey was then conducted on 163 rice farmers in seven prefecture-level cities in Jilin Province of China. The logistic model was used to analyze the influencing factors resulting in the deviation of the behaviors of the rice farmers from their initial willingness on the application of biopesticides. The explanatory structure model (ISM) was used to analyze the logical hierarchical relationship among various influencing factors. The results show that: (1) For 45% of the farmers surveyed, there’s a deviation between their willingness and behaviors regarding the application of biopesticides; (2) Among the significant factors leading to the deviation between farmers’ willingness and behaviors concerning the application of biopesticides, the surface-level direct factor is biopesticide awareness. The mid-level indirect factors are agricultural product quality and safety awareness and the deep-level root cause is farmers’ education level. (3) The primary reason for the deviation of the farmers’ behaviors from their willingness is their lack of knowledge about biopesticides and the biopesticides’ incomplete market structure. Based on the comprehensive analysis, it is recommended to improve the professionalization of the farmers, to strengthen the publicity of green production and to accelerate the formulation of the biopesticides market to further promote the usage of biopesticides.

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