Evolution of Overall Cotton Production and Its Determinants: Implications for Developing Countries Using Pakistan Case

Managing the declining yield of non-food crops has opened new strategic challenges amidst global uncertainties. The COVID-19 scenario has increased awareness of natural lifestyle and eco-friendly products, largely dependent on non-food crop material. This strategic shift requires moving beyond traditional farm practices to improve agricultural production efficiency, and developing countries in particular have shown a consistent loss in their self-sufficiency of industrial crops despite being major exporters of non-food crop materials. However, existing studies analyze production efficiencies of non-food crops from general or theoretical aspects often by virtual estimates from breaking down the multiple factors of crop productivity. This study examined multiple factors of crop production to identify “which crop inputs have been inefficiently used overtime” by tracking efficiency changes and various input issues in overall cotton production from practical aspects, i.e., scaling non-constant returns of those multiple factors would allow for the violation of various situations. Accordingly, a stochastic frontier approach was employed to measure the production frontier and efficiency relationship using time-series data of Pakistan’s cotton production from 1971–2018—a specific non-food crop perspective from a top-ranked cotton-producing country that has recently been shifted towards being a non-exporter of cotton due to low yield. The coefficient of area, seed, and labor indicates the positive relationship with cotton production, while fertilizer, irrigation, electricity, and machinery are statistically negative. This implies that policymakers need priority-based strategies for the judicial use of synthetic fertilizers, irrigation, a subsidy policy, and technology adoption, which could significantly improve the efficiencies of cotton productivity from the same land resources. Being adaptable to other developing economies, the analysis would strategically facilitate designing and developing affordable technology-driven solutions and their customized extensions towards sustainable non-food crop production practices and Agri-Resources efficiencies.

Analisis Ketahanan Pangan Rumah Tangga Petani Padi Berdasarkan Proporsi Pengeluaran Pangan Di Kota Padang

ABSTRAK Padi merupakan salah satu komoditas tanaman pangan yang cukup strategis untuk mendukung terwujudnya ketahanan pangan nasioal. Padi merupakan komoditas unggulan di Kota Padang, dan salah satu wilayah sentra produksinya adalah Kecamatan Kuranji. Sebagai wilayah lumbung pangan (padi) diasumsikan dengan tingkat kesejahteraan masyarakat (petani) yang terjamin dalam hal pemenuhan pangan. Salah satu indikator ketahanan pangan rumah tangga dicerminkan oleh proporsi pengeluaran pangan terhadap pengeluaran total. Tujuan penelitian ini adalah 1) menganalisis perkembangan (trend) produksi padi di Kota Padang dan 2) menganalisis pendapatan dan proporsi pengeluaran rumah tangga petani padi. Jenis data penelitian terdiri dari data primer dan sekunder, dengan jumlah responden sebanyak 30 rumah tangga petani padi dengan teknik pengambilan sampel secara snowball sampling. Analisis data yang digunakan meliputi analisis trend menggunakan least square method; pendapatan total; dan proporsi pengeluaran pangan. Hasil penelitian menunjukan produksi padi sawah, mengalami penurunan produksi sebesar 7812.00 Ton setiap tahunnya (2015-2019), diperkirakan pada tahun 2020 produksi padi sawah sebesar 35,882.00 Ton. Sedangkan, sumber pendapatan rumah tangga petani padi terbesar berasal dari pendapatan usahatani padi sawah (onfarm). Proporsi pengeluaran rumah tangga petani digunakan untuk pengeluaran pangan yaitu padi-padian, dengan rata-rata total pengeluaran sebesar 60.26 persen. Kata Kunci : Tanaman Pangan, Rumah Tangga Petani, Ketahanan Pangan ABSTRACT Rice is one of the food crop commodities which is quite strategic to support the realization of national food security. Rice is a leading commodity in the city of Padang, and one of its production centers is Kuranji District. As a food barn (rice) area, it is assumed that the level of welfare of the community (farmers) is guaranteed in terms of food fulfillment. One indicator of household food security is reflected by the proportion of food expenditure to total expenditure. The objectives of this study were 1) to analyze the development (trend) of rice production in Padang City and 2) to analyze the income and proportion of household expenditures of rice farmers. The type of research data consists of primary and secondary data, with the number of respondents as many as 30 rice farmer households with a snowball sampling technique. The data analysis used includesanalysis trend using the least square method; total revenue; and the proportion of food expenditure. The results showed that lowland rice production decreased by 7812.00 tons every year (2015-2019), it is estimated that in 2020 lowland rice production was 35,882.00 tons. Meanwhile, the largest source of household income for rice farmers comes from rice farming(incomeonfarm). The proportion of household expenditure of farmers is used for food expenditure, namely grains, with an average total expenditure of 60.26 percent Keywords : food crop commodities, farmer households, food security

Microgreens - biologically complete product of the XXI century

Microgreens are a new functional food crop that can facilitate adaptation to urbanization and global climate change, and improve human health. The research was carried out in 2021 at the Department of Landscape Architecture of the Kuzbass State Agricultural Academy. The aim of the research was to study the technology of cultivation of microgreens of the Brassicaceae family on an aqueous substrate. The objects of research were the seeds of cultivated plants of the Brassicaceae family: Brassica oleracea Broccoli Group broccoli or asparagus, Fortuna, Raphanus sativus radish, Violetta, Lepidium sativum, watercress, Dansky, and Eruca versicaria, arugula, Sicily. It was revealed that microgreens can be obtained from seeds of the Brassicaceae family in 6-12 days. Such a product does not have time to accumulate harmful substances from the atmosphere in a short period of time. When growing microgreens, it is not necessary to use mineral fertilizers, pesticides and, thus, it is possible to obtain environmentally friendly, biologically useful products with low material costs. It was found that, depending on the seeds of the studied crops and their genotype, the cycle of growing microgreens lasts from 6 to 10 days after germination. Depending on the type of culture, the sprouts reached a height of 5-10 cm. The laboratory germination rate was 96-98%.

Assessment of Smallholder Farmers’ Adaptive Strategies on the Effects of Seasonal Rainfall Variability on Maize Yields in Nyeri County

Maize is the leading food crop produced in most parts of the world and a staple food crop in Kenya. Majority of the maize farmers are smallholders due to reduced land sizes as a result of land fragmentation. Maize farming is rain-fed making it more vulnerable to rainfall variability. Over the years, the farmers have increased their resilience and adaptive potential through indigenous knowledge so as to cope with the climate related risks. However, the increasing rainfall variability, frequency and more severe shocks likely surpass their current adaptive strategies. The study assessed existing adaptive strategies of the small-holder maize farmers in Kieni East sub-County in Nyeri Couny to the seasonal rainfall variability effects. The research adopted a mixed research design. Data was obtained from primary and secondary sources. Primary data was obtained using household structured questionnaires. Data was analyzed using descriptive methods and presented using charts and tables. SWOT analysis analyzed several underlying aspects affecting maize farmers in the sub-County. The study found that the farmers have several specific adaptive strategies to the effects of seasonal rainfall variability at their disposal which include but not limited to the use of varieties of maize seeds, seeking training, water harvesting, use of manure and fertilizers. Farmers also respond to rainfall variability by planting maize varieties that are early maturing and drought resistant as well as engaging in alternative farming activities and other economic activities.

EFFECT OF AMELIORANT ON GROWTH AND YIELD OF RICE AT TIDAL PADDY FIELD

<p>Rice (<em>Oryza sativa </em>L.) is the most important and strategic food crop in Indonesia, but low productivity in tidal paddy fields is a serious problem that must be overcome. The application of ameliorant would be worthy to increase the growth and yield of rice in tidal paddy fields. The study aimed to investigate the effect of ameliorant application on growth and yield of rice varieties in tidal paddy fields. The study was arranged in a split plot design with five replications. Rice varieties tested were Inpari 34, Dendang, Inpara 9, Inpari 35, and Ciherang as the main plot, and ameliorant types studied were humic acid, gypsum, zeolite, and organic fertilizer as the subplot. The results showed that the use of different rice varieties and amelioran types significantly increased the growth and yield of rice. Inpara 9 produced 7.6 t.ha-1 dry milled grain (DMG) or increased by 33.3% compared to Ciherang variety. Humic acid application at 25 kg ha-1 increased grain yield by 21.3% higher than that without ameliorant treatment. The best treatment to increase the growth and yield of rice in tidal paddy field was a combination of humic acid 25 kg.ha-1 and Inpari 34 which produced the DMG of 8.6 t ha-1 or 41% higher compared to Ciherang without ameliorant.</p>

New Data and New Features of the FunRiceGenes (Functionally Characterized Rice Genes) Database: 2021 Update

As a major food crop and model organism, rice has been mostly studied with the largest number of functionally characterized genes among all crops. We previously built the funRiceGenes database including ∼2800 functionally characterized rice genes and ∼5000 members of different gene families. Since being published, the funRiceGenes database has been accessed by more than 49,000 users with over 490,000 page views. The funRiceGenes database has been continuously updated with newly cloned rice genes and newly published literature, based on the progress of rice functional genomics studies. Up to Nov 2021, ≥4100 functionally characterized rice genes and ∼6000 members of different gene families were collected in funRiceGenes, accounting for 22.3% of the 39,045 annotated protein-coding genes in the rice genome. Here, we summarized the update of the funRiceGenes database with new data and new features in the last five years.

Effect of Ondo State Agricultural Inputs Supply Agency on profitability of crop farmers in Owo Lga, Ondo State, Nigeria

This study assessed the effect of Ondo State Agricultural Inputs Supply Agency (OSAISA) on the profitability of crop farmers in Owo Local Government Area of Ondo State, Nigeria. The study specifically described the socio-economic characteristics of arable crop farmers, compared the profitability of OSAISA patronizing food crop farmers (PF) and non-patronizing food crop farmers (NPF) and identified the various constraints encountered by patronizing farmers in dealing with OSAISA. One hundred and twenty food crop farmers random sampling procedure. Information was obtained from the respondents using a well-structured questionnaire. Data collected were analyzed with both descriptive statistics and budgeting technique. Findings revealed that 88.3% and 86.7% of the PF and NPF, respectively were males. About 50.0% of PF and 56.7% of NPF were between 41 and 50 years of age. The net farm income of the PF was greater than the NPF and benefit cost ratio for PF was more sustainable and viable than that of NPF. The major constraint faced by the OSAISA’ PF was inadequate capital to purchase the desired inputs. Based on the results, the study concludes that OSAISA contributes tremendously to the profitability of patronizing farmers in the study area. It is, therefore, recommended that farmers should be given easy access to acquire loan to meet their input demand and farming business in general; including adequate and timely supply of inputs for effective and efficient productivity.

Zinc sulphate or zinc nanoparticle applications to leaves of green beans

The green bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) is a very widely grown food crop that contributes significantly to human dietary needs in many countries due to its high content of protein. This study evaluates foliar applications of ZnSO4 versus that of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) to leaves of the green bean cv. ‘Strike’ and records the plant responses in terms of Zn uptake and concentrations of photosynthetic pigments and bioactive compounds. The experiment was conducted under greenhouse conditions in Chihuahua, Mexico, with a completely randomised experimental design with 10 replicates. The two treatments were foliar applications of either an aqueous solution of ZnSO4 or an aqueous suspension of ZnO NPs (both 150 mg · L−1). The application of ZnO NPs significantly increased concentrations of Zn2+ in the leaflets, roots, stems and pods of chlorophylls a and b (values 15.40 μg · g−1 and 11.64 μg · g−1, respectively). Sucrose concentration was also increased by Zn2+ applications, but no differences were found in total phenols (TP), total flavonoids (TFl) or antioxidant capacity (AC). In the pods and seeds, Zn2+ application left sucrose and TFl concentrations unchanged, but the TP increase was significant. The AC was affected by both zinc sources and only in the pods. The applications of ZnSO4 or ZnO NPs significantly increased the biomass accumulation (79.10 g · p−1 and 84.70 g · p−1 DW) and yield (55.64 g · p−1 and 53.80 g · p−1 FW). These results suggest that the application of ZnO NPs could represent a worthwhile biofortification strategy in the commercial production of green bean cv. ‘Strike’.

Evaluation of some phytochemicals in raw and cooked Ipomea batatas (Lam), (Sweet potato), Solanum tuberosum (Irish potato) and Dioscorea cayenensis (Yellow yam)

Cooking induces numerous phytochemical changes in food. This study is aimed at determining the amount of phytochemicals present in raw and cooked sweet potato, Irish potato and yellow yam. The amount of tannin, alkaloids, saponin, flavonoids and phenol were determined in raw and cooked samples of each food crop. The result showed that tannin, alkaloids, saponin, flavonoids, phenol contents was high in Irish potato and sweet potato but was far much present in Irish potato, while it was seen in minute quantity in yellow yam. The values obtained for each phytochemicals in each food sample raw and cooked respectively, in mg/100g were; Yellow yam: Tannins (0.10 and Nil), Alkaloids (2.00 and 0.51), Flavonoids (1.18 and 0.87), Saponins (2.00 and 1.02) and Phenols (0.72 and 0.10). Sweet potato: Tannins (0.32 and 0.28), Alkaloids (2.17 and 0.62), Saponins (2.10 and1.58), Flavonoids (1.28 and 0.97) and Phenols (1.42 and 0.72). Irish potato: Tannins (0.55 and 0.49), Alkaloids (2.17 and 0.81), Saponins (4.00 and 2.13), Flavonoids (5.00 and 2.91) and Phenols (2.00 and 0.91). The % loss of phytochemicals after cooking were; Yellow yam: Tannins (Nil), Alkaloids (74.5), Saponins (49.0), Flavonoids (26.3) and Phenols (86.1). Sweet potato: Tannins (12.5), Alkaloids (71.4), Saponins (24.8), Flavonoids (24.2) and Phenols (49.3). Irish potato: Tannins (10.0), Alkaloids (62.7), Saponins (46.8), Flavonoids (41.8) and Phenols (54.5). These results indicate that boiling of the samples seems to reduce their phytochemical contents as the raw samples showed higher amounts of the phytochemicals. The results also revealed that Tannins are more stable to heat across the 3 food samples, followed by Flavonoids, Saponins, Phenols and Alkaloids. The loss in some of the phytochemicals after cooking did not significantly affect the nutritional quality of the food samples.