Sustainability cultivation and traditional conservation of taro diversity in Bogor Indonesia

Fresh taro and its processed products have been produced in Bogor for decades. It has become a popular commodity from this city and evoked an image of Bogor. The essential component of this issue is the sustainability of taro farming, and farmers are the major preserver who has primary decision-making in agricultural management. It assumes there were unusual agricultural practices that promote the long-term viability of taro cultivation. Farmers’ consideration of taro cultivation and their on-farm activities were observed, and the impacted-on sustainability was studied. We surveyed 30 taro farmers in 8 districts Bogor with a rapid rural appraisal and field observation to validate the obtained data and plant diversity analysis. The result showed that taro has provided more income for farmers, and they prefer an intercropping approach in taro farming. Seed availability was the main consideration of farmers in cultivating this plant consistently for a long time. The seed rotation by seed sharing between farmer’s communities was the mechanism of seed exchange and spread of taro cultivars. There was also found the diversity of taro that divided into three groups similarities and simply to distinguish by the plant stature, color of petioles and corms cross-section.

Roadsides are key habitats for birds in the Argentine Pampas: conservation and management implications

Summary Unexploited public areas such as roadsides could provide habitat to help preserve biodiversity in South America, as in other regions. Our objective was to determine the importance of the roadsides of the Argentine Pampas for native birds and to suggest management strategies. We surveyed birds inhabiting roadsides in all seasons and determined whether roadsides were used as habitat. We recorded a total of 95 species on roadsides, which represents 55% of those species described from the area. Species included specialists of grassland, wetland and woodland, 4 vulnerable species and 19 declining species. Bird richness decreased in winter, as well as grassland specialists’ abundances. Most individuals used roadsides for foraging and performing reproduction-related behaviours, mainly on native trees; these and tall grass were the main substrates. We conclude that many species of birds use the habitat provided by roadsides, and we recommend management strategies such as favouring seed availability in winter, restoring trees and tall grass and increasing vegetation diversity to maximize roadside conservation value.

Adoption and adaptability of modern Aman rice cultivars in Faridpur region - Bangladesh

Rice is not just a staple food; but it is at the center of culture, politics, and economy of Bangladesh. The determinants affecting the adoption of modern rice cultivars and their adaptability in the Aman season (June to November) at the Faridpur region in Bangladesh were discussed. A total of 500 farmers from five different districts such as, Faridpur, Madaripur, Shariatpur, Rajbari, and Gopalganj through multistage sampling technique participated in the survey. Before the survey, 15 farmers were selected for the cultivation of eight modern T. Aman rice cultivars in their fields during three consecutive years 2018 to 2020 in the mentioned five districts of Bangladesh. A structured questionnaire was used to identify the determinants associated with the adoption of modern rice cultivars by replacing the popular old ones. Results revealed that beyond preferences, some other determinants (age, education, risk aversion, land size, yield, and perception of modern rice cultivars and their seed availability) directed the decision to adopt or not. Considering the average grain yield of the tested rice cultivars, the genotypes BRRI dhan72 (G-6) and BRRI dhan87 (G-8) were the high yielding cultivars for the above five districts. Despite having a comparatively low yield, the cultivars BRRI dhan71 (G-4) and BRRI dhan49 (G-3) were more stable compared to other cultivars in the Faridpur region of Bangladesh.

GO potato aeroponic seed production in Indonesia, producers’ perception toward the benefits and challenges

The high-quality potato seed availability in Indonesia always to be attempted continuously by Indonesian governments to encourage national potato production optimization. One of the efforts is through aeroponic potato seed production. The G0 (zero generation seed) aeroponic potato produces a better yield and healthier tuber compare to G0 conventional potato production. IVegRI has undertaken studies related to G0 potato aeroponic. The results have been disseminated and some of them have been adopted by the potato producers in various regions in Indonesia. The study aimed to investigate the potato aeroponic seed production in Indonesia based on the producers’ perception of the benefits and challenges. The study was conducted from April to December 2017, in 8 districts from 6 provinces, engaging 18 G0 aeroponic potato producers. Data were analyzed descriptively. The resulting study showed that G0 aeroponic producers perceived the production of G0 aeroponic potato as more profitable compared to G0 conventional. The advantages covered: the production was higher, the yield tuber was healthier and sterile, and also it could be produced anytime. Meanwhile, challenges faced were: initially investment cost was quite expensive, electricity installation frequently was unstable and, the challenge concocted a suitable potato aeroponic nutrition.

Characteristics of Classical Swine Fever Virus Variants Derived from Live Attenuated GPE− Vaccine Seed

The GPE− strain is a live attenuated vaccine for classical swine fever (CSF) developed in Japan. In the context of increasing attention for the differentiating infected from vaccinated animals (DIVA) concept, the achievement of CSF eradication with the GPE− proposes it as a preferable backbone for a recombinant CSF marker vaccine. While its infectious cDNA clone, vGPE−, is well characterized, 10 amino acid substitutions were recognized in the genome, compared to the original GPE− vaccine seed. To clarify the GPE− seed availability, this study aimed to generate and characterize a clone possessing the identical amino acid sequence to the GPE− seed. The attempt resulted in the loss of the infectious GPE− seed clone production due to the impaired replication by an amino acid substitution in the viral polymerase NS5B. Accordingly, replication-competent GPE− seed variant clones were produced. Although they were mostly restricted to propagate in the tonsils of pigs, similarly to vGPE−, their type I interferon-inducing capacity was significantly lower than that of vGPE−. Taken together, vGPE− mainly retains ideal properties for the CSF vaccine, compared with the seed variants, and is probably useful in the development of a CSF marker vaccine.

The curious case of C-88: impacts of a potato variety on farmers in Yunnan, China

Background Limited analysis has been conducted of the role of agricultural research in promoting Chinese agricultural growth in less-favored areas. This paper analyzes how a particular potato variety generates benefits to producers and discusses how these benefits may have contributed to poverty reduction in Yunnan province. Cooperation 88 (C88) is a high-yielding, late blight-resistant variety that was developed through a partnership between the International Potato Center and Yunnan Normal University in Kunming, China. Methods Qualitative and quantitative methods are used to analyze determinants of adoption of C88, and to estimate impacts of adoption on producer well-being. A unique farm-household database is used to document the determinants of C88 adoption and disadoption. The quantitative assessment is supplemented with a qualitative analysis of the potato value chain to understand how seed availability and concern for processing attributes contributed to and eventually constrained diffusion. Market-level information was used in an economic surplus model to quantify the substantial economic impact of C88 over 20 years since its release. Results C88 spread rapidly in Yunnan following its release and was widely adopted by commercially oriented farmers. Disadoption began after 2010 with limited seed availability driving the shift toward newer varieties. Farmers, however, appreciate the ease of marketing, the 15% higher yields, and late-blight resistance associated with C88 suggesting that seed constraints are countervailing the economic benefits of the variety. Total impact on Yunnan potato farmers of the variety was estimated to be around $2.5 billion for the 1996–2015 period. Conclusions On per-person terms among C88 growing farm households, the economic advantage of the variety is likely to have contributed to poverty reduction. The aggregate impact of C88 diffusion occurred during a period of rapid poverty reduction in Yunnan and yield and disease-resistance benefits of C88 likely contributed to this reduction.

Governments and Farmers' Preference toward True Shallot Seed Institution Model in Indonesia

Management of True Seed of Shallot (TSS) production is an important part of supporting Indonesia shallot seed availability. It should involve various parties such as governments, privates, and shallot farmers to guarantee TSS quality and quantity of TSS. The study aims to identify governments' and farmers' preferences toward TSS institutional model in Indonesia. The study was undertaken in East Java from March to August 2016. Twenty-eight respondents from around East Java were purposively selected. Four options of the institution model of shallot seed were offered. The data was analyzed using the Analytical Hierarchy Process. The result showed that the preferred institution model for TSS by the respondents was the first option. In the model, Indonesian Vegetables Research Institute provided the high quality of shallot bulb seed and produced TSS for Breeder Seed. Meanwhile, other Indonesian government seed bodies/private generated bulb seed for Breeder Seed. Then, the University/Assessment Institute of Agricultural Technology/private produced TSS and bulb seed for Foundation Seed.Furthermore, selected shallot breeders produced TSS and bulb seed for Stock Seed and Extension Seed. The model could solve shallot seed quality and quantity problems' as it engaged the competent institutions. Therefore, the model could be recommended for TSS production nationally.

Survey on Seed Sources and Quality Seed Availability in Telangana Districts

Our study was conducted to understand the significance of existing seed systems and extent of seed availability of major crops viz., paddy, maize (cereals); red gram (pulses); and cotton (commercial crops) in 4 major agrarian districts (Mahbubnagar, Karimnagar, Warangal and Nalgonda) of Telangana state. There is a striking influence of seed source on the productivity & profitability of farmers, and hence, our study was aimed at understanding the nature and extent of seed quality parameters like genetic identity, genetic purity and seed health contributing to gross output of the crop. Our survey conducted during 2 Kharif & 2 Rabi seasons during 2017 to 2019 brought out interesting facts that formal sector contributes 96 to 100% of seed replacement rate (SRR) for commercial crops, 70 to 90% for cereals, 75 to 100% for pulses and negligible in case of oilseeds. The reasons for highest contribution of formal sector are due to prevalent seed subsidy schemes and also, availability of good quality seeds. The informal supply of seed majorly involves farmer to farmer exchange and farm saved seeds which is a major source of seeds to resource poor farmers.