ATTITUDES OF MALAYSIAN EXTENSION WORKERS TOWARDS SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES

Sustainable agriculture is relatively new in Malaysia. The Department of Agriculture (DOA) has earmarked agricultural extension workers in the transfer of sustainable agricultural practices (SAP) to farmers. The purpose of this study is to investigate the importance of the attitude, perception, philosophy, and knowledge of extension workers in transferring SAP to Malaysian farmers. A questionnaire was used to collect data from a random sample of 400 extension workers associated with the DOA in west Malaysia. Quantitative data were analyzed using Pearson correlation and multiple linear regressions (MLR). Findings supported a positive relationship between extension workers’ philosophy, attitude, perception, and knowledge in transferring SAP to farmers. MLR results showed that variables selected for this study explained 62.3% of the variance in transferring SAP. Results support the importance of variables among the extension workers who transfer sustainable practices to farmers.

Sustainable agricultural practices (SAPs) that lead to an increase in productivity are central to the acceleration of economic growth; this will alleviate poverty and help to overcome the recurrent food shortages that affect millions of households in Africa. However, the adoption rates of SAPs remain below expected levels. This paper analyzes the factors that facilitate or impede the probability and level of adoption of interrelated SAPs, using recent data of multiple plot-level observations. Multivariate and ordered probit models are applied to the modeling of adoption decisions by farm households facing multiple SAPs which can be adopted in various combinations. The results show that there is a significant correlation between SAPs, suggesting that adoptions of SAPs are interrelated. The analysis further shows that both the probability and the level of decisions to adopt SAPs are influenced by many factors: a household’s trust in government support, credit constraint, spouse education, rainfall and plot-level disturbances, household wealth, social capital and networks, including the number of traders known by a farmer in his vicinity, his participation in rural institutions, and the number of relatives he has inside and outside his village, labor availability, and plot and market access. These results imply that policy makers and development practitioners whose aims are to strengthen local institutions and service providers, maintain or increase household asset bases, and establish and strengthen social protection schemes, can speed up the adoption of SAPs.

Switching the Telescope Lens: A Sociomaterial Perspective of Sustainable Agricultural (Proto)Practices Transfer in an Agrifood Supply Chain

Climate change is vital issue hindering sustainable agriculture development and adjustments in farming practices. Conventional agriculture practices often lead to environmental degradation, ground water depletion, financial issues and even social conflicts.The population of the Globe is experiencing increased temperatures, low rainfall patterns with scarcity of water availability and drought persistence due to climate change. This article, thus, focuses on the challenges of adoption of sustainable agriculture practices (SAPs) in the water-scarce, drought-prone province of Pakistan. Data was collected from 164 farmers by semi-structured questionnaire following multistage clustering sampling and empirically analyzed through Binary Logistic Regression Model. The results of the study elucidated that farmers’ education, their risk-taking behavior, participation in training, limited availability and high cost of agricultural land, inherited system of irrigation, and access to agricultural credit as the main barriers in adopting SAPs. The study recommends expansion of knowledge, planning, financial assistants from related institutes, proper training by the agriculture department, and policy intervention to cope with these barriers that hold back the adoption of SAPs. The Government needs to develop sustainable adaptive strategies for minimizing the adverse impacts of climate change on agriculture by on-farm demonstrations in the field thereby saving depleting water resources and encourage farmers to adopt sustainable agricultural practices.

Farmers’ perceptions of sustainable agriculture in the Red River Delta, Vietnam

Background: The world will need to feed a population of nearly nine billion by 2050 (Godfray, 2010). To do so agricultural systems will have to contend to with risks to soil and water resources and the impacts of climate change, including changing weather patterns, an increase in the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events and increased pest and disease-related threats. These risks threaten the livelihoods of nearly 475 million smallholder farmers in the global south and pose a significant threat to the world's food and nutritional security (IPCC, 2022). Sustainable agricultural technologies and practices offer an innovative and holistic way of meeting food and nutrition needs of current and future generations while ensuring profitability, and environmental and social sustainability (Güven, 2023). Sustainable agriculture practices and technologies seek to transform and reorient agricultural systems to support food security while preserving natural capital including soil, water, and biodiversity, increase resilience to the impacts of climate change, and promote health, and social and economic equity (Brodt et al., 2011) By systematically integrating goals of sustainability along with economic profitability into the planning and development of agricultural systems, sustainable agriculture technology and practices aims to increase agricultural productivity, mitigate negative environmental impacts of agriculture while furthering social objectives. Women play a critical role in agricultural and food systems and often have higher work and time burdens and are less productive due to limited access to social and economic resources. The 2023 Status of Women in Agrifood Systems report by FAO estimates that if female farmers had the same access to productive resources as men, their productivity could increase by up to 30 per cent, reducing the number of hungry people in the world by 12 to 17 per cent. Recognizing existing gender inequalities and the vulnerability of women in agricultural systems is one of the goals of sustainable agriculture furthering goals of gender equity and women's empowerment. Studies show that sustainable agriculture technologies and practices have the potential to reshape gender dynamics, challenging existing gender norms by providing social and economic agency and empowerment. However, this depends on how particular needs, priorities, and realities of women are recognized and adequately addressed in the design and application of these technologies. Presently, there is limited evidence systematically assessing the appropriateness, accessibility and outcomes of sustainable agricultural technologies and practices for women and girls, as well as their effectiveness in addressing longer-term gender-equity goals. Evidence syntheses in this domain remains focused on gendered approaches within interventions or programs targeting women. We seek to broaden the perspective by focusing on how different sustainable agriculture technologies affect women's well-being, empowerment and gender equity even when women specifically are not targeted.

Sustainable agriculture practices are essential for ensuring long-term food security, environmental health, and economic stability. This paper explores various agricultural methods, including Organic Farming, Conservation Tillage, Agro forestry, Integrated Pest Management (IPM), and Crop Rotation. Each practice is assessed based on its impact on soil health, yield increase, time to benefit realization, and market accessibility. Additionally, the effectiveness of these practices is evaluated using a weighted decision matrix to balance cost efficiency, customer satisfaction, security, and implementation complexity. The findings highlight that Integrated Pest Management (IPM) offers the most balanced performance across these criteria, while Agro forestry, despite its strong soil health benefits, presents significant challenges in implementation and benefit realization. The paper concludes with recommendations for selecting sustainable practices based on specific agricultural goals and constraints. Sustainable agriculture is pivotal in addressing the growing demands of global food production while preserving environmental integrity and promoting economic viability. As traditional farming methods face increasing scrutiny for their environmental impacts and resource inefficiencies, sustainable practices offer promising alternatives. This introduction outlines the key sustainable agriculture practices and their roles in enhancing agricultural sustainability. Organic Farming focuses on using natural inputs and processes to maintain soil health and reduce environmental impact. Conservation Tillage aims to minimize soil disturbance and erosion, enhancing soil structure and moisture retention. Agro forestry integrates trees and shrubs into agricultural landscapes, promoting biodiversity and improving soil fertility. Integrated Pest Management (IPM) combines biological, cultural, and chemical practices to manage pests sustainably. Crop Rotation involves alternating different crops in a sequence to improve soil health and reduce pest and disease pressures. To evaluate and compare sustainable agriculture practices, the Multi-Objective Optimization on the Basis of Ratio Analysis (MOORA) method was employed. MOORA is a multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) technique that allows for the assessment of alternatives based on multiple conflicting criteria. This method is particularly useful for evaluating complex agricultural practices where multiple objectives need to be considered simultaneously. The significance of researching sustainable agriculture practices lies in addressing the critical challenges faced by modern agriculture, including environmental degradation, resource depletion, and the need for increased food security. As the global population continues to grow, there is an urgent need to develop and implement agricultural practices that not only enhance productivity but also ensure environmental sustainability and economic viability. Organic Farming, Conservation Tillage, Agro forestry, Integrated Pest Management, Crop Rotation.Soil Health Improvement (%),Yield Increase (%),Time to Benefit Realization (months), Market Accessibility (%). The results indicate that Integrated Pest Management achieved the highest rank, while Agro forestry had the lowest rank being attained. “The value of the dataset for Corporate SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE PRACTICES according to the moora Method, Integrated Pest Management achieves the highest ranking.”

Climate change is posing significant challenges in the agricultural sector. While olive trees are well adopted to the mediterranean environment, olive oil production is being especially vulnerable due to its reliance on stable climatic conditions [1]. A recent example of drought and heatwaves in the previous two years slashed Spanish production and contributed to the doubling of olive oil prices [2]. Changes in temperature and precipitation are affecting olive tree cultivation by posing challenges in the flowering and growing season [3], as well as the soil moisture and the available water resources for irrigation.This study investigates the impacts of climate change on olive cultivation in Greece, by analyzing key climatic indicators relevant to olive cultivation, focusing on their historical trends and projected changes under mid-range (RCP4.5) and high-concentration (RCP8.5) scenarios. The analysis considers key indicators such as changes in the length of the dry season, the frequency of heat stress events, consecutive dry years, and shifts in critical flowering conditions (temperature, wind, and chilling accumulation). This research further explores soil management related sustainable agricultural practices to enhance crop resilience.This research develops representative climatic indicators and examines their evolution across multiple scenarios and time horizons to provide a comprehensive overview of the climate change challenges faced by Greek olive producers. The findings are aiming to inform the development of strategies for implementing sustainable agricultural practices that enhance resilience, ensuring the long-term viability of olive oil production in the context of climate change. [1] Kaniewski, D., Marriner, N., Morhange, C., Khater, C., Terral, J.F., Besnard, G., Otto, T., Luce, F., Couillebault, Q., Tsitsou, L. and Pourkerman, M., 2023. Climate change threatens olive oil production in the Levant. Nature Plants, 9(2), pp.219-227.[2] Reiley, L., 2023. Olive oil prices reach record highs as Spain's harvest is halved. The Washington Post, Oct. 6, 2023, pp.NA-NA.[3] Grillakis, M.G., Kapetanakis, E.G. and Goumenaki, E., 2022. Climate change implications for olive flowering in Crete, Greece: Projections based on historical data. Climatic Change, 175(1), p.7. This work is supported by MINERVA Ltd. under the research project “Assessment of climate change impacts on olive oil production and implementation of sustainable agricultural adaptation practices in Greece”.

This study aimed to determine the Knowledge of Agricultural Extension Workers regarding the Sustainable Agricultural practice (SAP) in Some areas in Sulaimani Governorate, then to find the differences in the total mean of sustainable knowledge according to some variables. The questionnaire was prepared for this purpose consists of two parts, the first part included several questions related to the independent variables, while the second part included several items to identify the knowledge level of extension workers and participate in agricultural Sustainable. The research population involved agricultural extension workers who work in some of the Agricultural Extension Centers in the Sulaimani governorate, included (75) respondents representing (67.5%) of the population (111) workers, taken by a simple random sampling method. After the data was collected there were arranged and classified and analyzed through SPSS software. The results indicated that the level of Agricultural Extension Workers of Sustainable Agricultural Practice knowledge was medium tend to high, also the level of participation in activates concerning Sustainable Agricultural practice was medium tends to high, as well the desire of participation in agricultural training courses was medium tends to high. The results showed there is a significant difference in total knowledge according to (educational level, extension service). While, no significant differences according (age, gender, Job Place, professional address. The researchers recommend creating an opportunity for agricultural extension workers to participate in the field of sustainable development practically because they have good information about this field and have a positive desire for sustainability regardless of their age, gender or place of work.

Sustainable agriculture practices (SAPs) have been widely promoted to improve the sustainability of agricultural systems. The promotion of SAPs is intended to encourage their voluntary adoption. Therefore, the development of sustainable agriculture can be understood through the adoption rate of recommended SAPs. However, little is known about the progress of sustainable agriculture, particularly in Asian countries. To fill part of the knowledge gap, this exploratory study identifies, as a starting point, the current adoption rate of SAPs in the Malaysian vegetable sector. Because the information is not officially collected, a synthesis of ground level information was conducted through a focus group discussion with the Department of Agriculture. The findings suggest that there are varied adoption rates across SAPs. The outputs also point out that the adoption of SAPs is currently at a low level, like most countries. The phenomenon should be investigated from a multi-disciplinary perspective within agricultural systems, integrating (1) socio-economic factors, (2) agro-ecological factors, (3) institutional factors, (4) informational factors, (5) perceived characteristics, and (6) behavioral attributes. By such means, future investigations should be based on a system-orientated integrative framework. Key words: Sustainable agricultural practices, adoption rate, Malaysia, vegetable sector.

Prospective applications of chitosan and chitosan-based nanoparticles formulations in sustainable agricultural practices

This study analyzes the role of women in climate resilience building and sustainable farming practices in Nigeria. The country's heavy reliance on agriculture and its vulnerability to climate change make it imperative to understand and enhance women's participation in these areas. Through a systematic review of literature, this research provides insights into the different levels of women's involvement in climate resilience building and sustainable farming practices. Women's contributions include knowledge and skills, natural resource management, community resilience, and education and awareness. However, women face challenges such as limited access to resources, gender-based discrimination, and exclusion from decision-making processes. Women's leadership in sustainable farming practices is crucial for global food security and sustainable development. Gender-inclusive policies and strategies are crucial for building climate resilience, as they acknowledge the unique challenges women face due to existing gender inequalities. Enhancing women's access to financing, training, and agricultural extension services is essential for gender equality and empowering women in the agricultural sector. The findings emphasize the importance of gender perspectives in addressing climate change impacts and highlight the vulnerabilities faced by women in Nigeria. Recommendations for policymakers, organizations, and stakeholders include developing gender-inclusive policies, providing access to financing, strengthening capacity-building initiatives, improving access to agricultural extension services, promoting women's leadership and representation, and fostering collaboration and knowledge sharing. This study highlights the significant role of women in climate resilience building and sustainable farming practices in Nigeria and calls for their enhanced participation and empowerment in these areas.

There is growing political pressure for farmers to use more sustainable agricultural practices to protect people and the planet. The farming press could encourage farmers to adopt sustainable practices through its ability to manipulate discourse and spread awareness by changing the salience of issues or framing topics in specific ways. We sought to understand how the UK farming press framed sustainable agricultural practices and how the salience of these practices changed over time. We combined a media content analysis of the farming press alongside 60 qualitative interviews with farmers and agricultural advisors to understand whether the farming press influenced farmers to try more sustainable practices. Salience of sustainable agricultural practices grew between 2009 and 2020. Many of the practices studied were framed by the press around economic and agronomic aspects, and farmer respondents said the most common reasons for trying sustainable agricultural practices were for economic and agronomic reasons. The farming press tended to use more positive rather than negative tones when covering sustainable agricultural practices. Respondents used the farming press as a source of information, though many did not fully trust these outlets as they believed the farming press were mouthpieces for agribusinesses. Whilst a minority of farmers stated they were motivated to try a new sustainable agricultural practice after learning about it in the farming press, this was rare. Instead, the farming press was used by respondents to raise their awareness about wider agricultural topics. We reflect on the role and power given to agribusinesses by the farming press and what this means for agricultural sustainability.

ABSTRACTThe relationship between sustainable agricultural practices and dietary diversity in farm households has recently attracted the attention of development actors and policymakers. We used cross‐sectional data collected from 3704 farmers in the 2021–2022 cropping season to analyze this issue. Using the Probit‐2SLS model that considers endogeneity bias and unobserved heterogeneity, the results reveal that adopting sustainable practices significantly improves the dietary diversity score of smallholders in Burkina Faso. The effect of adopting sustainable agricultural practices is reinforced by access to agricultural extension services, literacy of the head of household, livestock ownership, cultivated area, and agricultural expenditure. In conclusion, the results confirmed the essential role of sustainable agricultural practices in improving the dietary diversity of farm households. The results imply that the interdependent nature of sustainable agricultural practices should be considered when designing effective strategies for disseminating and adopting agricultural practices in Burkina Faso. Our results suggest that different actors in the agricultural sector and the supply chain of agricultural inputs and techniques should consider facilitating access to sustainable agricultural practices for farmers.

Sustainable agricultural practices are essential for responding to the twin pressure of climate change and rapid population growth in Kenya. Identifying mechanisms that accelerate the uptake of these practices remains a policy priority. Agricultural cooperatives societies (ACSs) have been proposed as a key institutional channel for supporting this transition. However, existing research on how ACSs influence the adoption of sustainable agriculture in Kenya is fragmented and significantly gaps persist regarding the consistency and strength of this relationship. This review synthesizes current empirical evidence and highlights methodological and theoretical limitations within the literature. A systematic search was conducted using google scholar, yielding 832 initial records. Studies were included if they examined Kenyan ACS and their relationship with sustainable or climate-smart agricultural practices, applied empirical methods, and were published in English. After screening, 22 studies met the inclusion criteria. Data were extracted on study characteristics, methodological approaches, and reported outcomes. Quantitative and qualitative findings were convergent. A majority of studies (86.4%) found that ACS membership was consistently associated with higher adoption rates of sustainable and climate-smart agricultural practices. Key mechanisms identified included improved access to information, collective resource mobilization, strengthened market structures, enhanced farmer inclusion, and support for innovation. Despite these benefits, several studies reported neutral or negative associations, often linked to governance weaknesses, limited technological capacity, and low farmer engagement. Additionally, 72.7% of the studies lacked a guiding theoretical framework, limiting explanatory depth and cross-study comparability. The evidence suggests that ACSs play a significant enabling role in advancing sustainable agriculture in Kenya, although their impact is uneven and context specific. Policymakers should prioritize strengthening CAS governance, investing in cooperative infrastructure, and promoting farmer participation. Future research should integrate robust theoretical frameworks to better explain causal pathways and variation in ACS effectiveness.