Theatre for development (TfD) in the service of sustainable agricultural development: the Zaki-Biam experience

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.

Purpose: Intensive actions implemented to alleviate poverty created many challenges. Millions of people face acute food insecurity; hence, food production needs to be increased to feed the existing and increasing population through sustainable agricultural practices. Sustainable agricultural development is the only way forward to assist humanity.Research Method: Existing literature on sustainable agriculture was reviewed, explored, understood, described, evaluated, and synthesized and their relationships to sustain smallholder farmers were analyzed.Findings: Technological innovations in increasing resource use efficiency, modern breeding techniques, and renewable energy sources aid in achieving sustainability in agriculture. Technology enhances the adaption of agriculture to climate change and increases productivity and the quality of life of farming communities. Smallholder farms with limited information and transportation need government support to access markets with modern commercialization channels. Women need to be empowered to deliver multiple agricultural roles. Wise use of natural resources, optimum allocation, and utilization of resources are vital in enhancing farm productivity. Technical knowledge, availability of inputs, extension services, and financial support are paramount in maximizing productivity and income from agriculture. Agricultural investments need substantial increments to address food insecurity and adaptation to climate change. Dissemination of research findings and experience in sustainable agricultural production practices in informal and formal ways among all agricultural stakeholders is vital in achieving agricultural sustainability. Minimizing postharvest losses through technologies is essential in minimizing global food insecurity to enhance smallholder farmers’ income. Policies related to social, economic, eco-friendly production strategies and environmental aspects directly and indirectly linked to agriculture are vital in these processes. Hence, an integral approach towards the agricultural development of smallholder and subsistence farmers can lead them to sustainability ensuring their food security.

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.”

Kasisi Agricultural Training Centre (KATC) in association with small-scale farmers, has a vital role in fostering sustainable organic practices for sustainable agricultural development. A study was conducted to establish the alignment of sustainable agriculture practices at KATC, with that of the National agricultural policy and, how sustainable practices are implemented by the training institution. The qualitative case study involved seventeen (17) participants who were purposively selected from the target population. Data was collected using semi-structured interviews, observations, and a focus group discussion. A document review on SNAP’s sustainable agricultural practices (SAPs) was conducted, and data were analysed using thematic content analysis. The study showed that KATC’s sustainable organic practices such as soil fertility management, soil and water conservation, and pest and disease management were aligned with policy objectives of, increasing crop production, food security, and nutrition, promoting sustainable management and use of natural resources. An integrated approach is essential in implementing SAPs aligned with policy objectives, to enable the effective adoption of SAPs by small-scale farmers and agricultural development. The study recommended specific policies and legislation on sustainable agriculture to influence the implementation of sustainability practices.

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.

Objective: The objective of this study is to investigate the adoption of circular economy principles in sustainable agriculture practices in Magelang district, focusing on their impact on agricultural productivity and farmer welfare, with the aim of assessing how circular economy practices contribute to sustainable agriculture by improving resource efficiency, enhancing productivity, and promoting farmer welfare in Magelang district. Theoretical Framework: The theoretical framework of this study is grounded in the priciples of the circular economy, which emphasize maximizing resource efficiency, minimizing waste, and fostering environmental regeneration. In agriculture, these principles align with sustainable practices by promoting the reuse of organic materials, efficient resource management, and the reduction of chemical inputs to maintain soil fertility and ecosystem balance. By integrating circular economy principles with sustainable agricultural practices, this framework aims to enhance productivity, reduce costs, and improve farmers’ welfare while ensuring long-term environmental resilience. Method: Using a quantitative approach that includes surveys of 100 farmers and in-depth interviews, this research evaluates the implementation of CE principles, such as composting organic waste, rainwater harvesting, and crop rotation. Results and Discussion: The findings indicate that approximately 60% of farmers have adopted at least one CE practice, leading to a productivity increase of up to 25% compared to conventional methods. Additionally, CE adoption has proven to improve income stability and farmer welfare. However, barriers such as limited access to technology and funding reduce broader adoption of sustainable practices. Research Implications: This study recommends government and institutional support through training, technology access, and financial incentives to accelerate CE adoption. It provides actionable reccomendations for policymakers and stakeholders to support the broader adoption of circular economy practices in agriculture. Originality/Value: The originality of this research lies in its focus on the adoption of circular economy principles within the specific context of sustainable agriculture in Magelang District, an area with unique agricultural challenges and potential. This research combines empirical data on productivity and welfare impacts with qualitative insights into local adoption barriers and drivers. By integrating these aspects, the study provides a novel perspective on implementing sustainable agricultural practices tailored to the region’s socioeconomic and environmental conditions.

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.

Objectives: This study investigates Green Production Behavior (GPB) among coffee growers, emphasizing its critical role in advancing sustainable agricultural development. The research explores the alignment of GPB with key United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), and SDG 13 (Climate Action). By promoting eco-friendly technologies, optimizing resource use, and implementing effective environmental strategies, GPB bridges agricultural productivity and global sustainability goals. Theoretical Framework: Drawing on the Knowledge-Attitude-Behavior (KAP/B) model, the Value-Attitude-Behavior (VAB) theory, and the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB), this study constructs a comprehensive framework to analyze the factors influencing GPB. The framework systematically examines the interplay of environmental values, knowledge, attitudes, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control, place attachment, green behavior intentions, and organizational support in shaping coffee growers' sustainable practices. Method: This research adopts a conceptual approach, integrating insights from behavioral theories to develop a multidimensional analysis of the drivers and enablers of pro-environmental behaviors in coffee farming. It highlights both individual-level determinants and broader contextual factors that collectively foster the adoption of green production practices. The study provides practical and policy-oriented insights essential for advancing the SDGs. Results and Discussion: The findings underscore that increasing environmental awareness, fostering place attachment, and strengthening perceived behavioral control through targeted interventions significantly promote adopting green production behaviors. The results highlight the importance of coordinated efforts—spanning education, community engagement, and policy support—in translating environmental intentions into sustainable agricultural practices. Originality/Value: This study contributes to the academic discourse on sustainable agriculture by integrating multiple behavioral theories into a unified conceptual framework. It provides actionable insights for policymakers and practitioners to promote GPB among coffee growers, offering evidence-based recommendations to achieve dual objectives: environmental conservation and agricultural efficiency. The findings contribute to the broader realization of key SDGs, enriching both theoretical and practical knowledge in the field of sustainable agriculture.

Agriculture is characterized by a growing use of chemicals, such as fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides that are negatively affecting human health and the environment. Despite that, the Ethiopian government promotes the use of those chemicals in an attempt to increase yield and improve farmer’s livelihoods. On the other hand, environmental researchers argue that, equivalent yield can be obtained by using sustainable agricultural practices and produce safe food. Unfortunately, the “traditional” sustainable agricultural practices are being replaced by chemical intensive practices as the later is largely promoted. Therefore, it is important to trigger policy towards the promotion of “traditional” sustainable agricultural practices through research. This study, by using 299 randomly selected households from Eastern Ethiopia, unravels the factors that influence the use of crop rotation in Eastern Ethiopia. The results can serve policy makers by identifying the relevant variables and help them design successful intervention strategies. Based on the result, older age (older than 37 years), use of irrigation, distance to FTC, land size and farmers perception towards soil fertility are found to positively affect the decision to practice crop rotation. On the other hand, young age (younger than 37 years) and distance from market are found to hinder the decision of farmers to practice crop rotation. Sustainable agriculture can be brought back on track by creating a platform for older farmers to share their experiences with younger farmers and diverting some of the attention given to chemical fertilizers towards the “traditional” and sustainable practices.

Spiller for the constructive suggestions and inputs for my dissertation improvement. I would like to recognize the Indonesian Ministry of Research, Technology and Higher Education (Ristekdikti) for awarding me with a postgraduate scholarship to pursue Doctoral study in Georg-August University of Goettingen. I would also appreciate Airlangga University, my home-based University for the keen interest on me to continue my study. Furthermore, I would like to extend my sincere appreciation for Georg-August University of Goettingen, chair of Agribusiness Management and Indonesia Endowment Fund for Education (LPDP) for providing me with the financial support to conduct field survey in Indonesia. For Goettingen International and ASta of Goettingen University, I am grateful for further assistances in the emergency financial support for finishing this study. I am also grateful to Regional Economic Development Institute (REDI) for managing all necessaries for the survey activity, especially to Ibu Erlyn Yuli Astuti and

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

Increasing the adoption of sustainable agricultural practices can help maintain sufficient food production while reducing its environmental impact. To ensure this adoption, it is important to assess the research and training needs of those helping farmers and producers adopt sustainable agricultural practices. However, there is a gap in the literature related to the training needs of producers in the Western United States for sustainable agriculture. Needs assessments help organizations, such as the Western Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program and Cooperative Extension, to address the demonstrated needs of intended audiences. This study presents the results of a needs assessment with the objective of examining training needs and barriers to adoption to help direct extension programming for sustainable agricultural practices in the western region of the United States, to identify gaps, and to inform sustainable agriculture outreach programs. Using a modified Borich method with an inferential statistical method, the discrepancies between the level at which sustainable agricultural practice training competencies "should be addressed" and the level at which they were "currently being addressed" were examined. Competencies with the largest gaps included financial disparity, food waste, and policy/communicating with decision makers. The top three barriers to adopting sustainable agricultural practices included the potential for financial loss, perceived risk of adoption, and time investment associated with adoption. Results indicated that training needs varied and that these were not all on-farm training needs. The results imply that future funding from Western SARE and other groups looking to support sustainable agricultural food system efforts, may wish to focus on requesting proposals for programs that address these competency gaps and barriers in novel and supplementary ways in combination with existing programmatic efforts.

The aims of this research are to 1) assess farmers' behavior (knowledge, attitudes, and practices) concerning the sustainable agriculture (crop, land and water management) in Kharga Oasis, 2) explore farmers' behavioral gaps concerning the sustainable agriculture practices, and 3) determine variables related to farmers' behavior (knowledge, attitudes, and practices) concerning the sustainable agriculture in Kharga Oasis. In order to achieve the study’s objectives, El Mounira village had been randomly selected to be the place of this study. Data were collected from a sample of 120 respondents during February to March 2021 through personal interviews using a pre-tested questionnaire form. A list of thirty-three sustainable crop, soils and water management practices was developed based on reviewing the literature, Findings revealed that the overall mean value of respondents’ knowledge on sustainable agriculture practices is 22.74 score which represents 68.91% of the total score, 84.1% for attitudes, and 55.3% for implementation of the studied practices. Considering the overall behavioral gaps, findings revealed that K-R gap -knowledge-recommended gap- is 16%, which mean that farmers did not knew about 16% of the recommended knowledge, and the implementation-knowledge gap, I-K gap, is 5.3% this mean that farmers did not implement about 5.3% of practices they knew, and the I-R gap reached 21.39%, this imply that farmers did not implement more the one fifth of the recommended sustainable agriculture practices. The gap of attitude-full positive attitude, A-F gap reached about 15.9%, this mean that farmers need change 16% of their attitudes to reach the full positive attitudes towards the sustainable agriculture practices. Findings also showed that six variables are affects farmers' knowledge, attitudes towards and implementation of sustainable agriculture practices. These variables are age, farm size, farming experience, availability of agricultural drainage, adequacy of irrigation water in the summer season, and attitudes towards environment. Based on the obtained findings, some recommendations were formulated.

Having long been confined to the role of family farm helper, women now make up more than a quarter of farm managers in France. Alongside that, the agricultural world needs to transition towards more sustainable practices and models. Inadequate or incomplete research can be found on how gender influences farmers’ practices and even fewer studies that focus on the situation in France. In this paper, the relationship between the specific topic of French women farmers and their role in sustainable agriculture is explored through qualitative research. An initial conclusion is reached on the existence of a gender effect in the practice of sustainable agriculture. Four explanations to this correlation are discussed to explain the dynamics between gender and sustainable agriculture: the importance of care and differentiated socialisation in choices that women make, the role of access to the profession and working conditions, the specific profile of women involved in sustainable systems and the potentially more welcoming dimension of the agroecological space. Although analysed separately, it is likely a combination of these explanations that allows us to understand the greater sensitivity of women to engage in sustainable agricultural practices.

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.