Agricultural Advisory Services Research Articles

Adoption of Management Tools by Farmers in the Context of Agricultural Extension and Advisory Services in Menoua Division, West Cameroon

Aims: This study aims to analyze the challenges under the adoption of management tools provided by the Programme for the Consolidation and Sustainability of Agro-pastoral Counselling (PCP-ACEFA) to farmers in the Menoua Division.
 Methodology: 60 farmers were surveyed using a stratified random sampling technic and 5 advisors were interviewed. The data were processed and analyzed with Excel 2013 and SPSS software version 20.
 Results: Results shows that a variety of management tools are available to farmers in the Menoua division. The calculation of gross margin (utilization rate 62.96%), Balance sheet (utilization rate 60%) are the most widely used, especially for farms generating large financial flows. Concerning the factors influencing the adoption of management tools, the study revealed several categories: social, economic and institutional. Social factors, for example with the level of education, show that those who adopt the most (50%) have at least secondary education. Furthermore, with the help of the advisors, farmers who adopted these tools have been experiencing changes in their activities as they can now evaluate their activities to know their economic performances which will further permit them to make better decisions. The study also shows that farmers faced difficulties in adopting the use of management tools and it is mostly (33, 33%) due to a lack of finance to expand their exploitation and Implementation difficulties (20.8%). Concerning strategies for a better adoption of tools, farmers mostly propose that the program help increasing their farm size by financing their activities and simplification of tools to the least level that everyone can use.
 Conclusion: The recommendations formulated at the end of this study are to increase farmers' awareness and training in the use of management tools to guarantee good yields on their farms.

Making sense of farmland biodiversity management: an evaluation of a farmland biodiversity management communication strategy with farmers

AbstractBiodiversity is a valuable resource that supports sustainability within agricultural systems, yet in contradiction to this agriculture is recognised as a contributor to biodiversity loss. Agricultural advisory services are institutions that support sustainable agricultural development, employing a variety of approaches including farmer discussion groups in doing so. This study evaluates the impact of a farmland biodiversity management (FBM) communication strategy piloted within Irish farmer discussion groups. A sensemaking lens was applied in this objective to gain an understanding of how this strategy could create an actionable space for FBM promotion amongst farmers. The strategy was piloted with six Irish dairy farmer discussion groups, after which focus groups were conducted with members of these groups. Additionally, baseline and endline surveys were completed by the members to determine their knowledge, attitude and on-farm practices relating to FBM. Analysis of the focus group data identified that the communication strategy supported the affordance of sensemaking with respect to FBM. Analysis of the data from the baseline and endline surveys relating to knowledge, attitudes and practices found that engaging with the communication strategy promoted farmers to improve their attitude in relation to FBM. Results from this study provide important lessons for agricultural advisory services to support farmers in incorporating FBM into the overall management of their farms and, in turn, to promote the improvement of farmland biodiversity and contribute to a sustainable future.

FOREIGN EXPERIENCE IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN AGRICULTURAL ADVISORY SERVICES AND ITS INTRODUCTION IN UKRAINE

Abstract. The system of agricultural advisory services is an effective tool for improving agricultural culture, increasing the yield of agricultural crops, the productivity of farm animals and, ultimately, the efficiency of economic activity in the agricultural sphere. This happened first in all those states in which the agricultural sector was on the path to industrialization. The market began to dictate its conditions, because self-isolation and closed-mindedness ultimately lead to stagnation and degradation. The integration of Ukrainian agriculture into the European economic system requires bringing the agricultural sector to a higher level and requires a certain training of domestic agricultural producers for the adaptation of the implemented policy in the EU - a deep understanding of the content and essence of all components of the common agrarian policy.

An Assessment of Food Value Chains to Identify Gaps and Make Recommendations for Further Development: A Slovenian Case Study

The content of this paper presents the research results of a three-year research project in which a multi-criteria evaluation model (according to the DEX methodology) was developed for the evaluation of three different food sectors (represented by a cattle breeding chain, a pig farming chain, and a milk production chain) with added value in Slovenia. Indicators for the assessment of the economically, socially, and environmentally sustainable development of food chains were taken into account. The data for the analysis, such as prices and costs of food, wage levels by sector, food miles and others, were obtained from various public services between 2020 and 2023. The final qualitative assessment of the food sectors was uniform (“average”), while the longest analysis of the results using the plus-minus-1 analysis method showed the reasons for such an assessment in individual sectors (such as the ratio between the price of agricultural products and the price of agricultural inputs is poor, the ratio between average gross salary in the individual food sector and gross salary in the agricultural sector is poor, etc.). In addition to the results already mentioned, recommendations or suggestions for building a sustainable food chain were made using the results of the modelling. The research results contributed to a better understanding of the importance of stable relationships between different groups of indicators and later showed their importance for improving the functioning of agri-food chains. The results of the research will help various stakeholders (such as the agricultural advisory service, decision-makers at the level of agricultural policy, researchers in further analyses, and especially the international professional public interested in various case studies from EU countries) to further analyse and plan for the organisation of the agricultural sector.

The impact of access to agricultural advisory services on input use and farm performance: Evidence from Senegal

AbstractPerformant agricultural advisory services (AAS) in Africa are crucial for improving the agricultural productivity and food security of the farm households. Yet, evidence‐based study on the impacts of AAS on farm performance are scarce, especially in West African countries. This study evaluates the impact of access to AAS on input use and farm performance in Senegal, employing the instrumental variable and control function approaches accounting for selection bias. The approaches are also employed to several sub‐samples to see if the impacts are heterogeneous across crop types and fertilizer use, and matching techniques are applied to test the robustness of the results. Results show that the highest positive impact of AAS is on yield, while the impacts on gross margin and improved seeds uptake are very modest. Access to AAS has no effect on fertilizer uptake. It also finds that AAS impacts positively cereal production and farmers using no fertilizer but has no effect on the legume and horticultural crop production and on farmers using fertilizer. Given the Senegalese government and donors have put a lot of effort into developing an efficient AAS system, a consideration of the identified weaknesses is required to improve its efficiency. [EconLit Citations: Q12, Q16]

Farmer preference for macadamia varieties and constraints to production in Malawi.

Macadamia nuts constitute a vital component of both nutrition and livelihoods for smallholder producers in Malawi. We conducted a comprehensive mixed-methods study, combining qualitative and quantitative analyses, to explore varietal preferences and production challenges among these farmers. Leveraging cross-sectional data from 144 members of the Highlands Macadamia Cooperative Union Limited, our study underscores several significant findings. Our findings reveal that the majority of smallholder macadamia farmers (62%) are aged over 50, with farming as their primary occupation. Varied preferences are driven by yield-related traits, including high yield potential (38%), nut quality (29%), and extended flowering patterns (15%). Among the macadamia varieties, the top five choices, grown by over half of the farmers, include HAES 660 (18%), 800 (10%), 791 (9%), 816 (8%), and 246 (7%). Additionally, our study identifies five primary constraints faced by smallholder macadamia farmers: insect pests (81%), diseases (34%), limited market access (33%), wind damage (25%), and inadequate agricultural advisory services (17%). Based on these findings, we propose two policy recommendations to enhance smallholder macadamia production and productivity in Malawi and other regions. Specifically, we advocate for informed breeding programs that align with farmer preferences to promote greater adoption of macadamia varieties. Additionally, we emphasize the crucial role of the Malawian government in the macadamia value chain, suggesting active participation in providing extension services and marketing support, akin to its support for other cash crops.

Evaluating responses by ChatGPT to farmers’ questions on irrigated lowland rice cultivation in Nigeria

The limited number of agricultural extension agents (EAs) in sub-Saharan Africa limits farmers’ access to extension services. Artificial intelligence (AI) assistants could potentially aid in providing answers to farmers’ questions. The objective of this study was to evaluate the ability of an AI chatbot assistant (ChatGPT) to provide quality responses to farmers’ questions. We compiled a list of 32 questions related to irrigated rice cultivation from farmers in Kano State, Nigeria. Six EAs from the state were randomly selected to answer these questions. Their answers, along with those of ChatGPT, were assessed by four evaluators in terms of quality and local relevancy. Overall, chatbot responses were rated significantly higher quality than EAs’ responses. Chatbot responses received the best score nearly six times as often as the EAs’ (40% vs. 7%). The evaluators preferred chatbot responses to EAs in 78% of cases. The topics for which the chatbot responses received poorer scores than those by EAs included planting time, seed rate, and fertilizer application rate and timing. In conclusion, while the chatbot could offer an alternative source for providing agricultural advisory services to farmers, incorporating site-specific input rate-and-timing agronomic practices into AI assistants is critical for their direct use by farmers.

Role of Farmer Information and Advice Center in Technology Transfer and Farm Business Development of Smallholder Farmers: Insights from Bangladesh

The Farmer Information and Advice Centers (FIACs) are currently working to provide one-stop agricultural advisory services, including climate-friendly agriculture, to farming communities in rural Bangladesh, but their role has yet to be explored. Therefore, the aim of this study is to assess the role of FIACs in providing need-based extension services to the farming communities to create social innovation through transforming smallholders’ agriculture into a farm business in rural Bangladesh. This study was conducted in Kishoreganj district, Bangladesh. The data were collected by questionnaire survey, semi-structured interviews, and focus group discussions (FGD). Both quantitative and qualitative (Trajectory Equifinality Model, TEM) analysis was applied based on the data obtained. It was found that the local FIAC approaches give farmers easy access to improved agricultural technologies. It is a needs-based service for farming households to improve their farming practices and livelihoods. Second, their resource use efficiency has increased, and their agriculture has diversified. This has improved institutional access on the ground and farmers feel empowered. So, we can call it social innovation. Third, FIAC interventions help farmers to develop farm business. Finally, farmer characteristics such as gender, farm size, farming experience, household income, and local institutional access are significantly positively related to access to FIAC services. Therefore, our policy implications suggest that FIAC should offer a gender-sensitive service approach. However, farmers faced some difficulties in obtaining services from FIAC, they needed more competent staff and female staff.

The current state of the agricultural advisory activity and its importance for the development of the agricultural cooperation in Ukraine

The article is devoted to researching the current state of the agricultural advisory activity and outlining its importance for the development of the agricultural cooperation in Ukraine. It is established that development of the agricultural advisory activity has a rather long world history: the first references are found in Mesopotamia. In 1847, the first modernized agricultural advisory service was established in Ireland. Subsequently, agricultural advisory services, which at the present stage demonstrate high efficiency indicators for the development of the agricultural sector of the economy, in particular the development of the agricultural cooperation, have spread to other countries of the world, in particular, Germany, Denmark, France, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Italy, Japan, the USA, etc. In Ukraine agricultural advisory activity started at the end of the 19th century. In 1995, the first modern agricultural advisory service in Lviv region began to form. Legal regulation of the agricultural advisory activity was introduced in 2004 through the adoption by the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine of the Law of Ukraine «On Agricultural Advisory Activity». In the course of the study, it was determined that agricultural advisory activity is a necessary condition for the effective development of the agricultural cooperatives in Ukraine, because in the conditions of the appearance of the latest innovative agricultural technologies, active updating of the legal acts in the agricultural sphere, taking into account the fact that the level of cooperative education of Ukrainians is not satisfactory, members of the agricultural cooperatives need proper professional informational and advisory support from the agricultural advisory services. At the same time, at the current stage, there continues to be a significant number of factors that restrain the development of agricultural advisory activities and agricultural advisory services, which, as a result, negatively affects the development of the agricultural cooperation. The article concludes that the effective development of the agricultural advisory activities and agricultural advisory services requires proper support from the state.

Extension strategies for bridging gender digital divide

Women’s empowerment in India is hindered by gender disparities, particularly in rural areas where rural women are crucial contributors to sustainable development. The patriarchal society often suppresses women’s voices and expressions, leading to inequality in access to resources such as land, credit, and markets. Digital empowerment is also a challenge for rural women due to a triple divide: Digital, gender, and rural. The gender digital divide highlights the inequality between men and women in accessing technologies, with 48.7% of rural men and 24.6% of rural women privileged enough to access the internet. Social, cultural, mobility, access, control, and financial constraints hinder rural women’s technological empowerment. Agricultural extension and advisory services can address this by incorporating gender sensitization into their delivery services. Public, private, and civil society organizations are working to uplift and empower rural communities through innovative technical approaches to reform agriculture and rural people.

Adoption of Digital Agro-Advisory Services Among Smallholder Farmers: Patterns of the Innovation-Decision Process

Various digital agricultural advisory services have been developed to effectively exchange agriculture related information, skill and knowledge with the farmers. However, innovation and readiness of such technology does not guarantee that it will be adopted by the farmers. This study focuses on understanding farmers’ adoption of digital agroand non-adoption. A mixed-method research was conducted with 50 farmers of Kageshwori Manohara Municipality of Bagmati province, Nepal, who were also the users of mobile-based agriculture application, innovation theory was used as an analytical lens for data interpretation. terms of their adoption decision i.e., passive rejecters, active rejecters as digital literacy, farmer’s agricultural needs, communication channel, farmer’s social network, socio-economic and household dynamics and technological cluster. The study further argues that such innovations need to incorporate information that not just aligns with the needs of any farmers but should also be based on the local context.

A Comprehensive Study on the Competitiveness of Governing Structures of Bulgarian Farming

The farm is an abstract category in Economic theory for describing agents managing farming activity, while the real governing structures are farms of different juridical types – physical persons, sole traders, cooperatives, ago=companies, etc. Most of the time, farm’s competitiveness is inadequately assessed through technical and accountancy efficiency, factors’ productivity, profitability, market shares, etc. because critical governance aspects are ignored. This article incorporates the interdisciplinary New Institutional Economics assumptions and principles and tries to give new insights on the real competitiveness of economic organizations in modern agriculture. It suggests a holistic framework for assessing farm’ competitiveness taking into account economic, financial, and governance efficiency, and evaluates absolute and comparative competitiveness of governing structures of Bulgarian farming. The novel assessment system includes four pillars, four criteria, 17 particular, and 5 integral indicators. The first-in-kind evaluation, based on survey data, found that the competitiveness of Bulgarian farms is good. The competitiveness of cooperatives is highest, followed by corporations and associations, sole traders, and physical persons. Critical for competitive positions of farms are: low productivity, income, financial security, and adaptability to natural environment, where public support and farms’ management strategies should be directed. Large shares of the country’s farms have low competitiveness, and if measures are not taken to improve management, restructuring, state support, etc., many farms will cease to exist in the near future. In some cases, other characteristics of governing structures like size, specialization, market orientation, and ecological location, are critical for determining competitiveness level. The suggested and successfully tested framework for assessing the competitiveness of farms should be further improved and applied more widely and periodically in the country and internationally. The precision and representativeness of the information used should also be improved by increasing the number of surveyed farms and their important characteristics. The later requires close cooperation with producer organizations, national agricultural advisory service, and other interested parties as well as extending and improving the system for collecting agro-statistical information in the country and the EU.

Agro-Based Mobile Apps Adoption among Bangladeshi Farmers at the ‘Hamlet’ of Bangladesh – A Case Study of Chandpura Village of Barisal

Farmers in Bangladesh are gradually adopting and using ICT-based agricultural applications. This study attempted to identify the factors influencing the use of agro-based mobile applications by farmers in Chandpura village of Barisal district. The study examined farmers' access to ICT in terms of smartphone ownership, internet access, their ICT use behaviour for agriculture, and their knowledge and use of agro-based mobile applications. The research was conducted following the principles of qualitative methods in case studies. For data collection and analysis, in-depth interviews, semi-structured questionnaires, and narrative data analysis were utilised. The results showed that farmers were primarily influenced by personal factors such as need, age, education, and satisfaction. The youth were more receptive to innovations because they were more educated and adaptable. In addition, technological factors, such as access to a device and the internet, digital knowledge, ease of use, and a support network, played a significant role in this regard. While the study helped us understand the significance of ICT technology for the continued development of the agricultural sector, market and weather information were neglected in agro apps for small villages where disease, market, and weather information took precedence. Before implementing any technology, it is crucial to conduct research on the population and their specific needs. The implication is that the study helped us comprehend the significance of ICT technology for the advancement of the agriculture sector, even in small villages, and how implementing an ICT-based "agricultural advisory service" supported and benefited farmers. Keywords: Agro-based mobile apps, farmers, agriculture, information and communication technology (ICT), smartphone and internet.

How do agricultural advisory services meet the needs of farmers? Applying Q-methodology to assessing multi-stakeholders’ perspectives on the pluralistic advisory system in Ontario, Canada

Agricultural extension and advisory services (AEAS) have undergone significant changes globally, including reduced public funding and the introduction of new approaches, aimed at improving agricultural productivity, net farm income, and food security. In Ontario, similar changes have been implemented, but the system's performance from the perspective of relevant stakeholders has yet to be studied systematically. Previous studies have overlooked the assessments of the system's performance from the standpoint of such stakeholders as advisors and farmers. To address this gap, our research used the best-fit model framework to examine the perspectives of farmers and agricultural advisory professionals in Ontario, Canada. We employed a Q-methodology to analyze 23 statements related to governance structure, organizational capacity, management, advisory methods, and service quality, and used PQMethod software to conduct our statistical analysis. Our study identified three distinct perspectives: (i) quality-oriented advisory system, (ii) governance and quality-oriented system, and (iii) governance, method, and quality-oriented system. These perspectives provided insights into the performance and service quality of pluralistic AEAS in Ontario, particularly in relation to information bias, redundancy and inconsistency, coordination and collaboration challenges, preference for one-to-one advice, and a greater focus on large supply chains managed by innovative farmers at the center of AEAS services. The findings of our study offer policymakers various options to consider when working towards a more unified and dynamic AEAS.

Book Review: Developing Rural Ireland: A History of the Irish Agricultural Advisory Services by Mícheál Ó Fathartaigh

Book Review: <i>Developing Rural Ireland: A History of the Irish Agricultural Advisory Services</i> by Mícheál Ó Fathartaigh

Correlation between the Performance of Agricultural Extension Workers and the Behavior of Vegetable Farmers in Terjun, Medan Marelan, North Sumatra, Indonesia

This study aims at assessing the performance of agricultural extension services (also known as agricultural advisory services) and the behavior of vegetable farmers while examining the correlation between these two variables. Data were collected through direct interviews, discussions with farmers, and on-site observations conducted in the Terjun region of Medan Marelan, North Sumatra, Indonesia. A simple random sampling method was employed, with 48 samples selected without consideration of population strata. This research adopts a descriptive and quantitative qualitative research approach. The findings reveal two key performance indicators for agricultural extension workers. First, the assessment of visits and training indicated an average score of 146.2, with a 76.14% rating, categorizing it as 'good.' Second, the evaluation of the extension workers' performance yielded a similar score of 146.2, also categorized as 'good.' The correlation analysis between farmer behavior and the performance of agricultural extension workers yielded three distinct outcomes. Firstly, the correlation between farmers' knowledge and the performance of extension workers resulted in a value of 0.175, indicating a very weak correlation with a significance value exceeding 0.05. Secondly, the correlation between farmers' characteristics and the performance of extension workers showed a coefficient of 0.014, suggesting a very weak correlation with a significance value exceeding 0.05. Lastly, the correlation between farmers' skills and the performance of extension workers resulted in a coefficient of 0.166, denoting a very weak correlation with a significance value exceeding 0.05.

Farmer preference for macadamia varieties and constraints to production in Malawi.

Abstract Macadamia nuts constitute a vital component of both nutrition and livelihoods for smallholder producers in Malawi. We conducted a comprehensive mixed-methods study, combining qualitative and quantitative analyses, to explore varietal preferences and production challenges among these farmers. Leveraging cross-sectional data from 144 members of the Highlands Macadamia Cooperative Union Limited, our study underscores several significant findings. Our findings reveal that the majority of smallholder macadamia farmers (62%) are aged over 50, with farming as their primary occupation. Varied preferences are driven by yield-related traits, including high yield potential (38%), nut quality (29%), and extended flowering patterns (15%). Among the macadamia varieties, the top five choices, grown by over half of the farmers, include HAES 660 (18%), 800 (10%), 791 (9%), 816 (8%), and 246 (7%). Additionally, our study identifies five primary constraints faced by smallholder macadamia farmers: insect pests (81%), diseases (34%), limited market access (33%), wind damage (25%), and inadequate agricultural advisory services (17%). Based on these findings, we propose two policy recommendations to enhance smallholder macadamia production and productivity in Malawi. Specifically, we advocate for informed breeding programs that align with farmer preferences to promote greater adoption of macadamia varieties. Additionally, we emphasize the crucial role of the Malawian government in the macadamia value chain, suggesting active participation in providing extension services and marketing support, akin to its support for other cash crops.

How do Advisory Suppliers Support Farmers in Evaluating a Digital Innovation? A Case Study on Decision Support Tools for Fertilizer Application in France

This paper analyzes how agricultural advisory services support farmers in the evaluation and adoption of a digital innovation: decision support tools for fertilizer application. We interviewed farmers with different user profiles for this technology (adopters, non-adopters, droppers) as well as experts in the area of innovation. We collected data on the advisory suppliers (advisory sources and nature of the farmer-advisor interaction) at different stages of farmers&#8217; adoption process, using the Triggering Change Model (Sutherland et&#160;al., 2012). Our results revealed changing roles for farm advisors despite an apparent continuity in their profiles. Advisors trigger the process of adoption but play a limited role in helping farmers to assess and implement the innovation. This paper launches a debate about the ability of advisors to support farmers in dealing with uncertainties associated with digital technologies and offers recommendations in terms of public policies.JEL Codes: Q12, Q16, O33

Analysis of Agri-Environmental Management Practices and Their Implementation in the Agricultural Policies of the Republic of Serbia

The subject of the research is focused on the application of agri-environmental management practices in the agricultural policies of the Republic of Serbia. The research, in the first part, addresses the current attitudes of the policymakers in the sector for agricultural policy, sector for rural development, and the department for the IPARD of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management, regarding the introduction of agri-ecological measures. In the second part, the current attitudes of the agricultural producers and agricultural advisory employees regarding the main economic and structural factors, as determinants of the adoption of agri-environmental management practices, are analyzed. The findings show that the policymakers have put in place an adequate framework, providing the training and education for the introduction of future AE measures. The findings show that the agricultural producers and the agricultural advisory employees consider agri-ecological measures to be a good way to improve the state of the environment and promote the diversity of nature and organisms. The producers have shown a high willingness to adopt the agri-ecological measures. For them, the highest motivation for using the agri-ecological measures is agriculture-oriented training and education, while the potential obstacles are the complexity of measures, implementation of measures, property rights, purpose of land use, and full-time farm workers. The farmers that perceived that the agri-ecological measures treat all farmers equally contributed the most to predicting the willingness of the agricultural producers to adopt agri-ecological measures. On the other hand, the agricultural advisory service employees perceived as the highest motivations the responsibility of farmers towards future generations, previous experience in the application of similar measures, and agriculture-oriented training and education, while the size of agricultural holdings and the property rights were seen as the largest obstacles. The proposed research on the agri-environmental management practices is particularly relevant in the context of discussions on the reform of the Serbian agricultural policy in light of the EU accession process. The findings of the research shall directly contribute to raising knowledge on the agri-environmental management practices in the Republic of Serbia.

Assessing the Determinants of Adopting Urban Tree Planting as Climate Change Mitigation Strategy in Enugu Metropolis, Nigeria

This study sought to explore the determinants of adopting urban tree planting as a method of reducing climate change in the metropolis of Enugu. The 823 respondents were chosen using a multistage random selection process. Logistic regression and descriptive statistics were employed in analysing the data. The study results indicated that the majority (53%) of the respondents were male, with an average age of 36 years. The majority of the households were aware of climate change, since they perceived extreme weather events like drought, a decrease in rainfall, and a rise in temperature. Moreover, the majority of the households experienced a decline in agricultural productivity, a reduction in farm returns, and a rise in unemployment during peak seasons. The mitigation strategy adopted by households for climate change is urban tree planting, and this contributes positively to livelihood improvement. Furthermore, the study results showed that the price of the tree, access to information on the changing climate, access to water, use and access of trees, and occupation positively influenced households’ decisions in adopting urban tree planting. Therefore, we recommend that stakeholders such as governments must promote the delivery of agricultural extension and advisory services by improving their climate information systems, among other strategies to boost their all-inclusive adaptation to the effects of climate change.