Agricultural Schemes Research Articles

Sudan's catastrophe: the role of changing dynamics of food and power in the Gezira agricultural scheme.

This article explores the role of historical, political, and economic processes in understanding war and famine in Sudan after 2023. The focus is on Al-Gezira, the site of Sudan's largest agricultural scheme. Using ethnography, interviews, and document reviews, the study analyses the Gezira irrigation project in three phases. First, the 1980s and 1990s, when patronage politics dominated its management. Second, the neoliberal strategies of the Gezira Scheme Act of 2005, which enabled Islamist profiteering while increasing vulnerability among farmers and labourers and tensions between them. Third, post 2018, when political movements used evidence of the scheme's deterioration to call for revolution, but once achieved, previous tensions grew and have been manipulated during the war. Sudan provides an example of how decades of war and neoliberal economic strategies have led to a deeply-rooted, violent, and extractive political economy. This has been to the benefit of business and elites, leaving many to a life of precarity, exploitation, and hunger.

Incidence and mortality of prostate cancer in France from 2010 to 2021, using a real-life database (National Health Data System - SNDS) - the CaPCo Study.

Prostate cancer (PCa) was the leading incident cancer and 3rd leading cause of cancer death in men in France in 2015 with inter-regional disparities. The objectives were to describe PCa incidence and mortality in France and by region, using real life data from the National Health Data System and to identify the factors associated with all-cause or PCa-specific mortality. Men aged ≥ 18years hospitalized and/or on long-term care for PCa (ICD-10 code C61) in France between 2010 and 2021 were included. An incident case was defined by the absence of any cancer in the five years preceding the first coding. Incidence and mortality estimates were age-standardized: France 2018f standardized rates (FSR), all-cause mortality (SMR) and PCa-specific mortality (SMRspe). Factors associated with death were identified using cause-specific Cox models. The mean annual incidence was 47,081cases/year (FSR:179.6/100,000men), increasing over the period except 2020. All-cause mortality was 20,259 deaths/year (77.3/100,000men), and PCa-specific mortality was 7,265 deaths/year (27.7/100,000men). A PCa-specific mortality excess was found in Centre-Val-de-Loire (SMRspe = 1.21), Bretagne (1.18), Hauts-de-France (1.17) Normandie (1.15). After adjustment, significant PCa mortality excess was observed in Bretagne (HR = 1,29;95%IC[1.09-1.46]) and Hauts-de-France (HR = 1.19[1.03-1.34]). The other factors associated with death were an age ≥ 60years, an increasing comorbidity index, metastatic disease at onset (major weight in specific mortality with hazard ratio HR = 16.1[15.2-17.0]), precariousness, affiliation to the agricultural scheme, and the COVID period in all-cause mortality. This study updated incidence and mortality data in France. It showed differences in mortality between regions in France. The adjustment moderates regional findings based on raw mortality data.

Economic Diverification in Nigeria: Agriculture in Perspective

This study examines economic diversification: agricultural in perceptive. In particular the study examines the impact of investment in agricultural sector in achieving economic diversification between periods spanning from the years 2000 to year 2022. Time series secondary data were sourced from Central Bank Statistical Bulletin (2022) and World Bank Development Indicators (2024). Autoregressive Distributed Lag Regression Estimate (ARDL) analysis was conducted with the aid of E-view 10. Findings of this study reveals that agriculture credit guarantee scheme fund for cash crops and livestock have negative and significant impact on economic diversification. More so, agriculture credit guarantee scheme fund for food crops equally has negative and insignificant impact on economic diversification. However, grand total of agriculture credit guarantee scheme fund on agricultural commodities has positive and insignificant impact on economic diversification. Based on study findings, the following recommendations are suggested; that governments at all levels should as a matter of urgency should sustain funding of agriculture sectors and provide necessary infrastructure in the rural areas where majorities of agricultural activities take place in order to diversify her economy. More so, stakeholders in the agricultural sectors mainly the farmers should take advantage of loanable fund available to them and channelled it to appropriate crops that will yield investment return. In addition, it is also recommended that monetary policy authority should look inward to determine why agricultural credit guarantee scheme fund has negative significant impact on all the three categories of agricultural commodities identified. This can be achieved through close monitoring and adequate supervision of the loan disburse to the direct beneficiaries. Lastly, investment in human capacity in agricultural sector is away forward for economic diversification.

Socio-psychological Paradigms and Economic Metrics of the Beneficiary Farmers of Centrally Sponsored Agricultural Schemes: A Comprehensive Evaluation of PKVY, PMKSY and SHC in Maharashtra

The present study focused on assessing the socio-psychological constructs and economic variables of beneficiaries of centrally sponsored agricultural schemes namely Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY), Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY), and the Soil Health Card Scheme (SHC). An ex post facto research design was employed in the present study. Amravati and Buldhana districts in Vidarbha region of Maharashtra was selected for the study. For the proposed study 60 beneficiary farmers were selected from Amravati districts and 60 beneficiary farmers were selected from Buldhana districts for each scheme. Thus, for the three schemes, a total of 360 beneficiary farmers were selected from seven selected talukas of two districts of Vidarbha for three schemes. Majority of the middle aged respondents (61.11%) having secondary school level of education (39.44%) received low level of training (59.00%), but PKVY beneficiaries received high level of training (73.33%). Majority of the overall respondents had small land holdings (40.28%) with 1.01 to 1.50 ha. of irrigation potential (41.39%) having biseasonal cropping system (96.94%). Beneficiary farmers had sound financial background with 35.83 per cent of PKVY respondents with annual income in the range of Rs. 2,07,901 to 3,35,301/-, 56.67 per cent of PMKSY respondents in an annual income range of Rs. 2,86,962 to Rs. 4,77,753/-, and 40.83 per cent of SHC respondents in the range of Rs. 2,10,101 to 3,29,701/- annual income respectively. In overall beneficiaries of centrally sponsored agricultural schemes, 63.89 per cent of the respondents had medium level of social participation, source of information (65.00%), innovativeness (58.33%), economic motivation (47.50 %) and benefits accrued (43.06%). The study revealed lower participation of older farmers, indicating a need for targeted outreach and simplified training. Educated farmers benefited more, suggesting their role in promoting new technologies. Local information sources, like friends and relatives, were crucial, emphasizing the need for Gram Sabhas and exhibitions to improve awareness and participation.

Assessment of Constraints and Suggestion Insights from Beneficiaries of Centrally Sponsored Agricultural Schemes: A study of PKVY, PMKSY and SHC in Vidarbha Region of Maharashtra, India

The present study focused on assessing the constraints faced by the beneficiaries of centrally sponsored agricultural schemes namely Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY), Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY), and the Soil Health Card Scheme (SHC) and invited suggestions from them to overcome the constraints. For the proposed study, 60 beneficiary farmers were selected from Amravati districts and 60 beneficiary farmers were selected from Buldhana districts in Vidarbha region of Maharashtra for each scheme. Thus, for the three schemes, a total of 360 beneficiary farmers were selected. In the case of PKVY beneficiaries, the major constraints faced were lack of proper marketing channel for organic produce, lack of sustainability in the reduction of cost of organic cultivation and reduced productivity of organic farm produce even after conversion period. Whereas, in the case of constraint faced by PMKSY beneficiaries, the first constraint faced by the beneficiary was longer time for getting the subsidy credited, followed by lack of increase in the sources of irrigation and load shedding of electricity. In the case SHC beneficiaries, the major constraint faced were long time gap between soil sample collection and issuing SHC, difficulty to comprehend the information and follow the recommendations provided in SHC and lack of effective training and demonstrations provided to farmers about soil health. In the case of PKVY beneficiaries, majority of them (74.17%) gave the suggestion for establishment of proper marketing channel for organic produce, followed by 34.17 per cent of them suggested the strengthening of farmer groups and developing them into Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs). Whereas in the case of PMKSY beneficiaries, 84.17 per cent of them suggested to ensure timely crediting of subsidies, followed by expansion of irrigation infrastructure through the construction of water harvesting structures such as check dams, farm ponds, tanks and bore wells (59.16%). In the case of SHC beneficiaries, majority of them (85.83%) gave the suggestion to speed up the process of issuing Soil Health Cards and 71.66 per cent suggested for training programs and field level demonstrations focused on soil health and the practical application of SHC recommendations to improve farmers' knowledge and skills.

Agricultural Financing and Agricultural Output in Nigeria: An ARDL Approach

This study analyzes the impact of agricultural financing on agricultural output in Nigeria from 1991 to 2022. Employing an Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) model, the research examines the effects of government capital expenditure, commercial bank credit schemes, and the agricultural credit guarantee scheme (ACGS) on agricultural output. The findings indicate that both government capital expenditure and ACGS positively and significantly influence agricultural output in both the short and long run. Commercial bank credit schemes also have a positive and significant impact, although some studies report this effect as positive but not statistically significant. The study highlights the crucial role of financial support in boosting agricultural productivity and offers policy recommendations to improve agricultural financing mechanisms. These include increasing government investment, enhancing credit schemes, and strengthening the ACGS to ensure sustainable agricultural growth and economic development in Nigeria.

On the empirical nexus of agricultural credit facility scheme and agricultural output dynamics in Uganda

The role of the agricultural sector in economic growth cannot be overemphasized. Agriculture is basically one of the key sub-sectors that enhance economic growth in all economies of the world. Since no sector of the economy can grow without enough capital, agricultural credit is considered as imperative for improved agricultural output. To contribute to knowledge in this regard, this study examined the impact of agricultural credit fund (ACF) on agricultural output in Uganda using quarterly data from 2009 to 2021. By employing the Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) framework, the results revealed that ACF has no significant effect on agricultural output in Uganda in the short run, but it significantly has positive effect on the sector in the long run. We control for economic growth, proxied by gross domestic product (GDP), interest, inflation, and exchange rates and find that exiting level of GDP, spurred agricultural output, while the rate of interest and inflation retard agricultural productivity (output), especially in the long run in Uganda. We recommend that the government of Uganda needs to increase agricultural financing through the credit facility scheme for further productivity of the sector.

AGRICULTURE CREDIT AND THE ROLE OF KISAN CREDIT CARD (KCC) IN INDIA

This research paper presents a comprehensive analysis of agricultural credit in India, focusing on the transformative role of the Kisan Credit Card (KCC) scheme in empowering farmers. Through a review of literature and an examination of pertinent data from various government reports and international organizations, this study evaluates the evolution of agricultural credit, assesses the trends in credit disbursement, and explores the significant impact of the KCC on agricultural productivity, rural development, and financial inclusion. The analysis showcases the KCC's contribution in facilitating timely credit access, reducing dependency on informal credit sources, and enhancing financial accessibility for farmers across different banking institutions. Furthermore, this paper discusses policy implications and recommendations to augment the effectiveness of KCC and agricultural credit schemes in meeting the evolving needs of farmers and fostering sustainable agricultural growth. The insights drawn from this research aim to provide a nuanced understanding of agricultural credit dynamics and underscore the pivotal role of KCC in enhancing the livelihoods of Indian farmers. KEYWORDS: Agricultural credit, Kisan Credit Card (KCC), financial inclusion, rural development, farmers' empowerment, policy recommendations, sustainable agriculture

A review of policy levers to reduce meat production and consumption

It is increasingly apparent that we require a substantial reduction in animal production and consumption for the sake of the environment and public health. In this paper, we conducted a systematic review to explore the policy levers available for governments to reduce animal farming and the consumption of meat. The policy levers generated by the review are categorised by four main types of interventions: Financial measures, Command- and-control, Informational, and Behavioural. First, we explore four financial measures: taxes on meat is the most-studied intervention, and the least publicly accepted in polling, sometimes being implemented indirectly via measures such as carbon taxes or rescinding VAT exemptions; subsidies for animal product alternatives are considered as a more publicly acceptable alternative approach, and would reduce long-term demand for meat by making alternatives more competitive; agricultural carbon trading schemes are discussed, and may represent a politically feasible way to hold livestock producers accountable for negative externalities; and buyouts of animal farms can be an impactful way to compensate producers to leave the industry, but must be done with care to avoid unintended social and market consequences. Second, we explore two command-and-control measures: regulating animal production with standards such as animal welfare requirements and health and safety rights for agricultural workers is amongst the most well-supported policies, and is an impactful way to ensure minimum standards of production are met; however, restrictions on animal consumption, such as meat–free days in public catering, are less publicly accepted. Third, we discuss three informational measures: food product labels, such as animal welfare or environmental impact labels, fulfil consumers’ expectations to have this information, and although there is limited evidence that they impact consumer behaviour directly, such labels may nonetheless incentivise producers to competitively improve; likewise, national dietary guidelines appear to have little direct impact on food choices, but can impact other institutions such as schools and medical institutions; policies on information campaigns can help or hurt meat reduction efforts, with some jurisdictions prohibiting meat advertisements, while others spend millions on campaigns to promote meat consumption. Fourth, we explore a range of behavioural measures which could be implemented in public catering settings and/or incentivised in food service, including presentation and positioning of meat- and plant-based dishes, and altering the food options on offer – we find that adding more high-quality plant-based options to menus and presenting these options as the default wherever the format allows are highly impactful and tractable behavioural policies that could reduce meat consumption. Informational and behavioural measures can complement traditional fiscal and command-and-control measures to reduce animal production and consumption. We discuss the implications for researchers and policymakers.

SEAIS: Secure and Efficient Agricultural Image Storage Combining Blockchain and Satellite Networks

The image integrity of real-time monitoring is crucial for monitoring crop growth, helping farmers and researchers improve production efficiency and crop yields. Unfortunately, existing schemes just focus on ground equipment and drone imaging, neglecting satellite networks in remote or extreme environments. Given that satellite internet features wide area coverage, we propose SEAIS, a secure and efficient agricultural image storage scheme combining blockchain and satellite networks. SEAIS presents the mathematical model of image processing and transmission based on satellite networks. Moreover, to ensure the integrity and authenticity of image data during pre-processing such as denoising and enhancement, SEAIS includes a secure agricultural image storage and verification method based on blockchain, homomorphic encryption, and zero-knowledge proof. Specifically, images are stored via IPFS, with hash values and metadata recorded on the blockchain, ensuring immutability and transparency. The simulation results show that SEAIS exhibits more stable and efficient processing times in extreme environments. Also, it maintains low on-chain storage overhead, enhancing scalability.

Research on agricultural monitoring and progressive map creation in the context of ground-air coordination

Abstract By combining network RTK technology, 2D LiDAR, and UAV, this study investigates how to achieve agricultural monitoring effectively. A collaborative agricultural monitoring scheme was designed to accurately and comprehensively gather agricultural information in response to the demand for targeted sequential monitoring at specified agricultural locations. To establish a low-cost and low computational power-dependent 3D map of obstacle point clouds, a progressive 3D mapping scheme based on 2D LiDAR was designed and implemented. The effectiveness of the design was validated through simulation experiments and partly through real-world testing.

Modelling solar photovoltaic systems on dairy farms for cost savings and GHG emission reduction

Rising on-farm electricity demand, coupled with surges in electricity prices, has increased costs associated with milk production. Additionally, the use of grid electricity with a high carbon footprint depreciates the environmental performance of dairy farming. We assessed the potential of photovoltaic (PV) systems installed on dairy parlours under different policy incentives to reduce electricity costs and the carbon footprint of dairy farms in Ireland. The HOMER Pro software was employed to model electricity consumption, generation and economic performance of four 15-year PV project scenarios for 11 Irish farms. Scenarios considering the targeted agricultural modernisation scheme II (TAMS) and the microgeneration support scheme are assessed. The results show that PV systems are a feasible option to power dairy farms when current energy prices and inflation rates are applied. Small systems eligible for TAMS grants presented an average discounted payback period of 5 years, making them a better option for farmers than larger projects, which had an average payback period of 8.5 years. The deployment of PV systems reduced the GHG intensity of electricity consumed at the farms by up to 29 %.

Perceived legitimacy of agricultural support schemes: An investigation using factorial survey experiments

Abstract Agricultural support payments are a significant position in public budgets, and the legitimacy of such payments is subject to continuing debate. The legitimacy rests on the social acceptance of citizens for support payments to farmers, which is the focus of this study. Social acceptance is investigated using evaluations of farm and farmer descriptions in a factorial survey experiment. The results reveal higher acceptance of payments for farms demonstrating enhanced animal welfare, biodiversity, and a lower carbon footprint. The acceptance of support payments is negatively associated with payment amount, but payments to farmers who are financially struggling are more accepted than payments to profitable farmers; indicating respondent preferences that align with the need justice principle. Study findings can be used to inform priorities for legitimate policies of agricultural support schemes, to identify areas of consensus or disagreement regarding social acceptance of support, and to facilitate effective communication on agricultural support policy.

Alternative crop residue management practices to mitigate the environmental and economic impacts of open burning of agricultural residues

Deliberate open burning of crop residues emits greenhouse gases and toxic pollutants into the atmosphere. This study investigates the environmental impacts (global warming potential, GWP) and economic impacts (net cash flow) of nine agricultural residue management schemes, including open burning, fertilizer production, and biochar production for corn residue, rice straw, and sugarcane leaves. The environmental assessment shows that, except the open burning schemes, fossil fuel consumption is the main contributor of the GWP impact. The fertilizer and biochar schemes reduce the GWP impact including black carbon by 1.88–1.96 and 2.46–3.22 times compared to open burning. The biochar schemes have the lowest GWP (− 1833.19 to − 1473.21 kg CO2-eq/ton). The economic assessment outcomes reveal that the biochar schemes have the highest net cash flow (222.72—889.31 US$2022/ton or 1258.15–13409.16 US$2022/ha). The expenditures of open burning are practically zero, while the biochar schemes are the most costly to operate. The most preferable agricultural residue management type is the biochar production, given the lowest GWP impact and the highest net cash flow. To discourage open burning, the government should tailor the government assistance programs to the needs of the farmers and make the financial assistance more accessible.

A Novel Secure and Energy-efficient Routing Method for the Agricultural Internet of Things Using Whale Optimization Algorithm

The Internet of Things (IoT) is an all-encompassing system that tracks and monitors real-world activities by gathering, handling, and interpreting data from IoT equipment. It has successfully been applied in several fields, particularly smart agriculture since there is a high demand for high-quality foodstuffs worldwide. It is essential to develop new agricultural production schemes to meet these demands. The heterogeneity of IoT devices makes security essential for IoT communication. Also, IoT devices are restricted in terms of processing, memory, and power capacities. Therefore, energy is a key factor in extending the life of an agricultural IoT network. This study presented a novel energy-aware and secure routing scheme using the Whale Optimization Algorithm (WOA) for IoT, referred to as SRWOA. The simulation results indicate that SRWOA uniformly distributes energy consumption in IoT and maximizes the packet delivery ratio.

An assessment of asymmetric impact of financial stability and agricultural subsidies on agricultural production in Pakistan

PurposeThere will probably be nine billion people on the earth by 2050, meaning food consumption will rise dramatically. Pakistan, the fifth most populous nation in the world, is rapidly expanding its population, making it difficult for the nation to sustain its food supply. Unfortunately, the country's focus on ensuring food security has not kept up with the demographic shifts in its population. However, innovative solutions are sorely needed in the face of several worldwide problems, especially in the crucial agriculture sector. This underscores the need to integrate sustainable financial practices. Considering these circumstances, this research thoroughly examines the intricate relationship inside Pakistan between financial stability (FS), agricultural subsidies, and productivity. Acknowledging the underlying intricacies and asymmetries at work, this study aims to analyze the complex relationships influencing the nation's agricultural production.Design/methodology/approachThe research tries to shed light on the subtle processes at the intersection of financial stability, agricultural subsidies, and agricultural productivity through a comprehensive investigation of these multiple challenges. A non-linear autoregressive distributive lag (NARDL) technique is used, using a dataset from 1980 to 2022.FindingsThe results show that FS has a mixed impact on agricultural productivity, both positive and negative. Increasing FS_POS has a beneficial influence on agricultural output, linked to a notable 1.404% increase in output. On the other hand, increasing FS_NEG causes a significant 11.441% decrease in agricultural output, demonstrating its negative impact on output. Subsidies for agriculture also have asymmetric impacts; SUB_POS and SUB_NEG influence variations in agricultural productivity. A substantial 2.414% rise in agricultural output is shown by SUB_POS, demonstrating its noteworthy beneficial influence. Conversely, SUB_NEG adds a relatively small increase of 1.659% in agricultural output. However, the different amounts of each person's contribution show how subtle their effects are.Research limitations/implicationsThe current study is limited to the relationship between financial stability, agricultural subsidies, and agricultural productivity, considering the inherent complexity and asymmetries at work in Pakistan only. Further studies are required in Asian markets to have a bigger picture of the agricultural sector.Originality/valueConsidering these critical empirical findings, the report recommends strategic strategies to promote long-term agricultural growth in Pakistan. These include providing integrated financial services customized to farmers' needs, such as credit, insurance, and savings alternatives. Transparency and efficiency in procedural frameworks and the formation of efficient public-private partnerships should be prioritized. Furthermore, improving agricultural subsidy schemes emerges as a crucial priority. Targeting marginalized farmers more effectively and optimizing distribution through transparent, digitally driven systems can significantly improve program performance.

Evolution of the Agricultural Legislation in Albania: Relevant Criminal Profile

Abstract Abstract. Albania, after the fall of the dictatorial system in 90’, has faced numerous challenges in relation to the development of his own agricultural legislation. The current status of Albania, as a negotiating candidate country for the EU, has increased the obligations and responsibilities of the State in the adoption of laws and national strategies focus on agriculture. Thanks to international projects and partners, Albania, only in the latest years has managed the reformation of its agricultural system. The difficulties resulting from mass immigration, property conflicts, the creation of a sustainable economy organized in family businesses of the SME typology, the mechanization of the agricultural economy, investments in technological innovation, as well as closely related problems that directly affect the development of Albanian agriculture, present concern and need solutions. Misuse of funds, fraud or corruption related to the implementation of international agricultural financing programs present a problem in guaranteeing security and right access to agricultural support system and schemes. Beyond the difficulties, the goal is that in the European journey, Albania can raise its competitive abilities in the E.U. market, implementing the best community policies. The research methodology used is based on empirical (quantitative) data obtained from the Albanian and foreign Statistical Institutes, as well as on the objective analysis of these data in a comparative relationship between them.

Resource productivity and allocative efficiency in improved cassava (Manihot esculenta) -based mixed cropping system in Ebonyi State, Nigeria

Over 60% of the cassava-producing households in Nigeria have adopted the cultivation of improved cassava varieties resulting in increased cassava yields and output. Yet, the attainment of domestic production level that would cope with the domestic consumption and the needs for the export market can only be achieved if the technical efficiencies of smallholder farm resources are upgraded and the cassava farmers become more efficient in the allocation of these resources. This study examined the resource productivity and allocative efficiency in improved cassava-based mixed cropping system in Ebonyi State, Nigeria. A multistage sampling procedure was employed to select a total of 120 respondents (comprising 60 adopters and 60 non-adopters of improved cassava-based mixed cropping system) on whom structured questionnaires were administered during the 2022/2023 cropping season. Inferential statistics involving the Cobb-Douglas production function and descriptive statistics were used for data analysis. The regression results revealed that all the five resource inputs for the adopters and four inputs excluding agrochemicals for non-adopters of the improved cassava-based mixed cropping system positively contributed to output of the respondents in the area. The results further showed that most of the resource inputs were of higher productivities under the adopters than the non-adopters. The result of the deviation from unity of the ratio of the Marginal Value Product (MVP) to Marginal Factor Cost (MFC) revealed that the adopters were more efficient in the allocation of land, cassava stem cuttings and miscellaneous variable capital inputs than the non-adopters. Constraints to increased cassava production in the area include lack of finance, high cost of farm inputs, among others. Policy measures aimed at liberalization of agricultural credit schemes to enhance farmers’ access to essential farm inputs, introduction of labour-saving techniques to farmers among others were recommended towards increased production and profitable cassava value chain business in Nigeria

Voluntary sustainability standards to cope with the new European Union regulation on deforestation-free products: A gap analysis

The European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) has been recently adopted to fight deforestation and forest degradation associated with the trade of forest-risk commodities, including cattle, cocoa, coffee, oil palm, rubber, soya, and wood. Operators must exercise due diligence (i.e., information collection, risk assessment, and risk mitigation) to ensure these commodities and their products are deforestation-free and produced in accordance with relevant legislation. In recent decades, Voluntary Sustainability Standards (VSS) have been adopted in the private sector to promote sustainable and deforestation-free supply chains. The EUDR recognizes certification and other third-party verified schemes as supporting tools for risk assessment during the due diligence procedure. However, questions persist regarding the extent to which these schemes can assist operators in assessing compliance with the EUDR. This study addresses these concerns by developing an assessment framework to evaluate the suitability of VSS schemes in covering the due diligence requirements established in the EUDR. The assessment of five major agricultural and forestry VSS schemes against this framework revealed both potentialities and limitations in covering these requirements. Most of the indicators from the framework were at least partially covered. Nevertheless, the assessed schemes fell short in providing a comprehensive prohibition of deforestation and forest degradation. They also presented variable coverage of the relevant legislation outlined in the EUDR, as well as deficiencies in their systems to assure compliance with the standards. Overall, this study indicates that VSS schemes can be incorporated as elements of due diligence systems but are insufficient to demonstrate compliance with the EUDR.

Traditional paddy field-supported bird diversity ignored by forest-focused protection of ecosystems in tropical China.

Biodiversity in tropical regions is facing threats from agricultural expansion and intensification. Therefore, a promising future for local ecosystem conservation depends not only on traditional protected areas but also on well-managed agricultural landscapes. In this study, we compared the ecological traits of bird species in paddy fields outside of protected areas and natural forests within the protected areas of Xishuangbanna, southern China. There were 148 species in total, of which 98 were in forests and 55 in paddy fields. The abundance of birds in paddy fields was 176 per kilometer, which was much higher than the 60 per kilometer in forests. There were 26 law-protected species observed, half of which were found in each habitat. The main functional groups living in nature reserves are invertivores and frugivores, whereas paddy fields provide habitats for aquatic predator and granivore bird species. Our results indicate that paddy fields act as a refuge for wetland and grassland bird species when natural wetlands disappear, highlighting the urgent need to focus more on wetland protection and eco-friendly agricultural schemes at the landscape scale in future conservation policies.