Agricultural Services Research Articles

AgDataBox-Map - A web application for creating thematic maps and management zones: users' evaluation

Agriculture is confronted with the imperative to enhance output while simultaneously ensuring increased profitability and minimizing ecological repercussions. Consequently, digital technologies have emerged as essential instruments for the acquisition of data, the analysis of information, and the facilitation of decision-making. The digital platform AgDataBox (ADB, https://adb.md.utfpr.edu.br/map) provides no-cost computational resources for agricultural professionals, scholars, and service entities, with a focus on Precision Agriculture (PA) by integrating data, software, protocols, and methodologies to facilitate agricultural progress through the utilization of open-access technologies. The purpose of this study was to examine how users assess the ADB-Map. The AgDataBox Map (ADB-Map) application works with spatial data to create thematic maps and management zones to subsidize PA and digital agriculture. The ADB-Map functionalities are divided into different layers, composed of (i) a back-end, which contains algorithms and rules of business operation, and (ii) a front-end, which is the interface of interaction with the user. By applying the evaluation methods suggested by NBR ISO/IEC 14598-6 across all areas, the ADB-Map achieved scores above 85% (the standard mandates a minimum of 70%), and an overall score of 92% was achieved. Hence, we believe users widely accept the software.

Analisis Tingkat Kesejahteraan Rumah Tangga Petani Padi di Desa Cadaskertajaya Kecamatan Telagasari Kabupaten Karawang

Agricultural development in rural areas not only increases production, but also increases people's income, opens up more job opportunities, and improves welfare. This research aims to analyze farmer household income, farmer household expenditure, and the level of welfare of rice farmer households in Cadaskertajaya Village, Telagasari District, Karawang Regency. The research method used is Mix Method, with primary and secondary data types. Primary data was collected through interviews using questionnaires from 47 rice farmers. Secondary data was obtained from the Central Statistics Agency, Karawang Regency Agricultural Service, Cadaskertajaya Village, and other institutions. Samples were taken using the proportional random sampling method, with the criteria being farmer owners and farm workers. Data analysis uses the Directorate of Land Use's criteria poverty line for household income, the Sayogyo criteria poverty line for household expenditure, and welfare indicators from BPS. The research results show that the average household income of rice farmers in Cadaskertajaya Village is IDR 34,582,351.69 per year and IDR 8,124,446.81 per capita per year. The household expenditure of rice farmers is IDR 25,380,255.32 per year and IDR 8,413,937.59 per capita per year. Based on the poverty line criteria of the Directorate of Land Use, 53.19% of farmers are not poor, and according to the Sayogyo criteria, 82.61% are not poor. The welfare level is calculated using 11 indicators from BPS, with the highest score being 33 and the lowest score being 27, which is still included in the high welfare category.

PENGARUH STRES KERJA TERHADAP KEPUASAN KERJA PEGAWAI DINAS PERTANIAN KOTA BIMA

This study aims to determine the Effect of Job Stress on Employee Job Satisfaction at the Bima City Agriculture Service. The approach used in the study is an associative approach. The population in the study was 102 people with a sample of 60 people. Data collection techniques used were observation, questionnaires, and literature studies. The data analysis technique used in this study was a simple linear regression analysis technique which was assisted by the Statistical Product and Service Solution (SPSS) version 20 program. The results of the study showed that job stress had a significant effect on employee job satisfaction at the Bima City Agriculture Service.

Cultural Transformation and Occupational Shifts among the Gujjar Tribe: An Analytical Study

The study explores the cultural transformation and occupational shifts among the Gujjar tribe in Rajouri District, Jammu and Kashmir. Historically pastoralists, the Gujjars have transitioned into new economic activities due to modernization, urbanization, and changing government policies. Educational advancements and emerging economic opportunities have led many within the tribe to diversify beyond livestock rearing into fields like agriculture, business, and public service. These shifts have redefined family structures, gender roles, and community dynamics, with women increasingly participating in the workforce. But, challenges such as cultural dislocation and loss of land rights persist. The study, based on qualitative research, highlights the complexities of adapting to modernity while preserving cultural identity, offering insights into how the Gujjars navigate the tension between tradition and modern change. The findings underscore the importance of sustainable development strategies that respect both cultural heritage and economic progress.

Causes and Impacts of Flood Events in Emilia-Romagna (Italy) in May 2023

On 1–3 May 2023, severe hydro-meteorological events occurred in the Italian Emilia-Romagna region. Such events caused extensive flooding, landslides, isolation of many areas, evacuation of many families, and severe damage to infrastructure, agriculture, buildings, and essential services. Several municipalities were affected, thousands of civilians had to be evacuated, and losses of life occurred. The consequences beyond the recorded immediate impacts on infrastructure and life were impressive, and extended to the regional economy, specifically in the Fruit Valley, where, in addition to immediate yield losses, long-term damage to orchard production is expected due to persistent flooding. The civil and cultural building heritage has also been heavily affected, both in the countryside and in inhabited centers. Some of the damage, direct and indirect, caused by flooding on buildings will also see an evolution in the medium- to long-term that needs to be addressed. This paper analyzes the manifold aspects of such an atmospheric phenomenon and its impacts to understand the potential increasing occurrence of similar events in the climate change context.

Durian Agribusiness Development Strategy in Boven Digoel Regency

The agricultural sector, which includes forestry, fisheries, animal husbandry, hunting, and farming services, is the main contributor to forming Boven Digoel Regency's GRDP. The largest commodity contributing to GRDP comes from the plantation crop subsector, not the horticulture subsector, such as durian, even though the subsector has considerable production potential. This is due to suboptimal post-harvest management and limited knowledge of durian cultivation technology among local farmers. Most farmers still use less efficient traditional methods, so the yield could be more optimal. This study aims to analyze internal and external factors and formulate local economic development strategies based on durian agribusiness. The data used included primary and secondary data, and the analysis was conducted using descriptive methods, IFE, EFE, IE Matrix, SWOT Analysis, and QSPM. The results showed that the durian agribusiness economy in Boven Digoel Regency based on the IE matrix is in quadrant I (growth and investment) with internal factors 3.13 and external factors 3.08. SWOT analysis resulted in three main strategies: market expansion, diversification of durian processed products, and restructuring the production system. Diversification of processed products, such as dodol and ice cream, proved to be the most effective strategy based on QSPM analysis, with a score of 6.32.

Regional Workforce Dynamics in West Virginia: Insights from Shift-Share and Location Quotient Analysis

West Virginia, home to approximately 1.77 million residents, has been grappling with significant economic challenges characterized by persistent poverty and sluggish growth. Despite ongoing development efforts, the state’s Gross State Product (GSP) has seen only a modest increase of 0.1% over the past five years, reaching USD 71.7 billion, while the unemployment rate remains at 4.0%. The annualized employment growth rate of 0.7% lags behind the national average, and only about 54% of West Virginia’s adult population is either employed or actively seeking employment, resulting in one of the lowest labor force participation rates in the nation. In contrast, certain industrial sectors, such as healthcare, social assistance, retail trade, and accommodation and food services, have shown intermittent growth at the county and regional levels. To explore the unique characteristics and significance of these regions in relation to employment growth, this study examines regional employment patterns in West Virginia from 2001 to 2020, focusing on the main regions of the state: Metro Valley, Mid-Ohio Valley, New River/Greenbrier Valley, Mountain Lakes, and Potomac Highlands. Utilizing shift-share and location quotient (LQ) analyses, this research identifies the sectors driving regional employment and assesses their performance. Key findings reveal strong sectoral performance in mining, manufacturing, and finance in the Mid-Ohio Valley; wholesale trade, transportation, and utilities in the Metro Valley; agriculture and administrative services in the New River/Greenbrier Valley; agriculture and manufacturing in the Potomac Highlands; and scientific services, healthcare, and utilities in the Mountain Lakes region. Based on these insights, this study recommends targeted policy interventions to address regional disparities, enhance sectors with significant short- and long-term benefits, and foster balanced economic development across the state.

The Impact of Agricultural Socialization Services on the Ecological Protection of Rice Farmland in Jianghan Plain, China

The ecological protection of cultivated land is crucial for advancing high-quality agricultural development. This study analyzes the impact of agricultural socialization services on the ecological conservation of farmland, focusing on the reduction of chemical fertilizers and pesticides among rice farmers in the Jianghan Plain area. Utilizing data from 743 farmer household surveys conducted in 2023, the findings reveal that agricultural socialization services significantly encourage farmers to reduce chemical input usage. For every 1% increase in the level of agricultural social services, the average fertilizer use per hectare will decrease by 14% and the average pesticide use per hectare will decrease by 16.4%. The study identifies scale operation, factor substitution, and alleviation of capital constraints as mediating factors enhancing the efficacy of these services. Furthermore, heterogeneity analysis indicates that these services are more effective in reducing chemical inputs among large-scale and newer-generation farmers compared to their small-scale and older counterparts. Additionally, technology-intensive socialized services exhibit a stronger impact on reducing chemical inputs than labor-intensive services.

Peran Dinas Terkait dalam Pemanfaatan Teknologi Informasi di Desa Temayang Kecamatan Temayang Kabupaten Bojonegoro

The aim of this research is to analyze the role of the Agriculture Service in supporting the use of information technology in the community in Temayang Village, Temayang District, Bojonegoro Regency. This research uses a qualitative approach with descriptive analysis. Determining informants was carried out using the snowball method. Data collection techniques using interviews, observation and document analysis. Meanwhile, data analysis techniques use data reduction, data presentation and drawing conclusions and verification. The research results show that Temayang Village, Temayang District, Bojonegoro Regency has experienced a significant increase in access to information technology infrastructure with a stable internet network, public Wi-Fi, and three towers. Farmers' digital literacy is also good, with the use of smartphones for communication and internet access related to agriculture. The Department of Agriculture plays an important role in providing counseling and training, increasing the use of information technology by village communities.

Career motives of presidential appointees and agency communication across American states

AbstractDo the career motives of presidential appointees affect program administration? To answer this question, I examine the phased development of policy communication of the U.S. Farm Service Agency (FSA) across states from 2002 to 2018 based on an original collection of historical official websites. This is a rare policy context for examining why peer appointees administer the same programs differently. Linking the state‐by‐state development of FSA newsletters to the career trajectories of state executive directors (SEDs), the presidential appointees who lead state FSAs, I show that SEDs interested in elective office post‐appointment are associated with faster institutionalization of newsletters. Examining these newsletters’ content, I then show that SEDs interested in elective office or a career in advocacy include more participation‐encouraging language in newsletters. These results suggest that appointees’ career goals outside the bureaucracy can potentially expedite innovation in program implementation and enhance the delivery of government benefits to the public, with implications for selecting appointees to enhance bureaucratic performance.

TATA KELOLA ASET BARANG MILIK DAERAH BERBASIS E-BMD PADA DINAS PERTANIAN KOTA KENDARI

This study aims to provide an in-depth overview of the implementation of the E_BMD system in the Kendari City Agriculture Service using qualitative descriptive methods. The results of the study indicate that the implementation of the E-BMD system significantly increases efficiency in the management of Regional Property (BMD). Starting from identification to asset disposal. This system facilitates real-time asset recording, increases accuracy, and transparency and facilitates a more transparent and accountable asset procurement process. Although there are obstacles to employee understanding of technology, E-BMD also allows automatic maintenance scheduling, although limited human resources and budget constrain its implementation. In asset disposal, this system helps accelerate the process of eliminating unusable assets, although employee training still needs to be improved. Overall, E-BMD has great potential to increase efficiency, transparency and accountability in regional asset management. However, optimization requires increased human resource competency and improved coordination between agencies. Recommendations include ongoing training for employees and increased budget allocation to support the operation and maintenance of the system on an ongoing basis. These findings indicate that with the right steps, E-BMD can be optimized to support more effective and efficient asset management in the future.

AGRICULTURAL CONSULTING AS A TOOL TO ENSURE THE IMPLEMENTATION OF SUSTAINABLE RURAL DEVELOPMENT

The article analyzes the current state of implementation of sustainable rural development in Ukraine. Ensuring sustainable rural development today is a priority for all of humanity, which is due to the desire of countries to ensure the realization of the Sustainable Development Goals. It is noted that rural development is an important task aimed at ensuring food security, increasing the competitiveness of agriculture, stimulating economic growth and social development of rural areas in the system of European integration priorities. It is proved that the peculiarities of the functioning of the agro-industrial sector, the processes of digitalization and the consequences of full-scale military operations necessitate the need for highly qualified and multidisciplinary specialists. It is substantiated that the need of small agricultural enterprises for high-quality staffing will only increase in the future, due to the need to revitalize the de-occupied territories of Ukraine and the further rapid development of digital technologies. It is noted that the lion's share of agricultural enterprises in Ukraine is small. These agricultural enterprises are focused on the domestic market, and they ensure the country's food security and sustainable rural development. However, these agricultural enterprises face significant problems with logistics and human resources, high production costs, lack of markets, etc. In addition, most of them are geographically remote from the centers of civilization. All this, as well as the need to eliminate the negative consequences of full-scale military operations in rural areas, further revitalization of the de-occupied territories, and the introduction of digital technologies, make it expedient for small agricultural enterprises to use agro-consulting as a tool for ensuring the implementation of sustainable rural development. It is noted that agricultural consulting in Ukraine is mainly represented by agricultural advisory services. Prospect for further research is the problem of using consulting to optimize the development of rural tourism in Ukraine.

Estimating the Impact of Sectoral Output on Employment for Nigeria Economy (1981-2021)

The purpose of this research is to determine the employment effects of contributions to GDP by the main sectors in the context of Nigeria and to understand the relative importance of each sector. This study investigates the contributions of the three broad sectors of the economy to total employment over the period 1981 to 2021 using the autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) technique. Sectoral output was proxied by agricultural GDP, industry GDP and services GDP respectively while employment was measured by total number of employed persons. The Bounds test signaled the existence of cointegrating relationships between the series at both aggregated and disaggregated levels, necessitating both short and long run analysis for the study. The best performing sector in terms of employment intensity is the agricultural sector suggesting its labour-intensive nature. The impact of growth in industrial sector on employment appears to be a case of jobless growth while the impact of increases in service sector GDP on employment appears to be more like the case of job-loss growth. The agricultural sector supports growth-led employment for Nigeria while the service sector negates it. The service and industry sectors have low labour absorption capacity as the former is technology-driven while the latter is capital-intensive. The government should as a matter of urgency improve on its provision of finance and other support services to the agricultural sector. It is also necessary to devise verifiable methods to attract the teeming young population to actively participate in the agricultural sector with a view to developing its value chain. A growing service sector and a shrinking agricultural sector can only at best perpetuate the already challenging unemployment situation in Nigeria. The government should conduct an audit of the country’s agricultural sector for an in-depth understanding of the needs and then prioritise these needs in public expenditure allocations while ensuring that targeted funds get to those who are active farmers.

Fit-for-Purpose Water in the Baltic Sea Region

Climate change is visible everywhere, including in Baltic Sea Region (BSR). One of the symptoms is water scarcity, occurring relatively locally but persisting over longer and longer periods. The European and Global Drought Observatories (https://drought.emergency.copernicus.eu) present increasing BSR areas where soil moisture is alarmingly low. Water shortages cause technical and organizational problems in water utilities, agriculture, energy, industry, etc. Hence, competition for water between industry, agriculture, and municipal services has emerged. Sustainable water resource management requires solutions that rationalize and optimize the use of available resources with particular care for the environment. One of the methods of remedying local problems is closing local water and nutrient cycles by recovering water from urban wastewater and using rainwater

Future Food Security Challenges in Riau Province, Indonesia

The food crisis is a real problem in various regions around the world, including Indonesia. This phenomenon is influenced by the rate of population growth which is increasing while farmlands are depleting due to the conversion of land into settlements, especially in Riau Province which is experiencing food security threats. Food security projections are made to provide an overview of the future condition of food security in Riau Province to support sustainability. The basic data used are data for 2018 and 2019. The measurement method used is the scenario method and then the availability calculation method according to Minister of Agriculture Regulation Number 43/Permentan/OT.140/7/2010. Meanwhile, the calculation of food needs uses a formula taking into account the average consumption per capita per year from the regional agriculture service multiplied by the population in the year concerned. Then, the projections are measured using the arithmetic population growth formula approach for food availability and the geometric population growth formula for the food needs of the population. The food commodity in Riau Province used in the analysis is rice. The calculation results show that in the future food availability in Riau Province will not be able to meet its food needs. Keywords: availability of rice, rice needs, food security

The impact of agricultural machinery services on farmland transfer: a analytical perspective based on the profitability of grain production

IntroductionIn the context of the deceleration of farmland scale management, a crucial question arises in agricultural development theory and practice: will service driven scale management in the production process become a viable alternative to farmland scale management, serving as the secondary pathway to achieve scale management in China?MethodsTo address this issue, an empirical analysis on the impact of agricultural machinery services on farmland transfer was conducted in this article using data from the China Rural Revitalization Survey database comprising 302 villages and 2,871 micro-farmers in 2020 by utilizing the ordinary least squares method and instrumental variable method.Results and discussionThe results show that the implementation of agricultural machinery services will increase the rate of farmland transfer in villages. The effect of agricultural machinery services on increasing the profitability of large-scale farmers surpasses its effect on smallholder farmers, thereby motivating smallholder farmers to transfer farmland to large-scale farmers, consequently fostering the consolidation of farmland. In addition, power-intensive service links are more effective in increasing the rate of farmland transfer and fostering the concentration of farmland transfer compared to control-intensive service links. The impact of agricultural machinery services on enhancing the rate of farmland transfer and fostering the consolidation of farmland transfer is more pronounced on the plain areas compared to the hillmountainous areas. Consequently, this article demonstrates that service-driven scale management and farmland scale management are not merely alternatives but rather complementary strategies that mutually reinforce each other.

The effects of land cover transition and its patch mosaics on soil erosion using geospatial technology in South Wollo, Ethiopia

Soil erosion has been a significant threat to agricultural productivity, dam sustainability, and ecosystem services in the highlands of Ethiopia. Despite some watershed-specific research on this problem, the spatiotemporal distribution of soil erosion risks is still rarely assessed in South Wollo. This study aims to monitor land cover changes, analyze landscape mosaics, and estimate soil loss in South Wollo from 1990 to 2020. The Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) was utilized to estimate soil loss. Key informant interviews and field observations were conducted to gain further insights into land cover change and soil erosion. The results showed that agricultural land use was dominant, covering 50.75 % of the study area in 1990 and it continued to expand at an annual rate of 1.73 %, primarily on shrubland and grassland. The landscape structure was more heterogeneous in the north compared to the central and southern areas. In 1990, the mean soil loss was 21.13 t ha-1yr−1, totaling 41.53 million tons. By 2020, These figures had increased to 28.97 t ha-1yr−1 and 49.86 million tons, respectively. Areas experiencing very severe soil erosion (>50 t ha-1yr−1) expanded from 10.81 % (1990) to 13.57 % (2020). The magnitude of soil loss also differed among land cover types, with the highest rates observed in bare land (>85 t ha-1yr−1), followed by agricultural land (>30 t ha-1yr−1). Soil loss factors and landscape metrics exhibited a significant correlation with soil loss, though the strength and direction of these interactions varied. Land cover change and its associated soil erosion were primarily exacerbated by policy factors, including tenure insecurity and disregard for farmers’ indigenous conservation knowledge. This study offers valuable insights into the trends of land cover transitions, landscape structure, and soil loss. It will help guide sustainable land management, aimed at increasing green legacy and reducing soil loss.

Analysis of the Level of Agricultural Development in Kazakhstan: Identifying Agro-Hubs

The study examines Kazakhstan's agricultural sector and its potential for developing resilient agro-hubs, focusing on identifying regions that can contribute to the country's long-term agricultural growth. The purpose of this study is to examine essential agricultural indicators, including gross agrarian output, gross crop production, gross livestock production, and agricultural services, in order to identify regions with the potential for agro-hub development. The methodology includes Pearson correlation analysis of data collected from national agricultural reports and regional statistical databases. Data for the study were gathered from national agricultural reports and regional statistical databases, which provide quantitative measures of agricultural output, crop yields, livestock production, and farming services. Results indicate the strongest correlations between Kostanay and North Kazakhstan (0.995 for Gross Agricultural Output and 0.996 for Crop Production, p < 0.001). Additionally, significant alignment in crop production was observed between Almaty and South Kazakhstan (0.969, p = 0.007), whereas weaknesses in agricultural services were noted, particularly in Kyzylorda and Zhambyl, with a negative correlation. The results highlight the northern and southern regions' potential for forming agro-hubs supported by solid production indicators. The study provides strategic recommendations for policymakers to foster regional collaboration, enhance productivity, and promote sustainable agricultural development across Kazakhstan. Future research will focus on improving infrastructure and developing collaborative agricultural initiatives within agro-hubs to strengthen Kazakhstan's agricultural sector resilience.

Research on the Impact of Agricultural Production Outsourcing on Farmers’ Fertilizer Application Intensity: An Inverse U-Shaped Relationship

Agricultural production outsourcing services encourage a shift in the way crops are grown in developing countries and make it easier for small farmers to join the social division of labor in agriculture. This makes production more efficient and has a big effect on the inputs used in agriculture, especially fertilizer. This paper empirically tests the impact of production outsourcing on farmers’ fertilizer intensity using the instrumental variables method with non-planar panel data from the 2020–2022 China Land Economy Survey (CLES) of farm plots. The results showed that there was a significant inverted U-shaped relationship between the degree of agricultural production outsourcing and the intensity of fertilization on farmers’ plots. Mechanistic analysis shows that agricultural production outsourcing affects the fertilizer intensity by changing the labor allocation of farmers. Especially as the degree of agricultural production outsourcing increases, the intensity of farm labor inputs by farmers gradually decreases, and the impact of fertilizer intensity on the plots showed a tendency to be promoted first and then suppressed. The moderating effect showed that plot size was a major moderating factor. This means that the bigger the plot, the flatter the inverted U-shaped curve became, and the same level of outsourcing could lead to less fertilizer application. This happened by moving the inflection point of the inverted U-shaped curve to the left, which stopped the fertilizer application at a lower level of outsourcing. Heterogeneity analysis showed that participation in technology-intensive production outsourcing was beneficial in terms of reducing fertilizer intensity, and that an increased degree of agriculture production outsourcing was beneficial for farmers with large plot sizes and younger heads of household.

The Stakeholders Engagement Study in Rural Development Program

Rural development is integral to achieving sustainable development in Indonesia, where success is measured from an economic, social, and environmental perspective. As a region with cultural riches and abundant natural resources, the Special Region of Yogyakarta has become a focal point in village development efforts. One example of successful village development is in Kulwaru Village, where communal cattle were constructed. This research aims to explore the role and engagement of stakeholders in village development in the case of communal cattle. This study uses a qualitative case study method by collecting data through in-depth interviews with 15 informants, including local government, group leaders, community leaders, community organizations, and other related organizations. The data was then analyzed descriptively, and a power and interest matrix was used to determine the role positions of the stakeholders. This research found that stakeholder engagement has different powers and interests. Stakeholders included in the categories (1) Key players: administrators, livestock group members, and BKM Bina Mandiri; (2) Keep Informed: Kubaweta Cooperative, Puskeswan, IAAS UGM, and Academics. (3) Keep Satisfied: Kulwaru Village Government, District Agriculture and Food Service. Kulon Progo, the Central and Provincial PUPR Ministries; and (4) monitor category, the PUPR District Service. Kulon Progo. Collaboration between these stakeholders plays a vital role in the success of building communal cattle and surviving and overcoming the slum environment problems faced by the people of Kulwaru Village.