Agricultural Technicians Research Articles

EVALUATION STUDY ON THE THREE DIRECTIONAL TRAINING IN JI'AN CITY OF CHINA

The meaning of "three directional" refers to targeted enrollment, targeted training, and targeted employment. The report of the 19th National Congress of China first proposed the implementation of the rural revitalization strategy. Subsequently, it made important arrangements for the rural revitalization strategy, clarifying that in the future, we should promote the work of agriculture, rural areas, and farmers by the overall requirements of prosperous industries, livable ecology, civilized rural culture, effective governance, and prosperous living. The future of rural areas is the comprehensive revitalization of industries, talents, culture, ecology, and organizations. The construction of rural regions cannot be separated from talents. The 19th National Congress report proposes cultivating and cultivating a "three rural" work team that understands agriculture, loves rural areas, and farmers. Grassroots agricultural technology promotion talents (referred to as grassroots agricultural technology personnel), as an important component of the "three rural" work team, are an important force in achieving comprehensive rural revitalization. In the rural revitalization strategy, deepening the cultivation of grassroots agricultural technicians is essential to achieve agricultural modernization and improve the farmers' quality of life. This research report aims to evaluate the feasibility of continuously deepening the cultivation of "three directional" agricultural grassroots agricultural technicians and provide a basis for relevant policy formulation education and training.

Resilience building interventions to manage climate induced livestock poverty and deaths in Southern Zimbabwe

Livestock production in Mwenezi District (MD) has become more susceptible to effects of climatic variability and change which undermines developmental gains from livestock value chain. Climate change impacts are increasing the intensity of livestock poverty and deaths across all forms of livestock. The study examined livestock production interventions implemented to reduce livestock poverty deaths in MD. Descriptive research design which utilizes both qualitative and quantitative paradigms was used to accurately and systematically describe the phenomenon. A household survey questionnaire was administered to sampled households in MD wards 4 and 10 while interviews were conducted with purposively selected key informants from the department Agriculture Technical and Extension Services (AGRITEX), Veterinary Services Department, Rural District Council, CARE and District Development Coordinator's Office. Various interventions including construction of improved livestock structures, availing of safe drinking water for livestock, livestock feed formulation have been initiated to reduce and contain livestock poverty deaths. The study recommends that development actors should initiate more interventions to boost livestock production sector since it is the most suitable intervention in relation to climate and weather conditions experienced in MD. The research offers insights to address the complex interplay between climate change, livestock farming, poverty and resilience building. Results inform future researchers while guiding policy makers working in similar contexts on how best to support vulnerable communities. Findings lessen the burden to achieve Sustainable Development Goals namely no poverty, zero hunger amongst others. The study enlightened farmers on how to implement drought mitigation and adaptation techniques during drought periods.

Advisors and inspectors for the development of organic agriculture in Italy

The advisory services play a pivotal role in addressing the challenges of the European green transition and enhancing the quality of services along the organic agricultural supply chain. However, there is limited evidence regarding the role and current working conditions of professionals supporting organic farming. The present study aims to fill this gap by investigating the working characteristics and job satisfaction levels among Italian organic advisors and inspectors. The analysis of selected variables encompassing interviewee characteristics, work activities, and satisfaction metrics provides insights into the perspectives of advisors and inspectors on their roles and working conditions. The findings reveal that while technicians generally express satisfaction with their remuneration and opportunities for personal and professional growth, they also report significant stress levels and workload. Identifying variables influencing satisfaction levels was pursued to measure the association between variables. This research establishes a foundation for developing strategies to enhance the well-being and effectiveness of organic farming advisors and inspectors, thereby promoting agricultural knowledge and innovation. One potential avenue for further investigation is monitoring agricultural technicians' operational activities at both the national and regional levels.

Перспективы переработки угля с низкой степенью метаморфизма

Introduction. The relevance and significance of this work is due to the fact that the soils of Kazakhstan are about 48% salt marshes. The reasons for their occurrence are different: harsh climatic conditions, the drying Aral Sea, the Baikonur cosmodrome, numerous test sites, etc. With an increased content of water-soluble salts in the root layer of soils, most cultivated plants develop poorly and yield a reduced yield. To solve the above problem, the technology of processing brown coal from the Kiyakty deposit and its substandard part for the production of drugs-growth stimulants for agricultural plants, high-calorie fuel briquettes and coal-alkali reagents is proposed. Materials and methods. Development of technology for the production of a humic preparation from brown coal deposits in Kazakhstan. It is known that these coals are amorphous polymers containing bitumen, humic acids, residual organic substances and moisture. Laboratory experiments were carried out by the method of biotesting according to B.P. Strogonov in glasses with a capacity of 0.5 liters in accordance with the requirements of GOST (GOST 10250–80, GOST 12038–84). The methodology for conducting research on the manufacture of briquettes, carbon-alkali reagents based on the humic acid hypothesis and various local binding materials with the involvement of certified CeLSIM laboratories is substantiated. The most optimal binder is a liquid bardic concentrate. Results. As a result of the application of new methods of pre-sowing treatment of rice seeds with a 2.5 % aqueous solution of the preparation from coal, its yield increased by 9.5–12.1 quintals per 1 ha, or by 33.8–41 % compared with the control. Discussion. The works of a number of foreign and domestic researchers on this topic have proved the possibility of using humic substances from brown coals to obtain organo-mineral fertilizers, and a comparative study of the chemical composition has been conducted. However, according to our technology, it is clear that we do not get fertilizer, but plant growth stimulants. It should be noted that the technology developed by the authors makes it possible to obtain a humic preparation, the use of which on low-yielding soils of Kazakhstan ensures a stable increase in the yield of cereals and legumes. Conclusion. The developed technology for the production of humic preparations for various purposes can be used to increase crop yields on degraded soils, for the bio recultivation of man-made formations, the manufacture of a substrate for greenhouse farms, the production of fuel briquettes and coal-alkali reagents, as well as during the operation of other brown coal deposits of the Republic of Kazakhstan with a high content of humic acids in their composition. Suggestions for practical applications and directions for future research. The territory of Kazakhstan is considered to be arid zones of dry steppe soils without rains. In these conditions, agricultural technicians resort to plants of halophyte varieties, therefore, the prospects for using this technology are very large, for example, to suppress dust formation on the surface of tailings ponds with the cultivation of green mass of wild plant varieties. Preparations from brown coals can be used to purify water and wines, leach precious metals, etc.

Plant clinic in Nepal: An overview

Plant clinics play an important role in supporting farmers in growing healthy crops and achieving higher productivity in Nepal. The development and operation of plant clinics in Nepal are assessed in this study through a comprehensive analysis of the institution via literature review and interaction with key stakeholders. The plant clinic approach of the agriculture extension system started in Nepal in 2008, followed up with engagement with CABI and the Government of Nepal. Enhancement of farmers' knowledge and skill, encouraging sustainable farming methods, and ultimately increasing crop yields are the impact of plant clinics. However, there are some challenges faced during the implementation of plant clinics in the existing agricultural extension systems. In Nepal, the plant clinics are primarily operated by agricultural technicians with expertise in plant protection, as well as IPM farmer facilitators and community business facilitators after attending an intensive plant doctor's training. Plant clinics have been integrated into the agricultural extension system by agro-advisory service provider of the government of Nepal. Despite institutionalisation, policy support needs to be strengthened to ensure the sustainability of the different components of the (e.g., data management, validation, monitoring, localised content, etc.) plant clinic in Nepal.

Sowing the seeds of sustainability: the curriculum shift in agrarian technician training

Sustainability and rural development stand at the forefront of addressing pressing global challenges, from environmental degradation to social inequality. As we navigate an increasingly complex and interconnected world, the role of education in shaping the perspectives and actions of future professionals in agrarian and rural sectors becomes paramount. This study explores the integration of sustainability principles within the curriculum of the Agricultural Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) at the State Agricultural College of Toledo (CAET), located in the municipality of Toledo, Paraná, Brazil. By juxtaposing the curriculum's emphasis with students' perceptions of sustainability discussions across various disciplines, the investigation reveals a strong association between agriculture and sustainability. Agriculture emerges as the most frequently mentioned discipline among students, with agroecology closely following, underscoring its significance in promoting sustainable agricultural practices. Additionally, disciplines like Horticulture, Environmental Management, and Soils also receive notable mentions, suggesting their roles in addressing sustainability challenges within the agricultural sector. Interestingly, despite the curriculum not explicitly predicting the connection between certain disciplines, such as Horticulture, and sustainability topics, the teaching approach adopted by instructors appears aligned with sustainability conversations. However, a discrepancy exists between the perceived importance of sustainability discussions in core disciplines and their actual occurrence, suggesting a potential gap in integration by teachers. Addressing this gap may require investing in targeted education and training for teachers to ensure a more comprehensive incorporation of sustainability principles across all disciplines. This study highlights the need for a more deliberate and holistic approach to embedding sustainability in agrarian education, ensuring that future professionals are well-equipped to drive sustainable rural development.

Innovative pedagogy of competence based training in horticulture: case stuy of TVET Education in Kenya

Horticulture is the fastest growing sub-sector in Kenya. It contributes the most towards the envisioned poverty reduction, and overall food security. It is generally a labour-intensive industry with high demand of skilled workers, trained supervisors and professional managers. Most Agricultural Technical and Vocational Education Training colleges (ATVETs) have a very general focus and there is lack of specialized and competent workforce in horticulture. The training is classroom and institutional centred with limited access to necessary resources and facilities, and limited interactions with industry and world of work. In this project, a consortium of partners worked with selected ATVETs to close the skills gaps using a non-traditional pedagogy of competency based training in horticulture. This was by strengthening the capacity of the ATVETs through a strong collaboration and linkages between the education institutions and the private sector to enable practical learning and innovation in the horticulture sector. The project integrated the curriculum for horticulture, water and climate to suit the needs of the students and the labour market, and tailored it to the local context. Each of the participating colleges invested in hands-on training through dedicated agricultural innovation hubs and creating strong links with the local stakeholders. To compliment curricula developed by the Curriculum Development Assessment and Certificate Council (CDACC), training manuals were developed for selected courses. In addition tutors were trained to enhance their capacity in design, delivery and evaluation of competence based education. Problem based learning in the Kenyan context as well as joint learning sessions between Kenyan and Dutch students were the other non-traditional pedagogy methodologies that were explored. The project increased interactions between the ATVET, industry and partners in horticulture within Kenya and in the Netherlands. The ATVETs created more local partnerships relevant to their training and practical work. The students were the primary beneficiaries through enhanced quality teaching. These benefits have been cascaded to the surrounding communities and the impact is expected to be sustainable.

Дефицит кадрового обеспечения сельскохозяйственной сферы юга России 1920-1930 гг

The article is devoted to the analysis of the need for staffing of agricultural workers that developed during the period of collectivization in the south of Russia. The territorial framework of the problem under consideration covers the macro-region of the North Caucasus Region within the Rostov Region and Krasnodar Territory. Analysis of documentation and statistical data revealed a number of specialties that collective farms were particularly in need of. The following qualified personnel were required: agricultural technicians, machine operators and tractor drivers, accountants and accountants, as well as farm managers. At the same time, the training and education of these specialists had to take place under the strict supervision of the party. Training and retraining of personnel required not only professional qualities, but also political literacy. The authorities decided to eliminate the shortage of personnel in two ways. In the article, the author analyzes these ways and through the analysis and introduction into circulation of new archival and statistical materials identifies the most successful. In the course of the study, methods of analysis, comparison and chronology were applied. The author states that by the end of collectivization, literally in 4 years, the problem of labor shortage was not as acute as before. The most effective way to solve the problem of shortage of qualified personnel was the way of training and retraining of agricultural workers. The sources of the article were previously unpublished materials of the State Archive of the Rostov Region and the Centers of Documentation of the Modern History of the Rostov Region and the Krasnodar Territory.

Beekeeping an alternative to family farming for sustainable development

The semi-arid region is characterized by high variability in its natural conditions, in addition to long periods of drought and irregular rainfall, and sustainable practices are a way of exploiting the potential of this region. In this context, the search for alternatives is the key to living in these conditions. In this situation, beekeeping is a very rich activity when it comes to agribusiness and sustainability, with Brazil being one of the largest honey producers in the world and still having great beekeeping potential to be reached. Even with the natural conditions imposed by the semi-arid region, the potential of beekeeping in production and marketing is proving to be a profitable and sustainable activity for living with such conditions. The aim of this work is to highlight and explore the importance of beekeeping as a sustainable activity. This study describes an experience report during the beekeeping course in the Agricultural Technician course at the Colégio Agrícola Vidal de Negreiros - CAVN (2012.1 to 2013.2), but with a scientific theoretical basis, which is based on data from established works. Beekeeping is an imminent activity to be explored, and it is immeasurable for these producers to constantly seek to improve their techniques, as well as to establish a path of trust with the professional agricultural technicians they work with in this area.

Indigenous knowledge systems and drought preparedness in rural Umzingwane in Zimbabwe

Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS) are an essential survival tool for humans since time immemorial and have always been connected to the management of weather related hazards such as drought. However, the advancement in technology and dominant application of the western version of science in rural Africa continues to masks the significance of IKS resulting in the shrinkage of its use. Against this background, the article examines existing indigenous knowledge and the influence they have on the preparedness of vulnerable groups against drought shocks. Further, the study focuses on the perceptions of rural Umzingwane on the application of indigenous knowledge in predicting and responding to drought shocks in contemporary settings. In this context, the Drought Cycle Management Model anchored theoretical arguments on IKS and drought preparedness. The study gathered data using in-depth interviews purposively targeting spirit mediums, traditional leaders, Agriculture Technical and Extension Workers, District Development Coordinator to gain insights on IKS and its relevance in drought preparedness. The study found that IKS informs early detection of drought and response strategies in rural Umzingwane. In predicting drought hazards, communities rely on observing animal behaviour, fruiting of trees and growth of certain species in certain seasons. The study recommends documentation of IKS and the establishment of platforms to disseminate indigenous knowledge to strengthen capacities of the drought exposed to proactively deal with the hazard.

The Role of ICT in Effective Dissemination of Extension Information among Women Livestock Farmers in North West Region of Cameroon

Over the past years, extensive efforts have been made throughout the world to provide female farmers with effective, suitable technology, training, and information. As a result, positive effects are beginning to show in agricultural production and family welfare. But the successes are limited at a time when public sector investments in agricultural research and extension are under pressure, when ever-greater demands are being placed on rural women in the face of rapid social transformation and in an increasing number of areas, when evidence of environmental degradation is growing. ICTs are now being used to provide basic solutions to farmers and are increasingly being supported by extension practitioners for use in agricultural production and marketing systems. This paper is intended to investigate the role played by ICT in the dissemination of effective extension information among women livestock farmers in the North West Region of Cameroon. Primary data were collected through the use of structured questionnaires, observations, focus groups and interview guides. Secondary data were obtained from books, journals, research projects and scientific articles. These provided the necessary quantitative and qualitative data that were used to draw conclusions. Multi stage sampling techniques were used to select the female farmers for the study. Four hundred (400) questionnaires were administered randomly to collect data from the communities. The women were examined using different channels like media, phone calls, friends, and agricultural technicians. The results from the study shows that, the media seemingly are doing a great job in disseminating of appropriate agricultural information. Therefore, 40.5% of the farmers get information from the media or magazines but only (7.8%) get information through phone calls. The findings of this study can go a long way to help policy makers in planning and designing need-based information infrastructural system for rural farmers.

Strategies to Apply Sufficiency Economy Philosophy to the Way of Life for Youth in The Greater Mekong Sub-region

This research aimed to study the learning state and knowledge about the sufficiency economy philosophy (SEP) of youth in the Greater Mekong Sub-region to create a strategy to sustainable apply the SEP to the way of life of youth in the Greater Mekong Sub-region, create a map for SEP application to the way of life, and produce the public media to extend application results for benefit. The sample group was key informants: 50 youth students from each institute: Chiang Rai Rajabhat University, Shan State Community College, Luang Nam Tha Teacher Training College, Luang Phrabang Teacher Training College, Dong Kham Chang Teacher Training College, Dong Kham Chang Accounting and Financial Institute, and Dong Kham Chang Agricultural Technical College, 50 experts and scholars, and 50 administrators or professors. The research tool included a questionnaire about the learning state and knowledge about the sufficiency economy philosophy (SEP) of youth in the Greater Mekong Sub-region, a focus group, and a workshop. The result of the workshop of experts, scholars, and administrators or professors from the three countries to draft the strategies was eight strategies and 25 development guidelines. The map for SEP application to the way of life was also produced, and public media to extend application results for sustainable benefit was initiated.

NITROGEN, PHOSPHORUS AND POTASSIUM CONTENT IN DIFFERENT ORGANS OF PINEAPPLE CULTIVARS AT DIFFERENT PLANTING DENSITY

<p><strong>Background.</strong> The amount of nutrients required by pineapple varies depending on the cultivar and planting density. Knowing the nutrient requirement in quantity and the appropriate phenological stage will allow the development of an adequate fertilization program. <strong>Objective.</strong> To determine the effect of pineapple cultivar and planting density on N, P, and K content during plant development and at harvest. <strong>Methodology.</strong> The cultivars 'Smooth Cayenne', 'Champaka', and 'MD-2' were established at 30000, 45000, and 60000 plants ha<sup>-1</sup>. Eight samples were taken to determine the N, P, and K content in the organs and the total plant. <strong>Results.</strong> The highest and lowest N, P, and K contents were detected in the leaf and root, respectively. The highest N and K contents occurred at 441 - 506 days after planting. Higher P content occurred close to harvest. The highest N, P, and K contents per plant were at 30000 plants ha<sup>-1</sup> (14.86, 1.52, and 16.29 g plant<sup>-1</sup>, respectively) and the lowest at 60000 plants ha<sup>-1</sup> (10.16, 1.13, and 14.6 g plant<sup>-1</sup>, respectively). Higher N, P, and K contents per hectare were detected with 60000 plants ha<sup>-1</sup> (609, 68, and 875 kg ha<sup>-1</sup>, respectively). At harvest, ‘Smooth Cayenne’ at 60000 plants ha<sup>-1</sup> accumulated the highest amount of N, P, and K (147, 37, and 306 kg ha<sup>-1</sup>, respectively). <strong>Implications.</strong> The changes that can occur in the nutrient requirements of pineapple as a function of cultivar, planting density, and stage of plant development were identified. This information will be useful for producers, agricultural technicians, and researchers in Mexico and the world, to generate fertilization programs or establish new research. <strong>Conclusion.</strong> At the beginning of plant growth, a higher N, P, and K contents in the leaf, this amount decreases as the fruit harvest approaches. Regardless of cultivar, the highest nutrient content per plant occurs at the lowest planting density, however, the highest content per hectare occurs at the highest planting density. At harvest time, fewer nutrients are removed from the soil with 'Champaka' and 'MD-2' fruit.</p>

Effects of Covid-19 on urban and peri-urban farmers in Central Zimbabwe

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected the global economy since its advent in 2020. The agricultural sector is among the sectors that have been significantly affected by the pandemic. The effect of the pandemic in the agriculture sector is cutting across all the value chains inclusive of production, marketing and input supply, among others. In addition, both small-scale and large-scale producers have been affected. This study looks at the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on urban and peri-urban agriculture in Gweru, Zimbabwe with a view to derive lessons that can inform discussion on how the urban and peri-urban farmers can circumvent economic shocks such as COVID-19 in the future. Agriculture in and around urban areas is practised by a significant number of people in some continents including Africa. Urban and peri-urban agriculture has a noticeable contribution to food and nutrition security and has a potential to reduce poverty. Face -to -face interviews were conducted with a total of 40 individual farmers using a structured questionnaire and three virtual focus group discussions were held with a total of 24 farmers. Simple random sampling was used to select participants from a list of farmers provided by the Department of Agricultural Technical and Extension Services. Each member of the population had an equal chance of being selected. The study established that the pandemic has had several effects on these urban and peri-urban farmers including limited access to markets, loss of income, increased cost of farming, competition from non-traditional farmers, adoption of innovative delivery mechanisms, difficulty in accessing inputs and reduced farm labour. Farmers were forced to adopt information technology to enhance communication among themselves and other stakeholders. To protect and safeguard livelihoods within the agricultural system, the study recommends that the government increases spending on social safety nets for urban and peri-urban farmers, reform agricultural finance and improve financial support to smallholder farmers. Key words: COVID-19, Agriculture, Urban, Peri-Urban, Food Security, Information Technology, Safety Nets

A relational approach to pesticide use: Farmers, herbicides, nutsedge, and the weedy path to pesticide use reduction objectives

Demands for drastically reducing pesticide use call for different perspectives and narratives that can open new understandings of pesticide use and enact new action plans. Complementing traditional approaches to pesticide use that investigate farmers' decision-making and the structural factors conditioning farmers' roles as pesticide users, we propose a relational approach that recognizes the different actors, processes, and agential roles embedded in pesticide use. Based on a qualitative study involving in-depth interviews and multiple field visits to vegetable farmers and agricultural technicians operating in El Maresme (Spain), we unravel the different relations that unfold as herbicide availability and effectiveness contracted in the last few decades. Results show that the banning of herbicides and the emergence of a new weed ecology enacted different relations that moved farmers to adopt non-chemical methods. In this process, farmers' rationales and practices unfold as unpredictable, sometimes contradictory, and spatially and temporally variable. The results of this relational perspective on pesticide use challenges the homogenization of farmers’ rationales and behaviors while acknowledging the multiple realities beyond structural and fixed constraints that farmers face when confronted with mandates of pesticide use reduction. In order to enact pesticide reduction on the ground, results in this article call for further empirical focus on how the actors and processes that compose pesticide use are assembled, held in place, and work in different ways to open up or close down possibilities of pesticide use reduction.

Climate change, water availability, and the burden of rural women’s triple role in Muyuka, Cameroon

Many rural communities in Cameroon rely on natural sources of water (rivers, springs, and rainfall) for agriculture and domestic use. Access to and reliability of water from these sources depend on changes in rainfall and temperatures. Household roles in Cameroon are traditionally defined along gender lines, with women playing key roles in food production, home management, and caregiving. Water is indispensable for women to successfully accomplish these roles. Climate variability is affecting reliability of water in Cameroon; however, impacts are not the same for men and women in rural communities. This paper examines how climate-induced water challenges adversely affect women’s ability to perform their multiple roles in a predominantly farming community in southwest Cameroon. Data collected by survey from a hundred women, supplemented by interviews with local water and agricultural technicians, suggest that climate change has contributed to the disappearance of several water sources and decreased volume of others. This hampers local water availability, compromises women’s productivity, and increases the burden on women’s triple roles as farmers, caregivers, and home managers. Although individual women are implementing some adaptation strategies, comprehensive public policy measures, including promotion of better land use management and gender-sensitive technologies, are vital to sustain efforts against climate change in Cameroon.

Curricular Innovation for Food Security

The curriculum is a dynamic and continuous process that must be adapted to the requirements and needs of specific contexts to respond to current problems. Currently, it is estimated that more than 828 million people in the world suffer from hunger, so food security must be based on the production and availability of food and physical and economic access to food, as well as its safety. For the above, this research aims to propose a curricular innovation to the professional competences of the study program of the Agricultural Technician (TAP) that is offered in the Agricultural Technological Baccalaureate Centers to train technicians who contribute to food security in the region. A methodology with a mixed perspective with a qualitative approach and descriptive exploratory character was used. Based on the primary information and data collection, it was possible to specify and substantiate a curricular proposal according to the training needs of specialized technicians, who develop professional skills to promote food security, the establishment of agricultural production system, management of livestock production systems, operation of agro-industrial production system, and the design and execution of projects to promote the cultivation of food from small-scale families.

Greywater as a water resource in agriculture: The acceptance and perception from Brazilian agricultural technicians

Greywater as a water resource in agriculture: The acceptance and perception from Brazilian agricultural technicians

A net-map analysis of stakeholder connections and influence in agriculture-for-nutrition policymaking in Ghana

Nutrition-sensitive agriculture approaches can improve farming household incomes, food security, and diet quality. Adopting nutrition-sensitive agriculture approaches means placing a nutrition lens on the policies, strategies, and investments in the food and agriculture sector without detracting from the sector's traditional goals of food supply. To understand the processes involved in developing agriculture-for-nutrition policies in Ghana, this paper examined the influence of stakeholders' interconnections using a visual participatory mapping technique, Virtual Net-Map. Three convening platforms were identified for stakeholder engagement: the Agriculture Sector Working Group, the National Agricultural Technical Committee, and the Public-Private Partnership Dialogue Platform. Sixty stakeholders with 188 connections were recognised for their involvement in agriculture-for-nutrition policymaking in Ghana. Fourteen stakeholders, twelve from government organizations and two from donor and development partner organizations, were identified as the most influential. International stakeholders (donors and development partners) were critical in funding agriculture-for-nutrition policymaking activities. While all stakeholders had a joint mandate to ensure policies were developed, the Ministry of Food and Agriculture led the policy development process in Ghana's food and agriculture sector. Moreover, government stakeholders notably received more support from other stakeholders for funding, advocacy, dissemination, and technical assistance than the support they offered. Generally, stakeholders were more engaged in technical assistance activities and least involved in disseminating agriculture-nutrition information in the agriculture-for-nutrition policymaking process. The information on stakeholders' interconnections and influence showed areas that had the most and least stakeholder engagements, which will enable potential stakeholders to identify niche(s) to support the nutrition agenda in Ghana's food and agriculture sector and help Ghana meet the Global Nutrition Targets and the Sustainable Development Goals for 2025 and 2030, respectively. In addition, the evidence presented on Ghana's agriculture-for-nutrition policymaking network can lead to better ways of centralizing nutrition in agricultural policies and designing initiatives that encompass most, if not all, relevant stakeholders. Key words: Agriculture, Nutrition, Policymaking, Net-Map, Influence, Connections, Ghana, Nutrition-sensitive agriculture

Ecological plasticity and stability of cabbage crop ptoductivity as affected by method of sowing

Purpose. To establish the peculiarities of the formation of ecological plasticity and productivity stability of winter cabbage crops as affected by the components of agricultural technology, specifically the width of the rows and the application rates of mineral fertilizers.
 Methods. The research was carried out in the years 2018–2021 in the Chernihiv region at the Nizhyn Agricultural Technical Institute of the National University of Life and Environmental Sciences of Ukraine). Conventional methods were used in the research. The field experiment design provided for the cultivation of typhoon variety ‘Orakam’ under different methods of sowing (width between rows of 15, 30 and 45 cm) and rates of mineral fertilizers (without fertilizers, N80P60K60 and N120P90K90). Parameters of ecological stability (b) and plasticity (W) of seed yield and energy yield from biomass were calculated according to the Eberhard-Russell method using the Mathcad Prime 3.1 software.
 Results. The lowest stability of both seed yield (0.55–0.79) and energy yield from biomass (0.55–0.81) was noted in the treatments without fertilizers, while with N80P60K60 and N120P90K90 it was almost twice as high (1.03–1.33 and 0.97–1.32, respectively). At the same time, within all three fertilization backgrounds, a clear tendency of decreasing crop productivity stability along with increasing row width was observed. In particular, the highest coefficient of stability of seed yield in the experiment (1.33) was obtained on the background of N80P60K60 at a row spacing of 15 cm, at the same time as the row spacing increased to 30 and 45 cm, it decreased to 1.19 and 1.05, respectively. As for the plasticity parameters of the productive indicators, they were approximately at the same level in all treatments.
 Conclusions. The best conditions for the formation of high seed yield and total energy yield from the biomass of typhoon variety ‘Orakam’ were provided at a row width of 15 and 30 cm and the application of mineral fertilizers N80P60K60 and N120P90K90. In this case, the formation of crop productivity demonstrated a high level of plasticity. In general, intensive cultivation conditions contributed to the full realization of the crop biological potential and effective utilization of fertilizers.