Agricultural Research Articles

Role Of Government Policies In Shaping Vegetable Marketing Practices: Evidence FromRajasthan

This study examines the impact of government policies on vegetable marketing practices in the Indian state of Rajasthan. Using primary data collected from surveys of 500 farmers, 100 wholesalers, and 50 retailers across five districts of Rajasthan, as well as secondary data fromgovernment reports and academic literature, the paper analyzes how various national and state-level agricultural policies have influenced the structure and functioning of vegetable value chains in the region. Key policies considered include the Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) Act, contract farming laws, minimum support prices (MSP), and agricultural subsidies. The results show that the APMC Act has led to the development of a network of regulated wholesale markets which serve as the main marketing channel for vegetables, but its provisions restricting sales outside these markets have hindered direct linkages between producers and buyers. Recent reforms aimed at allowing private markets and removing barriers to interstate trade have had limited impact so far. Contract farming remains underdeveloped due to regulatory uncertainty and lack of trust between stakeholders. MSP haslittle relevance for most vegetable crops given their perishability and lack of public procurement. Input subsidies, while increasing yields, have exacerbated problems of overuse of chemicals and declining water tables. The paper argues for a more holistic, nutrition-sensitive approach to agricultural policy that goes beyond a narrow focus on boosting production and marketable surplus. Specific recommendations include investments in storage and cold-chain infrastructure, expansion of crop insurance coverage, promotion of Farmer Producer Organizations and shorter supply chains, and greater emphasis on sustainable production practices and nutrition education. Enhancing smallholder access to credit, information, and input-output markets remains critical

Development of Vertical Farming Systems from Waste Polymers Using Additive Manufacturing Techniques

Driven by population growth, rising living costs, and the urgent need to address climate change, sustainable food production and circular economy principles are becoming increasingly important. Conventional agriculture faces significant challenges, including land scarcity, water shortages, and disrupted supply chains. As a solution, cities are adopting vertical farming to enhance urban food security and promote circularity. This research introduces FLOAT (Farming Lab on a Trough), an innovative vertical farming system made from bio-polymers and recycled polyethylene terephthalate glyco (rPETG) pellets from plastic bottles. FLOAT’s design emphasizes sustainability and closed-loop material usage. The study showcases the versatility of additive manufacturing (AM) in creating complex geometries with fully functional 1:1 prototypes. These prototypes highlight FLOAT’s potential as a scalable and adaptable solution for sustainable food production in urban settings, contributing to improved food security and environmental sustainability. By integrating FLOAT with conventional practices, we aim to exceed Singapore’s 2030 food security targets and achieve lasting urban food resilience. FLOAT aims to scale sustainable food production, fostering community ties with food, and nurturing future responsibility.

What Determines the Adoption of Conservation Agriculture? Evidence from Quebec.

Conservation agriculture (CA) is promoted by various organisations and scholars as alternative to conventional agriculture to meet growing food demand with minimal damage on environment; but its factors of adoption have not been well identified. The study uses the recent composite index of adoption of CA developed by Takam Fongang et al. (2023) to analyse the factors of adoption of conservation agriculture among maize and soybean farmers in Quebec. Using data from 93 maize and soybean producers and a Fractional logit model, the study shows that adoption of CA increases with farmer's favourable perceptions of yield and easiness of implementing CA, off-farm employment and higher education. The study therefore indicates that higher education, technical assistance and popularisation of performance of CA can play a significant role in boosting adoption of CA in Quebec.

Soil Microbiota and Particulars of Formation thereof under Traditional and Organic Farming on Chernozem Soils of Northern Kazakhstan

The subject matter of the study is soil microbiota of southern carbonate chernozem and particulars of formation thereof under organic and traditional methods of wheat growing under conditions of Northern Kazakhstan. It has been found that soil microbiota varies with arable farming systems. Application of leguminous and cereal above-ground biomass as organic fertilizers contributed to higher numbers of immobilizers that were twice as high as traditional farming variants. When applied as green manure, sweet clover above-ground biomass increased the number of ammonifying soil organisms (up to 6 million CFU/g a.d.s.), while bromegrass biomass increased the number of immobilizers (83.0 million CFU/g a.d.s.) and fungi (8,0 thousand CFU/g a.d.s.). Cellulose-destroying microorganisms were actively propagating in wheat crops (65.0 CFU/g a.d.s.) where wheatgrass biomass was applied as green manure, while sweet clover biomass, on the contrary, contributed to decrease thereof. Under traditional farming conditions, the introduction of ammonium nitrate into rows when planting crops at a dose of N80 stimulated the development of cellulolytic microorganisms and inhibited the development of ammonifying fungi and bacteria. Ammonifiers and immobilizers were actively propagating with reserve application of ammophos in the fallow at the rate of P40.

Investment attractiveness of agricultural enterprises as a factor in ensuring their competitiveness

Purpose - the study of theoretical and practical aspects of investment attractiveness of agricultural enterprises in Kazakhstan based on the analysis of the volume of attracted investments in the agro-industrial complex. Methods - research, descriptive and analytical types of strategies are used in combination with methods of formalization, abstraction, statistical processing and visualization of data. Results - in the authors' opinion, despite the fact that the agrarian sector is economically and socially significant for the rural areas of the republic, it remains unattractive for investors. Investment in the agrarian sector and the growth of investment projects in the agro-industrial complex are constrained by the acute shortage of financial resources, underdeveloped material, technical and technological base, and low effective demand of the population. Investments form the production potential and determine the competitive position of regions. The article considers the problems that hinder the increase in investment activity. The role of the state in the management of investment processes is revealed. The factors hindering the inflow of investment and measures to increase the volume of financial injections into agriculture are shown. Conclusions - creation of favorable investment climate in agro-industrial production and activation of investment activity of economic entities is one of the most urgent tasks of agro-industrial complex development. Based on the realities of the economic situation in the agricultural sector, it is necessary to mobilize its internal reserves, the formation of an effective market infrastructure, the growth of solvency of agricultural producers, the strengthening of state support. Only in this case the conditions for investment attractiveness will be formed and the degree of saturation of the food market of the country with the products of own production will increase, the possibility of renewal of fixed assets of the industry will appear.

Women's Knowledge of Local Plants and Their Gastronomic Heritage in Chitral, NW Pakistan.

Women are the "guardians of the kitchen" and central to household food security, yet their role has never been studied across the Hindukush region or Pamiri Knot. This study explores the women's knowledge (specifically from the Khowar (Kho) and Wakhi linguistic groups) of local food systems and determines their role in ensuring household food security and sustainability in the mountain regions of northern Pakistan. Based on in-depth semi-structured interviews with female informants in the Rech and Broghil valleys of upper Chitral, 91 different types of food products were recorded, including wild and cultivated species. Eremurus stenophyllus and Allium barsczewskii were the commonly utilized plant species, though distinct preferences between the Kho and Wakhi groups were noted. Prominent differences were perceived in using certain cultivated plants among the two ethnic groups. For instance, Kho preferred plants like Beta vulgaris, Zea mays, and Brassica napus as indicated by the use reports, while Wakhi concentrated on Thymus serpyllum, Zygophyllum obliquum and Papaver involucratum. Both groups had shared dairy practices, but cottage cheese and curd were highly cited among Kho, while double-fermented curd and Qurut for Wakhi. The study recorded some new food uses for specific plants, such as Atriplex hortensis, Carthamus tinctorius, Hylotelephium spp., and Saxifraga sibirica. Cross-culture analyses revealed a mosaic pattern of homogenous and heterogenous trends based on reported food species of plants/animals and their use reports. Our findings emphasize the significant role of women in sustaining local food diversity, food sustainability, and the preservation and security of the local food systems, cultural legacy, and household food management. Therefore, inclusive research addressing their social, economic, and environmental issues must be conducted. Furthermore, policies must incorporate women's traditional knowledge to build resilient food systems.

Behavioral, electrocardiographic, and opercular beat recording characterization of tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) in immersion bath with different concentrations of tricaine (MS-222)

In the world scenario of farmed fish production, tilapia stands out as one of the most cultivated species. In view of animal welfare in fish farming, stressful practices such as biometrics and transportation are minimized by the use of anesthetic agents, with tricaine (MS-222) being among the most commonly used. Despite its extensive use, its anesthetic responses remain a focus of investigation for animal safety. Therefore, the present study aims to evaluate the electrocardiographic and respiratory activity of juvenile Nile tilapia exposed to different concentrations of tricaine. In this study, juvenile Nile tilapia (30.9 ± 5.5 g, n = 99) were subjected to tricaine anesthetic baths at concentrations of 150–250 ppm for behavioral analysis and electrophysiological recordings (electrocardiogram and opercular beating). Our results show that induction and recovery of anesthesia with tricaine in juvenile Nile tilapia was effective for a short-term anesthesia with dose-dependence characteristics. Furthermore, the electrophysiological data reveal a marked decrease in heart rate (28.10–44.08 %) and opercular beating (35.72–59.19 %), depending on the concentration of tricaine used, with reversibility during the recovery period. Therefore, we can infer that the safe utilization window for tricaine varies between 150–250 ppm in juvenile tilapia, emphasizing that its administration should consider the anesthetic plan with monitoring of physiological parameters, especially respiratory ones, which are more easily evidenced.

Physico-chemical Characterization and Taxonomic Classification of Soil Profiles in a Toposequence Located in RRTTS and KVK Farm, Keonjhar, Odisha, India

The study investigates the physico-chemical characteristics and taxonomic classification of soil profiles along a toposequence at the RRTTS and KVK farm, Keonjhar, Odisha. Three distinct land types - upland, medium land, and lowland - were selected for the study, representing varying topographic positions. The investigation focused on soil properties such as bulk density, particle density, pH, organic carbon content, electrical conductivity, cation exchange capacity (CEC), base saturation, and available macro and micronutrients. Results indicated that bulk and particle densities were lower in upper horizons and increased with depth, while soil pH exhibited an increasing trend with increasing depth, likely due to the movement of basic cations during intensive rainfall. Organic carbon content was higher in surface horizons and declined with depth, whereas available potassium increased with depth, attributed to parent material and clay content. The exchangeable cations, primarily calcium and magnesium, dominated the soil profiles. The soils were classified into Loamy-skeletal, mixed, hyperthermic Typic Ustorthents (Pedon 1), Fine-loamy, mixed, hyperthermic Udic Haplustalfs (Pedon 2), and Fine-loamy, mixed, hyperthermic Udic Paleustalfs (Pedon 3). The study concluded that different landforms within the toposequence require specific land-use planning and conservation measures to enhance soil productivity and sustainability. Upland areas are recommended for plantation and agroforestry, medium land for crop production, and low land for paddy cultivation and pisciculture. Tailored conservation strategies, including contour cultivation and water harvesting, are essential to mitigate soil erosion and optimize land use in the region.

Information technologies in agriculture of Northern Kazakhstan: advantages, reserves

Ensuring sustainable development of the agrarian sector of the economy requires the integrated use of digitalization technologies. The aim is to show the current trends in the application of information technologies in agriculture in Northern Kazakhstan and to determine the conditions necessary for the introduction of modern digital infrastructure. Methods - system-structural, economicstatistical, comparative analysis, mathematical and system-functional approaches to the study of the use of information and communication technologies by agribusiness of agricultural profile. Results - the authors analyzed the scope of application of digital processes in the region. The factors influencing the use of modern digital technologies in the cultivation of agricultural land have been outlined. The dependence of the application of precision farming elements on the farm size is revealed. The calculation of economic efficiency of reference and information systems of production management is presented. Measures to overcome obstacles and mitigate the limitations of digital transformation in agriculture in the northern territories of the republic are proposed. Conclusions - based on the study it is noted that the spread of digital innovations is from 18 to 55% of the total sown area. When comparing the average land size of economic entities that implement information technologies with other farms, it was found that digital solutions in crop production are primarily available to large and medium-sized agroformations that have the financial capacity and qualified specialists for digitalization. The survey of respondents allowed us to express an opinion on the influence of the size, technical equipment and economic stability of an agro-industrial enterprise on the use of modern farming systems, as well as the level of awareness of agro-entrepreneurs about new technologies. The use of digital platforms in the crop production industry is a key element that contributes to increasing the economic efficiency of the agro-industrial complex.

Effects of Agricultural Land Use on Desert Soil Classification in Holy Karbala Governorate

This study was conducted to evaluate physical, chemical, and morphological features to classify soils at the subgroup level. The research area, located west of Karbala, consists of three locations, each comprising pedons in both cultivated and uncultivated lands. GPS coordinates were recorded, and morphological descriptions of pedon horizons were made in accordance with the American Soil Survey Manual. This study investigates the effect of agricultural land use on the classification of desert soils in the Holy Karbala Governorate. The results revealed that the dry climate caused diversity in the morphological features of the soils, mainly in horizon type, thickness, and arrangement. Agricultural usage had an impact on diagnostic horizons, particularly the gypsic horizon, and features such as soil color, structure, organic matter, carbonate minerals, gypsum, and root distribution. However, there was no substantial impact on soil texture development, and soils did not show a consistent pattern of soil separation distribution with depth, indicating weak pedogenic processes. The most common texture classes were loamy sand, sandy loam, and sand, with sand contents ranged from 902.08 to 574.12 g kg. Soil bulk density differed from 1.67 to 1.30 Mg m³, with lower values in farmed areas. Chemical properties were influenced, with soil pH ranging from 8.36 to 7.54, electrical conductivity (EC) from 5.46 to 2.03 dS m, cation exchange capacity (CEC) from 15.25 to 2.05 meq.100g, organic matter from 43.51 to 1.18 g kg, carbonate minerals from 461.18 to 174.06 g kg, and calcium sulfate from 182 to 21 g kg. The soils were classed as Aridisols because they were found in a dry desert with an Aridic moisture regime. The presence of distinctive saline layers such as Calcic and Gypsic was discovered, resulting in the classification of cultivated soils as Typic Haplocalcids and uncultivated lands as Typic Calcigypsids.

Agroecology for the City—Spatialising ES-Based Design in Peri-Urban Contexts

The design of urban systems that allow growth while also maximising ecosystem services is identified as an important priority for creating a Good Anthropocene. An ecosystem service (ES)-based approach to landscape interventions maximises the provision of ESs, and in doing so, repairs and reinforces threatened ecological planetary boundaries. As an urbanising planet, cities are critical frontiers of human interaction with these planetary boundaries, and therefore a critical arena for ES-based intervention. Globally, the predominant pattern of urbanisation is dedensification, an outwardly expanding trend where cities are growing in physical extent at a higher rate than their population growth. We therefore require spatially explicit tools capable of reconciling dedensification and Good Anthropocene visions. We propose a methodology that integrates agroecology and urbanisation and is focussed specifically on the supply of targeted regulating ESs. This ‘Agroecology for the City’ differs from conventional urban agriculture discourse and its preoccupation with food security. Our research interest is agroecological farm systems’ (AFSs) capacity to provide critical life support services in a spatially effective manner to urban systems. Our recent research introduced a new GIS-based model (ESMAX) and a spatial agroecology approach that identified AFS configurations at a 1 ha scale which maximised the supply of three regulating ESs, as well as multifunctional performance across all three ESs combined. In the present research, we apply this process at a larger scale, with 1 ha and 4 ha AFS parcels being integrated with a real-world 200 ha peri-urban residential development. The AFS parcels and built-up areas are configured differently to maximise the supply of ESs identified as critical by the local community. We found that arrangements with AFS parcels interspersed evenly with built-up areas provided the best multifunctionality across the four ESs tested. This supports pathways for a Good Anthropocene that work with the global urbanising reality of dedensification and underpin the need for a hybrid science of rural/urban systems.

Land use and land management in Kazakhstan

Global climate warming annually leads to a decrease in the agro-climatic potential of farming, many areas of traditional cultivation of land become unsuitable for agriculture due to desertification, swamping and erosion processes. Purpose - the concept of sustainable land use is considered, taking into account foreign experience. Methods are based on the system analysis of works of domestic and foreign scientists and data from the Bureau of National Statistics of the Agency for Strategic Planning and Reforms of the Republic of Kazakhstan, analytical reports of the Committee on Land Resources Management. Results - different approaches to solving the problems of agroindustrial complex are presented, the main trends in the development of the agrarian sector of the republic, the need to combat land degradation, to preserve their productivity and ecosystem functions are shown. Conclusions - the analysis of world practice shows that the principles of land cultivation based on environmental, social and economic criteria should be implemented based on the effective use of agricultural land, that is, through the optimization of agricultural land fund. The research has an interdisciplinary character. The systematic study of this issue contributes to the application of rational methods of land management in agricultural production. The authors note that the use of digital technologies in the sphere of land relations will help to increase the efficiency of production and economic activity, to unite the main factors and efforts of the participants of this process in a single information space, to increase the reliability and completeness of transmitted data. Digital infrastructure in the farming system is the driver of future development. Provision of all types of services in accordance with land legislation should be digitized.

Issues of efficiency of financing the agricultural sector

In many economically developed countries, state support, financial investments in the agricultural industry, increasing productivity and profitability, ensuring the availability of food are the main factors of economic growth, first of all, employment of the population. Purpose - the main problems of financing the agro-industrial complex of the republic and scientific approaches to their solution are considered. Methods - comparative analysis, synthesis, monographic, logical evaluation to determine the mechanisms affecting the effectiveness of state aid and investment. Results - the article analyzes the sources of budgetary allocation of the agrarian sector. The significance of the implementation of targeted programs aimed at improving the quality of life of rural residents through price, tax, leasing mechanisms, soft loans and subsidies is shown. The study presents information for 2018-2022, supplemented by the data of the National Project on the development of agro-industrial complex of the Republic of Kazakhstan for 2021-2025, including the total volume of agro-industrial production and the size of capital investments. The study notes the need to increase the volume of domestic processing industry, allowing agricultural producers to expand the market for products, create conditions for new jobs, attract investment, and contribute to economic and social stability. Conclusions - specialization of rural areas, development of technical map and related organization of production in promising villages and district centers, increase in exports, distribution of online services are strategic directions of development of food complex, economic activity of agroformations. The use of external resources gives an opportunity to improve financial results, and farms - to increase income from core activities. When planning large investments in agricultural projects, one of the key criteria is the choice of capital structure to support the investment process.

Agrotourism in Kazakhstan as a factor of economic empowerment of rural population

Nowadays agrotourism is one of the most important tools for improving the image of the village and its attractiveness for economically active population, an effective mechanism for spreading entrepreneurship in rural areas and increasing economic opportunities for rural residents by diversifying the activities of peasant (farmer) farms. Purpose - the concept of "agrotourism", factors constraining the development of the industry are considered, new approaches to expanding the range of tourism services in rural areas of Kazakhstan on the basis of the model "One Village - One Product" (OVOP) are studied. Methods - empirical for the purpose of data selection, observation and research of specific phenomena, establishing links between them; statistical, economic analysis, logical - to identify general trends or effects, use of international experience and generalization of results. Results - the authors note that rural tourism in the country is fragmented, there is no concept and system principles in the tourism sector, which are the key barriers to the development of tourism agribusiness in the country. Popularization of the OVOP movement in the regions of the Republic of Kazakhstan will contribute to the creation of new jobs, the growth of rural people's welfare. It is shown that the agritourism sector is one of the rapidly developing directions in modern tourism. In Kazakhstan there are potential reserves of its wide distribution, which allow to diversify the tourist product and create an additional item of income to the budget of the republic. Conclusions - agrarian tourism is an important segment of modernization of agrarian sector economy, promising innovative rural entrepreneurship. The development of tourism infrastructure in rural areas contributes to the diversification of rural economy, increasing employment and income of rural population, increasing the number of small business enterprises, the volume of production of environmentally friendly products of private subsidiary plots and farms, reducing the outflow of rural population to the cities. Agritourism industry has a large reserve of natural and human resources. However, the authors state that farmers need information and consulting support of tourist firms.

Ensuring food security of the Republic of Kazakhstan in the conditions of import substitution

The aim is to determine the level of food self-sufficiency of the country in the conditions of import substitution. In developing the theoretical section of the work universal scientific methods - analysis and synthesis, comparison, logical. Collection and processing of secondary information, based on the use of official data of the Bureau of National Statistics of the Agency for Strategic Planning and Reforms of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Ministry of National Economy of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the results of the Global Food Security Index 2022. Results - theoretical aspects of the food situation and issues of accessibility of quality products for the population were studied, the role of the agrarian sector in the economy of Kazakhstan was shown and the importance of the agrarian sector in the economy of Kazakhstan was substantiated. Calculated and analyzed such indicators as the degree of self-sufficiency of consumption products in the country, output of various types of products per capita, average consumer spending on food, the dynamics of exports and imports of food products. The dependence on imports of the main types of foodstuffs is considered and the forecast of production of products of the agrarian sphere with regard to ensuring food independence is presented. Three forecast scenarios are proposed: basic, optimistic and pessimistic. Conclusions - it is revealed that food stability implies a sufficient level of development of the agro-industrial complex, at which the domestic demand for food products can be largely satisfied by the production of own food products. The key task of agrarian policy - to achieve selfsufficiency in the country of at least 80% of the total demand is outlined. Import substitution contributes to the implementation of large-scale and deep modernization of the domestic agro-industrial complex, which requires the use of innovative technologies.

Optimization of human capital in the agrarian sphere: goals, principles and methods

Sufficient provision of agricultural enterprises with labor resources, their territorial and structural balance, rational use, high level of labor productivity are the key directions of effective functioning of agro-industrial complex, growth of production volumes and increase of its efficiency. Purpose - to analyze the criteria of human capital optimization in the agrarian sphere, to identify existing problems and to determine promising directions. Methods - the study used quantitative and qualitative analysis methods, including the collection and processing of statistical data, questionnaire survey of employees of the agrarian sector, as well as interviews with farm managers. Using the correlation and regression method, the influence of the studied factors on the optimization of labor activity was substantiated. Results - the article identifies the main issues of agricultural staffing, which consist in the decline in the professional qualification level of specialists, low staffing levels, outflow of able-bodied population from rural areas, loss of prestige of agricultural professions. Conclusions - this study emphasizes the need for a comprehensive approach to the management of labor potential in agro-industrial production of the republic. The introduction of advanced training programs, improvement of working conditions and social infrastructure is the basis for sustainable development of the industry. It is also recommended to strengthen state support and stimulate the attraction of capital of domestic and foreign private investors and investment funds in rural regions to ensure stable activity of agricultural enterprises. It shows further prospects for increasing human resources to ensure the competitiveness of domestic agricultural producers and as the main driving element in the establishment of innovation economy and the expansion of globalization processes.

World Trends in State Regulation of the Development of Organic Agriculture and the Market of Organic Products: The Experience of the USA, the EU and Russia

The relevance of the topic of research is determined by the need to address the problems of environmental and socioeconomic nature arising against the background of industrialized society, which causes interest in the development of organic agriculture and the formation of a dynamically growing market for organic products. The purpose of the study is to analyze the trends in the development of the global organic market and a comparative analysis of the practices of state regulation of this segment in the United States, the EU and Russia. In the course of the work such scientific methods as synthesis and deduction were used; the information and analytical base was the data of the journal “The World of Organic Agriculture” and publicly available information from the official websites of the Ministries of Agriculture of the United States and the Russian Federation, the European Commission, the Union of Organic Agriculture. The article presents the results of consideration of the dynamics of sales volumes and changes in the average per capita consumption of organic products in the world market, as well as the description of mechanisms of state regulation of organic agriculture and the organic market in the United States, the EU and Russia, highlighting their distinctive characteristics. The study of such issues allows to rationally apply foreign experience, excluding a high degree of risk when making strategic decisions in the formation of directions of development of the agrarian sector of the economy within the framework of national interests. The results of the study can be useful both in the development of programs for the development of organic agriculture at the level of sub-sectors of the economy, and in relation to the subjects of the Russian Federation, striving for sustainable development of the regional market of this type of products.

The Influence Of Socio-Economic Characteristics Of Farmers On The Food Availability Of Farming Households In Warudoyong Sub-District, Sukabumi

Food security is a global, multidimensional issue with social, economic, political and environmental interests. The purpose of this study was to determine the influence of socioeconomic characteristics of farmers on the availability of farm household food in Warudoyong Sub-district, Sukabumi City. This study used descriptive method with quantitative approach. The data collection techniques used in this research are observation, questionnaires, literature, and documentation. The results showed that the socio-economic characteristics of farmers, which include age, education, area of cultivated land, number of dependents, and farmers' income, together have a significant effect on the food availability of farming families with a contribution of 97.8%, while 2.2% is influenced by other variables outside the study. Farmers' age through education has a significant effect on food availability, but farmers' education through income does not have a significant indirect effect. Similarly, the size of cultivated land through income also has no significant effect on family food availability. The direct effect of these factors is greater than the indirect effect, so the income variable is not a significant mediator in the relationship between education and land area on food availability. The implication of this study is that the increasing age of farmers will further reduce the food availability of farming families.

Abstracts of the 48th Symposium on Cuniculture, ASESCU

The 48th Congress of the Spanish Association of Cuniculture (ASESCU) was held in Córdoba, Andalusia, Spain. The congress was organised by ASESCU in collaboration with the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and the University of Córdoba. A total of four main lectures were delivered. One of these lectures discussed the current state of cuniculture in Andalusia, while another examined the evolution of the sector in Italy. Another lecture focused on state-of-the-art of alternatives to cages for rabbit housing, and the fourth lecture covered new rabbit lines developed for disease resistance. Additionally, two round tables were held, discussing the main challenges in the rabbit farming sector and new veterinary legislation. A total of 25 communications were presented on various topics, including nutrition, genetics, reproduction, housing and welfare, pathology and products. The event was attended by approximately 130 participants from various European and American countries. Below are the abstracts of the contributions.

Utilisation of Cow Faeces as a Base Material to Making Bokashi Fertiliser to Increase Farmers Income in Balai Hamlet, Taram Village, Harau District

The application of technology in agriculture aims to increase food production through the substitution of traditional farming systems with modern farming systems by utilising more advanced technology. This has an impact on the use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides, which can cause environmental damage and ultimately reduce agricultural productivity. Processing cow dung into organic fertiliser for crops is an applied technology in the framework of implementing zero waste farming technology. One of the benefits that can be obtained is increased income by reducing the cost of artificial fertiliser needs. Cow faeces as cattle farming waste has not been optimally utilised. Cow faeces are usually piled up by farmers behind or near the cowshed, causing a strong smell (air pollution). The results of the activity of making cow feces bokashi organic fertiliser are very beneficial for farmers as a substitute for inorganic fertiliser; The creation of clean cowshed conditions, and environmentally friendly rice fields.