Decline In Agricultural Production Research Articles

Degradation Assessment of the M’zab Valley Oases in Algeria

This study investigates the degradation of the Wadi M’zab oasis in Ghardaia, Algeria, an ecologically sensitive area. Using remote sensing data and geographic information systems (GIS), the degradation was assessed through four key indicators: vegetation cover change, soil erosion, salinity, and agricultural productivity. Moreover, to identify the human factors contributing to the degradation, a field survey was conducted. The results indicated significant degradation of the Wadi M’zab oasis, marked by a substantial increase in erosion areas by 220%, a 52% increase in areas affected by salinity, extensive urban expansion at the expense of palm groves, and a decline in agricultural productivity. The causes of degradation are attributed to natural factors such as climate change and soil and water quality, as well as human factors like urban expansion, land-use changes, and human practices, as confirmed by the field survey results. This study serves as an important tool to help mitigate the degradation of the Wadi M’zab oasis. It recommends encouraging investment in the agricultural sector, preserving the oasis’s ecosystem, and adopting innovative practices for water management and using crops that tolerate harsh conditions. It also calls for coordinated efforts between government agencies, farmers, and the local community to ensure the implementation of effective and sustainable strategies for the future of the M’zab oasis.

Narrativizing the Nexus between Climate Crisis and Immigration in Amitav Ghosh's Gun Island: An Ecocritical Exploration

Eco-criticism is a branch of literary scholarship that finds tangible connections between the environment and literature. The environmental problem is one of the most prominent issues of current generation. Climate crisis stands as a sole factor in the environment in view of ecological imbalance. This is an ever increasingly presence in our daily lives. prominent causes of climate change are an increase of green house gasses, deforestation to develop human settlements, excessive use of fossil fuels and so on. Decline in agricultural productivity is another impact of climate change. Thus, this is widely recognized as a contributing and exacerbating factor in immigration. The climate crisis, migration and refugees' acute situation have allegedly lost security and stability of humans and non-humans. The paper attempts to look how Amitav Ghosh has put his best endeavors to discover the inordinate use of nature by human beings. The materialistic and anthropocentric attitudes of human beings undergo extreme climate crisis and the displacement of livings. Now, the major environmental issues become the ethical concerns in the eco pages of literary writers to highlight the problems of ecosystem. The novel "Gun Island" deals with the issue of climate crisis and immigration. Planetary environmentalism identifies the planetary crisis caused by climate change. It seeks environmental justice both for humans and nonhumans across the planet. The whole planet goes beyond geographical boundary because of threatening of climate change. Ghosh in this novel wants to procure awareness among the readers regarding the impending calamities of the global environment and thus a warning to mend exploitative attitudes towards our Mother Nature.

Farmers’ adaptation to climate change in Southern Issyk-Kul

Agriculture is a key sector for people’s livelihoods in Kyrgyzstan, which highlights the role of local people’s perceptions of agricultural practices and optimisation of land use management. The purpose of this study was to assess the understanding of land use practices by local residents in four districts of the Southern Issyk-Kul. The level of awareness of sectoral issues was investigated by randomly selected farmers. The study found that modern farmers are aware of the existing problems and their contribution to the decline in agricultural productivity and increased vulnerability to environmental change. It was generalised that the solution of the problem under study requires practical interaction between government agencies and farmers aimed at providing the necessary information and resources for adaptation to climate-oriented agricultural practices. The potential of innovative precision farming technologies in the context of the studied issues was analysed. An important problem of the lack of a mechanism for the exchange of agricultural knowledge between farmers was identified, as it is difficult for them to determine where and from whom to gain experience. It was substantiated that the integration of agricultural consulting elements into the environment of farm operation has the potential to significantly stimulate the positive dynamics of agricultural development. Such an approach would allow for the most accurate selection of optimisation measures, which would affect the economic efficiency and environmental performance of farming. The practical value of the results of the study is seen in the possibility of using them to mitigate the process of adaptation of agricultural production in developing countries to inevitable climate change

Watershed-Based Participatory Sustainable Land Management using Integrated physical SWC Measure in Ilasa Watershed of Goba District, Bale Highland South-Eastern Ethiopia

Soil erosion is among the most challenging and continuous environmental problems in the highlands of Bale particularly in Ilasa Watershed of Goba District. Soil erosion which emanates from both anthropogenic and natural causes currently results decline in agricultural productivity, crop production on the other hand increases downstream flooding and reservoir sedimentation, and loss of valuable plant nutrients. Soil and water conservation (SWC) practices have been carried out to solve land degradation and erosion severity problems in the Ilasa Watershed through participatory approaches the objective of this study was to implement integrated physical SWC practices through participatory approach in the Ilasa watersheds; to rehabilitate degraded watershed using different physical SWC measures and to minimize the risk of soil erosion and increasing soil depth by trapping sediment loss from Ilasa watershed. Hence, different participatory integrated watershed management practices were introduced in the Ilasa watershed for five consecutive years to avert the problem of soil erosion. Community participatory in integrated watershed management particularly soil and water conservation measures interventions for degraded rehabilitation and gulley treatment were capacitated through training, practical field works, and researchable materials support. Awareness creation, increasing knowledge and skill of farmers, providing technical and resource supports, and implementing slope based appropriate SWC structure could help sustainable land management that ensures environmental quality and food security in the study area as well as in the other areas having related biophysical and socioeconomic settings. Among the major types of physical SWC structures and gulley rehabilitation structures constructed in the study watershed were soil bund; stone bund; stone-faced soil bund and cut-off drains, gully reshaping and filling, brushwood check dam, loose stone check dame, sandbag check dam ...

Banditry and the complicity of authorities in Zamfara State

Banditry is one of the major forms of insecurity in many states of the Northwest of Nigeria; it specifically poses significant threats to the wellbeing of the community and the economic stability in Zamfara State. The objective of this work is to examine the causes of banditry, analyze the impact on socio-economic, political and human security in Zamfara State and unravel the complicity of authorities in the banditry syndicate. Employing a qualitative approach, using primary sources, the study adopted the human security theory which emphasized the impact of banditry on the wellbeing and safety of people and communities in Zamfara State. The research findings include the identification of several causes of banditry which are farmer-herder conflicts, state and traditional rulers’ complicity, poverty. Banditry’s impact on the socio-economic activities has led to a significant decline in agricultural productivity, economic instability, loss of lives and property while in the political aspect it has resulted in a weak governance, political instability and threat to democratic process. Human security is severely impacted by banditry, with thousands of people displaced, human rights violation and disruption of basic services such as healthcare and education. The research recommended the adoption of integrated security strategies, economic support and development, community-based initiatives, government accountability and improvement, conflict resolution, human security and social services which should be critically used to mitigate the adverse effect of banditry and restore stability in Zamfara State.

Understanding Farmers Perception of Climate Change to Prepare Adaptation of Farmers

The impact of climate change has resulted in a decline in agricultural productivity. This study estimated farmers’ perceptions of climate change by comparing Imogiri Sub-district represent highland area and Pundong Sub-district deputize lowland area farmers in Bantul Regency. This study collected data using questionnaires to 79 respondents then analysis by likerts scale and descriptive statistical. The results showed that there six indicators of climate change became farmers’ perceptions. The farmers perception on highland regarding climate change is that 54% of farmers feel a decrease in rainfall, 54% feel drought, 55.2% feel a longer dry season, 60.8% feel reduced water sources, 74.4% feel a decrease in crop quality and 73.2% feel a decrease in crop quantity. At the same time, the perception of farmers in the lowland area regarding climate change is 66.9% of farmers feel a decrease in rainfall, 68.28% feel drought, 71.03% feel a longer dry season, 68.28% feel reduced water sources, 77.93% feel a decrease in crop quality and 77.93% feel a decrease in crop quantity. The importance of farmers’ perceptions of climate change may be used to adaptation from climate change. Understanding farmers’ perceptions can aid the impact of climate change on agricultural productivity.

Improvement of Saline Soil Properties and Brassica rapa L. Growth Using Biofertilizers

The decline in agricultural productivity because of soil salinization has become a global problem in recent years. Biofertilizers show great potential for soil improvement as a sustainable strategy; however, their effectiveness in improving saline soils and enhancing plant growth under saline stress is poorly understood. We assessed the effectiveness of biofertilizers in improving saline soils and enhancing crop growth under saline stress and investigated the related potential mechanisms. Changes in soil physicochemical properties, plant physiological parameters, and soil microbial communities were analyzed using pot experiments. The results showed that biofertilizer application reduced total soluble salts in the soil by 30.8% and increased Brassica rapa L. biomass by 8.4 times. Biofertilizer application increased soil organic matter, total nitrogen, and available phosphorus by 56.1%, 57.0%, and 290%, respectively. Simultaneously, superoxide dismutase, catalase, chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, total soluble sugar, and proline levels also increased by 89.5%, 140%, 110%, 190%, and 130%, respectively. Biofertilizers increased the abundance of Bacillus and Planococcus and decreased the abundance of Mortierella and Aspergillus, which could potentially be the underlying reason for the promotion of plant growth. Overall, the results of this study demonstrate the efficacy of biofertilizers in improving saline soils and that the application of biofertilizer could greatly promote agricultural production.

The impact of microplastics on yield and economic losses in selected agricultural food commodities

AbstractIn the realm of the global economy, agriculture holds a prominent status, acting as a vital source of employment and revenue for nations. Despite its crucial role, the agricultural sector contends with recurrent annual losses attributable to market fluctuations. One noteworthy contributor to the decline in agricultural productivity is the adverse impact of microplastics (MPs). This study aims to estimate the production losses suffered by key crops—rice, wheat, maize, tomato, and peas—due to MPs, along with the resulting economic consequences arising from the direct damage inflicted by MPs. To assess production losses caused by MPs, secondary data from diverse sources were employed for five plant varieties. The economic losses resulting from MPs were calculated for the period spanning 2017–2023, with cumulative data aggregated from all states. The study's findings indicate that the presence of MPs corresponds to an annual global output decline ranging from 0.4% to 34.7%. This decline translates to a reduction of approximately 0.01 million to 66.97 million tons per year in the production of food, fiber, and biofuels. The aggregate yearly economic losses are estimated at around USD 46.5 billion. These findings carry substantial implications for governmental policy in the agricultural domain, underscoring the necessity for current statistics on global losses incurred due to MPs. Moreover, they emphasize the importance of implementing a systematic surveillance system to monitor such losses effectively.

Examining limitations and future directions in climate change simulation models

Climate change refers to significant alterations in long-term climate conditions. If greenhouse gas emissions continue to rise, there is a high probability of exceeding the 1.5°C and 2° thresholds of global warming throughout the 21st century. This situation poses a serious threat to the agriculture sector and can lead to a decline in agricultural production and a reduction in product quality. Additionally, intensive farming practices can decrease the resilience of agriculture. This study aims to examine the effects of climate change on the agriculture sector, explain the concept of modeling and the parameters that can be measured, provide guidance on how modeling studies on alfalfa, and similar crops can be improved by identifying their shortcomings. The modeling method is used in many different fields by creating abstract representations of real-world objects or events via a mathematical equation, writing algorithm, or simulation. Parameters used in alfalfa modeling include yield, growth, carbon, water, nitrogen balance, climate effects, and other factors. However, these models have shortcomings such as the need for more comprehensive data collection and testing, the requirement for more parameter adjustments, the inability to address various crops and different growth cycles, the lack of simulation of crown and root roles in growth, sensitivity in measuring soil and input factors, limited testing and research, inaccuracies in automatic classification, the absence of growth and yield simulation models, and the lack of deep learning techniques. Addressing these shortcomings is crucial for achieving more reliable and effective results in the agricultural sector. Strengthening models and addressing these deficiencies have the potential to lead to more robust and sustainable solutions in agriculture.

Анализ резул ьтатов математи ческого моделирования влияния санкций на сел ьское хозяйство Южного федерал ьного округа РФ

The article presents a scenario analysis of the possible consequences of the current sanctions on agriculture in the Southern Federal District of the Russian Federation. The study is based on the spatial model of partial equilibrium in the wholesale markets of agricultural products of the subjects of the Russian Federation of the Federal State Budgetary Institution “All-Russian Institute of Agrarian Problems and Informatics named after A.A. Nikonov” – Branch of the Federal State Budgetary Scientific Institution “Federal Research Center of Agrarian Economy and Social Development of Rural Areas – All-Russian Research Institute of Agricultural Economics”. The methodology of using the results of modelling to assess the impact of sanctions on agriculture in the Southern Federal District is proposed. The main threats caused by illegal sanctions are considered: reduction of the machine and tractor fleet and barriers to the export of manufactured products. During the analysis the volumes of production and consumption of the main types of agricultural products in the Southern Federal District were studied. Conclusions are drawn on the impact of the sanctions on the region’s dependence on external supplies of livestock products, namely: the deterioration of the agribusiness situation, violations of the reproductive process will sooner or later lead to a decline in agricultural production, which will cause instability in the situation of food supply to the population. Special attention is paid to the consideration of cash flows of the grain industry of the Southern Federal District. The possible impact of the sanctions on agricultural foreign trade is assessed in the context of scenarios. The special role of the state in overcoming agricultural crises is highlighted: financial support for local agricultural producers and the development of measures to eliminate the negative impact of export barriers. On the basis of the identified trends, the conclusions on the negative impact of the sanctions on the agricultural sector are formulated, namely: their serious negative impact on food security of the population, participants in foreign economic activity and on the financial situation of agriculture has been established.

РАЗВИТИЕ СЕЛЬСКОГО ХОЗЯЙСТВА В ОТДЕЛЬНЫХ СТРАНАХ, НАХОДЯЩИХСЯ ПОД САНКЦИЯМИ

The world is increasingly using sanctions to achieve the economic and political goals of their initiators. They tend to target key sectors of the economy, including trade and finance. Sanctions are also applied to individuals and companies. At the same time, agriculture and food security are formally exempted from restrictions on humanitarian grounds, but are still negatively affected because they are an integral part of the economy. In many countries, the effects of sanctions are compounded by other factors of internal instability, such as military conflicts, natural disasters, and mismanagement. This article analyzes the dynamics of agricultural production, the use of production inputs and some indicators of food security in five countries under sanctions pressure (Iran, Syria, Venezuela, Cuba, and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea). The aim is to analyze the development of the agricultural sector in these countries under sanctions. It is found that sanctions are a severe blow to the economy, including agriculture, but do not affect regime change, which is the ultimate goal of their initiators. The impact of sanctions is amplified in the case of secondary sanctions and the creation of a broad coalition. Moreover, the simultaneous application of financial and trade sanctions has a more pronounced negative effect. In addition to internal instability, sanctions significantly raise the composite Global Hunger Index, increasing the level of undernourishment in a country and negatively affecting the availability and stability of food supplies, while also increasing import dependence and food prices. In all the countries analyzed, the combination of constraints has led to a decline in agricultural productivity and access to re- sources, which has reduced agricultural production. At the same time, the industry is demonstrat- ing its ability to adapt to prevailing conditions.

SOCIO-ECONOMIC DETERMINANTS OF FOREIGN LABOUR MIGRATION IN AGRARIAN SOCIETIES OF NEPAL

Socio-cultural, economic, political, and environmental factors play a crucial role in migration. The phenomenon of foreign labor migration has been shaped by a variety of factors including different dimensions of sustainable livelihood that push people to seek better opportunities. The main objective of this research was to assess the socioeconomic determinants of foreign labor migration in the agrarian community of the Sindhuli district of Nepal using a simple random sample technique. Accordingly, a quantitative interview protocol was employed along with the use of key informants’ interviews to collect pertinent information in the year 2021. Findings revealed that determining factors responsible for foreign labor migration were primarily low individual income (with a score of 0.72), followed by a lack of employment opportunities (0.66); poor economic conditions (0.57); limited access to social protection (0.42), and child education (0.36). Additionally, other factors that contributed to the migration included social prestige, desire for property accumulation, peer pressure, the decline in agricultural production, lack of education, inability to pay loans, and food insecurity. The finding of this research thus suggests the need to consider these core facts while developing strategies to manage migration so as to impact positive implications in the agrarian context of Nepal.

Soil Carbon and Microbial Processes in Agriculture Ecosystem

As global warming progresses, concerns also arise regarding the decline in agricultural productivity and soil degradation [...]

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

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

Risk Assessment and Prediction of Soil Water Erosion on the Middle Northern Slope of Tianshan Mountain

Soil erosion is a significant form of land degradation worldwide, leading to ecological degradation and a decline in agricultural productivity. The middle section of the northern slopes of Tianshan Mountain (MNSTM) in northwestern China is a high-priority area for soil water erosion prevention, and soil water erosion is a serious problem in the region. Despite this, there is a lack of research on soil water erosion in the MNSTM, and the trends and priority risk areas of soil water erosion remain unclear. Therefore, this study used the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) to quantitatively assess soil water erosion from 2001–2020 and predict it from 2030–2050. The study also used the Geodetector method to analyse the influencing factors of soil water erosion in the region. The results show that soil water erosion in the MNSTM has a fluctuating upward trend, increasing at a rate of 0.26 t hm−2 y−1 over the period 2001–2020 and reaching a maximum value of 39.08 t hm−2 in 2020. However, soil water erosion in the region is mitigated under both RCP2.6 and RCP4.5 climate scenarios. Vegetation was found to have the highest degree of influence on soil erosion, indicating that its protection and management should be prioritised for future soil and water conservation efforts. The eastern part of the MNSTM was identified as the most vulnerable area to soil and water erosion, and in the context of global climate change, it is crucial to enhance the ecological restoration of the MNSTM to reduce the risk of soil water erosion. These findings can serve as valuable information for decision makers to develop effective strategies to prevent soil erosion and improve the ecological environment in the MNSTM.

A Unified Lightweight CNN-based Model for Disease Detection and Identification in Corn, Rice, and Wheat

Plant diseases are a significant threat to global food security since they directly affect the quality of crops, leading to a decline in agricultural productivity. Several researchers have employed crop-specific deep learning models based on convolutional neural networks (CNN) to identify plant diseases with better accuracy and faster implementation. However, the use of crop-specific models is unreasonable considering the resource-constrained devices and digital literacy rate of farmers. This work proposes a single light-weight CNN model for disease identification in three major crops, namely, Corn, Rice, and Wheat. The proposed model uses convolution layers of variable sizes at the same level to accurately detect the diseases with various sizes of the infected area. The experimentation results reveal that the proposed model outperforms several benchmark CNN models, namely, VGG16, VGG19, ResNet50, ResNet152, ResNet50V2, ResNet152V2, MobileNetV2, DenseNet121, DenseNet201, InceptionV3, and Xception, to achieve an accuracy of 84.4% while using just 387,340 parameters. Moreover, the proposed model validates its efficacy as a multi-functional tool by classifying healthy and infected categories of each crop individually, obtaining accuracies of 99.74%, 82.67%, and 97.5% for Corn, Rice, and Wheat, respectively. The better performance values and light-weight nature of the proposed model make it a viable choice for real-time crop disease detection, even in resource-constrained environments.

Decision support systems in agricultural industry perspective

Recent years in agriculture, there have been a lot of constraints such as climatic change, water scarcity, shrinking of lands due to human encroachment, labour shortage, soil nutrition, pests and diseases etc., which leads to decline in agricultural productivity. In order to feed the growing-hungry population, there is a need for strategic and tactical management in agriclure to increase the yield. Decision Making Process (DMP) plays a vital role in meeting the population requirements. Leveraging Information Communication Technology (ICT) in Agriculture aids in the development of decision making information system called Decision Support System (DSS) that helps the farmers to take suitable decisions in a timely manner for maximizing productivity and reducing inputs and their costs. DSS is integrated with simulation models, databases for soil, weather and crops, statistics and other information technologies. It is a relevant, timely, user-friendly system to assist and manage crop cultivation and suggests the appropriate site-specific agronomic practice and recommendations to the farmers without affecting the environment. Parameters such as weather, soil properties, water level and pest and disease incidence are taken into consideration in DSS thereby facilitating the crop management. The main goal of DSS is to increase the agricultural productivity by utilizing the available limited resources. This paper reviews the DSS in existence and their benefits in agriculture.

Climate Change, Inequality, and Vulnerabilities in Pre-Modern Korea: Implications for Mission After COVID-19

Korea's late nineteenth and early twentieth-century Chosŏn Dynasty is marked by evidence of climate change. A distinctive feature of this period was the frequent outbreak of plagues such as cholera, dysentery, and typhoid, especially among the less privileged. There was, consequently, a large-scale discontentment among the poor. In this milieu, some local Confucian scholars, dismayed by the prevailing corruption in the central government, withdrew themselves from government business, focused on studying imported Catholic texts from China, and converted to Catholicism. The emergence of indigenous religious movements also reflected this social reality. This paper explores the correlation among climate anomalies, decline in agricultural productivity, competition for limited common resources, heightened social inequality, and frequent plagues, and how Catholicism, an indigenous religious movement, and Protestant Christianity impacted and were impacted by these processes in Korea's late Chosŏn Dynasty. It also suggests missional implications of this in the post-Covid-19 era.

Decision-Making, Irregular Migration, and Benefits: A Case of Chin Migrant Workers in Malaysia

Abstract: Malaysia is a primary destination country for many economic migrants from Myanmar, including those from Chin State. Their remittances are essential sources of income for their families' survival. However, the diversity of workers' migration experiences, the challenges to finding regular migration pathways, and finally, the benefits of working in Malaysia remain unclear. This study employed nongovernmental referrals and snowball sampling to explore the above research questions. Findings indicate that the primary driving factors for Chin people's migration are poverty, a decline in agricultural production due to climate change, and a lack of employment opportunities at home. In addition, in Myanmar, people in Chin State experience structural discrimination based on ethnicity, religious affiliation, military oppression, and human rights violations. Barriers to regular migration include: (1) access to broker services; (2) the high cost of a legal work permit; (3) complicated paperwork and lengthy bureaucratic procedure; (4) geographical challenges to accessing the registration center; and (5) the high cost of living in the city while waiting for application results. For many, the irregular migration journey is a huge sacrifice, though female migrants are especially vulnerable, including to sexual harassment by brokers. However, the higher wages they can earn in Malaysia sometimes enable them to repay their debts and support their family's basic needs and welfare. The findings suggest that the national and local governments must enhance the socioeconomic conditions of the Chin people to minimize the "push factors" as well as streamline the regular migration process to facilitate those who choose to migrate.

ДИНАМИКА РАЗВИТИЯ ЖИВОТНОВОДСТВА В ЕВРЕЙСКОЙ АВТОНОМНОЙ ОБЛАСТИ

The article, based on an analysis of statistical indicators of livestock farming in the Jewish Autonomous region for 1990–2021, reveals negative dynamics in the development of the industry. When considering the cattle livestock, including pigs, sheep and goats, vertical and horizontal methods are used. They provide an objective assessment of the livestock industry dynamics. It is noted that in the 90s of the last century the region was a fairly large producer of agricultural products, providing both the region and other areas of the Russian Far East with agricultural products. Over the past few decades, agriculture in the region has undergone a significant decline, negatively affecting the economy of the region. It is determined that the cattle breeding development in the region, which needs capital intensity, suffers from the lack of large manufactures. The forage crops sown areas analysis also shows negative dynamics. And this is one of the leading reasons for the cattle livestock decline. It is substantiated that the population outflow from rural areas results in the decline of agricultural production. To the author, the predominant agricultural producers in the Jewish Autonomous region are households. It is noted that modern state support options aimed at the regional agriculture development are not efficient enough. For its rise and development, the branch needs large cattle breeding enterprises and participation of agricultural holdings in the production process.