Diversification Of Agricultural Production Research Articles

Assessing occupational pesticide exposure in Latin America and the Caribbean: Methods review for agricultural vulnerability reduction.

B A rapid review was conducted to describe pesticide exposure assessment methodologies in Agricultural Work Contexts (AWC)s in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), in order to provide elements to reduce vulnerabilities within the agricultural population. A final number of 79 articles were selected from Medline via Pubmed, LILACS, and SciELO. In the region, family agriculture is the predominant form of agricultural production (72%) in informal agricultural work contexts (AWCs), which are characterized by small-scale diversified agricultural production, lower educational attainment, limited income, and a lack of social and healthcare security for the families. Indirect exposure assessment methods were the most commonly reported (58%), and its use was associated with informal AWCs (p = 0.011). Understanding AWCs and employing appropriate assessment methods can contribute to addressing vulnerabilities in the agricultural sector.

The Impacts of Planting Patterns Combined with Irrigation Management Practices on Watermelon Growth, Photosynthesis, and Yield.

(1) Background: Crop yields in China's arid and semi-arid regions are limited by water shortages. Exploring the interactions and resource utilization among agroforestry species is key to maintaining diversified agricultural production. (2) Objective: An apple-watermelon agroforestry system and watermelon sole-cropping system were compared to quantify how resource availability (light, water) and watermelon performance (leaf photosynthetic rate, growth, and yield) change with irrigation strategies. (3) Methods: A three-year apple and watermelon field experiment was conducted in a young apple orchard in the arid area of central Ningxia to test the effect of light competition and irrigation systems on light environment, leaf photosynthetic rate, plant growth, and yield in watermelon. The experiment encompassed two planting patterns: (i) apple-watermelon agroforestry (AF) and watermelon sole-cropping (SC) and (ii) three irrigation quotas (W1: 105 mm, W2: 210 mm, and W3: 315 mm). (4) Results: The results show that the agroforestry planting pattern extended the growth period of watermelon and increased the leaf area index. Mean daily shade intensity increased by 16.02% from 2020 to 2022. The land equivalent ratio (LER) was >1 in 2021 and 2022. The SWC, leaf photosynthetic rate, LAI, and yield of watermelon in an agroforestry planting pattern were lower than when in a sole-cropping planting pattern. However, under the W1 irrigation strategy, the total soluble solids of the agroforestry planting pattern were 2.27% higher than those of the sole-cropping pattern, and the yield of the agroforestry planting pattern was 2.59% higher than that of the sole-cropping pattern. Under the W3 irrigation strategy, the average watermelon weight in the agroforestry planting pattern was 2.85% higher than that of the sole-cropping pattern. A path analysis showed that the agroforestry planting pattern can increase the yield by increasing soil water content, which is different from the sole-cropping pattern. (5) Conclusions: The results confirm that the apple-watermelon agroforestry planting pattern reduced watermelon yields. However, the LER of the agroforestry system was greater than 1.0. It is reasonable to plant watermelons in young apple forests.

Agroecosystem-based analysis of household dietary diversity and its linkage with agricultural production diversification in the Upper Blue Nile Basin, Ethiopia: Multilevel analysis approach

Even though the UN's Sustainable Development Goals emphasize improving dietary diversity and overall nutritional status globally by promoting sustainable agriculture, inadequately diversified dietary intake remains a public health problem in many low-income countries, including in Sub-Saharan Africa. The main objective of this study was to gather relevant information to gain an improved understanding of household dietary diversity and explore the role that production diversification could play within household diets and nutrition so that appropriate interventions could be implemented with the goal of enhancing nutrition-sensitive agriculture while also considering the varied features across the agroecosystems. Agroecosystem-based cross-sectional study design was employed. Data were collected predominantly through semi-structured questionnaires and analyzed by descriptive and inferential statistics, and a multilevel mixed-effect model. Results showed that the usual dietary intake of households has a monotonous pattern dominated by starchy staple foods, and consumption of fruits, vegetables, and animal-sourced foods was very limited. One out of five households had inadequate dietary diversity but varied significantly across agroecosystems. About 26% of the heterogeneity in dietary diversity was attributed due to agroecosystem level factors. In the fixed-effect part of the model, production diversification, wealth status, number of meals per day, market access, and annual mean rainfall were significantly associated with household dietary diversity status. The findings of our research contribute to give insights on the linkage between dietary diversity and production diversification among subsistence rural farmers across contrasting agroecosystem zones. Therefore, understanding agroecosystem variations and local context in the rural subsistence farming setup is a key point in designing nutrition-sensitive agriculture.

THE INFLUENCE OF ELEMENTS OF CULTIVATION TECHNOLOGY ON THE SOWING QUALITIES AND YIELD OF SPRING RAPESEED GRAIN IN THE CONDITIONS OF NORTHERN KAZAKHSTAN

Rapeseed plays a key role in various fields, including the food and feed industry, technical applications, as well as in agrotechnical and environmental terms. The diversity of agricultural production highlights the economic benefits and relevance of introducing new promising varieties and hybrids of oilseeds, including spring rapeseed. In this process, the research and selection of suitable varieties and hybrids plays a key role.The article is aimed at conducting a comparative analysis of varieties and hybrids of spring rapeseed through competitive variety testing in order to identify their productivity potential in the conditions of our region. The research process was based on two-year work within the framework of the Esil grain feed State Variety testing site. To achieve this goal, a number of tasks have been considered: studying the percentage of germination and seed safety, assessing the yield structure and productivity of various varieties and hybrids. The object of the study was varieties and hybrids of spring rapeseed.The research findings will be key to determining the most promising and economically profitable varieties and hybrids of spring rapeseed adapted to the conditions of our region.The conclusions contain estimated information on the most promising varieties and hybrids for cultivation in our region.

Production Choices and Food Security: A Review of Studies Based on a Micro-Diversity Perspective.

Given the 'subsistence' character of smallholder production, agricultural production diversification is often seen as an effective strategy for smallholders to improve their diets' diversity and nutritional status, yet the existing evidence remains inadequate. The study applies bibliometric data from the "Web of Science" database to synthesize 46 papers from developing countries to explore the relationship between production diversity, dietary diversity, and nutrition in smallholder households. The study identifies the most influential journals, authors, organizations, and countries and reveals research themes related to agricultural production and food security. This data analysis can help researchers target potential collaborators and access influential literature in agricultural production diversity and dietary diversity research. In addition, the results showed that agricultural production diversity potentially influences households' dietary diversity, with mixed results: Agricultural production diversification is the primary way to improve food and nutritional security among smallholder families with low socio-economic status, inaccessible transportation, and poverty; market access and trade have more potential to improve dietary diversity among smallholder households with well-developed markets and higher income levels; the significant measures of agricultural production diversity include Crop Counts, FGPD, SI, and SWDI; the significant measures of dietary diversity include HDDS and IDDS. This paper provides a roadmap for agricultural production and food security researchers by conducting a systematic review of the literature, summarizing some research methods and perspectives applicable to local socio-economic development.

A Study on The Impact of Women’s Empowerment on Food Security: Based on The Perspective of Agricultural Production Diversity

This study analyzed the role of women's empowerment in diversifying households' diets through their production. Based on the survey data of 1185 rural households of Yunnan, Guizhou, Shaanxi, and Gansu provinces in 2021, this paper measured women's empowerment level from five dimensions: agricultural production, credit resources, income control, leadership, and time allocation. It targeted food safety and further analyzed the role of agricultural production diversity in the pathway of women's empowerment impact on households' food security. The estimation showed that improving women's empowerment enhances diet quality and increases agricultural production diversity. Meanwhile, agricultural production diversity was conducive to improving the food security level of households. After carrying out the mediation effect test, the paper found that agricultural diversity partially mediates the effect of women's empowerment on food security and a total mediation effect on women's empowerment and food security in the poor group. Furthermore, agricultural diversity could further promote households' food and nutrition security based on women's decision-making ability

БІОЕНЕРГЕТИКА ЯК ФАКТОР НАЦІОНАЛЬНОЇ БЕЗПЕКИ В УМОВАХ ВОЄННОГО СТАНУ

The purpose of the article is to study the current state of the fuel and energy system, its vulnerability to wartime risks, and analysis of the potential of bioenergy in solving the problem of strengthening the national security of Ukraine by recognizing the critical importance of energy security. The relationship between the definitions of "national security" and "energy security" as components of a part and a whole is revealed. The hypothesis about the critical importance of energy security in the national security system is formulated, considering the importance of the energy sphere for all elements of both economic and social segments without exception. The characteristics of the fuel and energy complex were studied as part of a retrospective analysis. The system of factors that increase the parameters of the vulnerability of the national energy system has been decomposed. The structure of electricity generation in Ukraine, which corresponds to the signs of a high level of centralization, is analyzed. Attention is focused on the need to diversify sources of energy in order to strengthen positions in energy security and, therefore, in national energy security. Special attention is paid to bioenergy development as part of implementing the strategic task of building a combined energy supply system. The influence of the latter on national security was studied through the disclosure of factors of direct influence (diversification of the resource base, substitution of imported energy carriers, strengthening of stability in the conditions of wartime challenges due to the production of stable and predictable electricity; the ability to balance the energy system), as well as highlighting positive external effects (reduction of anthropogenic impact on the environment, diversification of agricultural production, increasing the level of socio-economic development of rural areas, development of innovations, creation of new jobs). A list of the main directions of the regulatory influence of the state on the processes of changing the energy balance in the direction of expanding the share of bioenergy as a driver of the development of decentralized generation based on the combination of socio-ecological and economic imperatives of the development of the national economy, which corresponds to the concepts of sustainable development and national security requirements, is given.

Problems of “Non-Food” Cultivated Land in China in the New Period and Suggestions for Countermeasures

With China's economic and social development, under the influence of many factors, such as the low efficiency of grain cultivation and the formation of a pattern of specialization in agricultural production, the phenomenon of “de-farming” and “de-fooding” of arable land has begun to emerge in some areas. “Non-food” in China's food production space at the same time, but also on the arable land will produce different degrees of damage. Therefore, this paper analyzes the background and challenges of the “degrading” of arable land in China in the new era, and reveals in depth the regional and typological characteristics of the “degrading” of arable land, its causes, and its impact on food and ecological security. The paper finds that the background of “non-food” cropland stems from the diversification of agricultural production and the need to explore alternative land uses other than traditional food crops, and poses a challenge to China's food security by affecting the food supply. In the future, we should explore the formation of a long-term mechanism to strengthen the policy guidance of “non-food” and improve the efficiency of arable land for food cultivation in order to stimulate farmers' incentives to grow food. The article puts forward countermeasures to enhance the willingness of business entities to grow food and prevent the “degrazing” of arable land from the perspectives of policy guidance, multi-party participation, standard construction and compensation mechanism, with a view to providing certain reference significance for the protection of arable land in China in the future.

Socioeconomic Impact of Agricultural Projects Financed by the District Development Fund: Case Study of the District of Vilankulo - Mozambique

According to the Constitution of the Republic of Mozambique, agriculture is recognized as the cornerstone of the country's development. However, the levels of production and productivity in this sector remain low. In response to this challenge, the Government established and implemented the District Development Fund (DDF) to provide financial support for economic activities, with a particular focus on agriculture (IBIS, 2010). Therefore, the goal of this research was to analyze the socioeconomic impact of the DDF on the beneficiary communities. To achieve this objective, semi-structured interviews of 36 beneficiaries of DDF and unsystematic observations were conducted. The results indicated that all participants reported a significant increase, six times higher than before, in their agricultural production areas. This enhancement allowed for the expansion and diversification of agricultural products. The surplus generated from the sale of these products was used for personal purposes, such as purchasing radios, telephones, school supplies for their children, and improving their housing conditions. Consequently, these improvements significantly enhanced the quality of life for those involved in agriculture. These findings strongly align with the objectives underlying the creation of the DDF and could serve as an exemplar for other districts within the country. In conclusion, it can be affirmed that the DDF has made significant contributions to improving the living conditions of the beneficiary population in the district of Vilankulo.

Penyuluhan Inovasi Pasca Panen guna meningkatkan Nilai Ekonomi Petani Melalui Pemasaran Online

The purpose of this activity is to take advantage of the harvest and process it into a product that can increase added value and provide income for farmers or the community by introducing online marketing. In this case, post-harvest processing is carried out through diversification of agricultural products, which are perishable food after post-harvest namely making chili sauce. The results of this activity have a positive impact on farmers and other communities, and are enthusiastic about trying and developing the knowledge gained and practiced in order to add economic value to the efficiency of a sustainable agricultural business.

LAND USE CHANGES IN THE SOLOMOUGOU WATERSHED FROM 1984 TO 2021 (NORTHERN COTE DIVOIRE)

Human activities affected Land use changes bya complex dynamic process, whitch affects natural resources. Poro region in general, and the Solomougou watershed in particular, is characterized by favorable natural conditions for diversified agricultural production. Remote sensing shows the extent of land use change between 1986 and 2021. Diachronic analysis reveals a decline in natural formations (forests and savannahs) in favour of crops. Interpretation of the results shows the local causes of this change, highlighting farming and pastoral practices, economic factors, urban expansion, migratory flows and deforestation, which weakens the environment by stripping the surface layers. The brightness index of high-resolution Landsat images shows a strong degradation. All this raises questions about the future of farming in this region, whose products make an essential contribution to local and national markets.

Cultural transcendence and urban-rural linkages of fairs in the Central Andes of Peru

Motives: In the public space of the city of Jauja, culturally significant fairs have been held since the times of the Inca Empire. The diversity of agricultural production in Mantaro Valley favors the emergence of fairs as the main sites for the sale and exchange of local products in the city. The following research question was formulated: what is the physical and spatial impact of the activities organized in public space on fairs, the city, and the region?Aim: The aim of the study was to analyze the physical and spatial impact of fairs in Mantaro Valley, and to explore fairs as urban-rural linkages in urban public spaces. The research methodology involved participatory observation and a review of local urban policies.Results: The results of the study indicate that fairs promote social coexistence. The typological diversity of fairs at the architectural level, their spatial organization, and impact on the urban structure of Jauja were identified.

Sawah Surjan Environmental Management for Food Crop Diversification in Kulon Progo of Yogyakarta, Indonesia

The utilization of wetlands as agricultural land requires specific processing techniques, which are relatively expensive and unaffordable for local farmers. The optimization of wetlands as agricultural land by local farmers is usually made by elevating a certain part using the adjacent soil material known as Surjan system. The land management using Surjan system increases the diversity of agricultural products and deals with inundation problems. However, its environmental impact has not been widely studied.
 The research was conducted by observing the land with Surjan system in Kulonprogo area to determine its characteristics. Interviews with farmers were conducted to determine land management techniques. Soil and gas emissions samples were taken based on the age of the crop. The characteristics of land with Surjan system and conventional rice field were then compared to determine the difference, and the implications of the two agricultural lands on the environment are discussed.
 Surjan system can increase land productivity, and it can be adopted easily by farmers in other areas with inundation problems. This system is a planting system consisting of mound (the raised beds) and tabukan (the sunken beds that remain inundated). The mound part can be planted with secondary crops, horticulture, and other dryland crops, while the tabukan part can be planted with rice and used for mina padi (rice-fish) farming system. Surjan system provides benefits for environmental management through the prevention of floods and eutrophication, as well as reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in the atmosphere. Land management through Surjan system affects soil pH, redox potential, and organic matter. Land with Surjan system produces lower methane gas emissions than conventional rice fields. It produces methane gas of 4.06 - 45.73 µg / m2 / minute, with soil pH, redox potential, and organic matter of 6.65 - 7.69, (-) 49 - 10 mV, and 1.28 - 3.59%, respectively

Whole-genome sequencing of diverse wheat accessions uncovers genetic changes during modern breeding in China and the United States.

Breeding has dramatically changed the plant architecture of wheat (Triticum aestivum), resulting in the development of high-yielding varieties adapted to modern farming systems. However, how wheat breeding shaped the genomic architecture of this crop remains poorly understood. Here, we performed a comprehensive comparative analysis of a whole-genome resequencing panel of 355 common wheat accessions (representing diverse landraces and modern cultivars from China and the United States) at the phenotypic and genomic levels. The genetic diversity of modern wheat cultivars was clearly reduced compared to landraces. Consistent with these genetic changes, most phenotypes of cultivars from China and the United States were significantly altered. Of the 21 agronomic traits investigated, 8 showed convergent changes between the 2 countries. Moreover, of the 207 loci associated with these 21 traits, more than half overlapped with genomic regions that showed evidence of selection. The distribution of selected loci between the Chinese and American cultivars suggests that breeding for increased productivity in these 2 regions was accomplished by pyramiding both shared and region-specific variants. This work provides a framework to understand the genetic architecture of the adaptation of wheat to diverse agricultural production environments, as well as guidelines for optimizing breeding strategies to design better wheat varieties.

CASE STUDY OF INNOVATION BUSINESS MODEL TO PROMOTE SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE OF PRIVATE FARM IN TAIWAN

This study investigation modern sustainable agricultural business model of private farm in Taiwan. Enter the real field, understand the rural environment on the spot, and hope to bring substantial help to the current agricultural environment in Taiwan. Conduct Zhang-Jia farm as the case, based on local ecology, production and life to analyse the management characteristics of the farm. Combine with the theory of ideas explored in the literature to verify the relevance of its actual mode of operation and goals. Observe the local tribal ecology and industrial context to find problems, and compile various conceptual factors that affect the sustainable development of Taiwan's agriculture based on the literature. Through developing organic agriculture, promoting leisure agriculture, developing diversified agricultural products, promoting food agricultural education, and organized production and marketing groups as strategies. Through diversification activities, construct a field environmental relationship brimming with "agricultural production", "peasant life" and "rural ecology", and practice the concept of respect for nature. To maintain the survival of the farm and leave a beautiful homeland, further to increase agricultural production, increase income, maintain natural ecology, create the best areas for farming and living, attract more young people to return to the countryside, and to promote sustainable agriculture in Taiwan.

Diversified agriculture leads to diversified diets: panel data evidence from Bangladesh

This study used a panel data model to examine the relationship between agricultural diversification and dietary diversity of farm households across three waves of nationally representative Bangladesh Integrated Household Survey data (BIHS- 2011-12, 2015, and 2018). Prior research measured diversification in terms of crop cultivation and livestock rearing. However, this study takes a different approach to measuring agricultural diversification by combining the three major sectors—crop, fish, and livestock production—at the farm household level to evaluate the impact of such agricultural diversification on the diversification of diets in households. The panel data allows us to establish that agricultural production diversification has a significantly positive effect on the dietary diversity of farm households. Moreover, other important factors that impact agricultural diversification to improve dietary diversity, like women’s employment, market access, engagement with non-farm income sources, and access to information also have a strong association in improving the dietary status, food and nutritional security of households. Participation in the market helps farming households to become more commercially oriented but negatively affects the dietary diversification of the households. However, participation in non-farming activities was reported to have a significant positive influence on dietary diversity, though not as much as agricultural diversification. From the perspective of policy that requires nutrition into consideration, the findings suggest to focus on providing support for diversified farming systems can directly increase the nutritionally enriched dietary intake, increasing the employability of women. Promoting market participation through modern infrastructural facilities should be prioritized to improve the current scenarios.

Agricultural diversification and intra-household dietary diversity: Panel data analysis of farm households in Bangladesh.

This paper investigates the associations between agricultural diversification and dietary diversity among men, women and children of farm households in Bangladesh. Using three waves of nationally representative Bangladesh Integrated Household Survey (BIHS- 2011-12, 2015 and 2018) data and a panel data model, the study found that agricultural production diversification can emphasize the dietary diversification across the life cycle of farm household members. The balanced panel data reveals that agricultural production diversification has a statistically significant and positive impact on dietary diversity of individual members (men, women and children) of farm households. Moreover, other important factors that impact on agricultural diversification and improve dietary diversity like women's education and employment, commercialization of farm households, access to non-farm income sources, and access to information facilities also have a strong association in improving dietary status, food and nutritional security as well. Although there is currently limited diversity in the diets of adult men, women and children of rural farm households, the situation can be improved over time with proper and consistent support. The findings suggest policy interventions should target not only agricultural diversification but also improve women's education and on and off farm employment opportunities and facilitate better access to information for rural households. These recommendations can support improved dietary diversity for all household members under different settings.

Forty Years after Poverty Reduction in China: The Role of Women's Empowerment in Enhancing Food Security and Diet Diversity.

This study analyzed the role of women's empowerment in diversifying the diet of households through their own production. Developed from empowerment and food security theories, this study constructed measures from the household dietary diversity score (HDDS) and Women's Empowerment Index (WEI). The study focused on poverty-stricken regions in China and conducted a thematic questionnaire-based household survey on gender and food consumption in 2021. Based on micro-level evidence from 1199 rural households, this research found a low score of women's empowerment and an average WEI of 0.689; the status of diet diversity, measured by the HDDS, varied by income and social class; and the average rate was low. Agricultural production diversity and women's empowerment are positively associated with diet diversity. There is strong evidence that women's employment mitigates the side effects of decreasing production diversity on households' diet security. As a result, women's empowerment can potentially mitigate the adverse consequences of low agricultural diversification in household diet quality in less developed areas. This study provides evidence for repurposing food and agricultural policies toward healthy diets and gender-responsive agrifood systems.

Agricultural production diversity, child dietary diversity and nutritional status in poor, rural Gansu Province of China.

Research has shown mixed findings on the link between production diversity and household dietary diversity. The question is whether this link holds for children. In this study we examine the relationship between household's agricultural production diversity and child dietary diversity, and between production diversity and child nutritional status. Smallholder farm households (n = 1067) and children (n = 1067) aged 3-16 years from two then nationally designated poverty counties in Gansu Province of China were interviewed in 2019. Production diversity was assessed with the production richness score and production diversity score. Production diversity was calculated from agricultural production data covering a period of 12 months. Child dietary diversity was assessed with food variety score (FVS) and dietary diversity score (DDS). DDS was calculated based on 9 food groups using a 30-day recall method. Data were analysed using Poisson and Probit regression models. We find that both agricultural production richness score and revenue generated from selling agricultural products are positively associated with food variety score, with the relationship being stronger for the latter. Moreover, production diversity score is positively associated with children's dietary diversity score whereas negatively associated with their probability of being stunted, but not with their probabilities of being wasted or zinc deficient. Household social economics status were also positively associated with child dietary diversity.

Comparing delivery channels to promote nutrition-sensitive agriculture: A cluster-randomized controlled trial in Bangladesh

We use a randomized controlled trial in rural Bangladesh to compare two models of delivering nutrition content jointly to husbands and wives: deploying female nutrition workers versus mostly male agriculture extension workers. Both approaches increased nutrition knowledge of men and women, household and individual diet quality, and women’s empowerment. Intervention effects on agriculture and nutrition knowledge, agricultural production diversity, dietary diversity, women’s empowerment, and gender parity do not significantly differ between models where nutrition workers versus agriculture extension workers provide the training. The exception is in an attitudes score, where results indicate same-sex agents may affect scores differently than opposite-sex agents. Our results suggest opposite-sex agents may not necessarily be less effective in providing training. In South Asia, where agricultural extension systems and the pipeline to those systems are male-dominated, training men to deliver nutrition messages may offer a temporary solution to the shortage of female extension workers and offer opportunities to scale and promote nutrition-sensitive agriculture. However, in both models, we find evidence that the presence of mothers-in-law within households modifies the programs’ effectiveness on some nutrition, empowerment, and attitude measures, suggesting that accounting for other influential household members is a potential area for future programming.