Diversified Farming Systems Research Articles

Beyond Sustainability in Food Systems: Perspectives from Agroecology and Social Innovation

Food security faces many multifaceted challenges, with effects ranging far beyond the sectors of agriculture and food science and involving all the multiscale components of sustainability. This paper puts forward our point of view about more sustainable and responsible approaches to food production research underlying the importance of knowledge and social innovation in agroecological practices. Increased demand for food worldwide and the diversification of food choices would suggest the adoption of highly productive, but low-resilient and unsustainable food production models. However, new perspectives are possible. These include the revitalization and valorization of family-based traditional agriculture and the promotion of diversified farming systems as a social and economic basis to foster social-ecological conversion. Additionally, they encompass the forecasting of the Participatory Guarantee Systems (PGS) and the drafting of a new agenda for food sovereignty. Thanks to a desk analysis, the study describes and discusses these perspectives, their trajectories and action research implications. The results suggest the need to adopt a more inclusive and systemic approach to the described problems, as the solutions require the promotion of responsibility within decision makers, professionals and consumers. This appears essential for reading, analyzing and understanding the complex ecological-functional, social and economic relations that characterize farming systems, as well as mobilizing local communities.

Crop drivers in the shift from synthetic inputs to alternative practices in diversified farming systems

Reducing the use of synthetic inputs by shifting to alternative practices is becoming a growing priority in the agricultural sector. This study aims to understand how farmers manage this shift on diversified horticultural farms. The implementation of alternative practices at the crop level was analyzed on 28 farms on La Réunion Island (France). The surveys conducted combined interviews with farmers and the use of a dedicated indicator. Implementation of alternative practices depends on (i) the specificities of each production case (PC) defined as the combination of a crop with its biological features, a production mode and an economic environment (available technical support and market specifications), and (ii) links between PC within a farm. Five clusters of PC were identified based on their specificities. Links between PC take the form of competition over farm resources or, conversely, exchanges of biomass, inputs, equipment and skills acquired on each PC. These results provide an analytical framework to help advisors better support the diversity of farm involvement in shifting from synthetic inputs to alternative practices.

Farmers’ perceptions, production constraints and variety preferences of rice in Tanzania

ABSTRACT Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is a major food and cash crop cultivated under diverse farming systems in Tanzania. The objective of this study was to assess farmers’ perceptions, production constraints, variety preferences and breeding priorities of rice in selected agro-ecologies in Tanzania to guide variety development and release. A participatory rural appraisal study was conducted involving 180 participants using a structured survey. Focus group discussions were held with 90 discussants in the Mvomero, Kilombero and Kyela districts of Tanzania. Survey results indicated that rice was the most important food and cash crop, followed by maize (Zea mays L.), cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz), sweetpotato (Ipomoea batatas [L.] Lam.), sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.), pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan L.), cowpea (Vigna unguiculata [L.] Walp), simsim (Sesamum indicum L.), beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.), cocoa (Theobroma cacao L.), banana (Musa acuminate L.), groundnuts (Arachis hypogaea L.), and palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.). Majority of respondents used saved seed from previous harvest. Major constraints limiting rice production and productivity in all studied areas were disease, insect pests, recurrent drought, non-availability and high cost of fertilizers, a lack of improved cultivars, poor soil fertility and bird damage. The farmers preferred rice varieties with high yield, disease resistance, drought tolerance, high market value, early maturity, aroma, and local adaptation. A systematic rice breeding program, aimed at improving yellow mottle virus resistance and incorporating farmers’ preferred traits, should be designed and implemented to increase productivity and adoption of new cultivars by the farmers across rice-growing areas of Tanzania.

Dataset for describing the diversity of household farming systems and the degree of crop-livestock diversification and integration in the Western part of Nile valley (Egypt).

The CLIMED household farm dataset comes from a data collection conducted from 2013 to 2014 in five zones of the New Reclaimed Lands in the western part of the Nile Delta (Egypt). The main objective was to describe the diversity of household farms’ assets and activities, the degree of crop and livestock integration at the farm level to assess the link between integration, diversification, efficiency, and livelihoods. This data set permitted to compare the diversity of farming systems of 175 household farms and to assess the economic and technical performances of crop-livestock systems along a geographical transect of reclaimed desert lands in Egypt. This dataset was the primary material in the research paper on “Multi-criteria assessment of the sustainability of farming systems in the reclaimed desert lands of Egypt” (See the related research article.). Data described the three main components of the family farm system, i.e., the land, livestock, and household systems, respectively. The description of each activity (mainly crop, animal, or off-farm) by detailing all the incoming and outgoing flows of inputs and outputs allowed investigating the economic and financial contribution of each activity and the degree of dependence or complementarity between them. The dataset provided two tables of analyzed data related to, respectively, ‘diversification and integration’ and ‘efficiency and wellbeing.’ Moreover, this dataset constitutes an original material regarding the living conditions and farm functioning in the new lands reclaimed over the last 50 years in Egypt. The survey data were entered into an Access database, checked with statistical cross-checking variables, and completed by field return for missed or non-coherent data.

Capturing the diversity of Mediterranean farming systems prior to their sustainability assessment: The case of Cyprus

Prior to any sustainability assessment and/or any effort to understand or develop the agricultural sector, the acknowledgment of the diversity of farming systems (FSs) is crucial. Typologies are often used for this purpose. The goals of this study were, for the first time, to identify and characterize the divergent FSs that exist in southeastern Cyprus, and analyse the main drivers of variability among FSs. Beyond this empirical exploration, this study explores the suitability of typology delineation for understanding the heterogeneity of FSs prior to their sustainability assessment and for the potential of adoption of sustainable intensification technologies. The multivariate statistical techniques of principal component analysis and cluster analysis were employed on data from a representative sample of 324 farms in the study area. Results proposed six FSs, differentiated by land use, livestock, production pattern, farm, household, labour and economic variables. FS1-FS4 were crop-oriented and FS5-FS6 were livestock-oriented cultivating cereals and fodder crops for on-farm consumption. Only FS1 was profitable without subsidies, which were negatively associated with economic results. This casts doubt on the effectiveness of subsidies in providing the basis for a more profitable agricultural sector. FS3-FS5 households sought off/no-farm income mainly for their survival (i.e. complementary source of income), but not to cross-subsidize the farm. Small crop-oriented farms (FS4) and medium-sized livestock-oriented farms (FS5) had several weaknesses, such as elderly, low-educated managers and low profitability; thus, their viability should be the priority of decision makers. It was also observed a weak complementarity between the main system components (crop, livestock, off/non-farm income), which might negatively affect sustainable intensification. The importance of group membership for farm sustainability was also highlighted. The results of this study can be used for a more focused agricultural policy, tailored to the different constraints and opportunities of FSs, but also to inform public decision makers who are responsible to design and implement agricultural policy in Cyprus, or in other European Mediterranean regions with similar FSs and agro-ecological conditions.

Nutrient-Dense Orange-Fleshed Sweetpotato: Advances in Drought-Tolerance Breeding and Understanding of Management Practices for Sustainable Next-Generation Cropping Systems in Sub-Saharan Africa

Almost half of children < 5 years old living in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) suffer from vitamin A deficiency and 60% suffer from iron deficiency. Thus, there has been a strong commitment to breeding for, promoting awareness of, and delivering adapted pro-vitamin A rich orange-fleshed sweetpotato (OFSP) in SSA during the past two decades and for enhanced iron content since 2014. This review article focuses on major breeding efforts in SSA to enhance the drought tolerance of OFSP and reviews integrated crop management practices for improved and sustained sweetpotato production in SSA farming systems. Under climate change, the frequency and severity of droughts is expected to increase. Technical issues are presented in the context of addressing challenges along the entire value chain to ensure adoption. First, the use of an accelerated breeding scheme reduced the breeding cycle from 8–10 to 4–5 years. Since 2010, 19 drought-tolerant OFSP cultivars have been released in Mozambique, 7 in Malawi, and 2 in South Africa. Moreover, research in four breeding populations using the heterosis exploiting breeding scheme (HEBS) demonstrated that within one breeding cycle of 5 years, clones with significantly higher root yield, abiotic tolerance, host plant resistance to pests and diseases, and early maturity can be produced. In the future, HEBS will be combined with greater use of modern genomic tools, new phenotyping tools, and CRISPR/Cas9-mediated gene editing. Second, beyond genetic enhancements, evidence is presented that using improved crop management systems, existing sweet potato yields can be increased 2–4 times. Current knowledge is reviewed concerning sweetpotato’s role in diverse farming systems, but integrated crop management is clearly under researched. Third, the outlook for drought tolerance breeding indicates that two distinct classes of nutrient-rich cultivars are emerging: (1) Early maturing cultivars (< 4 month growing period) that escape drought but also serve humid environments with small landholding size per capita; and (2) Medium maturing (4–6 month growing period) cultivars that avoid drought, are drought tolerant and exhibit continuous root formation. Increasing commercialization of the crop and climate change will drive demand, and the willingness of farmers to invest in improved sweetpotato crop management.

Adaptive farm management in the context of the expansion of industrial tree plantations in northern Argentina

Landscape reconversion by plantation-oriented forestry is associated with transformations in regional economic systems. Under such change, rural communities develop different environmental and economic management strategies. Due to forest plantation growth since the 1970's in Misiones, Argentina, different areas of production can be identified according to the intensity of the forestry management model carried out. Each area defines a forestry productive landscape in which local rural populations are immersed. In this study, we describe and analyse the agricultural production strategies of Colonos (settlers) according to the size of industrial tree plantations. We offer insights into the construction of an adaptive, agrobiodiverse strategy in the context of the dominant forestry industry. Considering historical processes and current land use, we expected to find less diversity and overall development of the family productive system among rural families living in more homogenized, plantation-dominated landscapes. Qualitative and quantitative data was gathered to assess the agricultural richness and producers´ related production management. Departing from the idea that the homogenization of the landscape diminishes the diversification of the family productive system, we found that families have been able to shape the components of their subsistence in complex environments. In other words, in the face of change and instability, Colono farmers were able to reconfigure and incorporate diverse agricultural strategies. Also, they engage in biologically diverse farming systems and provide ecological heterogeneity to a regional landscape deeply transformed by tree plantations.

Sustainable Development of the Steppe in the Region of El Bayadh, Approach to a New Fattening System

The objective of this research is to follow the evolution and sustainability of the natural resource management systems adopted by different breeders found in the Al Bayadh region in Algeria. Using a stratified sampling method, 52 farms were surveyed between 2010 and 2015 to capture the diversity of farming systems and identify changes in land use patterns. The findings of the research reveal a predominance of sedentary and semi-transhumant farming systems with a sharp decline in nomadism. This study enabled us to identify three types of breeding: sedentary breeding systems with short-term fattening (type 1), semi-sedentary systems with medium-term fattening (type 2), and transhumant/nomadic systems with long-term fattening (type 3) that therefore reflect a diversity of actions in the management of the risk that threaten livestock production.

A typology to understand the diversity of strategies of implementation of agroecological practices in the French West Indies

Managing the transition from conventional agriculture to agroecology needs to account for the diversity of farming systems. Here we evaluate whether indicators based on agrodiversity and implementation of agroecological practices can discriminate types of farms with different trajectories in the context of the agroecological transition. The indicators tested were coupled with production factor, performance and strategy variables to better target their need for innovation. We propose a composite indicator that captures the main agroecological practices implemented within the study area: the French Caribbean islands of Guadeloupe and Martinique. Data was collected from 215 farms selected on the basis of their production strategy and their diversity. Eight variables related to production factors (farm size, equipment number, total and family labor), performance (total gross margin per hectare), surface devoted to implementing agroecological practices (SAEP), diversity (number of species produced), and local context integration (proportion of affiliation to professional organizations) were used to perform correlation and multivariate analyses (PCA and cluster analysis). The two PCAs (one with and one without SAEP included in the analysis) grouped agroecological practices, diversity, family labor and gross margin per hectare variables and opposed them against production-factor variables (farm size, total labor, and equipment number). Five farm clusters were identified when including the agroecological practices indicator in the analysis, i.e., 1) small diversified family farms, 2) medium-sized diversified family farms, 3) medium-sized diversified entrepreneurial farms, 4) medium-sized specialized entrepreneurial farms, and 5) large specialized entrepreneurial farms, and these clusters showed different degrees of agroecological and diversity practice implementation. Two extreme strategies of agroecological improvement were identified between large farms with high levels of production factors mainly oriented toward a light transition based on perpetuating existing agricultural models, and small family farms with high levels of diversification that already implement agroecological practices. Limits of this new composite indicator are discussed, and avenues for improvement are proposed.

Genotype by environment interaction for survival and harvest body weight between recirculating tank system and pond culture in Penaeus monodon

Genetic improvement of tiger prawn Penaeus monodon is challenging due to difficulties in breeding and rearing of this species in captive environments. To date, there have been very limited quantitative genetic studies in this species, especially genotype by environment (G × E) interaction between diverse farming systems (e.g., tank vs. pond). Therefore, the present study ran the long-term captive selection program for tiger prawn and obtained an in-depth pedigree of five generations (including base population and first generation) for genetic assessment of the environment impacts on two economically important traits in this species (i.e., survival and body weight at harvest). Originally, we evaluated the G × E interaction effect on survival and harvest weight between Biosecure Recirculating System (RAS) at the breeding nucleus and outdoor commercial ponds. Quantitative genetic analysis within mixed model methodology framework was carried out on 57,435 individual prawns (phenotype data from three latest generations, G2-G4) to examine possible effects of rearing environments on genetic parameters (heritability and correlations) for survival and body weight at harvest. The heritability (h2) for body weight was moderate (0.31–0.49) and differed slightly between the three testing environments. There were also significant heritable genetic variations of survival (h2 = 0.37–0.77) across the environments studied. The common full-sib effects accounted for 16 to 21% of total phenotypic variation for body weight and 11 to 18% for survival. Genetic correlations between body weight and survival were positive (0.23–0.46) in this population of tiger prawn. To examine the G × E interaction effect on survival and harvest body weight, the trait expressions in each environment were treated as separate traits and bi-variate models were used to estimate genetic correlations between homologous characters. An important finding of this study was that the between-environment genetic correlations for both body weight and survival were medium to high (0.56–0.70) between outdoor ponds; however, the estimates were low to moderate (0.17–0.31) between indoor RAS in the nucleus and outdoor ponds under field conditions. In summary, the moderate heritability for body weight and survival suggest that long-term response to selection can be achieved in this population of tiger prawn, and that the effects of rearing environments should be taken into consideration when conducting genetic improvement programs for this species, specifically the management of candidate parents to produce the next generation for selection.

The role of trees and livestock in ecosystem service provision and farm priorities on smallholder farms in the Rift Valley, Kenya

Human beings are dependent on ecosystems and the services they provide. Some services are currently being overexploited, resulting in degradation and further pressure on already vulnerable people in e.g., sub-Saharan Africa. Long-term and stable delivery of ecosystem services (ES) is suggested to be enhanced by more diversified farming systems that e.g., mix crops with trees and livestock. Despite the amount of research on ES, few previous studies have identified and compared the roles of trees and livestock for ES considering farm priorities within smallholder systems. We studied the role of trees and livestock for ES provision as well as farm priorities for smallholders in Kenya. Twenty smallholder farms (0.2–0.8 ha) were studied for 1 year in a fully factorial design of high or low tree and livestock density systems. Data were collected on indicators for provisioning (crop, tree and livestock production), supporting/regulating (water infiltration, soil organic carbon and nutrients) and cultural (recreation and aesthetics) ESs. In addition, farm priorities were studied, considering nutrient management, on- and off-farm resources, food and consumption, and crop, tree and livestock species diversity. A mix of qualitative (e.g., semi-structured interviews, seasonal calendar) and quantitative (e.g., soil analyses, infiltration tests) methods were used to collect data. This study confirmed roles of trees and livestock for ES and farm priorities, although they in some cases appeared less important than family labour and farm size. Results showed that high tree density was related to higher workload, lower proportions of off-farm revenue as well as higher crop, fruit and tree diversity for the household. Tree or livestock density showed no clear relation to provisioning, supporting or regulating ES. However, cultural services were on average provided more by trees than livestock. Available family labour was positively related to both farm production (provisioning services) and crop, tree and livestock species diversity. The use of manure, compost and mineral fertilisers was overall low, and the application rate per unit area seemed higher on farms with less land which was reflected in higher soil P and Ca concentrations. The challenges of already small and reducing farm sizes need to be targeted seriously in research and development efforts. Also the issue of labour requirement and pathways for mechanization must be addressed to attract a new generation farmers to develop sustainable and profitable farm enterprises providing ES to the farm and the surrounding landscape.

A goal programming approach to evaluate agroforestry systems in Eastern Panama

Agroforestry is hypothesised to increase ecological and economic functions of farms. Yet it is unclear if and how much agroforestry should be embedded in diversified farming systems to satisfy farmers' needs while potentially enhancing environmental services. To address this research gap we use a mathematical programming model to investigate the role of different agroforestry systems in hypothetical farm portfolios that reduce trade-offs between farmers' goals. Our approach is innovative because it simultaneously considers multiple objectives and the effect of land-use diversification within a farm, is based on knowledge and perceptions of local farmers, and accounts for heterogeneity in farmer judgement. We test the model in a forest frontier region in Eastern Panama, using data from farmer interviews. Farmers evaluated conventional land uses and two agroforestry systems (silvopasture and alley cropping) against 10 pre-defined socio-economic and ecological objectives. First we determined the optimal farm land-use composition that reduces trade-offs between the 10 objectives. The model selects the mix of land uses that secures the best worst-case performance across all objectives, when considering uncertainty in the ability of each land use to achieve each objective (which we quantify by the variability in farmer opinion). Agroforestry dominates the optimised farm portfolio, which comprises 60% silvopasture, 39% forest and 1% plantation. This land-use portfolio, however, deviates strongly from the current land use of farmers, which is 59% pasture, 26% crops, 14% forest and 1% plantation. In a second step we explore the implicit objectives driving farmers' current land-use decisions. We find that immediate-term needs related to food security and liquidity best explain farmers' current land-use portfolio; optimising for these objectives produces a land-use portfolio comprising 60% pasture and 40% crops, which is similar to the current land use. This suggests that increasing agroforestry adoption in the study area will require systems that provide early and frequent returns and allow for ongoing crop production, to better satisfy farmers’ cash flow and household consumption needs.

Soil Microbial Communities in Diverse Agroecosystems Exposed to the Herbicide Glyphosate

Despite glyphosate's wide use for weed control in agriculture, questions remain about the herbicide's effect on soil microbial communities. The existing scientific literature contains conflicting results, from no observable effect of glyphosate to the enrichment of agricultural pathogens such as Fusarium spp. We conducted a comprehensive field-based study to compare the microbial communities on the roots of plants that received a foliar application of glyphosate to adjacent plants that did not. The 2-year study was conducted in Beltsville, MD, and Stoneville, MS, with corn and soybean crops grown in a variety of organic and conventional farming systems. By sequencing environmental metabarcode amplicons, the prokaryotic and fungal communities were described, along with chemical and physical properties of the soil. Sections of corn and soybean roots were plated to screen for the presence of plant pathogens. Geography, farming system, and season were significant factors determining the composition of fungal and prokaryotic communities. Plots treated with glyphosate did not differ from untreated plots in overall microbial community composition after controlling for other factors. We did not detect an effect of glyphosate treatment on the relative abundance of organisms such as Fusarium spp.IMPORTANCE Increasing the efficiency of food production systems while reducing negative environmental effects remains a key societal challenge to successfully meet the needs of a growing global population. The herbicide glyphosate has become a nearly ubiquitous component of agricultural production across the globe, enabling an increasing adoption of no-till agriculture. Despite this widespread use, there remains considerable debate on the consequences of glyphosate exposure. In this paper, we examine the effect of glyphosate on soil microbial communities associated with the roots of glyphosate-resistant crops. Using metabarcoding techniques, we evaluated prokaryotic and fungal communities from agricultural soil samples (n = 768). No effects of glyphosate were found on soil microbial communities associated with glyphosate-resistant corn and soybean varieties across diverse farming systems.

Soil and Water Quality Indicators of Diversified Farming Systems in a Saline Region of the Mekong Delta, Vietnam

Saltwater intrusion, a consequence of climate change and decreased water levels, has been increasingly severe in the Mekong Delta region. Thanh Phu District, Ben Tre Province, Vietnam, is a coastal region where agricultural production and local livelihood have been impaired by saltwater intrusion, resulting in the adoption of multiple coping strategies, including rotations and intercropping. This study aims to measure and evaluate soil and water quality indicators of multiple farming systems in Thanh Phu district and contributes to developing suitable cropping patterns. Soil indicators were pH, electrical conductivity, and exchangeable Na+. Water quality characteristics include pH, salinity, dissolved N and P, alkalinity, H2S, and chemical oxygen demand (COD). The results indicated that water pH and salinity were at suitable levels to support the growth of prawn but were below the critical level required to grow black tiger shrimp and white-legged shrimp. Water alkalinity, dissolved N, P, and COD were not constraining for the growth of shrimps. However, a significant concentration of H2S may cause disadvantages for shrimp growth.

English

Common bean is commonly grown by smallholder farmers under quite diverse farming systems and it is for both food security and income generation. The impact of plant density is important to bean growers for yield optimization and the inadequate source of phosphorus leads to low productivity due to its significant in growth and development. This study focused on determining optimal spacing of different bush bean varieties for enhancing productivity in relation to application rates of P-fertilizers. A field experiment was conducted at Selian Agricultural Research Institute during short and long rain cropping seasons of 2016/2017 and 2017/2018 respectively. Treatments comprised of three bush bean varieties (Lyamungu 90, JESCA and KATB1), three spacing options 50 cm x 20 cm; 40 cm x 20 cm and 30 cm x 20 cm and four levels of P-fertilizers of 0 kg ha-1; 20 kg ha-1; 40 kg ha-1 and 60 kg ha-1 replicated three times in randomized complete block factorial design. Both treatments and their interaction showed significant differences (p ≤ 0.05). The combination for spacing of 30 cm x 20 cm with planting density of 333,333 plants ha-1 and P-fertilizer rate of 60 kg ha-1 with productivity of 2580 kg ha-1 enhanced bean productivity compared to commonly used combinations with productivity of < 600 kg ha-1. Key words: Productivity, interactions, food security, plant density and yield responses.

Evaluating complementary synergies in integrated crop-livestock systems in Ghana

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to investigate the characteristics of crop-livestock diversification among smallholders in the forest-savannah agroecological zone of Ghana.Design/methodology/approachThe study uses a stochastic input distance function to investigate the evidence of economies of diversification and its effect on determining diversification decisions of smallholders in Ghana. Furthermore, this study also explores evidence of scale economies in integrated crop-livestock systems among smallholder farmers.FindingsThe empirical results show that economies of diversification are significant in determining diversification decisions of smallholders. The economies of scale are evident in integrated crop-livestock systems in Ghana, suggesting that opportunities exist to expand crop-livestock outputs without employing additional inputs or improved production technologies. Crop-livestock diversification is a desirable strategy for improving overall farm productivity among smallholders in Ghana. Economies of diversification were found to be significant among the output combinations, maize with other crops and other crops with livestock, in integrated crop-livestock production systems.Research limitations/implicationsThis study is based on a cross-sectional data set. Hence, the findings may be subject to some limitations; however, the authors have sought to minimise such limitations.Practical implicationsThe results imply that crop-livestock diversification is a desirable strategy for improving overall farm productivity. Therefore, the findings are useful for policymakers to design appropriate strategies for enhancing the production of specific output combinations in crop-livestock diversification systems among smallholders in Ghana. Specifically, such policies should promote the production and integration of crops such as legumes with other crops, and livestock with other crops in diversified farming systems to enhance overall farm productivity. This will reduce food insecurity and poverty among rural farm households and the entire rural population.Originality/valueThese results indicate that to improve crop-livestock productivity through diversification, and reduce the effect of climate variability, it is imperative to provide the enabling environment that will facilitate and encourage production of these output combinations among smallholders in Ghana. The empirical results enhance the literature by providing empirical evidence of the complementary synergies and economies of diversification in integrated farming systems and, hence, make recommendations for improving these farming systems.Peer reviewThe peer review history for this paper is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/IJSE-04-2019-0274.

Factors Influencing Crop Based Diversified Farming Systems in Hilly and Terai Region of North Bengal

Factors Influencing Crop Based Diversified Farming Systems in Hilly and Terai Region of North Bengal

Climate-Smart Technologies for Sustainable Farming

The growing frequency and intensity of weather change-induced occasions pose unparalleled demanding situations to global agriculture, threatening meals safety and livelihoods. In reaction to this, the adoption of ClimateSmart Technologies (CSTs) has emerged as a pivotal method to support farming practices in opposition to the impacts of weather change even as fostering sustainability. This complete review explores the diverse landscape of CSTs, their packages across diverse farming systems, and their multifaceted impacts on resilience, mitigation, and sustainability. The paper begins by using elucidating the huge spectrum of CSTs, categorizing them into adaptation technologies that decorate resilience, mitigation technology that reduce emissions, and sustainable intensification technology that sell productiveness even as minimizing environmental footprints. The subsequent sections delve into precise packages of CSTs, spanning crop control, livestock technology, water control, and the innovative realm of virtual agriculture. From precision farming and drought-resistant plants to IoT-enabled precision agriculture, these technologies exhibit a promising trajectory in the direction of climate-smart and sustainable farming.&#x0D; An in-depth evaluation of the effect of CSTs follows, highlighting their function in bolstering the resilience of agricultural structures and mitigating greenhouse gasoline emissions. The economic, social, and environmental implications of CST adoption are scrutinized, shedding light on the transformative potential of those technology to reshape the agricultural landscape. Case research from diverse areas offer concrete examples of successful CST implementation, illustrating the tangible advantages experienced by using farming groups.&#x0D; However, challenges within the enormous adoption of CSTs persist. Economic limitations, knowledge gaps, and social dynamics pose hurdles that need addressing. The paper concludes via emphasizing the pressing want to conquer these challenges, advocating for endured research and innovation. As agriculture stands at the frontline of climate exchange affects, embracing and scaling up the adoption of weather-clever technology isn't always only a desire however a need for building a resilient and sustainable future for international agriculture.

Highly diversified crop-livestock farming systems reshape wild bird communities.

Agricultural intensification is a leading threat to bird conservation. Highly diversified farming systems that integrate livestock and crop production might promote a diversity of habitats useful to native birds foraging across otherwise‐simplified landscapes. At the same time, these features might be attractive to nonnative birds linked to a broad range of disservices to both crop and livestock production. We evaluated the influence of crop–livestock integration on wild bird richness and density along a north‐south transect spanning the U.S. West Coast. We surveyed birds on 52 farms that grew primarily mixed vegetables and fruits alone or integrated livestock into production. Crop–livestock systems harbored higher native bird density and richness relative to crop‐only farms, a benefit more pronounced on farms embedded in nonnatural landscapes. Crop–livestock systems bolstered native insectivores linked to the suppression of agricultural pest insects but did not bolster native granivores that may be more likely to damage crops. Crop–livestock systems also significantly increased the density of nonnative birds, primarily European Starlings (Sturnus vulgaris) and House Sparrows (Passer domesticus) that may compete with native birds for resources. Models supported a small, positive correlation between nonnative density and overall native bird density as well as between nonnative density and native granivore density. Relative to crop‐only farms, on average, crop–livestock systems exhibited 1.5 times higher patch richness, 2.4 times higher density of farm structures, 7.3 times smaller field sizes, 2.4 times greater integration of woody crops, and 5.3 times greater integration of pasture/hay habitat on farm. Wild birds may have responded to this habitat diversity and/or associated food resources. Individual farm factors had significantly lower predictive power than farming system alone (change in C statistic information criterion (ΔCIC) = 80.2), suggesting crop–livestock systems may impact wild birds through a suite of factors that change with system conversion. Collectively, our findings suggest that farms that integrate livestock and crop production can attract robust native bird communities, especially within landscapes devoted to intensified food production. However, additional work is needed to demonstrate persistent farm bird communities through time, ecophysiological benefits to birds foraging on these farms, and net effects of both native and nonnative wild birds in agroecosystems.

Underutilized Fruits of Assam for Livelihood and Nutritional Security

India is endowed with a rich genetic diversity of fruits. The Hindustani centre represents 344 species of fruits. Northeast India, meeting ground of Indo-Malayan and Indo-Chinese bio-geographical areas is one of the 18 mega-biodiversity centers of the World, has contributed the fruit genera like Citrus, Musa, Mangifera, Docynia, Elaeocarpus, Myrica, Morus, Artocarpus, etc. There are a quite large number of indigenous and underutilized fruit crops, which are being used by the local inhabitants in rural areas. These underutilized fruits are fairly rich in vitamins, minerals, antioxidant properties and are serving as protective food. Because of their curative properties, different parts of these fruit and plants have been used in ethno-medicines. Apart from their nutritive and medicinal values quite a few of these underutilized fruits have good flavor, colour and juice content and can be used for value additions. Several underutilized fruit species which have potential for commercial exploitation are yet to be utilized to their potential. These fruit crops have not undergone any conscious phase of domestication and selection. Their cultivation is very restricted and they grow in wild and semi wild condition and adapted to local climatic conditions. Hence they can thrive even under most adverse situation. Their adoption on a commercial scale, with crop improvement, standardization of cultural practices and popularization in diverse farming systems and value additions are warranted to achieve stability in farm production and food security. Many underutilized species, well adapted to marginal lands and with low cost inputs, may thus be of great benefit for the survival of poor communities, employment generation and sustainability of agricultural ecosystems.