Family Farming Systems Research Articles

Small scale corporate model and rice farming efficiency

The land is one of the production factors direct influence on farming efficiency, especially due to the devision and fragmentation of land plots. The multi-dimension of land issues could bring serious impact to agricultural development goals as well as the general goals of development, i.e., the goals of production, productivity, and food crop farming efficiency, especially in rice commodities. It could also threaten the food sovereignty program. The research aims to make farming modeling to increase efficiency and effectivity in land tenure for rice farming and employed descriptive analysis. The research result shows that the existence of rice farming was dominated by the family farming system, where since production to marketing was conducted by the farmer individually. Farmers were generally have joined in a long-established farming group. The farming group played a role as a non-formal organization in receiving subsidies from the government, either production equipment or agricultural machinery subsidies. Further, farming managed to incorporate reduced farming land devision and fragmentation as well as governed the varied land tenure systems. The management of agricultural land tenure systems through the Small Scale Corporate Farming (SSCF) model improved farming efficiency in terms of agricultural production equipment, machinery, and labor utilization. In addition, it also improved the effectiveness of the subsidy program and farming protection.

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.

Multi-criteria assessment of the sustainability of farming systems in the reclaimed desert lands of Egypt

On newly cultivated lands in deserts as in the majority of dryland areas, the sustainability of agricultural systems is often debated in terms of socioeconomic viability and agro-ecological longevity. In these contexts, livestock production systems have raised controversial debates regarding their roles and effects in terms of sustainable development. The objective of this paper is to assess the level (and types) of crop-livestock integration in the dryland systems and whether they result in different well-being and improved efficiency of these agroecosystems. Using an empirical study in the newly reclaimed desert lands of the west part of the Nile Delta (Egypt), we proposed an assessment of the sustainability of the family farming systems using two approaches: a) multiple factor analysis and b) multi-criteria assessment. The multi-criteria assessment highlighted how family farm sustainability depends highly on the integration of livestock into the system, with technical or economic efficiency effects. The multiple factor analysis allowed the distinction of two types of farm systems in which livestock activity could be a source in increasing labour productivity or ensuring the viability of the farm in both short and long terms. So, the two approaches brought out the critical role of livestock in the overall efficiency of the system. However, factor analysis highlighted different profiles of integration and diversification based on-farm assets, and the multi-criteria assessment provided a comprehensive framework for conceptualizing aggregated indicators for the development of sustainable farming systems for the end-users. So these two methods may be complementarity to develop and assess the causal processes of a sustainability assessment.

Agronomic performance of sweet potato genotypes under management of liming and mineral fertilization

Our aim was to evaluate the agronomic performance, the use of limestone, and NPK fertilizer on sweet potato genotypes during two consecutives agricultural years (2009 and 2010). We conducted the experiment by using a randomized block design with twenty-one treatments (seven genotypes and three combinations of the use of limestone with mixed NPK fertilizer) in three blocks. The studied treatments were a control (no liming and no mineral fertilization), reduced management (liming and no mineral fertilization), and conventional management (liming and mineral fertilization). We evaluated commercial and roots yields, root diameter, root length, and shoot biomass yield. Database was analysed by using analysis of variance (F-test) and Bonferroni test at 5% of probability. Sergipana Branca genotype had the highest commercial and roots yields, root diameter and root length. Among the studied treatments, both minimum and conventional management promoted increases in all evaluated agronomic variables. The results of this study emphasize the importance of considering using liming and mineral fertilization in high yield farming systems. In family farming systems, however, using limestone becomes a minimum practice of soil fertility management that can improve yield of sweet potatoes while having a low benefit-cost ratio.

Assessment of social sustainability components in agriculture sector of Iran using a systemic approach

The present descriptive correlational study focused on assessing the social sustainability of intercropping-based family farming systems and agricultural cooperative systems with a systemic approach. The statistical population was composed of the villages in Shiraz County of Fars Province, Iran that were engaged in intercropping and production cooperative systems. In the first step, 186 farmers who were using intercropping-based family farming system were taken by enumeration technique. In the second step, 200 members of the agricultural cooperatives of this county were sampled by the stratified random sampling technique with proportional allocation. The research instrument was a self-designed questionnaire, and data were analyzed by the SPSS22 software package. The results showed that the components of existence and effectiveness were assigned with the highest weight in family farming systems and the components of coexistence and adaptability were allocated with the highest weight in the cooperative systems. The results of the assessment by Morris’ model implied that none of the components of social sustainability was at a sustainable level. The results of discriminant analysis of farmers’ characteristics in terms of social sustainability level revealed that nine components could account for social sustainability level: literacy level, coexistence, family size, income, freedom of action, existence, equality, accountability, and effectiveness.

Production and multiplication of national potato varieties in family farming systems

Potato is the main vegetable in terms of production volume at national level. In Uruguay, two agricultural cycles are carried out every year, in autumn and in spring. Potato small-scale family farmers represent 80% in number and cover only 10% of national area. The current system of seed multiplication allows for two crops in two years, involving the conservation of seed tubers for six months. An alternative scheme for family farmers has been proposed, based on the use of national short dormancy varieties. With proper management, it is possible to obtain four crops in two years. In order to support the insertion of family farmers in a multiplication scheme of national varieties and to identify the main management factors to be improved, the monitoring of seed production was carried out in 2016. Farms were visited every 15 days to assess crop growth and health and support decision making. Total yield was estimated and classified into categories. Critical management factors discussed with farmers were crop design and density, emergence, harvest and post harvest management. We found harvest date is a bottleneck for family farmers, where delays in harvest are frequent. The delay of the spring harvest would not allow using these seeds for the autumn crop since they would not reach an adequate sprouting state. In spite of the fact that national varieties have short dormancy, for this scheme of seed multiplication, the spring harvest date is a key factor to ensure a proper sprout status for the next planting season.

ENRICHMENT AND BIOAVAILABILITY OF TOXIC ELEMENTS IN INTENSIVE VEGETABLE PRODUCTION AREAS1

ABSTRACT Vegetable cultivation stands out for intensive use of agricultural inputs due to high nutritional requirements of plants within a short period and their high susceptibility to pests and diseases. This study aimed to identify the main factors responsible for changes in pseudo-total and bioavailable contents of Cd, Cu, Cr, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn in soils under intensive vegetable cultivation. Soil samples were collected from 146 sites in Petrópolis (RJ), Brazil, in 2017. The samples were collected at a depth of 0-20 cm in family farm systems during vegetable production period. Pseudo-total contents of toxic elements were determined by the EPA 3050B method. Geochemical fractionation procedure was used based on the BCR method. Pollution indices were also calculated. In general, vegetable producing areas presented low contamination by Cu, Zn, Pb, Mn, and Ni, except for Cd, which showed severe contamination. In areas with the lowest slopes, most of the toxic elements showed increasing contents, reflecting relief influence. Overall, inadequate soil management, intensive application of phosphate, potassium, and organic fertilization, and relief were the most influencing parameters on the enrichment and bioavailability of toxic elements in the soil.

SPATIAL VARIABILITY OF PHYSICAL ATTRIBUTES, LITTER AND SOIL CARBON STOCK IN A FAMILY FARMING SYSTEM IN TOCANTINS

The monitoring of soil attributes allows the evaluation of its ability to perform its functions within an agroecosystem. The objective of this work was to evaluate the spatial variability of soil physical attributes, litter and carbon stock in a family farming system in the Cerrado Tocantinense. The area is located in the southern region in the state in the municipality of Aliança do Tocantins. Four types of land use were diagnosed in the area: brachiaria pasture intercropped with stylosanthes, Andropogon pasture, orchard and native forest. The native forest was considered as a reference. The study area totaled 7.9 ha-1 in which it was distributed an irregular sample grid composed of 160 points. Deformed and undeformed samples were collected for each georeferenced point at depths of 0-10 and 10-20 cm, as well as samples to determine the litter and soil carbon stock. Data were submitted to exploratory analysis and geostatistical study. It was found that the conversion of native forest for different soil uses through orchard, brachiaria, andropogon and native forest caused spatial variability in physical attributes, litter and soil carbon stock at depths 0-10 and 10-20 cm. The orchard subarea stood out as a promising system in the accumulation of organic carbon due to cattle manure.

Introducing labour productivity analysis in a co-innovation process to improve sustainability in mixed family farming

Mixed family farms produce almost half of the world food. Increasing food supply in developing countries requires increasing productivity of both land and farmers’ labour as key to increase household income, food security and reduce poverty. A research project developed into Uruguayan vegetable family farms (2006–2010) revealed that the main life quality problems were low family income, high work overload, lack of leisure time, and health problems associated with work. In many of these farms, labour productivity was lower than the opportunity cost of labour. Understanding labour productivity determinants would help to guide co-innovation processes of family farm systems. The objective of this study was to develop and apply a method to analyze labour productivity (LP) at farm level, identifying the main causes of low LP, to use its results in a co-innovation process. We selected 14 vegetable-beef cattle farms with different resource endowment. The method developed involved characterization and quantification of labour allocation to farm activities, calculation of technical coefficients that explained LP and quantification of improvement scenarios. The first scenario estimated the impact of farm redesign plans and the second one added the effect of mechanizing some tasks. LP was lower than the opportunity cost of labour (4 USD h−1) in 10 out of 14 farms. LP in vegetable production (LPv) was explained by both, net return (NR, $ kg−1) and labour efficiency (LE, kg h−1). LE correlated with the amount of product sold (APS, kg of vegetables or meet per year). LP in beef cattle production (LPb) was lower than LPv. LPb was higher on farms with more than 80 cattle units (CU) and 60ha due to lower labour per ha and per CU showing a scale effect. Projected scenarios showed that LP could be tripled by improving resource allocation, and crop and animals management. Mechanizing some labour consuming tasks could further increase LP by 12 %. This study contributes to co-innovation methodology development by adding labour productivity analysis at diagnosis stage and using the results to aid participatory development of applicable and appropriate strategies to increase family farm systems sustainability.

The LCA4CSA framework: Using life cycle assessment to strengthen environmental sustainability analysis of climate smart agriculture options at farm and crop system levels

Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA) seeks to meet three challenges: improve the adaptation capacity of agricultural systems to climate change, reduce the greenhouse gas emissions of these systems, and ensure local and global food security. Many CSA assessment methods that consider these three challenges have emerged, but to better assess the environmental resilience of farming systems, other categories of environmental impacts beyond climate change need to be considered. To meet this need, we propose the LCA4CSA method, which was tested in southern Colombia for family farming systems including coffee, cane and small livestock production. This methodological framework is based on Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and multi-criteria assessment methods. It integrates CSA-related issues through the definition of Principles, Criteria and Indicators, and involves farmers in the assessment of the effects of CSA practices. To reflect the complexity of farming systems, the method proposes a dual level of analysis: the farm and the main cash crop/livestock production system. After creating a typology of the farming systems, the initial situation is compared to the situation after the introduction of a CSA practice. In this case, the practice was the use of compost made from coffee processing residues. The assessment at the crop system level made it possible to quantify the mitigation potential related to the use of compost (between 22 and 41%) by taking into account operations that occur on and upstream of the farm. However, it showed that pollution transfers exist between impact categories, especially between climate change, acidification and terrestrial eutrophication indicators. The assessment made at the farming system level showed that farms with livestock units could further limit their emissions by modifying the feeding of animals due to the large quantities of imported cereals. The mitigation potential of compost was only 3% for these farms. This article demonstrates the merits of using life cycle thinking that can be used to inform stakeholder discussions concerning the implementation of CSA practices and more sustainable agriculture.

Fonio (Digitaria exilis (Kippist) Stapf): A Socially Embedded Cereal for Food and Nutrition Security in Senegal

Agricultural diversification with neglected and underutilized species is a viable way to sustainably increase the productivity of agrosystems. Understanding the social, cultural, and ecological roles of these species is crucial for their promotion. White fonio (Digitaria exilis), a neglected cereal endemic to West African Sahelian countries, is recognized as a crop for the future due to its cultural, nutritional, and economic values. In this study, we described fonio farming systems in Senegal through an ethnobotanical approach. As expected in family farming systems, farmers largely practiced diversified subsistence agriculture on small plots and relied on local seed exchange networks. The importance of fonio varied among agroecological zones, ethnic groups, and gender. In the Groundnut Basin, where agriculture is more mechanized, late-maturing landraces of fonio are cultivated as a cash crop rather than a staple crop. However, in southern Senegal, where food shortages are recurrent, fonio is more widespread and the cultivation of both early- and late-maturing landraces contributes to local food security. These differences also reflect the cultural status of fonio: different among ethnic groups and more important for women than for men. Finally, the regressive dynamics of fonio cultivation in most regions emphasizes the need to develop integrated conservation and promotion strategies that take into account the diversity of social and agronomical roles of the plant.

Cooperative Longevity and Sustainable Development in a Family Farming System

This paper focuses on small holding, family farming in Southeast Spain where agricultural economic activity is predominantly organized around cooperative business models. A variety of diverse studies on the Almería agricultural and credit cooperative sector and the exploration of social-economic and eco-social indicators, in addition to economic-market indicators are presented. Each correspond to a cooperative “logic” that spans theoretical perspectives from the dominant economic-market model, new institutionalism, and an eco-social approach, echoing theories on collective coordination governance, and the avoidance of the “tragedy of the commons”. The latter is of particular importance given environmental challenges and scarce resources for agricultural activity. The cooperatives in Almería have increasingly relied on collective collaboration and coordination in order to meet social-economic and social-ecological challenges, transforming their role from that founded on a market dominant logic to that of cooperation as a coordination mechanism based on the mutual benefit of the community and environment. In turn, their ability to meet a wide range of needs and challenges of members and the community leads to their longevity. Cooperatives are able to act as both a market and non-market coordination mechanism, balancing the economic, social, and environmental dimensions, such that neither market nor non-market logics are dominant or exclusive.

Adaptability and stability of common bean genotypes in family farming systems

Abstract: The objective of this work was to evaluate the interaction between genotypes and environments for grain yield of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) lines and cultivars with potential for use in family farming systems. Data from value for cultivation and use tests, carried out in 20 environments in the state of Goiás, Brazil, were analyzed in two cycles (2007/2008 and 2009/2010) in the dry, rainy, and winter crop seasons. Each test consisted of 15 genotypes from the carioca, purple, and rosinha common bean commercial groups. The experimental design was randomized complete block, with three replicates. The methodologies used to test the stability and adaptability of the genotypes were the one of Lin & Binns, of Cruz, the additive main effects and multiplicative interaction model (AMMI) to calculate the weighted average of absolute scores and productivity (WAASP), and the GGE biplot graphical analysis. The productive performance of the common bean lines and cultivars is affected by genotype x environment interaction. The methodologies adopted allow the selection of cultivars for cropping, and of cultivars and lines for use as parents in order to obtain segregating populations for selection in a family farming system.

A produção da erva mate (ilex paraguariensis) no contexto da agricultura familiar no município de Cruz Machado-PR

The general objective of the research was to evaluate the participation of mate herb (Ilex paraguariensis) in the economic context of the Municipality of Cruz Machado in the state of Paraná, their perspectives of local development and income generation in the family farming system. The methodology used was the bibliographical research and consultation on line in the main organ and secretaries, plus the field work with the investigation of some rural properties of the municipality of Cruz Machado. In family agriculture systems, the logistic of relief occupations is associated with the geomorphological characteristics and the size of the farming properties. In Cruz Machado, the family farming system predominates, and mate herb has always been an extra alternative in supplementing farmers' incomes, and in 2013 it contributes more than 15% of the municipality's annual GDP. And today the production of mate herb represents a complementation in the income of the families of the municipality of Cruz Machado, but that can have a maximization of production allied to geoecological characteristics of the region and contribute to the local development.

Sustainable Model of Organic Agriculture: A Case study of Nepalese Farmers

Epistemology of organic agriculture is logically and practically associated with the conventional farming practices. Organic agriculture can contribute in the social life of people by improving health and ecology. It is even more important for the preservation of natural resources. In relation to the importance of organic agriculture, the main objective of this study was to develop the sustainable model of organic agriculture. The study was based on the inductive approach; qualitative design. Study was conducted in 4 districts of Nepal among the 614 respondents. The result found that there was significant contribution made by the organic agriculture to improve the socio-economic status of farmers as well as to care the relationship between the human being and their environment. Family farming system is the fundamental base for changing trend of agriculture in worldwide practices. There is need to protect and enhance family farming through farmers’ cooperative for the sustainability of organic agriculture. The study developed the sustainable model covering the need of infrastructure development, policy improvement, and motivational factors for farmers and changing process of modern agriculture to organic agriculture. The roles of government, non-government, private sectors, individual farmers and consumers are equally important for the sustainability of organic agriculture. The model focuses on the collective effort of all responsible stakeholders. There is need to test the effectiveness of this model.

Estimates of genetic parameters and genotypic values prediction in maize landrace populations by REML/BLUP procedure.

The REML/BLUP statistics are analyses that can be used as selective criteria in the routine of maize breeding programs. The present study aims to determine the genetic potential in crosses of landrace populations applying the REML/BLUP methodology, and to identify populations for the synthesis of new populations and intrapopulation selection for family farming systems, as well as genetic constitutions for use in maize breeding programs. Nine top cross hybrids obtained in the 2012/2013 harvest were evaluated along with their testator, the landraces used as parents, and four commercial hybrids, in a randomized block design, with information taken from the average of each plot. The evaluated traits were: leaf angle, number of ramifications of the tassel, spike insertion height, plant height, spike diameter, number of grains per spike, mass of grains per spike, spike mass, spike length, prolificity, mass of one hundred grains, and grain yield per plot. The data were analyzed using the Selegen-REML/BLUP software. The top cross hybrids Cateto Branco x Planalto, Amarelão x Planalto and the population Cateto Branco are ranked among the ten best crosses, simultaneously, for the traits: leaf angle, number of ramifications of the tassel, spike insertion height, and plant height (Cateto Branco x Planalto), and leaf angle, spike insertion height, and plant height (Amarelão x Planalto and Cateto Branco). The top cross hybrids Criolão x Planalto, Branco 8 Carreiras x Planalto, Caiano Rajado x Planalto, Amarelão x Planalto, Branco Roxo Índio x Planalto stand out for their high genotypic value of the individual BLUP mean components among the ten best genotypes for grain yield, and by combining three or more traits of interest together, being, for effects of selection, the most indicated.

From Generation to Generation: Changing Dimensions of Intergenerational Farm Transfer

AbstractThe transfer of managerial control between generations on the family farm has long been understood as a critical and often problematic phase, with implications for both the individual farm business and more broadly, the sustainability of family farming systems. Drawing on empirical data from interviews with prospective successors and farmers in Devon, England, the article provides a contemporary analysis of the transfer of managerial control on family farms. Although in line with traditional conceptualisations, findings reaffirm how many prospective successors were delegated tasks of increasing responsibility, with limited access to the higher responsibility financial management tasks, an emergent cohort of younger prospective successors enjoyed a contrasting progression towards managerial control, involving varied involvement across all aspects of farm management. With reference to late modernity and the individualisation thesis, the article explores how unconstrained by tradition the emerging cohort described a wealth of off‐farm experiences, including what the article terms short‐term diversions, which the analysis reveals have informed and shaped their progression towards managerial control. In view of these findings, the article offers an alternative and up‐to‐date conceptualisation of the transfer of managerial control in the form of the succession matrix, before considering the potential applications and some avenues for future research.

Assessing Sustainability of Smallholder Beef Cattle Farming in Indonesia: A Case Study Using the FAO SAFA Framework

<span lang="EN-US">This article aims to assess the sustainability of smallholder beef cattle farms in Indonesia, where there is a national goal to improve the country’s beef self-sufficiency, and to explore and discuss potential improvement limitations and solutions. This article presents a sustainability assessment based on the FAO SAFA (Sustainability Assessment of Food and Agriculture Systems) of six selected family farms representing three types of family farming systems (with only family labour; with hired labour; and with hired labour and a 'middleman in marketing system'). Individual structured interviews based on the SAFA guidelines were conducted and the results analysed with the <em>SAFA Tool</em> software. The results showed that the SAFA sustainability performance generally scored better in the farming system with relatively more resources and hired labour, and the household head also working as middleman, as compared to the other two farming systems with some or no hired labour. These results indicate that the larger room for sustainability improvement relies in the farming systems with only family labour. Lack of information, training and economical resources showed to be two main drivers that explain part of these differences. These results suggest that the government’s role in increasing awareness, providing information and training and facilitating sustainable development practices is critical.</span>

Resiliencia y cambios del sistema productivo en la agricultura familiar de la Nueva Ruralidad europea: el caso del queso de oveja en la Sierra de Cádiz (España)

This article analyzes the strategies resulting in the production of family farming systems in response to imbalances generated by formal regulatory changes. The research methodology was based on ethnography, following techniques features interviews and participant observation fieldwork in social anthropology. This strategy essentially qualitative, allowed us to analyze the consequences of transitions households own products and traditional farming systems, the economics of quality that characterizes the New European Rurality has had a special development in Spain for the strong implementation European Initiatives LEADER I, II and + from 1991. To this end, and based on a complex and systemic perspective, we study different production systems of farming families Cheesecake Sierra de Cadiz, this perspective to analyze the changes that led to generate two different but complementary models: the artisanal and industrial. Our work demonstrates the resilience of family economies of traditional cheesemakers producers, who continue to coexist with new industrial producers in the competitive market for quality food products. The persistence of some and the appearance of others, demonstrates the resilience of rural economies to the new challenges of globalization and the complexity of the new rurality.

Socioeconomic and environmental assessment of biodiesel crops on family farming systems in Brazil

In Brazil, local agricultural research agendas are increasingly challenged by the search for sustainable biodiesel crop options for family farmers, especially under semi-arid conditions. The aim of this paper is to explore the suitability of different biodiesel crops (i.e. soybean, castor bean and sunflower) through a set of environmental and socioeconomic indicators in a semi-arid (Montes Claros) and a more humid (Chapada Gaúcha) municipality in the state of Minas Gerais, southeast Brazil. A technical coefficient generator (TechnoGIN) was used to assess current (maize, beans, soybean and grass seed) and alternative (castor bean and sunflower) crops grown with current and alternative production techniques. The quantification of the inputs and outputs was based on farm surveys, expert knowledge, literature and field experiments. Although castor bean and sunflower are economically competitive with maize in Montes Claros, feed and labour requirements may hinder farmers' adoption. In Chapada Gaúcha, the double cropping system soybean/sunflower presented small economic gains when compared to soybean; it also increased nitrogen losses and biocide residues. We conclude that the scope for alternative and sustainable biodiesel crops on family farms is limited. Their economic benefits are small or absent, while their introduction can lead to higher environmental impacts and there may be trade-offs with food and feed availability at the farm level.