Farm Profitability Research Articles

Pemberdayaan Petani Padi Sawah dalam Meningkatan Efisiensi Usaha Tani dengan Pembuatan dan Aplikasi Herbisida Organik di Desa Botolempangan Kabupaten Maros

Botolempangan Village in Bontoa Sub-district is one of the centers of paddy rice production in Maros Regency, with characteristics of rain-fed paddy fields that have many obstacles to weed infestation, especially if the dry season is abandoned from rice farming activities, before being planted during the rainy season where farmers are very dependent on the use of herbicides. Dependence on the use of synthetic (inorganic) herbicides occurs from the pre-growth period of seeds, seedlings to the maintenance process. High costs result in considerable inefficiencies in rice farming. Training in technology transfer efforts to make Organic Herbicide Formulations, and their applications are carried out to increase the Empowerment and Efficiency of rice farming on Rainfed Rice Fields. With the efficiency target is to increase the profit of paddy rice farming, minimizing inorganic herbicide inputs. The output of this activity ultimately produces products that can be applied to at least reduce or reduce the use of inorganic herbicides. At the end of the activity, farmer business groups are able to produce and apply Organic Herbicide Formulations on Demoplots on Farmer-Owned Land.

Modelling the impacts of future climate change on mixed farming system in southeastern Australia

Mixed farming systems play a crucial role in Australian agriculture, offering economic, social, and environmental advantages. However, these systems are vulnerable to climate change, characterized by rising temperatures and increased rainfall variability. We utilized the pre-calibrated AusFarm model, forced with daily climate data downscaled from 27 Global Climate Models, to simulate how climate change would affect mixed-farming systems at two sites, Condobolin and Wagga Wagga located in southeastern Australia. The results indicated that climate change had diverse effects on crop yields. The simulated yield for some crops, such as canola, was projected to decrease, while others, like field peas, were expected to increase. Elevated atmospheric CO2 levels were anticipated to boost pasture production, but the overall outcome would depend on how these changes interact with rising temperatures and changed rainfall patterns. The increase in pastures was associated with higher live sheep weights and increased fleece growth, with a more significant impact observed at the drier Condobolin site. Furthermore, we found that the gross margin was projected to rise at both sites, with Condobolin experiencing more variability under the influence of climate change. These modelling findings highlight the capacity of mixed-farming systems, which integrate both crops and livestock, to uphold or even improve farm profitability in the context of impending climate change. This underscores the crucial significance of mixed-farming systems in southeastern Australia.

Regenerative Agriculture: Integrating Soil Health, Carbon Management and Socio-ecological Outcomes

Regenerative agriculture is a revolutionary farming method that aims to address the many issues raised by current agricultural practices by balancing soil health, carbon management, and socio-ecological results. This all-encompassing framework incorporates ideas to improve and restore soil ecosystem health, store carbon in the atmosphere, and build resilient rural communities. Regenerative agriculture prioritizes soil health by emphasizing techniques like cover crops, decreased tillage, and diverse cropping systems, which together strengthen soil structure, increase microbial activity, and accelerate nutrient cycling. Through their substantial contribution to carbon sequestration, these techniques help to stabilize the climate by reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Simultaneously, regenerative agriculture supports structures that foster socio-ecological resilience, such as fair resource distribution, farmer welfare, and community involvement. This strategy strives to improve ecological integrity and reconstruct rural livelihoods in addition to raising farm productivity and profitability. The combination of these components highlights a comprehensive vision in which agricultural methods are in line with social and ecological goals, offering a sustainable route forward for food systems in the future. In addition to providing insights into regenerative agriculture's potential to address global sustainability issues, this abstract highlights the fundamental concepts, advantages, and potential drawbacks of the practice. It also advances ecological and community health. Findings demonstrate convergence with respect to goals that improve the environment and emphasize the significance of socioeconomic factors that support food security.

Genome-Wide Association Study of Conformation Traits in Brazilian Holstein Cattle.

The linear conformation of animals exerts an influence on health, reproduction, production, and welfare, in addition to longevity, which directly affects the profitability of milk-producing farms. The objectives of this study were (1) to perform genome-wide association studies (GWASs) of conformation traits, namely the Rump, Feet and Legs, Mammary System, Dairy Strength, and Final Classification traits, and (2) to identify genes and related pathways involved in physiological processes associated with conformation traits in Brazilian Holstein cattle. Phenotypic and genotypic data from 2339 Holstein animals distributed across the states of Rio Grande do Sul, Paraná, São Paulo, and Minas Gerais were used. The genotypic data were obtained with a 100 K SNP marker panel. The single-step genome-wide association study (ssGWAS) method was employed in the analyses. Genes close to a significant SNP were identified in an interval of 100 kb up- and downstream using the Ensembl database available in the BioMart tool. The DAVID database was used to identify the main metabolic pathways and the STRING program was employed to create the gene regulatory network. In total, 36 significant SNPs were found on 15 chromosomes; 27 of these SNPs were linked to genes that may influence the traits studied. Fourteen genes most closely related to the studied traits were identified, as well as four genes that showed interactions in important metabolic pathways such as myogenesis, adipogenesis, and angiogenesis. Among the total genes, four were associated with myogenesis (TMOD2, TMOD3, CCND2, and CTBP2), three with angiogenesis (FGF23, FGF1, and SCG3), and four with adipogenesis and body size and development (C5H12orf4, CCND2, EMILIN1, and FGF6). These results contribute to a better understanding of the biological mechanisms underlying phenotypic variability in conformation traits in Brazilian Holstein cattle.

The Potential of Providing Chicken Manure in Improving Soil Health in Dry Lands

Despite having a considerable potential area, the optimal utilization of dry land is challenging due to the generally low soil moisture content and fertility of dry land in Indonesia. This is evidenced by the intrinsically low organic matter content in dryland soils. Therefore, this article aims to provide information on the potential application of chicken manure to enhance soil fertility and health or to rehabilitate suboptimal dry lands in Indonesia. The methodology used in this article is qualitative, based on a literature review. One approach to improving the condition of dry land in Indonesia is the application of chicken manure, which acts as a soil conditioner and enhances overall soil fertility and health. The results of the study indicate that using chicken manure on dry land can increase crop production, thereby positively correlating with the profits of dry-land farmers.

Analysis of Allocative Efficiency of Watermelon Farming in Kapuas Regency, Central Kalimantan Province

The objective of this research is to analyze the costs, revenues, and profits of watermelon farming, to examine the impact of the use of production factors in watermelon farming, and to evaluate the allocative efficiency level of watermelon farming in Kapuas Regency, Central Kalimantan Province. The population of this research consists of 113 farmers, from which 55 were selected using simple random sampling techniques. The data processing method used to analyze the costs, revenues, and profits of watermelon farming includes using a multiple linear regression model, specifically the Cobb-Douglas function type. Additionally, to analyze the allocative efficiency of production factors used by farmers in watermelon farming, the comparison of a production factor’s Marginal Product Value (MPVx) with the price of the production factor (Px) is set to be equal to 1. Based on the results of the research and data processing, the average revenue obtained from watermelon farming in Kapuas Regency is IDR 75,619,181.82 per farm, and the average profit earned by watermelon farmers is IDR 45,541,259 per farm. The statistical test results of the Cobb-Douglas production function show that collectively (simultaneously), the production factors (land area, number of seeds, organic fertilizer, inorganic fertilizer, pesticides, and labor) significantly affect watermelon production. However, the partial test results indicate that the production factors of land area, seeds, organic fertilizer, inorganic fertilizer, and labor significantly affect watermelon production, except for the production factor of pesticides. The statistical test results for allocative efficiency (price efficiency) show that three production factors, namely organic fertilizer, labor, and pesticides, are used efficiently, meaning the marginal product equals the price of the production factor. The use of land area, seeds, and inorganic fertilizer is not yet efficient and needs to be increased to reach an efficient point.

Prospects and directions of diversification of oilseed group crops

The purpose of the study was to examine the influence of technology elements on the yield and quality of oil from various varieties of oilseeds, in particular, sunflower, rapeseed, safflower, camelina, and brown mustard. The effectiveness of various agricultural techniques (types of fertilisers, protection systems, and agrotechnical measures) to improve the quality and quantity of these crops was evaluated. The study was conducted for three years on the basis of the educationalscientific-practical centre of Mykolaiv National Agrarian University. The methodology included conducting field experiments with various agronomic technologies, laboratory analysis of the obtained plant samples, and determining the oil content. According to the results, the use of an optimised nutrition system and a combined protection system increases the yield of sunflower seeds by 15%, the quality of oil by 10%, and the use of innovative elements for growing flax increases the oil content of seeds by 8%. For rapeseed, it was determined that the use of adopted nutrition and protection systems increases the yield by 20%. The mustard examination showed a substantial improvement in the crop’s resistance to diseases when using integrated plant protection. The findings confirmed the importance of choosing the optimal elements of the technology that contribute to improving the yield and quality of oilseeds. This issue is relevant since oilseeds occupy a substantial place in the agro-industrial complex. Increasing the efficiency of growing oilseeds not only provides stable profits for farmers but also has a positive impact on the food security of the country in general. Thus, the introduction of scientifically based agronomic measures is a critical factor for achieving sustainable development of the agricultural sector and diversification of oilseeds

Spatial development of agricultural production in Russia: The comparative advantages approach

The territorial planning approach to allocating productive forces is based on the fact that territories have competitive advantages in producing specific products. However, in agriculture, the advantages principle cannot be used to shape the allocation patterns, due to a variety of intervening factors, such as the climatic and environmental conditions for agricultural production and the quality of land and availability of water. In the case of Russia, one of the most diverse countries in terms of the territorial disparities in agricultural production, this study examines the location and development patterns of the agricultural sector. The study identifies the competitive advantages of territories by comparing localization of agricultural production, production costs, performance, and profitability of agricultural producers, as well as prices of agricultural products in 78 different administrative regions in Russia. The study reveals which regions have more advantageous conditions for over-concentrating energy capacities, labor resources, fixed capital, and investments. However, at a certain point, over-concentrated production forces can lead to a deterioration in the performance of farmers due to an increase in capital intensity. Therefore, countries with significant regional differences in agricultural production should adjust their spatial development patterns according to the parameters of territories’ comparative advantages.

Evaluation of alternative farm safety net program combination strategies

PurposeSeveral farm safety net strategies are available to farmers as a source of financial protection against losses due to price instability, government policies, weather fluctuations and global market changes. Producers can employ these strategies combining crop insurance policies with countercyclical policies for several crops and production areas; however, less is known about the efficiency of these strategies in enhancing profit and reducing its variability. In this study, we examine the efficiency of these strategies at minimizing inter crop year farm profit variability.Design/methodology/approachWe utilized relative mean of profit and coefficient of variation, to compare counterfactually calculated farm safety net strategies for a sample of 28,615 observations across 2,486 farms and four dryland crops (corn, soybean, sorghum and wheat) in Kansas spanning nine crop years (2014–2022). A no farm safety net strategy is used as the benchmark for every alternative strategy to ascertain whether a policy customization is statistically different from a no farm safety case.FindingsThe general pattern of the results suggests that program combination strategies that have a high-profit enhancement potential necessarily have low profit risk for dryland wheat and sorghum production. On the contrary, such a connection is absent for dryland corn and soybeans production. Low-cost farm safety net strategies that enhance corn and soybeans profits do not necessarily lower profit risks.Originality/valueThis paper is one of the first to use a large sample of actual farm-level observations to evaluate how combinations of safety net programs offered under the Title I (PLC, ARCCO and ARCIC) and XI (FCIP) of the U.S. Farm Bill rank in terms of profit level enhancement and profit risk reduction.

Welfare evaluation of fat-rumped lambs under stall feeding condition with different feeder design

Animal welfare is directly related to animal performance and farm profit. It is associated with their autonomy to take feed and water along with a lack of discomfort. Feeding welfare determines farm profit as major cost of a farm is associated with feed. The objective of the study was to investigate the effect of feeder design on lamb welfare evaluated through feeding behaviour and lamb performance. Sixteen growing fat-rumped lambs of 3-4 months of age were categorized into two groups with an average weight of 23.20±0.25 kg. Group I lambs were fed in conventional feeder, i.e. without divider and group II in designed feeder, i.e. with divider, respectively. The eating time was significantly low in group I with longer and strong agonistic behaviour suggesting intense competition within the group. This group showed minimal weight gain and maximal feed wastage due to extreme struggle for food during the period of the study. The time spent in comfort behaviours like lying rumination was more and agonistic behaviour was less in group II lambs. They showed significantly higher bodyweight gain. It can be concluded from the study that group feeding of growing lambs in feeder with divider allocates designated space for individual lamb, reduces agonistic behaviour and brings better growth in lambs under stall feeding conditions.

Эффективность производства зерна в условиях изменения климата в Зауралье

Abstract. The economic efficiency of grain production is determined by the level of return on the resources spent by the cost of the products received. Weather factors play an important role. Climate changes in the Trans-Urals are primarily associated with the warming of the spring and summer months, increased aridity of the growing season and the expansion of the boundary of this process from the southeast to the northwest. The contrast in moisture availability of different years is combined with uneven precipitation in the region throughout the year. The profitability of farms in the production of grain crops is characterized by the same heterogeneity. The purpose of the study is to establish the economic efficiency of grain production in the context of climate change using the example of the Trans-Urals. The tasks are to analyze the impact of climate change on the yield of grain crops in the region, to analyze the efficiency of resource use by agricultural enterprises; using the example of the most highly profitable farms to identify factors to increase the efficiency of grain production. The methods of monographic and statistical analysis of data from scientific literature, open statistical sources, agronomic and economic reports of agricultural enterprises were used. The scientific novelty of the research consists in studying the efficiency of grain production in the context of climate change and in relation to the volatility of grain prices and means of production. The results of the study showed that since the early 2000s, despite a significant increase in the use of fertilizers, the growth of grain yields has stopped, which is primarily due to the deterioration of plant moisture conditions. At the same time, an increase in costs, although it leads to an increase in productivity, but to a lesser extent, as a result, the cost of grain increases, and the profitability of production decreases. Enterprises have been identified that, in the conditions of climate change and high volatility of grain prices and resources, have found ways to efficiently produce grain: replace solid fertilizers with liquid fertilizers, apply effective, including agrotechnical, methods of tillage and plant protection, use highly productive varieties, obtaining the highest profitability in the region.

A Review on Mastitis in Dairy Cows Research: Current Status and Future Perspectives

One of the most serious diseases affecting dairy cattle, causing significant losses both in breeding and economy, is mastitis, an inflammation of the mammary gland. Due to the economic importance of this issue, many research teams are striving to develop an easy-to-apply and, most importantly, effective method to prevent mastitis. The use of traditional methods for mastitis detecting and treating, as well as improvement in hygienic conditions, have not yielded the expected results in combating this disease combating. Currently, the main task is to find the tools that would allow for the rapid detection of mastitis and the improvement of udder health in cows while maintaining high milk production, which is essential for the profitability of dairy cattle farming. Accurate and rapid diagnostic tools, with the simultaneous capability of identifying pathogens, may help to reduce losses. Sufficient sensitivity and specificity for tests are required to minimize the number of false-positive and false-negative cases. Efforts are also being made to determine the optimal threshold value for detecting the disease at its earliest possible stage. The estimation of somatic cell count (SCC) as a phenotypic indicator of mastitis is widely used. A more precise parameter for accurately describing udder health is the differential somatic cell count (DSCC). The well-known California Mastitis Test (CMT) is an inexpensive, easy, and rapid method for mastitis detection useful on farms. The latest diagnostic methods for mastitis utilize tests based on the activity of N-acetyl-β-d-glucosaminidase (NAGase) or lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) as well as the determination of acute phase proteins (APPs) in blood serum and milk (such as haptoglobin, serum amyloid A, fibrinogen, and ceruloplasmin). Research also focuses on the genomic improvement of mastitis resistance in successive generations, and for this purpose, many quantitative trait loci (QTLs) and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) have been identified. In recent years, immunotherapy has become an increasingly common area of research, including vaccinations, T/B cell immunotherapy, RNA immunotherapy, epigenetic immunotherapy, stem cell therapy, and native secretory factors. An important aspect of the control of mastitis is the implementation of strategies that focus primarily on preventing the disease through appropriate breeding and farm management practices. In the forthcoming years, a significant challenge will be the development of universal diagnostic and therapeutic strategies that can be effectively implemented as alternatives to antibiotic therapy. Future research should prioritize the advancement of preventive and therapeutic techniques, such as immunotherapies, bacteriocins, herbal therapy, and nanoparticle technology.

Profitability Level of Fish Farming In Ife-Ijesa Agricultural Development Programme, Osun State, Nigeria

The objective of this paper is to estimate the profitability level of fish farmers in Ife-ijesa zone of Osun State Agricultural Development Programme (OSADEP), Nigeria using standard procedures of structured questionnaires administered to 100 respondents that were randomly selected. The study revealed that fish farming in the Area was male dominated with 89%. For the respondents using earthen 41.3% were range between50-60% and 31.6% of the respondents using concrete were within the range of 50-60years. 70.3% of the respondents using concrete were married and 56.6% of the respondents using earthen were married. 40.5% of the respondents using concrete had tertiary education and 45.2% of the respondents using earthen had tertiary education. 95.7% of the respondents using earthen operate by self-savings and 98.1% of the respondents using concrete also operate by self-saving and the average pond size used was 0.5 hectares. Findings also showed that the estimated average fixed cost and variable cost incurred for all fish farmers were N109.296.43 for the respondents using concrete and N173,473.38 for the respondents using earthen, while gross margin and average farm profit were N108, 718,43 for the respondents using concrete and N172,734.88 for the respondents using earthen per annum respectively.

The associations of early-life health and performance with subsequent dairy cow longevity, productivity, and profitability

Selecting and raising dairy animals that are more likely to reach their potential is a strategy to increase milk production efficiency and overall profitability. However, indicators are necessary for the early identification of animals that are less likely to perform well, allowing for their early culling and ensuring that resources are allocated to those with the highest potential. The objective of this study was to analyze the association between early-life animal health and performance with longevity, production, and profitability. After data cleaning, the following early-life measures (i.e., predictors) were available for 363 female calves born between June 2014 and November 2015 in eight dairy herds from New Brunswick, Canada (average: 45 calves/farm; SD: 26.1 calves/farm; median: 42 calves/farm; range: 15–95 calves/farm): birth weight, weaning weight, weaning age, weaning average daily gain (weaning ADG), immunoglobulin G (IgG) serum concentration, the occurrence of navel infection, diarrhea, and pneumonia, and if animals received antibiotic treatment between birth and weaning. Their subsequent length of life (LL), length of productive life (LPL), lifetime cumulative energy-corrected milk (ECM), and lifetime cumulative milk value (i.e., response variables) were provided by the Canadian dairy herd improvement agency. Bayesian Additive Regression Tree models were trained for each response variable using 5-fold cross-validation. Models were evaluated using the RMSE and R2. The three most important predictors were identified using permutation, and the relationship between response variables and important predictors was assessed using accumulated local effect plots. The RMSE for LL, LPL, ECM, and milk value were 1.43 years, 1.37 years, 16 314.94 kg, and $CAD 11 525.68, respectively, whereas the R2 values were 0.30, 0.25, 0.29, and 0.29, respectively, indicating a moderate relationship between predictors and response variables. Non-linear relationships were found between the response variables and important predictors. Animals born with low or high birth weights were associated with decreased LL, LPL, ECM, and milk value. The highest LL, LPL, and milk value was observed for calves weaned between 1.9 and 2.0 months old, followed by a decline for calves weaned at older ages. The lowest LL and ECM were associated with weaning ADG of 0.786 kg/day, while 0.787 kg/day was associated with the lowest LPL. Lastly, both ECM and milk value were highest when serum IgG values were 1 659 mg/dL. These findings provide valuable insights for optimizing early culling decisions and enhancing the productivity and profitability of dairy farms.

Investigating the genomic background of calving-related traits in Canadian Jersey cattle

Traits related to calving have a significant impact on animal welfare and farm profitability in dairy production systems. Identifying genomic regions associated with calving traits could contribute to refining dairy cattle breeding programs and management practices in the dairy industry. Therefore, the primary objectives of this study were to estimate genetic parameters and perform genome-wide association studies (GWAS) and functional enrichment analyses for stillbirth, gestation length, calf size, and calving ease traits in North American Jersey cattle. A total of 40,503 animals with phenotypic records and 5,398 animals genotyped for 45,101 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were included in the analyses. Genetic parameters were estimated based on animal models and Bayesian methods. The effects of SNPs were estimated using the Single-step Genomic Best Linear Unbiased Prediction (ssGBLUP) method. The heritability (standard error) estimates ranged from 0.01 (0.01) for stillbirths (SB) in heifers to 0.11 (0.01) for gestation length (GL) in cows. The genetic correlations ranged from -0.58 (0.11) between calving ease (CE) and SB in heifers to 0.44 (0.14) between calving ease and calf size (CZ) in cows. CE showed the highest genetic correlation between heifers and cows, 0.8 (0.22) respectively. The candidate genes identified, including MTHFR, SERPINA5, IGFBP3, and ZRANB1, are involved in key biological processes and metabolic pathways related to the studied traits. Reducing environmental variation and identifying novel indicators of reproduction traits in the Jersey breed are needed given the low heritability estimates for most traits evaluated in this study. In conclusion, this study provides a characterization of the genetic background of calving-related traits in Jersey cattle. The estimates obtained can be used to improve or build selection indexes in Jersey cattle breeding programs in North America.

A comparative assessment of polymer-coated and non-coated urea in direct-seeded rice: agronomic, economic, and environmental performance and sensitivity analysis

The application of polymer-coated urea (PCU) to crops is likely restricted because the product’s capsules cause plastic pollution. Although conventional fertilizer use reduces plastic pollution, it may increase nitrogen (N) pollution owing to its lower N recovery than that of PCU. Therefore, we need to develop optimal N application methods to reduce both plastic and N pollution. Here, we aimed to (1) compare the agronomic, economic, and environmental outcomes of PCU application with those of conventional urea application and (2) provide quantitative targets for developing alternatives to PCU application in dry direct-seeded rice production. We developed a model incorporating yield, brown-rice protein content, farmer profit, and environmental damage cost due to N and polymer loss according to N fertilizer application. Data were collected from field experiments at a farm in Iwate, Japan, from 2020 to 2022. The average apparent N recovery was 0.43 for PCU and 0.37 for conventional urea. Despite the plastic damage cost, the estimated total environmental cost of PCU was lower than that of normal urea owing to the former’s higher N recovery. However, our ability to simulate plastic pollution is limited, as few of the environmental effects of microplastics are understood. If new N application methods with N recovery above 0.5 are developed, an N fertilization cost within $5 × 10–3 g N–1 can maintain the same benefit as that obtained here. This model can be used to evaluate the quantitative relationships among N recovery, benefits, and implementation costs of each candidate N application method.

Unveiling the Untapped Potential of Maize for Crop Diversification in India: Farm Size, Productivity, and Profit Analysis

Unveiling the Untapped Potential of Maize for Crop Diversification in India: Farm Size, Productivity, and Profit Analysis

Issues of Improving Expense Tracking and Calculating Prime Cost in Agriculture

Objectives : This article is devoted to the consideration of the issues of cost accounting and cost calculation in agriculture. In addition, the article highlights the issues of the correct distribution of costs by cost items and objects, as well as the correct calculation of the cost of Uzbekistan's products. In addition, Uzbekistan is an agrarian country, so the article presents suggestions and recommendations for improving the accounting of costs and production costs in agriculture. Previous studies in this area conducted in other parts of the world indicate a direct relationship between the indicators of production costs and market indicators; however, based on the features of Uzbekistan, it may be different, given the accounting policy and the specifics of agricultural costs. Methods: A linear regression method to determine the impact of costs and methods of calculating the cost of production was used. Costs are divided into variables and constants. Based on the features of agriculture, simple, advanced, and regulatory methods are used. Each of these methods is associated with variables and regresses individually for each type of agricultural product. Findings: Our results confirm that there are some methods of calculating the cost of production of farms. The results also indicate that the correct determination of the cost of production affects the profitability of these farms. The results obtained indicate that the calculation of the cost of agriculture is an indicator of the profitability of farms in Uzbekistan in the short term. The impact of the change in the cost of agricultural products influences profitability, in the end on profit; as it influences the prices of sales of products in the end affect the financial performance of farms. Novelty: The impact of the cost of agricultural products on the profitability of farms is becoming more important than ever before since the negative externalities of cost changes affect the financial performance of farms. Keywords: Farms, Expenses, Cost, Product cost, Accounting register

Analisis Keuntungan Usahatani Selada Hidroponik Umaniniafarm Di Kelurahan Wailan Kecamatan Tomohon Utara Kota Tomohon

The purpose of this study was to analyze the profitability of Umaninia Farm's hydroponic lettuce farming. Umaninia Farm in Wailan Village, North Tomohon District, Tomohon City. Tomohon. This research was carried out for four months, starting from April to July 2024 from proposal preparation to undergraduate examination in Wailan Village, North Tomohon District, Tomohon City. Data analysis data analysis used in this research is Quantitative analysis. Data collection method data using observation, interview and documentation techniques. Research results The results showed that the acceptance of Umaninia Farm hydroponic lettuce farming was amounted to Rp.12,750,000 while the costs incurred in hydroponic lettuce farming for 45 days amounted to Rp.12,750,000. hydroponic lettuce farming for 45 days amounted to Rp. 4,567,321.57 So that the profit earned in hydroponic lettuce farming is Rp. 12,750,000. in hydroponic lettuce farming UmaniniaFarm amounted to Rp.8,182,678.43 with a planting period of 45 days using 2,500 plants. 45-day planting period using 2,500 nettpot.

Integrating Biochar with Solar Drip Irrigation Technology for Smallholder Vegetable Farming in South-eastern Ghana Yields Profitable Returns

Ghana's agricultural sector faces significant challenges, characterized by low productivity and a heavy reliance on unpredictable rainfall and outdated farming practices, with limited use of modern agricultural inputs. This research investigates the potential profitability of integrating biochar and solar drip irrigation technologies for smallholder vegetable farming in Ghana, a country with sub-Saharan African agricultural conditions. The study employs gross margin and net farm income approaches to estimate profitability, providing a robust financial analysis of the proposed agricultural innovations. The results reveal a substantial mean gross margin of GHȼ35,021.25 and a net farm income of GHȼ48,786.50 per ha across the study area during the dry season from 2017-2020. These findings underscore the economic viability of biochar and solar drip irrigation, demonstrating significant financial benefits for smallholder farmers. The study concludes that adopting these technologies can markedly enhance agricultural productivity and profitability. It is recommended that smallholder farmers adopt biochar and solar drip irrigation to improve their farming outcomes, thereby contributing to sustainable agricultural development in the region.