Agricultural Programs Research Articles

Urban food availability and consumption in Grand Lomé, Togo: A household perception analysis

Introduction: Food well-being of the population is one of the priorities of the Togolese government, which relies on the agricultural investment and food security Programme to increase national food production. In addition, the country relies on food imports to make up the shortfall. At the same time undernourishment and malnutrition remain high among the country’s population. This research analyzes food supply and its implications for household consumption in Grand Lomé, Togo. [Methods] The methodology used documents, a survey of 963 heads of household randomly sampled households and semi-structured interviews with 10 households and with Togolese food safety agency (ANSAT). Quantitative data were processed and analyzed using Excel spreadsheets R and R-Studio, while content analysis was applied to the verbal applied to the verbal statements collected. Results: Firstly, the results show that domestic agricultural production contributed an average of 91% of food supply between 2014–2017. The deficit is made up by food imports, which rose from 13.5% in 2014 to 15.4% in 2017. This translated into an acceptable food energy consumption of 2337 Kcal/head/day in 2017. Secondly, 81% of respondents recognize a strong food presence at consumer markets, except that the chi-square test applied to the data at the 5% threshold shows (p-value < 2.2 × 10−16), indicates that this satisfaction is a function of place of residence. Despite this, persistent shortages affect more staple crops, livestock and dairy products, leading households to deprive themselves and buy food at affordable prices. Finally, we observe non-diversified diets marked by regular consumption of “cereals/legumes”, vegetables and beverages to the detriment of “tubers/roots”, “meat/fish”, “fruit” and “dairy products”. Conclusion: This research shows that food supply, although adequate, is not sufficient to ensure balanced, nutritious and culturally appropriate food consumption by urban households. Recommendations: To meet these challenges, the central government, in collaboration with urban communes and consumer advocates, must mobilize resources to create urban agricultural farms, strengthen food protection systems, distribute staple products directly to households and limit the importation of food that is hazardous to health.

A mixed-method approach to designing an entrepreneurial behavior development model in agricultural cooperatives of Kermanshah Province

IntroductionOne of the main problems of agricultural cooperatives in Kermanshah province is the weakness in developing entrepreneurial behaviors. If these entrepreneurial behaviors are developed in agricultural cooperatives, it can be expected that their innovative products and services will be developed and expanded, and the field of improving food security and advancing rural and agricultural development programs in Kermanshah province will be provided. So, the present study aimed to design an entrepreneurial behavior development model in agricultural cooperatives in Kermanshah province using an exploratory mixed-method approach.MethodsIn the qualitative part of the study, the participating team included all key informed individuals in the entrepreneurship area in the cooperatives of Kermanshah province. Thirty participants were selected by snowball purposive sampling. The statistical population of the quantitative phase involved 530 managers and members of the active agricultural cooperatives in Kermanshah province. Among them, 223 were selected by the stratified sampling method and the use of Krejcie and Morgan's table. The data collected in the qualitative phase were analyzed by the Nvivo8 software, and the grounded theory was developed in the form of a conceptual model. In the model analysis, the research hypotheses were first compiled and then analyzed by the path analysis method in SPSS 23 and SmartPLS3 software.ResultsThe results of the quantitative phase showed that the causal conditions impacting entrepreneurial behavior development in agricultural cooperatives encompassed the acquisition of economic profits, personal incentives, enjoyment of human and financial credits, internal disputes, insufficient knowledge of the members, and managerial supports. The intervening factors consisted of sanctions, market fluctuations, and climatic changes, and contextual factors comprised cultural factors, diverse working areas, insufficient financial supports, the development of new markets, the institutions' rate of participation in and cooperation with cooperatives, and administrative bureaucracy. Likewise, the proposed strategies embraced promotional-educational practices, the constant modernization of cooperatives, reduction in administrative bureaucracy, supporting entrepreneurship, developing marketing, transparency in the cooperative, eliminating the intermediates, and supportive-financial policies, all of which gave rise to some consequences such as self-sufficiency in production, prevention from cooperative's depression, the development of producing capacities, an increase in job creation, and improvement in the livings of people. The mentioned model was also evaluated in the quantitative section and subsequently approved.DiscussionBased on the results, it can be said that for the development of entrepreneurial behaviors in agricultural cooperatives, a set of factors must be considered in interaction with each other. Based on the results, it is recommended to increase the information and awareness of cooperative members in the field of improving entrepreneurial behavior.

Dynamics of living income for coffee farming households in agricultural area development policy: Socio-spatial integration

A decent income is an important part of overcoming economic disparities in agricultural development, especially in developing countries where most of the population are small farmers. As a developing country, Indonesia has also established a decent standard of living by setting a minimum wage as a reference for a decent income at the national and regional levels. However, this benchmark is not relevant to be applied uniformly at all levels of workers. This research determines the national coffee development area as the study center. We developed the Anker living wage methodology as a simple concept for determining living income for certain worker communities, especially for small farmers in rural areas who dominate the type of work in Indonesia. a socio-spatial approach is used to visualize the distribution of the dynamics of a decent life in various conditions of farming households. We found that 96.6% of coffee farming households in the national coffee development area had an inadequate living income, and only 3.4% were at an adequate level. We conclude that the current state of agricultural land management does not guarantee a decent income, even though efforts have been made to maximize agricultural crop productivity. The spatial description also shows that this condition is evenly distributed throughout residential areas. It is hoped that this approach can become an essential reference in implementing agricultural development programs that focus on welfare and equitable development as benchmarks for sustainable development goals in the future.

Accommodating Seed Libraries into Public Libraries: A Platform to Address Food Insecurity in India

ABSTRACT There are several initiatives adopted by public libraries to address issues on food insecurity which includes public food programs, community-based agricultural programmes, community food gardens, and seed libraries. The need of a seed library in the community is not just about promoting agricultural practices, it also helps to address the rising food insecurity and hunger issues prevailing in the society. This paper explores how seed libraries could be incorporated within public libraries and their scope in Indian context. For the purpose of the study, previous articles on seed libraries were analyzed to understand its functions and operations. The “Annapurna Seed Library” in Assam is selected to provide insight on the scope for seed libraries in India and how it could be implemented in other states as well.

Effectiveness of Radio Agricultural Programmes in Scaling Up Farming Activities of Smallholder Farmers in Bushenyi District

The study was about effectiveness of radio agricultural programmes in scaling up farming activities of smallholder farmers in Bushenyi district. The specific objective was to; determine the factors associated with radio listenership and application of the knowledge gained through agricultural radio messages. The study was a descriptive-cross sectional survey employing both quantitative and qualitative approaches to data collection and analysis. Data was gathered from a sample of 360 respondents across 18 listener groups of agricultural extension programs using questionnaire and interview guide. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 20.0 to generate both descriptive and inferential statistics. The study concluded that that age bracket (39 – 48), radio ownership, place of residence, negative attitudes and perceptions, limited agricultural spaces, media exposure and investment capital were some of the factors associated with radio listenership and application of the knowledge gained through agricultural radio messages in the area. The study concluded that agricultural extension radio programmes have a wider coverage and have been so pertinent to smallholder farmer’s activities, however listenership and application of the knowledge gained through agricultural radio messages is still hampered by certain impediments that call for urgent address. This study therefore recommends that the programme should be changed to evening when most farmers are available in their houses. Radio producers and program hosts should do this through programme planning which informs the selection of topics, presentation of the topics on radio with interviews from selected experts and farmers.

DETERMINING AGRICULTURAL INSURANCE PREMIUMS USING THE BLACK-SCHOLES APPROACH BASED ON LINEAR REGRESSION OF POTATO PRODUCTION AND PRICES

Price fluctuations, which often occur in the agricultural sector, cause farmers to experience losses when selling prices are not balanced with production costs. The government is trying to minimize farmers' losses by issuing an agricultural insurance program. One of the problems with agricultural insurance is determining the premium that farmers must pay so as not to disadvantage the insurance company. This paper explores the price of insurance premiums associated with potato cultivation in West Java, Indonesia. In addition, this research analyzes the factors that influence prices by focusing on the relationship between potato production levels and market prices. Therefore, a comprehensive data set of potato production data and associated prices is used. Regression analysis, as a statistical technique, is used to model the relationships. The Black-Scholes method then uses the obtained result to determine insurance premiums. This method is used due to a theoretical framework for pricing options that allows selecting an option's fair price using a structured, defined methodology that has been tried and tested. The premium values that depend on the trigger value are then obtained with a range of prices between IDR 5,687,670 and IDR 18,067,953 for an insured amount of IDR 39,403,000 per contract period. The premium price range allows farmers to choose the right agricultural insurance policy. It also allows insurance companies to determine insurance premiums for potato cultivation.

Family Farm Resilience during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Indonesia: Case Studies on Organic and Conventional Farming

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought additional stressors to Indonesian family farms, which are already subject to drought, flood, landslide, pest attack, and market price fluctuations. This study aims to analyse family farms’ resilience to the stressors caused by the COVID-19 pandemic using Henry’s family resilience model. Applying a qualitative approach, this study collected data using focus group discussions in two villages in East Java and a village in Center Java. The data was analysed using thematic analysis. We discovered that stressors related to the COVID-19 pandemic are lower demand on agricultural products and lower income among farmers. Organic and conventional farmers have different protection and vulnerability factors. Organic farmers are able to reach buyers directly using social media amid COVID-19 restrictions while conventional farmers still rely on sales through middlemen. The adaptive process of farming families is influenced by social psychological factors within the family such as meaning, emotion, control, and maintenance systems. This study suggests that family farmers have to be empowered in terms of their innovative production in current stressors and increase their access to the market as a priority for agricultural extension programmes.

Modern methods of teaching agricultural disciplines in vocational high schools of agriculture

The mission of the agricultural sciences has always been to seek how to grow crops and manage farm animals in order to produce high quality and quantity food and fiber to satisfy the needs of an ever-growing population. In the modern world, the quality training of agricultural specialists starts from the high school stage. Vocational agricultural education is one of the most effective and powerful tools in society which moves humanity forward and cares for the sustenance of all mankind. The present article examines the modern concepts of agricultural education and analyses the teaching methods in agricultural study program. It also describes in detail the modern teaching methods, their purpose, advantages and disadvantages. This article recommends the implementation of modern teaching methods, as it finds that they would ideally fit into the modern students’ idea of a learning process suitable for the new era of artificial intelligence (AI), technology and digitization.

A system readiness approach to support the packaging and scaling of innovation bundles for farming systems transformation

CONTEXTA newly established ‘systemic approach to technology packaging’ for improved scaling has emerged in the literature. This approach suggests that core transformative innovations can be scaled more effectively through scaling readiness, which helps identify complementary innovations that support and facilitate the scalability of the core innovation. Since these packaging approaches start with single core innovations, we propose that they can benefit from the broader literature on sustainable agricultural systems transformation and readiness. OBJECTIVEThe objective of this paper is to advocate for a more comprehensive packaging of innovations for sustainable agricultural system transformations by better understanding gaps in the agricultural system – and its capacity for change. This approach provides a stronger rationale for the selection of relevant innovations to be packaged together. We introduce the concept of agricultural ‘system readiness’ as a possible framework for guiding such bundles. METHODSThe paper begins with a comprehensive literature review that identifies the current gaps in tools and methods to guide system transformation. It also focuses on the specific literature on innovation packaging for scaling, and builds on the gaps of existing approaches as a rationale for introducing the concept of system readiness (mostly used in infrastructure engineering), and adapting it to agricultural science. We also use illustrative hypothetical examples from mixed crop-livestock systems in the drylands to show how two approaches – ‘packaging for scaling’ and ‘packaging for transformation’ – can lead to different innovation packages. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONSThe concept of system readiness is introduced, defined and advocated. We show that it can help identify performance gaps in agricultural systems and guide better planning for system strengthening and integration. We conclude with possible complementarities between the two approaches of scaling and system readiness. SIGNIFICANCEThe agricultural system readiness approach, as outlined in this paper, would be particularly beneficial for agricultural research-for-development, as well as other agricultural investment programs that seek to identify strategies for fostering sustainable transition in farming systems. Such programs would typically entail complexity-aware theories of change that focus on stimulating sustainable transformation pathways related to key target areas, such as agroecology, sustainable intensification, and system integration (e.g., crop-livestock integration and integrated pest management). The system readiness approach can support such programs through the identification, prioritization, targeting, and empowerment of the most significant (and transformative) system components by identifying respective innovations to be packaged.

Investigation of the impact of dual inoculations of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria on drought tolerance of maize grown in a compost-amended field under Mediterranean conditions.

In the current context of rapid climate change, water scarcity and soil poverty are becoming increasingly alarming, leading to growing losses of 30-50% of global agricultural production. It is imperative to find environmentally-friendly approaches for improving plant tolerance to drastic conditions, particularly in arid and semi-arid Mediterranean regions. Biostimulants based on symbiotic microbes are emerging as effective strategies for improving tolerance and agricultural productivity. This study aims to evaluate the effects of single and double inoculation of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (My) and plant growth-promoting bacteria (Ba) on the growth, physiological and biochemical traits of maize crop grown in compost (Co) amended soil under two irrigation regimes: well-watered (WW: 100% of crop evapotranspiration [ETc]) and drought-stressed (DS: 50% ETc) using drip irrigation system. Reducing irrigation to 50% reduced shoot dry weight (SDW), root dry weight (RDW), 1,000-grains weight (TGW) and grain yield (Y). However, Ba alone increased SDW by 63%, while CoMyBa improved RDW, TGW and Y by 197, 43 and 175%, respectively compared with the control under DS conditions. Dual inoculation boosted root colonization intensity, normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), total chlorophyll and leaf area of maize seedlings in compost-amended soil, compared to the controls. The application of Ba significantly reduced hydrogen peroxide and malondialdehyde by 46%, in maize seedlings grown in compost-amended soil, compared to the controls under DS. Our results indicated that My and Ba significantly boost the ability of maize to tolerate drought by improving water supply and physiology and stimulating the accumulation of organic and inorganic osmolytes, as well as improving the properties of soils such as cation exchange capacity particularly amended by Co. The dual inoculations were the most effective and represent an environmentally-friendly and relatively inexpensive approach to optimizing agricultural production and soil restoration programs in Mediterranean regions.

Determinants of commercialization among onion producer households in southern Ethiopia: a double hurdle approach

This study examined the determinants of onion commercialization of smallholder farmers in the Wolayita and Gomo zones of southern Ethiopia. Both primary and secondary data were used in this study. Primary data were collected from randomly selected 160 onion producers by using a structured questionnaire. Both descriptive statistics and the double-hurdle econometric model were employed in the analysis. The descriptive statistics indicated that the mean commercialization level of smallholder farmers in the study area was 79.51%, highlighting that onion producers in this region primarily focus on marketing their produce. Using the econometric model the first-stage double hurdle results revealed that family size, farming experience, frequency of extension contacts, and distance to the nearest market were factors significantly affecting the market participation decision of onion producers. The second stage of the double hurdle results indicates that education level, family size, frequency of extension contacts, land size allotted for onion production, and distance to the nearest market were factors that significantly affected the level of onion commercialization. Therefore, policies aimed at increasing farmers' access to better road networks and transportation facilities, improving access to education, promoting agricultural training programs, and improving extension services are recommended to improve the commercialization of onion production.

Analysis Of City Government And Farming Community Partnership In Food Security Policy: Urban Farming Program

The urban farming program is the city government policy to overcome the food security problem for the community's welfare. The study aims to discuss the partnership between the city government and the urban farming community in an urban farming program. It utilizes agricultural land and urban garden as the place for urban agroecological transformation as part of urban food security policy through the partnership capacity theoretical approach from Mathers, et al. This analytic descriptive study uses the case survey method, and data collection is obtained from the unstructured in-depth interview, focus group discussion, and observation in Jeruk urban village in Lakarsantri district in Surabaya. The findings show the success of the partnership between the department of food security and agriculture in Surabaya and Sri Sedono farmer group in the management of the integrated agricultural center. Urban farming program is influenced by mutual consensus which is beneficial to increase crop productivity. However, the result also indicates that the skill base factor is not optimal because of the limited personnel in PPL. Furthermore, the farmers are concerned about adopting new plant varieties. We suggest that the urban farming program can be sustainable and needs to increase the number of personnel in PPL. In addition, it is necessary to increase the entrepreneurial spirit of farmers so that they have innovation values to adopt new crop varieties, and the discipline through the increase of intensity assistance from PPL towards independent, skilled, and professional farmers.

TINGKAT KEPUASAN PETANI PADA KINERJA PENYULUH DALAM MELAKSANAKAN PROGRAM PENYULUHAN PERTANIAN DI DESA PARIS KECAMATAN MOOTILANGO

The study aimed to determine the level of farmer satisfaction with the agricultural extension program in extension program in Paris Village. This research was conducted in Paris Village, Mootilango Subdistrict using a survey research type with information collection techniques carried out using a list of questions compiled in a questionnaire. This study had a sample of 39 respondents who used the Important Performance Analysis (IPA) analysis technique. Based on the results of this analysis, it is found that the performance of agricultural extension workers is good in carrying out extension activities on time and carrying out tasks according to their needs. Agricultural extension workers have good insight and communication skills so that farmers in Paris Village quickly understand the delivery provided by agricultural extension workers and extension workers can provide solutions to solving problems and work together in practicing farming activities, comply with each other in the agricultural system, have many ideas and offer innovations in guiding agricultural extension activities.

UN Assistance to African countries in building climate-resilient agriculture

Relevance. Africa is the mirror and quintessence of modern international processes. The continent faces a gigantic number of challenges, some of an existential nature. But at the same time, there is an active search for ways to solve them.The purpose is to consider the experience of forming climate-resilient agriculture on the example of individual African countries and the role of the UN in this process.Objectives: to characterize the conditions and reasons for the formation of climate-resilient agriculture in the African region; assess the policies of the governments of Kenya, Tanzania, Ethiopia, and Rwanda on the development of climate-resilient agriculture.Methodology. The comparative research method was used in the study of agricultural development programs in African countries. Chronological and historical methods of studying legal documents, programs of the United Nations, FAO, NEPAD, Kenya, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Rwanda aimed at the formation of climate-resilient agriculture. A statistical research method for operating with data from the statistical databases of Globaleconomy and the World Health Organization.Results. The introduction of new technologies in agriculture is a condition for saving the environment, which is under pressure from two sides: global climate change and unprecedented growth in the population and its needs. One of the most important areas is to increase the productivity of agriculture, the solution of this urgent task will depend on the introduction of new technologies: seeds, fertilizers, irrigation, plant protection, etc.Conclusions. The introduction of programs and technologies for the formation of climate-resilient agriculture in African countries requires significant funding and institutional and legal preparation.

Pathways to adoption and mitigation: A dynamic perspective on good agricultural practices in Rural Malawi

Many researchers have noted the limited adoption of farming management practices that should increase the resilience of smallholder farmers to weather shocks and mitigate their impact on the changing climate in sub-Saharan Africa. In this paper, we evaluate the dynamics of adopting “good agricultural practices” in Malawi, using data from a three-wave panel collected as part of an impact assessment of the Sustainable Agricultural Production Programme, funded by the International Fund for Agricultural Development. In addition to project impacts, we also evaluate additional mechanisms though which farmers may learn about the costs and benefits of different practices. We also evaluate the extent to which climatic conditions – such as being located in drought-prone or heavy rainfall areas – drive adoption decisions. Given the three waves of data, we first look at the range of adoption pathways observed, through the use of an adoption pathway trees. We identify six pathways, noting that adoption is not continuous for a large percentage of households. We then run a multinomial logit to assess the factors that increase the likelihood of falling into different adoption categories vis-a-vis remaining a never adopter. Results suggest that learning through information dissemination, such as through the SAPP project, and wider learning opportunities significantly increased the likelihood of pursuing different adoption pathways, while climatic conditions and learning through observing have limited impacts. On the other hand, for land-intensive management practices, being located in drought-prone areas or being located in areas prone to heavy rainfall increased the likelihood of pursuing different adoption pathways, as did greater ability to learn by observing. Learning by information sharing had limited impacts for land-intensive adoption pathway decisions. Overall, results suggest that information dissemination is important, though the mechanism differs by type of practice promoted. Flexibility in adoption status is an attribute of this system and there is a need to identify and promote practices that are both flexible and increase resilience to climate change.

Facilitating positive emotions in people with challenges by combining conventional occupational training and a novel farming program: a feasibility study

ObjectiveJapan has a system of occupational therapy programs known as self-reliance training (training for daily living), which helps people with various disabilities lead more meaningful lives. Recently, it has been shown that green care farms are beneficial for dementia care and that agricultural and horticultural work has a positive impact on people with intellectual disabilities and mental disorders. This study examined the health-improving effects of farm activities and developed an attractive program for adolescents with developmental and intellectual disabilities who use independent training facilities. The program comprised agricultural and horticultural activities such as vegetable cultivation and management, flower planting, and flower arrangement.ResultsNo significant differences were observed in any of the measures for positive mood before and after the usual program (UP). However, anger-hostility and depression-dejection improved significantly after the farm program (FP) (p < .05). Self-efficacy improved significantly after both UP and FP (p < .10). Free responses were obtained from UP (131 responses) and FP (126 responses) participants; thematic analysis of FP participants’ statements revealed that positive comments included “confidence in accomplishing tasks,” “anticipation and joy of growing plants,” and “motivation for gardening activities.”

Enhancing Agricultural Extension Programs: A Practical Guide to Designing and Implementing Randomized Controlled Trials

Evidence-based practices in agricultural extension programs must be guided by precise evaluation strategies and reliable data. Methods like randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are vital for assessing specific program interventions. However, not all studies use experimental designs, and their quality varies, as noted in a 2010 World Bank study. RCTs, known for providing robust impact assessments, involve complex steps and are applied in various fields. This guide focuses specifically on RCTs used for agricultural extensions; a topic covered less often than clinical trials. More precisely, this guide provides (1) definitions and key steps for RCTs, (2) a simplified RCTs study design methodology, (3) an exploration of challenges and mitigation, and (4) a summary of relevant RCTs studies in extensions. This guide is formulated to enhance the present understanding of RCTs and elaborate on the ways to use them in their application in agricultural research. Furthermore, the goal here is to make sure that our policies and methods are presented with solid evidence. This approach is meant to encourage the implementation of agricultural practices that are not only more effective but also sustainable.

Comprehensive evaluation of using mineral and bio phosphorus fertilization on orange tree (Citrus sinensis) productivity

Phosphorus (P) is considered as an essential element in crop production. Besides, the study of P from the elemental and bio sources impacts on productivity and quality of orange trees could emphasize its utilization importance. This study aimed to evaluate the chemical implication of three treatments of P fertilization (Triple phosphate (TP; 620 and 900 g/tree/year), phosphate rock (PR; 1820 and 2742 g/tree/year) and 1:1 TP:PR on Valencia orange trees (Citrus sinensis L. Osbeckunder). Where, all these treatments were equipped with bio-phosphorus fertilizer (phosphorin) (0 and 5 g/tree/year added twice in the year, Feb. and Jun.). The measurements included leaves nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and Potassium (K), number of fruits (NoF), juice weight/volume, total soluble solids (T.S.S.), vitamin C (V.C), and acidity. The results showed that the treatment (50% TP +50% PR at 450+1371g/tree/year + phosphourin at 5g/tree/year) gave the highest values for all characters i.e. N % in tree leaves 2.61 and 2.69%, P% in tree leaves 0.16 and 0.17%, K in tree leaves 1.79 and 1.86%, number of fruits/tree 412.0 and 420.0, fruit weight 267.0 and 280.0g, fruit weight/tree 110.0 and 117.60kg, fruit size 260.41 and 272.37cm3, juice weight 114.1 and 126.15g, fruit juice 44.33 and 44.99%, juice volume 110.15 and 114.90cm3, peel thickness 0.58 and 0.60cm, T.S.S. 12.14 and 12.21%, T.S.S. / Acid ratio 9.07 and 9.41, and V.C 70.15 and 72.44 (mg/100 ml) as well as the lowest total acidity 0.93 and 0.91%, under both the 1st season and the 2nd one, respectively. In conclusions, as the application of bio-fertilization has improved the quality charcatistics over seasons. Thus, this study opens the way towards the advanced application of bio-P element to understand the biogeochemical cycles, dynamics and function of natural ecosystems elements in agricultural and food security program.

BUMDes Strategies for Successful Banana Planting Programs

General Background: Village-Owned Enterprises (BUMDes) are essential for enhancing local economies through agricultural initiatives. Specific Background: In Krembung Village, Sidoarjo Regency, a banana planting program has been implemented to improve productivity and income. Knowledge Gap: However, challenges like high seedling mortality and inadequate practices hinder success. Aims: This study analyzes BUMDes strategies in executing the banana program, focusing on community involvement and resource management. Results: While strength and progress indicators are optimal, the value aspect is suboptimal due to significant seedling losses. Community support for banana cultivation has been strong. Novelty: The research highlights practical challenges and strategic approaches in managing BUMDes agricultural programs. Implications: Findings emphasize the need for better resource allocation and community engagement to enhance agricultural initiatives, providing insights for improving BUMDes operations and promoting sustainable rural development. Highlights: Community Involvement: Strong local support is crucial for the success of the banana planting program. Resource Management: Effective allocation and management of resources are necessary to mitigate seedling mortality. Strategic Approaches: Implementing targeted strategies can enhance agricultural productivity and economic benefits for the village. Keywords: BUMDes, Banana Planting, Community Engagement, Agricultural Productivity, Village Potential

Landscape Dynamics and Environmental Fragility Zoning in Hinh River Basin: Insights for protecting natural ecosystems

The landscapes in the Hinh River Basin are crucial and highly sensitive to climate change for the coastal province of Phu Yen and the entire south-central coastal region of Vietnam, offering vital environmental services to its downstream areas. Hinh River Basin has a rich system of rivers and streams and abundant surface water resources. However, it remains one of the region's top localities at risk and a very vulnerable region. This study aims to evaluate the changes in landscape (LC) over 10 years (2010-2023) and predict LC over the next six years using machine-learning (ML) algorithms on Google Earth Engine. To achieve these study goals, we establish: (i) potential environmental fragility (PEF) levels based on: terrain slope; geological domains; river hierarchy; percentage of sand in soil; annual mean precipitations; and (ii) emergent environmental fragility (EEF) levels through the addition of LC parameter to model. The methodology includes integrating the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) into a Geographic Information System (GIS). Results show that three LC types (water, annual industrial crop, forest) are related to extremely high EEF. The predictive model suggests that, by 2030, the forest and annual industrial crop LCs in the study area will increase by around 20%. The analysis results show that there has been an increase in the area of planted forests, which can confirm the futher effectiveness of agricultural, forestry, afforestation and forest protection programmes in the study area (Plan for the implementation of forestry development strategy for the period 2021-2030, with a vision to 2050, Phu Yen Province, No 126/KH-UBND 13/7/2021; and Decision on the approval of the project for planting 15 million trees in Phu Yen Province for the period 2021-2025, No 1646/QĐ-UBND 16/11/2021).