Perspective Of Farmers Research Articles

Study on the Effect of Digital Technology Adoption and Farmers’ Cognition on Fertilizer Reduction and Efficiency Improvement Behavior

Based on the field survey data for 1216 apple growers in three provinces from China’s Loess Plateau Region, this paper adopted Multivariate Probit (MVP) model and intermediary effect model to analyze the influence mechanisms of digital technology adoption (DTA) on farmers’ choices of Fertilizer-reduction and Efficiency-improving Technologies (FETs) from the perspective of farmers’ cognition (FC). The correlation effects of three typical FETs of soil testing and formula fertilization, integrated water-fertilizer fertilization and slow/controlled release fertilizer, were tested empirically. The results showed that DTA could significantly affect the adoption of FETs by apple growers, and FC played a partial mediating role, and there were complementary effects among the three typical FETs. The results were further confirmed by the propensity score matching (PSM) robustness test and the instrumental variable (IV) endogeneity test conducted in the conditional mixed-process (CMP). The results of our heterogeneity analysis showed that the promotion effect of DTA on FETs in the group with junior high school education or below was more significant than that in the group with higher education, and the promotion effect was more significant in the group with large operation scale. Therefore, the improvement in Internet penetration should not be taken as the ultimate goal, but more attention should be paid to farmers’ mastery and effective use of DTA, promote the improvement in farmers’ cognitive level, and implement the “bundled” publicity and guidance strategy of FETs adoption, so as to help in the green transformation of agriculture.

Exploring agricultural landscape change from the second half of the twentieth century onwards: combining aerial imagery with farmer perspectives

ContextAnthropogenic landscape change is an important driver shaping our environment. Historical landscape analysis contributes to the monitoring and understanding of these change processes. Such analyses are often focused on specific spatial scales and single research methods, thus covering only limited aspects of landscape change.ObjectivesHere, we aim to assess the potential of combining the analysis of historical aerial imagery and local stakeholder interviews for landscape change studies using a standardized mapping and interviewing approach.MethodsWe compared six agricultural landscapes across Europe and mapped land-cover using historical aerial imagery (starting between 1930 and 1980, depending on data availability, until recent years) with an object-based image analysis and random forest classification. For local perspectives of landscape change, we conducted oral history interviews (OHIs) with (almost) retired farmers. Comparing recorded landscape changes from both approaches provided insight into advantages of combining these two methods.ResultsObject-based analysis enabled the identification of high-resolution land-cover dynamics, with scale enlargement and cropland/grassland expansion being the most commonly recurring trends across European landscapes. Perceived landscape changes identified in the OHIs included changes in farm management, landscape structure, and infrastructure. Farmers also reported drivers and personal values associated with landscape change. Combining the two historical landscape analysis tools resulted in a qualitative and quantitative understanding of changes in land-cover, land use, and land management.ConclusionsComparing physical land-cover change with local farmer perspectives is key to a comprehensive understanding of landscape change. There are different ways the two methods can be combined, leading to different venues for science and policy making.

FORMAL VS INFORMAL CONTRACTS (NETWORKS) AND SUSTAINABILITY OF RASPBERRY FARMS IN WEST SERBIA – AN EXPLORATORY RESEARCH

Serbia has gained international recognition for its fruit production, particularly establishing itself as one of the top five global producers and exporters in the raspberry sector. Given the highly intensive nature of raspberry production and the diverse range of producers, spanning from small farms to large corporate entities, research on the sustainability of production and future strategies has become increasingly important. The study explores the significance of economic, environmental, and social factors influencing raspberry producers’ practices. It also delves into their future production strategies, examining these aspects from the perspective of farmers. The findings derived from interviews with farmers reveal statistically significant differences between the two subsamples, namely formal and informal, across basic socio-economic and sustainability indicators, as well as in their anticipated future production strategies. The specific approaches and measures in achieving overall sustainability were emphasised in the concluding remarks.

“Safer to plant corn and beans”? Navigating the challenges and opportunities of agricultural diversification in the U.S. Corn Belt

AbstractAgricultural diversification in the Midwestern Corn Belt has the potential to improve socioeconomic and environmental outcomes by buffering farmers from environmental and economic shocks and improving soil, water, and air quality. However, complex barriers related to agricultural markets, individual behavior, social norms, and government policy constrain diversification in this region. This study examines farmer perspectives regarding the challenges and opportunities for both corn and soybean production and agricultural diversification strategies. We analyze data from 20 focus groups with 100 participants conducted in Indiana, Illinois, and Iowa through a combined inductive and deductive approach, drawing upon interpretive grounded theory. Our results suggest that when identifying challenges and opportunities, participants center economics and market considerations, particularly income, productivity, and market access. These themes are emphasized both as benefits of the current corn-soybean system, as well as challenges for diversification. Additionally, logistical, resource and behavioral hurdles– including the comparative difficulty and time required to diversify, and constraints in accessing land, labor, and technical support– are emphasized by participants as key barriers to diversification. Agricultural policies shape these challenges, enhancing the comparative advantage and decreasing the risk of producing corn and soybeans as compared to diversified products. Meanwhile, alternative marketing arrangements, farmer networks, family relationships, and improved soil health are highlighted as important opportunities for diversification. We contextualize our findings within the theories of reasoned action and diffusion of innovation, and explore their implications for farmer engagement, markets, and agricultural policy, and the development of additional resources for business and technical support.

Promoting sustainable smallholder farming systems in China

CONTEXTHundreds of millions of smallholder farmers account for 84% of farming households globally. Owing to the limited access to knowledge and resources, smallholder farming systems under sub-optimal management are facing multiple challenges such as adverse environmental impacts and difficulties in meeting growing food demand. Although substantial advanced techniques and practices have been developed, applying these practices on the ground at a large scale remains a great challenge. OBJECTIVESThis study aims to assess the sustainability of typical soil-crop management practices in order to recommend best practice bundles. The study also deploys a farmer survey in order to identify barriers hindering the adoption of sustainable practices and propose ways to overcome these barriers. METHODSTo achieve these aims, we develop a generalizable framework combining technical innovations and social realization pathway for sustainable transformation of smallholder farming systems. We apply this framework in the North China Plain as a case study, propose target-oriented practice bundles and subsequent realization roadmaps from smallholder farmer's perspectives and interests. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONSOur results show that nitrogen reduction has the greatest positive effect on the overall sustainability of smallholder farming systems (12–14%), followed by formula fertilizer (6–10%) and optimal crop practices (2–4%). Thus, our recommended practice bundles include reducing fertilizer inputs and optimal sowing date and rate. However, our farmer survey shows that the implementation of these recommended practices faces barriers associated with economic costs, labor requirements, and farmer's preferences and acceptance. We suggest ways to overcome these barriers, including multi-stakeholder platforms better connecting smallholders, scientists, government, and industry. SIGNIFICANCEOur framework can be amended to fit different contexts and targets, therefore it can be adopted and tweaked by other regions worldwide dominated by smallholder agriculture to promote sustainable transformation.

Knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions of farmers towards urban agroecology in Malaysia

Adopting agroecological approaches to build resilient urban food systems has recently gained traction around the world, but there is little to no reliable literature on the knowledge, attitudes, and perspectives of urban farmers towards these nature-based solutions in many developing nations, including Malaysia. The present study conducted an online survey to determine the extent to which local urban farmers understand and employ agroecology, as well as to assess their awareness and views on using agroecological practices and sustainable farm management. We found that the majority of respondents are unfamiliar with agroecological principles, with 79 % agreeing or strongly agreeing that implementing sustainable agricultural practices is challenging. However, more than 90 % of respondents are aware of the environmental consequences of excessive input utilisation. Our findings highlight the need for improved initiatives to promote agroecological approaches among farmers by sharing knowledge and best practices. In light of the growing threat posed by urban heat islands and the rapid urbanisation, this study offers novel insights into the knowledge gaps and perceptions about agroecological approaches among urban farmers, challenges that must be addressed to promote sustainable agriculture, and the potential role of farmers in achieving the three fundamental pillars of sustainability—planet, people, and prosperity.

Farmer Perspectives on the Economic, Environmental, and Social Sustainability of Environmental Conservation Agriculture (ECA) in Namobuddha Municipality, Kavre, Nepal

Farmer Perspectives on the Economic, Environmental, and Social Sustainability of Environmental Conservation Agriculture (ECA) in Namobuddha Municipality, Kavre, Nepal

Linking farmers' perceptions and management decision toward sustainable agroecological transition: evidence from rural Tunisia.

Global food systems face sustainability challenges like undernourishment, inequity, resource degradation, and pollution. Food production and consumption drive environmental change with greenhouse gas emissions, biodiversity loss, and land-system shifts. The climate change crisis has intensified concerns about the ecological impact of these systems. Sustainable food networks, such as community-supported agriculture, are promoting sustainable production and consumption through short supply chains. International bodies like the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the Consultative Group for International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) are also spearheading initiatives for more equitable and sustainable food systems. In Tunisia, where dryland areas predominate, the ongoing implementation of the Agroecology Initiative provides the context for this study, which explores the drivers and barriers of agroecological transformation in this challenging environment. The research focuses on stakeholder engagement, with a gender perspective to explore farmer perceptions. The study, conducted in the northwest of Tunisia in 2022-2023, involved focus groups, workshops, surveys, and questionnaires with various stakeholders. Findings highlight farmer organizations' potential in promoting sustainable farming, with clear goals, diversified systems, and collaborations. However, challenges such as input scarcity, water shortage, low income, and marketing must be addressed. Results also indicate that over 90% of farmers who received assistance with agroecological practices reported a change in their ideas and practices. Fifty seven percent of the workshops participants identified the olive oil value chain as having the greatest potential for agroecological transformation, but it faces constraints such as climate, lack of policy incentives, training, funding, and difficulty in adopting technical innovations. Women's inclusion in agriculture, environmental, social, and economic challenges were also highlighted. Despite these obstacles, key drivers for agroecological transition were identified. These include the compatibility of many agroecological practices with existing farmer capabilities, their cultural and economic benefits, and the positive outcomes for environmental sustainability and health. The study advocates for a socio-technical systems analysis to address the root causes hindering Tunisia's agroecological transformation. A participatory approach is crucial to understanding priorities and developing a sustainable and resilient food system. Furthermore, the research underscores the importance of considering diverse farmer perspectives and tailoring strategies to support this critical transition effectively.

Heterogeneity measurement of the impact of the rural land three rights separation policy on farmers’ income based on DID model

IntroductionAs is well known, the policy of separating three rights is another important milestone in China’s land system reform. This policy has been in effect for 10 years and is of great significance to the livelihoods of rural families. In the implementation of policies, some farmers have obtained more land management rights, but some farmers have temporarily lost their land management rights. Existing research has shown that there is no consensus on the effect rural land three rights separation on increasing farmers’ income, especially in terms of heterogeneity research, which is more scattered.MethodsWe will use the latest national fixed observation point data from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs from 2011 to 2020, as well as data from Peking University Treasure Database, West Lake Law Library Database, China Statistical Yearbook, and China Rural Statistical Yearbook. This paper matched the unbalanced panel data of 9,846 rural household samples from 30 provinces except Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan and Xizang, and conducted an empirical study using the multi time point DID method.ResultThe overall result shows that the policy of three rights separation of rural land can improve the income of farmers, and the impact is more obvious after the promulgation of relevant laws. From the perspective of farmers’ heterogeneity, farmers with more training, food crop planting farmers, and farmers with relatively large land scales are more significantly affected by the policy’s income increase effect.DiscussionScholars have yet to find a good explanation for how the rural land three rights separation affects farmers’ income. In this article, it appears that the three rights separation policy has promoted the increase of farmers’ income through intermediary mechanisms such as investment level, credit level, and non-agricultural employment level.

How to manifest the fertilizer reduction effect of pro-environmental agricultural technologies? From the perspective of farmers’ perception and behavioral adoption

How to manifest the fertilizer reduction effect of pro-environmental agricultural technologies? From the perspective of farmers’ perception and behavioral adoption

Farmer perspectives on desired catfish attributes in aquaculture systems in Nigeria. An exploratory focus group study

As a first step to determine the focus of potential genetic improvement programs for African catfish in Nigeria, we conducted a study to identify the preferred attributes among catfish producers across three states renowned for aquaculture production, in December 2022. Employing a qualitative approach, data were collected through 11 focus group discussions involving 123 participants. The findings indicate that farmers prioritize a range of catfish attributes related to both consumption and production. The top five production-related attributes identified by farmers include stress tolerance, disease resistance, fast growth, robustness, and high survival rates. For consumption-related attributes, preferences were for large, long, heavy catfish, with abundant flesh and thickness. Notably, the prioritization of these attributes varied among catfish farmers both between and within states, reflecting diverse farming objectives and market dynamics. Future research is essential to define precise objectives and scope for selective breeding program design, considering the investment necessary for the success of such programs and how they can accommodate the diverse preferences identified.

Local Knowledge on Climate Change: Insights from Orange Farmers in Namsaling Village, Ilam District, Nepal

This journal article investigates the knowledge and experiences of orange farmers in Namsaling village, situated in the Ilam District of Nepal, concerning climate change. The study aims to assess farmers' awareness of climate change, its impact on orange cultivation, and its effects on their family economy. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions with orange farmers. The findings demonstrate that farmers possess a substantial understanding of climate change and its implications for their agricultural practices. They have observed changes in temperature, rainfall patterns, and occurrences of pests and diseases, directly affecting orange production. Farmers have adopted various adaptive measures, including altering cultivation practices, cultivating genetically modified crops, implementing irrigation systems, and using organic fertilizers to sustain their family economy. However, challenges such as limited access to climate information, financial constraints, and the need for additional training hinder effective climate change adaptation in the region. This study offers valuable insights into the experiences and perspectives of orange farmers, emphasizing the importance of targeted interventions to enhance their adaptive capacity and promote sustainable orange cultivation amidst the challenges posed by climate change.

Evaluation of rural ecological resilience from the perspective of communities and farmers: a study on Laochehe ethnic minority village in China

The ecological problems of tourism villages in the context of globalization cannot be ignored. Rural tourism has destroyed the rural ecological environment, and it is of great significance to explore the ecological resilience of tourism villages to achieve sustainable development. This study introduces an analytical framework with which to assess the ecological resilience of rural tourism locales, focusing on micro-level perspectives involving communities and farmers. Ecosystem service values and a comprehensive index are utilized as proxies to characterize ecological resilience, and its evolutionary characteristics and mechanisms are investigated. The results are as follows. (1) From the community perspective, rural land use has changed significantly from the agricultural function to the tourism compound function. During this transition, the ecological resilience index has decreased by 2.05 × 106. (2) From the perspective of farmers, the rural ecological resilience index and various dimensional indices have altogether increased. Notably, the transformation capability index has increased by 30.34%, the interference capability index has increased by 21.78%, and the response capability index has increased by 14.72%. The ecological resilience indices for different livelihood types, from highest to lowest, are ranked as follows: tourism-oriented farmers (0.4412), tourism-participating farmers (0.4274), and migrant-oriented farmers (0.4066). (3) Socio-economic factors and farmers’ livelihoods lead to the imbalance of the rural social ecosystem. The adaptive transformation of tourism villages has facilitated the dynamic evolution of ecological resilience. This study contributes to the enrichment of ecological resilience research perspectives and may offer valuable insights for the sustainable development of tourism villages in similarly developing countries around the world.

Research on the Rural Revitalization Process Driven by Human Capital: Based on Farmers’ Professionalization Perspective

This study examines the logical connection and articulation mechanism between rural human capital and rural revitalization from the perspective of farmers’ professionalization. Utilizing panel data spanning 2011 to 2020, collected from 31 provinces in China, a comprehensive index framework for rural revitalization was constructed, and a fixed-effect model was used for empirical analysis. It is found that: firstly, rural human capital strongly drives rural revitalization, and the professionalization of farmers has a converging influence on rural revitalization as well as a favorable moderating influence on the convergence of rural human capital on rural revitalization. Secondly, the harmonized progress of urban and rural regions is a significant interface mechanism between rural human capital and rural revitalization. Therefore, to facilitate rural revitalization, the government should provide educational opportunities, make investments in rural human capital through policies, and emphasize the value of talents and industrial resources in integrating the urban and rural.

KETERGANTUNGAN PETANI SAYURAN TERHADAP TENGKULAK SEBAGAI PATRON-KLIEN DALAM KEGIATAN PERTANIAN (STUDI KASUS DESA WAKULI KECAMATAN KAPONTORI KABUPATEN BUTON)

The income of vegetable farmers in Wakuli Village comes from production results and the prices received by farmers. Efficient management and increased production should have an impact on farmer welfare. However, in reality the exchange rate and the existence of farmers are often neglected in the economic system, especially in the distribution system for vegetable crops, so they are unable to provide positive profits. The aim of this research is to analyze the role of middlemen from the perspective of vegetable farmers and to determine the type of dependency of vegetable farmers as patron-clients. The informants in this research consisted of 1 key informant from village officials, the main informant consisted of 7 vegetable farmers and 3 middlemen, as well as 1 supporting informant from the head of the farmer group. The data collection techniques used in this research are observation, interviews and documentation. The instruments in this research were an interview guide, writing tools and recording equipment. Data analysis uses the Miles and Huberman interactive data analysis model. The research results show that middlemen in agricultural activities in Wakuli Village have an active role as capital owners, buyers and marketers. There are several types of middleman roles that are considered to be able to help farmers in dealing with economic and social problems. The role of the middleman covers all aspects (production, marketing, financial and social) needed by farmers in Wakuli Village. In the vegetable production process, farmers depend on capital provided by middlemen and in the marketing process the vegetables are sold to middlemen. Of all the farmers who were informants in this research, on average, they channeled their vegetable harvests to middlemen.

How digital skills affect farmers’ agricultural entrepreneurship? An explanation from factor availability

Promoting rural household agricultural entrepreneurship is a key way to increase farmers’ income and achieve rural revitalization. In the growing digital economy, the ability to use the internet to access information is crucial for agricultural entrepreneurship. Based on the data of China Land Economic Survey, this paper uses the panel Logit fixed-effects model to investigate the impact of digital skills on farmers’ agricultural entrepreneurship and the underlying mechanisms. The findings indicate that digital skills have a statistically significant positive influence on farmers’ agricultural entrepreneurship. Furthermore, digital skills can enhance farmers’ agricultural entrepreneurship by increasing factor availability, including production credit, modern technology, and social capital. The positive effect of digital skills on farmers’ agricultural entrepreneurship is more pronounced for farmer groups with more farming experience, greater land resources, no major adversities experienced and lack optimistic expectations for the future. Additionally, this research revealed differences in the impact of different types of digital skills on farmers’ agricultural and non-agricultural entrepreneurship. This study contributes to the micro analysis from the perspective of farmers’ agricultural entrepreneurship, which provides policy implications for developing countries worldwide to enhance agricultural entrepreneurship by improving digital skills.

Practical Marketing System as a Solution to Limited Labor and Post-Harvest Processing Areas for Rice

The majority of rice farmers in Denpasar City chose a practical marketing system, this system implements rice sales based on estimated production results. Farmers generally sell their produce when the rice is approaching harvest time. The buyer determines the purchase price for rice by estimating the number of transaction objects after carefully observing and viewing the rice to be harvested. With this system, farmers no longer need to think about the availability of labor to harvest, transport the harvest home, dry the grain until it reaches a certain level of dryness. The novelty of this research is conducting in-depth research on the practice of buying and selling rice using a practical marketing system in Denpasar City. This research will also examine in depth the practical marketing system from two sides, namely from the perspective of farmers and buyers. The results of this research reveal that the practice of buying and selling rice using a practical marketing system in Denpasar City involves farmers as sellers and buyers who are usually called penebas. The reason why farmers choose a practical marketing system is that this system is considered more profitable for farmers with all the limitations of farming in urban areas, where farmers only need to care for the rice they plant until it is ready to harvest.

Agriculture-driven deforestation in Ecuador's Mache-Chindul Ecological Reserve: The farmers' perspective

Tropical rainforests serve as invaluable global carbon stocks with long-term climate mitigation potential and important ecosystem functions and biodiversity. Recent scholarship has identified agriculture as the main driver of tropical rainforest deforestation worldwide, yet effective policy action needs to understand why farmers continue to clear land, beyond broad-brush attributions of blame. This study highlights the constellation of social forces that drive deforestation in a subsection of the Mache Chindul Ecological Reserve (REMACH) in northwest Ecuador. Rather than simply assuming that farmers are either indifferent to or ignorant of the effects of deforestation, we highlight the perspective of farmers themselves as they reflect on, both, their relationship with other key actors and the broader contextual factors informing their own land-use decisions. We surveyed 70 rural households using a 45-question data collection tool, conducted semi-structured interviews with key stakeholders such as local conservation practitioners and community elders, employed participant observation and reviewed government documents.We find that colonist farmers who live in and around the REMACH clear land because they view doing so as their most reliable means of securing a livelihood for themselves and their children in a context of political and economic hardship and uncertainty. A history of government incentives to clear land, a deeply ambiguous land tenure system, and a sudden influx of externally-funded conservation NGOs to the region have all contributed to exclude farmers from the decision-making process, while simultaneously exacerbating the conditions that make deforestation farmers' most practical option—despite their awareness of its environmental impact. The data underscore that locals are, in fact, highly invested in the idea of conserving a healthy environment for future generations, but are nonetheless driven to act against this interest by their own precarity. By helping governmental and non-governmental conservation practitioners better understand farmers’ land-use decisions, the study reframes the latter group not as the problem, but as vital future partners.

Understanding the Perspectives of Small-Scale Arable Crop Farmers on Soil Management Practices in Uhen L.G.A, Edo State

This study provides insights into the perceptions of small-scale arable crop farmers in Uhen L.G.A regarding soil management practices. A total of 50 questionnaires were administered to randomly selected farmers and the questionnaires covered various aspects, including demographics, farming and soil fertility management practices, awareness of organic agriculture, soil health, and soil fertility, as well as acceptance, viability, and sustainability of organic inputs. The findings revealed that the majority of the respondents were male, with a range of ages and educational backgrounds, mostly attaining secondary education with varying levels of farming and agricultural experience. Regarding farming and soil fertility management practices, respondents reported adopting practices such as tillage, mound/heaps/ridges, bush burning, mulching, and mixed cropping. Organic fertilization was more commonly used than inorganic fertilization, with reasons cited including availability, low cost, crop response, and long-term effects. Farmers recognized the importance of organic residue and soil organisms for soil health. However, there was limited awareness of organic agriculture among the respondents, and their knowledge of soil organisms and their contributions to soil health was moderate. The findings highlight the need for increased awareness and knowledge of organic agriculture and the potential benefits of organic inputs for soil health and fertility.

Perceived Factors affecting Sugarcane Production Among Small-Scale Farmers in Kilombero District, Morogoro, Tanzania

This study investigates the nuanced perspectives of small-scale sugarcane farmers around the Kilombero Sugar Company in the Kilombero District, Morogoro, regarding the effects of weather variability, climate change, extension services, and support from sugar processing companies on sugarcane production. Cross-sectional research design was employed to gather information using a questionnaire survey from 128 farmers who were obtained through a simple random sampling technique. Descriptive statistics were used for analysis. The findings elucidate climate change and altered weather patterns are influencing agriculture, in this case, impacting the cultivation of sugarcane such that that changes in temperature and rainfall patterns have indeed resulted in unpredictable flowering and maturity cycles in sugarcane crops. Furthermore, the study highlights the significant role of extension services in enhancing agricultural practices and adequate pest and disease management practices contributes to the overall health and vigour of their sugarcane crops. It is concluded that weather variability, climate change, extension services, and support from sugar processing companies on sugarcane production are important factors influencing sugarcane production. The study emphasises the necessity of tailored education and outreach programs to bolster farmers' understanding and adoption of effective pest and disease management practices essential for sustainable sugarcane production in the Kilombero District