Farmers In Countries Research Articles

Autonomous UAS-Based Agriculture Applications: General Overview and Relevant European Case Studies

Emerging precision agriculture techniques rely on the frequent collection of high-quality data which can be acquired efficiently by unmanned aerial systems (UAS). The main obstacle for wider adoption of this technology is related to UAS operational costs. The path forward requires a high degree of autonomy and integration of the UAS and other cyber physical systems on the farm into a common Farm Management System (FMS) to facilitate the use of big data and artificial intelligence (AI) techniques for decision support. Such a solution has been implemented in the EU project AFarCloud (Aggregated Farming in the Cloud). The regulation of UAS operations is another important factor that impacts the adoption rate of agricultural UAS. An analysis of the new European UAS regulations relevant for autonomous operation is included. Autonomous UAS operation through the AFarCloud FMS solution has been demonstrated at several test farms in multiple European countries. Novel applications have been developed, such as the retrieval of data from remote field sensors using UAS and in situ measurements using dedicated UAS payloads designed for physical contact with the environment. The main findings include that (1) autonomous UAS operation in the agricultural sector is feasible once the regulations allow this; (2) the UAS should be integrated with the FMS and include autonomous data processing and charging functionality to offer a practical solution; and (3) several applications beyond just asset monitoring are relevant for the UAS and will help to justify the cost of this equipment.

Collaboration and optimization in farmland exchanges

To keep businesses competitive in world markets, the number of farms in most countries is decreasing while farm size is increasing, and parcels making up the farm area are extremely fragmented. It is common for farms to expand faster than available arable land near the farm center, leading to longer distances between the farm center and field areas. Consequently, logistic costs increase and affect the farm's profitability and the environment. Moreover, there is often substantial overlap between different farms, which implies that it is possible for farmers to collaborate with each other. We developed and proposed three optimization models to describe different levels of collaboration and sharing restrictions. Many practical considerations need to be weighed, such as the soil type and crops used. We collected detailed information on farms, parcels, and cost drivers in seven large instances for our case study in Sweden. One instance had 1431 farms and 32,091 parcels with 96 crop types. The resulting optimization models were very large; special pre-processing and optimization techniques were developed for their solutions. The theoretical potential for collaboration in logistic cost reduction was very large, ranging from approximately 10% to 50% depending on the form of the collaboration. Because a large part of costs comes from less use of diesel for transport resources, the reduction in cost is directly related to a reduction in CO2 emissions.

Food shopping preferences in the context of logistic chains of food supplies on the example of consumers from the Podkarpackie voivodeship

The article focuses on consumers' dilemmas regarding the choice of food products. Growing consumer awareness is reflected in everyday choices and has both economic and public health significance. Public awareness is generating a tendency to pay attention to health aspects by choosing fresher, better quality and less processed products. Consumers are increasingly interested in short food supply chains and shortening the time it takes to move food “from the field to the table”. Purchasing behavior is conditioned, inter alia, by the individual hierarchy of values professed by the consumer, in which short food supply chains are identified with better quality, lower price and reduced trade margins. Preferences for local and regional products are also observed. The market provides such opportunities, as legal changes introduced in Poland in 2016–2017 enabled farmers to legally sell food products directlyin an unprocessed as well as processed state. Such sales are carried out in short supply chains. A similar phenomenon is also observed among farmers in many EU countries. Short food supply chains play an important role in the process of creating market advantage of agricultural producers, as food products are quickly delivered to the final recipient. Local markets become very important in this case and direct selling, which lost its importance at the turn of the 20th and 21st centuries, is gaining popularity again. Logistical food supply chains are considered in various scientific fields. They combine organizational and technical, economic, social as well as cultural, and health dilemmas. The aim of this study was to identify preferences of food supply chains in the context of consumer behavior of the inhabitants of south-eastern Poland. The survey was conducted using the CAWI (Computer-Assisted Web Interview) method. The survey shows that respondents associate food quality with the length of the supply chain, in the declarative sphere, they prefer short food supply chains, but do not use them. A sizeable proportion of respondents said they were willing to pay slightly more for safe and wholesome food. Research has confirmed that the modern consumer increasingly recognizes the importance of the healthiness of products, and links this to shortening the food supply chain.

Assessment of soil erosion extent using RUSLE model integrated with GIS and RS: the case of Megech-Dirma watershed, Northwest Ethiopia.

Soil erosion valuation at a spatial scale is crucial for assessing natural resource quality in a farming country like Ethiopia. The study's goal was to determine the rate of soil erosion in the Megech-Dirma catchment in Northwest Ethiopia using the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation model aggregation with Geographic Information System and Remote Sensing. Sediment yield and transport were also estimated using sediment delivery ratio. Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation model data inputs included precipitation data for the R value, soil data for the K value, land cover data from satellite images for the C and P value, and topographical data from a Digital Elevation Model for the LS component. It was completed using the ArcGIS 10.4 software. The mean annual soil loss is 110.60 t ha-1yr-1. Each year, a total of 8499.74 t ha-1yr-1 of soil eroded and on average resulting in 1605.30 t/km2/yr, sediment material has been transported to the stream channels and deposited with a sediment delivery ratio of 1.87. The strength of soil erosion in the area is divided into six categories. The erosion rate classes were 46.38 percent (0-12 t ha-1yr-1) low, 13.63 percent (12-20ha-1yr-1) moderate, 9.22 percent (20-35ha-1yr-1) high, 12.30 percent (35-50ha-1yr-1) very high, 7.20 percent (50 up to 100ha-1yr-1) severe, and 11.27 percent (>100ha-1yr-1) very severe erosion. According to erosion severity, 46.38 percent of the watershed is at risk of low erosion, while 11.27 percent is at risk of extremely severe erosion. The north and northeastern sections of the watershed have a moderate to extremely severe erosion risk due to steep slopes, high rainfall, and weak conservation measures. The severely eroded parts of the plateau and steep portions are proposed to be covered by plantation, stone bund, and check dam constructions.

The impact of a kānuka silvopastoral system on surface runoff and sediment and nutrient losses in New Zealand hill country

New Zealand hill country is a pastoral region that has high levels of surface runoff and sediment and nutrient losses. Silvopastoralism has potential to mitigate these losses via the interaction of trees with the soil, pasture and livestock. This study compares surface runoff and sediment and nutrient losses (nitrogen and phosphorus) in pasture plots with and without Kunzea robusta (kānuka) trees and investigates the reasons for the variation in these losses between kānuka pasture and open pasture. Annual surface runoff was 54.0 mm in kānuka pasture and 7.6 mm in open pasture despite kānuka pasture having improved soil conditions (in terms of porosity, organic matter and soil fertility). Kānuka pasture had species indicative of good pasture condition even though the plots had significantly less standing grass biomass. This was most likely due to livestock preferentially grazing the pasture under kānuka which led to less attenuation of surface runoff. Sediment and nutrient losses were 10–100 times greater in kānuka pasture, mainly due to the increase in surface runoff, but also because of livestock concentrating nutrients under the trees through excreta deposition. These results are contrary to past silvopastoral research and highlights that an extreme choice between shaded areas of good pasture condition and unshaded areas of poor pasture condition within a pastoral hillside can lead to negative consequences in terms of surface runoff and contaminant losses because of livestock interactions. More research is required to understand these processes in other hill country farms and grazing conditions, and explore mitigation options.

Cultural Perspectives on Counseling andTherapy

This paper briefly characterizes two conceptions of child development, attachment theory and psychobiological approaches. Both share commonalities (e. g. focusing on infancy; relying on ethological approaches; studying parent - child regulations). They also show marked differences, e. g. in methodology and moral evaluations. However, both approaches are based on the same implicit, taken for granted assumptions that are outlined with respect to cultural differences. Particularly caregiving networks and interaction strategies can be distinctly different in different cultural environments. Two socialization strategies with different values and practices of child development are introduced.Western middle-class families and traditional rural farmers in non-Western countries are selected because information is available in a research landscape where participants from non-Western middle class are rare.They can be regarded as embodying different cultural models with different emphases on autonomy and relatedness. Finally, implications for the clinical practice are discussed.

Curcuma longa as a Natural Immunomodulator for Preventing infection from COVID 19 With an In Silico Approach

SARS-CoV-2 is a Coronaviridae virus with a single-stranded RNA genome. This virus is highly contagious and spreads rapidly, with mutations occurring at a rapid pace. Various preventive actions have been implemented to prevent the spread of Covid-19 instances. The World Health Organization recommended that everyone clean their hands, masks, and other items in their environment on a frequent basis. As a result of these measures, the virus's transmission will be slowed. Furthermore, keeping one's immune system is critical for limiting the spread of Covid-19. As a result of a weakening immune system, our body's defenses will deteriorate, making us more susceptible to sickness and unable to fight diseases caused by viruses or bacteria. If the immune system is strong, it will recognize and kill viral and bacterial compounds when they are exposed. Immunomodulators, such as natural vitamins and herbs, can help maintain and boost immunity. Indonesia is primarily a farming country. In Indonesia, many different varieties of plants can be grown. Turmeric is an Indonesian medicinal plant that may be found all across the country. Turmeric's ability to act as an immunomodulator has also been proven. As a result, the goal of this study is to determine the usefulness of the active chemicals found in the Curcuma longa plant as a natural immunomodulator in order to avoid mutations of the COVID 19 variation by looking at the background of the current situation. The approach employed in this study is an in silico Molecular Docking test, with the goal of determining the active side of the drug and the value of Binding Affinity from the Docking data. Tissue Pharmacology is used to depict the protein network found in turmeric plants, as well as the substances and diseases that are linked to these proteins. According to the findings, the compound quercetin acts as a ligand for the PIK3CG protein and has a high binding affinity of -7.4. As a result, it can be identified as a substance that acts as a natural immunomodulator in turmeric plants.

Overcoming Major Environmental and Production Challenges in Cattle Owned by Smallholder Farmers in the Tropics

<p>The world’s population is expected to increase significantly by 2050, leading to significantly increased demands for meat and dairy products. However, cattle are major emitters of greenhouse gases that speed up climate change. To achieve food security by 2050, livestock enterprises need to double their outputs from constant resources, in the face of increased competition for inputs such as land, water, grain and labour. To cope with climate change, the livestock need to be productive under hotter and drier climates and be able to tolerate increased challenges from parasites and vector-borne diseases. The best way for smallholder cattle farmers in tropical low-medium income countries to overcome these multiple challenges is to focus on improving the productivity of their herds. This paper discusses a range of simple and cost-effective options already available to smallholder farmers to significantly improve the productivity and profitability of their herds and by doing so, they will indirectly reduce greenhouse gas emissions from their cattle and improve the natural resource base on which their cattle graze. Improved herd productivity will in turn deliver significant social, environmental, economic and livelihood benefits to the smallholder farmers themselves and the communities and value chains in which they operate.</p>

Role of inclusive market systems development in promoting resilience: evidence from World Vision projects

Evidence on whether market systems development (MSD) programmes for extremely poor smallholder farmers in low-income countries are associated with resilient outcomes when shocks/stressors appear is limited. We discuss the role of the inclusive MSD (iMSD) approach to generate resilience among vulnerable populations and report empirical evidence from World Vision’s project areas (with iMSD activities) and comparison communities in Tanzania and Rwanda. The panel data collected between 2017 and 2021 provide evidence on differences in household-level resilience in the face of COVID-19 shock. Descriptive estimates from the 2021 survey show project households had statistically greater food security, market participation, and perception of being fully/partially recovered than comparison households in both Tanzania and Rwanda. Integration in market systems helped buffer participants. Though food insecurity declined between survey rounds in Tanzania, it worsened in Rwanda, but more so among comparison households. Respondents in Rwanda experienced stricter COVID-19 ‘lockdowns’ and more limited iMSD activities than Tanzanians.

The Microwave Induced Plasma with Atomic Emission Spectrometry (MP–AES) as a Tool for Determination of Plant Available Nutrients in Ammonium lactate Extraction Solution

ABSTRACT Soil analysis is one of the main analytical procedures in every soil- and plant-focused laboratories and mandatory for farmers in many countries as basis for fertilization planning. High-quality results at low cost are required but may be influenced by the analytical technique used. The aim is to test if the less expensive Microwave Plasma Atomic Emission Spectrometry (MP-AES) technique gives satisfactory results for analyzing the macronutrients phosphorus (P), potassium (K), magnesium (Mg) and calcium (Ca) and the micronutrients cupper (Cu), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn) and zinc (Zn) compared to the more expensive and traditionally used analytical techniques like Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP-OES) and Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS). Nine cultivated soil samples were extracted by use of ammonium lactate solution, and the extracts were analyzed by using three analytical techniques. All instruments gave small variations for P, Mg and Ca but for potassium, MP-AES analyzed in the range of 15–25% lower values than ICP-MS. For MP-AES and ICP-OES, the differences were not significant. For the micronutrients, there was no significant differences between MP-AES and ICP-OES except for Cu where ICP-OES measured higher values. ICP-MS measured higher values than MP-AES especially for Cu and Zn. The MP-AES is, however, a good alternative to more expensive ICP instruments if results are to be used for fertilization planning.

Nutritional and Functional Potential of Carob Syrup Versus Date and Maple Syrups.

SUMMARYResearch backgroundThe carob tree (Ceratonia siliqua L.) is grown primarily for its seeds that are utilized in the production of the highly prized locust bean gum. The material left after the separation of seeds from the pods is utilized in the production of a range of traditional products including carob syrup, usually in cottage-type industries. The international market penetration of carob syrups is rather limited and, accordingly, scant information exists on their composition and phytochemical properties compared to mainstream syrups. The present study aims to determine key chemical parameters, phenolic profiles and antioxidant properties of carob syrups and benchmark these against those of date and maple syrups.Experimental approachCarob syrups were prepared from 19 accessions of the carob, under laboratory conditions, by a similar procedure to those practiced by small-scale producers. The pH, browning index, the content of proteins, minerals, hydroxymethylfurfural, sugar composition, total phenols, antioxidant capacity and phenolic profiles of the produced syrups along with branded samples of date and maple syrups were analyzed.Results and conclusionsThe pH and sugar composition of the carob syrups were comparable to those of date and maple syrups. In general, the carob syrups contained more proteins, minerals, phenolic acids, flavonoids and total phenols, and exhibited higher antioxidant capacity than the date and maple syrups. The carob syrups exhibited excessive browning and contained more, or comparable content of hydroxymethylfurfural, than the date and maple syrups. The data indicate that carob syrups provide more nutrients and possess superior antioxidant potential to date and maple syrups. The high contents of the carcinogenic hydroxymethylfurfural of the carob syrups warrant milder heating regimens in the concentration step during production.Novelty and scientific contributionIn contrast to studies based on commercial and/or homemade syrups, this work utilized a relatively large number of laboratory-prepared samples for creating a robust database for carob syrup. The results indicated that carob syrups possess superior health promotion and disease prevention effects than the widely traded date and maple syrups. In addition to their potential positive contribution to public health, carob syrups have been shown to be promising candidates for bolstering the economic returns of farmers in carob-producing countries.

The effects of heat exposure on tropical farm workers in Malaysia: six-month physiological health monitoring

ABSTRACT Farmers in tropical countries have been impacted by slow-onset heat stress. By comparing the nature of farming activities performed by conventional farmworkers and agroecological farmers, this study examined the changes in physiological health in responses to heat exposure through a six-month longitudinal study. Throughout the six-month follow-up period, the heat stress index (HSI), physiological strain indices (PSI), and physiological health parameters (BMI, blood glucose level, blood cholesterol level, uric acid level) were measured and repeated every two-month. Physiological parameters were recorded twice daily, before and during their first lunch break. This study found that slow-onset heat stress affects farmers differently. The health of agroecological farmers is more resistant to slow-onset extreme temperatures. Pre-existing metabolic health effects from pesticide exposure make conventional farmers more susceptible to extreme temperatures, delaying their bodies’ adaptation to rising temperatures.

Legumes are the key to increasing productivity at “Inverary”, a summer moist hill / high country farm in mid-Canterbury

About half the 4250 ha of Inverary is undevelopedmountain land above 750 m a.s.l. There are 300 haof river flats, where lucerne and winter feed cropsare grown, and 300 ha conventional grass/cloverpastures. Limited areas of clover/plantain and winterfeed crops have been established at ~700 m a.s.l. oneasy rolling country. The 1600 ha of steep country,dominated by browntop, gives low spring and highsummer production that is difficult to manage. In2009, there were no lucerne or legume rich pastures.The legume emphasis increased animal productivitythrough improved lambing and lamb weight sold perewe. Total lamb meat production lifted from 230,113kg in 2009 to 245,039 kg in 2020, despite 1000 fewerewes. The current sheep to cattle ratio is 60:40 with13,000 stock units being wintered. Pre-development,a major shortage of nutritious forage in early springwas compounded by difficulty controlling reproductivegrass in summer and autumn. In 2016, total productionof legume dominant pastures was 40% more than sowngrass/clover pastures with limited nitrogen fertiliser(15 vs. 11 t DM/ha/year). In early spring, legumeshad higher growth rates of conventional grass/cloverpastures (90 vs. 44 kg DM/ha/day), whereas browntopdominant hill pastures grew 10 kg DM/ha/d and 5 tDM/ha/yr.

Animal manures and plant residue-based amendments for sustainable rice-wheat production and soil fertility improvement in eastern Uttar Pradesh, North India

Agroecological interventions are imperative for boosting agricultural productivity and soil fertility while increasing profitability of subsistence farmers in low-income countries by replacing synthetic fertilizers. With this context, the present study was aimed to evaluate the impact of animal manures (sheep and poultry manure) and plant residue-based organic amendments (rice husk biochar and sugarcane pressmud) on soil quality, nutrient uptake and balance, yield, and sustainability of rice-wheat cropping in alluvial (rainfed) and red lateritic soil (dryland) of middle Gangetic plains (Narayanpur) and Vindhyan region (Rajgarh) of Mirzapur district in eastern UP. The field experiments were conducted for three years at the above two sites and amendments were done at a rate by replacing 30% standard recommended doses of fertilizer (RDF) for rice-wheat cropping system. Field trials were conducted with the 100% RDF as control, and 70% RDF with sheep manure, poultry manure, rice-husk biochar and sugarcane pressmud in a randomized block design. The organic amendments were done during the rice cultivation stage and the residual effect was observed during the subsequent wheat cultivation. Though soil organic carbon (SOC) was found to show significant (p ≥ 0.05) increase in biochar amended plots, animal manures followed by pressmud showed year wise increase in both SOC and microbial biomass carbon. In rainfed areas, plant growth and yield attributes for both rice and wheat were at par in amendments than control while in dryland, the 100% RDF showed better performance during the first year, after that amended plot showed better performance. All amendments resulted in higher benefit: cost ratio except biochar addition in Narayanpur, whereas in Rajgarh, the poultry manure resulted in significant improvement in benefit: cost ratio from second year onward. Our study advocates that validation of suitable amendment packages based on organic inputs are imperative for improving the yield, soil quality and nutrient balance of rice-wheat cropping system and thereby attaining the UN-SDGs at the village/local level.

Are There Too Many Farms in the World? Labor Market Transaction Costs, Machine Capacities, and Optimal Farm Size

We show that labor market transaction costs explain why the smallest farms are more efficient than slightly larger farms in most low-income countries and that increases in machine capacity with operational scale result in the globally observed rising upper tail of productivity. We find evidence consistent with these mechanisms using Indian data, and we show that if all Indian farms were at the minimum scale required to maximize the return on land, the number of farms would be reduced by 82% and income per farm worker would rise by 68%.

Covid-19 Challenges and Responses in Bangladesh

Covid-19 Challenges and Responses in Bangladesh Tasnia Alam (bio) Bangladesh has experienced highly adverse impacts from Covid-19, and its lower-middle-income economy and dense population have exacerbated the public health and economic challenges from the global pandemic. Bangladesh detected its first Covid-19 case in March 2020.1 As a preventive measure, the government closed international borders, educational institutes, industries, and offices. As a result, many people lost their jobs, and some city dwellers moved from urban to rural areas as they could no longer afford living expenses. Life has changed dramatically, in particular, for the ultra-poor who live from hand to mouth.2 According to the World Health Organization (WHO) Covid-19 dashboard, Bangladesh had 1,595,931 confirmed cases of Covid-19 from January 1, 2020, through January 10, 2022, with 28,105 deaths and 129,371,926 vaccinations administered. A total of 1,553,293 patients had recovered from the acute effects of the virus.3 On December 11, 2021, Bangladesh identified the Omicron variant in two Bangladeshi cricketers who had returned from Zimbabwe.4 Although data indicated a declining trend in reported cases and deaths in the fall of 2021, the new variant made the situation alarming again. To tackle the severity of the situation, the government imposed updated health guidelines for citizens in January 2022.5 [End Page 19] This essay discusses the challenges and impacts of Covid-19 in Bangladesh, a densely populated small state in South Asia that hosts the largest refugee camps in the world. It also examines the initiatives taken by policymakers to combat this unseen enemy. The final section describes possible solutions to current and post-Covid challenges. The Impact of the Covid-19 Pandemic in Bangladesh Before the onset of the pandemic, Bangladesh's economy was growing at one of the world's quickest rates, with an average GDP growth rate of 7.4% over the last five years and 8.2% in 2019.6 The country experienced this higher-than-expected growth because of government policy reforms and a loosening of investment regulations. In 2019, domestic demand, including consumption and investment, climbed by 11.0%, while exports and remittances increased by 10.5% and 9.6%, respectively.7 Once the pandemic hit, the picture no longer looked so optimistic. According to an assessment on national food security by BRAC (an international NGO headquartered in Bangladesh), the country's farmers lost $6.66 billion during the 45-day lockdown between March and May 2020. In March 2020, the flow of inward remittances fell by 12% to $1.27 billion, and in April, it fell by 25% to $1.09 billion.8 Almost 1.4 million migrant workers abroad lost their jobs or returned to Bangladesh. Due to the pandemic, inward remittances to South Asia dropped by roughly 22.1% in 2020, and the World Bank forecasted that in 2020 regional growth would fall to between 1.8% and 2.8%, down from a projected 6.3%.9 Beyond the public health toll, Covid-19 has had a socioeconomic impact, crimping some thriving industries in Bangladesh such as the garment industry. Pre-pandemic, Bangladesh was the second-largest single exporter of ready-made garments (RMG).10 Due to factory closures [End Page 20] and supply chain disruptions as a result of the pandemic, Bangladesh has dropped to third place, trailing Vietnam. If the European Union is counted as a single unit, Bangladesh has slipped to fourth place, following China, the EU, and Vietnam, according to the World Trade Organization (WTO).11 As a result of the decline in RMG exports, in just the first few months of the pandemic Bangladesh lost $3.17 billion in foreign orders and approximately 70,000 workers became unemployed, with many others unable to receive their wages. Besides causing widespread unemployment, which exacerbates poverty, the pandemic has negatively affected RMG workers' physical and emotional health.12 Education is another sector that has been severely affected by the pandemic. Following some industrialized countries like the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia, Bangladesh shut down educational institutions to lower transmission rates during the pandemic.13 All educational institutions in Bangladesh remained closed...

A Review on Water-Saving Agriculture in Europe

This paper aims to analyze the research on the current situation of water-saving agriculture development in Europe. Water-saving agriculture in Europe started early, governments and farmers in various countries have a strong awareness of water-saving in agriculture and have achieved certain results. Due to the global spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, the lack of up-to-date field research, the complexity of various agricultural disciplines and categories, and the lack of information sharing, the current cognition of recent progress in the development of water-saving agriculture in Europe is not comprehensive enough. This paper selects four representative European countries: Spain, Germany, Italy, and Denmark as the research objects. Based on the existing research of Chinese and Western scholars, this paper analyzes and studies the current situation of water-saving agriculture in Europe. It has far-reaching significance for other countries in the world to have further development in water-saving agriculture and to protect water resources.

Improved sprinkler irrigation layouts for smallholders

Pressurized irrigation systems are economically justifiable for medium- to large-scale farms, while fewer choices are available for smallholders. The current research work provides additional options for small plots, as the only income source for low-income farmers in poorer countries, which produce a considerable portion of the agricultural products in some regions of the world. In this research, two novel layouts of a semipermanent sprinkler irrigation system, namely, clock hand (CH) and corner pivot (CP) lateral designs, were designed for a lighter irrigation system to lower the cost requirement. The new techniques were based on a quadrant/full circle movement pattern of manually pivoting laterals, with no/shorter main pipe requirements, which causes a higher system efficiency. These retrofitted layouts were examined in different farms with areas of 0.20 hm2, 0.81 hm2, 1.62 hm2, and 3.24 hm2 in Guangxi, China. This study introduced, analyzed, and compared the layouts with the widespread traditional split lateral method on technical planning, components, implementation, operation details, size optimization, performance evaluation, and economic advantages. In comparison with the traditional system, CH and CP were found to be more user-friendly and cost-effective but slightly complicated in design with higher required manual work. The results revealed a distribution uniformity (LQDU) of 81.0% to 84.0% via the catch can method, lower capital costs (35.0%-45.0%), and lower annual expenses (6.5%-9.8%) for CP and CH, respectively, compared to the split lateral method. The 0.81 hm2 and 1.62 hm2 farms were found to be the optimum farm sizes for implementation of the new methods for a 25-year project time horizon. The outcomes of this experimental work can encourage small farm owners with limited capital to apply pressurized systems for efficient irrigation and water resource sustainability. Keywords: sprinkler irrigation layout, semipermanent, smallholder, cost-effectiveness DOI: 10.25165/j.ijabe.20221502.6363 Citation: Rad S, Gan L, Dai J F, Zhang S P, Huang L L, Pan L Y, et al. Improved sprinkler irrigation layouts for smallholders. Int J Agric & Biol Eng, 2022; 15(2): 30–38.

Breeding improvement of fennel genotypes of different origins (Foeniculum vulgare L.) using morphological and yield parameters

Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare L.) is a reputed spice plant and is used as an industrial medicinal plant due to its pharmaceutical and food applications, exhibiting a wide array of genetic variations depending on morphological and yield properties. Along with the current study, thirty-two different fennel genotypes and five local genotypes from Turkey were used to determine the morphological and yield properties in 2017 and 2018. A wide range of variation in plant height (39.22-129.60 cm), 1000 fruit yield (1.92-7.70 g), and fruit yield (0.12-8.68 g) was observed. As deduced from previous reports and from the current findings of the study, those relevant parameters could be considered for breeding purposes. To visualize or clarify the findings, a dendrogram was constructed to reveal the genetic variability regarding the morphological and yield properties of fennel genotypes. The dendrogram revealed that genotypes of different origins occurred in different groups, but local genotypes collected from Turkey occurred in the same group and subgroup. Additionally, correlation analysis was carried out to reveal the relationships between the relevant agronomic parameters. Of those correlation coefficients, a high correlation coefficient was noted between the number of fruits and fruit yield (r=0.849). Overall, the findings of the study revealed notable genetic variation related to fruit yield and other relevant agronomic traits for fennel genotypes, suggesting that this remarkable variation might be used for selecting superior genotypes in breeding programs. Of the genotypes analyzed, Ames30289 was the best genotype due to the highest fruit yield according to two successive years. Consequently, the findings can be considered useful information for fennel breeders, researchers and farmers in Turkey or other countries.

Внедрение современных технологий в целях повышения экономической эффективности производства какао в Африке

Global cocoa production has undergone significant changes over the past 60 years. The global volume of cultivation of this crop has grown significantly. The leading manufacturing countries in the industry have also switched their positions over the time. African countries, such as Ghana, Nigeria, Ivory Coast and Cameroon have significantly improved their results. At the same time, Ivory Coast steadily occupies the first place in this top for more than 40 years. To analyze the performance, two African states were selected – the first (Ivory Coast) and last (Cameroon) of the top ten. As a result, it was found that farmers in both countries have similar problems, regardless of the amount of cocoa produced. Almost all difficulties are associated with problems of maintaining tall cocoa trees due to difficult access, which significantly reduces the already unsatisfactory productivity of the sector. Another important problem in the selected African countries is the jobless youth employment; as young people don’t want put their life to work in backward agriculture. Despite the nominal increase of production volumes, the cocoa industry is undergoing a crisis, as its development follows an extensive path. Since cocoa is an indispensable product used in many fields, intensification plays a crucial role in the industry development. Therefore manufacturers have begun to use modern digital developments including hardware and software solutions more often. One of the decisions is to implement unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in the cocoa industry to collect and process information (quality assessment of cocoa trees, terrain mapping, etc.), as well as to take care of cocoa trees (for example, for the precise application of chemical protection against pests and diseases). The article demonstrates the use of UAVs on the example of the cocoa sectors of Ivory Coast and Cameroon. Today, the latest technologies are still in the development and testing phase, so their large-scale application has not been implemented yet. However it is clear that innovations developed for the cocoa industry will not only increase production efficiency but also may attract young professionals to the sector. It is expected that these developments can be subsequently applied on a wider scale and will be used not only in the cocoa industry but in many other fields.