Government Agricultural Policies Research Articles

Improving grain quality and nitrogen use efficiency of cereal-based cropping systems on vertisols in semi-arid tropics

ContextSemi-arid tropics is facing serious issues of malnutrition in population owing to poor quality of food grain production. Malnutrition is directly linked to lower grain protein and zinc yield due to inappropriate land and water, and nutrient management practices, which also resulted into reduced nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) in cereals. ObjectiveThe objectives of the study were to evaluate the effect of land and water and nutrient management on grain protein and zinc yield, and NUE of cereal-based cropping systems on vertisols soils in semi-arid tropics. MethodsThe study was carried out at Hyderabad in India during 2014–15 and 2015–16 and involved three cropping systems (two rotation systems: sorghum-chickpea and maize-groundnut; and one intercropping: pearl millet + pigeonpea), two land and water management i.e. flatbed and broad bed furrows and four nutrient management-N1: Control (no fertilizer), N2: 100% recommended application of macronutrient (nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium) through chemical fertilizer, N3: N2 + 100% recommended application of secondary nutrient (sulphur) and micronutrient (zinc and boron) through chemical fertilizer, and N4 (integrated nutrient): 50% of N2 + 50% nitrogen in cereals or phosphorus in legumes through organic fertilizer as vermicompost. ResultsIn sorghum-chickpea rotation system, the treatment interaction broad bed furrows with 100% recommended application of macronutrient, secondary nutrient and micronutrient recorded significantly higher grain zinc yield in both the years, while grain protein yield was significantly higher in second year. The grain protein and zinc yield in sorghum-chickpea rotation system, and agronomic nitrogen use efficiency in pearl millet+pigeonpea intercropping system was significantly higher in broad bed furrows than flatbed. The agronomic NUE of broad bed furrows was higher by 61% in 2014–15 and 65% in 2015–16 over flatbed. Among the nutrient management treatments, grain protein and zinc yield, and agronomic NUE were significantly higher in combined application of macronutrient, secondary nutrient, and micronutrients through chemical fertilizer i.e. N3 followed by N4, N2 and N1. ConclusionThe broad bed furrows and application of macronutrient, secondary nutrient and micronutrient could be an effective integrated land and water and nutrient management approach to improve grain quality and agronomic nitrogen use efficiency of cereal-based cropping systems in semi-arid tropics. ImplicationsThis study contributed to develop integrated land and water and nutrient management as an innovative agronomic management practice for cereal-based cropping systems, which needs to scale-up through Government agricultural policies to overcome the issue of malnutrition in population living in semi-arid tropics.

The Effect of Agricultural Policies on Farm Production in Benue Division, North Region of Cameroon.

The main objective of this study is to determine the effect of government agricultural policies on farm production in the Benue division in the Northern region of Cameroon. Data was collected from 399 respondents using a self-administered questionnaire through a stratified sampling technique of 12 sub-divisions in the Benue division. We adopted a binary logistic regression estimation technique to estimate the model. The empirical results of the binary logistic model for the overall sample revealed that Government extension and advisory services (GEAS) have a positive effect on farm production. Specifically, increasing GEAS in the Benue division will lead to a 0.09419 increase in farm production and it is significant at a 5% level of significant. Government agricultural infrastructure (GAIF), a unit increase in GAIF, will lead to a 0.3790 increase in farm production in the Benue division and it is significant at a 10% level of significance. The last significant government agricultural policy on farm production is the government agricultural financial policy (GAFP). The result revealed that an increase or improvement of GAFP in the Benue division, will increase farm production by 0.3366 and it is significant at a 5% level of significant. Meanwhile, government agricultural climate policy has an insignificant effect on farm production. In this light, there is a need for the government to train and deploy more extension workers in the various sub-divisions and communities in Benue division, to increase farmers’ access to these services. This can be done by giving specific skills on how to produce dominant food crops and livestock in the Benue division through workshops and seminars.

1950~60년대 주석균의 농업정책론과 농정 관계 활동

Chu Sok-Kyun was a former colonial bureaucrat, and based on his career, he served as the president of the Irrigation Association and the vice minister of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry after liberation. Also from this experience, he acquired a distaste for administrative control of the economy and a conviction of the unworkability of controls. Based on this, in the 1950s, he organized the theory of agricultural policy into the three axes of democracy, free economy, and self-sustaining economy, while organizing the Agricultural Problem Research Group to criticize the government's agricultural policy. He considered rural democratization as a prerequisite for rural rehabilitation, saw that farmers should be organized into cooperatives for this purpose, and emphasized the principle of democratic operation of cooperatives. He also found the cause of the food policy confusion in the immaturity of the grain market, and saw that it should be resolved based on the principles of free economy, such as fostering wholesalers and establishing distribution order. On the other hand, his orientation toward self-sustaining economy moved from the position of ‘acceptance of aid based on the spirit of self-reliance’ in the early 1950s to the criticism of importing foreign grains as the side effects of aid deepened. He participated in the agricultural policy of the Democratic Party government after 4·19, and also participated in the agricultural policy formulation of the military government after 5·16. However, his fundamental points such as rural democratization, fostering of the grain market, and reduction of importing foreign grains were not accepted, so he criticized the Park Chung-hee government’s agricultural policies.

Competitiveness and Comparative Advantage of Rice Production in Katsina State, Nigeria

The study was carried out to analyze the competitiveness and comparative advantage of rice production in Katsina state. A total of 196 farmers were sampled using a multi-stage sampling technique. Both primary and secondary data were utilized in the study. The primary data was collected using a structured questionnaire by trained enumerators, while the secondary data on international market prices were collected from various government and non-governmental agencies. Policy Analysis Matrix (PAM), Profit share analysis and farm budgeting techniques were used for data analysis. The result of the financial profitability analysis revealed that a typical rice farmer earned an average revenue and profit of ₦663,799.25/ha and ₦322,356/ha, respectively. The result of the Policy Analysis Matrix (PAM) indicator (Domestic Resource Cost) showed that the farmers had a comparative advantage in rice production by having a ratio of less than one (0.46). Similarly, the percentage of the Unit Cost Domestic index (UCD) and Unit Cost Export index (UCX) for the farmers were less than 0.51 and 0.57, respectively, showing that the farmers were competitive in domestic and international markets. The Effective Protection Coefficient (EPC) ratio of greater than one showed that the farmers were positively affected by the government's agricultural policies. It was recommended that the current combined trade policies in the rice sector should be sustained to strengthen the comparative advantage and increase the competitiveness of the local rice.

Optimal design of agricultural insurance subsidies under the risk of extreme weather

Extreme weather events can pose a significant threat to the agricultural economy, and agricultural insurance serves as an effective tool to mitigate the risk. Motivated by the Chinese government agricultural policies, this study develops two theoretical models to analyze the full-cost insurance and the income insurance, and how should governments design insurance subsidies. Our results show that the government's optimal insurance subsidies under different insurance formats are closely related to the yield uncertainty and the production efficiency under the risk of extreme weather. When the production efficiency of the farmers is low, regardless of the subsidy level, the sufficient supply of the agricultural products can be guaranteed under full-cost insurance. However, when production efficiency is high, a lower subsidy level should be set under full-cost insurance, while a higher subsidy level is required under income insurance. Moreover, we find the optimal levels of the government insurance subsidies under different insurance formats may not always align with the interests of farmers. In the extension, we show that the government can maximize social welfare by ensuring the stable supply of agricultural products.

Policy Provisions and Implementation of Seed Technology Research, and Innovation in Nepal

Favorable policy provisions and their effective implementation are critical in promoting agricultural research innovation and technology development for ensuring food security and livelihood improvement of the farmers. This paper aims to (i) review current policy provisions made for research and innovations in the seed sector; (ii) assess its implementation status as envisaged in the policies and (iii) identify issues and gaps to make recommendations for potential policy solutions. The study employed a three-step process which included listing and review of the policies, followed by an assessment of their implementation status by developing a policy framework. The study showed that most policy documents have emphasized increasing production and productivity in agriculture, but have undermined the importance of research and technology to enhance agricultural productivity. In addition, current challenges such as nutritional security, natural resource management, and climate change have not been given adequate space in policy design. Very few policy documents have focused to develop climate-resilient varieties, breeds and technologies. Policy provisions for investment in agriculture research and innovation are inadequate and fragmented, despite their significant role in achieving a high rate of return in agriculture development. Analysis showed that investment, human resource development and institutional frameworks are weak, but the policy framework sounds relatively good. Therefore, it is urgent to manage human resources and investment as well as develop new provincial and local government agricultural policies and institutional frameworks aligned with federal policy considering the issues and challenges being faced in the present and what may happen in future. Increased investment and capacity development in plant breeding, modern technology, and seed system; facilitating public-private partnership and private sector to attract research investment; participatory and decentralized variety selection, release and recommendation; coordination mechanism for policy formulations and implementation; and provide incentives for research, release and promotion of domestically developed varieties are recommended to strengthen the variety and seed system innovations in Nepal.

Dynamics and Drivers of Land Use and Land Cover Change in the Upper Awash Basin, Central Rift Valley of Ethiopia.

This study analyzed the patterns and drivers of LULC dynamics in relation to the expansion of large-scale irrigated agriculture in the Central Rift Valley of Ethiopia from 1972 to 2016. Aerial photographs (1972), Landsat images (1980, 2000) and SPOT5 satellite images (2016) were analyzed using GIS tools to reveal LULC changes, and documentation, key informant interviews and focus group discussions were used to ascertain the biophysical and socioeconomic implications and drivers of these dynamics. The study revealed that cultivated and rural settlement land, and urban built-up areas had expanded at the expense of forestland, woodland, shrubland and grassland. While an increase in the production of cash crops had brought some benefits to smallholder farmers, such as access to irrigation and modern agricultural inputs and technologies, the unregulated conversion of natural vegetation to cultivated land resulted in a loss of biodiversity, deforestation, and reduction of pasture and firewood. We identified that significant LULC changes in the study area were caused by intersecting biophysical, economic, institutional, technological and demographic factors, which reinforced each other with varying magnitudes at different moments in time. These changes were underpinned by one key driver, that is, government agricultural policies that promoted investment in commercial agriculture for national and export markets. The study shows that understanding the complex interaction between the contributing factors and drivers of LULC change is crucial to inform decision-making and policies, in particular, by directing responses towards the underlying drivers of change rather than only the proximate causes.

Assessing long-term impacts of cover crops on soil organic carbon in the central US Midwestern agroecosystems.

Cover crops have been reported as one of the most effective practices to increase soil organic carbon (SOC) for agroecosystems. Impacts of cover crops on SOC change vary depending on soil properties, climate, and management practices, but it remains unclear how these control factors affect SOC benefits from cover crops, as well as which management practices can maximize SOC benefits. To address these questions, we used an advanced process-based agroecosystem model, ecosys, to assess the impacts of winter cover cropping on SOC accumulation under different environmental and management conditions. We aimed to answer the following questions: (1) To what extent do cover crops benefit SOC accumulation, and how do SOC benefits from cover crops vary with different factors (i.e., initial soil properties, cover crop types, climate during the cover crop growth period, and cover crop planting and terminating time)? (2) How can we enhance SOC benefits from cover crops under different cover crop management options? Specifically, we first calibrated and validated the ecosys model at two long-term field experiment sites with SOC measurements in Illinois. We then applied the ecosys model to six cover crop field experiment sites spanning across Illinois to assess the impacts of different factors on SOC accumulation. Our modeling results revealed the following findings: (1) Growing cover crops can bring SOC benefits by 0.33 ± 0.06 MgC ha-1 year-1 in six cover crop field experiment sites across Illinois, and the SOC benefits are species specific to legume and non-legume cover crops. (2) Initial SOC stocks and clay contents had overall small influences on SOC benefits from cover crops. During the cover crop growth period (i.e., winter and spring in the US Midwest), high temperature increased SOC benefits from cover crops, while the impacts from larger precipitation on SOC benefits varied field by field. (3) The SOC benefits from cover crops can be maximized by optimizing cover crop management practices (e.g., selecting cover crop types and controlling cover crop growth period) for the US Midwestern maize-soybean rotation system. Finally, we discussed the economic and policy implications of adopting cover crops in the US Midwest, including that current economic incentives to grow cover crops may not be sufficient to cover costs. This study systematically assessed cover crop impacts for SOC change in the US Midwest context, while also demonstrating that the ecosys model, with rigorous validation using field experiment data, can be an effective tool to guide the adaptive management of cover crops and quantify SOC benefits from cover crops. The study thus provides practical tools and insights for practitioners and policy-makers to design cover crop related government agricultural policies and incentive programs for farmers and agri-food related industries.

Dynamic Linkage between Aging, Mechanizations and Carbon Emissions from Agricultural Production.

The trend of aging is intensifying and has become a prominent population phenomenon worldwide. The aging population has an important impact on carbon emissions, but at present, there is little research on its ecological consequences, especially the relationship with agricultural carbon emissions. For a long time, China has been dominated by a scattered small-scale peasant economy. Currently, the aging population also means that the agricultural labor force will gradually become scarce, and the agricultural production will face reform. This article is intended to find the long-term impact of aging and mechanization on agricultural carbon emissions and construct a more comprehensive policy framework for sustainable development, hoping to contribute to environmental and ecological protection. The research sample in this article is from 2000 to 2019, covering 30 provinces (cities, autonomous regions) in China. We adopted methods and models including Fully Modified General Least Squares (FMOLS), Dynamic General Least Squares (DOLS), Panel Vector Autoregression (PVAR) model, etc., and used the Granger causality test to determine the causal relationship between variables. Results show that aging is the Granger cause of agricultural carbon emissions and agricultural mechanization. Agricultural carbon emissions and agricultural mechanization have a bidirectional causal relationship. In the short term, agricultural mechanization and aging both have made a great contribution to carbon dioxide emissions from agricultural production. However, in the long term, the impact of aging on agricultural mechanization is significantly negative. Therefore, it is generally beneficial to improve the environmental problems of agricultural production. Our research focuses on the latest background of population trends and global climate issues and finally provides suggestions and a theoretical basis for the formulation of government agricultural policies according to the research conclusions.

Family Farming as a Key Element of the Multifunctional and Territorialized Agrifood Systems as Witnessed in the South Pacific Region of Costa Rica

In Central America, Family Farming (FF) is characterized by the fostering of endogenous development, self-sustaining economies, food safety and upholding the values of the agricultural landscape. However, government agricultural policies have promoted an external model of development based on industrial monocultures, which generates socioeconomic and environmental instability, deficient models of agroproduction commercialisation and the impoverishment of agricultural landscapes. This article details the case of 60 farms from 22 communities in the municipality of Buenos Aires, in the South Pacific region of Costa Rica, where biological/physical, socioeconomic, marketing and governance issues of a Multifunctional and Territorialized Agrifood System have been characterized based on the family unit of production. In addition, a differentiation was made between peasant and indigenous farmers as their cultural backgrounds may then lead to their adopting different attitudes and distinct actions. By analysing the productive diversification of the models, the behaviour of the local marketing channels and their associative potential, the socio-ecological characteristics of the region were identified, including the strengths and weaknesses that should influence the model of agroproductive development and regional governance.

Do government agricultural policies affect production and export of cocoa in Ghana?

The contributions of the agricultural sector to economic growth of developing countries of which Ghana is no exception cannot be overemphasized. Despite the sector being the mainstay of the Ghanaian economy, it is still confronted with several challenges. As a result, several agricultural policies such as, cocoa sector strategy, cocoa disease and pest control and cocoa high technology programmes have been implemented over the years. This study therefore examines the impact of these policies on cocoa production as well as on export. Using annual time series data over the period 1961–2017, the interrupted time series analysis is employed to address the objective of the study. The results reveal that cocoa sector strategy, cocoa disease and pest control, and cocoa high technology have boosted cocoa production. With regard to the export of cocoa, it is revealed that only the cocoa sector strategy policy has promoted cocoa export. The policy implication of the results is that there is a need for the sustainability of these agricultural policies. In terms of contribution and novelty, this paper investigates the impact of all three agricultural policies [cocoa sector strategy (CSS), cocoa disease and pest control programme (CODAPEC) and cocoa high technology programme (CHTP)] that Ghana has implemented over the years regarding cocoa production, which previous studies have not considered. This paper is also the first study to examine the impact of these agricultural policies on export of cocoa in Ghana.

Activities of the Peasant Land Bank in Penza province of Russia (1883-1915)

The reform of 1861 not only freed the peasants from serfdom, but also led to radical economic changes in the agrarian sphere. The peasantry was involved in civil and legal relations associated with the purchase and sale of land. In order to assist land-poor peasants in the purchase of land, a specialized credit institution was created, which issued loans on favorable terms against the security of the acquired land plots. The purpose of this study is to identify the features of the activity of the Peasant Land Bank in the territory of the Penza province of Russia. Based on the materials of the Penza province, the main indicators of the activity of the Peasant Land Bank are analyzed, the dynamics of credit operations, the influence of its activities on the growth of land prices are considered, regional features of the processes under study are indicated. As a result of the study, it was concluded that the creation and operation of the Peasant Land Bank was an element of the government's agricultural policy aimed at creating peasant land tenure by providing loans to buy land from private owners.

Impact of the Input Subsidy on Farming Productivity of Maize Farmers in Son La and Hoa Binh provinces, Vietnam

Developing the agricultural system has been an urgent issue of the Vietnamese government recently. A wide range of subsiding and restructuring policies have been legislated, such as applying new technologies, agricultural materials, and hybrid seeds to improve the farming productivity of agriculture production. This article examines the outcome of the government agricultural subsidy policies for a drought-and-disease-tolerant maize variety in two north-west provinces of Vietnam. We apply the Difference in Difference (DID) model to analyze data of 255 Vietnamese maize farming households in 2016 and 2017. By combining all assumptions of the DID method, we assess the result by using three statistical estimation methods: (i) without covariates, (ii) with covariates, and (iii) propensity score matching. Our main finding is that maize farmers who received the subsidized seed variety in the two provinces had lower production compared to those who did not by approximately 1.895 tons/ha. The study therefore recommends that the government should consider other types of subsidy such as extension training programs to improve the productivity of the farmers.

Agricultural sector value chain and government policy in Nigeria: issues, challenges and prospects

PurposeThis paper systematically reviewed the contributions of the recent Nigerian government agricultural policies and the impacts on the agricultural value chain system in line with the structural transformation of the sector and the Nigeria's vision 20:2020. The study also suggest strategies to upgrading various segments of the agricultural value chain and argue that Nigeria's agricultural sector requires huge investments and innovative ideas to increase production and create value addition across the most profitable areas of the value chain.Design/methodology/approachThe authors systematically present evidences and data from the Central Bank of Nigeria (the apex monetary authority of Nigeria) and Nigerian Bureau of Statistics (oversees and publishes statistics for Nigeria) to estimate the impact of Government agricultural policies on the value chains system.FindingsThe study discovers that the various recent government policy interventions to tackle the austere challenges in the agricultural sector are yet to yield much significant solution. Given to the dwindling performance of the sector, the Nigerian agricultural value chain is somewhat affected with systemic and services gaps which underpin the market failures (missing markets and weak markets), although the agricultural value chain has the potential of triggering economic growth in a higher scale with a trickle-down effect to other sectors of the Nigerian economy.Practical implicationsOverall, the findings indicate strategies to upgrading the production and processing segments of the agricultural value chain and argues that Nigeria's agricultural sector requires huge investments and innovative ideas to increase production and create value addition across the most profitable areas of the value chain.Social implicationsThe study proves that enhancing value addition in the agricultural sector is imperative to achieving triple-benefits of increasing productivity by building resilient systems that leverage on finance opportunities, deepening economic inclusive growth and achieving great milestones.Originality/valueThis study is the first attempt to focus on agricultural value chain system in line with the structural transformation and the Nigeria's vision 20:2020.

AGRICULTURE POLICY: CHALLENGES, EXPROPRIATION AND\\\\r\\\\nIMPLICATION FOR AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION IN SOUTH\\\\r\\\\nAFRICA

Ponte Academic JournalSep 2020, Volume 76, Issue 9 AGRICULTURE POLICY: CHALLENGES, EXPROPRIATION AND IMPLICATION FOR AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION IN SOUTH AFRICAAuthor(s): Agholor A. Isaac ,Lubisi Philander BongiweJ. Ponte - Sep 2020 - Volume 76 - Issue 9 doi: 10.21506/j.ponte.2020.9.16 Abstract:The existing agriculture policy approach such as land restitution, redistribution and tenure reform remain indefinite in South Africa. Therefore, there is a distinct gap in knowledge and awareness in the plan implementation process of government agricultural policies and programmes. The objective of this study was to document the experiences, challenges, and implication for agricultural extension. For the purpose of this paper, a qualitative method involving the review of government commissioned reports, working papers, key debates on agriculture policy, online sources, books, peer reviewed journals, etc. were properly reviewed. It can be argued that the main challenge of agriculture policy in South Africa is the arduous task of creating stakeholder consensus around the agriculture policy implementation. A workable policy monitoring system and coordination remained unresolved. Furthermore, modification is needed to ensure that agriculture policy reform gives rise to the advent of sustainable agriculture. Reflecting on the study, it was recommended that a harmonized policy position for agriculture must be in place. The identification of realistic and right objectives, and cautious sequencing of actions are also required. Download full text:Check if you have access through your login credentials or your institution Username Password

Functional silos and other governance challenges of rangeland management in Iceland

Social-ecological system (SES) promoting sustainable management of natural resources in common ownership are steered by a complex governance system that includes regulations through laws and policies, and management by administrative authorities operating across multi-level institutional structures that, in turn, are shaped by stakeholder interests. In addition, the long-term progress of natural resource management not only relies upon the existence of a well-structured and functional governance system, but needs that system to adaptably facilitate sustainable resource management in line with current knowledge and best practices.In this research we mapped the administrative structure that steers rangeland management in Iceland and undertook a critical analysis of the governance system´s structure and functions to examine if agricultural and environmental policy targets have facilitated improved rangeland management practices. A survey, based on a questionnaire distributed to selected public sector employees and sheep farmers, was used to gauge the participants: a) attitude towards rangeland management practices, b) perception of the level of collaboration and state support for rangeland restoration and c) views on current agricultural and environmental policies on rangeland management.The results strongly indicate that neither the current administrative structure nor the governance process itself have significantly facilitated expected attitude changes within the agricultural sector or among local authorities. Furthermore, it has neither facilitated significant attitude nor behavioral changes among sheep farmers aimed at improved rangeland management, in line with current government agricultural and environmental policy targets. Our key findings support previous research that shows the governance system for rangeland management in Iceland as structurally limited and suffering from weak vertically and horizontally integration. Furthermore, our findings clearly reveal the need for improved governance for rangeland management and the need for increased levels of knowledge application within the system.

Petr A. Stolypin and the Russian Nobility

Introduction. The article examines the attitude of the Russian nobility to the reformatory activity of Chairman of the Council of the Ministers of the Russian Empire P.A. Stolypin. The authors focus on the analysis of the attitude of the conservative wing of the noble elite represented in the State Duma, the State Council, the Council of the United Nobility, the Council for Local Economy under the Ministry of Internal Affairs to the government policy. Methods. In the historiography of the problem three periods are highlighted. It was found that up to 90s of the 20th century negative evaluation of the personality and activity of P.A. Stolypin remained in the scientific literature. Only in the modern period of the Russian historiography development many mythologems were criticized and there appeared scientific works that overcame many stereotypes and dogmatic representations about the last Russian reformer’s life and activity on the basis of the complex of documentary sources. Analysis. The regional nobility sharply criticized the new government agricultural policy, despite the fact that a large part of landowners and nobles reacted positively to implementing Stolypin’s agrarian reform. Stolypin’s program of updating Russia was ambiguously perceived by the elite of the Russian nobility. Such bills as “On the Extension of the Regulation on Zemsky Institutions to Vitebsk, Volyn, Kiev, Minsk, Mogilev and Podolsk Provinces”, “On Amending and Supplementing the Existing Laws on Uezd Establishments in the Provinces”, “On Establishing the Main Principles for Organizing Provincial Institutions” were met with hostility and regarded as an encroachment on traditional privileges of the noble class. Other bills of Stolypin did not find much support among the nobility as well. His fall began immediately after the appeasement of the country. Results. His legislative activity, the desire to accelerate the process of Russia’s renewal irritated not only the conservative wing of the noble elite, but also Emperor Nicholas II. The tragedy of the last imperial reformer P.A. Stolpin was that he had no social support either among the ruling elite and the nobility, or in society, that eventually led to his isolation and tragic death.

Old Crop, New Society: Persistence and Change of Tartary Buckwheat Farming in Yunnan, China

Traditional agricultural systems are important for crop genetic resources conservation. Many scholars have addressed the problem of traditional cultivar replacement by modern varieties, but few have investigated the entire loss of traditional crops from farming systems. Our prior research suggested that tartary buckwheat (Fagopyrum tataricum (L.) Gaertn.) agriculture is rapidly decreasing in Yunnan China, the center of the crop’s origin and an important repository of on-farm genetic diversity. Using interdisciplinary methodology to determine whether the crop is indeed in decline and evaluate reasons behind planting trends, we found a combination of interacting agroecological, socio-cultural, and institutional factors influence tartary buckwheat planting in Yunnan. Farmer ethnicity, presence of a commercial market for the crop, and government agricultural policy were particularly important. Low commercial value of the crop compared to other alternatives, reduction of available farmland, and labor shortages were major reasons cited for crop abandonment. Despite an overall reduction in tartary buckwheat planting across a wide spectrum of farms, we also found the crop retains subsistence, rotational and cultural value for many Yunnan farmers. We conclude that although Yunnan farms are increasingly managed commercially rather than for subsistence, tartary buckwheat will continue to occupy a niche in the agricultural landscape.

Economic Analysis of Cotton Production in the Gezira Scheme: 19 70- 2004

The Gezira Scheme contributes more than 50% of cotton produced in the Sudan. During the seventies up to late eighties cotton alone contributed between 45 and 65% of the total foreign currency earning. Fluctuation in area, production, average yield and, benefits started from the begging of nineties in addition to high cost of production year after year and Government agricultural policies. Therefore this study was an attempt to evaluate economic indicators (net present worth (NPW) and benefit cost ratio B/C ratio) of cotton production in the Gezira Scheme for the period (1970/71-2003/2004), also to compare three different periods of cotton production in Gezira (joint account system 1970/71-1980/81), (individual account system1981/82-1991/92), and (liberalization 192/93-2002/03) with respect to: Economic indicators (net present worth (NPW), benefit cost ratio B/C ratio), area, production and average yield. To identify some policy measures that may help to improve the production of cotton in the Gezira Scheme. The study mainly based on analysis of secondary data of cotton crop in Gezira Scheme. The methods of analysis used including the measurements of economic evaluation, descriptive statistics, simple mathematics, tabular analysis to describe the different periods. The study proved that the economic evaluation during the periods (1970/71-2003/2004), (1970/1971-1980/1981), (1981/1982-1991/1992) and (1992/1993-2003/2004) were feasible and positive, fluctuation in the benefits, costs, and net benefits related to the Government agricultural policy. It’s recommended that the Government agricultural policies should be proper and subsidized to agriculture particularly increasing the area of cotton crop, and reducing the cost of production are more important, downstream cotton processing for added value, up stream of cotton inputs processing for import substitutions and improving of cotton productivity through research development and extension is necessary.

Perception of Kogi State University Agricultural Students on Farming as a Career

This study examined the perception of Kogi State University Agricultural Students on farming as a career. Primary data were collected using structured interview schedule to pick 150 students in the study area. Stratified random sampling technique was used to pick 30 students from each level (100-500). Data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics such as frequency count, percentage and mean score on a 3 point likert-type of scale. The result of the study indicated that a large percentage (42.7%) of students were from household size of 4 to 6 which is fairly large for the needed labour force for agricultural activities. Many (56%) of the students had no farming experience before their enrolment into the university. The study further showed that most of the students had negative attitude when they resumed in 100 level mean score (X) (2.30) but are now greatly influenced by agricultural education impacted by trained agricultural experts (X) (2.67). Students Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES) programme had also positively changed the students attitude to farming (2.25). Most respondents (X) (2.58) 86% showed willingness to engage in practical agricultural enterprise if supplied with the necessary agricultural inputs. Also willingness to embark on poultry farming had (X) (2.73), fish farming had ms (2.49), cash crop farming had (X) (2.19) and arable crop farming had (X) (2.12) which represented a popular perception among the respondents. Piggery farming with (X) (1.47) and beekeeping with (X) (1.33) had the least indication of interest by the students. Implementation of government agricultural policies that will ensure regular input and attractive market price could motivate agricultural graduates to embrace farming as a career.