Grower Groups Research Articles

Empowerment Model for Coffee Farmers in Dogiyai Regency, Papua: Effective Strategies for Capacity Building

This study emphasizes the necessity of empowering coffee farmer organizations to improve agricultural capacity in Dogiyai Regency, Papua. However, this empowerment has yet to be optimized due to various restrictions. The study is based on the community empowerment theory, which covers enabling, strengthening, safeguarding, supporting, and maintaining elements. The research method adopted is qualitative, with a descriptive focus. The data were gathered by observation, interviews, and documentation with 25 informants. Data analysis involved data reduction, presentation, and verification. The findings demonstrate that local government policies prioritize infrastructure over improving farmer groups' capacities. This is shown by the low level of support for the community's potential and the culture of coffee farmer associations. Furthermore, a lack of problem-solving knowledge and farmer groups' confidence are hurdles. Local government protection is inadequate, and coffee grower groups face discrimination. The absence of helpful advice and a favorable environment for farming endeavors impedes effective empowerment. The proposed empowerment model entails providing researchers and extension services, helping with an emphasis on enabling aspects, altering knowledge, attitudes, and abilities, and boosting production and revenue. The goal is to empower and improve the welfare of coffee farmer groups in Dogiyai Regency.

Growers’ perceptions and attitudes towards fungicide resistance extension services

Agricultural extension services have been successful in promoting knowledge sharing and innovation in agriculture. However, the adoption of new agricultural practices, particularly in integrated pest management, has been slow. Using a case study with a co-designed survey instrument, this research aimed to understand how growers in the Southwest Western Australian Grainbelt access information and resources to manage fungicide resistance. We found that the growers rely on a combination of paid agronomists, government or research institutes, local grower groups, and field days for fungicide resistance information. Growers seek information from trusted experts who can simplify complex research, value easy-to-understand communication and prefer resources tailored to their local context. Additionally, growers valued information regarding new fungicide developments and having access to rapid fungicide resistance diagnostic services. These findings highlight the importance of providing growers with effective agricultural extension services to manage the risk of fungicide resistance.

Adoption of Amyelois transitella (navel orangeworm) monitoring and management practices across California tree nut crops

Abstract In California, the most significant insect pest of almonds and pistachios is the navel orangeworm, Amyelois transitella (Walker) and is a pest of walnuts. This pest attacks the nuts and infestation is associated with aflatoxin contamination. While there are multiple integrated pest management (IPM) practices available, anecdotal evidence suggests that not all tools are equally utilized. To understand current industry practices and barriers to adoption, the authors surveyed tree nut growers and industry professionals across 7 University of California Cooperative Extension meetings in California’s Central Valley. Findings indicate that as managed acres decreased, participants were less likely to report using as many IPM tools, and pest control advisers reported higher use of multiple practices compared to orchard owners and managers. Key barriers to adoption varied by practice and included high economic costs, low labor availability, environmental conditions, and/or timing constraints. Many respondents were skeptical of the efficacy of mating disruption, a relatively new strategy compared to other IPM tools. Finally, a cluster analysis identified thirteen aggregate grower profiles. Groups primarily differed in their use of monitoring practices, although some groups were also less likely to use sanitation or pesticides. Two groups were distinguished as “early adopters” through their use of mating disruption and/or ovibait traps. These findings document variability in adoption of IPM practices for A. transitella in tree nuts. Identification of the primary barriers and constraints for specific grower groups will inform research and extension efforts to further promote adoption of key IPM strategies.

Producer preferences for drought management strategies in the arid west

AbstractThis study uses choice experiments to assess fresh produce and hay/forage grower preferred drought management strategies, the level of drought at which growers adopt specific management strategies and the level of drought at which they choose to exit farming in the arid west. Results show preferred strategies differ by drought level and across grower groups. Using logit models, we find that fresh produce growers prefer adopting a water-saving technology (cover crops, manure/mulch application, etc.) and hay/forage growers prefer switching to a more efficient irrigation system. Growers would only exit farming in extreme circumstances such as loss of all water resources. Policies aimed at assisting growers with drought adaptation should focus on preferred strategies to ensure effectiveness. Incentives to offset adoption costs are also recommended. Additionally, growers may benefit from information related to productivity changes under various drought management strategies and drought scenarios.

Innovation in the UK fresh produce sector: Identifying systemic problems and the move towards systemic facilitation

Innovation has been promoted to help meet the various challenges faced by the UK fresh produce sector. However, what barriers hinder the development and spread of new ideas in the sector have not been investigated. This article explores the social and economic constraints to innovation by combining the agricultural innovation systems (AIS) conceptual framework with a functional-structural analysis. Semi-structured interviews were undertaken with 32 key informants, including growers, agronomists, researchers and representatives from major retailers. The findings show that, whilst the UK fresh produce sector is highly innovative, a number of systemic problems slow or prevent the acquisition and utilisation of knowledge. The privatisation of public extension services has led to a degree of horizontal and vertical fragmentation, with increasingly ‘closed’ groups and lack of nationwide research coordination or guiding visions for the sector. Variation in business size and crop type make coordination or coherent visions challenging to establish, presenting problems for intermediary organisations in matching the supply and demand of agricultural knowledge. At the same time, a stark power asymmetry exists between suppliers and retail customers, whose policies have led to a “defensive” innovation culture and lack of trust – producer organisations represent a response to this asymmetry, as well as increasingly important factor in the (now globalised) development and diffusion of agricultural innovations. Systemic instruments to facilitate better coordination and communication are proposed, such as innovation platforms to bring together otherwise closed groups around common problems and the use of road-mapping to provide a guiding vision for the future of the sector. Retail-led grower groups also provide a means to improve trust between suppliers and customers in the sector and promote new technological trajectories.

Forging alliances: Coffee grower and chain leader partnerships to improve productivity and coffee quality in Papua New Guinea

Partnership discourse is making advances in development dialogue as a means to improve the livelihoods of the agrarian populace. In Papua New Guinea, productive partnerships flourished during the early growth of the coffee industry. After the demise of plantations and rural mills in the lead up to political independence, the support services that plantations used to provide to smallholders, including centralised processing, have ceased as have price incentives for quality. Consequently, smallholders began to produce coffee of inconsistent quality and their productivity has also declined. However, coffee value chain partnerships have the potential to reverse the present decline of coffee production and increase the productivity of coffee farmers and address the inconsistency and the supply of low‐grade coffee. Using two case studies of farmer cooperatives, we investigate collective action and also assess partnerships among present value chain actors. The case studies were supported with interviews of value chain actors to gain further insights into partnerships with farmer groups. This paper illustrates that through collective action and partnerships, coffee farmers can improve coffee production and quality, enhance governance systems in grower groups, attract community development services and diversify into other entrepreneurial activities.

The Pesticide Exposure of People Living in Agricultural Community, Northern Thailand.

Background and Aim Biomarkers of pesticide exposure are generally lacking in communities where agricultural crops are grown. The purpose of this study was to focus on evaluating biomarkers of pesticide exposure in people living in an agricultural area of San Pa Tong District in Chiang Mai Province, northern Thailand. Materials and Methods One hundred and twenty-four participants (38 nonfarm workers, 38 rice growers, 31 longan growers, and 17 vegetable growers) from San Pa Tong District gave consent to participate in the study. Pesticide exposure was assessed by determining acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) levels in blood samples using Ellman's method and measuring 6-dialkylphosphate metabolites (DAPs), 3-phenoxybenzoic acid (3-PBA), and glyphosate in urine samples using chromatographic methods. Results AChE and BChE activities in the nonfarm worker group had higher level than those in the grower groups. DAPs were detected in almost all urine samples and 3-PBA was detected in 12-45% of each group, while glyphosate was found in 11 – 30% among the three groups of growers but not in nonfarm workers. Conclusion In this study, participants living in an agricultural area of San Pa Tong District were exposed to organophosphate, synthetic pyrethroid, and glyphosate through multiple pathways.

Australia’s On-Farm Grain Storage Extension Project – a national initiative improving stored grain pest management and maintaining phosphine fumigation efficacy on-farm for the Australian grains industry.: Presentation

Phosphine’s continued use in Australia to control grain insect pests in on-farm and central storage systems is threatened through increased resistance in both frequency and strength in target insect pests. Effective fumigation combined with best practice integrated pest management is essential to the sustainability of grain biosecurity, food safety, quality assurance and market access for Australian post-harvest grain systems. The National Stored Grain Extension Program (NSGEP) is an industry funded initiative developed to facilitate best practice in grain storage management within Australia’s grains industry. The NGSEP uses a multi approach engagement strategy and a variety of adult learning principles and training techniques aimed at increasing awareness and knowledge to build capacity and support to enable farmers and industry to manage their grain storage systems and meet best practice and market requirements. These include: training workshops, field days, practical demonstrations, industry forums, multi-media and website development and building networks with grower groups, government agencies and agribusiness. Various evaluation methods have shown that awareness and adoption of best practice in on-farm grain storage management has increased. Key outcomes include increased knowledge in insect identification and skills development and practice change in the management of grain hygiene, aeration, phosphine application, silo testing and planning of storage systems. The NSGEP contributes to the positive on-going changes observed in Australia’s on-farm grain storage systems, primarily through the specialized extension network of information, support and training provided that is highly regarded and in demand. It plays an instrumental role in building capacity and maintaining phosphine fumigation efficacy in the Australian grains industry.

A two-year study on chemical thinning agents for ‘Rocha’ pear (Pyrus communis L.)

In recent years, new chemical thinners have been introduced in the European market and researchers have tested them on apples and European pears. In Portugal, grower groups and academia jointly organized the thinning trials. Reported here are the results of two years' research (2015 and 2016) carried out in a commercial orchard of 'Rocha' pear planted in 2010. The following active ingredients: 6-benzyladenine (6-BA), naphthalene-acetic-acid (NAA) + 6-benzyladenine (6-BA), abscisic acid (ABA), and metamitron (MT) were tested at different concentrations and time of application. All the tested chemical thinners reduced fruit load, although the efficacy of some of them (NAA and 6-BA) was affected by the climatic conditions. ABA and Metamitron, the two newest chemical thinners introduced in Portugal, performed well and positively affected some fruit quality parameters.

Effect of spray droplet size on herbicide efficacy on four winter annual grasses

In Australia, winter annual grasses provide the strongest competition against wheat for resources which detrimentally affects grain yield. With increasing action from government, industry, and grower groups to reduce herbicide spray drift, adoption of drift reduction technologies (DRTs) especially DRT nozzles has increased over recent years. Some herbicides are less effective when sprays are too coarse as droplets may not be retained on target weed surfaces or not intercepted by target leaves. This is particularly an issue with winter annual grasses, whose small, narrow leaves and ability to grow within the wheat canopy makes their control more difficult. This study sought to understand the effect of droplet size on herbicide efficacy by evaluating the effect of six nozzles, five of which have DRT features across six different herbicides (amitrole, clodinafop, glyphosate, imazamox plus imazapyr, metribuzin, and paraquat) for the control of four winter annual grasses (annual ryegrass, Italian ryegrass, rescuegrass, and tame oats). Plants were grown in pots outdoors on the University of Queensland Gatton campus and were sprayed at 28 days after emergence in August and repeated in October 2015. Results from this study indicate DRT nozzles that produce sprays classified as Ultra-Coarse (>650 μm Dv0.5) can preserve efficacy for some herbicides. Differences were not observed for herbicide efficacy of clodinafop, imazamox plus imazapyr, and glyphosate across both years. Coarse sprays appear to provide the most herbicide efficacy across a wide array of modes of action, and yet reduce spray drift potential compared to finer sprays.

Understanding grower demographics, motivations and management practices to improve engagement, extension and industry resilience: a case study of the macadamia industry in the Northern Rivers, Australia

ABSTRACTResearch and development programs for improved productivity and profitability in horticulture have focused largely on understanding biophysical factors and production and harvest technologies. By contrast, relatively few studies focus upon the existing status of a rural community in terms of demographics, rationales and motivations underlying current farm management practices. Understanding such factors is increasingly important as pressures from climate change, globalised market forces, land-use competition and ageing workforces intersect on farms and for farmers. This paper explores experiences among macadamia growers in the Northern Rivers region of New South Wales, Australia, with the aim to better understand and improve the targeting of development programs to meet grower needs and aspirations, for improved industry resilience. Results suggest that growers are a diverse, ageing demographic who came into the industry with a variety of skill sets. Noting a lack of previous farming experience for many growers, we highlight the need to consider information transfer and succession planning, along with aspirations to consolidate properties and skills. New engagement approaches are recommended, with tailored extension to different grower groups. To aid with this process, a classification tree was developed for the purposes of separating growers into groups with different support needs.

The Evolution of Certified Teak Grower Groups in Luang Prabang, Lao PDR: An Action Research Approach

Tree grower groups have been promoted by governments and development programs worldwide as a means to generate income and improve the livelihoods of smallholders by generating economies of scale and improving their bargaining power. In Luang Prabang province, Lao PDR, three plantation teak grower groups were examined using an action research approach over a 4-year period between 2013 and 2016, with the aim of fostering improved returns to group members. At the beginning of the study, it was observed that despite the existence of a price premium from certification, the unpredictable nature of sales, complex government regulations and the small contribution of teak to total household incomes combined to thwart efforts by the group to sell trees on the regular basis that would make membership worthwhile for growers. An intervention by group members and researchers to develop an internally funded enterprise unit within the group structure which added value to local timber proved to be technically feasible, although it is still too early to judge its sustainability. However, this opportunity did not immediately benefit smallholders since high entry costs, poor technical knowledge and low financial transparency dissuaded group members from buying shares in the enterprise. Improved returns to smallholders will likely occur in time as a result of local enterprises paying higher prices for timber, rather than through active group membership.

Teak plantation smallholders in Lao PDR: what influences compliance with plantation regulations?

ABSTRACTPast policies to promote the planting of trees by smallholders have been effective in Lao PDR. In Luang Prabang Province over 15 000 ha of teak (Tectona grandis) have been established. New policies to stop illegal logging, promote timber legality of wood exports and encourage domestic wood processing aim to mobilise this teak resource as an alternative to timber from natural forests. Several factors are thought to inhibit smallholder participation in the timber value chain and this risks their exclusion from international markets. These factors include the hidden nature of their teak plantation resource, inability to comply with complex regulations and limited capacity to engage with markets. This paper explores the policy and regulatory environment for smallholder plantation teak to understand how instrumental and normative factors may influence compliance with plantation regulations and affect participation in new governance structures such as grower groups. The results emphasise the need for policies, regulations and governance to take into account the human factor if value chains that depend on smallholder plantations are to be effective.

Governing through representatives of the community: A case study on farmer organizations in rural Australia

The concept ‘governing through the community’ has been used frequently to interpret the neoliberal policy embraced by Australian governments since the 1990s. Yet explanation is still inadequate of how ‘governing through the community’ is conducted in practice, particularly the specific mechanisms that regulate interaction among government agencies, groups seeking to represent the community and individuals in the community. In this study, we find that ‘governing through the community’ is actually ‘governing through representatives of the community’ because it is the representatives that make the community visible and governable. This observation is based on a case study of three kinds of farmer organizations, in two states of Australia, who see their role as serving the community and are regarded by outsiders as representatives of the community at least on certain issues. An understanding of the interaction among different stakeholders within and outside of the community is developed through three themes of ‘paperwork’, ‘data’ and ‘price’ that were used by locals from Landcare groups, grower groups and farmer cooperatives, respectively, to articulate how they experience the mechanisms through which their interactions are regulated. This paper concludes that these groups can claim to represent some residents within a defined geographical area, rather than any exact definition of ‘the community’ and that this is a sufficient claim to enable these groups to participate in the process of ‘governing through the community’. The tensions between government agencies, community representatives and community members threaten the legitimacy of the community representatives as intermediaries. Government agencies do try to contribute to reduce these tensions by strengthening the legitimacy of community representatives through various policy and project mechanisms. However, while the stated aim of ‘governing through the community’ is often focused on producing a ‘flourishing rural community’ through improving democratic modes of representation, this study demonstrates that it is only part of the community, namely the ‘targeted customers’ of the farmer organizations, that is potentially reachable to ‘the state’.

Grower Groups and the Transformation of Agricultural Research and Extension in Australia

Over the past two decades, farmer-led grower groups have become increasingly important contributors to research and extension in Australia. This article draws on the case study of community-based grower groups in Western Australia, where a network of groups have emerged as central players in the state’s research and extension landscape. This article attempts to better understand how the groups operate to effectively impact, the extent and depth of their participation, their ability to build industry networks, and also some limitations associated with the community-based model. This article demonstrates that grower groups have become a highly effective contributor to farmer’s research and extension needs and play an important role in brokering linkages between different actors within rural industry. However, the model is not without limitations, is heavily reliant on volunteer input and goodwill on the part of farmers, and is facing increasing “internalized” competition as a result of the rapid growth of groups.

Seasonal variation of hemato-biochemical parameters in indigenous pig: Zovawk of Mizoram.

Aim:To investigate the influence of season on erythrocyte picture, plasma enzyme and electrolyte profile of local pig of Mizoram at a different age.Materials and Methods:A volume of 2 ml of blood samples were collected from 72 Zovawk pigs of three different age groups viz. pre-weaning, grower and adult pigs reared in College of Veterinary Sciences and Animal Husbandry Selesih, Aizawl, Mizoram, India, livestock farm during summer and winter in order to find out influence of season on erythrocyte picture, enzyme and electrolyte profile. The hematological parameters were estimated by using an automatic blood analyzer. The biochemical parameters were estimated by using diagnostic kits.Results:The grower pigs had lower hemoglobin (Hb), packed cell volume (PCV), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular Hb (MCH) during summer, rainy and winter seasons (p<0.05) and lower MCH concentration (MCHC) during summer season (p<0.05). Adult pigs had lower Hb with higher total erythrocyte count in rainy season. PCV and MCV of adult pigs decreased in summer (p<0.05). Serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase activity of both the grower and adult groups increased during summer and rainy seasons (p<0.05). Zovawk pigs had higher sodium (Na) and lower potassium (K) in rainy season (p<0.05). Pre-weaning piglets had higher Na, K, calcium (Ca), and magnesium (Mg) in summer than in winter. Grower pigs had higher Na, K and Ca in summer (p<0.05). Pi of pre-weaning and grower groups was higher in winter. Adult pigs had lower alkaline phosphatase activity and Ca in summer and higher Pi and Mg in winter (p<0.05).Conclusion:Seasonal variation in some hemato-biochemical parameters of Zovawk pig were investigated. Influence of season on the hemato-biochemical profile was most evident during the grower stage, followed by adults and pre-weaning piglets.

Tuber 2013: scientific advances in sustainable truffle culture

Since the 3rd International Truffle Conference in Spoleto (2008), researchers have made considerable progress in advancing understanding of the biology and ecology of Tuber species and in improving the sustainable productivity of these valuable fungi. Publication of the black truffle, Tuber melanosporum Vittad., genome (Martin et al. 2010) has opened new possibilities to explore gene functions and population dynamics of black truffles. Newmolecular technologies provide valuable tools to monitor black truffle development (Parlade et al. 2013) and allow researchers and managers to monitor the success of new truffle plantations and the effects of cultivation treatments on truffle productivity. Given the significant impact of truffle plantations on local economies, the regional government of Aragon, together with other institutes and truffle grower groups (see “Acknowledgments”), organized the 1st International Congress of Trufficulture in Teruel on March 5–8, 2013. The province of Teruel (Aragon region, Spain) produces almost 20 % of the global truffle market and hosts 11 % of the world’s black truffle plantations. The main objective of the congress was to promote the sustainable productivity of truffles by highlighting and exchanging the latest scientific advances in truffle biology, ecology, and truffle plantation management among researchers, students, truffle hunters, truffle growers, forest managers, land-use planners, and rural entrepreneurs from around the world. The conference brought together 270 participants from 23 countries of Europe, North and South America, Australia, and New Zealand. More than 100 presentations, of which, 54 oral and the remaining posters, covered many aspects of truffle biology, genetics, taxonomy, ecology, cultivation, and commercialization. The congress also included market displays by regional truffle entrepreneurs and a local field trip to productive truffle plantations, seedling nurseries, and a truffle processing facility. Congress attendees thus experienced firsthand the many aspects of the region’s practicing truffle culture. The trip culminated with a delightful banquet where all enjoyed the essence of truffle cuisine.

The productivity of traditional smallholder pig production and possible improvement strategies in Xishuangbanna, South Western China

Chinese smallholder pig producers, only outputting few pigs per year, still supply the major portion of pork consumed in the country. Research and policy focusing on this sector may therefore contribute to reducing rural poverty. This study analyzed factor productivity and reproductive performance of 162 traditional smallholder pig producers in a 50km² area of Xishuangbanna, Yunnan, southern P.R. China, by using the PRY Herd Life Model and comparing the actual to two simulated improved pig management scenarios. A progeny history survey covering 184 sows and 437 farrows, combined with an analysis of the quantity and quality of feed given and of live weight development of 114 pigs during a 16 months' time period supplied the base data. Feed energy content averaged 14.9MJMEkg−1DM, age at first farrowing was 14.5±4.34 months and farrowing interval was 11.4±2.73 months. A litter comprised 5.8 piglets and was weaned after 4.3±0.99 months. Monetary return on inputs (ROI) was negative for the current management (0.93:1), but improved (1.7:1) when culling of sows and fatteners was optimized for highest output per feed input. If in addition better feeding and higher sales prices at fixed ages were simulated, ROI substantially improved to 3.1:1 and beyond for four different grower groups. Results point to the potential of the regional smallholder pork production if simple measures of improvement in feeding, culling and breeding are introduced.

How Australian farmers deal with risk

PurposeIn Australia broadacre crops can be insured against hail and fire damage and some other perils but not against losses caused by drought, flood or frost. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the private provision of crop insurance in Western Australia.Design/methodology/approachA farm survey was conducted with the cooperation of dryland farmers belonging to Western Australian grower groups. The willingness to pay for hail insurance is modelled as a function of risk aversion, risk of crop failure and government assistance; and the effect of expected crop yield in t/ha on the crop area is investigated.FindingsThe empirical analysis shows that the coefficient of relative risk aversion is 2.7. An increase in the variability of crop yield by 20 per cent, which may be caused by future climate change, would raise the willingness to pay for crop insurance one‐to‐one by 20 per cent. Adverse selection plays a minor role because almost all farmers buy full coverage for hail insurance and associated risks. A future supplier of multi‐peril crop insurance must, however, consider the potential for ex ante moral hazard because the size of the crop area depends on the expected crop yield in t/ha.Social implicationsThe Global Financial Crisis has provided a stark reminder that society crucially depends on the efficient and fair allocation of risk. Climate change threatens the livelihood of farmers and food security. Private multi‐peril crop insurance, which has yet to emerge, would improve the welfare of rural populations and the efficiency of farming.Originality/valueFew empirical studies deal with the private provision of multi‐peril crop insurance because the market for multi‐peril crop insurance fails worldwide and private insurance does not exist. In this study, Australian crop insurance serves as a proxy to gain an understanding of multi‐peril crop insurance.

Precision agriculture in Australia: present status and recent developments

A brief account of the present status of Precision Agriculture (PA) in Australia is presented, and areas of opportunity in the grains, sugar and wine industries are identified. In particular, these relate to the use of spatially-distributed experimentation to fine-tune management so as to achieve production efficiencies, reduced risk of environmental impact and enhanced food security, and the management of crop quality through selective harvesting and product streaming. The latter may be an important avenue by which farmers can take a more active role in the off-farm part of agricultural value chains. The important role of grower groups in facilitating PA adoption is also discussed.