Agricultural Growth Research Articles

PATHWAYS TO ORGANIC CONVERSION IN KYRGYZSTAN: MOTIVATIONS, BARRIERS, AND IMPLICATIONS

Kyrgyzstan and the global community consider organic farming as a crucial element of sustainable agricultural growth. Kyrgyzstan is advocating for organic agriculture; nevertheless, due to low conversion rates, more effective measures are required. This study aims to explore the motivations for converting to organic farming and the challenges faced by farmers in the Issyk-Kul province of Kyrgyzstan. A survey of 142 certified organic farmers from four aimaks in the Issyk-Kul province, Kyrgyzstan, was analyzed using descriptive statistics and confirmatory factor analysis to examine motivations for organic farming and post-conversion challenges. The results indicate that farmers’ decisions to transition to organic farming were primarily driven by environmental and health concerns, while pro-environmental ideologies and visionary motivations had comparatively less influence. Key challenges faced after conversion included limited access to agricultural inputs and difficulties with market access. Education levels and dependence on organic farming as a primary income source were significant factors influencing the decision to adopt organic practices. This study provides important insights into the drivers and barriers of organic farming in Kyrgyzstan. To promote organic agriculture effectively, policymakers must address challenges related to agricultural inputs and market access while considering the connections between education, livelihoods, and motivations for adopting organic practices.

Dilemma of Harvested Cropland and Land Degradation in Agriculture Growth: Determining the Role of Water and Green Energy Resources

Dilemma of Harvested Cropland and Land Degradation in Agriculture Growth: Determining the Role of Water and Green Energy Resources

Persistent and Emerging Organic Contaminants in Natural Environments

In recent decades, the world has experienced the detrimental effects of the unchecked growth of various human activities, including industrialization, transportation, agriculture, and urbanization [...]

Demystifying the integration of hydroponics cultivation system reinforcing bioeconomy and sustainable agricultural growth

Demystifying the integration of hydroponics cultivation system reinforcing bioeconomy and sustainable agricultural growth

Automating Agriculture: The Impact of AI and IoT on Farming

The agriculture industry is under tremendous pressure to boost food grain productivity and production due to the effects of climate change and population growth. Agriculture automation is now the only viable choice and a pressing necessity in the majority of nations where agricultural growth is just not feasible. Artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things have already begun to make inroads into every sector, including agriculture. The development of these digital technologies has revolutionized agriculture by enabling intelligent systems that are as intelligent as human experts and are capable of real-time monitoring, control, and visualization of a variety of farm operations. The study discusses the possible uses of AI and IoT in the establishment of smart farm equipment, irrigation systems, greenhouse culture, storage buildings, weed and pest control, manure application, drones for crop monitoring, plant health monitoring, etc. This study's main objectives are to give a summary of new studies on agriculture powered by digital technology and to list the most well-known applications of artificial intelligence and the internet of things in agriculture engineering. Scientific databases like Web of Science, PubMed and Scopus have been used to examine research conducted in the fields over the past ten years. It has been found that the utilization of IoT and IoT, from its initial conceptual stage to its implementation stage, the effort to automate agriculture has advanced. The technical features of artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things are also covered, along with the challenges associated with putting these digital technologies into practice. It would aid people in understanding how digitalization may be incorporated into agricultural processes to make it easier for farmers to implement AI and IoT-based solutions.

Analysis of Agricultural Growth in India Since the Green Revolution

Analysis of Agricultural Growth in India Since the Green Revolution

Determination of Location Quotient of Organic Agriculture in Türkiye

The main objective of the study is to determine in which provinces organic agriculture is clustered in Türkiye. Location quotient is one of the most widely used indices in regional concentration measurements and expresses the degree of specialization of a certain production activity within a country/region/sector or the relative concentration of a certain production activity in a certain region. In this direction, within the scope of the study, it is aimed to determine the location quotient of organic agriculture, which provides competitive advantage throughout Türkiye, and it is envisaged to determine the location quotient in this direction. In determining the location quotient, the amount of production, which is one of the best indicators of economic performance, was used. As a matter of fact, the amount of production is the most important indicator showing which production activity is more dominant and the location quotient to be calculated takes a value between 0 and infinity (∞). If the relevant production activity has a score greater than 1, it indicates that the activity is the main production activity that is concentrated/specialised in the region. However, if the score is less than 1, it indicates that the activity is a local one that is not sufficiently concentrated/specialised in the region. Following the analysis, Eastern Anatolia and Central Anatolia are the regions with the highest concentration of organic agriculture production. The top 10 provinces with the most concentrated organic agriculture production are Van (7), Ağrı (6), Ankara (6), Bayburt (6), Erzurum (6), Çanakkale (5), Kars (5), Muş (5), Niğde and Sivas. The most widely produced crops are alfalfa (18), wheat (16), tomato (15), apple (14), maize (12), barley (12), hazelnut (9), sainfoin (9), olive (9), oat (9) and vetch (9). Localized and intensified organic farming systems have proven effective in generating high income per unit of land, optimizing agricultural land utilization, and ensuring sustainability. They also provide specialized labour forces, sector-specific inputs, and the use of advanced technologies. Therefore, it is believed that the formations will enhance the economic, social, and environmental sustainability of the region by increasing productivity and promoting the growth of organic agriculture. This will lead to significant benefits for the region's development.

Management Practices at Poultry Demonstration Centres for Boosting Backyard Poultry Farming System in Ramban District of Jammu & Kashmir, India: A Review

The Backyard poultry farming is an age-old practice in India and plays an important role to reduce poverty among the most under-privileged sections of the Jammu & Kashmir, particularly in far flung areas of rural J&K, India. There is not any specific arrangement required for backyard poultry farming and is mostly popular in backward and resource-deprived areas of J&K and provides rural families with good source of income, healthy food sources in terms of meat and eggs. Backyard poultry farming improves the status of women in rural communities, creates jobs for rural residents, and closes the gap between supply and demand for chicken products, such as meat and eggs. The high mortality rate among chicks due to frequent disease outbreaks, lack of a framework, lower potential of Desi chickens, lack of scientific information, predation, hunger, climate change, and year-round fluctuations in feed supply and price are some of the major drawbacks of backyard poultry farming in J&K. This farming needs to be improved because it is the best way for J&K's marginal and small farmers to supplement their income with relatively little investment. Nonetheless, the J&K government has started 29 projects under the Holistic Agriculture growth Programme (HADP), of which P25 is only focused on the growth of poultry in J&K. Backyard poultry farming results in socio-economic development, nutritional and livelihood security, empowerment of women etc. among rural people. Birds are kept mostly on scavenging system, where they acquire their feeds through natural foraging, kitchen wastes etc. Rural poultry farming has been responsible to produce 40 per cent meat and 44 per cent egg requirement in J&K. Chicken eggs and meat are the only cheapest and best sources of protein, vitamin and minerals with high biological value for rural poor and marginal sections of people. The additional income earned from indigenous chicken farming has improved their socio- economic stability.

Evaluating the Performance of Karnataka Vikas Grameen Bank- A Study

Regional Rural Banks (RRBs) play a crucial role in rural development, boosting agriculture, economic growth, and living standards. Karnataka Vikas Grameena Bank (KVGB), with 629 branches serving over 84 lakh customers across 2,033 villages in North Karnataka, provides services like agricultural loans, entrepreneurship development, and deposit schemes to promote financial inclusion and rural livelihoods. This study evaluates KVGB's performance from 2010-11 to 2023-24, analyzing its contributions to agricultural growth, loan disbursement, and rural entrepreneurship. Despite its efforts, challenges like limited access, low awareness of schemes, and reduced branch networks persist, highlighting the need for improved accessibility and service delivery. Using secondary data from KVGB reports and publications, the study assesses its achievements and offers recommendations to enhance its role in rural and agricultural development. Keywords: Karnataka Vikas Grammen Bank, Agriculture, Loan, Rural, Entrepreneurship

Green Growth in Agriculture: Long-Term Evidence from European Union Countries

In agriculture, the relationship between economic growth and environmental pressures is complex and difficult to measure and compare between countries. This study had two objectives; the first was to build a new green growth accounting framework for agriculture in relation to natural capital and air pollution, and the second was to assess the long-term green growth of agriculture in EU countries. The data for EU27 from 2005 to 2021 were collected and used in the empirical analysis of green growth in agriculture. The findings showed positive real growth in agriculture from both the economic growth and green growth perspectives in most EU countries in the long term. Slow changes in air pollution (expressed in net GHG emissions from agriculture) and in natural capital (expressed in quality-adjusted agricultural land) did not have a significant impact on green growth in agriculture. The empirical analysis also revealed that most EU countries increasingly rely on technological progress to promote agricultural growth, and half of them rely on investments in produced capital. Labour input only made a positive contribution to agricultural growth in Ireland and Malta. This study will significantly contribute to improving the measure of green growth in agriculture, and the results of the empirical analysis will be used by policymakers and economists.

The Impact of Credit Policy Environment on Agricultural Output in Nigeria

The growth of the agriculture sector is a key factor in the survival of the Nigerian economy. However, the production and productivity of this sector have been lower than expected recently. The country is now a net importer of some crops that were previously produced in large quantities. Hence, with the aim to identify factors that influence the sector, the study specifically establishes the relationship between the agricultural sector growth proxy by the agricultural production index and the credit policy variables in Nigeria. The research utilized the flexible autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) approach to determine the presence of co-integration. The estimated long-run and short-run models demonstrated the best, most efficient, and unbiasedness qualities. The findings revealed that loans from commercial banks and the Agricultural Credit Guarantee Scheme Fund (ACGSF) have a significant positive impact on the agricultural sector's growth in the long run. Conversely, the long-run agricultural growth exhibited a negative relationship with the domestic credit to the private sector and lending interest rate. This finding underscores the importance of boosting commercial bank loans to the agricultural sector and increasing credit volume from the Agricultural Credit Guarantee Scheme Fund. Furthermore, it highlights the necessity of introducing more financial incentives to attract domestic private investments and lowering the lending interest rate on agricultural credit within the country.

The Threshold Effects of Exchange Rates on Agricultural Exports: A Flow from South Africa to the Southern African Development Community

The impact of exchange rates is a significant concern affecting trade in the SADC region. This study’s purpose is to assess the threshold effects of exchange rates on agricultural exports from SA to SADC from 2010 to 2022. A panel threshold estimation technique is applied to assess the exchange rates effects in different regimes that can be below or above the threshold value. This can reveal non-linear relationships that are often overlooked in traditional linear models. In this analysis, exchange rates are disaggregated into appreciation and depreciation, as it is critical to determine how these changes affect agricultural exports, which has not been achieved in previous studies. The findings of this study confirm the existence of a non-linear relationship between several key variables (depreciation, South Africa’s GDP, the GDP of the SADC, and South Africa’s population and agricultural exports). This contributes new insights to the existing literature on the SADC economies. The policymakers could implement an exchange rate stabilisation mechanism and promote the diversification of both market destinations and agricultural export products. The SADC economies could consider adopting flexible exchange rate regimes that respond to market forces, while taking into account external shocks and economic indicators to mitigate the effects of depreciation shocks. Furthermore, the findings from this study can aid policymakers in formulating effective strategies for managing exchange rates fluctuations and promoting agricultural export growth. The findings show that different segments of agricultural exports can inform targeted interventions aimed at supporting exporters, and relevant industries within the SADC region. These results can aid policymakers to develop strategies to support sustainable agricultural practises, and ensure that the sector can meet the growing demands of a larger population.

ι-Carrageenan Manganese Oxide Bionanocomposites as a Promising Solution to Agricultural Challenges

Agriculture faces numerous challenges: infectious diseases through phytopathogens and soil nutrient deficiencies hinder plant growth, reducing crop yields. Biopolymer nanocomposites offer promising solutions to these challenges. In this work, we synthesize and characterize novel bionanocomposites (ι-CG-Mn) of manganese (hydr)oxide nanoparticles (approx. 3 to 11 nm) embedded in the matrix of the natural polysaccharide ι-carrageenan (ι-CG). Using spectroscopic methods we verify the presence of the nanoparticles in the polymer matrix while leaving the polysaccharide structural characteristics unaffected. Elemental analysis determines the mass content of metal ions in the ι-CG-Mn to be approx. 1 wt%. Electron microscopy techniques show the supramolecular organization of the ι-CG-Mn and the homogeneous nanoparticle distribution in the polymer matrix, while thermal analysis reveals that the bionanocomposite maintains high thermal stability. Moreover, the co-incubation of the phytopathogen Clavibacter sepedonicus with ι-CG-Mn inhibits the pathogen growth by 67% compared to the control. Our bionanocomposites demonstrate (1) strong bactericidal activity and (2) potential as microfertilizers that stimulate agricultural plant growth through the dosage of metal ions. These properties arise from the bioactivity of the widely available, naturally sulfated polysaccharide biopolymer matrix, combined with the antimicrobial effects of manganese (hydr)oxide nanoparticles, which together enhance the efficacy of the biocomposite. The non-toxic, biocompatible, and biodegradable nature of this biopolymer satisfies the high environmental demands for future biotechnological and agricultural technologies.

Agricultural Transformation and its Contribution to Economic Development in South Asian and African Countries

Agricultural transformation is central to economic development, driving modernization, productivity enhancement, and integration into broader economic systems. This study compares South Asia and Africa, analyzing their distinct trajectories influenced by sustainable practices, policy reforms, and technological advancements. In South Asia, agricultural employment declined sharply, with Bangladesh dropping from 80% in 1973 to 35% in 2023, and India from 70% to 37%. Africa saw a more gradual decline, from 70% to 48% during the same period. Productivity improvements highlight regional progress, with agricultural productivity growth rising in Bangladesh (3.3% to 4.1% by 2023) and Kenya (3.3% to 4.1%), while manufacturing productivity surged in Kenya (6.6%) and India (5.2%). South Asia's growth leverages high-yield crops and market integration from the Green Revolution, while Africa focuses on climate-smart agriculture, diversification, and community-based solutions to address climate vulnerabilities and infrastructure gaps. Both regions emphasize sustainability as a resilience strategy. Using a four-stage paradigm of agricultural transformation, the study underscores the significance of transitioning from subsistence to high-value, technology-driven agriculture for economic diversification and resilience. By analyzing labor productivity, GDP per capita, and crop production indices, the research demonstrates agriculture's critical role in fostering sustainable development and economic growth across both regions.

Assessing the Coordination Development Level of Agricultural Economy and Ecology in China: Regional Disparities, Dynamics, and Barriers

Achieving sustainable rural development in China requires effectively integrating agricultural growth with ecological balance. However, existing research on the coordination between agricultural economy and ecosystems has often focused on isolated aspects, such as economic growth or ecological sustainability, or has been limited to specific provinces or regions, lacking a comprehensive nationwide analysis. To address this gap, this study uses spatial data from 31 provincial-level regions in China from 2008 to 2022, developing a multidimensional framework that encompasses economic input, structure, efficiency, benefits, vitality, ecological conditions, and pressure. Using multi-factor econometric methods, we comprehensively evaluate the coordination between China’s agricultural economy and ecosystems, revealing regional disparities and spatiotemporal variations in their coupling coordination, and analyzing the barriers affecting this coordination. Our findings show that: First, coupling coordination has steadily improved, narrowing regional disparities. Second, regional differences are primarily driven by variations between the eastern, central, and western regions, with structural disparities shifting from interregional to hyper-variable density. Third, development exhibits a “club convergence” pattern, where upward transitions are difficult and downward mobility is a risk. Key barriers include farmland scale, land efficiency, afforestation area, and soil erosion control. Based on these findings, we recommend regional development strategies, dynamic monitoring mechanisms, optimized land use, and enhanced ecological protection. This study provides valuable insights for policymakers and practitioners to promote the coordinated and sustainable development of agricultural economies and ecosystems in China.

Innovative capsulation and microencapsulation of plant hormones: a strategy to combat plant pathogens.

One of the prevailing trends in contemporary agriculture is the application of biological control. Nevertheless, several reports suggest that biocontrol bacteria exhibit poor survival rates in host plants. Consequently, the concept of shielding biological control agents by encapsulating them in outer coatings has gained popularity. Several techniques, including extrusion, spray drying, and emulsification, have been introduced to encapsulate biocontrol bacteria. Much research has focused on the preparation of suitable synthetic hormone products capable of influencing plant growth and development in agriculture. The most effective approach to address this demand is through controlled release systems. One of these techniques involves encapsulating growth hormones. The encapsulation procedure must adhere to crucial standards such as biocompatibility, biodegradability, and provision for sustained viability and performance. Nonetheless, it is essential to conduct further research on the consequences of encapsulation and targeted release in organic farming systems. The creation of a novel composition grounded on biodegradable polymers has the potential to enhance the volume and quality of agricultural yields significantly. The current investigation endeavors to scrutinize the encapsulation of plant hormones and microencapsulation and their effectiveness in counteracting plant pathogens.

Concentration and distribution of B and Se in stream sediments of Zambia and their agricultural implications

The country's national scale geochemical mapping can provide crucial geochemical support for Zambia's foundational geology, agricultural productivity, environmental conservation, mineral exploitation, and other domains. This study aims to determine the overall abundance and regional distribution of B and Se in Zambian stream sediments, as well as their impact on the environment and on the agricultural output. The median concentrations of B and Se are 12.74 and 0.056 μg/g, respectively. While the concentration of Se was more noticeable, the distribution patterns of B concentration seemed to be more consistent and lacked distinct indicators for agricultural output. It also offers more robust recommendations for future land planning and agricultural growth. In comparison to other tectonic belts, the Domes Region, Lufilian Arc and Choma-Kalomo Block have greater median and average concentrations of Se. Black shales and vast epithermal metallogenic zones are common in the Kawana-Solwezi-Ndola and the Mansa-Mporokoso- Kasama regions, which also have high Se contents. These regions could serve as promising places for the advancement of selenium-enriched agricultural practices.

Impact of Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) in Nigeria, a Review of the Future of Farming in Africa

The study investigates controlled environment agriculture (CEA) in Nigeria focusing on its feasibility, economic benefits, environmental impact, and socio-economic implications. While CEA technologies such as hydroponics, vertical farming, automation, and greenhouse systems offer efficiency and yield improvements, this review highlights the extent to which they can be utilized in solving the food challenges facing the country including food shortages, wasteful use of land, and climatic disturbances in agriculture. However, their adoption faces challenges like high initial costs, technical knowledge gaps, and unstable energy infrastructure. Additionally, there is a lack of localized research on resource utilization, crop profitability, and the scalability of these systems in Nigeria’s urban and rural contexts, which further hinders adoption. Government policy reforms, renewable energy access, and capacity-building programs are crucial to overcoming these barriers. Localized pilot projects and field studies are also necessary to validate the feasibility of CEA systems under Nigeria’s unique socio-economic and climatic conditions. Cross-country comparisons with South Africa and Kenya reveal actionable insights for Nigeria’s CEA implementation such as South Africa’s public-private partnerships and Kenya’s solar-powered vertical farms which can serve as actionable blueprints for Nigeria’s CEA adoption and expansion. Nigeria with its teeming population is food import-dependent, with agricultural imports reaching 3.35 trillion Naira between 2019 and 2023. This is unsustainable and requires alternative measures including targeted CEA interventions to increase its agricultural productivity. Overall, for CEA to contribute meaningfully to the Nigerian agricultural sector, specific changes including targeted subsidies, policy reforms, renewable energy access, stakeholder engagement, capacity-building programs, and infrastructure development must be instituted to achieve sustainable agricultural growth. Furthermore, strategies such as hybridizing traditional and CEA practices and creating “pay-as-you-grow” financial models for CEA infrastructure can make the transition more viable for smallholder farmers, who dominate Nigeria’s agricultural sector.

Proteomic Profile of Daphnia pulex in Response to Heavy Metal Pollution in Lakes of Northern Patagonia

Over recent decades, Northern Patagonia in Chile has seen significant growth in agriculture, livestock, forestry, and aquaculture, disrupting lake ecosystems and threatening native species. These environmental changes offer a chance to explore how anthropization impacts zooplankton communities from a molecular–ecological perspective. This study assessed the anthropogenic impact on Daphnia pulex by comparing its proteomes from two lakes: Llanquihue (anthropized) and Icalma (oligotrophic). Results showed substantial differences in protein expression, with 17 proteins upregulated and 181 downregulated in Llanquihue, linked to elevated levels of copper, manganese, dissolved solids, phosphate, and nitrogen. These stressors caused metabolic damage and environmental stress in D. pulex. Our findings highlight the importance of monitoring pollution’s effects on Northern Patagonian ecosystems, especially on keystone species like D. pulex, essential for ecosystem stability. This research provides fresh molecular–ecological insights into pollution’s impacts, a perspective rarely addressed in this region. Understanding these effects is critical for conserving natural resources and offers pathways to study adaptive mechanisms in keystone species facing pollution. This approach also informs strategies for ecosystem management and restoration, addressing both immediate and long-term challenges in Northern Patagonian aquatic environments.

Analysis Of Factors Affecting Income Inequality Between District Areas In Dumai City

Simon Kuznet explained the inverted U curve theory regarding inequality, which said that as a country develops, inequality will increase until it reaches a certain critical point, and after that inequality will begin to decrease. So this research is aimed at finding out the extent of income inequality between sub-district areas in Dumai City and analyzing things that have the potential to cause this inequality, using secondary data from 5 sub-districts in Dumai City from 2015 to 2023. All data provided used was obtained from the Basan Statistics Center of Dumai City and then processed using PSPP software. Analysis of inequality using the Williamson Index and fixed effect model panel data regression, resulted in the independent variables, namely agricultural productivity, road stability, economic growth and population growth rate, each having a significant effect on income inequality between sub-districts in Kot Dumai.