Improvement Of Farming Practices Research Articles

Can Bangladeshi pangasius farmers comply with the requirements of aquaculture certification?

Globally, Bangladesh is the fifth largest aquaculture producer, with pangasius (Pangasianodon hypopthalamus) contributing 18 % of the total aquaculture production. This production is characterized by unregulated farming practices, domestic trade without value addition, product development, or export. In this paper, the Sustainability Assessment of Food and Agriculture (SAFA) framework of the FAO was used to assess the competency of Bangladeshi pangasius farmers by comparing their practices with the indicators of farming practices prescribed by the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC). A survey of 150 farmers was undertaken that investigated the SAFA dimensions of good governance, environmental integrity, production and economics, and social well-being. Of 57 indicators, only 35 % were met at the best/good level, most of which occurred in the production and economic (47 %) and environmental dimension (40 %) and the least in the social dimension (29 %). Therefore, improvement of farming practices in all of the SAFA dimensions is required, with social and environmental dimensions demanding the most attention. Aquaculture certification for Bangladeshi pangasius farmers also requires improvements in legal frameworks and the involvement of value chain actors. Under a research and development initiative, one method to improve compliance is to develop a best practices approach for cluster agribusiness cooperation in farmer groups that have to be contractually bound to processing plants. This can spread and make sale at the potential international whitefish market.

Soil Survey for Improvement of Farming Practices in Malia Municipality, Greece

A soil survey and classification program was carried out over a 5.86‐ha agricultural area in the wider region of Malia in the island of Crete. The spatial data from the soil survey were organized using a geographic information system (GIS) to facilitate storage, management, and analysis. In the first stage, the available data for the study were collected, digitized, and processed (maps, satellite imagery, and aerial photographs). Based on this information, many other derivative data layers such as slope, curvature, and slope aspect were manipulated. Sampling points were determined with GIS, while the exact position of each sampling was recorded using a global positioning system (GPS). This information, along with results pertaining to the sample, was entered into the graphical database, which was specially designed to store all the relevant data of the sampled points. Data layers describing the spatial distribution of key parameters such as soil texture, pH, calcium carbonate (CaCO3), and nutrient status were produced. The use of GIS was very helpful for soil classification and evaluation of soil suitability for a range of activities, whereas the visualization of the data collected and the derived results in the form of various thematic maps demonstrated the ability of GIS to act as a valuable administrative tool and, in addition, to provide substantial valuable support to farmers in improving the applied farming practices.