Agricultural Interventions Research Articles

Agricultural drought risk and local adaptation measures in the Upper Mun River Basin, Thailand

Northeast Thailand is one of the country's important agricultural regions. Yet, it is frequently grappled by droughts affecting crop production as most of the cultivation depends on rain-fed irrigation. This study employs a comprehensive framework for assessing the drought risk in the Mun River basin, including hazard, exposure, and vulnerability factors. Hazard is estimated using a multivariate approach considering drought duration and severity, while exposure and vulnerability are evaluated using eighteen proxy factors encompassing physical and socioeconomic aspects. Local adaptation measures adopted by farmers to cope with droughts are an integral part of the risk assessment framework. Factors are normalized to five equally spaced categories and are aggregated using weights obtained from AHP through a survey among 50 local experts. Further, an extensive survey was conducted among 122 farmers in two hotspots with high hazards but contrasting vulnerability to investigate adaptation practices. Experts in the region perceive a higher importance of adaptive capacity than drought susceptibility while defining vulnerability. The results show that people living in areas with high hazard levels and physical vulnerability also tend to have a higher adaptive capacity to manage water scarcity. Overall, 22% of the area is under high to very high drought risk. Specifically, 14% of the area in Nakhon Ratchasima, 15% in Buriram, 8% in Surin, and 19% in Si Sa Ket provinces have very high risk. Among two hotspots, Dan Khun Thot district farmers have diversified crops and practiced various adaptive measures to build their resilience against drought and have low vulnerability and risk. In contrast, adaptation measures are implemented to a far lesser extent in the Phlapphla Chai district and have high vulnerability and risk. The education level of farmers is found to be directly linked with the implementation of local adaptation measures. The disparity in the adaptive measures adopted in two districts highlights the significance of agricultural water management interventions. Access to climate information regarding droughts, building farm ponds, and crop management practices are the preferred adaptation measures taken by the farmers. The study recommends districts in each province identified as having high risk are prioritized and supported by the local government to improve farm-level water management practices and drought resilience. It is imperative as looming climate change will further exacerbate future droughts.

Impact of agricultural intervention on income and employment in hoar wetland areas of Bangladesh

AbstractThe study aimed to investigate the current scenario of wetland households and the impact of agricultural interventions. It also sought to qualitatively assess rural development, the food system, and poverty from the perspective of wetland areas in Bangladesh. A total of 1000 respondents were selected using a simple random sampling technique. Descriptive statistics and econometric models were employed for data analysis. The findings reveal that livelihood activities are seasonal. They also indicate that rice‐valued well‐being has significantly improved due to successive agricultural policy regimes. Additionally, protection interventions, well‐being, and policy periods were negatively associated with poverty. The study found that agricultural interventions have substantially enhanced income, employment, and labor productivity due to successive agricultural policy regimes. To advance development in wetland areas, it is recommended to focus on enhancing local knowledge, implementing river erosion control measures, developing rice varieties, diversifying crops, improving flood control measures, establishing a nutritious food supply chain, and enacting relevant regulations.

Agricultural Pest Detection Methods and Control Measures Combining Deep Learning Algorithms

Abstract Agricultural pests and diseases critically impact the quality and yield of crops, thereby underscoring the practical importance of their automatic monitoring, identification, and timely management in agricultural production. This study develops a targeted detection model using a deep learning approach, specifically by enhancing the Faster R-CNN algorithm. Modifications were implemented in three key areas of the basic Faster R-CNN: First, the DIOU-NMS technique was employed to optimize the ancillary network during the feature extraction phase. Secondly, an attention mechanism along with an SE module was integrated within the DIOU-NMS to augment the network’s capability. During the training phase, optimization was facilitated through stochastic gradient descent. The efficacy of the refined Faster RCNN model was established via ablation studies, and its performance was benchmarked against existing methodologies for small and general target detection. Results indicate that the enhanced Faster R-CNN framework surpasses conventional small target and generic detection models in accuracy, achieving a 6.4% higher detection rate for various pest categories compared to its predecessor. The findings affirm the potential of the advanced Faster R-CNN in effective agricultural pest detection. Furthermore, this paper advocates a tripartite strategy for pest management, encompassing phytosanitary measures, agricultural interventions, and chemical controls.

Assessing baby leaf kale (Brassica oleracea) waste production mitigation in the transition to sustainable packaging with the application of silicon through an integrative model of quality

This research builds a mathematical modelling to assess food waste production when designing sustainable packaging solutions integrated with an agricultural intervention in kale production. The model utilizes experimental data obtained from simulated retail and distribution storage conditions to assess the probability of the product to be found out of technical specification and becoming waste. The packaging design was made using a system of differential equations describing the gas exchanges inside the packaging. The waste was estimated fitting linear mixed effect models to the postharvest experimental data, accounting for the variability between and within groups. A field experiment with kale treated with silicon during growth as a bio stimulant was used with the aim to make the product more resilient to packaging conditions. The Kale was then packaged in polylactic acid and oriented polypropylene for postharvest testing. Technological thresholds that indicate out-of-specification product were used to estimate the percentage of product that would likely end up as food waste. In total 7.2% of the product was found to be out of specification with the PLA film after 7 days. Silicon treatment was able to reduce this value to negligible, demonstrating the ability of agricultural interventions to facilitate sustainable packaging and reducing food waste in horticultural products.

AN INITIAL ASSESSMENT OF FAO’s INTERVENTION TO EMPOWER VULNERABLE YOUTH FOR BUILDING PEACE AND STRENGTHENING COMMUNITY RESILIENCE IN KENEMA DISTRICT, SIERRA LEONE

This paper presents an initial assessment of youth vulnerability to violence and crime, and the Food and Agricultural Organization's intervention in empowering them as agents of peacebuilding and fostering community resilience in Kenema District, Eastern Province of Sierra Leone. Given the high susceptibility of at-risk youth to violence and crime, their empowerment is crucial for peace and security in Sierra Leone. The study employed qualitative methods, including desk review, key informant interviews, and focus group discussions with stakeholders in visited communities. Despite some challenges, such as procurement delays, the FAO's contribution proved relevant, effective, and impactful. Through training, skills development, decision-making strategies, and provision of agricultural tools, equipment, and mentorship, young men and women were empowered to enhance social cohesion, contribute to peace building, and bolster community resilience. The paper also highlights FAO's role in facilitating the reintegration of at-risk youth into their families and communities, aiding their transition to adulthood. Despite challenges, the project aligned with national and local priorities, effectively reduced rural crime and violence, and empowered youth to participate in decision-making processes, promote social cohesion, and support community resilience initiatives.

Building resilience in Africa’s smallholder farming systems: contributions from agricultural development interventions—a scoping review

Building resilience in Africa’s smallholder farming systems: contributions from agricultural development interventions—a scoping review

Beyond the Policy: An Ethnographic Exploration of IKSP in Philippine Practice

Indigenous Knowledge Systems and Practices (IKSP) have gained significant attention over the past decade, moving from the periphery to the forefront of sustainable development discussions. Until recently, there was limited evidence to support the effectiveness of IKSP-based interventions. However, since the early 1990s, research in this field has flourished, resulting in a substantial body of information that addresses various aspects of IKSP. Despite this progress, the field remains in its early stages, and there is a scarcity of reliable sources that can compile and integrate this vast body of knowledge, making it more accessible and valuable. This paper provides a concise and comprehensive overview of IKSP research and assessment, heavily relying on field cases and current theory and practice discussions. By examining thriving agricultural, health, and environmental conservation interventions among indigenous communities in the Philippines, the paper highlights the practical benefits of IKSP. For instance, the Ifugao rice terraces illustrate sustainable agricultural practices, while traditional herbal medicine and integrated health practices demonstrate the value of indigenous health systems. Environmental conservation efforts, such as the Aeta’s fire management techniques and the T’boli’s sustainable fishing practices, further underscore the importance of IKSP. The paper also incorporates a wealth of literature, including research findings from the first, second, and third International IKSP Conferences sponsored by the University of the Philippines, Manila, and the University of Ahmad Dahlan. These findings present critical positions advanced by indigenous peoples, helping to improve the design, delivery, monitoring, and evaluation of research programs for IKSP. The recommendations aim to enhance the integration of IKSP into formal education systems and policy-making processes, thereby promoting cultural preservation and environmental sustainability. By thoroughly synthesizing existing research and practical examples, this paper contributes to the growing recognition of IKSP as a vital component of sustainable development strategies, fostering resilience and well-being in Indigenous communities.

Assessing Climate Change Adaptation Strategies in Agriculture using Agent-Based Modeling

This project seeks to analyze the complex dynamics of climate change adaptation techniques in agriculture by investigating the synergistic link between diverse agricultural practices and technology intervention s via agent-based modeling. The experimental data, consisting of synthetic datasets, clarifies the iterative adaptation process by illustrating examples such as “Drought Resistant Crop-alpha” and “Water Conservation System-beta,” which demonstrate the effectiveness of swift modifications to evolving climatic circumstances. The revolutionary influence of technology adoption is shown by developments such as “Smart Irrigation-Enhanced,” which underscores its ability to improve resilience and production. The seamless integration of these methods across all agricultural phases, from initial acceptance to extensive application, highlights their interrelated and mutually reinforcing connection. Confronting difficulties, especially those associated with socio-economic dynamics and resource allocation, requires the integration of ethical and policy considerations. This study offers critical insights into the essential comprehension of climate adaptation techniques, which will inform future research and underscore the need for ethical frameworks in enhancing the efficacy of agent-based models for agricultural resilience.

Role of field level extension officers in development interventions: Evidence from Sabaragamuwa Province in Sri Lanka

The government of Sri Lanka implemented a range of developmental interventions to eliminate poverty by enhancing agricultural productivity, income diversification and economic growth in rural areas. The "Divineguma" (Livelihood upliftment) program was one such massive-scale livelihood improvement program that had multiple interventions at different levels. The intermediaries who link the government and the beneficiaries are the field-level extension officers (EOs). The beneficiaries have severely criticized the field-level extension service, especially the assistance on agricultural interventions. This study was done to examine the roles of the field-level EOs and beneficiaries’ perceptions regarding the knowledge, skills, and personal qualities of the EOs in the implementation of this rural development program, with special relevance to home gardens. A survey study was carried out in the Elapata Divisional Secretary division in Ratnapura district with a sample size of 150 beneficiaries. Beneficiaries perceived that the EO’s were influential in the startup motives of the participants but in follow-up roles, which are the most important roles for the success of the home garden program, were not fulfilled by these EOs. The participants also perceived that the field-level EOs were not well prepared when communicating with the participants and always neglected the importance of feedback in the communication process and they were not fully committed to the activities related to the home garden program. This study reveals that policymakers should constantly review the performance of the EOs and assess their training requirements.

A Data-driven Model for Sustainable Deployment of Climate Smart Agriculture Practices Among Smallholder Farmers in Kakamega

Kenya’s agriculture is dominated by millions of smallholder farmers who produce over 75 percent of the national agricultural production. The smallholder farmers, however, are the most vulnerable to climate change because various socioeconomics, demography, and policy trends limit their capacity to adapt to change. To mitigate against the negative effects of climate change on smallholder farmers’ numerous interventions, in the form of Climate Smart Agriculture Technologies have been developed and promoted by development partners and government departments. Not all the targeted smallholder farmers, however, participate in and adopt the technologies at the ideal rates and intensity leading to their dis-adoption and abandonment. This study, therefore, sought to develop a data-driven model for the sustainable deployment and adoption of CSA practices among smallholder farmers in Kakamega County. The study employed a mixed methods research design. Through a quantitative survey of 428 smallholder Climate Smart Agriculture Technology adopters and dis-adopters, this study reviewed and investigated the major socio-economic and biophysical characteristics of the different smallholder farmer categories. Supervised Machine Learning using the Scikit-Learn library of Python Programming language to build, pilot, and review Decision Tree and Random Forest Classifier models for the sustainable deployment and adaptation of CSA practices among Kakamega County's smallholder farmers. 19 key variables were identified for developing a predictive model for CSA Technology adoption. A predictive tool was developed and piloted among 15 smallholder CSA farmers. The classifier model produced a Mean Squared Error of 0.16. The proposed model predicted smallholder farmer adoption at an accuracy of 89.53 percent and 90.0 percent with test data and pilot data, respectively. This study, therefore, proposes a new model for the optimal selection of Climate Smart Agriculture intervention beneficiaries.

Exploring participatory communication implemented to improve the livelihood of rural Ethiopia

The study aimed to explore how participatory communication can be used as an instrument for interventions enhancing agricultural production to improve the livelihoods of rural people. Specifically, it was designed to explore the nature of participatory approaches in the Ethiopian agricultural sector. The top-down approach that prevailed in the past lost its faith, and consequently, stakeholders practiced a participatory communication approach. Thus, explorative qualitative research was applied through focus group discussions and in-depth interviews to collect data. Data were transcribed, documented, coded, and thematically analyzed based on recurring themes. The findings show that if properly implemented, development agents and agricultural experts believe that participatory communication is instrumental in mobilizing the community. However, the routine does not allow development agents and experts to use the participatory approach. Besides, farmers are not given sufficient time due to insufficient interaction and communication on agricultural issues. Farmers and development agents have no ongoing, programmed, and frequent contact. The communication between development agents and higher-level agricultural experts is mainly top-down. Provincial and regional experts do not regularly visit and observe farm sites; they depend on the monthly paper report to execute modifications to the annual plan. There is no practical obligation with the consensus that demands farmers, development agents, and experts accomplish their tasks and duties on time with maximum effort. No dialogical session is available for the community to discuss their matters. Therefore, we suggest stakeholders use a multilevel and inclusive intervention in rural agriculture.

Is there a future for smallholder farmers in bioeconomy? The case of ‘improved’ seeds in South Punjab, Pakistan

Smallholder farmers are key players in agrarian value chains, particularly in the Global South. In the planning of technology-oriented agricultural interventions featured prominently in bioeconomy policies they are however often neglected. As global demand for food and biomass is expected to rise, production increase through (bio)technological means is framed as a necessity. Yet its ecological and social sustainability has been debated. We add to this debate by investigating the possibilities and challenges for smallholder farmers to participate in the intensification of production in an emerging bioeconomy. We scrutinize the case of Pakistan, an agricultural country where 65% of farms operate less than 2 ha of land and where bioeconomy approaches such as biotechnology and advanced plant breeding have gained momentum in policy debates. We specifically analyze a cornerstone of the bioeconomy value chain—namely ‘improved’ seed varieties by looking at the experiences of smallholder farmers with genetically modified cotton and hybrid maize. We build on qualitative data from South Punjab collected between 2019 and 2022. Smallholders value improved seeds. However, the poorest strata are hindered from adopting improved seed varieties due to lack of resources, established crop rotation patterns, and frequent oscillations of the cropping trends. Market and climatic factors also limit the profitability of improved seed varieties as higher input costs disproportionately affect smallholder farmers. Furthermore, highly productive crops and frequent crop cycles result in surging tenancy rates for smallholders and can lead to their expulsion from agriculture. Our results contribute to the understanding of the complex role of smallholder farmers in the Global South under a bioeconomy scenario.

Impact of a Homestead Food Production Program on Dietary Diversity: Seasonal and Annual Results from the Cluster-Randomized FAARM Trial in Sylhet, Bangladesh

BackgroundRice-predominant diets are common in Bangladesh, leading to widespread nutritional deficiencies. The Food and Agricultural Approaches to Reducing Malnutrition (FAARM) cluster-randomized controlled trial in rural Sylhet, Bangladesh evaluated a homestead food production intervention implemented 2015–2018 through Helen Keller International, aiming to improve child growth. ObjectivesWe estimated the intervention’s impact on women’s and children’s dietary diversity, a secondary trial objective. MethodsWe collected dietary diversity throughout the trial (March 2015 to June 2020) at multiple times each year using standard, United Nations-endorsed, self-reported measures for women (10-food group scale) and children (7-food group scale). We included 28,282 observations of 2701 women (out of 2705 enrolled) and 17,445 observations of their 3257 children (aged 6–37 mo) in 96 settlements, 48 of which received the intervention. We estimated the intervention’s impact on dietary diversity by year of intervention, overall periods following the start of the intervention, and seasonally, using multilevel regression with the control group as the counterfactual, controlling for seasonality, baseline dietary diversity, and clustering by settlement and repeated measures. ResultsAt baseline, approximately one-third of women and children consumed a minimally diverse diet. Over the entire intervention and postintervention period, women’s and children’s odds of consuming a minimally diverse diet nearly doubled (odds ratio [OR] 1.8, P < 0.001, for both). This benefit was barely present in the first year, increased in the second, and peaked in the last intervention year (OR 2.4 for women, OR 2.5 for children, both P < 0.001) before settling at around double the odds in postintervention years (P < 0.001). Dietary improvement was observed throughout the year for both women and children with incremental increases in nearly all food groups. ConclusionsThe nutrition-sensitive agriculture intervention successfully increased dietary diversity in women and children, and these impacts persisted after the project closed, including during the early COVID 19 lockdown period.This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT02505711.

Women's agency in nutrition in the association between women's empowerment in agriculture and food security: A case study from Uganda

AbstractThis study examined the relationship between women's empowerment in agriculture (WEA), women's agency in nutrition, and their food security. It aimed to quantify the moderating effect of women's agency in nutrition on the association between WEA and food security. Data from the NutriFish project, a gender‐ and nutrition‐sensitive agricultural intervention in fishing villages in Uganda, were utilized. The study included 380 primary Ugandan female decision makers in dual adult households. WEA was measured using the Project‐level Women's Empowerment in Agriculture Index (pro‐WEAI). Women's agency in nutrition was assessed through measures of agency in regular diet, pregnancy diet, breastfeeding diet, and food purchase. Binary logit regression models were employed to estimate differential associations between WEA and food security, testing three‐way interactions between WEA, agency in regular diet, and food purchase. Results showed that WEA was associated with a 0.18 increase in the predicted probability of food security (p &lt; .01). Women's participation in food purchase decisions strengthened the WEA‐food security association by 0.33 (p &lt; .05). The results suggested that promoting women's food purchase agency can enhance the positive link between WEA and food security. Prioritizing interventions empowering women in food purchase decisions improves food security in gender‐ and nutrition‐sensitive programs.

Links between Household-Level Income-Generating Agricultural Intervention and the Psychological Well-Being of Adolescent Girls in Human Immunodeficiency Virus-Affected Households in Southwestern Kenya: A Qualitative Inquiry

BackgroundAdolescent girls may experience poor psychological well-being, such as social isolation, shame, anxiety, hopelessness, and despair linked to food insecurity. ObjectivesThis study aimed to investigate the experiences with and perceived effects of a household-level income-generating agricultural intervention on the psychological well-being of adolescent girls in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-affected households in southwestern Kenya. MethodsWe conducted 62 in-depth interviews with HIV-affected adolescent girls and caregiver dyads in Adolescent Shamba Maisha (NCT03741634), a sub-study of adolescent girls and caregivers with a household member participating in Shamba Maisha (NCT01548599), a multisectoral agricultural and finance intervention trial aimed to improve food security and HIV health indicators. Participants were purposively sampled to ensure diversity in terms of age and location. Data were audiotaped, transcribed, translated, and uploaded into Dedoose (Sociocultural Research Consultants, LLC) software for management. Data were analyzed thematically based on reports from Dedoose. ResultsWe found evidence that a household-level structural intervention aimed at increasing food and financial security among persons living with HIV can contribute to better psychological well-being among adolescent girls residing in these households. The intervention also affected: 1) reduction of social isolation, 2) reduction of shame and stigma, 3) increased attendance and concentration in school, 4) improved caregiver mental health, and 5) reduced parental aggression and improved household communication. These associations were reported more commonly among those in the intervention arm than the control arm. ConclusionsThis study extends existing research by demonstrating how multisectoral structural interventions delivered at a household level can improve the psychological well-being of adolescents. We recommend that future research test livelihood interventions designed specifically for adolescent girls that integrate food-security interventions with other elements to address the social and psychological consequences of food insecurity holistically.This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT03741634.

Data integration dashboard for assessing and planning sustainable intensification agricultural interventions: a case study in Senegal

IntroductionThe lack of a holistic view of agriculture’s social and economic aspects emerges as a limiting factor in policy implementations of sustainable intensification. The aim of this study was to (i) synthesize data from the five domains of sustainable agriculture intensification framework focusing on Senegal as a case study, (ii) harmonize and scale data used to minimize spatial–temporal differences, and (iii) build a digital tool aiming researchers and policymakers to facilitate the data visualization and connection.MethodsWe propose and prototype an interactive digital decision-support tool as a potential solution to integrate environmental, social, economic, human and production domains in agriculture projects. To demonstrate the use of the tool, a case study using data from Senegal was developed to show the benefits of open science and connectivity among domains.Results and discussionThe digital tool presented here allows users to explore an open repository from Senegal serving as a foundational approach to integrate diverse agricultural domains when developing sustainable intensification projects.

Preschool child growth attainment and velocity during an agriculture intervention in rural Panama may be diminished by soil-transmitted helminths.

Agricultural interventions are often recommended to address undernutrition in subsistence farming communities. However, intensified agriculture exposure can increase soil transmitted helminth (STH) infections, which are linked with poor child growth. This study examined impacts of the VERASAN public health and agricultural intervention program on preschool child growth attainment (HAZ and WAZ) and relative growth velocity over 7 months [change in height-for-age (∆HAD) and weight-for-age (∆WAD) difference]. VERASAN was initiated in 15 subsistence farming communities in rural Panama experiencing chronic undernutrition. Activities targeted improved household food security, preschool child diets and growth by intensifying and diversifying household agriculture. Our objectives were to explore the relationship between VERASAN and preschool child growth attainment (HAZ and WAZ) and velocity (∆HAD and ∆WAD) during one agricultural cycle in 238 households. We compared those new to VERASAN with those involved for 1 or 5 years, and identified if agricultural practices, food security, diet diversity and treatment of pre-existing STH infection were associated with growth attainment or velocity. Prior participation in VERASAN did not directly influence WAZ, HAZ or ΔHAD but VERASAN-related benefits had an indirect influence. ΔHAD was positively associated with VERASAN-associated improvements in diet diversity and food security. HAZ and WAZ during land preparation were positively associated with diet diversity and HAZ with food security during harvest. HAZ was negatively associated with children visiting the agricultural plot, consuming leafy green vegetables and pre-existing hookworm infections. Both agricultural season and STH influenced ΔWAD. Children in VERASAN for 1 or 5 years experienced growth faltering between land preparation and growing season, but not those new to VERASAN. In contrast, between growing and harvest, ∆WAD declined in children new to VERASAN compared to children in VERASAN for longer. ΔWAD from land preparation to harvest was higher with pre-existing Ascaris infection whereas it was lower between growing season and harvest for pre-existing hookworm infection. In a context of preschool child growth faltering, malnutrition and STH infections, improved food security, agricultural production and diet diversity associated with VERASAN were associated with improved growth. In contrast, STH infections were negatively associated with some, but not all, growth outcomes.

The Impact of COVID-19 Lockdown on West Romanian Crop Production in 2020

The COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting public health crisis had an enormous impact on the global economy and its sectors. Most components were adversely affected, especially the tertiary industry (the part of a country’s economy that provides services), with different types and sizes of businesses suffering to varying degrees. Reports on the impact on agriculture are not lacking, and the crisis was perceived and responded to differently from the supply chain to the household level. The research question proposed in this paper concerns the impact of the early restrictions induced by COVID-19, namely the lockdown period from March to June 2020, on Romanian agriculture and more precisely Western Romanian crop production. Two counties in the West were selected: the county Timis for its highly favourable agricultural production and the county Caras Severin for its integrative agricultural production centred on mixed farms, where crop production is integrated with animal production towards a higher added value. Using secondary data from the National Agency for Payments and Interventions in Agriculture allowed the disaggregation of data at the level of each municipality for 2019 and 2020. The choice of this dataset was related to the level of precision, as the beneficiaries of direct payments in the respective areas are verified each year for both areas and crops. The paired two-tailed t-test was used to test the data for each LAU 2 municipality in each of the selected counties; as the crops sown in 2019 could not be affected by the COVID lockdown period in spring 2020 (March to June), the most important spring crops in terms of area in 2020 were selected and tested against the 2019 datasets. The results show that there is not enough evidence to conclude a significant statistical difference between the two years, and therefore, we cannot reject the null hypothesis and conclude that the pandemic lockdown did not affect the spring crops during their most restrictive period in spring 2020; thus, the overall influence of the COVID-19 lockdown on crop production in Western Romania was insignificant, observed only at the level of primary production. Spring crop production could have been severely affected by the restrictions imposed by the health crisis on access to certain inputs, freedom of movement for field work, and other activities closely linked to agricultural production, leading to early disruptions along the food chain.

Input credit scheme, farm productivity and food security nexus among smallholder rice farmers: evidence from North East Ghana

PurposeThis study examined the impact of the Input Credit Scheme (ICS) by the Integrated Water Management and Agriculture Development (IWAD) on the productivity and food security of smallholder rice farmers in Ghana.Design/methodology/approachCross-sectional data from 250 rice farming households in the Mamprugu Moagduri district of the North East Region obtained from a multi-stage sampling technique were used for the study. Inverse Probability Weighted Regression Adjustment (IPWRA), Propensity Score Matching (PSM) and Kendall's coefficient of concordance were the methods of analysis employed.FindingsEmpirical results show that education, rice farming experience, dependency ratio, FBO membership, farm size and farm age were the significant factors influencing participation in the input credit scheme (ICS). Also, participants had an average rice productivity of 1,476.83 kg/ha, whereas non-participants had 1,131.81 kg/ha implying that participants increased their productivity by about 30%. In addition, the study revealed that participant households increased their household dietary diversity (HDDS) by 0.45 points amounting to about 8% diversity in their diets. High-interest rates associated with credit received, the short periods of credit repayment and the high cost of inputs provided under the scheme were the most challenging constraints associated with partaking in the ICS.Practical implicationsThe available literature on agricultural interventions have predominantly emphasized input credit as a key factor for improving cropt productivity and food security of smallholders. This study provides compelling evidence that participation in ICSs can result in substantial benefits for agricultural development, as evidenced by increased productivity leading to improved food security. The significance of these findings is highlighted by the fact that, through participation in input credit schemes, smallholder rice farmers in many developing countries see substantial improvement in their capacity to access productive resources, thereby improving their productivity, while simultaneously reducing food insecurity.Social implicationsLeveraging on the improved productivity of participants in the ICS, this study advocates that such input credit schemes should scale up to more food-insecure farming communities in Ghana.Originality/valueThe study uses a doubly robust econometric approach to evaluate the impact of ICS on smallholder rice farmers' productivity and food security in Ghana, making it the first of its kind. The findings offer a solid basis for future research and provide guidance for policymakers looking to boost agricultural development in Ghana.

The role of crop diversity in escape agriculture; rice cultivation among Maroon communities in Suriname

Societal Impact StatementAgricultural techniques are inherently connected to social organization. Under colonialism, broadly understood as foreign powers suppressing (parts of) a local population, escape agriculture offers a way to avoid despotism by producing food and other produce in independent and sustainable ways. Crop diversity plays an important role in escape agriculture, demonstrated here by the variation of rice varieties on Maroon farms in Suriname. Histories of Maroon agricultural practices, and similarly marginalized groups in (formerly) colonized regions, are informative for current interventions in agriculture. Agronomic support to marginalized groups will only be successful when addressing historically grown social disengagement.SummaryRationale: Food is essential for successfulmarronageand produced by means of escape agriculture. Today, communities in the interior of Suriname continue to farm by following practices of escape agriculture. Our study traces the historical development of these farming practices, in particular the extensive cultivation of rice. Our aim is to show that the diversity of rice varieties used in their fields reveals the sophisticated farming techniques and social significance of escape agriculture.Methods: We visited about 60 farm plots upstream the main rivers of Suriname where we interviewed the person in charge about the rice varieties grown in their fields. We asked about origin, names, and characteristics of each rice variety. We also screened historical sources, primary and secondary, as well as anthropological accounts of these communities for historical evidence of rice cultivation and varietal diversity.Results: Plots were farmed primarily by women and contained a broad range of different rice varieties. Naming and origin stories show a clear reference to the escape from plantations and the leading role of women in farming and food security. In some fields, a small patch was reserved for a rice type with very dark grains, used mostly for ritual purposes. Results also show adoption of more recently introduced rice varieties.Conclusion: Rice plays a key role in escape agriculture as practiced by Maroon communities in Suriname. Rice varieties are used as agricultural markers of difference.