Agricultural Interventions Research Articles

Willingness to adopt biodegradable mulch among farmers in Saudi Arabia: implications for agricultural extension

Biodegradable mulch (BDMs) films are ecologically safe substitutes for polyethylene mulches (PEMs) in agricultural systems. However, since it is an innovative technology on the market, it is not easy for farmers to adopt it. Understanding farmers' familiarity with BDM and their willingness to adopt it in the future could play a crucial role in the design and implementation of effective agricultural interventions for promoting the adoption of BDM to reduce environmental pollution. Therefore, a study was undertaken to assess farmers' familiarity with BDM and their willingness to adopt it in the future. Data were collected from fruit and vegetable growers located in Al-Kharj, Saudi Arabia, using a simple random sampling approach with the help of a pre-tested paper-based questionnaire. The findings revealed that most of the farmers were not familiar with BDM. Despite the lack of awareness, a considerable portion indicated their willingness to adopt BDM in the future. The farmers' education level, farm size, and membership in agricultural cooperatives significantly influenced their familiarity with BDM. Education level, farming experience, and membership in agricultural cooperatives also showed significant relationships with their willingness to adopt BDM in the future. Moreover, the farmers were not aware of the potential benefits of this new innovation. The study recommends that extension education programs through the active involvement of agricultural cooperatives should be implemented to make farmers aware of the advantages of BDM over PEM. In addition, the government should facilitate the adoption of this promising innovation by enhancing its availability on the market and affordability to farmers.

Effect of cold arid high-altitude environment on bioactive phytochemical compounds of organically grown Brassicaceae vegetables for nutri-health security in mountainous regions

High-altitude (HA) environment presents immense physiological adversities for humans that have been overcome by supplementing bio-active phytochemicals from functional foods that support and accelerate acclimatization under these extreme environmental conditions. Several agricultural interventions have been investigated to enhance the phytochemical content in vegetables however; these studies have been limited to low-altitude (LA) regions only. In view of an existing knowledge gap, current work is designed to compare the phytochemical compositions of HA and LA-grown Brassicaceae vegetables (cabbage, cauliflower, knol-khol, and radish) using organic treatments via farm yard manure (FYM) and Azotobacter. The open field study was conducted as a two-factorial randomized block design. The first factor was treatment (T1-FYM, T2-Azotobacter, T3-FYM + Azotobacter, and T4-control) while the second was locations (HA and LA). Among all these treatments, the application of treatment T3 in HA-grown cabbage showed the highest total phenolic content (TPC; 9.56 μg/mg), total flavonoids content (TFC; 14.48 μg/mg), and antioxidant potential using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH; 85.97%) and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP; 30.77 μg/mg) compared to LA grown samples. Reverse Phase high performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) analysis showed that treatment T3 at HA led to significantly high kaempferol (0.92 μg/mg) and sulforaphane (8.94 μg/mg) contents in cabbage whereas, indole-3-carbinol (1.31 μg/mg) was higher in HA grown cauliflower. The present study provides scientific evidence for the enrichment of health-promoting phytochemical compounds in Brassicaceae vegetables grown with T3 treatment specifically at HA.

Wandering under the Oil Palm Canopy

Abstract During the past two decades, Indonesia has transformed a third of its rainforest into oil palm plantations. Although attention has been paid to the environmental consequences, the connection between oil palm cultivation and the evolving use of alcohol within local communities has received little attention. Studies conducted within rural communities have demonstrated that significant environmental changes frequently result in increased drug and alcohol consumption. Through an ethnographic study of an Indonesian village, this article reveals how the changing living and working environments have not only altered people’s ‘place-world’ but also their sense of identity and position in the world, leaving many disoriented and lost in the homogenous expanse of oil palm plantations. This has seemingly led to increased alcohol use among the village community. This finding offers a fresh and updated way to understand and interrogate the challenges with regard to present-day human-nature relations in agricultural interventions in Indonesia and beyond.

Short- and medium-term impacts of small-scale vegetable support on food security: evidence from Syria

Small-scale agricultural and horticultural interventions play a critical role in improving nutrition and food security of vulnerable households in peaceful settings. However, scant rigorous evidence exists on the impacts and sustainability of such interventions in conflict settings. In this paper, we address this knowledge gap by analyzing the short- and medium-term impacts of a small-scale vegetable input support program involving asset transfers on food security and diets in war-time Syria. We use longitudinal panel household survey data from a quasi-experimental study collected at three rounds: before, one year, and two years after the horticultural intervention ended. We use propensity score matching and fixed-effect regression models to estimate the average treatment effects on the treated. We find that the vegetable support significantly improves food security by 21% and 19% in the short- and medium-term, respectively. More specifically, we find that the intervention significantly increased the consumption of nutrient-rich food groups such as vegetables, root tubers, fruits, eggs, pulses and nuts, milk, and oil and fats. Moreover, we find that the intervention reduces in the short-term the use of harmful coping strategies by 17%. However, this effect dissipates two years after the end of the intervention. The findings underscore the importance of small-scale vegetable support in addressing food insecurity in protracted conflict settings.

Influence of recurrent assessments during data collection on caregivers and young children for an agricultural livelihood intervention in Kenya: a qualitative study

ObjectivesWe sought to understand the influence of recurrent assessments on the behaviour of children and caregivers in a 2-year study of an agricultural livelihood intervention.DesignThis study used qualitative exit interviews...

The effects of agricultural output market access interventions on agricultural, socio‐economic, food security, and nutrition outcomes in low‐ and middle‐income countries: A systematic review

AbstractBackgroundAn estimated two billion people do not have sufficient access to nutritious food, and nearly half are dependent on small‐scale and subsistence farming. Projections show that the global population is not on track to reach the Sustainable Development Goals. With this in mind, development actors are increasingly seeking to better integrate rural farmers into agricultural markets. This synthesis of the literature can help to inform policy decisions to improve outcomes for smallholder farmers in low‐ and middle‐income countries, and to enable the realization of the Sustainable Development Goals. This work is the most comprehensive and up‐to‐date review synthesizing evidence from 262 interventions.ObjectivesThe purpose of this systematic review is to appraise and synthesize evidence of the effects of five types of interventions facilitating farmers' access to output markets in low‐ and middle‐income countries. We examine how these effects vary across contexts and subgroups. We also identify evidence on program costs and evidence gaps in the literature.Search MethodsThe search of included studies was based on nine major databases/search engines and 25 institutional websites, using a set of English search terms. We also conducted forward and backward citation tracking of literature, published a public call for papers, and contacted key experts.Selection CriteriaWe included studies on the effects of five types of output market access interventions, focusing on participants residing in low‐ and middle‐income countries: (1) Farm‐to‐market transport infrastructure interventions; (2) Access to output market information interventions; (3) New marketplaces or alternative marketing opportunities interventions; (4) Contract farming interventions; (5) Improved storage infrastructure and technologies interventions. We included published and unpublished studies from 2000 onwards, with experimental and quasi‐experimental study designs focusing on relevant outcomes.Data Collection and AnalysisWe screened 52,366 studies, identifying a total of 439 papers representing 289 unique studies on the effects of 262 interventions in 53 countries. Data extraction and risk of bias assessments were completed by two independent reviewers.Main ResultsAll five types of output market access interventions resulted in small‐to‐moderate positive effects on almost all measures of market participation, agricultural production, and welfare outcomes. These improvements occurred through a reduction in transaction costs, adoption of improved practices, greater farm investment, access to higher prices for farmers, greater volume sold, and increased farm income. Effects vary by intervention type. However, the body of evidence is comprised of a large share of included studies with a high risk of bias. Few studies have information on the cost of interventions, and there are gaps in the available evidence.Authors' ConclusionsOutput market access interventions are effective in reducing transaction costs and addressing market failures, thereby leading to higher income levels. Evidence of effects on food security and nutrition is sparse and has not provided conclusive findings. We also found that multi‐component interventions are not necessarily more effective than single component interventions. The specific needs and dynamics of each context should inform the choice of the intervention and approach. Investments in additional research with low risk of selection bias and confounding effects will improve the evidence base, especially for outcomes that constitute gaps in the literature. For example, the effects on quality of agricultural products and group participation are under‐researched, and we did not find any included studies focusing on North Africa or the Middle East. Collecting and reporting information on interventions' cost‐effectiveness will help decision‐makers to prioritize limited resources.

Effects of Climate-Smart Agriculture on Smallholder Farmers in the Eastern Province of Zambia

Climate change is one of the distressful environmental challenges the world has been grappling with in recent times as it affects crop production, among other economic activities. The Eastern Province of Zambia has not been spared by crop failure resulting from climate-induced effects. As a result, the Zambia Integrated Forest Landscape Project (ZIFLP) implemented climate-smart agriculture (CSA) in the Eastern Province, from the first quarter of 2018 to the first quarter of 2024, which aimed to improve smallholder farmers' resilience to the effects of climate change on crop productivity. However, the effects of the CSA techniques on crop productivity were scientifically unclear. Therefore, this study used a mixed-methods approach to investigate the effects of CSA on crop productivity of the 106 smallholder farmers as questionnaire respondents and five District Agriculture Co-ordinators as key informants for interviews. The results revealed that all the respondents (100%) were aware of CSA in their communities, and about two-fifths (42%) of them, who formed the majority, practised crop rotation the most. Almost all the respondents (96%) viewed CSA as an important agricultural intervention in their communities in light of the adverse effects of climate change. Two-thirds (66%) of the respondents, who were the majority, acknowledge that the CSA techniques increased crop yield. The maize crop tonnage <i>Mean (M = 7.70)</i> after the respondents’ implementation of CSA was statistically significantly higher than the maize crop tonnage <i>Mean (M = 3.82)</i> before the respondents implemented CSA, signifying that the respondents produced more tonnage of maize crops after they implemented CSA than before. The study concludes that CSA in the Eastern Province of Zambia is an intervention through which smallholder farmers were helped to enhance their crop productivity in light of the devastating effects of climate change. Therefore, the study recommends continuity of financial and technical support of CSA by the Zambian government or cooperating partners or both; refresher training for smallholder farmers in CSA; and improvement in the agricultural extension system.

The influence of an agricultural intervention on social capital and water insecurity coping strategies: Qualitative evidence from female smallholder farmers living with HIV in western Kenya

BackgroundGreater social capital is associated with positive health outcomes and better HIV management. The ways by which social capital may influence household water insecurity (HHWI), a critical determinant of health among persons living with HIV, remain underexplored. Further, despite the importance of reliable water access and use for health and agricultural productivity, few studies have described the strategies smallholder farmers living with HIV use to manage water insecurity. ObjectiveWe qualitatively explored how an agricultural intervention (provision of a treadle pump for irrigation) influenced HHWI coping strategies through its impacts on social capital among smallholder farmers living with HIV in western Kenya. MethodIn 2018, we purposively recruited participants from the Shamba Maisha study, a randomized agricultural intervention (NCT02815579) that provided irrigation pumps to improve treatment outcomes and food security among smallholder farmers living with HIV in western Kenya (n = 42). Participants shared their experiences with water insecurity through go-along and photo-elicitation interviews. Data were thematically analyzed using inductively developed codes. ResultsParticipants described diverse strategies for coping with agricultural water insecurity. Dimensions of social capital such as feelings of belonging, connectedness, and trust influenced the use of the treadle water pump and other water access behaviors. For instance, participants reported borrowing or sharing water pumps with friends and neighbors if they felt they had a good rapport. In addition, participants indicated a willingness to engage in collective activities, such as supporting the operation of the irrigation pump during planting, when they felt sufficiently connected to a larger group. Overall, individuals in the intervention arm described greater social cohesion, reciprocity, and community connectedness than those in the control arm. ConclusionThe impact of an agricultural intervention on water access and use was described as being modified by social capital among female smallholder farmers living with HIV. Findings suggest that social capital may create an enabling environment for implementing strategies that improve the management and reduce the burden of HIV. Measuring these strategies and their associations with HIV outcomes may strengthen our understanding of resilience among female smallholder farmers living with HIV. The development of a coping strategies index and its use in a longitudinal study could help to identify pathways through which social capital influences health and the effectiveness of livelihood interventions.

Influence of biodestructors on sequestration of labile carbon compounds in the soil

Ukraine stands as a testament to agricultural wealth due to its fertile soils, most notably, its significant share of the world’s chornozem. Rich soil is fundemantal to agricultural production, and therefore the success of the agricultural industry heavily relies on the fertility of the soil. However, modern agricultural practices in Ukraine, have led to increased anthropogenic impact on soils, affecting their biodiversity and humus content. In this regard, it is becoming increasingly important to perform comprehensive studies of microbiological, biochemical and chemical processes in the soil in response to different agricultural interventions. The urgent need to restore natural ecosystems to preserve their biodiversity and ensure ecological stability poses new scientific challenges, emphasizing the importance of urgent measures aimed at protecting the environment from pollution and degradation. This research aims to explore the effects of biodestructors on the deposition of labile carbon compounds in the soil during long-term consistent corn cultivation. The research was conducted during 2020–2023 within the framework of a stationary field experiment of the scientific research department of the «Druzhba Nova» in Varva village, Chernihiv region. The soil is a typical low-humus chornozem with the experiment focusing on a monoculture corn crop rotation. The DKC 4351 corn hybrid was sown at a density of 82 thousand units per hectare, employing a three-part experiment design: 1) a UAN control at 32–28 l/ha, 2) Ecostern Classic at 2 l/ha combined with UAN 32–28 l/ha, and 3) Ecostern Bacterial at 2 l/ha alongside Ecostern Trichoderma at 1 l/ha and UAN 32–28 l/ha. In the present study, the influence of biodestructors on soil’s agrochemical and microbiological indicators, as well as corn yield was evaluated. In a long-term stationary field experiment conducted on a typical low-humus chornozem, we investigated the influence of microbial preparations — plant residue biodestructors — on the deposition of labile carbon compounds in the soil under continuos corn cultivation. The application of Ecostern Classic and a combination of Ecostern Bacterial + Ecostern Trichoderma biodestructors resulted in an increase of labile carbon content by 0.11% and 0.18%, respectively, compared to the control. The aim of further analysis was to determinate the dynamics of the organic matter transformation coefficient, which is a marker of enhanced microbiological activity in the soil and a predominance of organic matter synthesis over its mineralization. In treatments utilizing biodestructors, this indicator was significantly higher than control values throughout the study. The survival of the fungal bioagent from Ecostern Classic and Ecostern Trichoderma bioproducts in the soil was monitored by assessing the population dynamics of the Trichoderma genus species. Results demonstrated an increase by an average of 19 thousand CFU/g with Ecostern Classic and by 34 thousand CFU/g with the combined use of Ecostern Bacterial with Ecostern Trichoderma, compared to 28 thousand CFU/g in control soil samples. This may indirectly indicate a successful colonization of the bioagent in treated soils. Using BIOTREX technology to evaluate the soil’s ecophysiological diversity, we found that the diversity index increased from 3.66 in control samples to between 4.87 and 5.61 in treatments with biodestructors. According to the further BIOTREX assessment, the use of biodestructors not only increased soil biodiversity, but also improved soil health. The application of these biodestructors also significantly boosted corn grain yield with an increase of 0.32 t/ha with Ecostern Classic treatment and 0.18 t/ha with the combined use of Ecostern Bacterial with Ecostern Trichoderma, compared to control.

Effective extension and access to education drive optimal adoption of climate-smart agriculture interventions in affected tidal floodplains: A case study

Developing countries with predominantly agricultural economies are particularly vulnerable to short-term climate variability and long-term climate change adversities. This provides the context for adopting climate-smart agricultural (CSA) practices to ensure consistent agricultural product supply and food security. Although concepts of CSA tools and strategies are well-established, their adoption trends in developing regions are still undesirable, with little to no empirical understanding of factors contributing to these trends. The current research aims to address this gap of knowledge by assessing the nature of climate change impacts, adaptation strategies, and socio-economic characteristics of the farmers influencing the adoption of CSA techniques in a rural cohort in Southwestern Bangladesh. Systematically designed interview schedules revealed that the most common and devastating consequences of climate change in the study area were increased infestation of pests and diseases. Other overlooked hazards including water-logging, cyclones and cold waves, are posing new threats to regional agriculture by changing conventional patterns. Contrary to the status quo, many CSA technologies, especially indigenous approaches, are widely and effectively adopted by farmers in the studied area to cope with climate change. These adoption tendencies and innovations in CSA were found to be significantly driven by factors such as extension and training programs, education of farmers, and dependence on on-farming income. The findings of the current study provide a preliminary analysis of the attitude, knowledge and trends of CSA technology adoption by farmers in a less-saline floodplain niche of a predominantly salinity-impacted coastal region. The study acts as a model for future relevant investigations and implementations for stakeholders with supply of inputs, technologies and expertise in finding sustainable solutions and appropriate extension for communities around the world confronted with similar challenges.

An agricultural livelihood intervention is associated with reduced HIV stigma among people with HIV.

HIV stigma undermines antiretroviral treatment (ART) adherence and viral suppression. Livelihood interventions may target drivers of negative attitudes towards people with HIV (PWH) by improving their health and strengthening their economic contributions. We examined the effects of a multisectoral agricultural livelihood intervention on HIV stigma among PWH in western Kenya. Sixteen health facilities were randomly allocated (1 : 1) to intervention or control arms in Shamba Maisha , a cluster randomized controlled trial that aimed to improve HIV-related health through behavioral, mental health, and nutritional pathways. The intervention included a farming loan and agricultural and financial training. Participants had access to farmland and surface water and were at least 18 years old, on ART for more than 6 months, and moderately-to-severely food insecure. We measured internalized, anticipated, and enacted HIV stigma semiannually over 2 years using validated scales. In blinded intent-to-treat analyses, we compared changes in scores over 24 months by study arm, using longitudinal multilevel difference-in-differences linear regression models that accounted for clustering. Of 720 enrolled participants (354 intervention), 55% were women, and the median age was 40 years [interquartile range 34-47 years]. Two-year retention was 94%. Compared with the control arm, the intervention resulted in significant decreases ( P < 0.001) of 0.42 points [95% confidence interval (CI) -0.52 to -0.31) in internalized stigma, 0.43 points (95% CI -0.51 to -0.34) in anticipated stigma, and 0.13 points (95% CI -0.16 to -0.09) in enacted stigma over 24 months. The agricultural livelihood intervention reduced HIV stigma among PWH. Poverty-reduction approaches may be a novel strategy for reducing HIV stigma.

An analysis of the perceived effectiveness and upscaling potential of climate-smart agriculture interventions in the Sistan Plain, Iran

The deficient extension of climate-smart agriculture (CSA) interventions in developing regions, where farming livelihood is threatened by natural disasters like drought, is still a concerning dilemma. Development paradigms are not consistent with CSA competencies in providing food security and climatic resilience and often neglect livelihood indices regarding upscaling patterns in CSA development. This research investigated the effectiveness and upscaling potential of CSA interventions in the Sistan Plain in Sistan and Baluchistan province, Iran. A sample of 361 farmers was taken by stratified randomization with proportional allocation. The CSA effectiveness was measured by productivity, income, resilience, and impact mitigation, and the CSA upscaling potential was measured by technical feasibility, technology cost, gender inclusivity, and synergy with government plans. The factors determining CSA effectiveness and upscaling potential were specified by regression models considering farmer households’ livelihood indices. The results revealed that the variables of participation in education, the cultivation area, road connections, hygienic facilities, educational level, house type, farming water resources, cooking facilities, experience in farming, social recognition, and access to shared facilities determined the effectiveness of CSA practices. Also, CSA upscaling potential was found to be influenced by participation in education, the cultivation area, social recognition, farming water resources, house type, hygienic facilities, educational level, experience in farming, road connections, cooking facilities, and number of children.

Construction of a Scale Towards E-Crop Booking Services of Rythu Bharosa Kendras (RBKs)

In this modern era, farmers encounter difficulties in receiving timely advices and services from extension agents. Due to technological advancements in the recent past quality of services, speed in deliverables and precision actions are possible by creating proper interface between farmers, scientists, extension officers, service providers and by bringing innovation/sustainable interventions in agriculture and allied sectors. With this context as a new extension reform, state government of Andhra Pradesh, India has launched Rythu Bharosa Kendras for bringing the extension system nearer to the farming community and more transparency to ensure quality of services. Hence, this study represents the construction of a perception scale to understand the perception of farmers towards Rythu Bharosa Kendras. Keeping this in view, an attempt has been made to develop a scale for measuring the perception of farmers towards e-crop booking services of Rythu Bharosa Kendras. Likert’s method of summated rating technique was adopted to construct the scale. Based on the available literature and expert’s opinion, 50 statements were developed. After editing as per informal criteria, 40 statements were subjected to item analysis among the farmers of non-sample area. Out of which, 32 statements were retained in the developed perception scale based on the highest ‘t’ value. The ‘r’ (correlation coefficient) value was found to be 0.852 which represents significant at 1 per cent level and the reliability and validity of the constructed scale were found appropriate to measure the perception of farmers towards e-crop booking services of Rythu Bharosa Kendras.

The impact of land use and cover changes on river flows in Wundanyi Catchment of Taita Hills, Kenya (1970–2030)

&lt;p&gt;Taita Hills are one of the most important biodiversity hotspots of Kenya but are experiencing a high rate of deforestation due to the to the conversion of its original forestland to agriculture and settlement during the last century. These landscape dynamics, coupled with rainfall fluctuations in these critical ecosystems, may significantly affect water resource distribution and food security in Taita Taveta County and its environs. This study aimed to establish the trends of land use/cover change (LUCC) in the Wundanyi catchment from 1970 to 2030 and predict their specific and combined effects on surface runoff and stream flow in the same period. The analysis was based on statistical trend analysis and dynamic landscape modeling using both historical and primary data from the Wundanyi catchment and Landsat TM and ETM+ imagery of Taita Hills for 1990, 2000, and 2010. Results show highly variable mean seasonal and annual values of discharge in Wundanyi catchment, probably attributed to environmental changes affecting Taita Hills in general and Wundanyi catchment in particular. Compared to 1990, major land use/cover changes in 2010 were featured by the expansion of built-up area (250%), plantation forest (23.7%), broadleaved forest (17.4%), and thicket (15.9%). It was also notable the decrease in woodland (−30.3%), cropland (−21.6%), and shrubland (−0.8%). Dynamic spatial trends by the year 2030 will be evidenced by increased thicket by 0.41% per annum (&lt;em&gt;R&lt;/em&gt;&lt;sup&gt;2&lt;/sup&gt; = 81.6%) and by decreased plantation forests (−0.13%; &lt;em&gt;R&lt;/em&gt;&lt;sup&gt;2&lt;/sup&gt; = 91.3%), woodland (−0.10%; &lt;em&gt;R&lt;/em&gt;&lt;sup&gt;2&lt;/sup&gt; = 77.6%), shrubland (−0.11%; &lt;em&gt;R&lt;/em&gt;&lt;sup&gt;2&lt;/sup&gt; = 85.2%), broadleaved forests (−0.03%; &lt;em&gt;R&lt;/em&gt;&lt;sup&gt;2&lt;/sup&gt; = 56.6%) and cropland (−0.09%; &lt;em&gt;R&lt;/em&gt;&lt;sup&gt;2&lt;/sup&gt; of 84.4). These changes will shape the catchment landscape and influence its hydrology, unless the existing forest and agricultural policy interventions are enforced. Hence, crop diversification, agroforestry, and soil and water conservation structures are recommended to maintain effective control of LUCC on hydrological processes going on in the Wundanyi catchment.&lt;/p&gt;

Mapping drivers of land conversion among smallholders: A global systems perspective

CONTEXTAgriculture-driven land conversion poses a significant threat to global biodiversity conservation. Balancing agricultural expansion with conservation is a critical challenge for governments and development partners. Sustainability-oriented agriculture programs such as conservation agriculture and land intensification aim to reduce land conversion and deforestation; however, evidence of their effectiveness remains complex and elusive, especially regarding the role of smallholders. OBJECTIVEThis study addresses this knowledge gap by systematically mapping the drivers of smallholder land conversion and their interconnections across three focal biodiverse contexts including sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America, and Southeast Asia as well as from a global scale. METHODSUsing literature that focuses on the nexus of smallholder farmers and agricultural intensification, this study systematically identified the potential of distinct factors and dynamic processes to serve as system leverage points toward improved outcomes for biodiversity, food security, and smallholder livelihoods, using a combination of structural factor analysis, centrality analysis, and feedback loop analysis. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONSThe results highlight the importance of strengthening land tenure systems, providing technical support to farmers, improving market access, and prioritizing smallholder livelihoods in mitigating land conversion. SIGNIFICANCEContextual differences emphasize the need for context-specific interventions and further research to explore factors driving land conversion more deeply within specific contextual boundaries. Future studies should map proposed policy interventions onto local systems driving land conversion and incorporate the diverse perspectives of local stakeholders to guide effective and sustainable agriculture interventions.

EFFECTIVENESS OF AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION SERVICES IN REDUCING POVERTY AMONG FISH FARMERS IN THE COASTAL REGION OF ONDO STATE, NIGERIA

Agricultural development is the foundation for economic growth and provides a primary means of food security, employment generation, and poverty reduction for Nigerians. These are also the very reasons motivating successive incumbent governments of Nigeria to initiate one type of agricultural intervention program or another to generate employment, attain food security, and aid in poverty reduction. The study assesses the effectiveness of agricultural extension services in reducing poverty among fish farmers in the coastal region of Ondo State, Nigeria. A well-structured interview schedule was used to collect data from the respondents and simple random sampling technique was used in selecting 80 respondents. Data collected was analyzed using frequency counts and percentage while Chi-square and Pearson product moment correlation was used for testing the hypotheses. Results of the socioeconomic characteristics show that more than half (58.7%) of the respondents were adults, male (68.7%), married (78.8%), literate (92.5%), having household size of &lt;7 members (92.5%), earned an annual income of &lt;#1,000,000 (73.7%), and having fish farming experience of &lt;5 years (41.2%). Further analysis shows that catfish is mostly farmed by the respondents in the study area (72.5%), belong to one social group or the other (52.5%), and have access to agricultural extension agents (100%). Similarly, the study findings shows that all the respondents (100%) have access to all the different types of services rendered and the different types of agricultural extension services were rendered to the fish farmers which include technology transfer (93%), information and support services (90%), food safety and quality (89%), marketing and distribution (75%), sustainable fisheries (88%), credit and finance (96%), safety measures (100%), training to fish farmers (97%), input supply (88%), and technical expertise (92%). Furthermore, the types of agricultural extension services utilized by the fish farmers include information and support services (100%), food safety and quality (100%), credit and finance (100%), safety measures (100%), input supply (85%), and technical expertise (100%). Types of constraints militating effective utilization of agricultural extension service rendered identified by the fish farmers include weak linkages of research and training centers with extension workers and users (82%), lack of properly qualified/trained extension personal (100%), inadequate number of grass root workers (98%), lack of clear extension strategies (85%), emphasis on welfare than development (88%), much emphasis on technology than its transfer to end users (75%), inadequate infrastructure facilities (80%), and of the respondents and lack of incentives for field staff (100%). There was positive and significant relationships between respondents’ age (r=0.532; p≤0.05), number of years spent schooling (r=0.589; p≤0.05), household size (r=0.117; p≤0.05), annual income (r=0.515; p≤0.05), fish farming experience, (r=0.146; p≤0.05), and effectiveness of agricultural extension services in reducing poverty. The study recommended that more qualified/trained extension personnel should be employed and adequate incentives should be made available to the field staff.

Preference Analysis of Pigeonpea Varietal Attributes among Farmers and Traders in Kalyana Karnataka Region: A Conjoint Analysis Approach

Pulses play important role in the farming economy of Kalyana-Karnataka region. The study was carried out to identify the attributes of pigeonpea varieties preferred by both the farmers and traders using conjoint analysis technique. Multistage purposive random sampling technique was used for selection of respondents. Totally 120 farmers constituting 40 from each districts growing TS-3R and GRG-811 was selected from Bidar, Kalaburagi and Yadgir districts along with 30 pigeonpea traders 10 from each district were selected for the study. The findings of the study indicated that Kalyana Karnataka region is primarily inclined by attributes such as output price, crop duration, resistance to pests and diseases, and yield levels. Farmers prioritize varieties with higher output prices and shorter crop durations. Resistance to wilt and pod borer, along with minimal flower drop, are also significant factors. Farmers aim for yields exceeding 6 to 7 quintals per acre, alongside output prices above Rs.7000. Pigeonpea traders in the study area prioritize moisture content, thickness of seed coat, and recovery percentage for milling. Grains with less than 8% moisture content and thin seed coats are preferred. Recovery rates above 80% and longer keeping quality are also favored, while raw material price holds minimal importance. Conjoint analysis is finding increasing application in the field of market research and wider management decision- making. Hence, in the present study, it was used to measure the farmer’s and trader’s preference for the pigeonpea quality attributes. This study highlights the pivotal attributes guiding farmer and trader preferences for pigeonpea varieties in Kalyana-Karnataka region. Through conjoint analysis, it reveals crucial factors shaping variety selection and market dynamics. Future researchers can leverage these insights to optimize agricultural interventions and enhance crop productivity in similar contexts.

Trade-offs between Farm Incomes and Soil Loss: An Application of Bio-economic Modelling in a Semi-Arid Watershed in South India

Soil erosion is an economic problem and the cost of soil loss and its consequences could be very harsh. The major threat facing the sustainability and productivity is erosion and the associated nutrient loss through run off. And climatic shocks like drought and floods also aggravate the soil loss Aims: The study aims to bring out the different plans and the tradeoff analysis of the conservation and degradation through a multi objective framework. Study Design: Primary data was collected from the farmers of the Padmaram watershed, in Mahbubnagaar district, Telangana state in south India. A detailed questionnaire was prepared which included the current management practices, the input costs and output prices associated. And the soil loss was estimated using the RUSLE equation. And the tradeoffs were obtained by the multiobjective linear programming (MOLP) Place and Duration of Study: The padmaram watershed was selected, from kondurg mandal of Mahabubnagar district of Telanagana. Methodology: The multi–objective linear programming MOLP, is employed to get an efficient solution where in conflicting objectives are simultaneously optimized subject to constraints. The soil loss under different climatic scenarios were modelled using the CMIP data for 2020s,2050s and 2080s. The impact of climate change on soil loss and farm incomes were also assessed. Results: The operational land holding of a small farmer was 1.32 ha, medium famer about 2.71 ha and a large farmer about 4.99 ha. Cotton and maize were two major crops grown in the watershed holding an area of 56 per cent followed by paddy which occupies about 15 per cent. The major rabi crops were maize and rabi paddy (9 %). The cropping intensity of the watershed was 116.87 per cent. The soil loss from 60.0% of the watershed area was below 3.0 t ha−1 y−1. The soil loss from 27.5% area ranged from 3.1 to 4.5 t ha−1 y−1 and remaining 12.5% area have soil loss more than 4.6 t ha−1 y−1. Soil loss and net returns for future climate scenarios were assessed. Conclusion: The analysis of trade off between production and conservation would be useful in identifying optimum crop plans with reduction in soil loss. The results stress that the interventions in agriculture have varying costs and environmental and economic impacts. Their implementation requires appropriate investment decisions.

Risk evaluations of child-livestock interactions by dairy farm parents

The goal of this article is to describe the results of interviews with twenty-five parents of children living and working on dairy farms. The interviews sought to uncover farm parent perspectives and experiences pertaining to raising a kid on the farm and around livestock as well as the risks and benefits involved. Parent perspectives of the risk associated with child-livestock interactions were often uninformed by evidence-based guidelines. Instead, parents showcased a relational understanding of risk primarily informed by their highly localized knowledge and experience. We argue that most dairy farm parents understand the risks associated with child-livestock interactions; however, whether these potential hazards prevent parents from allowing a child to complete a livestock-related task is dependent on complex—though well-rehearsed—processes of risk evaluation. Further, the farm parents we interviewed considered the risks and benefits of child-livestock interactions to be interwoven. We conclude by contextualizing the utility of our findings for developing effective youth agricultural injury prevention interventions and safety messaging materials.

Agricultural extension debatable issues

Extension, and extension workers in particular, drive the agricultural modernization process and the rest of those in associated professions and positions are ‘support staff.’ Whether you are a lecturer, a professor, a dean, a researcher, an extension director or a head of a non-government organization, if your mission is to develop smallholder agriculture at farmer level, you are supporting the field extension worker to achieve your/farmers’ goals. To this extent, it is no surprise that, when no perceptible improvement takes place at the farmer level, the blame lies squarely on the shoulders of extension. Despite its importance, agricultural extension is the most misunderstood of all agricultural disciplines, and the lack of understanding reveals itself in several ways. This paper discusses some of the misconceptions and debatable issues that affect the way extension is supported, the way it is structured, the way it is staffed and the way extension workers are trained and capacitated. The misconceptions also affect the kinds and levels of expectations people have of extension. The misconceptions include: unending definitions of extension, expanding extension concepts, blaming extension for perceived failures in agriculture, undermining the extension discipline, inadequacies in extension teaching and training, markets and the role of extension and structural changes in extension. The origins of some of these debatable issues can be traced to development partners who come with their conceptions of what is needed while others come from development theorists who have not done any extension work in the field. Unfortunately, there are no strong extension professional associations in many African countries that could: raise the profile of extension as a discipline, interrogate some of the agricultural development interventions before implementation and help clear some of the misconceptions. In the absence of extension platforms, extensionists operate as individuals, each struggling the best way they know how to make a difference at the farmer level. There is no way of harnessing the experiences the individuals are going through for purposes of learning, sharing and developing common positions. The purpose of this paper is to promote debate on, and scrutiny of these extension issues which are often presented as facts and absolute truths. Key words: Extension issues, debatable, agricultural discipline, misconceptions, professionals, smallholder farmers