Medium-sized Farms Research Articles

IMPACTS OF ACCESS TO RURAL CREDIT AS A MEANS OF ACQUISITION OF IMPROVED PRODUCTION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE SOUTH AREA OF MOZAMBIQUE: AN ANALYSIS BASED ON THE 2012-2020 AGRICULTURAL CENSES.

The main objective of this work is to address the impacts of access to rural credit on the acquisition of improved agricultural production technologies by small and medium-sized farms in the provinces of Maputo, Gaza and Inhambane in southern Mozambique. The analysis was based on statistical data from the 2012-2014 statistical year book and the 2020 integrated agricultural survey of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security of Mozambique. In order to achieve this objective, the different data from the aforementioned instruments were compiled, organized and cross-referenced for the variables access to agricultural credit and different agricultural production technologies, namely pesticides, fertilizers and irrigation. From the results it was found that in the period 2012-2020 the levels of exclusion and access of small and medium rural producers remain steady, as since 2012 less than 10% of these producers had access to these services. By the way, access to improved agricultural technologies by these producers also remains insignificant. Thus, it is essential to increase public policies that encourage the financial sector in the allocation of rural credit to improve the levels of technological application in rural production in these 3 provinces.

Economic impacts of agricultural policy responses to the outbreak of COVID-19

The aim of this article is to evaluate the general economic impact of the policies focused on the agricultural sector decreed by the Colombian government within the State of Economic, Social, and Ecological Emergency to mitigate the negative effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on this sector. We use a computable general equilibrium model, calibrated with a social accounting matrix that was expanded to focus on specific crops and considered different sizes of agricultural production units. We find that, in general, this set of policies does not have adverse effects but increases the agricultural production of the units receiving the incentives, especially of small and medium-sized farms. In turn, they also increase the demand for unskilled labor, rural households’ disposable income, and consumption compared with pre-covid levels. The results are conditional on the options to finance this set of policies. Also, depending on the financing option, the income gap between rural and urban areas could either narrow or widen.

OPPORTUNITY ALERTNESS, RISK-TAKING AND DIVERSIFICATION BY SMALL- AND MEDIUM-SIZED FARMERS

In many developed economies, the struggle to survive finds many small farms disappearing. Diversification is recognized as an important strategy for sustaining farms of this scale, addressing food security issues and creating a more resilient food system. This study aims to analyze farmers’ intentions to diversify into new business opportunities and how opportunity alertness and risk-taking propensity affect their intentions. These relationships are examined using data collected from 166 small and medium-sized farmers in five regions within Florida. The results indicate that for small and medium-sized farmers, opportunity alertness and risk-taking propensity have a positive effect on diversification intentions across seven different types of activities. Implications are drawn for theory and practice.

First report of multidrug-resistant Salmonella Infantis in broiler litter in Tolima, Colombia.

Background and Aim:Salmonella has been identified as one of the most widely distributed zoonotic pathogens in broiler litter. Multidrug-resistant strains have been isolated from salmonellosis outbreaks, compromising the success of their treatment. This study aimed to isolate and identify Salmonella spp. serovars in healthy broiler litter in Tolima (Colombia), determine their resistance to different antimicrobials, and detect genes associated with b-lactam resistance that could be useful to control Salmonella spp. in poultry.Materials and Methods:In total, 45 broiler litter samples were collected. Salmonella spp. was isolated and identified using selective and differential culture media and biochemical tests. Molecular confirmation of the pathogen was performed with the invA gene and serotyping by Kauffman–White scheme. Antimicrobial susceptibility to 15 antibiotics was determined by Kirby–Bauer method. In cefotaxime-resistant strains, blaCTX-M-F, blaCTX-M-1, blaCMY, and blaTEM genes were evaluated by polymerase chain reaction (PCR).Results:In total, 817 presumptive strains were obtained from xylose lysine deoxycholate and Salmonella Shigella agars and subcultured on xylose-lysine-tergitol 4 and MacConkey agars, from which 150 strains were isolated; 29 of these strains were presumptive for Salmonella spp. after performing biochemical tests and 16 were confirmed by PCR as Salmonella Infantis (15) and Gallinarum (1). All strains were found to be multiresistant to antibiotics, showing three different profiles and isolates resistant to cefotaxime, and the blaCTX-M gene was detected.Conclusion:This is the first study to isolate S. Infantis from broiler litter in Colombia. All isolates exhibited resistance to the evaluated antimicrobials, suggesting the misuse of antimicrobials in small- and medium-sized poultry farms. The presence of Salmonella enterica serovar Infantis is a public health problem. Thus, regular monitoring of poultry litter is recommended, as these bacteria can be transmitted to humans through animal products or contaminated environments.

EFFICIENCY OF DAIRY AND BEEF CATTLE FARMS DIFFERING IN LAND AREA SIZE

The increasing size of farms, specialisation and growing scale of production are the primary factors in the improvement of resource utilisation in agriculture. In this context, the aim of this study is to assess and compare the efficiency of resource management in farms differing in land area size and specialising in the production of milk and cattle for slaughter. This assessment was based on data from farms participating in the FADN agricultural accountancy system in 2019. The efficiency of utilised factors of production in the researched farms was evaluated based on indexes of productivity and profitability of land, labour and capital. In dairy farms, the productivity of land was considerably higher and was growing with an increase in their size, whereas in beef cattle type farms it generally deteriorated. Productivity of labour and capital was also much greater and was growing faster in dairy farms. The highest profitability of land was recorded for medium-sized farms of both production types, while the profitability of labour and capital was highest in the largest farms. It needs to be stressed that the income and economic efficiency of farms specialising in the production of cattle for slaughter are determined by financial support within the EU Common Agricultural Policy.

Prevalence and Persistence of Multidrug-Resistant Yersinia enterocolitica 4/O:3 in Tonsils of Slaughter Pigs from Different Housing Systems in Croatia.

Yersinia enterocolitica is one of the priority biological hazards in pork inspection. Persistence of the pathogen, including strains resistant to antimicrobials, should be evaluated in pigs from different housing systems for risk ranking of farms. In this 2019 study, tonsils were collected from 234 pigs, of which 69 (29.5%) were fattened on 3 big integrated farms, 130 (55.5%) on 10 medium-sized farms, and 35 (15%) on 13 small family farms. In addition, 92 pork cuts and minced meat samples from the same farms were tested for the presence of Y. enterocolitica using the culture method. Phenotypic and genetic characteristics of the isolates were compared with previously collected isolates from 2014. The overall prevalence of Y. enterocolitica in pig tonsils was 43% [95% CI 36.7–49.7]. In pigs from big integrated, medium-sized, and small family farms, the prevalence was 29%, 52%, and 40%, respectively. All retail samples of portioned and minced pork tested negative for pathogenic Y. enterocolitica, likely due to high hygienic standards in slaughterhouses/cutting meat or low sensitivity of culture methods in these matrices. The highest recovery rate of the pathogen from tonsils was found when alkali-treated PSB and CIN agar were combined. The biosecurity category of integrated and medium farms did not affect the differences in prevalence of Y. enterocolitica (p > 0.05), in contrast to family farms. Pathogenic ail-positive Y. enterocolitica biotype 4 serotype O:3 persisted in the tonsils of pigs regardless of the type of farm, slaughterhouse, and year of isolation 2014 and 2019. PFGE typing revealed the high genetic concordance (80.6 to 100%) of all the Y. enterocolitica 4/O:3 isolates. A statistically significant higher prevalence of multidrug-resistant Y. enterocolitica 4/O:3 isolates was detected in the tonsils of pigs from big integrated farms compared to the other farm types (p < 0.05), with predominant and increasing resistance to nalidixic acid, chloramphenicol, and streptomycin. This study demonstrated multidrug resistance of the pathogen in pigs likely due to more antimicrobial pressure on big farms, with intriguing resistance to some clinically relevant antimicrobials used in the treatment of yersiniosis in humans.

Sustainable Economic Development of Ukraine through the Agro-Sector Growth

The urgency of the research forms the complex of agricultural sector productivity problems, employment level reduction problems, low wages level, and land productivity reduction. The article is devoted to searching for agrarian sector development directions, which promotes steady economic development based on identified problems. The research aims to develop proposals for solving the main agro-sector problems, which contribute to sustainable economic growth. The article develops the methodology of analysis and uses statistical analysis, probability theory, and generally scientific methods of knowledge. The study brings evidence of the leading hypotheses proposed and the table in the “problem-solution” format. It is proved that the agriculture of Ukraine has a heavy influence on the economy and employment. Agriculture is characterised by instability, low wages, and increased land for growing plant products, while livestock farming is in decline. The following methods are used to solve the problems: market transformation on finished food-product, diversification of production, de-shadowing of the sector, agriculture automation increase, land reform controlling, stimulating farming state programmes. The originality of this study lies in the authors’ sustainable development analysis methodology through the agricultural sector growth. The practical significance of the study lies in the possibility of implementing recommendations at the macro- and microeconomic levels. A further research field forms the automation processes in agriculture available to small and medium-sized farmers

Determining Value Added Intellectual Capital (VAIC) Using the TOPSIS-CRITIC Method in Small and Medium-Sized Farms in Selected European Countries

The purpose of this paper is to develop a modified method of measuring VAIC for small and medium-sized farms and to determine the relationship of this measure on farm area. The main objective will be implemented through the following specific objectives: (1) indication of the generating variables VA, VC, HC and SC, (2) determination of synthetic measures of VA, VC, HC and SC, (3) determination of CEE, HCE, SCE and VAIC and (4) to determine the relationship between the values obtained in objective 2 and 3 and the area of the farm. The analyses were carried out on data obtained from 2980 small and medium-sized farms from Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Moldova and Serbia. The determination of VAIC was carried out on the basis of synthetic measures determined by the TOPSIS-CRITIC method. VAIC was determined in accordance with the scheme proposed by Pulic. All data were converted to one hectare of farm area. The analysed farms were divided into four classes depending on the area. A contrast analysis was carried out between the designated classes. Analyses were conducted for each of the five countries separately. The alternative VAIC measurement method presented needs to be refined in terms of the selection of classified variables to create synthetic measures. The analysis indicates that it is feasible to measure VAIC through the use of alternative measures in the form of synthetic measures while at the same time preserving the principles resulting from the VAIC concept. The uniqueness of the method lies in the use of synthetic measures to determine VAIC in companies that do not possess complete accounting information. In addition, failures in the proposed method have been eliminated in terms of the method’s compatibility with human capital theory. The methodology used is an original approach to measuring the value of intellectual capital. In addition, it should contribute to the re-verification of the VAIC.

SUSTAINABILITY OF AGROHOLDINGS IN EUROPE IN THE CONDITIONS OF DECENTRALIZATION OF THE ECONOMY

The article examines the stability of agricultural holdings in Europe in the conditions of decentralization of the economy. It is established that the economic stability of agricultural holdings is a sphere of sustainable agriculture. Agricultural holdings must receive such income that they can cover all their expenses. The Common Agricultural Policy currently addresses many long-term issues, but it also has to deal with new challenges. It can simply be said that from a long-term perspective, the CAP (Common Agricultural Policy) in the EU aims to support farm incomes to achieve a balanced, productive agriculture. The relatively new focus of Green Europe is aimed at the mutual reciprocity of many different aspects with an emphasis on the environment. However, the economic stability of agricultural enterprises cannot be neglected in the picture of new policy goals. The study focuses on the issue of the double structure of farms, which is characterized by the different nature of two groups of agricultural enterprises and is found especially in countries that have undergone agricultural transformation. The dual structure of farms in agriculture is relatively unusual among EU states, for which a generally accepted EU methodology is insufficient. From the presented data, significant differences are noticeable both between the type of farm and between farms with different economic sizes within individual specializations. Farms of mixed production and milk production have the greatest load. Usually, large and very large farms employ paid workers, while small and medium-sized farms use their own labor. Larger holdings have more available external capital, which accounts for almost 40% of the total assets of livestock holdings. As the farm size increases, the share of land owned and the share of permanent pastures decreases. The largest share of sustainable farms was found in farms that focus on milk production. In terms of size, small farms are most at risk, which is confirmed for all production areas. On the contrary, larger and very large holdings were included in the group of viable holdings. This finding confirms the need to support the viability and sustainability of small extensive farms. These are farms focused on grazing livestock. These farms are located in remote areas that require sustainable maintenance. Agriculture is important to maintain employment and social interaction so that the countryside does not remain abandoned. An actual type of such support is redistribution. This methodology was applied as one of the impact assessment factors to determine it.

HISTORY, DEVELOPMENT AND MARKET OF MAIZE CULTIVARS WITH LOW SEED COST IN BRAZIL

Maize is one of the cereal crops most produced on the planet. It constitutes one of the species of greatest economic interest and provides multiple products, with applications in diverse sectors, from animal feed to industrial products and even human food. More and more companies that represent this segment release genetically modified maize hybrids as a manner of ensuring return on investment, decreasing the supply of conventional (non-transgenic) cultivars available on the market. Seed is one of the main components of the cost of maize production. Thus, farmers that obtain lower yield are not able to afford to pay the relatively high costs of the high technology hybrid seeds or to improve their production system, but it is possible to obtain satisfactory results through lower seed investments. Intervarietal hybrids may represent an alternative for meeting the needs of small and medium-sized farmers, with fewer resources for investments in inputs and seeds, and for supplying varieties that meet the needs of the small maize grower. This review presents a history of conventional maize breeding in Brazil and describes the main maize cultivars with low-cost seeds developed by public R&D companies, mainly focusing on the Instituto Agronômico (IAC) as an option for small and medium-sized maize growers in Brazil.

Better Cotton: An Approach to Sustainable Agriculture

Cotton is the largest industrial sector in Pakistan. However, due to bad traditional practices and use of high amount pesticides, the whole industry lost about 10-15% of cotton. For reasons of socioeconomic and environmental harm, the Better Cotton Initiative (BCI) launched "Better Cotton" in Pakistan. Better cotton production is a more environmentally friendly alternative to traditional cotton due to its efficient resource utilization and lower environmental externalities. CABI encourages farmers to implement better cotton production principles and criteria, use better cotton standard system and good agricultural practices (GAP), and provide participatory training for small, medium and large-sized farmers and farm workers in their "learning groups" and medium-sized farmers' fields. The aim of this short communication article is to put together a concise review of Better Cotton production. In this short communication we briefly present the history, importance, aim, distribution and principles of Better Cotton Initiative.

Spatial layout planning of intensive pig farms in the suburb: a case study of Nanyu, China.

A large number of livestock and poultry breeding were distributed in the suburbs, brought a strong environmental pressure to the cities. The issue of whether livestock and poultry breeding could be carried out in the suburbs was a key controversy in the present. To address this question, this study constructed an index system of suitability evaluation of spatial layout of intensive pig farms, calculated the average surface temperature from June to September, and obtained potential intensive pig farms in Nanyu Town. Combing above results and area index results of cultivated land spatial matched with intensive pig farm, spatial relation between cultivated land and potential intensive pig farm was built, the optimum potential intensive pig farm in Nanyu Town was determined, and its carrying capacity was calculated. Results showed that livestock and poultry breeding could be carried out in the suburbs. A total of 3403 and 3253 pieces of cultivated lands occupying 52.01% and 49.67% of the total cultivated lands had a spatial relation between potential intensive pig farms taking N and P as indices, respectively. Moreover, 14 and 15 potential intensive pig farms taking N and P as indices, respectively, in Nanyu Town were determined as optimum potential intensive pig farms. Results also indicated that most of the optimum potential intensive pig farms were suitable for constructing small- and medium-sized pig farms. Results would provide scientific basis for the planning of spatial arrangement of livestock and poultry breeding and the suburb environmental pollution control.

The Utilisation of Native Woodland in Norse Greenland

ABSTRACT Wood was a key raw material for past societies and no less so in the Arctic region where woodland is sparse. When Norse settlers came to Greenland in the late tenth century AD, the pristine environment had not been affected by other humans for centuries. It has been assumed that the Norse had a negative effect on the environment, with drastic woodland clearance resulting in a more or less treeless landscape, contributing to the eventual demise of the Norse Greenlandic society. Recent palynological studies indicate that the environmental impact was in fact more complex. Wood taxonomic analyses on artefacts and samples from five Norse Greenlandic sites (1000–1400 AD) show that 36% of the combined assemblages (total of 8552 pieces) derive from native woodland. Mostly, it was used to make small-sized objects, but it was also an important source of nutrients, fuel, fodder and insulation. The proportion of native woodland was significantly higher on medium-sized farms than at the one high-status farm studied, indicating that socioeconomic factors impacted wood acquisition. Although local woodlands could not sustain all the timber needs of the Norse Greenlanders, it made up a substantial component of their wood procurement strategies.

ORGANIZATIONAL AND ECONOMIC FUNDAMENTALS OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE HEMP PRODUCTION IN UKRAINE

The article analyzes the current state and prospects for the development of the hemp industry in Ukraine. It has been established that the cultivation of technical hemp is a promising niche and can become a springboard that will ensure a successful start for the development of small and medium-sized farms in Ukraine. The comparison of key indicators with leading countries in the production of hemp products is given. Leaders in the production of hemp products are: China, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, countries of Asia and Latin America. Methodical and practical recommendations have been developed regarding the organizational and economic foundations of the development of hemp production in Ukraine. The main problems of the hemp growing industry are identified, the ways to solve them are given, as well as the consequences of the proposed measures. The main problems include: establishment of licensing requirements for technical hemp as an agricultural crop equivalent to narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances; excessive regulation and control by law enforcement agencies of economic activity related to technical hemp; the maximum permissible level of THC in technical hemp; availability of technical hemp crop quotas; excessive state control during the destruction of the remains of technical hemp; irregularity of economic activity and circulation of technical hemp, in particular, products of their processing, etc. The following ways are proposed for the development of the production of hemp products in Ukraine: elimination of excessive control by law enforcement agencies over economic activities related to the circulation of technical hemp; abolition of state control over circulation, including destruction of the remains of industrial hemp; cancellation of the quota of industrial hemp crops; removal of technical hemp from the general regulation on narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and precursors; simplification of conditions for licensing the production of cannabis products; raising the maximum permissible level of THC in technical hemp to at least 0.2%; determination at the legislative level of the types of activities for the cultivation of technical hemp, fixing the appropriate СTEA code, as well as the determination of UCGEEA codes for all types of goods and products based on technical hemp. Keywords: hemp cultivation, technical hemp, niche crops, efficiency, organizational and economic principles of development.

Using a Value Chain Approach to Map the Pig Production System in Rwanda, Its Governance, and Sanitary Risks.

Rwanda has a fast growing pig production sector projected to continue expansion, due to rising local and regional demand. We undertook a value chain analysis to establish the flows of pigs and pork in Rwanda and the roles of various actors involved, and to understand governance and sanitary risks in the value chain. Cross-sectional qualitative data were collected through focus group discussions and key informant interviews with farmers, brokers, butchers, abattoir managers, and veterinarians. Data were collected on pig production methods and inputs, the source and destination of live and slaughtered pigs, value-adding infrastructures (abattoirs and processing factories), the people involved and interactions between them, governance, and challenges. Pig production in Rwanda is dominated by smallholders, mainly as a source of supplementary income and secondarily for manure. Emerging medium-sized and large pig farms were also identified, located mainly around urban areas. Live pig markets are the main mechanism allowing various actors to buy/sell pigs. Brokers have an important role in pig transactions: they are key in setting prices at markets, examining pigs for disease, organising the supply of pigs for abattoirs and for export. Only a few formal pig abattoirs were identified, which mainly supply to pork processing factories based in Kigali and/or export to customers. Local consumers rely on informal slaughtering at farm or bar/restaurant backyards, with irregular veterinary inspection. Formal abattoirs were attended by a veterinary inspector, however a lack of record keeping was noted. Sanitary risks identified were a lack of biosecurity throughout the chain and poor hygiene at slaughter places. Lingual palpation was practised in pig markets to identify cysticercosis infection, however cyst-positive pigs were not destroyed, but were sold for reduced prices in the same market or later informally sold by the owner. There are few veterinarians attending farms, with most services provided by less qualified technicians or self-treatment of pigs by farmers. Overall, this production system is characterised by a high degree of informality at all nodes, combined with the rapid growth trajectory in the sector. These findings provide a basis to plan interventions tailored to vulnerabilities identified in the Rwanda pig value chain.

Telephone farmers and an emerging ecosystem are unlocking the hidden middle of agricultural value chains in Kenya through innovation

PurposeThis article explores the potential of an emerging group of farmers in Kenya, namely the growing segment of urban-based medium-size farmers, often called “telephone farmers”. To what extent do they benefit from an emerging ecosystem to support them in operating their farms, and what does that mean for the Hidden middle of agricultural value chains, the actors between the farmers and consumers? Unlocking the potential production of telephone farmers will require more services from collectors, traders, transport firms, the storage facilities, wholesalers and processing units and retailers. Ultimately, optimized telephone farm production benefits the business of Hidden middle value chain actors, increases incomes and jobs and improves food security.Design/methodology/approachBased on a survey and in-depth interviews a profile of the telephone farmers is given and their role as innovators is analyzed. The Latia Resource Centre (LRC) provides assistance to medium-size farmers, like the telephone farmers, helping them to prepare business plans and use modern technology and contributing to an emerging ecosystem providing support to all farmers.FindingsThe article analyzes the medium-size telephone farmers. It documents the contributions of this new agricultural actor to developing value chains and a dynamic ecosystem. The paper profiles the telephone farmers first and then identifies what they need and the support they receive. The emerging innovative ecosystem impacts agricultural productivity and production and hence the development of value chains. Small farmers gain access to opportunities offered by telephone farmers, working for them as outgrower or farm worker.Research limitations/implicationsThe authors used a small sample of 51 farmers and covered only a two-year period.Social implicationsSmall farmers are being helped through the emerging eco-system and farm labor acquire skills, which they can also you on another or their own farm.Originality/valueBased on the analysis an even more effective ecosystem is suggested and policy recommendations are formulated before the conclusion is drawn that these medium-size farmers contribute to innovation diffusion, inclusive value chain development and food security and are becoming part of this expanding, innovative ecosystem. Following the debate on food security the results suggest to pay more attention to the development of telephone farmers given their role in developing agricultural value chains and innovative ecosystems.

Multidrug resistance problems targeting piglets and environmental health by Escherichia coli in intensive swine farms

Multidrug resistance (MDR) problems become critical concerns in animal production through food chains and the environment. Thus, the cross-sectional study of E. coli in swine feces, drinking water, and wastewater collected on four medium and four large swine farms in Thailand was studied. The orders of antibiotics used were AMX-COL-GM-TIL and AMX-COL-GM-CER on medium-sized and large swine farms, respectively. Hemolytic E. coli (HEC) was more frequently isolated from all samples than Non-hemolytic E. coli (NHEC). The medium-sized farms were resistant to AMP, AMX, TE, and C, while large farms were resistant to AMP, AMX, TE, and PIP. Only two sensitive antibiotics, namely AK and TE, were available on both farms, whereas, banned NT was still detected in the sludge. The MDR of E. coli isolates was 95.7% and 87.7% on medium-sized and large swine farms, while the highest resistance found was 15 drugs used for NHEC on medium-sized swine farms. The PFGE molecular typing revealed the largest cluster containing five isolations, correlated with drinking water, sow, and fattening isolates; however, the phenotypic and genotypic were not in a similar pattern. The most seriously MDR related to HEC was found in the piglets, effluent, and sludge.Thus, the AMR and MDR of E. coli existence in medium-sized and large swine farms in this study. MDR of E. coli was substantially found in the environmental, including effluent and sludge. Therefore, it inevitably operates the long-term monitoring of AMR, especially targeted piglets and its environment as the main focus of critical antibiotics use in swine farms.

Food Hubs in Romania. Assessment of a Pilot Project

The “Civitas Foundation” is an NGO experienced in rural development. With the financial support of the “Romanian-American Foundation” in 2017 it initiated a pilot project to test the efficiency of the “food hub” short food supply chain in Romania. The goal of this endeavour is to improve the competitiveness and the development prospects of small and medium-sized farmers, and the revitalisation of the rural areas in general. We aim to analyse the undertaking according to the following objectives: (1) Assess the functions and services provided by the food hubs; (2) Draft a profile of the networks’ producers;(3) Investigate the factors which could endorse or hinder the development of the food hub networks in Romania. To achieve our goal, we carried out a qualitative research based on secondary data analysis, interviews with significant stakeholders, and participant observation. We can conclude that this model of short food supply chain merges a variety of producers, diverse in size and economic performance, product type and category. The food hubs are not just aggregators of local agri-food products or logistical warehouses, but they provide several vital services for small and medium-sized farmers. Under certain circumstances (e.g., financial and policy support), this approach, which couples economic targets with sustainability issues, has chances to be successfully scaled up on a national level.

PRESENT STATUS, PROSPECTS AND PROBLEMS OF CASHEW CULTIVATION IN BANGLADESH

Cashew (Anacardium occidentale L.) remained underexploited in Bangladesh, though it is a vital crop in many countries. This study was conducted to reveal the present scenario, explore the prospects, and identify the problems of cashew cultivation in Bangladesh. Data were collected from randomly selected 63 cashew-producing farmers from three hilly districts, Rangamati, Bandarban and Khagrachhari, under the Chittagong division of Bangladesh, using a structured interview schedule from February to April 2019. The majority of the farmers (65.1%) owned medium-size farms (1.01-3ha) and about half of them (46.0%) belonged to the higher annual income (&gt;1,50,000 BDT; equivalent to 1,750.55 USD) group. The cashew yield was medium (1.40 to 1.80t ha-1) and an individual tree yield ranged from 3 to 8 kg with an average of 6.24 kg. More than two-thirds (68.3%) of the farmers earned 1,20,001-1,80,000 BDT ha-1 from cashew cultivation with an average of 1,68,000 BDT (equivalent to 1,960.62 USD). An average of 0.89 ha of land could still be taken under cashew cultivation. The net profit potential of 8,34,242 BDT ha-1 (equivalent to 9,706.69 USD) is possible from cashew cultivation which is much higher than other crops. The farmers confronted low (79.4%) to medium (20.6%) problems and among the 16 identified problems, ‘lack of processing for nut and apple’ was the most serious severe problem, followed by ‘lack of quality seeds or seedlings. The findings suggest that the government should take initiatives to overcome the prevailing problems regarding cashew cultivation.

Role of clusters in development of the digital ecosystem of the agro-industrial complex

The main trends in agriculture over the past few years have been export orientation and digitalization. Since 2019, the departmental project “Digital Agriculture” has been implemented. In 2021, a draft order of the government of the Russian Federation “On the Strategic Direction in the Field of Digital Transformation of the Agro-Industrial and Fishery Complex of the Russian Federation until 2030” was developed, which provides for development of a national online platform for promoting the agricultural products and the launch of a modeling and forecasting system for the agro-industrial complex. Currently, the beneficiaries of digitalization are large agricultural holdings and the IT industry (manufacturers of sensors and software developers for machinery and equipment, software companies, fertilizer producers and telecom operators). In order for small and medium-sized farms that do not have sufficient resources for end-to-end digitalization of production and business processes to be able to join the innovation race, it is necessary to look for a format of interaction in which competition and cooperation are organically combined. The article discusses one of such forms of association – clusters; explores their potential role in development of platform network architectures; the similarities and differences of cluster and digital industrial systems are analyzed. It is concluded that the flexibility and openness of cluster structures allows actors to find their functional areas and niches and organically fit into the created digital ecosystem of the agro-industrial complex.