Poor Farmers Research Articles

Farmers’ usage of information and communication technologies for integrated farm management: An analytical study focusing on rural households of Bangladesh

Agricultural farming consists of multiple components and information related to farm management is one of the crucial factors. Information and communication technologies (ICTs) provide reliable and need based information in an effective way. This study focuses on investigating the extent of ICTs usage for integrated farm management and to clarify the underlying factors in Gauripur upazila (sub-district) under Mymensingh district of Bangladesh. To achieve the purpose of the study, data were collected from 75 randomly sampled farmers using structured questionnaire. Both descriptive and inferential statistical techniques were applied to obtain the findings of the study. The findings of the study clearly revealed that the highest proportion of the farmers (46%) had the tendency to use ICTs to a moderate extent. The analytical findings from the study showed that among the socio-demographic attributes annual income, training received, access to information sources and knowledge level were significantly associated with the usage of ICTs by the farmers. The step-wise multiple regression analysis indicated that knowledge on ICT usage, annual income and access to information sources were the most influential factors affecting the usage of ICTs by the farmers. The policy implications of the study suggests paying more attention to increase the operational knowledge and access to ICTs with provision to hands-on training and economic incentives for rural poor farmers. The integrated approach combining both public and private sectors can be effective to improve the extent of ICT usage for efficient farm management.

PROFITABILITY ANALYSIS OF UPLAND RICE PRODUCTION AMONG RESOURCE POOR FARMERS IN KADUNA STATE, NIGERIA: A STOCHASTIC PROFIT EFFICIENCY FRONTIER APPROACH

This research work analyzed profitability of upland rice production among resource poor farmers in Kaduna State, Nigeria: A stochastic profit efficiency frontier approach. A Multi-stage sampling technique was employed. Data of primary sources were collected through the use of a well-designed and a well-structured questionnaire from 150 sampled rice farmers. The outcomes show that the mean age of the sampled rice farmers was 42 years. The average farm size cultivated by the rice farmers was 3.18 hectares which show that the rice farmers were small scale farmers. The gross margin obtained was N522,188.16/ha with the gross margin ratio of 0.564 and the operating ratio of 0.392 indicating that rice production was a profitable enterprise. The significant factors influencing profit efficiency of rice production were: fertilizer cost (P<0.01), cost of hired labour (P<0.01), cost of chemical and herbicide (P<0.01), seed cost (P<0.01), transportation cost P<0.01 and cost of land and machineries (P<0.05). The constraints facing farmers in the course of rice production were: lack of credit facilities, inadequate extension agents, bad road infrastructures, lack of farm inputs, high cost of fertilizers, and high cost of labour. The study recommends that rice farmers should be provided with farm inputs like: improved seeds varieties, fertilizers, and agro chemicals at a subsidized price in order to improve productivity and profit efficiency, farm machineries like tractors, and irrigation facilities for dry season rice farming should be made avialable by Nigerian government to rice farmers to encourage mechanized farming all year round to ensure there is food security in the country.

Unlocking the genetic variations in sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) germplasm for waterlogging tolerance

Undulating topographyand higher precipitation intensityleading towaterlogging during rainyseason adversely affects productivity of the kharif crops including sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) in Bundelkhand region. Limited information is available on existence of genetic variations for waterlogging tolerance in oilseed crops including sesame. In the present study, 609 germplasm accessions ofsesame were phenotyped under field conditions during kharif 2019 to identify accessions having waterlogging tolerance. Out of these 609 sesame accessions seven accessions viz., EC334449, EC334965, EC 334970, EC 334981, EC346727, IC204414 and IC96095 exhibited tolerance against waterlogging at three different growth stages (seedling stage, flower and capsule initiation stage) when natural waterlogging was allowed for 48 hours during experimentation. Identification of donors and development of waterlogging tolerant varieties is the most feasible and economically viable approach to bring desired stability in sesame production at the fields of resource poor farmers.

‘디지털 인디아’로의 전환이 근교 농촌여성의 비공식 모임에 미치는 영향

This study analyzes the utilization methods of SHG loan programs in suburban rural villages near Gurugram, in relation to the transition of the 'Digital India' era. For this study, the researcher conducted anthropological fieldwork in three rural villages Gurugram, India. SHG is the Indian version of microfinance, and is known to mediate the improvement of women's economic status as well as the only financial inclusion for poor farmers. SHG in Gurugram is one of the NGO programs organized by St. Stephen's Gurugram Hospital. In Dhankot village, there are ‘SHG’, ‘SSY’, and ‘Federation’ loans. SHG members can use the loan service according to the purpose of family matters, hospital expenses, daughter's education expenses, family's job transition, and female members' business investment. The women of Dhankot village are actively using Federation, a high-amount loan program, to transform the digital society. SHG helps improve the quality of life of individuals through adaptation to the digital society and is leading financial inclusion in the era of 'Digital India' in the suburbs near Gurugram.

CONTRACT FARMING: A REMEDY OF POOR FARMERS IN INDIA

Cost of cultivation of small farmers is increasing due to higher price of input of farming but they are getting profitable price. It is common phenomenon that price of crops decrease during the pick season of farming. So farmers face tremendous problems in marketing of their articles. The problems will be more tragic in case of vegetables since farmers cannot enjoy the facility of cold storage. As a remedy of this great problem the concept of contract farming has raised in 2003-2004 in India. The process of contract farming in India involves scientific and optimum use of land and farm resources for maximum output of agriculture produce. Small farmers practicing primitive agricultural methods for cultivation and harvesting of crops. But with the liberalization of Indian economy, there has been a sudden spurt in contract farming in India. Practice of this farming may bring revolution to the poor farmers by successful implementation of it.

Impact of PYXERA Global Yieldwise Project on Improved Tomato PostHarvest Loss Management Practices of Farmers’ Output, Income and Poverty Status in North-West Zone, Nigeria

The study was conducted to determine the impact of PYXERA Global Yieldwise project improved tomato postharvest loss management practices on farmers output, income and poverty status in North-West Zone, Nigeria. A multi-stage random selection method was used to choose the study locations, and 540 farmers were administered with structured questionnaire. Data were analyzed using the descriptive, double difference estimates and FGT poverty index. The results showed that the difference in value between the two output differences [?211,255.8 – ?128,366.86] was N82, 888,94. The poverty incidence of poor farm households in the study area was 95% for the non-adopters, and 61% for the adopters. In addition, the poverty depth among the farm households in the study area was 85% for non–adopters and 36% for adopters. The severity of the poverty index was 79% for non–adopters and 26% for adopters of improved tomato post-harvest loss reduction management practices. This implies that poverty incidence is higher among non-adopting poor than their adopting poor households. The study concluded that the adoption of the improved tomato post-harvest management practices had a positive impact on tomato postharvest loss reduction, income, and poverty status as revealed in the results of this study, although the extent of tomato post-harvest loss was still high. It was therefore recommended that the tomato post-harvest loss reduction campaign should be sustained to further decrease the losses suffered by tomato farmers especially as the end line for achieving the SDG on food loss and food waste draws closer. All stakeholders in the tomato value chain should address other challenges limiting the adoption of improved tomato production and post-harvest loss reduction such as low extension visits, poor market linkages, and distance to market.

Whose Carbon Capture? A Bit of Good News

Global policy, policy makers and government representatives in the OECD countries routinely ignore the potential role to be played by carbon sequestration from crop waste biochar made by poor smallholders in the developing world. This paper argues that this is a mistake and makes the case for the design, development and distribution of low-cost, low-tech biochar making equipment to the world’s poorest farmers living on small farms and possessing only widely and thinly spread biomass resources on rough terrain. It argues that paying attention to the crop wastes of poor farmers can reduce GHG and PM2.5 emissions considerably and contends that the private motivations that underpin this approach can replace the talk of large-scale social behavior change with a self-replicating system built on farmers’ envy.

Assessing the effectiveness of traditional wool scouring for small-scale farmers in South Africa: a study on detergents and scouring time

Purpose The South African wool industry is integral to the country's agricultural sector, particularly sheep farming and wool production. Small-scale farmers play a vital role in this industry and contribute to employment and food security in rural communities. However, these farmers face numerous challenges, including a lack of funding, poor farming practices and difficulty selling their wool at fair prices. This study aims to address these challenges, the University of Free State launched a wool value chain project for small-scale farmers. Design/methodology/approach In this project, one of the studies conducted assessed the effectiveness of different detergents suitable for traditional wool scouring methods for small-scale farmers who lack access to sophisticated machinery. The investigation was conducted by scouring 160 wool samples using three different detergents and filtered water as a control. The wool samples were then evaluated for their cleanliness, brightness and fibre properties through a combination of scanning electron microscopy, spectrophotometry and statistical analysis at different scouring times (3, 10, 15 and 20 min, respectively). Findings The results showed that the combination of scouring time and the type of scouring solution used could significantly impact wool quality. It was found that using a combination of standard detergent or Woolwash as a scouring solution with a scouring time of 10–15 min resulted in the best outcome in terms of fibre property, wool colour and scouring loss. Originality/value This study demonstrated that traditional wool scouring methods could be an option for small-scale farmers and anyone who want to learn how to scour wool without expensive machinery to make wool products.

Integrated Soil Fertility and Water Management Practices for Enhanced Agricultural Productivity

Declining agricultural productivity has been a challenge worldwide and especially in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Low agricultural productivity has been attributed to factors such as poor farm management practices, soil moisture stress, soil infertility, and soil degradation, among others. The nations in the SSA are prone to insufficient crop yields due to their inadequate capacity to adapt to good agricultural practices that support crop productivity such as integrated soil fertility and water management (ISFWM) practices. This lowers the farmers’ capacity to improve crop productivity, thus contributing in jeopardizing the food and nutritional security in SSA. Past research has shown that ISFWM strategies have not been properly adopted probably due to the lack of adequate awareness among the farmers about them. In addition, there is limited documentation on the importance of ISFWM in enhancement of soil fertility, water use efficiency, and sustainable crop production in SSA. This paper discusses some of the key ISFWM options that have the potential to enhance soil fertility, improve water use efficiency, and consequently increase agricultural productivity. The practices include intercropping, use of tied ridges, minimum tillage, mulching, and combined use of organic and inorganic fertilizers.

The profile of buffalo farming in Matur District, Agam Regency, West Sumatra

This research aimed to overview the buffalo farming business profile in Matur District and analyze its development problems. Data were obtained using the snowball sampling method by interviewing 148 buffalo farmers and observing their farming. The parameters measured were: 1) farmer demographics, 2) profile of buffalo farming business, and 3) buffalo farming practice. The results showed that the buffalo farming business in Matur District was 58.78% managed by farmers aged 25-54 years, and most of their education was elementary school (54.05%). The farmers were quite experienced in raising buffaloes (18.46 years), but the average ownership was low (1.80 heads or 0.81 Livestock Units). Most of the buffaloes' business system is a profit-sharing system (57.43%). The feed given to buffaloes was mostly natural grass (78.38%), the rearing system was carried out semi-intensively (69.59%) and intensively (30.41%), and only 54.73% of farmers provided buffalo houses. The main constraint in the buffalo farming business development in Matur District was poor farming practices, shown by the low level of technical aspects implementation (38.60%). Most buffalo mating system was natural system (96.39%). Stud limitation availability was the main constraint in buffalo reproductive management, which affected high mating costs (reached IDR 20,000-300,000/conception) and inbreeding cases (15%). Farmers' knowledge about diseases could have been higher, and the buffaloes never got vaccinated. In conclusion, the buffalo management system in Matur District was low, and thus improvement is necessary.

Seroprevalence of Contagious Caprine Pleuropneumonia (CCPP) in Bharatpur, Chitwan, Nepal

A study was conducted to determine the seroprevalence of Contagious Caprine Pleuropneumonia (CCPP) in 106 goats of Bharatpur Municipality of Chitwan, Nepal from July to October 2021. A questionnaire was used to determine the potential risk factors. Collected samples were subjected to a competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (cELISA) for the detection of antibodies. The seroprevalence of Contagious Caprine Pleuropneumonia in goats was 4.71% (5/106). Although seroprevalence was high among females and goats below or equal to 5 years, there was no statistically significant. This study was carried out in the Chitwan district for the first time, applying the (Mccp) Antibody test technique, considering the need for control of this economically important disease for poor livestock farmers in Chitwan and it can play important role in the epidemiological study of CCPP in Nepal.

FARMERS ASSESSMENT OF EXTENSION SERVICES DELIVERY IN BAUCHI STATE, NIGERIA

The study examined farmers’ assessment of extension services delivery in Bauchi State Nigeria. A multi-stage random sampling techniques was used in selecting 200 farmers from the three agricultural zones of the State. Data were collected through the administration of structured questionnaires and analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistics. The findings revealed that majority (84.5 %) of the farmers were male with mean age of 42 years. Also majority (75%) were married with household size mean of 8 persons. Similarly, 38 % had farming experience of 6- 10 years with mean land size of 1.5 hectares. More than half (58%) of the farmers belongs to farmers cooperatives with 26% having monthly extension contact. Similarly, 78% of the farmers received technology under crop and farming sub sector while 88.5% sourced information on extension services delivery from radio. The logistics regression shows that annual income and access to extension were significant at (P<0.01), while extension contact was significant at (P<0.05) in influencing farmers assessment of extension services delivery. The major constraint to extension services delivery were inadequate transportation/mobility of extension workers, inadequate equipment/teaching material and poor extension agent farmer ratio. It was concluded that the key factors influencing farmer’s assessment of extension services delivery in the study area were annual income, access to extension and number of extension contact. Based on the constraint highlighted the study recommended that extension agents should be provided with adequate mobility and incentives for easy access to the farmers, more extension workers need to be hired in order to significantly address the issue of poor ratio of extension agents to farming households.

Dynamic Relationship of Macro Variables and Liquefied Petroleum Gas Subsidy Transformation Program

Most Indonesians rely on liquefied petroleum gas as one of their primary sources of energy. Liquefied petroleum gas is classified into subsidized and non-subsidized. Subsidized liquefied petroleum gas is primarily used by low-income households, small businesses, and poor fishermen and farmers for cooking. However, no exit strategy has been established to overcome the increase in government spending on subsidized kerosene introduced in 2008. The problem is that macro variables may influence liquefied petroleum gas economic prices. The research aimed to identify the relationship between macro variables that might affect liquefied petroleum gas economic prices. It applied a quantitative method with Vector Auto Regression (VAR) and Vector Error Correction Model (VECM). The results demonstrate that inflation rate have a significant impact on the economic price of liquefied petroleum gas. Then, gross domestic product, inflation rate, and world gas price have positive correlations to the economic prices in liquefied petroleum gas. Meanwhile, currency exchange and world oil price have negative coefficients. The regression model indicates that a rise in inflation increases market prices in liquefied petroleum gas. Furthermore, the increased subsidized fuel means more poor people cannot afford liquefied petroleum gas. It is because high inflation reduces purchasing and potentially increases the number of poor people.

Impact of Access to Agricultural Credit on Agricultural Productivity in Iowa, USA.

Agriculture is a critical component for nations' growth and development due to its significant contribution to economic growth. Microcredits are designed to assist rural inhabitants in increasing the productivity of their agriculture, so alleviating issues of hunger and poverty. Country's economic development is aided by agricultural productivity in a variety of ways including increasing the domestic food supply, supplying raw materials for industry and opening up new domestic markets. Improving agricultural productivity is important in order to meet the growing demand for food, reducing poverty, and promoting economic growth in rural areas. The study used the descriptive research design. The target population was 180 farmers.  The study did sampling of 140 respondents that were selected from the target population of 180 in USA. Questionnaires were used to collect the data. It was concluded that better credit access allows for increased agricultural investment, particularly among small farmers, resulting in increased output and value addition. More access to finance is related to higher agricultural output in the United States. In low-income countries the sector not only creates employment but it also contributes to the GDP. Credit enables poor rural farmers to diversify their economic activities, diversify their sources of capital, and manage the inevitable shocks and stress. The study recommended that credit availability should be increased in order to lead to an improvement in the agricultural productivity in the United States. This will make it possible to embrace new technologies and sophisticated inputs, increase efficiency, and modify the input and product mix in reaction to weather unpredictability, climate change, and/or changes in input and output prices. The rural communities should have access to financial institutions to boost productivity since agriculture is the cornerstone of any significant economic progress in emerging countries. Keywords: Agricultural Credit, Agricultural Productivity, USA

Optimization of plant density and fertilizer application to improve biofortified common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) yield on Nitisols of South-Kivu, Eastern D.R. Congo

Soil nutrient depletion and poor farming practices are serious challenges limiting crop productivity in soils of the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (D.R. Congo). An experiment was conducted in two cropping seasons to assess the effect of plant density (25 plants m2 and 33 plants m2) and fertilizer application (with and without NPK) on the yield and yield components of three biofortified common bean varieties (HM21-7, RWR2245 and RWR2154). The experiment involved two plant densities, two fertilizer rates and three varieties arranged in a split-split plot design with three replications. Results showed that yield significantly varied with plant density, variety and fertilizer rate (p < 0.05). The best performing variety in terms of grain yield was HM21-7 (1.5 t ha−1) as compared to RWR2154 (1.09 t ha−1) and RWR2245 (1.14 t ha−1). The NPK fertilizer increased the grain yield by 38.2%. Grain yield increased also with the plant density, highest grain yield being recorded on higher plant density (1.37 t ha−1) as compared to low lower plant density (1.25 t ha−1). Agronomic efficiency (AE) was influenced by the variety, with the highest AE obtained on RWR2245 (23.27 kg kg−1) and on high plant density (20.34 kg kg−1). Therefore, we concluded that increasing the plant density by reducing the plant spacing, using NPK fertilizer and high yielding varieties provide with an opportunity to improving common bean yields on Nitisols dominating the highlands of eastern D.R. Congo.

Exploring the Nexus between Agricultural Seasonal Dynamics and Rural Household Food Security in Kilombero Wetland, Morogoro Region, Tanzania

It is recognized that wetlands have great potential for enhancing agricultural activities due to their prolonged periods of water availability and good fertile soils making great expansion and intensification of agricultural production enhancing household food security in rural areas hence, communities have been relying on those wetlands for their livelihoods in different ways. It is from this interdependence that this study was proposed to examine the seasonal patterns of agriculture in the wetland and their implications on food security in three villages, Njage, Mngeta and Mkangawalo in the Kilombero wetland. The study employed mixed method approach whereby household questionnaires,-key informant interviews, focus group discussions, field observations, wealth ranking and documentary review were used to collect primary and secondary data. Purposive and simple random sampling techniques were used to obtain 150 respondents. Content analysis was used to analyze qualitative data while descriptive statistics were used to analyze quantitative data. Chi-square test was used to test the statistical significances of the differences between wetland and upland yields as well as size of wetland plots cultivated among socio-economic groups. The findings revealed that wetland users were the average wealthy (42.7%) and poor farmers (40.7%) who depended on the wetland for their survival. Crop production in Kilombero wetland was low as farmers practiced mono-cropping of rice and maize in both dry and wet seasons depending on rain-fed agriculture. Very few wealthy (8.7%) practiced dry season farming. The small size of the wetland plots cultivated, inadequate use of agro-inputs and over dependence on subsistence led to low crop production. Consequently, farmers experienced seasonal food shortages and food insecurity, particularly among the poor and very poor households. The study concludes that, despite its agricultural potential, Kilombero wetland had not contributed much to improve the food security status of the poor and very poor households, only the well-off and average wealthy were benefiting from the wetland. Therefore, Kilombero district authorities should ensure that village governments allocate adequate land for both the poor and very poor farmers to enable them increase crop production. The agricultural extension officials of Kilombero district should build capacity to farmers on the importance of intensive agriculture, use of improved seeds and use of a variety of cropping methods in order to improve their produce.

Rural credit acquisition for family farming in Brazil: Evidence from the Legal Amazon

Family farmers are important actors to sustain food security and job generation in Brazilian rural areas. The National Program for Strengthening Family Farming (PRONAF) is the main public program offering microcredits to family farmers to foster sustainable production and reduce the poverty gap. While poverty and income inequality prevail in the Amazon, credits seem to target wealthier livestock farmers, and neglect smallholders engaged in crop production. This paper assesses the factors influencing the monetary amount of credit received at the regional level and argues that stable production systems and strong credit mechanisms could facilitate market access, knowledge transfer, and technology adoption. A spatial Durbin error model is utilized to analyze the factors determining the credit received while controlling for spatial correlations in livestock and agricultural systems in 103 microregions, composing the Brazilian Legal Amazon. To complement the quantitative estimations, we conducted 35 semi-structured interviews with key informants from technical assistance, scholars, and banks managers. Results suggest a geographical interdependence of PRONAF microcredit allocation, where wealthier farmers steadily access markets and credits. Microregions where commercial banks are present and with higher production values receive higher microcredits, strengthening the economic advantages of wealthier farmers located in those regions. Therefore, in order to improve credit allocation, political actions should focus on targeting poor and vulnerable farmers lacking social networks, stable markets and financial investments.

Potential of Halophytes as Sustainable Fodder Production by Using Saline Resources: A Review of Current Knowledge and Future Directions.

Good quality water and arable land are required for both domestic and agricultural uses. Increasing population leads to urbanization and industrialization increasing the need to share these resources and creating threats to the food supply. Higher meat consumption requires mitigation strategies to protect food and mitigate economic crises, especially in developing nations. The production of food crops for energy purposes and lower yield due to climate change increase food prices as well as have a negative impact on the economy. Thus, an alternative food source is required featuring high forage components to reduce grazing periods and to prevent rangeland degradation. Halophytes can tolerate high salinity and can be easily grown for fodder in coastal areas where fodder is a problem. Varied climate conditions offer opportunities to grow suitable halophytes for specific purposes. One important feature is their use as fodder. To reduce food shortages, saline areas could be used to grow nutritive and productive halophytic forage. Wild plants have undesirable metabolites produced in harsh conditions which may be harmful for ruminant health. Halophytes have moderate amounts of these metabolites which are nontoxic. Halophytes can be grown without intruding on agricultural lands and freshwater resources and could promote livestock production which may improve the socio-economic conditions of poor farmers in a sustainable and ecofriendly manner.

SILVOPASTURE: A SUSTAINABLE AGRO-SYSTEMS PRACTICE FOR RURAL FARMERS

Silvopasture is an ancient form of integrated land use that brings together trees, fodder, and animals. This land use has a wide variety of small- and large-scale variations that are used in temperate and tropical regions of the world. It is more beneficial to practice than open pasture and thin forests in terms of economics. Monocultures and poor farming practices threaten the bulk of the world’s landscapes. By planning polycultures to supply regenerative practices for populations in specific geographic areas, we hope to rejuvenate these areas and protect them from further unwise exploitation. Sustainability can no longer be the aim; instead, we must develop systems that suit our needs, regenerate the environment, and give people more control over their lives. This silvopasture is the best practice as it keeps microclimate and captures soil. But modern silvopasture goes beyond simply giving an outdated method a new name. It is based on strong ecological principles and needs complexity management abilities. It has, however, also highlighted certain research shortcomings. By filling in these knowledge gaps, we can increase not just the social acceptability of these systems but also their economic and environmental sustainability.

Effect of Different Sources of Phosphorus on Protein Content, Soil Fertility and Yield of Greengram

To study the effect of different sources of phosphorus on quality, fertility status and yield of greengram, an experiment was conducted during the kharif season of 2014 at Crop Research Farm, Department of Agronomy, SHIATS, Allahabad, UP. The experiment was conducted in randomized block design with 9 treatments viz. Control (No Phosphorus, 100% P through SSP, 100% P through URP, 50% P through SSP + 50% P through URP, 75% P through SSP + 25% P through URP, 100% P through SSP + PSB inoculation, 100% P through URP + PSB inoculation, 50% P through SSP + 50% P through URP + PSB inoculation, 75% P through SSP + 25% P through URP + PSB inoculation. Greengram variety Samrat was sown at a spacing of 30cm x 10 cm and it was fertilized with Phosphorus, SSP, URP, PSB as per the requirement of the treatments. The experimental results revealed that application of 100% P through SSP + PSB seed inoculation produced significantly higher grain yield (1496.77 kg ha-1), Stover yield (2920 kg ha-1) and protein (24.06%). There was a steady increase in the soil fertility status after harvesting of greengram. However, maximum available P2O5 (36.07 kg ha-1), available N (329.03 kg ha-1), available K2O (220.80 kg ha-1) was obtained with the application of 100% P through SSP + PSB seed inoculation. It also recorded higher net returns (Rs 47002.17 ha-1) and Benefit Cost (1.89). Thus, application of 100% P through SSP + PSB seed inoculation) helps in improving the quality and enhancing the yield in Greengram for resource poor farmers of India.