Cash Crop Production Research Articles

Year-to-year ecosystem services supply in conservation contexts in north-eastern Madagascar: Trade-offs between global demands and local needs

Tropical mountain forest frontier landscapes are increasingly target of protected areas (PAs) implementation, in many cases to secure the supply of globally demanded ecosystem services (ES). However, whether PAs manage to achieve their objectives is not always clear, nor are the implications of PA establishment for the supply of ES relevant for local populations. To address these knowledge gaps, we assess the year-to-year supply of six stakeholder-relevant ES across ES categories in two forest frontier, mountainous landscapes in the periphery of PAs in north-eastern Madagascar. As ES most relevant to local populations, we assess food crops production, flood control and bequest value. As globally-demanded ES, we evaluate export cash crops production, global climate regulation and existence value. Our results suggest that PA implementation managed to stem on-going losses of global climate regulation and existence value, but at the expense of also driving decreases in food crops production and bequest value supply to local populations. While our findings are encouraging for global conservation objectives, they also highlight the stark costs local populations might incur under PA establishment, and thus the need to assure that local livelihoods and well-being, including cultural dimensions, are not undermined by conservation interventions.

Middle Holocene Indian summer monsoon variability and its impact on cultural changes in the Indian subcontinent

Agriculture is a major contributor to the economic development of modern as well as ancient India and largely depends on the rainfall in the monsoon season. In order to understand the impact of climate variability on cultural changes in the Indian subcontinent, high resolution centennial to millennial scale middle Holocene Indian summer monsoon (ISM) variability was reconstructed from Bednikund lake, located in an alpine meadow of the Pindar basin, Chamoli, Central Himalaya. Increased ISM precipitations were found during ∼5930-3950 (mid-Holocene climate optimum), ∼3380–2830 (Minoan Warm Period), ∼2610–1860 (Roman Warm Period), ∼1050–760 (Medieval Climate Anomaly), and ∼320 cal yr BP to Present (Current Warm Period). The decreased ISM strengths were found during ∼3950-3380, ∼2830–2610, ∼1860–1050 (Dark Ages Cold Period), ∼760–580, and ∼500-320 cal yr BP (Little Ice Age). The covariance between our records of precipitation change and total solar irradiance for the middle to late Holocene and with Northern hemisphere (NH) temperature for the past two millennia suggested solar insolation as a primary forcing mechanism of ISM variability. The reconstructed paleoclimate combined with archaeology and historical records indicated that ancient Indian civilizations e.g., the Indus Valley (∼5200-3300 cal yr BP) and Vedic (∼3400-2400 cal yr BP) had established and thrived during periods of strengthened ISM precipitation, whereas their collapse closely corresponded to the decreased strength in ISM. From ∼2400 to 200 cal yr BP, the Indian subcontinent witnessed the rise and fall of various Kingdoms/dynasties. This period saw an exponential expansion/growth in agriculture, economy, population, languages, architecture, and religions in the Indian subcontinent. The agrarian-based economy showed little or no impact of monsoon weakening after ∼2400 cal yr BP possibly due to development and reforms in administrative policies, construction of irrigation systems such as dams, lakes and canals, use of technology for irrigation such as waterwheel, knowledge of double cropping, production of cash crops. The ancient civilizations of India were directly impacted by the strengthening and weakening of ISM, whereas for the later periods, civilizations were able to adapt to climate change.

The urea transporter DUR3 is differentially regulated by abiotic and biotic stresses in coffee plants.

The high costs of N fertilizers in the coffee production emphasizes the need to optimize fertilization practices and improve nitrogen use efficiency. Urea is widespread in nature, characterizing itself as a significant source of nitrogen for the growth and development of several organisms. Thus, the characterization of genes involved in urea transport in coffee plants is an important research topic for the sustainable production of this valuable cash crop. In the current study, we evaluated the expression of the DUR3 gene under abiotic and biotic stresses in coffee plants. Here, we show that the expression of a high-affinity urea transporter gene (CaDUR3) was up-regulated by N starvation in leaves and roots of two out of three C. arabica cultivars examined. Moreover, the CaDUR3 gene was differentially expressed in coffee plants under different abiotic and biotic stresses. In plants of cv. IAPAR59, CaDUR3 showed an increased expression in leaves after exposure to water deficit and heat stress, while it was downregulated in plants under salinity. Upon infection with H. vastatrix (coffee rust), the CaDUR3 was markedly up-regulated at the beginning of the infection process in the disease susceptible Catuaí Vermelho 99 in comparison with the resistant cultivar. These results indicate that besides urea acquisition and N-remobilization, CaDUR3 gene may be closely involved in the response to various stresses.

SPECIAL ECONOMIC ZONES, THE BELT AND ROAD INITIATIVE AND THE FUTURE DEVELOPMENT OF KACHIN STATE

Kachin individuals and organizations operate within a dense and complex web of domestic and cross-border links that integrate them into a series of network relationships with communities around them. Problems with governance, lack of ability in terms of nation-building and the prevalence of high-risk economic activities have been some of the factors that have constrained economic growth for the State, which represents a similar situation for other spatially outlying people of Myanmar such as the Naga and the Chin. Some limited attempts have been made to create coherent economic organizations so as to help to promote peaceful governance of the land and the needed replacement of opium growing offers an opportunity for cash crop production and exporting that has been successfully exploited elsewhere. However, limitations to the labour force and to resource management capability mean that endogenous economic development is a very limited prospect. An available alternative to internal development is to be the recipient of externally imposed developmental initiatives. Notable among these initiatives is an industrial park or a special economic zone to be built by Chinese capital, such as the proposed Kanpiketi border park. Such an initiative would take its place alongside existing and proposed Chinese projects in Kyaukphyu, Yangon and elsewhere, which have achieved mixed levels of success. Is it possible that such projects, as part of China’s Belt and Road Initiative outreach program, could offer meaningful and sustainable improvement to the standard of living of people in Kachin State? If so, what would be the impact of a new mode of economic activity on existing patterns of Kachin ways of life? This paper uses a case study approach rooted in management science to investigate the possibilities of these initiatives with a view to understanding the potential of such changes.

Time‐lapse mapping of crop and tillage interactions with soil water using electromagnetic induction

AbstractAssessing spatiotemporal variations in soil water is critical to many decisions in precision agriculture. In dryland crop production regions with marginal precipitation, growers use crop rotations and surface preparation practices to build soil water natural capital over preceding seasons for cash crop production. However, significant gaps exist in quantifying linkages between topography, soil properties, and site‐specific agronomic practices to crop water use, and to predict temporal changes in soil water storage. In this study, we used time‐lapse electromagnetic induction to measure apparent electrical conductivity (ECa) to infer spatiotemporal variability of soil water while comparing crop (winter wheat [Triticum aestivum L.], spring peas [Pisum sativum L.], and spring barley [Hordeum vulgare L.]) as well as tillage (no till and chisel plow) on a split‐plot design in the Palouse region of northern Idaho. Weekly measurements of ECa were converted to soil water content using multiple linear regression with the help of principal component analysis. Separating factors of temporal stability and variability allowed us to derive crop‐specific calibrated relationships between soil water content and the additional variables growing degree days, elevation, clay content, and silt content. Results suggest that spring peas retained the highest water content, followed by spring barley and winter wheat. Resultant maps show highly structured and consistent patterns in ECa being driven primarily by crop type that are apparent even in uncalibrated imagery. Although soil ECa tended to be greater in no‐tillage compared with chisel plow treatments, we found no significant differences in soil water content between the two. This may be partially due to the limited number of years of no‐till practice at this site.

Challenges and strategies for agricultural green development in the Yangtze River Basin

ABSTRACT The Yangtze River Basin (YRB) has been recognized as one of the key strategic development regions in China. Agriculture p52roduction systems in the YRB have contributed considerably to China’s goal of food security. Realizing Agriculture Green Development (AGD) means agriculture production systems with high productivity, high resource use efficiency and low environmental costs. However, challenges and barriers still exist for realizing AGD in the YRB. Here, we summarize four main challenges for AGD in the YRB, and identify two approaches (top-down and bottom-up) including main strategies needed to achieve AGD. The four challenges include, but are not limited to, (1) low agricultural productivity and nutrient use efficiencies, (2) an uneven agricultural production structure, (3) rapid urbanization, and (4) uncoordinated targets for environmental protection and food production. We conclude that both top-down and bottom-up approaches are needed to deliver AGD in the YRB. Top-down approaches are mainly operated by government and underpinned by research, which uses spatial planning to promote the balance between agricultural production and the ecological environment, and to optimize the proportions of cereal and cash crop production with monogastric and ruminant animal production. The bottom-up approach needs strategies to close the yield gap of various cropping and livestock systems, improve resource use efficiencies to control environmental impacts. Furthermore, training and education are needed to increase awarenessand improve skills for farmers and advisers. Our review can serve as example for other global regions that are in transition from unsustainable agriculture production towards sustainable withclean environment and healthy economies.

Determinants of Onion Marketed Among Smallholder Producers in Gemechis District, West Hararghe Zone, Oromia National Regional State of Ethiopia

Onion plays a crucial role in enhancing food security and generates income for the smallholder farmers of Ethiopia. This paper was attempted to analyze the determinants of onion supplied to the market in Gemechis District, Oromia Region of Ethiopia. Data for the study were collected from both primary and secondary sources. The primary data were collected by household survey using a pre-tested structured questionnaire and key informant interview using checklists. The data were collected from 176 farmers. The collected data was analyzed using both descriptive statistics and econometric model. The descriptive statistics was used to analyze the socio-economic characteristics of smallholder farmers and econometric model was used to determine the factors affecting onion supplied to the market. The results of two-stage least square regression model showed that quantity of onion supplied to the market was significantly and positively influenced by the endogenous quantity of onion produced. In addition, distance from nearest market, non/off farming income, land allocated and lagged price significantly affect the onion marketed. The study findings suggest the need to improve rural road infrastructure, intensification of land to compensate through cash crop production and efficient utilization of the existing limited farm land and encourage investment on off/non-farm incomes as well as onion production.

Economic Consequences of Demographic Engineering : Turkey and WWI

The transition from multi-ethnic, multi-confessional Ottoman Empire into present day Turkey was unusually violent and destructive. It involved the annihilation of indigenous Christian populations and the loss of agricultural, artisanal and commercial know-how accumulated over centuries. We estimate the impact of altering the population structure on total agricultural production, crop diversity and cash crop production. We use district-level (kaza) agricultural and population statistics and censuses from late Ottoman and early republican periods, alongside geographical and climatic controls. Across various specifications we find the removal of Christian communities particularly the complete elimination of Armenians in Eastern Anatolia had a very significant negative impact. We argue the modalities of this transformation helped saddle Turkey with the weak institutional setup shaping its current performance.

Prospects and challenges of cash crop production in Nigeria: The case of cashew (Anacardium occidentale, Linn.)

The paper examined the prospects and challenges of cashew production in Nigeria. Qualitative and quantitative data which were used to identify these challenges and prospects were retrieved from research findings, literatures, journals and reports. Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats (SWOT) analysis was used to highlight the strengths and weaknesses inherent in the internal environment of the cashew sector as well as the opportunities and threats from the external environment of the cashew sector. The paper takes a step further by employing Threats Opportunities Weaknesses and Strengths (TOWS) analysis matrix to come up with models that can be employed to improve the cashew sector in Nigeria. Some of the prospects identified include the potential employment creation, increasing cultivation area and evidenced value addition. While some of the challenges identified include poor pricing of cashew nuts, lack of proper policy intervention and underutilization of cashew apple. Government is advised to set up a cashew marketing board and provide proper policy intervention to improve prices, production levels and provide employment opportunities.

Prospects and challenges of cash crop production in Nigeria: The case of cashew (Anacardium occidentale, Linn.)

Prospects and challenges of cash crop production in Nigeria: The case of cashew (Anacardium occidentale, Linn.)

Internet of Things (IoT) in Agriculture: The Idea of Making the Fields Talk

The demand for agricultural crops is moving at a slower pace compared to the human population. There must be increased agricultural productivity. Ongoing innovative advances have added to the ascent of exactness agribusiness, empowering farmers to settle on better choices with more data about their soil, water, yield, and local environment, yet has been generally restricted to popularized and production of cash crops. The objective of smart agribusiness research is to ground a dynamic emotionally supportive network for the management of farms. IoT is being used in agriculture to get to know the crop field by utilizing sensors for monitoring, controlling in the field. It is used to get to know the crop field by utilizing sensors for monitoring, controlling in the field, etc. Recent developments in IoT, comparison between traditional and smart agriculture, and the roles of IoT in agriculture were analyzed in this study. The articles were purposively inspected while the qualitative data gathered was dissected utilizing content analysis. Summarily, the rise of smart agriculture has lowered the practice of traditional farming, as it has enhanced it in no small way. The research likewise showed that the lacuna in agriculture can be filled with IoT. Scalability in technology should be encouraged without affecting the functionalities of the existing infrastructures.

Effects of wood harvesting on the livelihood of forest fringe communities in southwest Nigeria

This study was carried out to assess effects of wood harvesting on the livelihood of forest communities in Ibarapa region, southwest, Nigeria. The study was conducted to identify the various livelihood activities engaged in by forest communities in the region; to assess how wood harvesting in the forests has affected the livelihood of the people in the region as well as to determine the factors influencing wood harvesting in the region. Three hundred copies of structured questionnaire were used to elicit information from the respondents. Focused Group Discussion and Key Informant Interview were also used. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and logistic regression. Results show that various livelihood activities were engaged in by the respondents, prominent among which were food crop production, cash crop production, charcoal production, among others. Among the factors that were responsible for wood harvesting in the region, only age, occupation, household size and the distance of respondent’s house to the forest were significant at 5%. It was observed that excessive wood harvesting has negatively affected the forests in the study area as most of the forests have been greatly degraded. This study recommends that the activities of forest communities should be regulated by local authorities and governments, at different levels, in order to sustain the forests in the region.
 Key words: timber, charcoal, lumbering, regression, fuelwood

Climate change: a natural streamliner towards entomophagy?

Climate change has escalated into a global problem owing to its devastating impact on agriculture and food security. More specifically, climate change has triggered extreme weather events which have affected the overall agricultural sustainability, either negatively or positively, with the former outdoing the latter. This has led to a concomitant nutritional imbalance and health challenges in the human population, particularly in developing countries. Further, a nutritional imbalance and high feed prices is being felt in the animal feed production chain, due to over reliance on conventional raw material and/or ingredients, which further negatively affects livelihood incomes. Edible insects have recently gained a lot of attention, as one of the strategies to curb food/feed and nutrition insecurity due to its several already documented benefits. This review discusses how climate change has affected food and cash crop production, together with animal production, the resulting human nutritional imbalances and the impact climate change has on edible insects. Several factors on the benefits of promotion and adoption of edible insects as food and feed have also been discussed, with an inclination towards their role in curbing global warming, while alleviating the global challenge of food and nutrition insecurity, currently and in the future.

Transforming Tropical Agroforestry towards High Socio-Ecological Standards

Growing demand for tropical commodities that are socially and environmentally more sustainable is changing the global market for agroforestry products such as coffee and cocoa. Transforming mass production of cash crops towards higher socio-ecological standards includes challenges, but also novel opportunities to protect ecosystem services and human health and well-being alike.

Spices as the saviour? The complex vulnerabilities of three commodity crop booms and ethnic minority livelihoods in Yunnan's agrarian frontier

Commodity crops are redefining land use and rural smallholder livelihoods across Asia. These crops often have boom‐bust cycles with important implications for the drivers of farmer entry into and exit from particular cash crop opportunities. This paper offers a comparative analysis of the boom‐bust processes of three popular spice crops cultivated in Yunnan Province, southwest China. Drawing from agrarian frontiers and rural livelihoods literature, we disentangle the vulnerability contexts associated with black cardamom, cinnamon and star anise production, finding that farmers cultivating these spices face a combination of interlocking forms of vulnerability. Despite the monetary potential that each crop offered during its ‘boom’, the associated environmental, economic and political vulnerabilities caused most farmers to exit their production, responding with myriad on‐farm and off‐farm diversification strategies. Using a multi‐sited ethnographic approach, we draw on 52 in‐depth interviews with ethnic minority cultivators, spice traders and local government officials to untangle the complexities associated with cash crop production in this agrarian frontier, the interwoven vulnerabilities that result in their ‘busts’ and the coping and adaptation strategies that smallholder farmers employ. Our findings underline the importance of disaggregating farmer vulnerabilities and the need for more nuanced policy responses to adequately support small‐scale farmers.

Performance of Three Sorghum Cultivars under Excessive Rainfall and Waterlogged Conditions in the Sudano-Sahelian Zone of West Africa: A Case Study at the Climate-Smart Village of Cinzana in Mali

Recent climate analyses show trends for increasing precipitation variability with increasing precipitation sums in Mali. The increasing occurrence of temporary intra-seasonal droughts and waterlogging longer than a week demands climate-smart solutions. Research has focused on water deficits since the 1980s. However, besides droughts, waterlogging can restrict productivity of sensitive cash and staple crops as cotton and corn. The year 2019 offered the historically unique opportunity to monitor waterlogging effects with 1088 mm precipitation in the rural commune Cinzanawith an isohyet of 681 mm. Impacts of two extreme downpours on three sorghum cultivars were monitored in a farmers-field experiment with three replications. All sorghum cultivars performed well in 2019 with significantly higher grain and above ground biomass yields than in the reference year 2007, with well distributed rainfall in Cinzana. “Jakumbè” (CSM63E) produced significantly higher grain yields than the hybrid cultivar “PR3009B” bred for high harvest index. The local cultivar “Gnofing” selected by local farmers produced significantly higher above ground biomass. All cultivars tolerated without severe stress symptoms 20 days waterlogging and 72 h inundation. Further waterlogging resilience research of other crops and other sorghum cultivars is needed to strengthen food security in Mali with expected increasing precipitation variation in the future.

Drainage N Loads Under Climate Change with Winter Rye Cover Crop in a Northern Mississippi River Basin Corn-Soybean Rotation

To help reduce future N loads entering the Gulf of Mexico from the Mississippi River 45%, Iowa set the goal of reducing non-point source N loads 41%. Studies show that implementing winter rye cover crops into agricultural systems reduces N loads from subsurface drainage, but its effectiveness in the Mississippi River Basin under expected climate change is uncertain. We used the field-tested Root Zone Water Quality Model (RZWQM) to estimate drainage N loads, crop yield, and rye growth in central Iowa corn-soybean rotations. RZWQM scenarios included baseline (BL) observed weather (1991–2011) and ambient CO2 with cover crop and no cover crop treatments (BL_CC and BL_NCC). Scenarios also included projected future temperature and precipitation change (2065–2085) from six general circulation models (GCMs) and elevated CO2 with cover crop and no cover crop treatments (CC and NCC). Average annual drainage N loads under NCC, BL_NCC, CC and BL_CC were 63.6, 47.5, 17.0, and 18.9 kg N ha−1. Winter rye cover crop was more effective at reducing drainage N losses under climate change than under baseline conditions (73 and 60% for future and baseline climate), mostly because the projected temperatures and atmospheric CO2 resulted in greater rye growth and crop N uptake. Annual CC drainage N loads were reduced compared with BL_NCC more than the targeted 41% for 18 to 20 years of the 21-year simulation, depending on the GCM. Under projected climate change, average annual simulated crop yield differences between scenarios with and without winter rye were approximately 0.1 Mg ha−1. These results suggest that implementing winter rye cover crop in a corn-soybean rotation effectively addresses the goal of drainage N load reduction under climate change in a northern Mississippi River Basin agricultural system without affecting cash crop production.

Technical and Scale Efficiency Analysis of Cash Crops Production in Pakistan: An Application of Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA)

The study has analyzed the technical efficiency of major cash crops' yield in Pakistanfrom 1948 till 2018. Cotton and sugarcane are the crops selected for analysis with an area ofthousand hectares. For carrying out the analysis, data is taken from the Ministry of Food andAgriculture (MINFA), Pakistan Bureau of Statistics, and economic surveys of Pakistan of differentyears. The technique employed in the study is the non-parametric Data Envelopment Analysis(DEA) technique. The result obtained after technical efficiency analysis reveal the suboptimal cashcrop yield in Pakistan throughout the analysis. The average technical efficiency of cotton andsugarcane crops from 1948 to 2018 are approximately 0.80 and 0.84 respectively. Furthermore,the result of scale efficiency analysis showed the monotonous performance of cash crops'production. The consistent variation in cotton and sugar cane crops' yield over the years reportedby the efficiency analysis, accounts for Constant Return to Scale (CRS) and Variable Return toScale (VRS) models, resulted in varying Return to Scale (RTS). The plausible reasons can beattributed to the Increasing Returns to Scale (IRS) or Decreasing Returns to Scale (DRS) in thecase of cotton and sugarcane production. An interesting finding is unveiled that out of 70 years,cotton and sugarcane crops achieved the optimal scale efficiencies for only one year. The bestpossible level of output of cotton and sugarcane crops in the future can be achieved by allocatinga lesser area under the cultivation of these crops in Pakistan. It is also imperative that farmers adoptand implement modern farm technologies. Increasing the area under crop production is not asolution, especially in the wake of alarming population growth and urbanization in Pakistan. Theformulation of policies encouraging farmers requires modern farm inputs to realize the optimalyield of cash crops in Pakistan. The government should educate the farmers regarding advancedfarming and efficient farm management techniques to help to augment the farm output withoutexpansion of the area for these crops

Determinants of Smallholder Farmers’ Cash Crop Production Decision and Its Effect on Household Income in Humbo District, Wolaita Zone, Ethiopia

Producing market oriented crops at smallholder farmer level is very important for improving the rural household’s income. The aim of this study was identifying factors that determine smallholder farmers’ cash crop production decision and its effect on household income in Humbo District, Wolaita Zone, Ethiopia. Data for the study was collected from 254 rural households using interview schedule. Multi-stage sampling technique was used as sampling technique. The data was analyzed using descriptive statistics and Heckman’s two stage model. Accordingly, the study identified cash crops such as pepper, cabbage, onion, and cotton are dominantly produced by smallholder farmers; male headed households are more likely producing these crops relative to female headed; and farmers at the age range of 31 and 64 years are more likely producing than at other age category. Lack of timely supply of agricultural inputs , higher prevalence of crop diseases, fluctuation of market price, and perishable nature of crops are identified as the major crop problems in the study area. Based on the Binary Logistic Regression result, sex, experience on farming activities, access to extension service, off-farm income, and distance from farm land to water sources were significantly determining cash crop production decision. On the other side, Multiple Linear Regression model result revealed as access to credit, off-farm income, number of oxen, landholding size, and education level were significantly determining rural household income. Accordingly: the government should intervene in timely provision of modern agricultural inputs and create favorable linkage between farmers and research centers. The credit institutions should be accessible to ensure timely purchase of agricultural inputs. Keywords : Smallholder farmers, participation, income, cash crops, Heckman two stage; DOI: 10.7176/DCS10-9-02 Publication date: September 30 th 2020

Determinants of Smallholder Farmers’ Cash Crop Production Decision and Its Effect on Household Income in Humbo District, Wolaita Zone, Ethiopia

Producing market oriented crops at smallholder farmer level is very important for improving the rural household’s income. The aim of this study was identifying factors that determine smallholder farmers’ cash crop production decision and its effect on household income in Humbo District, Wolaita Zone, Ethiopia. Data for the study was collected from 254 rural households using interview schedule. Multi-stage sampling technique was used as sampling technique. The data was analyzed using descriptive statistics and Heckman’s two stage model. Accordingly, the study identified cash crops such as pepper, cabbage, onion, and cotton are dominantly produced by smallholder farmers; male headed households are more likely producing these crops relative to female headed; and farmers at the age range of 31 and 64 years are more likely producing than at other age category. Lack of timely supply of agricultural inputs , higher prevalence of crop diseases, fluctuation of market price, and perishable nature of crops are identified as the major crop problems in the study area. Based on the Binary Logistic Regression result, sex, experience on farming activities, access to extension service, off-farm income, and distance from farm land to water sources were significantly determining cash crop production decision. On the other side, Multiple Linear Regression model result revealed as access to credit, off-farm income, number of oxen, landholding size, and education level were significantly determining rural household income. Accordingly: the government should intervene in timely provision of modern agricultural inputs and create favorable linkage between farmers and research centers. The credit institutions should be accessible to ensure timely purchase of agricultural inputs. Keywords : Smallholder farmers, participation, income, cash crops, Heckman two stage; DOI: 10.7176/EJBM/12-25-05 Publication date: September 30 th 2020