Role In Agricultural Development Research Articles

Mid- to late Holocene geomorphological and hydrological changes in the south Taihu area of the Yangtze delta plain, China

The Taihu Plain of the Lower Yangtze valley, China was a centre of rice agriculture during the Neolithic period. Reasons for the rapid development of rice cultivation during this period, however, have not been fully understood for this coastal lowland, which is highly sensitive to sea-level change. To improve understanding of the geomorphological and hydrological context for evolution of prehistoric rice agriculture, two sediment cores (DTX4 and DTX10) in the East Tiaoxi River Plain, south Taihu Plain, were collected, and analysed for radiocarbon dating, diatoms, organic carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes (δ13C and δ15N), grain size and lithology. These multiproxy analyses revealed that prior to ca. 7500 cal. yr BP, the East Tiaoxi River Plain was a rapidly aggrading high-salinity estuary (the Palaeo-Taihu Estuary). After ca. 7500 cal. yr BP, low salinity conditions prevailed as a result of strong Yangtze freshwater discharge. Subsequently, seawater penetration occurred and saltmarsh developed between ca. 7000 and 6500 cal. yr BP due to accelerated relative sea-level rise. This transgression event influenced a large area of the Taihu Plain during the Holocene, as shown by multiple sediment records from previous studies. Persistent freshwater marsh (or subaerial land) formed due to dramatic shrinkage/closure of the Palaeo-Taihu Estuary after ca. 5600 cal. yr BP when sea level was relatively stable. We speculate that geomorphological and hydrological changes of the East Tiaoxi River Plain played an important role in agricultural development across the Taihu Plain during the Neolithic period. The closure of the Palaeo-Taihu Estuary and the formation of stable freshwater marsh (or subaerial land) after ca. 5600 cal. yr BP were critical preconditions encouraging the rapid rise of rice productivity in the Liangzhu period (5500–4500 cal. yr BP). This development changed the landscape and river systems, and thus provided adequate freshwater supply to the Taihu Plain.

Commercial Banks and Agricultural Development: An Analysis of Indian Banking Sector on Road to Progress

Agriculture continues to be the backbone of the state's economy in Odisha. Nearly 58% of the rural households depend on agriculture for their primary means of livelihood, but this sector continues to be subsistence oriented and susceptible to natural shocks such as droughts and floods. As agriculture depends on monsoon, a major segment of this population does not have sufficient income even to meet their daily expenses and for them the possibilities of savings and investment are almost stagnant. They require credit in their day-to-day life, to purchase agricultural inputs and adopt modern technology. Thus, timely and adequate quantum of agricultural credit is critical for the socio-economic development of the agricultural farmer. The purpose of this study was to examine how commercial banks plays role in development of agriculture.

ISSUES AND PRIORITIES AREAS OF AGRICULTURE IN INDIA

Agriculture is the centerpiece of the Indian economy and the pivot of Indian life. Being the basis of economic life, the main source of employment and a means of earning foreign exchange, it would not be an exaggeration to call agriculture the foundation stone of the country. About 52 percent of the total labor force of the country is earning their livelihood from agriculture and agriculture related sectors. Therefore it would be fair to say that the development and prosperity of the country depends on the growth, prosperity and productivity of agriculture. The development and prosperity of agriculture is dependent on the increase in agricultural production as well as getting a fair price for the produce produced. Significantly, most of the small farmers of the country are trapped in the vicious cycle of poverty. Due to poverty and debt, farmers are forced to sell their produce to middlemen at low prices. To free the farmers from the trap of these middlemen and to improve the marketing system, the government has taken important steps like expansion of controlled mandis, grading and effect of agricultural products, arrangement of go-downs, market promotion and price information. Management of cooperative marketing system. Steps have been taken. Establishment of National Agricultural Marketing Institute is also an important step in this direction. The institute is playing a vital role in agricultural development by providing specialized education, training and research services in agricultural marketing. Due to the high development rates of the industrial and service sectors, agriculture's economic contribution to India's economy has decreased to less than 15%, but the sector's significance to the country's social and economic structure goes much beyond this metric. First, the rural economy provides income for approximately three-quarters of Indian households. Second, rural areas are home to the majority of India's impoverished (770 million people, or around 70%). Third, to fulfil the demands of a growing population with rising incomes, India's food security depends on the production of cereal crops as well as the production of fruits, vegetables, and milk. This will require a faster emergence of a productive, competitive, diverse, and sustainable agriculture industry.

Maize-legume intercropping in central Malawi: determinants of practice

ABSTRACTIn Malawi, population growth has reduced opportunities for farmers to expand and cultivate new land. The country's primary farming population is comprised of smallholders, many who cultivate monocultures of maize (Zea mays). To reduce negative outcomes from this practice, intercropping maize with legumes has been promoted. The sustainable intensification (SI) practice was once widely used, but has declined in recent decades. Little is known about the determinants of intercropping or its role in agricultural development. The objective of this study was to examine the drivers of intercropping among smallholders. We used multiple logistic regression analysis to estimate the determinants of intercropping based on a survey of 324 households. Smallholders who sold legumes were more likely to intercrop, contrary to literature positing intercropping as a practice primarily intended to enhance food security. In addition, complementary SI practices such as fertilizer, manure and compost application were more likely to have occurred on intercropped fields relative to sole maize fields. Furthermore, smallholder farmers appeared to apply more fertilizer to their intercropped fields relative to their sole maize fields. The study highlights the value of including field-level characteristics and household socioeconomic survey data to understand farming practices as a means to inform agricultural policy.Abbreviations: SI: sustainable intensification; MLI: maize-legume intercrop; DL: doubled-up legumes

Women Empowerment through IFAD’s Rural Development Project

Rural women play a crucial role in agricultural development and allied fields. In the present study an attempt has been made to analyse the influence of IFAD rural development project on women empowerment. The results showed that majority of the women had medium or low level of education and they play important role in agricultural production in their area. Most of them participated in agricultural training and were agreed upon the suitability of training methods.

Agricultural Land Use Efficiency of Latur and Nilanga Taluka of Latur District

Today finding valuable land for agricultural is major challenge but with the help of agricultural land use efficiency level it is very easy. Other side improving the land use efficiency is chief goal of every government to increase production and productivity of region. Agricultural land use efficiency play major role in agricultural development and management. In this study an attempt has been made to find out circlewise Agricultural use efficiency. In this study Jasbir Singh’s Method of Land Use Efficiency is used to measure the land use efficiency. Latur and Nilanga Taluka of Marathwada region are chosen as study area. The regional variations in spatial pattern of land use efficiency are examined from 1993-96 to 2010-2013. The emphasis is on highlighting the basis of agriculture which influences agricultural efficiency. Agricultural efficiency is the levels of existing performance of unit at land which differentiate from one area to another. This study also helps for agricultural planning for sustainable development of this area.

Comparative Research on Performance of Feed Companies in China---Based on an OR-DEAE Matrix

Feed manufacturing play a key role in agriculture development and economic growth. The present paper elucidates an operating revenue-DEA efficiency (OR-DEAE) matrix to evaluate both big and strong aspects of feed enterprises in China based on the evaluation measure of Fortune Global 500 and a Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) method, i.e., super-efficiency CCR model, in order to achieve a healthy and sustainable development in feed manufacturing. Results show that there is a big difference between the performances of feed companies in China. Most of the feed companies are in the question mark quadrant or dog quadrant of the OR-DEAE matrix, showing that their operation levels are relatively low. Only two benchmarking companies were in the star quadrant which reflects they have both big and strong capability. We therefore provide several suggestions for the backward companies to improve their performance.

Analysis on Agricultural Cooperative Organizations: by Perspective of Division of Labor

Agricultural cooperative organizations play important roles in agricultural development. This paper attempts to explore the rationality of agricultural cooperative organizations based on the perspective of division of labor. Agricultural organizational process is caused by the division of labor of transaction efficiency improvement and solves the dilemma conflict between the agricultural production specialization and transaction cost. This paper also explains its positive effects in specialization, diversification of specialization, roundabout economy and makes suggestions for development of agricultural cooperative organizations in China.

Development Economics: The Role of Agriculture in Development

Development Economics: The Role of Agriculture in Development

O CURSO TÉCNICO A DISTÂNCIA EM AGRICULTURA E O DESENVOLVIMENTO RURAL DOS MUNICÍPIOS DE CANGUÇU E DE SÃO LOURENÇO DO SUL - RIO GRANDE DO SUL

Este artigo objetiva analisar as implicações do Curso Técnico em Agricultura, integrante do Programa e-Tec Brasil, para a formação de agricultores e para o desenvolvimento da agricultura nos municípios de São Lourenço do Sul e de Canguçu. Realizou-se um estudo de enfoque qualitativo, com base no método dialético crítico, da qual foram realizadas entrevistas semiestruturadas com 22 alunos dos Polos de Canguçu e de São Lourenço do Sul, e com 19 profissionais do Campus de Alegrete, integrantes de um Curso em Agricultura na modalidade a distância, ofertado na região sul do Brasil. A análise dos dados ocorreu através da técnica de análise de conteúdo e da técnica de tratamento estatístico simples. Constatou-se que o Curso Técnico em Agricultura na modalidade a Distância possui um papel importante no processo de desenvolvimento da agricultura dos municípios analisados, pois possibilita a permanência dos alunos em seus municípios de origem, o processo de qualificação das propriedades rurais e a ascensão profissional desses sujeitos através de oportunidades de ingresso no mercado de trabalho (no setor privado e/ou a partir do poder público).

Impact of Self-Help Group on Livelihood of Rural Tribal Women in East Siang District of Arunachal Pradesh

The study was carried out with rural women of Adi and Galo tribes of East Siang district, Arunachal Pradesh, associated with 19 self-help groups (SHGs) for understanding the prospect and bottle neck in their functioning during 2013–2016. A random sample of 50 members from self-help groups (SHGs) associated with ATMA, Pasighat, East Siang, Arunachal Pradesh were evaluated. The study revealed that maximum changes (84%) occurred in awareness on household maintenance and cleanliness. Further, measurable changes have been observed in knowledge in agriculture and allied activities as well as promoting habit of saving (82%). Self Help Group in Arunachal Pradesh played an important role in development of agriculture and allied sector, agro-processing, marketing and handicraft sectors. a Role of SHGs in poverty alleviation, food security and employment generation is well established. The major constrain faced by tribal women members of SHGs was marketing of farm produce (76%) and availability of input for different activities (78%), respectively.

Financial and business advisory services for small and medium enterprises and entrepreneurs in agribusiness in Serbia

Small and Medium-sized Enterprises and Entrepreneurs (SMEE), as a Sector, can take on a major role in agricultural development of the Republic of Serbia. However, in order to develop these enterprises, it is necessary to provide financial resources for their establishment and development, as well as appropriate business advisory support. This paper analyzes the issues regarding agribusiness companies financing, and interprets the use of advisory services. The aim of this analysis is to prove that small and medium-sized enterprises, entrepreneurs and farmers in particular, have limited access to financing and advisory services compared to larger companies. A survey that included 119 companies was conducted during this project. The obtained responses were stratified according to company size into three groups: entrepreneurs and farmers, small and medium-sized enterprises and large enterprises. The results showed that there were statistically significant differences between entrepreneurs and farmers, small, medium and large enterprises in most of the monitored parameters.

Use of Nitrogenous Fertilizers and its Impact on Water Quality with Special Reference to Agricultural Development

Water is an essential commodity of life on the earth. It plays a very important role in agricultural development. Agricultural activity impacts the water quality through the movement of chemical fertilizers and other poisonous materials from the agricultural fields to deep aquifers through surface runoff and deep percolation. The important source and cause of agricultural pollution are irrigational return flows and use of nitrogenous fertilizers in which nitrate is the basic component. High concentrations of Nitrate in natural water may cause methemoglobinemia, and have been cited as a risk factor in developing gastric and intestinal cancer. One of the most important negative effect of intensive use of nitrogenous fertilizer use is water eutrophication. Nitrates in the irrigational water serves as a nutrient to plants and crops. The agricultural water quality guide lines proposed by Ayers and Westcot (1994) mentions that the nitrate concentration ranges from 22.5 to 135 mg/l causes slight to moderate restriction and above 135 mg/l nitrate concentration causes severe restriction on crops for irrigational use. Due to the impact of fertilizers on human and environment, it is quite necessary to reduce the nitrate concentrations in natural waters to protected levels.

Layanan Pesan Pendek untuk Pembangunan Pertanian di Kabupaten Karawang

Application of information and communication technology (ICTs)currently has integrated with agricultural development. Information and communication technologies (ICTs) such as mobile phones have been used in rural development activities. LISA is a groundbreaking program that aims to provide an integrated agricultural services include agricultural tips services, the interactive dialogue, and iteration financial services based on mobile phone short message service. The main objective of this study to determine the effectiveness of LISA as agricultural information dissemination media based short message service role in agricultural development. The purposes of the study were 1) to analyze the exposure of LISA user; 2) to analyze the relationship between user characteristics and external factors against LISA’ exposure; 3) to analyze the relationship between LISA exposure against the effectiveness of communication; and 4) to analyze the relationship between interaction with other information sources against the effectiveness of communication. The sample selection method used in the study was multiple stage sampling. The sample included 100 LISA user in Karawang District. The data analysis was carried out using the descriptive correlational analysis and SEMpls. The result showed that the land area cultivated respondent significantly affect LISA’ exposure. External factors do not significantly affect the LISA exposure. LISA exposure significantly affect the effectiveness of communication. Interactions with other information sources does not significantly influence the effectiveness of communication.Keywords: short message service, LISA exposure, the effectiveness of communication

The Structural Transformation in Central and Eastern European Agriculture

The paper analyses the agricultural transformation in ten Central and Eastern European countries between 1990 and 2010. We provide evidence that despite of diversity of farm structure, heterogeneous preconditions in agricultural policy and economic policy reforms these countries follow the Lewis path of structural transformation. Our results indicate that beyond to macroeconomic conditions and inter-sectoral linkages, micro-level factors especially farm structure play important role in agricultural development.

Spatiotemporal properties of growing season indices during 1961–2010 and possible association with agroclimatological regionalization of dominant crops in Xinjiang, China

Variations of frost days and growing season length (GSL) have been drawing increasing attention due to their impact on agriculture. The Xinjiang region in China is climatically an arid region and plays an important role in agriculture development. In this study, the GSL and frost events are analyzed in both space and time, based on the daily minimum, mean and maximum air surface temperature data covering a period of 1961–2010. Results indicate that: (1) a significant lengthening of GSL is detected during 1961–2010 in Xinjiang, China. The increasing rate of GSL over Xinjiang is about 2.5 days per decade. Besides, the starting time of growing season is 0.7 days earlier per decade and the ending time is 1.6 days later per decade. Generally, GSL in southern Xinjiang has larger increasing magnitude when compared to other regions of Xinjiang; (2) longer GSL and larger changing magnitude of growing season start (GSS), growing season end (GSE) and GSL in southern Xinjiang implies higher sensitivity of the growing season response to climate warming. Besides, GSL is in close relation with latitude, and higher latitude usually corresponds to later start and earlier end of growing season, and hence shorter GSL. In general, a northward increase of 1° latitude triggers an 8-day delay of the starting time of growing season, 6-day advance of the ending time of growing season, and thus the GSL is 14 days shorter; (3) GSL under different rates can reflect light and heat resources over Xinjiang. The GSL related to 80 % guarantee rate is 5–14 days shorter than the long-term annual mean GSL; (4) Lengthening of GSL has the potential to increase agricultural production. However, negative influences by climate warming, such as enhanced evapotranspiration, increasing weeds, insects, and pathogen-mediated plant diseases, should also be considered in planning, management and development of agriculture in Xinjiang.

India's gender equity journey: Access to resources

In India rural women play a significant and crucial role in agriculture development and allied fields including in the main crop production, livestock production, horticulture, post harvest operations, agro-social forestry and fishery etc. They act as farm producers, wage earners, and care takers of the family. With so much of contribution by women in on farm and off farm activities it is unfortunate that power, authority, decision-making and access to resources issues seem to rest exclusively with the males and eventually women acquired a role slowly, which lost its dignity, respect and values. Unequal access to resources limits women's capacity to ensure agricultural productivity, security life hoods and food security and is increasingly linked to poverty, migration, urbanization and increased risk of violence. Women's access to all financial services, including savings, insurance and remittance transfers and credit, is essential to allow them to benefit fully from economic opportunities.

Investigating Agriculture Teacher Shortage in Secondary Schools in Malawi

Agriculture education plays a significant role in Agriculture development which is pivotal to Malawi’s economy that employs over 80% of the workforce and contributes more than 65% to foreign exchange earnings. For secondary school agriculture to remain relevant to agronomical needs, competent qualified agriculture personnel are needed. Training Needs Assessment (TNA) was conducted to identify and establish training needs of secondary school (SS) agriculture teachers, to establish the gap between demand and availability of SS agriculture teachers, to identify subject matter deficits in the current SS agriculture curriculum, and solicit suggestions of subject combinations to be included in the NRC diploma in Agriculture Education curriculum. Information was obtained through interviews of selected SS head teachers, senior education method advisers, principal education method advisers in government institutions, and from heads and members of faculty of education in selected university colleges using semi-structured interview questionnaires. Results indicated that there a great shortage of agriculture teachers in almost all SS. Forty-four (44) SS out of fifty eight (58) SS sampled in the survey have unqualified or under qualified agriculture teachers which represents 76%. The results also revealed that 75%, 59% and 55% of DCSS, Private SS and Conventional SS respectively have unqualified agriculture teachers indicating that the problem of qualified agriculture teachers is most severe in CDSS and private SS. The shortage has worsened in convention SS (it was less than 20% in 1995). The shortage is attributable to high agriculture teacher attrition rate (60%) as more agriculture teachers leave for more lucrative jobs in NGO. Majority of the SS use either unqualified or under qualified teachers to agriculture confirming who are usually ineffective. The situation calls for more programmes to train agriculture teachers to address the current agriculture teacher shortage.

Role of farm women in agricultural activities

Women play a significant and crucial role in agricultural development and allied fields. It is most unfortunate that the role of women in agricultural has not highlighted. By and large they have remained as invisible workers. Therefore, efforts were made to role of farm women in agricultural activities. The study was undertaken in Deoria district of U.P. during 2013-14. The data were collected from 180 farm women by adopting the proportionate random sampling method. The results of study revealed that under agriculture related task, the data reveals that drying, cleaning, storage of grains and processing of farm produce were the major farm operations where in women role was cent per cent. In the terms of decision making majority of farm women did not take any decision single handly. Farm women took single hand decision regarding live stock management (40.55%) followed by farm supplies and inputs (28.88%), area for different crops (18.88%), maintenance of implements (14.44%), labour management (12.22%), capital management (9.44%), and marketing of agricultural produce only 8.88 per cent. It could be concluded that the women of Deoria district of U.P. state were highly involved in all agricultural practice. So, it is need to develop suitable, strategy training to women about modern technologies to make them more skilled for agricultural production.

Experimental Studies on Effect of Water and Soil quality on Crop Yield

The dawn of the industrial revolution, forced the mankind to introduce numerous hazardous compounds into the environment at an exponential rate. The hazardous pollutants consist of a variety of organic compounds and heavy metals. These pose serious risks to plant and human health. Indiscriminate dumping of urban and industrial effluents along with solid wastes often lead to toxic accumulation of heavy metals which not only impair soil productivity but also cause health hazards by entering into food chain via soil–plant–animal/human route. In modern economies, soil, air and water are traditionally been used as sites for the disposal of wastes. Supply of good quality irrigation water will decrease in future, as the development of new water supplies will not keep pace with the increasing water needs of industries and municipalities. Thus, irrigated agriculture faces the challenge of using less water and in many cases poorer quality water, to provide food and fibre for an increasing population. The quality of irrigation water plays an important role in agricultural development and requires management for maintaining an optimum salt balance in the root zone for productive agriculture. Irrigation with poor quality water may cause an excessive accumulation of salts in the root zone of soil. This affects crop yield, quality of produce and the choice of crop to be grown. In the present work, experiments were conducted at BMS College of Engineering, Bangalore in order to study the effect of water and soil quality on Maize crop yield. Vrishabavathi command area was considered in the case study. The water in the river is highly polluted and the soil in the command area shows degradation. Four plots of 4x10m were prepared and in two plots, the existing soil was replaced with the soil from the study area. Also for two test plots (red soil plot and brown loamy soil from the Vrishabavathi command area plot), water from Vrishabavathi River was supplied throughout the crop period. Comparisons were made at the end of the harvest. It was observed that yield from the Maize crop grown with river water on the soil from the command area showed a decrease of about 25% compared to that of the yield from the red soil with bore well water.