Subsistence Agricultural Production Research Articles

Functional composition, physiological effect and agronomy of future food quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.): A review

The South American grain quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.), which is full of nutrients, is used worldwide as a nutritious food and is occasionally referred to as a "superfood." In addition to being high in nutrients, quinoa also offers health-promoting qualities such as antidiabetic, antioxidant, antiobesity, and cardio-beneficial. Quinoa is a great source of protein, amino acids, important minerals, and omega-3 fatty acids and is gluten-free. The crop's nutritional qualities are thought to be a way to combat malnutrition on a worldwide scale. Quinoa is also acknowledged as a crop with significant value in terms of resistance to abiotic stressors, and there is considerable interest in integrating it into subsistence agricultural production systems globally. This review intends to draw the attention of researchers to quinoa nutritional, antinutritional and physicochemical components and their health benefits, along with its biological and agronomical aspects, because of its potential use in food and other industries. Six databases were searched for works from 1943 to 2022. Overall, numerous research and pieces of evidence have pointed to the useful qualities of quinoa, with the majority of them concentrating on its health benefits. Quinoa consumption carries a minimal and manageable risk in relation to the possible benefits. As a result, it can be said that quinoa has a lot of potentials to be marketed as a nutritious food. More research is required to establish the effectiveness of quinoa consumption for obtaining certain health impacts.

The nature of food insecurity and agro-pastoral production in the Kerio river basin

This paper encompasses a study that was conducted to assess the nature of food insecurity and agro-pastoral production in Kerio Valley, a semi-arid basin in north-western Kenya. The study targeted 2600 households in the region from which a sample of 387 households was obtained using Yamane's (1967) sample size determination formula. Both quantitative and qualitative data were obtained through a questionnaire that also incorporated and adapted the phased index of the Food Insecurity Experience Scale (FIES), Key Informants Interviews (KIIs) and Focused Group Discussions (FGDs), respectively. The study established that 67 per cent of the households experienced inadequate access to food, and 87.2 per cent of the households experienced inadequate access to preferred food. More so, 75 per cent of the households had been engaged in subsistence agricultural production with the use of limited technology. The key occupation for most of the households (74%) reported was agro-pastoral activities. The study concluded that the nature of agricultural production was among the drivers of food insecurity in the Kerio Basin. The study recommends a need to pay more attention to resilient and transformative agricultural production.

Variability and trends of temperature and rainfall over three agro-ecological zones in North Shewa, Central Ethiopia

This study was conducted to analyze rainfall and temperature variability and trends over three Agro-Ecological Zones (AEZs) in Central Ethiopia. Global weather data for Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) and global mean monthly sea surface temperature (SST) data series were used for analysis. Mann–Kendall (MK) test was utilized to analyze rainfall and temperature trends. Sen’s slope estimator was employed to find out the rate of change. The study detected an annual increase of 0.07 °C (p < 0.001) in mean maximum temperature at Kolla AEZ. It also showed a 0.06 °C rise per annum (p < 0.001) for both Dega and Woina Dega AEZs. The average annual minimum temperature has increased by 0.03 °C per year at Kolla (p < 0.001), Woina Dega (p < 0.05), and Dega (p < 0.01), which means an increase of 1.05 °C between 1979 and 2013. Results from precipitation concentration index (PCI) revealed the highest percentage (97.1%) of irregular distributions in annual rainfall pattern at Kolla AEZ, followed by Woina Dega (82.9%). Standardized rainfall anomalies (SRAs) calculated in the study also showed higher percentage (28.6%) of drought in Kolla AEZ, which experienced drought once in every 3 or 4 years. The study revealed negative annual rainfall anomalies for 18 years in Kolla and 16 years in both Dega and Woina Dega AEZs. Rising temperatures and irregular rainfall patterns may induce some adverse impacts on the livelihoods of rural populations in general, their subsistence agricultural production processes and food availability in particular. Policymakers and stakeholders should give priority in designing and introducing pro-poor plus geographically differentiated adaptive strategies.

Local Government Efforts in Encouraging the Existence of Subsistence Agriculture as an Alternative to the Supply of Food Needs in Lingga Regency

As one of the regions in the Riau Archipelago Province, Lingga Regency has its potential in the agricultural sector, supporting local food needs to distribute the surrounding area. So far, food needs in Lingga are supplied from Jambi Province or other regions, so that the dependence on food from other regions is very high. So, if the weather changes every year, the supply of food needs will decrease, and prices will be higher. The solution, the production of subsistence farmers, can be used as an alternative to meet food needs. Therefore, local governments encourage subsistence agricultural productivity so that production results are utilized by providing subsidies for agricultural production facilities, supporting farming capital, strengthening farmer institutions, and providing rural transportation. Meanwhile, technology cannot increase productivity, considering that subsistence farmers still use traditional culture, so local farmers cannot use that modern agricultural technology. This study aims to determine how local governments encourage the productivity of subsistence farmers as suppliers of regional food needs. Then this research is qualitative with a study approach that examines the government's efforts to encourage subsistence agricultural production.

The Impact of Climate Change on Agriculture and Food Security in the Greater Horn of Africa

ABSTRACT The Horn of Africa is at stake concerning climate change. The considerable population size of the Horn of Africa is a pastoral community living out of livestock and small farmers living in subsistence agricultural production. The loss of livestock and harvests resulting from a drought causes the deprivation of millions of citizens. The effect has triggered mass migration within and several offshore destinations. The question is, while Africa produces a low carbon emission, remains the primary victims of climate change. Africa lacks resources and technical expertise to respond to the devastating effects of climate change. This study aims to analyse the agency of climate change as a social and political process. Therefore, this paper seeks remedies on how to avert climate change threats by examining the collective responsibilities and different stakeholders. The article would conduct an inquiry on the responsibility of industrial nations vis-à-vis climate change. The paper employs a qualitative research method to explores how to mitigate climate change threats.

Indicadores del impacto del cambio climático en la agricultura familiar andina colombiana

Los modelos de evaluación de los impactos del cambio climático utilizados en la agricultura colombiana se han enfocado en cultivos tecnificados, sembrados en grandes superficies, obviando que el 67% de la producción nacional de alimentos provienen de pequeñas extensiones de policultivos cultivados, en su mayor parte, en suelos de ladera de la cordillera andina, por 3,5 millones de agricultores y que aportan el 57% del empleo rural. El presente artículo se deriva de un análisis de la metodología empleada por los autores en el proyecto de investigación denominado “Impactos económicos, ambientales y sociales del cambio climático en el sector agropecuario del Municipio Bochalema, Departamento Norte de Santander, Colombia, financiado por la Universidad de Santander (UDES) y que abarca el período comprendido entre enero de 2017 y mayo de 2018. Después de analizar diferentes modelos de evaluación de impactos ambientales se seleccionó el modelo de Presión, Estado, Respuesta (PER) de la OCDE, previa adaptación a las características específicas de pequeñas unidades de producción agrícola de subsistencia. Se evidenció la multidimensionalidad y complejidad de los factores relacionados con el clima, la producción, los recursos, las tecnologías, las familias y las políticas públicas, que obligan a la construcción de indicadores contextualizados a la agricultura familiar andina.

Socio-demographic and economic characteristics, crop-livestock production systems and issues for rearing improvement: A review

This paper reviews some characteristics of crop-livestock production systems in Benin with a special focus on the issues for enhance pasture production and nutritive value which in turn will increase animal productivity. Benin is located in the Gulf of Guinea of the Atlantic Ocean in West Africa and covers 114,763 km2. The population estimated in 2017 is 10,900,000 inhabitants with an annual population growth rate of 3.5%. The country is primarily an agro-based economy, characterized by subsistence agricultural production that employs more than 70%. The climate ranges from the bimodal rainfall equatorial type in the south to the tropical unimodal monsoon type in the north. The climatic limiting factor for plant growth is rainfall which is generally tending to diminish with increasing variation between years. There are two main soil types in Benin (ferruginous and ferralitic). Based on a national livestock survey in 2016 the national herd is estimated to be 2 339 000 cattle ( Bos taurus or B. indicus ), 915 000 sheep ( Ovis aries ), 1 836 000 goat ( Capra hircus ), 466 000 swine ( Sus scrofa ), 2 000 equines ( Equus caballus ), 800 donkeys ( E. asinus ), 20 camels ( Camelus dromedarius ) and 20 000 000 poultry (mainly Numida meleagris ). The growth of the ruminant livestock improvement has been impeded by several constraints such as low feed supply in quantity and quality, low crop-livestock integration, low level of management practices, lack of improved breeding stock, disease, inadequate stock water, poor marketing and lack of capital. Zootechnical performances of animals are very low. In this context, the introduction of legume forage would be a sustainable way as it can enhance pasture production and nutritive value which in turn will increase animal productivity. Keywords : Benin, agriculture, livestock, feed, grassland.

Changing gender roles and relations in food provisioning among matrilineal Khasi and patrilineal Chakhesang Indigenous rural People of North-East India.

Women's position in society, gender roles, and gender division of labour affect household food security, dietary diversity, nutritional status, and well-being of all household members, especially children. Building on both primary and secondary data, this study explores gender roles and relations in food provisioning among the North-East India Indigenous matrilineal Khasi and patrilineal Chakhesang Peoples, amid societal transition. With the use of a combination of ethnographic and ethnobotanical research tools, a total number of 200 informants participated in 20 focus group discussions and 28 key informant interviews. The feminist political ecology framework was used to analyse the structural power relations influencing gender food-provisioning labour. Results show that both matrilineal and patrilineal women play equally crucial roles in agrobiodiversity management, subsistence agricultural production, and household food provisioning. However, customary laws shape different gender relations, women's status, and appreciation of women's work in the two societies. Gender roles appeared more flexible in the matrilineal society and more clearly defined in the patrilineal society, and gender relations more egalitarian among the Khasis while more hierarchical among the Chakhesangs. Household food-provisioning work and engagement in agricultural production did not seem to positively contribute to the social status of Chakhesang women, because these were expected as structural elements of the patriarchy. Current socio-cultural and economic changes in both Indigenous societies have altered the traditional food system, traditional livelihoods, and resource management practices, affecting women's role in household food provisioning and leading to the deterioration of women's status, influencing household dietary diversity, food, and nutritional security.

Assessment of indigenous tree species conservation in subsistence agricultural production systems: A case study of Lari Sub-county, Kiambu County, Kenya

Wawira KM, Thenya T. 2017. Assessment of indigenous tree species conservation in subsistence agricultural production systems: A case study of Lari Sub-county, Kiambu County, Kenya. Asian J For 1: 55-63. Conservation of indigenous trees is important because they regulate nutrients, build organic matter of topsoil, fix nitrogen and create habitat for beneficial soil micro-organisms. Subsistence agriculture is characteristic land use feature in Kenya especially in the humid and sub-humid regions. Often indigenous trees are cleared to pave way for farming and replaced with exotic trees. The results showed that various indigenous tree species were retained on-farm including species like Acacia abyssinica, Olea europaena, Ficus thonningii, Brachylaena hutchinsii, Allophylus abyssinicus, Vitex keniensis and Prunus africana. The remnants of indigenous trees were scattered on farm with 57.4% along the boundary, 38.9% around the homestead 2.6% inside the farm and on riverine areas 1.1%. Soil conservation, timber, and fuel wood, were given as the main reasons for conserving indigenous tree species on the farm. While the main reason for planting exotic on farm includes economic purposes like income, fuel wood and decreased land sizes, according to 60% of respondents. Overall the findings indicate significant decrease of indigenous trees conservation on farm due to longer maturity span compared to exotic trees. There is need to promote alternative uses of indigenous trees as well as reinforce the 10% tree cover to include that 2% of the latter should be indigenous in nature.

The production diversity of subsistence farms in the Bolivian Andes is associated with the quality of child feeding practices as measured by a validated summary feeding index.

To determine the validity of a summary infant and child feeding index (ICFI) and the association with the index of factors related to agricultural production. A cross-sectional survey in eight health-post jurisdictions identified as priority nutrition regions. All households with children aged 6-23 months in eligible communities were administered an integrated survey on agricultural production and nutrition-related practices. Quantitative 24 h dietary recall, food frequency data and anthropometric measurements were collected for each child. Ninety-one per cent of eligible families participated. The northern region of the Potosí department in the Bolivian highlands. Two hundred and fifty-one households with children aged 6-23 months. In multiple regression models controlling for potential confounding variables, infant and young child feeding (IYCF) practices as measured by an ICFI showed positive associations with child length-for-age Z-score (mean difference of 0·47 in length-for-age Z-score between children in the high ICFI tertile compared with the low tertile), child energy intake (mean difference of 1500 kJ between tertiles) and the micronutrient adequacy of child diets (mean difference of 7·2 % in mean micronutrient density adequacy between tertiles; P < 0·05). Examining determinants of IYCF practices, mother's education, livestock ownership and the crop diversity of farms were positively associated with the ICFI, while amount of agricultural land cultivated was negatively associated with the ICFI. Crop diversity and IYCF practices were more strongly positively correlated among households at high elevations. Nutrition-sensitive investments in agriculture that aim to diversify subsistence agricultural production could plausibly benefit the adequacy of child diets.

“Slash and Burn” and “Shifting” Cultivation Systems in Forest Agriculture Frontiers from the Brazilian Amazon

We analyze changes in the extent of slash and burn cultivation (SBC) and shifting cultivation (SC) and the main drivers of change observed in the last 10 years across the Brazilian Amazon. Our results show that SC is stable in indigenous and caboclo communities from Amazonas and Acre. SBC increases along new roads, illustrating how roads shape deforestation frontiers beyond the “arc of deforestation.” In established forest frontiers, the conversion of forests into pasture or cash crops through SBC continues to increase locally, but smallholders' diversification strategies translate into complex land uses with both the increase and decrease of SBC and SC observed locally. Secure land tenure, access to markets, and population increase appear to be driving to the classic intensification path. Overall, access to cash transfer programs has helped stabilize forest frontiers as households become less reliant on subsistence agricultural production.

Improving smallholder livelihoods: Dairy production in Tanzania

Tanzania is primarily an agro-based economy, characterized by subsistence agricultural production that employs more than 80% of the population and contributes up to 45% of the GDP (2005). This country is endowed with a cattle population of 21.3 M, composed mainly of indigenous Zebu breeds and about 680 000 improved dairy animals. About 70% of the milk produced comes from the traditional sector (indigenous cattle) kept in rural areas, while the remaining 30% comes from improved cattle, mainly kept by smallholder producers. In Northern Tanzania and particularly in Hai district of Kilimanjaro Region, some dairy farmers organize themselves into small producer groups for the purpose of milk collecting, marketing and general promotion of the dairy sector in their community. Nronga Women Dairy Cooperative Society (NWDCS) Limited is one of such organizations dedicated to improve the well-being of the Nronga village community through promoting small-scale dairy farming and its flow-on benefits. Milk flows out of the village, and services for investment and dairy production flow into the village, ensuring a sustainable financial circulation necessary for poverty reduction, rural development and better life for the rural community. In 2001 NWDCS introduced a school milk feeding program that has attracted Australian donors since 2005. Guided by Global Development Group, a multi-faceted project, integrating micro-enterprises, business, education and child health/nutrition, was proposed and initiated by building a dairy plant in Hai District headquarters, the Boma plant. In March 2013, the Australian High Commission to East Africa approved Direct Aid Program funding of AUD 30 000 towards the NWDCS - Biogas Pilot Project in Tanzania, which included the renovation of zero-grazing cow shade units, the construction of 6-m 3 biodigester plants on each farm, and encouragement of the use of bioslurry for pasture production and home gardens.

The Future of Subsistence Agriculture in the Rural Community of Uzanu, Edo State, Nigeria

This study examines the current practice of subsistence agriculture in Uzanu, Edo state, Nigeria, and its contribution to the agricultural development and food security of the rural community now and for the future. All the farmers in the region are dependent on subsistence farming based on shifting cultivation and also practice intercropping to an extent. This farming system serves as a livelihood source, providing food, cash, and income as well as serving other social and cultural functions. Subsistence farmers try to manage farming uncertainties based on local knowledge and implemented through community support systems. This article argues that subsistence agricultural practices should be supported as a new approach to both economic and social protection, as it underpins production as well as consumption in resource-poor communities. This study evaluates the role and development of subsistence agricultural development and its adaptations in Uzanu. The results show that rural subsistence agricultural production could be improved if rural farmers had access to training on subsistence farming systems based on indigenous knowledge and skill sets, targeted to enhance and increase farm output.This study concludes that subsistence agriculture is an important element for growth and development in Nigeria despite the low output and income currently generated from it.

International Migration, Remittances and Subsistence Farming: Evidence from Nepal

AbstractAlthough international migration is playing an increasingly important role in Nepal, at both the macro and household levels, and in particular for the poverty reduction of rural families, empirical work focusing on this phenomenon has been largely absent. With a special view on the rural poor, in this paper we investigate the impact of international labour migration on subsistence agricultural production in the Western Mid Hills of Nepal, based on a survey conducted among smallholders with migrating family members. The results demonstrate that international migration leads to negligence of cereals – paddy, wheat, maize and millet, in particular, being the major subsistence crops. While bearing a negative impact on family labour input, its impact on hired farm labour is positive. Yet it does not affect material inputs such as fertilizer, and although it helps to ease households’ liquidity and capital constraints, it does not contribute to moving subsistence farming towards more profitable commercial farming. Therefore, although migration reduces poverty in the short run and also allows for higher daily consumption, its negative impact on cereal production requires attention by policymakers.

Traditional agroforestry systems and biodiversity conservation in Benin (West Africa)

In the past, the conservation of biodiversity has been mostly understood in terms of the management of protected areas and natural forests, ignoring the possible role of farm areas and the ways through which rural communities have promoted biodiversity in their subsistence agricultural production systems. The present study focused on the floristic diversity within traditional agroforestry parkland systems around the Pendjari Biosphere Reserve in Benin and showed the diversity of tree species in the area as well as socio-economic factors which affect the practice of this farming system. We used questionnaires and interviewed a total of 118 households to collect data. Respondents were interviewed on their farms and during the interview; we inventoried the number of tree on the farm and determined the farm size. Twenty-one tree species belonging to 14 botanical families were recorded during the surveys and the average stand density of the woody component of farmlands was 7.97 ± 5.43 stems/ha. A number of both native and exotic tree species occurred in the parkland agroforestry systems with dominance of indigenous tree species. Species richness varied with the size of household where households with small land holding conserve more tree species in their field than households with large land holdings. 64% of households surveyed were making deliberate efforts to plant tree species on their farmlands. The most important reasons which determined household ambitions to conserve woody species on farmland were tree products contribution to food and medicine. Results also showed that respondents who noticed that trees were decreasing in the wild conserve more tree species on their farmlands. This research highlights the role of traditional agroforestry practices to support tree species richness and provides evidence of the farms’ role as biodiversity reservoirs.

Agriculture Through Ages: Modern Challenges Towards Biofuels and Bioenergy Crops Agriculture

Human civilization has been through culminations of great achievements. This paper explores agricultural development in ancient and modern times, and the challenges yet to be resolved. At the beginning man invented how to cultivate, how to make fire, and moved from wild lifestyle to more settled livelihoods. He learnt and practised extensive systems such as slash-and-burn cultivation for millennia, and as population increased and knowledge accumulated he developed intensive systems such as greenhouse agriculture. Great developments have been associated with the industrial revolution of the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries, especially in areas of mechanization and use of industrial agricultural inputs. Both agricultural practices and industrial production have cost the world greatly in terms of environment degradation and environmental pollution. While the world is looking for remedies to environment degradation and pollution that are now intolerably threatening climate change, a new agricultural economic opportunity has emerged, which is not only important because of economic necessity, but it is also an important option towards solving the global warming and climate change threats. This is the use of biofuels and bioenergy as alternatives to fossil fuels use as a source of energy and power. The urgency of bio-fuels agriculture, particularly, seems to overwhelm what is the basic ecological role of world food subsistence agricultural production, with an additional role of producing almost the same food products to satisfy also the bio-fuels industry. This will obviously conflict on land use choices and commodity priority, and needs very thorough effort in planning and appropriate use of resources to avoid probably un-manageable consequences in near future.

Effects of improved fallow with Sesbania sesban on maize productivity and Striga hermonthica infestation in Western Kenya

Striga hermonthica is a major constraint to smallholder subsistence agriculture production in the sub-Saharan African region. Low soil fertility and overall environmental degradation has contributed to the build-up of the parasitic weed infestation. Improved cropping systems have to be introduced to address the interrelated problems of S. hermonthica and soil fertility decline. Thus, the effects of improved fallow with leguminous shrub Sesbania sesban on maize yields and levels of S. hermonthica infestation on farm land in the bimodal highlands of western Kenya were investigated. The experimental treatments were arranged in a phased entry, and randomized complete block scheme were six months Sesbania fallow, 18 months Sesbania fallow, six months natural fallow consisting of regrowth of natural vegetation without cultivation, 18 months natural fallow, continuous maize cropping without fertilizer application, and continuous maize cropping with P and N fertilization. Results show that Sesbania fallows significantly (p<0.05) increase maize yield relative to continuous unfertilized maize. S. hermonthica plant populations decrease in continuous maize between the first season (mean = 428 000 ± 63 000 ha−1) and second season (mean=51 000 ± 15 000 ha−1), presumably in response to good weed management. S. hermonthica seed populations in the soil decrease throughout the duration of the experiment in the continuous maize treatments. Short-duration Sesbania fallows can provide modest yield improvements relative to continuous unfertilized maize, but short-duration weedy fallows are ineffective. Continuous maize cultivation with good weed control may provide more effective S. hermonthica control than fallowing.

Climate variability and maize production in Cameroon: Simulating the effects of extreme dry and wet years

The effects of interyear variability of extreme rainfall events on maize yields at locations in Cameroon, in central‐west sub‐Saharan Africa were investigated through a simulation assessment combining a weather generator with a crop growth model. This study analyzes the potential of using dry/wet year predictions to reduce risk in subsistence agricultural production associated with climate variability at the site level. Weather data sets from eight provincial study localities were classified into three precipitation scenarios – dry (lower threshold), normal and wet (upper threshold) years. According to the modelling results, there is a less than 12 per cent variance in mean maize yields across six out of the eight localities when planting occurs in March, May and August. The variance is equivalent to approximately 100–300 kg per ha, which represents a significant amount of food in the household security of the majority impoverished sectors of rural and urban society, and which could greatly impact the socioeconomic activities of the entire populace. The results lead to the conclusion that all extreme dry and wet years are not equal in terms of their regional manifestation. This calls for precise monthly and sub‐seasonal local level forecasts and the effective dissemination of this information to farming communities in Cameroon, thereby facilitating the adaptive management of indigenous cropping practices and reducing their vulnerability to climate related disasters.

Recent Land Use and Livelihood Transitions in Northern Laos

Abstract Landscapes in the mountainous north of Lao People's Democratic Republic (hereafter Lao PDR or Laos) are undergoing rapid transformation as road access is being improved and the area is integrated into the regional economies of Southeast Asia, particularly China. Rural livelihoods in the upland areas, long based on subsistence agricultural production, are changing as more households engage in the market economy. This study assesses land use changes from 1993 to 2000, as well as agricultural production in 4 northern provinces of Laos: Luang Prabang, Oudomxay, Bokeo, and Luang Namtha. The spatial data available for this region are limited, but several trends are apparent from 1993: the area of traditional upland agriculture and swidden farming (ie shifting agriculture) has decreased, while permanent intensive agriculture has increased. There is some evidence that forest cover has increased since 1997, probably as a result of the succession of abandoned swidden areas to secondary forest, but the qual...

Small Farmers' Adaptive Efforts to Rainfall Variability and Soil Erosion Problem in Semiarid Tanzania

ABSTRACT Rural livelihood in semiarid Tanzania is centred on subsistence agricultural production under conditions of a stochastic rainfall pattern and highly erodible soils. This paper draws data from 499 smallholder farmers in Dodoma region–central Tanzania, to study their adaptive efforts and the influences on agricultural productivity in this agro-ecological zone. Results show a significant relationship (p = 0.05 and p = 0.01) between variables explaining adaptive efforts and soil erosion. However, most of the variables were not significant in explaining variability in agricultural productivity. Therefore, the paper concludes that smallholders' livelihood strategies in semiarid Tanzania are not sustainable, as they tend to increase environmental decay through erosion without subsequent increase in agriculture productivity.