Agricultural Support Research Articles

Economic assessment of the impact of climate change on agriculture in Albania and Ukraine

This study aimed to provide a comparative analysis of the impacts of climate change on the agricultural sector in Albania and Ukraine, with a focus on identifying key challenges and opportunities for adaptation. The study analysed statistical data from 2010 to 2023 on climate change and its impact on agriculture and assessed the consequences. The results of the study showed that changes in temperature regimes are a key factor that directly affects agriculture. An increase in average annual temperatures leads to a change in the growing season of plants, which has both positive and negative consequences. Changes in precipitation patterns are another key mechanism of climate change impact on agriculture. Reduced precipitation and frequent droughts can lead to significant crop losses, requiring the introduction of irrigation systems and other water-saving technologies. Economic risks associated with climate change are a serious challenge for agriculture. Reduced yields, higher production costs and the need to adapt to new conditions can threaten the stability of farms, especially small ones. The analysis for Albania showed that rising temperatures and decreasing precipitation pose challenges for agriculture, particularly for cereal and vegetable production. In Ukraine, with its large area of arable land, there is scope to compensate for the decline in yields by expanding the area under cultivation, but investment in new irrigation technologies and agronomic practices is needed to improve efficiency. Both countries face the need to introduce new plant varieties, modernize irrigation systems, and develop agricultural innovation and precision farming. Effective adaptation strategies, including international cooperation and support for research, are key to ensuring the sustainability of the agricultural sectors in both countries. The findings of the study can be applied in practice to government agricultural support programmes and international climate change adaptation projects

The Impact of Agricultural Insurance on Urban-Rural Consumption Gap

Based on panel data from 30 provinces in China from 2005 to 2020, this paper analyzes the impact and mechanism of the level of agricultural insurance (AI) coverage on the urban-rural consumption gap (URCG). The study finds: (1) Long-term development of AI can promote the narrowing of URCG. (2) Regional heterogeneity tests reveal that the impact of AI on URCG is particularly significant in eastern regions but weak in central and western regions. (3) From the perspective of intermediary effects, accelerating urbanization (UR) is an important mechanism for AI to narrow URCG and enhance economic quality and efficiency. (4) Based on the threshold effect of fiscal support for agriculture on the level of AI and URCG, it is found that when fiscal support for agriculture is moderate, the development of AI is conducive to narrowing URCG. However, during periods of excessive fiscal support for agriculture, the role of AI in narrowing URCG is not significant. If fiscal support for agriculture continues to increase, the development of AI may even widen the consumption gap between urban and rural areas.

Decision Support Systems adoption in pesticide management

This paper presents the findings from a survey on factors influencing the adoption of agricultural Decision Support Systems (DSS). Our study focuses on examining the influence of behavioural, socioeconomic and farm specific characteristics on DSS adoption. Using two structural equation models, we investigate how these factors influence the willingness to pay (WTP) and willingness to adopt. Our analysis reveals nuanced insights into the user and farm-specific factors that influence the decision-making process of DSS adoption and WTP. Notably, farm size significantly influences both adoption and WTP, with larger farms more likely to adopt and exhibit higher WTP. To promote adoption, it is important to adapt promotion strategies, with a focus on productivity benefits for large-scale farms and addressing price barriers for smaller ones. Additionally, the main crop type grown impacts WTP and adoption, with arable crop farmers exhibit a lower WTP but more likely to adopt, especially in large-scale operations. Conversely, small-scale arable farmers exhibit higher WTP but lower adoption rates due to scale constraints. Farmer characteristics such as experience and attitudes also play a crucial role, with experienced users and those perceiving productivity improvements due to DSS showing higher WTP. In addition, adoption is also influenced by ease of use and pricing, underpinning the importance of user-friendly designs and clear cost justifications. DSSs with user-centric designs and clear cost justifications can enhance adoption rates.

ИЗУЧЕНИЕ МНОГОЛЕТНЕЙ ДИНАМИКИ ВНЕСЕНИЯ МИНЕРАЛЬНЫХ И ОРГАНИЧЕСКИХ УДОБРЕНИЙ В РЕСПУБЛИКЕ ХАКАСИЯ ЗА 1966–2022 гг.

The purpose of the study is to analyze the application of mineral and organic fertilizers for arable land in the conditions of the Republic of Khakassia for the period 1966–2022. The object of the study is the long-term dynamics of mineral and organic fertilizers. Calculations were performed in accordance with the methodology set out in the Order of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Ecology of the Russian Federation “On approval of methods for quantitative determination of greenhouse gas emissions and greenhouse gas removals” dated May 27, 2022. Data are provided on the introduction of carbon in fertilizers for the period from 1966 to 2022. The area of arable land decreased from 732.0 thousand hectares in 1966 to 559.6 thousand hectares in 2022. The historical minimum and maximum were observed, respectively, for the area of arable land in 2004 (407 thousand hectares) and 1962–1988. (732 thousand hectares), for organic and mineral fertilizers in 2004 (644.1 tons) and in 1989 (37,830.6 tons). In 2022, the total amount of fertilizers applied was 65.1 tons for organic fertilizers, 3,620.6 tons for mineral fertilizers. The range of carbon values in fertilizers was 91.5–25,743.6 tons. There was a decrease in the amount of carbon supplied with fertilizers (from 9002.2 to 1133.1 tons). In 2022, an analysis of the gross values of carbon input with plant residues was carried out. In 2022, 1,501.8 t C ∙ year–1 was added to the arable land with plant residues. Most of them were introduced with wheat. Methodological recommendations were compiled to improve analytical reporting on carbon in agrocenoses, including support for farms implementing measures to accumulate carbon in the soil. It is proposed to create a carbon balance module for agroecosystems in a carbon sequestration database. The proposed solutions will allow monitoring the carbon balance of agroecosystems in the Republic of Khakassia.

Explorando la eficiencia técnica de la producción agrícola en tres regiones de México

This work assesses the technical efficiency (TE) in agricultural production under irrigation of corn, alfalfa, sorghum, and plantain; the analysis is conducted for three hydrological subregions of Mexico: Río San Juan (north), Valley of Mexico (center) and Valle Bajo de Grijalva (South). The measurement was carried out by agricultural cycle (spring-summer, autumn-winter and perennial), and by land size. We use stochastic frontier analysis to corroborate whether the farmer's skills favor efficiency, with a production function that relates irrigated land as a basic element, and a set of explanatory socioeconomic variables. Despite limitations in the data, the results contribute to the knowledge of TE in Mexican agriculture. Indirectly, the contribution of irrigation is recognized, so identifying their economic relevance could help define strategies to improve agricultural production and support water management in agriculture.

Models for creating innovative cooperatives for processing and sales of milk in private farms

The purpose of the article is to study the models for creating innovative “milk processing cooperative”, created on the basis of cooperative relations with dairy-producing personal subsidiary farms, to give recommendations. Based on the creation of dairy processing cooperatives in private subsidiary farms for processing and selling milk within the country, their great potential is being used and dependence on dairy products is being reduced. The models and options for creating dairy processing cooperatives based on the cooperation of private subsidiary farms in the dairy industry of the country are presented: 1) the creation of a “dairy processing innovation cooperative” based on a cooperative relationship with personal subsidiary farms; 2) under a cooperative agreement with personal subsidiary farms of the Turkistan region, the activities of the innovative dairy processing company FoodMaster-Shymkent LLP were considered; 3) the creation of a “dairy production cooperative” with a commercial dairy farm in the settlements of the district is suggested, based on the cooperation process. This is due to the fact that dairy processing and marketing cooperatives, along with the collection, processing, and sale of milk from personal subsidiary farms, of which they were members, assume responsibilities for processing land plots, foraging, providing breeding young animals, providing production and technical services, and state support for personal subsidiary farms. State support (subsidies, tax and credit benefits) through “milk-producing cooperatives”, in which personal subsidiary farms are created, support for personal subsidiary farms is provided through milk-producing cooperatives and milk-processing cooperatives.

Agricultural policy and crop location: Long‐run output and spatial climate risk consequences

AbstractChoices by farmers—notably what crop to grow, where—are not only influenced by spatially sensitive environmental attributes but also economic factors that respond to changes in government policies. In South Africa, the policy stance toward agriculture swung toward an extended period of support spanning the middle of the 20th century. Subsequently, the agricultural support policies were eliminated in the post‐Apartheid period beginning in the 1990s. Using a purpose‐built, spatially explicit data set for South African agriculture spanning the period 1918–2015, we show these structural shifts in agricultural policy regimes concord with major shifts in national corn price trends and variability, and the area planted to corn (accounting for half the country's cropped area). More subtly, and much less studied, we reveal that these switching policy regimes also aligned with changes in the location of crop production, with pronounced consequences for crop output and climate risk. At its peak, policy‐aligned crop movement in South Africa reduced corn output by between 7.9% and 15.3%, and placed production in areas with reduced and riskier rainfall patterns. Upon removal of the policy distortions, the decline in total corn area continued, and the crop largely reverted to its predistorted, less climate‐risky geographical locations. The geographical sensitivities of the agricultural policy–production–climate risk nexus we reveal suggest these locational aspects deserve more concerted analytical and policy design attention, especially in light of the longer run, spatially sensitive production and food security risk implications of the changing climate realities facing agriculture the world over.

Reverting Woodlots to Crop Fields in the Southern Highlands of Tanzania

For some decades, woodlots have been a salient feature of the agricultural landscapes of Mount Rungwe and Uporoto Highlands in the Southern Highlands of Tanzania. Their proliferation amidst socioeconomic conditions and innovation in farming practices influence production choices, and consequently, land use changes. Recently, farmers are reverting prevailing woodlots into crop fields, particularly, Irish potatoes. We investigate this process in order to examine the determinants of the reversion and the implications to agricultural development and people’s livelihoods. The findings come from a survey of smallholders of woodlots in four villages around Mount Rungwe and Uporoto Highlands. Data were collected through structured and in-depth interviews, discussions with focused groups at village levels, review of documents and direct field observation. Time lag for woodlots, safeguarding households’ food security, lack of agricultural support services, high rental market, and emergence of other fruit trees are determinants of the reversion. The reversion has implications for farmers’ decreased access to reliable source of fuelwood as well as opportunity for livelihood diversification.

Elevating Sugarcane Farming: Effects of Certified Seed Adoption on Production and Income in East Java, Indonesia

The use of certified seed is essential for sugarcane agricultural intensification method, emphasizing input quality improvements. In this context, varietal validity has the potential to increase sugarcane output volumes and ensure quality variations. Therefore, this research aimed to analyze the variables affecting farmers' decisions on seed varieties, output, and revenue. The type of data used was cross-sectional with a sample of 1,763 respondents, consisting of 303 and 1,460 adopter and non-adopter farmers, respectively. Propensity score matching and logistic regression were the analysis methods used. The results showed that farmers' age, number of workers, land ownership status, extension participation, and partnerships significantly influenced the decisions in selecting seed types. Significant variations in output, gross income, total expenses, net income, and net earnings were also reported using statistical test analysis, with certified seed adopters having higher profits. In this context, young farmers should be targeted to promote the use of certified seed, provide sufficient labor support for intensive farming, ease access to land, and enhance persuasive messages about partnership benefits. Moreover, ensuring the continuity of production and distribution was important to maintain reasonable seed prices and facilitate farmers' access.

Coupling and Coordination Development, Spatiotemporal Evolution, and Driving Factors of China’s Digital Countryside and Inclusive Green Growth in Rural Areas

Inclusive green growth is an effective strategy for achieving sustainable development in rural areas. In the digital economy era, it is crucial to examine whether rural digital development and inclusive green growth can be harmoniously integrated. This study investigates the spatial and temporal evolution of the coupled coordination between digital village construction and rural inclusive green growth in China. Utilizing panel data from 30 provinces from 2011 to 2022, we assess development levels using the entropy weighting method and analyze interdependencies with a coupling coordination model. The results indicate an upward trend in coupling coordination, with significant regional disparities, and it is slowly taking on the characteristics of spatial clustering. Economically advanced regions exhibit higher coordination levels, attributed to stronger economic foundations and better fiscal resources, enabling effective investments in digital infrastructure and green growth initiatives. Additionally, factors such as urbanization rate, innovation levels, reduction in natural disasters, increased financial support for agriculture, and improved large-scale operations positively contribute to this coordination. These findings offer insights for targeted regional development strategies, enhancing the synergy between digital transformation and sustainable rural development.

Perceived legitimacy of agricultural support schemes: An investigation using factorial survey experiments

Abstract Agricultural support payments are a significant position in public budgets, and the legitimacy of such payments is subject to continuing debate. The legitimacy rests on the social acceptance of citizens for support payments to farmers, which is the focus of this study. Social acceptance is investigated using evaluations of farm and farmer descriptions in a factorial survey experiment. The results reveal higher acceptance of payments for farms demonstrating enhanced animal welfare, biodiversity, and a lower carbon footprint. The acceptance of support payments is negatively associated with payment amount, but payments to farmers who are financially struggling are more accepted than payments to profitable farmers; indicating respondent preferences that align with the need justice principle. Study findings can be used to inform priorities for legitimate policies of agricultural support schemes, to identify areas of consensus or disagreement regarding social acceptance of support, and to facilitate effective communication on agricultural support policy.

Penyuluhan Pertanian dan Kesetaraan Gender dalam Usahatani Jagung Pertanian Lahan Kering di Kecamatan Jerowaru Lombok Timur

Rural women participate in implementing food crop farming activities both in paddy fields and dry land. This participation should be followed by women's participation in agricultural extension activities and the realization of gender equality in farming. This research is aimed at analyzing the level of gender equality in corn farming in dry land farming and the agricultural extension factors that influence it. The research location is in Jerowaru District with the sample villages being Seriwe Village (hill land) and Sekaroh Village (moor land). Data was collected using survey techniques by conducting interviews with 60 respondents. Data were analyzed descriptively using scoring, Mann-Whitney difference test and Rank Spearman correlation analysis test. The research results found that the level of gender equality in corn farming is relatively high and is influenced by agricultural extension support factors. Thus, strengthening the implementation of gender responsive extension needs to be improved to realize equality in access and control of resources, women's participation in corn farming and obtaining benefits.

Ауыл шаруашылығы кәсіпорындарын бюджеттік қолдау нысандары

As an important food security industry in the country, agriculture needs government regulation and financial support to be high-performance and competitive. The purpose of using budgetary forms of support is to stimulate the development of the industry, increase the competitiveness of agricultural enterprises, improve the social well-being of the population and solve other socio-economic problems. This article considers the forms of budgetary support for agriculture, analyzes their current condition and gives recommendations for their improvement. According to the forms of budget support, the points of view of domestic and foreign authors are presented, as well as the forms of budget support operating in the country. On the basis of official statistics, a comparative assessment of the dynamics of agricultural products, the share of agricultural products of Kazakhstan and other Central Asian countries in the gross domestic product is carried out, the dynamics of budgetary allocations for the country's agriculture, the volume and structure of subsidies and its impact on the development of agriculture are estimated. Among the main problems that need to be solved are indicators of equal access of budget funds to all producers and the effectiveness of the funds provided. Support of agricultural enterprises from the budget, parallel use of a number of support tools will increase the share of the industry in the economy.

The Role of Energy Cooperatives in Ensuring the Energy and Economic Security of Polish Municipalities

In recent years, negative phenomena of an external and internal nature have been observed that threaten the security of Polish municipalities. The increase in energy prices had a negative impact on the situations of consumers and companies. Strengthening energy security can be achieved through the development of an energy community based on renewable energy. The aim of the article is to demonstrate that energy cooperatives have a negligible impact on the energy and economic security of Polish municipalities. The article is based on literature studies and analysis of data obtained from the National Center for Agricultural Support and the Central Statistical Office, as well as our own qualitative research. Based on the research, three hypotheses were formulated: Firstly, energy cooperatives participate to a limited extent in building local energy security. Secondly, cooperatives should be treated as a complement to coal power plants. Thirdly, only the involvement of municipal authorities in the energy cooperatives can strengthen local energy security. The research shows that there has been a quantitative development of energy cooperatives, but this has not significantly improved local energy security. Only the active participation of local authorities is a condition for strengthening the role of energy cooperatives in ensuring economic and energy security.

Evaluating the Effect of Fiscal Support for Agriculture on Three-Industry Integration in Rural China

The integration of the primary, secondary, and tertiary industries in rural areas, known as three-industry integration, is a crucial strategy for developing rural industries and implementing the rural revitalization initiative in China. The government’s fiscal support for agriculture serves as a cornerstone for the sustainable development of agriculture and rural regions. This study investigates the mechanisms through which fiscal support for agriculture facilitates the integration of the rural three-industry sectors by driving industrial innovation, enhancing the circulation of production factors, and optimizing resource utilization in rural areas. Using panel data from 30 provinces in China spanning from 2008 to 2020, we evaluate the level of three-industry integration in rural areas using an entropy method and analyze the effects of fiscal support for agriculture on this integration. Our findings reveal that: (1) fiscal support for agriculture significantly promotes the incorporated development of rural three-industry integration in China by acting as a catalyst for horizontal and vertical integration; (2) fiscal support enhances rural infrastructure quality, fosters market connectivity, and attracts business clusters, while also optimizing factor markets and facilitating the efficient allocation of land, finance, and resources, thereby enabling new business entities, such as leading enterprises, to benefit from economies of scale and to expand the rural industrial value chain; (3) the effects of fiscal support for agriculture exhibit significant regional and agricultural development heterogeneity, with Central China and major agricultural provinces demonstrating the most pronounced role in promoting rural three-industry integration.

YOLOv8MS: Algorithm for Solving Difficulties in Multiple Object Tracking of Simulated Corn Combining Feature Fusion Network and Attention Mechanism

The automatic cultivation of corn has become a significant research focus, with precision equipment operation being a key aspect of smart agriculture’s advancement. This work explores the tracking process of corn, simulating the detection and approach phases while addressing three major challenges in multiple object tracking: severe occlusion, dense object presence, and varying viewing angles. To effectively simulate these challenging conditions, a multiple object tracking dataset using simulated corn was created. To enhance accuracy and stability in corn tracking, an optimization algorithm, YOLOv8MS, is proposed based on YOLOv8. Multi-layer Fusion Diffusion Network (MFDN) is proposed for improved detection of objects of varying sizes, and the Separated and Enhancement Attention Module (SEAM) is introduced to tackle occlusion issues. Experimental results show that YOLOv8MS significantly enhances the detection accuracy, tracking accuracy and tracking stability, achieving a mean average precision (mAP) of 89.6% and a multiple object tracking accuracy (MOTA) of 92.5%, which are 1% and 6.1% improvements over the original YOLOv8, respectively. Furthermore, there was an average improvement of 4% in the identity stability indicator of tracking. This work provides essential technical support for precision agriculture in detecting and tracking corn.

Interviews with farmers from the US corn belt highlight opportunity for improved decision support systems and continued structural barriers to farmland diversification

Diversifying high-input, monocropped landscapes like the US Corn Belt would provide both economic and ecosystem service benefits to the agricultural landscape. Decision support systems (DSS) and digital agriculture could help farmers decide if diversification is suitable for their operation. However, adoption of DSS by farmers remains low, likely due to lack of farmer engagement before and during the DSS development process. This study aimed to better understand the tasks, tools, and people involved in implementing farmland diversification with the goal to inform design of agricultural DSS. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 11 farmers who had diversified their corn/soybean cropland with government-supported conservation programs (e.g., CRP, wetlands) and alternative crops (e.g., small grains, pasture) in the past four years. Interview data was transcribed and then analyzed using affinity diagramming. Results show farmers needed DSS to layer multiple sources of data and observations over several years to identify field productivity trends and drivers; spatial orientation of practices to fit management and field constraints; matching operation goals to alternative practices; financial planning and market exploration; and information on promising emerging practices like subsidized pollinator habitat. However, the interviews also highlighted structural barriers to diversification that DSS cannot or can only partially address. These included social pressures; market access; crop insurance policy; and quality of relationships with governmental agencies. Results indicate better DSS design can empower individual farmers to diversify cropland, but structural interventions will be needed to successfully diversify the agricultural landscape and support economic and ecosystem health.

The Role of Extension Services in Implementing Livestock Policies

Purpose: The general objective of the study was to explore the role of extension services in implementing livestock practices. Methodology: The study adopted a desktop research methodology. Desk research refers to secondary data or that which can be collected without fieldwork. Desk research is basically involved in collecting data from existing resources hence it is often considered a low cost technique as compared to field research, as the main cost is involved in executive’s time, telephone charges and directories. Thus, the study relied on already published studies, reports and statistics. This secondary data was easily accessed through the online journals and library. Findings: The findings reveal that there exists a contextual and methodological gap relating to the role of extension services in implementing livestock practices. Preliminary empirical review revealed that extension services played a crucial role in the implementation of livestock policies by bridging the gap between policy formulation and practical application. Extension services significantly enhanced farmers' adoption of health and biosecurity measures, sustainable practices, and modern technologies. It was found that areas with robust extension services showed higher compliance with livestock policies, leading to improved productivity and animal health. The study recommended increasing investment in extension services, enhancing training for extension agents, and utilizing digital tools to extend the reach and effectiveness of these services. Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: Diffusion of Innovations Theory, Theory of Planned Behaviour and Knowledge Transfer Theory may be used to anchor future studies on the role of extension services in the implementation of livestock practices. The study recommended enhancing theoretical frameworks to incorporate socio-economic and cultural contexts of livestock farmers, improving the capacity and training of extension agents, and leveraging digital tools for wider reach and efficiency. It also advised increasing government investment in extension services, integrating them with other agricultural support services, and tailoring policies to local conditions. Additionally, the study emphasized fostering strong partnerships among stakeholders to create a supportive environment for farmers, thereby enhancing the overall impact of extension services and livestock policies. Keywords: Extension Services, Livestock Policies, Policy Implementation, Capacity Building, Digital Tools, Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs)

A framework for evaluating the value of agricultural pest management decision support systems

Disease management decision support systems (DSS) are typically prediction algorithms that help farmers assess the risk of an epidemic, to guide whether, and to what extent, fungicide treatment is needed. However, there is frequently little information presented to quantify the value of using the DSS, i.e. the likely increased profit or reduced impact to the environment, and the risks of failing to control the pest. Validation of DSS is often limited to a small number of sites and seasons, as extensive field testing is prohibitively expensive. It would therefore be beneficial to have a method to estimate the value of a DSS using existing data sets gathered for other purposes.We present a theoretical framework for evaluating the value of DSS, and then describe how this can be applied in practice using four case studies of contrasting DSS under different data constraints. The four case studies include DSS that guide (i) the total dose of pesticide applied; (ii) the number of sprays required; (iii) the timing of the first fungicide application in a spray programme; and (iv) infection risk alerts. We demonstrate how our theoretical framework can be used to evaluate DSS, using existing field and literature data to infer the benefits and risks associated with their use. The limitations of using existing data are explored.

Rapid monitoring of the spatial distribution of soil organic matter using unmanned aerial vehicle imaging spectroscopy

ABSTRACT An existing technique for quickly obtaining the spatial distribution data of soil organic matter (SOM) involves combining an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) platform and imaging spectroscopy technology; this technique is suitable for precision agricultural management and real-time monitoring. In this study, the average spectral data were first extracted via circular regions of interest (ROIs) of different radii and modelled using the measured SOM to determine the optimal extraction range for the spectral data. Partial least-squares regression (PLSR) and support vector machine (SVM) models were constructed based on the raw spectra, standard normal transform spectra, multiple scattering-corrected spectra, and first-order differential spectra. The difference index, ratio index, and normalized index were calculated and analysed for their correlation with SOM content, and the spectral indices were screened to establish the SOM prediction model. Finally, the accuracy of the model was evaluated, and we selected the optimal model to map the spatial distribution of SOM. The results of our study show that 1) the radius of the ROI significantly affects the model’s accuracy; 2) the accuracy of the nonlinear SVM model is much higher than that of the linear PLSR model; 3) the prediction model based on spectral indices is better than full-band model. This study can serve as a model for the application of UAV imaging spectroscopy technology to field-scale SOM estimations and rapid monitoring, as well as provide technical support for precision agriculture and climate change studies.