Sustainable Agricultural Technologies Research Articles

Technologies for sustainable agriculture in the tropics

Technologies for sustainable agriculture in the tropics

Regland, J., Lal, R. (ed.): Technologies for sustainable agriculture in the tropics

Regland, J., Lal, R. (ed.): Technologies for sustainable agriculture in the tropics

Technologies for Sustainable Agriculture in the Tropics

Technologies for Sustainable Agriculture in the Tropics

Farming systems research for agroforestry extension

Farming systems research and extension (FSRE), as used by the global Association for Farming Systems Research-Extension, applies to a family of methodologies used to generate, evaluate and disseminate agricultural technologies in association with farmer participation. FSRE shares many attributes with Diagnosis and Design as practiced in agroforestry. The history of FSRE is traced from 1965 to the present, showing the formalization of the methodology and its critical use in sustainable agricultural technology development. In on-farm research, a primary basis for FSRE, research and extension merge in practice. The definition of recommendation domains (a fundamental concept of FSRE) is based on analysis and interpretation of multi-environmental research results as evaluated by varied criteria.

Population pressure, land degradation and sustainable agricultural technologies in the Sahel

Increasing population pressure in the semi-arid regions of the Sahel has resulted in a breakdown of the fallow system, low crop yields and reduced availability of communal land. Adoption of sustainable, yield increasing technologies is critical to the future development of the region. A farm level programming model was constructed for the Central (Mossi) Plateau of Burkina Faso). According to the model predictions, farmers are induced into adopting yield increasing intensive technologies as land supply becomes more inelastic, and as the economic environment becomes more profitable. The model predictions are confirmed by recent field surveys thereby providing some grounds for cautious optimism about the future of Sahelian agriculture.

Developing New Agricultural Technologies for the Sahelian Countries: The Burkina Faso Case

Previous articleNext article No AccessDeveloping New Agricultural Technologies for the Sahelian Countries: The Burkina Faso CaseJohn H. Sanders, Joseph G. Nagy, and Sunder RamaswamyJohn H. Sanders Search for more articles by this author , Joseph G. Nagy Search for more articles by this author , and Sunder Ramaswamy Search for more articles by this author PDFPDF PLUS Add to favoritesDownload CitationTrack CitationsPermissionsReprints Share onFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail SectionsMoreDetailsFiguresReferencesCited by Economic Development and Cultural Change Volume 39, Number 1Oct., 1990 Article DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1086/451850 Views: 7Total views on this site Citations: 14Citations are reported from Crossref Copyright 1990 The University of ChicagoPDF download Crossref reports the following articles citing this article:Josias Sanou, Babou André Bationo, Silamana Barry, Loyehoun Dorothée Nabie, Jules Bayala, Robert Zougmore Combining soil fertilization, cropping systems and improved varieties to minimize climate risks on farming productivity in northern region of Burkina Faso, Agriculture & Food Security 5, no.11 (Sep 2016).https://doi.org/10.1186/s40066-016-0067-3STEPHEN C. MASON, NOURI MAMAN, SIÉBOU PALÉ PEARL MILLET PRODUCTION PRACTICES IN SEMI-ARID WEST AFRICA: A REVIEW, Experimental Agriculture 51, no.44 (Feb 2015): 501–521.https://doi.org/10.1017/S0014479714000441David K. Smith A bibliography of applications of operational research in West Africa, International Transactions in Operational Research 15, no.22 (Mar 2008): 121–150.https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1475-3995.2008.00625.xJohn H. Sanders, Barry I. Shapiro Crop Technology Introduction in Semiarid West Africa: Performance and Future Strategy, Journal of Crop Production 9, no.1-21-2 (Oct 2008): 559–592.https://doi.org/10.1300/J144v09n01_09N. Stéphenne, E.F. Lambin A dynamic simulation model of land-use changes in Sudano-sahelian countries of Africa (SALU), Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment 85, no.1-31-3 (Jun 2001): 145–161.https://doi.org/10.1016/S0167-8809(01)00181-5Christopher B. Barrett, Michael R. Carter Microeconomically Coherent Agricultural Policy Reform in Africa, (Jan 1999): 288–347.https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-27483-3_7Della E. Mcmillan, John H. Sanders, Dolores Koenig, Kofi Akwabi-Ameyaw, Thomas M. Painter New Land is not enough: Agricultural performance of New Lands settlement in West Africa, World Development 26, no.22 (Feb 1998): 187–211.https://doi.org/10.1016/S0305-750X(97)10055-9Jean-Philippe Platteau, Yujiro Hayami, Partha Dasgupta Resource Endowments and Agricultural Development: Africa versus Asia, (Jan 1998): 357–412.https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-26928-0_12G. Weber, J. Smith, M.V. Manyong System dynamics and the definition of research domains for the northern Guinea savanna of West Africa, Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment 57, no.2-32-3 (May 1996): 133–148.https://doi.org/10.1016/0167-8809(96)01025-0Thomas Reardon Sustainability issues for agricultural research strategies in the semi-arid tropics: Focus on the Sahel, Agricultural Systems 48, no.33 (Jan 1995): 345–359.https://doi.org/10.1016/0308-521X(94)00020-RB.I. Shapiro, J.H. Sanders, K.C. Reddy, T.G. Baker Evaluating and adapting new technologies in a high-risk agricultural system—Niger, Agricultural Systems 42, no.1-21-2 (Jan 1993): 153–171.https://doi.org/10.1016/0308-521X(93)90073-BJock R. Anderson Difficulties in African agricultural systems enhancement? Ten hypotheses, Agricultural Systems 38, no.44 (Jan 1992): 387–409.https://doi.org/10.1016/0308-521X(92)90030-RSunder Ramaswamy, John H. Sanders Population pressure, land degradation and sustainable agricultural technologies in the Sahel, Agricultural Systems 40, no.44 (Jan 1992): 361–378.https://doi.org/10.1016/0308-521X(92)90047-RRobert R. Deuson, John H. Sanders Cereal technology development in the sahel, Land Use Policy 7, no.33 (Jul 1990): 195–197.https://doi.org/10.1016/0264-8377(90)90033-U

Alley cropping as a sustainable agricultural technology for the hillsides of Haiti: Experience of an agroforestry outreach project

AbstractAlley cropping is a form of hedgerow intercropping where fast-growing leguminous trees are planted at dense within-row spacing, with agricultural crops planted between the hedgerows. This agroforestry technology, with the hedgerows planted on the contour across the slope, appears promising for small farmers on the hittslopes of Haiti An agroforestry outreach project operating in Haiti since 1981 has helped thousands of farmers plant hedgerows on their farms. The farmers are increasingly accepting the technology: the length of hedgerows planted by the farmers in the project area increased from 11 lineal km in 1987 to 140 lineal km in 1988. An evaluation of 50 farms where hedgerows had been installed shows that this technology results in soil conservation and microsite enrichment between hedgerows; the hedgerows also provide fodder and fuelwood. However, refinements are needed in technical aspects of hedgerow management, such as planting configurations, pruning regime, and choice of species. Moreover, soil and plant parameters as well as socioeconomic characteristics must be monitored in a systematic way in order to assess the impact of hedgerow intercropping on the sustainability of Haitian farming systems.

Adoption of Agricultural Innovations in Developing Countries: A Survey

This paper reviews various studies which have provided a description and possible explanation to patterns of innovation adoption in the agricultural sector. The survey points out that the tendency of many studies to consider innovation adoption in dichotomous terms (adoption/nonadoption) may not be appropriate in many cases where the actual decisions are defined over a more continuous range. More attention needs to be given to the socio-cultural and institutional environment in area studies so that their interrelation with economic factors affecting adoption can be inferred. The presence of several interrelated innovations is another aspect that needs to be considered more carefully in future research, since a number of simultaneous decisions may be involved. Furthermore, the possibility of regular sequential patterns in adopting components of a new technological package should be specifically addressed in future studies. Finally, the impact of differential adoption rates on land holding distribution merits attention in future research.