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India ranks second in the global cotton balance, next only China. Cotton is the mainstay of India's textile industry, accounting for roughly 74% of total textile mill usage. India's cotton production has increased due to the introduction and rapid geographical expansion of bollworm resistant Bt cotton. The objective of this paper is to compare cotton balance analyses and to investigate the factors that have influenced cotton development over the last 22 years. The pertinent arguments presented in this article support the analytical discussion of the cotton trade's yearly trends. Between 2000-01 and 2021-22, there will be an average of 30 million bales of cotton produced, 5.6 million exported and 1.4 million imported by India. By adding observable carryover stocks, the entire supply of cotton in India has consistently outperformed the total demand. However, Indian cotton farmers face a variety of issues, including increasing production costs, unmanageable debts, stagnant yields, constant pesticide use, inadequate irrigation, a lack of modern technology, manual picking, vulnerability to contamination, deterioration in genetic purity, competition from artificial fibres, particularly synthetic fibre, fluctuating market prices and lack of CCI participation. To boost cotton output, governments must provide high-yielding, high-quality hybrid seeds and appropriate irrigation infrastructure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Respiratory diseases have been associated with the exposure of populations to some environmental pollutants such as pesticides. To assess effects of pesticides on farmers' respiratory health, this study aimed to evaluate the pulmonary function of cotton farmers exposed to synthetic and natural pesticides in the Central-West region of Burkina Faso. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from June to July 2022 among 281 conventional and 189 organic cotton farmers. After collecting information on pesticide use conditions, pulmonary function tests (PFTs) were performed on each farmer according to the American Thoracic Society/European Respiratory Society guidelines, in order to assess chronic respiratory effects among cotton producers. Binary logistic regression was used to assess factors associated with the occurrence of ventilatory changes. Results: Both conventional and organic cotton farmers reported similar chronic respiratory symptoms in different proportions. The main reported were rhinitis (54.45% conventional vs. 34.92% organic), chest pains (41.28% conventional vs. 23.81% organic), cough (33.45% conventional, 24.34% organic), breathlessness (31.67% conventional, 4.23% organic) (p<0.05). 16.18% and 27.50% of conventional male and female cotton farmers, respectively, had a restrictive defect. Among organic cotton farmers, 15.85% and 18.69%, respectively, of males and females had a restrictive defect. Furthermore, a significant increase in the predicted average percentage of FEV1/FVC ratio was observed among organic cotton farmers after salbutamol's use (p = 0.039). The type of cultivated cotton was not associated with ventilatory changes neither in the univariate analysis, nor in the multivariate analysis. Other factors such as farmers' age, BMI and insecticides use frequency per year were also important. Farmers who used insecticides more than 6 times per season had an increased risk of developing an obstructive defect (OR = 1.603; 95%CI: 0.484–5.309) compared to those who used them 6 times or less. Conclusion: Chronic respiratory signs and ventilatory impairments were found among conventional and, to our knowledge, for the first time among organic cotton producers. However, these health effects were more prevalent among conventional cotton farmers than organic ones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sustainability in cotton production is inevitable because producing more cotton means more employment, economic acceleration, and industrial expansion. India, China, the United States, Brazil, and Pakistan contribute 74% of worldwide cotton production. Pakistan is contributing only 5%, despite the high potential of cotton. The average yield of cotton in Pakistan is stagnant at 570.99 kg hm−2, whereas it entails the highest cost of production among all other crops. The yield obtained in Pakistan is less than the potential, profitability is drastically lessening, and farmers are abandoning cotton for alternative kharif crops. Some traditional quantitative studies have unveiled different factors that affect cotton production. However, an in-depth qualitative study has never been conducted in Pakistan to explore the root causes of growing cotton crop failure. Following Moustakas's traditional phenomenological guidelines, this phenomenological study was conducted in the district of Rahim Yar Khan in the core cotton zone of Punjab province. A total of 10 interviews were conducted with purposively selected cotton growers based on a criterion: (i) having more than 10 years of cotton growing experience, (ii) being a cotton grower, and (iii) having at least 10 years of formal schooling. Interviews were conducted face to face on an interview guide. One interview lasted 45–50 min, and responses were recorded and analyzed using a thematic analysis approach. A total of 6 themes emerged from the collected data, including (i) climate change, (ii) varietal problems, (iii) pesticide usage, (iv) sense of institutional services, (v) attitude of farmers and (vi) soil health and environment. These six merging themes contributed to cotton crop failure and yield decline. The deep exploration further summarized that researchers, extensionists, and farmers need to seriously consider variety, sowing time, and the environment to revive cotton crops. The detailed recommendations and policy guidelines are presented in this paper, highlighting the cotton sector's research, development and investment areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cotton is one of the most important cash crop grown for its fibre, which is the raw material for the textile industry. In India, the average yield and profitability of cotton cultivation are low as compared to developing countries. The main reason for this is hand picking of bolls, which is labour intensive resulting into low income of cotton growers. Furthermore, in India, most of the cotton varieties are indeterminate where the bolls do not mature at the same time and thus requires repeated hand pickings. Whereas the developed countries have 100% mechanized cotton picking due to determinate or semi-determinate plant types. Adoption of mechanical harvesting in India is dependent upon the availability of suitable cotton varieties as well as defoliants, desiccants, boll openers, growth hormones and re-growth inhibitors (Thatikunta et al., 2018). Defoliation before cotton harvesting is very important to maintain the quality of produce. In this paper, a comprehensive review is presented on effect and timing of application of defoliants on physiological characteristics of cotton. This will help in developing further research proposals to develop plant types for mechanical harvesting and use of defoliates to produce good fiber quality and increased farm income. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mixing of cotton seeds of different cultivars and qualities can lead to differences in growth conditions and make field management difficult. In particular, except for yield loss, it can also lead to inconsistent cotton quality and poor textile product quality, causing huge economic losses to farmers and the cotton processing industry. However, traditional cultivar identification methods for cotton seeds are time-consuming, labor-intensive, and cumbersome, which cannot meet the needs of modern agriculture and modern cotton processing industry. Therefore, there is an urgent need for a fast, accurate, and non-destructive method for identifying cotton seed cultivars. In this study, hyperspectral images (397.32 nm—1003.58 nm) of five cotton cultivars, namely Jinke 20, Jinke 21, Xinluzao 64, Xinluzao 74, and Zhongmiansuo 5, were captured using a Specim IQ camera, and then the average spectral information of seeds of each cultivar was used for spectral analysis, aiming to estab-lish a cotton seed cultivar identification model. Due to the presence of many obvious noises in the < 400 nm and > 1000 nm regions of the collected spectral data, spectra from 400 nm to 1000 nm were selected as the representative spectra of the seed samples. Then, various denoising techniques, including Savitzky-Golay (SG), Standard Normal Variate (SNV), and First Derivative (FD), were applied individually and in combination to improve the quality of the spectra. Additionally, a successive projections algorithm (SPA) was employed for spectral feature selection. Based on the full-band spectra, a Partial Least Squares-Discriminant Analysis (PLS-DA) model was established. Furthermore, spectral features and textural features were fused to create Random Forest (RF), Convolutional Neural Network (CNN), and Extreme Learning Machine (ELM) identification models. The results showed that: (1) The SNV-FD preprocessing method showed the optimal denoising performance. (2) SPA highlighted the near-infrared region (800–1000 nm), red region (620–700 nm), and blue-green region (420–570 nm) for identifying cotton cultivar. (3) The fusion of spectral features and textural features did not consistently improve the accuracy of all modeling strategies, suggesting the need for further research on appropriate modeling strategies. (4) The ELM model had the highest cotton cultivar identification accuracy, with an accuracy of 100% for the training set and 98.89% for the test set. In conclusion, this study successfully developed a highly accurate cotton seed cultivar identification model (ELM model). This study provides a new method for the rapid and non-destructive identification of cotton seed cultivars, which will help ensure the cultivar consistency of seeds used in cotton planting, and improve the overall quality and yield of cotton. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presently, the agricultural system and crops related to the environment are highly vulnerable to climatic variations in many regions of the world. Major crops are under serious threat due to floods and temperature variations in Pakistan. There is a serious need to disseminate climate smart agricultural knowledge for the farmers of Pakistan at urgency level for fast adoption of Climate Smart Agricultural Practices (CSAPs). This study mainly focuses on the adoption of CSAPs and associated constraints, which restrain the adoption rate. We selected 400 cotton farmers using a formula suggested by Kesley and Kumar (1989) for an unknown population from two very important cotton producing districts (Khanewal and Vehari). Interview schedule was used for data collection. The study explored that institutional role is very critical for adoption of CSAPs. In addition, economic barriers, lack of trained extension field staff, lack of training opportunities and lack of climate smart agricultural technologies and knowledge for cotton growers are the main constraints in the adoption of CSAPs. Hence, awareness, provision of timely information and training, continuous repeated coordination with cotton growers and reducing all constraints are the keys for approval of CSAPs to deal with climate variations. Policy recommendations included: government should provide policy support for research and development activities focusing on CSAPs. Government should provide support to extension services in order to educate and train farmers for CSAPs. The adoption of CSAPs may require additional financial resources. The government should provide financial support to farmers to encourage them to adopt these practices. This can be done through subsidies, grants and other financial incentives. Climate change is leading to water scarcity in Pakistan and this is affecting agricultural productivity. The government should promote water conservation practices such as rain water harvesting, drip irrigation and water efficient crops to ensure sustainable use of water resources. The adoption of CSAPs requires strong collaboration and partnerships among the stakeholders, including government, farmers, research institutions, NGOs and private sector. The government should promote collaboration and partnerships to facilitate the adoption of CSAPs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The cotton cultivation in India is influenced by high inputs and expenditure. But the farmers do not get sufficient access to institutional credit; hence the farmers borrow money at the higher interest from other sources. Higher risks due to the impacts of climate change furtherincrease the economic burden and uncertainty of getting reasonable income to the farmers. Furthermore, the crop suffers due to incidence of pests and diseases. Because of this situation, farmers encounter risks and pressures, yet they seldom openly reveal the psychological strain that accompanies their agricultural work. Hence, the current study was carried to identify strategies to be adopted by cotton growers to manage risk and stress in crop management, agricultural extension and input arrangement. Methods: The study was conducted by collecting information from 240 cotton growers of four blocks in Gajapati and Rayagada districts of Odisha. The opinion on socio-psychological, technological competency and input supply strategies to be adopted was collected individually through a semi-structured schedule and analyzed. Result: The opinion of cotton growing farmers on the strategies to be adopted in minimizing the risks and stresses in cotton production on socio-psychological, technological competency and input supply showed that the farmers preferred to have participatory decision on cluster approach, developing good drainage facility and advance supply of inputs and materials, periodical visits by extension officials' to the farmers' field and create awareness on latest varieties availablewith high yield and training on latest technologies and ensuring quality and timely input supply, providing information on market price and immediate payment for their produce. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increasing adoption of Bt cotton, known for its high productivity and resistance to pests, has prompted this investigation into its impact on farmers' earnings. This study aims to explore how the productivity of Bt cotton affects farmers' income in the Khanewal and Multan districts of Southern Punjab. To gather data, we employed a stratified random sampling method, targeting small, medium, and large-scale farmers in both districts. Using regression analysis, we assessed the influence of Bt cotton productivity, along with other relevant factors, on the annual gross income of these farmers. Results revealed that per acre revenue from Bt cotton, education of farmers, livestock ownership, tractor ownership and distance from the market have significant impacts on the annual gross income of the farmers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Enhancing allocation efficiency is vital for maintaining China’s position as a leading textile producer. The adoption of information and communication technology (ICT) can improve the efficiency of farmers’ input allocation. Nonetheless, limited evidence exists regarding the impact and extent of farmers’ access to digital agricultural extension through subscribing to agricultural WeChat public accounts (WPAs) on allocation inefficiency costs. Using a 2019 farm household survey of cotton farmers in Xinjiang, this paper employs a primal system model to calculate farmers’ allocation inefficiency costs and a two-stage residual inclusion approach model (2SRI) to estimate the effects of agricultural WPAs subscription on allocation inefficiency costs and allocation inefficiency. The empirical findings indicate that the average allocation inefficiency cost is 3.264 Yuan per kilogram, constituting 45.8% of cotton production cost. Our results demonstrate that subscribing to agricultural WPAs can significantly reduce farmers’ allocation inefficiency costs by 19.5% and decrease allocation inefficiency by 0.079. Consequently, promoting smallholder farmers’ access to digital agricultural extension serves as an effective strategy to enhance allocation efficiency and lower costs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The prevalence of cutaneous mycoses has been on the rise worldwide with an increased incidence of recurrent and recalcitrant infections. This study was conducted to assess the clinical patterns and etiological agents of dermatophytosis, at a tertiary care hospital in western India. Material and Method: One hundred clinically diagnosed cases of dermatophytosis attending the OPD of a tertiary care hospital were included in this cross-sectional study. Thorough history taking and detailed clinical examination were done for each patient. For studying the mycological profile, direct microscopy for fungal elements in KOH and fungal culture on Sabouraud dextrose agar (SDA) was done for each patient. The growth on SDA plates was further mounted on lactophenol cotton blue mounts for species identification. Results: Our study found a male preponderance, and the majority of infections (36%) were in the 21–30 years age group. The most common clinical pattern was the mixed type of infections followed by T. corporis. Direct microscopy for fungal elements was positive in 71% but the culture positivity was only 35%. The most common species isolated in our study was T. mentagrophytes (62.8%). Conclusion: The present study highlights the bearing of factors like socioeconomic status and occupation on the clinical profile of dermatophytosis and reveals a changing trend in the etiological agent of dermatophyte species in this part of western India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cotton (Gossypium spp) remains a significant source of income in Africa. However, production is limited by high input costs that reduce profit margins. This study aimed to conduct cost analysis on field trials that were conducted to evaluate the effect of chemical insecticides, Chlorpyrifos® 480 EC, Karate® EC, and Bandit® 350 SC compared with biopesticides, Eco-Bb®, Bolldex®, Delfin®, NOMU-PROTEC® and Bb endophyte on the control of cotton insect pests. Delfin® (US$602) was the most expensive pesticide, followed by Bolldex® (US$495.74), while the cheapest pesticide was Chlorpyrifos® (US$28). Other input costs were US$1 396.50 per hectare, with the highest labor cost of US$544. The minimal cost of production from the bollworm trial was recorded from the application of Karate® (US$1 455), while Delfin® (US$1 999) was the highest. Maximum average seed cotton yield was recorded with Bolldex® (6 402 kg ha-1); however, the maximum net profit of up to US$1 445.26 per hectare was registered with Karate® with the highest cost-benefit ratio of 1.8. The average highest seed cotton yield was obtained with Bandit® (6 394 kg ha-1) followed by Bb endophyte (6 297 kg ha-1) in the leafhopper trial. Bandit® and Karate® had the highest net profits of US$ 1,712 and US$ 1,253, respectively. The Bandit® treatment had the highest costbenefit ratio of 2. Generally, biopesticide application was found to be more expensive than chemical insecticides; however, they were all profitable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This scoping review addresses bacterial contamination of antiseptics, low-level disinfectants, and hand hygiene products in healthcare settings in high-income countries. Over 70 years, 114 articles were found: 68 outbreaks, 13 pseudo-outbreaks and 33 cross-sectional surveys. Outbreaks affected median 29 (1–151) patients, extended for 26 (1–156) weeks and had a case fatality of 0.0% (0.0–60.0%). Most (72.8%) (pseudo-)outbreaks were caused by water-based chlorhexidine (CHG), quaternary ammonium compounds (QUAT) and the combination CHG–QUAT. Contaminating bacteria were nonfermentative Gram-negative rods (87.6% (pseudo-)outbreaks), mainly Burkholderia cepacia, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Achromobacter spp.) and Enterobacterales (29.6%, 24/81), mostly Serratia spp.). Risk factors were at the level of the bacteria (natural resistance to CHG and QUAT), containers (design and functioning, presence of cork and cotton, biofilm formation), preparation (nonsterile water, overdilution) and practices (too long expiry dates, inappropriate container reprocessing, topping up of containers and deviation from procedures). Transmission occurred through direct contact (antiseptics), contact with semicritical items (disinfectants) and were handborne (soaps). During recent decades, reports of soap contaminated with Enterobacterales emerged and nationwide outbreaks of intrinsically contaminated CHG occurred. Outstanding issues comprise intrinsic contamination, implementation of antiseptic stewardship, the role of unit doses and sterile products, transmission studies, biofilm control and understanding healthcare providers' perceptions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study empirically investigates the factors influencing Pakistani cotton farmers' utilisation of marketing information sources. Data were collected by face-to-face, interviewing 399 cotton farmers. Factors and variations of the utilisation of marketing information sources were analysed using multivariate probit, chi-square, and descriptive statistics. The results revealed significant variations among farmers in the utilisation of mobile phones, internet, television, radio, newspapers, extension services, market commission agents, and fellow farmers. The findings highlighted the usage of several combinations of ICT, traditional media, extension services, and farmers' social relations. Furthermore, key socio-economic and institutional factors influencing marketing information utilisation were discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study shows that farmers in arid and semi‐arid land can improve their efficiency if they have access to agricultural extension services. An exhaustive survey was used to obtain data from 423 cotton producers in the arid zones and 144 of wetlands in Burkina Faso. The method of the directional distance function modeling a multi‐output technology was used. The results show that cotton farmers in the arid zones are not technically more inefficient than those in wetlands. On average, arid zone producers have a technical inefficiency of 0.056 while that of wetland producers is around 0.052. The agricultural extension, defined as receiving visits and advice from technical agents, is important for producers because it helps farmers choose soil and water conservation techniques and fertilizers adapted to the Agro‐climatic conditions of their respective zones. Agriculture extension also helps farmers of the arid zones to reduce their technical inefficiency by advising them to cultivate small agricultural plots. On average, in these zones, the size of an agricultural plot is around 1.03 ha compared to those of wetlands which is about 1.6 ha. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the variety of agrarian classes of labour and the challenges they face in organizing and pursuing their interests. By taking the cotton sector in Burkina Faso as a case study, it analyses how various 'classes of labour' organize and mobilize for collective action to raise their claims: poor cotton farmers and workers in the cotton factories. Poor and middle farmers recently came to the fore when they boycotted cotton production in large numbers. The study focusses on the boycott campaign, and more broadly on class struggle and collective action by farmers and workers, on interclass alliances, and on capital's attempts to play the classes of labour against one another. The boycott campaign provides an outstanding case to analyse the interests of the various classes of labour and of opportunities for rural–urban mobilization and alliances across classes of labour. I argue that poor farmers and factory workers along the chain of cotton production can be considered as various classes of labour that are not necessarily antagonistic to one another but, first and foremost, to capital. In order to achieve radical transformation in the agrarian context, what is needed are networks and organizations to establish interclass solidarity and alliances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Access to credit facilities remains a critical issue in the agriculture sub-sector of Ghana's economy. It remains a major challenge that requires the attention of the stakeholders in the sector. In Ghana, there has been significant involvement of companies and corporate organisations in the area of credit access to farmers. In the cotton sector of the agriculture sub-sector for instance, there had been several companies participating in the credit advancement to farmers but could not sustain their operations and ended up folding up. Against this backdrop, the study sought to explore the management of credit among cotton farmers. It among other things examines the compositions of credits advanced to farmers, measures taken to monitor credits, challenges in credit management and the impact of credit on farmers'endeavours. The population targets for the study consist of farmers who are the majority, RMG Cotton staff/management, as well as MOFA district Officer at Bunkpurugu. The simple random sampling method was used to select farmers through, structured interviewswith the MOFA official. Purposive sampling was used on RMG cotton staff/management. Descriptive statistics: percentages and frequencies were used for analysing quantitative data while thematic analysis was employed for the qualitative data. The findings from the study indicate that all inputs are supplied to farmers on credit by the companies and repayment is through seed cotton purchases during the marketing period. It was also found that eventhough there has been training and monitoring, the issue of default was rife among the farmers. It is therefore recommended that stakeholders engage in rigorous training and education of farmers on the use and application of credits in the sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sustainable agriculture is essential for food security, which can sometimes be undermined by rural migration triggered by many factors, including climate change. This article aims to analyze its effects on the dynamic of rural migration. Using a database of 623 agricultural households, a multivariate probit model (MVP) was estimated. The results show that regardless of the nature of migration, variables related to climate factors positively and significantly affect decisions to move. In addition, other non-climatic variables relevant to environmental migration are cattle transhumance, which creates conflicts between herders and farmers, along with poor access to agricultural credit, agricultural and offfarm income. Gender, age, household size, accessibility to educational and health facilities in the area of origin and experience in agricultural production must be considered. Emphasis should be placed on agricultural policies aimed at diversifying the income sources of rural households in developing countries. The study highlights the importance of both farm and non-farm income in controlling migration. In the case of our study area, it is the combination of livestock and agriculture that seems to respond best. Producers are encouraged to diversify crops and, during periods of climatic disruption, the priority of households should be based on the production of food crops for subsistence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study is discussing about impacts of organic farming in the research area. According to this study, affects are categorized in least expensive, environmental, organizational and subsequently others. This take a look at tries to bring together one of a kind problems inside the mild of latest trends for organic farming problems and prospective within the state of Tamil Nadu. The top vital is the advancement of a stable soil-plant-circumstance framework to diminish Land corruption and maltreatment of the information assets. The improvement of our hometown with a point of view to select up the individual success of the overall people is stated to be local improvement. Another methodology of advancing eco-accommodating cultivating is through the alternate of the prevailing frameworks of cultivating inside the zone of soil supplement rebuilding to empower the utilization of herbal substances, named herbal cultivating. Country's advancement is a effective strategy, which is basically confused with the neighborhood domain names. In view of the economic significance of natural farming, the present examine was taken up in Theni district of Tamil Nadu, India. The consequences of the study agriculture growers confirmed that chemical fertilizers cost had rather significantly effect on adoption of natural farming whereas in case of cotton growers, chemical fertilizers value and records obtained from NGO's especially influenced on adoption of organic farming. The most crucial constraints recognized with the aid of the natural growers in productiveness of natural banana and coconut were non availability of labour and organic certification whereas traditional growers' constraints have been non availability of labour and high wage rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cotton production makes an important contribution to the income of rural residents and the economy in Xinjiang province, which leads other provinces in terms of planted area, total production, and average yield of cotton in China. This study analyzed the competitiveness of cotton production in the study area using the efficiency advantage index (EAI), scale advantage index (SAI), and aggregated advantage index (AAI). Moreover, the factors influencing the productivity of cotton have been investigated by the use of ridge regression and correlation matrix using a dataset for the period 2005 to 2018. The results showed that cotton production had a large comparative advantage in Xinjiang from 2005 to 2018. The average of efficiency advantage index (EAI), scale advantage index (SAI), and aggregated advantage index (AAI) are 1.50, 12.96, and 4.35, respectively. Overall, Xinjiang cotton production has a higher planting scale advantage and productivity. By using ridge regression to calculate the impact of cotton production on agricultural output value in Xinjiang, the results showed that total cotton production, fiscal expenditure on agricultural support, total agricultural machinery power, and fertilizer use had significant positive effects, whereas cotton sown area, average cotton yield, and the proportion of affected area by insects and diseases had negative impact agricultural output value. The study implies the need for a implementing a well-thought and empirically backed plan to support cotton production based on comparative advantage for a specific area, building a cotton production standard system, reducing the cost of cotton production, and building a cotton risk-protection system to protect the interests of cotton farmers and promote the sustainable development of the cotton industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Information problems are pervasive in developing economies and can hinder productivity growth. This paper studies how much rural producers in developing countries can learn from their own cultivation experience, i.e. learning by doing, to redress important information gaps about imperfectly known input technologies. First, I build a theoretical model which links learning by doing in one period to improved input choices in the next period, and show that this can be impeded by uncertainty about what is being observed due to noisy cultivation signals and by uncertainty about what to infer about market varieties due to imperfect variety integrity. Second, I apply this framework to cotton farmers in Pakistan, where farmers have imperfect information prior to cultivation about the extent to which their seeds have pest resistant biotechnology. The results suggest that farmers are unable to learn by doing about this aspect of their seeds due to a high degree of noise in cultivation signals. The paper highlights the potential difficulties in parsing out and processing information from cultivation experience alone and therefore of learning by doing by rural producers in a development context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Motivation: Most transaction cost economic frameworks, commonly used to examine and explain the co‐ordination of agricultural transactions, use a linear approach for a single product transaction. This ignores the concurrence of multiple transactions by smallholder farmers in developing countries. Purpose: This study aims to understand co‐ordination among multiple product transactions by smallholder farmers and to identify ways to remove impediments to market participation. It develops an adapted transaction cost framework, considering contract types and forms of market participation as building blocks for co‐ordination structures. The framework was applied to explain co‐ordination structures between smallholders and buyers of cotton and cereals in southern Mali. Methods and approach: To make the framework operational, we did the following: (1) selected transaction characteristics; (2) elaborated benchmarks to describe the intensity of transactions; (3) identified co‐ordination structures; and (4) scored the intensity of transactions. Both quantitative and qualitative data were collected. Findings The majority of farmers grew cotton and sold it to a parastatal company, the sole buyer, that also supported the provision of inputs. Inputs were used to grow not only cotton, but also cereals. Most farmers sold cereals on spot markets to collectors and traders. Using different structures allowed smallholders to obtain inputs and services, to pursue different income sources over the year, and to balance flexibility and security. Policy implications: Collective organizations of smallholder farmers should be supported to improve their financial and managerial capacities to allow them to co‐ordinate better with buyers and input suppliers. Institutional innovations to better balance risks for smallholders and buyers deserve consideration. These innovations include crop insurance, long‐term credit, and warehouse receipts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Farmers' interaction with the advisory services providers is much important, especially in the era when agriculture has become more challenging. In this study, we compared the use and effectiveness of different interaction methods used by the public and private sector Extension Field Staff (EFS). This study was conducted in three districts Bahawalnagar, Bahawalpur and Rahim Yar Khan of the Punjab, province. A total of 480 respondents selected at random were interviewed face to face on a structured interview schedule. Collected data were analyzed through Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). T-statistics were applied to compare the two sectors i.e. public and private EFS. Findings indicated that there was a statistically significant mean difference (P<0.05) regarding interaction methods such as farmer days, field visits, group meetings, demonstrations, seminars and the use of electronic media and social media. Among the different services provided by the public and private sector EFS indicating statistically significant mean difference (P<0.05) were demonstration, use of IPM, less use of pesticides, access to market, conservation of resources, access to inputs and weather forecasting services. Whereas, the public and private sectors had a non-significant mean difference regarding the clean cotton campaign and access to subsidies (P>0.05). the statistics confirmed that overall, the private sector EFS were more effective as compared to the public sector. This study suggests a proper selection of interaction methods to access the farmers. Moreover, the synergy between the two sectors could be more effective in making technical advice effective and paving the way towards environment and resource conservation. Effective integration of ICTs in the communication process is also highly recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cotton is a major cash crop globally, playing a pivotal role in the textile sector. However, cotton growers in Xinjiang region are experiencing cotton yield penalty caused by limited heat environment. In this region, limited heat conditions strongly arrest cotton plant growth and development resulting in recued productivity. To counteract this problem, there is an urgent need to robustly identify efficient management strategies to improve plant performance and increase cotton yield under heat-limited situations. This will hold crucial implications for agricultural sustainability and global cotton supply. This review article identified challenges faced by cotton producers under heat limited environments with potential solutions to enhance cotton productivity. Specifically, we focused on the implementation of two life history strategies including planting early maturing and cold tolerant cultivars, and adjusting sowing date that can promote early maturity and increase cold stress tolerance. These strategies have shown promising results in protecting cotton plants from limited heat injury and consequently improved cotton productivity. By focusing on Xinjiang province unique climate and associated agronomic practices, valuable insights can be gained, which may have broader applications in other heat-limited cotton-growing regions globally. This comprehensive review endeavors to provide a foundation for future research and practical interventions aimed at boosting cotton yields under limited heat areas. [Display omitted] • In Xinjiang region, limited heat environments arrest cotton plant growth and yield loss. • Two life history strategies of cotton were proposed to overcome heat limitation in Xinjiang. • Advantages and disadvantages of heat resources were summarized in Xinjiang. • Early maturity cotton varieties and their cultivation measures were reviewed. • Biological, and physio-chemical options are listed to combat cold damage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The depletion of soil organic matter is one of the major challenges constraining agricultural production in the southern zone of Mali. This study evaluated the effects of compost types, methods, and dose applications on the productivity and sustainability of sorghum. Two types of compost (farmer practice and cotton stems) were applied to sorghum at two rates (microdosing at 2.5 t ha−1 and broadcasting at 5 t ha−1) and evaluated on 30 farmer fields in 2019 and 2020. The treatments used included CPA (cotton stem compost at 5 t ha−1 + 100 kg ha−1 DAP), CPA (cotton stem compost at 2.5 t ha−1 + 100 kg ha−1 DAP), CP (farmer compost at 5 t ha−1 + 100 kg ha−1 DAP), CP (famer compost at 2.5 t ha−1 + 100 kg ha−1 DAP), control (100 kg ha−1 DAP), and control. The results showed that regardless of the compost type, applying a microdose of 2.5 t ha−1 improved the growth rate, plant height, grain yield, and biomass yield by 15%, 18%, 47%, and 27%, respectively, when compared to the control. No statistical difference was observed in the yield of 2061 kg ha−1 between applying compost by microdosing at 2.5 t ha−1 and broadcasting at 5 t ha−1. It can be inferred that the application of compost by microdosing makes it possible to achieve a 100% fertilized surface compared to broadcasting, with a nitrogen use efficiency of more than 55%. The application of compost by microdosing at 2.5 t ha−1 resulted in an economic gain of 334,800 XOF ha−1, which was 27% higher than that obtained with the application of compost by broadcasting at 5 t ha−1. Conversely, the contribution to the improvement of soil nitrogen stock varied from 12–20% with a microdose of 2.5 t ha−1 compared to 100% for broadcasting compost at 5 t ha−1 per application. Therefore, the availability of cotton stems in the southern zone of Mali presents an opportunity for farmers to implement compost microdose technology to double the fertilized area and improve sorghum productivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In light of recent pink bollworm (PBW) pest infestations in several cotton-producing states in India, farmers of genetically engineered Bt cotton (Bt for Bacillus thuringiensis) have faced fierce criticism for their noncompliance with the national insect resistance management (IRM) strategy. We argue that this criticism is short-sighted and one-dimensional. Building upon the literature on policy assemblages we show that the implementation of the IRM strategy in India was seriously flawed due to government-induced mistranslations of foreign strategies in the form of policy-diluting alterations. We first show that India's IRM strategy differs substantially from successful strategies pursued in the USA or China. Second, we present results from a representative survey in the state of Telangana (n= 457) and show that India's IRM strategy neglects moral economic considerations and entrepreneurial agricultural logic that Indian cotton farmers strive for. We conclude that pink bollworm pest infestations in India are not the fault of farmers but rather the result of a mismanaged biotechnology project undertaken by the Indian government and its associated responsible ministries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cluster Frontline Demonstrations using IPM technologies were conducted on farmer fields' during two consecutive years of both kharif (June-November 2017 and 2018) by Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Kampasagar, Telangana State, India. The results revealed that, 16.9% increased cotton yield was observed in demonstration plot (2234.0 kg ha-1) against farmers practice (1910.5 kg ha-1). The average gross returns, net returns, and benefit-cost ratios were higher in the demonstration plot as compared to the farmers' practice. The average cost reduction was (41402.0 ha-1) in the demonstration plot when compared to farmers' practice (46190.0 ha-1). Incidence of sucking pests and pink bollworm was low in demonstrations plots and adoption of IPM practices i.e. stem application in cotton at 30 and 45 days after sowing with Monocrotophos and water (1:4) ratio and 60 days after sowing with Imidacloprid and water (1:20) ratio minimize the sucking pests. Further erection of pheromone traps @ 10 ha-1 at 45 DAS to monitor pink bollworm population and spraying of need-based plant protection chemicals i.e. Azadirachtin 0.15% EC @ 2.5 l ha-1 and Thiodicarb 75% WP @ 1.5 g l-1 at early stages and Emamectin benzoate 5% SG @ 0.5 g l-1 at later stages effectively controlled pink bollworm. The average extension gap, technology gap, and technology index were 323.25 kg ha-1, 266.25 kg ha-1 and 10.65%, respectively. Hence, adoption of IPM technologies play a major role for controlling the pest complex and need arises to adopt and popularize this technology in the cotton farming to mitigate the wider extension gap between improved and farmers' practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to examine the impact of (i) climate change and international market price volatility on cotton production in Cameroon, (ii) climate change and international market price volatility on the prices of cotton farmers, (iii) the purchase price of cotton farmers on cotton production, (iv) cotton production on the purchase price of cotton farmers. The statistics used mainly come from the SODECOTON database, the World Bank Group Climate Change Knowledge Portal and Trading Economics. Econometric estimates made using a VAR model reveal that (i) the purchase price of seed cotton tends to significantly boost production, (ii) production does not significantly influence the purchase price of seed cotton, and (iii) the increase in the world price of cotton and significant variations in temperature are conducive to a revaluation of the purchase price of seed cotton. To improve cotton production, it would be advisable, in particular, to (i) make the purchase price of seed cotton more attractive to cotton growers and (ii) adopt effective adaptation or mitigation techniques against variations in rainfall. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Farmers demand more precision farming technology and specific information is consumed in the adoption process, which could not only depend on how efficiently the information flows among farmers. It is assumed that the sources of information are inputs in the production processes and could have an impact on the decision to adopt precision farming technology, after controlling for farmer and farm business characteristics. Accordingly, the objective of this research was to evaluate the effects of nine information sources used by cotton farmers of 12 U.S. producer states on the adoption of yield monitor with GPS, grid soil sampling, zone soil sampling, aerial photos, and soil survey maps. The scientific utility of this research lies on the quantitative data from the Southern Cotton Precision Farming Survey analysed using statistical methods such as univariate, bivariate and multivariate probit regressions. The statistical results indicated that information from dealers, consultants, university publications, and university events were the most common information sources used when searching for precision farming information with positive and significant effects on the adoption of precision farming technology. The presented findings from this comprehensive analysis can assist organizations in selecting information sources, and on planning communications and partnerships strategies fostering technology transfer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cash-crop diffusion in colonial Africa was uneven and defied colonizers' expectations and efforts, especially for cotton. This study investigates how agricultural seasonality affected African farmers' cotton adoption, circa 1900–1960. A contrast between British Uganda and the interior of French West Africa demonstrates that a short rainy season and the resulting short farming cycles generated seasonal labor bottlenecks and food security concerns, limiting cotton output. Agricultural seasonality also had wider repercussions, for colonial coercion, investment, and African income-earning strategies. A labor productivity breakthrough in post-colonial Francophone West Africa mitigated the seasonality constraint, facilitating impressive cotton output growth post-1960. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The research aimed to identify: the general characteristics of the farmers surveyed, the sources of information from which farmers obtain their agricultural information and about integrated pest management, the farmers’ knowledge of the indicative recommendations related to integrated pest control and the factors associated with them, and the farmers’ implementation of the indicative recommendations related to integrated pest control and related factors, and the services that provided by agricultural guidance to farmers in the field of integrated control, the problems facing farmers in the field of integrated control and the elements for their solution. Son Al-Hajar District and Al-Hussainiya District were selected, and the two largest villages in relation to the cultivated area were selected from each district. The total number of cotton growers in the selected villages was counted and their number reached 3541, which represents the overall size. By applying Robert Mason's equation, the sample size reached approximately 29 farmers, which is approximately 92 respondents distributed among the two centers from each district, 45respondents. The sample was distributed to the selected villages on The basis of the relative weight of the number of cotton growers in each village in relation to the total number of cotton growers in the village. The most important findings of the research: (%33) of the respondents stated that agricultural extension provides them with few services, while (%14) of the respondents indicated that extension provides them with medium services, while (%45) of the respondents provides them with many services, and (%5) of the respondents had low knowledge of the guiding recommendations for the integrated pest management of the cotton crop, while (%34) their knowledge was medium, while (%13) their knowledge was high and (%2) of the farmers surveyed, the level of their implementation of the guiding recommendations for the integrated control of the cotton crop was reduced in While (%11) the level of their implementation is medium and (%1) the level of their implementation is high, and the results also indicate that about (%18) of the respondents reported that the production of the feddan has increased, and also indicated that about (%81) the use of pesticides has increased. It decreased, and the results indicated that the service costs decreased by about (%88), and it became clear that the use of municipal fertilizers had decreased by about (%89), and the results showed that the nitrogenous fertilizers had decreased by about (%44), and the results showed that the fertilizers and potassium remained constant around (%88) The results showed that the phosphate fertilizers remained constant by about (%88) and the results showed that the resistance costs had decreased by The results also showed that the quality of the crop increased by about (%28). And the price of the crop is the same as it is about (%28), and it was also shown that the pest infestation has decreased by about.)%25( [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Yams are cultivated by almost every household in Tiéningboué in the northern center of Ivory Coast. The steady increase in production by increasing the areas of cultivation leads to a scarcity of land, which commands for more sustainable management practices regarding soil fertility. This study establishes the baseline for more effective interventions of a research for development project ‘YAMSYS’, aiming to develop more sustainable yams production systems. To assess the accumulation of natural and social capital that are essential factors in sustainable production systems, a typology combining qualitative and quantitative approach is developed. Then, stakeholder analysis is carried out for soil fertility management. Six yam-based production systems are identified: ‘yam specialists’ (1%), ‘cotton growers’ (15%), ‘smallholders’ (47%), ‘very large indigenous farms’ (3%), ‘large indigenous farms’ (27%), ‘large allochthonous and allogeneic non-cotton farms’ (7%). Results show both similarities and differences in production system, as well as predictions of reaction of the groups to Integrated Soil Fertility Management (ISFM) technologies developed by YAMSYS. For ‘Smallholders’, facing low resource endowments, the potential for ISFM techniques adoption is the highest when their cropping system become permanent. Ultimately, the study highlights the stakeholders making up an innovation platform whose objective is to have “champions” along the yam value chains acting as “agents of change” allowing farmers to adapt new technologies for better management of soil fertility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Xinjiang, located in northwestern China, has emerged as the predominant cotton-growing region in China and one of the world's largest cotton producers. Despite its arid climate, limited water and heat resources, and prevalent soil salinity issues, Xinjiang has undergone a remarkable transformation in cotton production over the past three decades. Through continuous advancements in cotton cultivation techniques, there has been a consistent improvement in cotton yields, rising from an average of 1500 kg ha−1 during 1995–2000–1800 kg ha−1 during 2006–2010, and further to 1950 kg ha−1 during 2016–2020, achieving a remarkable "triple jump." This review employed a comprehensive methodology, including literature reviews, statistical data retrieval, consultations with experts and local officials, and interviews with cotton farmers. An analysis of the historical development of cotton cultivation techniques in Xinjiang identified three generations (3Gs) of cultivation technology systems: "close planting, dwarfing and early maturation" system, "drip irrigation-based fertigation" system, and "light, simplified, and high-efficiency" system. A systematic assessment was conducted, evaluating the performance and contributions of these technologies, accompanied by a multidimensional interpretation of the underlying mechanisms. The cultivation technology systems in Xinjiang have progressed over three generations, each focusing on different aspects and building upon the previous one. The first-generation (1 G) system emphasized the effective utilization of light and heat resources, while the second-generation (2 G) system aimed to improve water and fertilizer use efficiency. The third-generation (3 G) system prioritized achieving cost-effective cotton production. These region-specific systems facilitated the integration of agronomic techniques and mechanization, ensuring the efficient utilization of resources. As a result of these advancements, cotton yield and profitability in Xinjiang have consistently increased, making a significant contribution to high-yielding and efficient cotton production in Xinjiang. The adoption of three generations of distinctive Chinese cotton cultivation technology systems has efficiently harnessed resources, propelling Xinjiang's cotton yield to global prominence. This review provides valuable insights into the underlying principles and inevitability of the 3Gs in Xinjiang. Moreover, it serves as a reference and inspiration for other countries aiming to advance their own cotton cultivation techniques. • Xinjiang is now China's top cotton-growing region, boasting the world's highest average yield. • This accomplishment can be credited to the three generations (3Gs) of cotton cultivation systems. • The 3Gs' development, performance, and eco-physiological mechanisms were analyzed in this review. • This review offers targeted insights for optimizing cotton cultivation practices in both Xinjiang and on a global scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article describes the journey of a young girl born to poor cotton farmers in the early 40s who grew up to become a chemist and then became the President of the World's Largest Scientific Society, the American Chemical Society. It describes the obstacles she had to overcome as a woman as she earned a Ph.D. in Chemistry and the successes she celebrated along the way. It also features undergraduate research success stories and how these have contributed to her success. Hopefully it will inspire women to follow her footprints in a journey that reached many corners of the world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, we analyse the role of regulatory intermediaries of the Better Cotton Initiative, a multi‐stakeholder initiative (MSI) in the global cotton value chain, with a regional focus on India and Pakistan. We conceptualize how the key roles of regulatory intermediaries — translating and verifying compliance with abstract rules in ways that make these rules practical and intelligible for target audiences (in this case, cotton farmers) — may be compromised by global value chain pressures and contradictory MSI requirements, thereby undermining the aim of mainstreaming sustainability standard systems. In other words, we theorize how MSIs can become subject to regulatory capture, serving the needs of global brands (for rapid upscaling, price minimization and verification) and sustainability standard bodies (contradictory demands for capacity building and compliance) at the expense of the intended beneficiaries — farmers at the base of global value chains. Based on an empirical analysis of the Better Cotton Initiative's implementing partners in Pakistan and India, we conclude that such weaknesses in standard implementation are likely to translate into poorer field‐level results in terms of ensuring the large‐scale, global mainstreaming of more sustainable commodity production sought by MSI practitioners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Waterlogging in the early stage of cotton will reduce the number of bolls and do harm to yield. Early detection of waterlogging will help farmers to adjust cotton management and save the loss. To evaluate the application of deep learning for the detection of early waterlogging, this study applied a convolutional neural network (CNN) to classify different durations of waterlogging stress (0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 d) based on hyperspectral images (HSIs) of cotton leaves. An experiment was designed to simulate the situation of cotton under waterlogging stress and collect HSIs of visible and near-infrared (VNIR 450-950 nm) spectra with 126 bands 66 d after cotton sowing (66 DAS). It was found the spectral curve reflectance of waterlogging cotton was higher than that of non-waterlogging cotton. Especially near 550 nm and 750 nm, and the spectral curve increased with durations of waterlogging stress and there were 'blue shift' phenomena for the position of the red edge of the spectra. The first principal components of HSIs after band randomly discarding and principal component analysis (PCA) were used to build a dataset. GoogLeNet Inception-v3 (GLNI-v3) and VGG-16 models were selected to detect cotton waterlogging stress with the dataset. The results showed that the average time for a round training for GLNI-v3 was 13.337 s, with a classification accuracy of 96.95% and a loss value of 0.09431. The average time for a round training for VGG-16 was 21.470 s, with a classification accuracy of 97.00% and a loss value of 0.17912. Though these two models had similar classification accuracy and loss value, GLNI-v3 achieved a high accuracy with fewer training iterations. The durations of waterlogging stress of cotton in a short-term can be detected by HSIs of cotton leaves and CNN models are suitable for the classification of HSIs, and this method can provide support for cotton yield estimation and loss assessment after waterlogging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cotton is one of the most important economic agricultural crops cultivation in Egypt. In addition to being the main source of per capita income for most farmers, it is also one of the main pillars of the national economy, and it is a three-benefit crop, as it is a fiber crop, oil crop, and animal feed Crop. Given the importance of the cotton crop as a source of raw materials and hard currency and as a source of individual income for most farmers, the Ministry of Agriculture pays special attention to it, whether by directing research or extension efforts, Therefor this research was special importance to determine the degrees of knowledge need of the respondent's farmers regarding the recommended practices in cotton crop production. Determining the relationship between the degrees of knowledge need of the respondent's farmers and each of the independent variables studied, and determining the degrees of implementation need for the respondent's farmers in relation to the recommended practices in cotton crop production, and determining the relationship between the degrees of implementation need of the respondent's farmers and each of the independent variables studied, and identifying The constraints that the respondent's farmers face regarding the application of the recommended practices in cotton crop production, and their proposals to overcome it from their point of view. Field data were collected through a questionnaire through a personal interview with a simple random sample of cotton farmers in four villages of Abu Homs and Damanhour districts in El-Beheira governorate, and the number of the research sample items reached 147 respondents, representing 38% of the total farmers in the selected villages, according to the Craigsy and Morgan equation. The data were analyzed statistically using Pearson's simple correlation coefficient, the bullish step-scale correlation and regression analysis model (Step –Wise), as well as the arithmetic mean, standard deviation, and tabular presentation with frequency and percentages. The search resulted in a large number of results; the most importantly of it are the following: 1- The research results showed that more than two-thirds of the respondent's farmers (70.1%) have middle and high knowledge needs, in relation to the recommended practices in cotton crops production. 2- The research results showed that more than three quarters of the respondent's farmers (77.6%) have middle and high implementation need, in relation to the recommended practices in cotton crop production. 3- The research results indicated a decrease in both the cognitive level and the implementation level of the recommended practices for the cultivation and production of the cotton crop in general among the respondents, where the percentage of average degrees of knowledge need and implementation need reached 60.5% and 67.6% respectively. Especially in the fields of pest control, fertilization, and irrigation, which has a negative impact on the quantity and quality of the cotton produced. 4- In light of the results of the ascending multiple regression analysis (step-wise), it was found that only four variables among the studied variables contributed to the total variance that explained the degrees of cognitive need of the respondents in relation to the recommended practices in the production of the cotton crop. The four variables combined in the predictive ability of degrees of cognitive need 45.9%, 31.4% of which are due to the degree of exposure of the respondent to agricultural extension services and activities, 7.7% to the degree of the respondent's education, 4.9% of which is to the degree of the respondent's exposure to audience communication methods, 1.9% of it to the number's years experience of the respondent in cultivating the cotton crop. 5- According to the results of the ascending multiple regression analysis (step-wise), it became clear that only five variables among the studied variables contributed to the total variance explaining the degrees of implementation need of the respondents in relation to the recommended practices cotton crop production, and these five variables contributed together. In the predictive ability of the degrees of executive need at a rate of 29.6%, and these variables are: the degree of respondent's exposure to agricultural extension activities and services (15.5%), the degree of the respondent’s education (8%), and the degree of agricultural innovation (2.9%), The degree of exposure of the respondent to public communication methods (2.3%), and the number's years experience of the respondent in cultivating the cotton crop (0.9%). 6- It was found through using the weights that the most important constraints facing the respondent's farmers regarding the application of the recommended practices in the production of the cotton crop, according to their opinions in the following general descending order: the state stops marketing the cotton crop, the prices of production inputs are high, and the selling prices are low. Because of the drop of cotton blossom, the decrease in the productivity of an acre, the exposure of the farmer (the producer) to the exploitation of the merchant, the delay in announcing the indicative price of the cotton drop, the fraud in seeds or the invalidity of a part thereof, and the absence and weakness of the role of agricultural extension, where the relative importance of the weights ranged between 21.1% to 3.6%. 7- It was found through using the weights that the most important solutions proposed to overcome the constraints facing the respondent's farmers regarding the application of the recommended practices in the production of the cotton crop, according to their views in the following general descending order: the government buying the crop and not leaving it to the control of the group of merchants to prevent their exploitation of their needs. Farmers, subsidizing the crop and providing high-yield varieties to compensate for the high costs of production and marketing, cultivating high-quality and high-grade varieties to be marketed at a reasonable price, and for the state to implement the contract farming system until a binding formula is available to purchase their cotton production at a reasonable price, and for the state to set a guarantee price, And not only as a guideline, provided that this is done in sufficient time before planting the crop or immediately after the end of the season immediately preceding it so that the farmer can make a decision to cultivate cotton or another crop, and return the role of agricultural cooperatives in supporting and disbursing all production requirements, as well as marketing the crop after collecting it., Which will lead to an increase in the areas cultivated with cotton and an increase in production, and the state will benefit from that in relying on local production of cotton and limiting Import, and the necessity of returning cooperative marketing once again to protect farms from controlling and procrastinating the merchants group and their exploitation of farmers' need, and paying attention to the role of agricultural extension in urging and encouraging farmers to cultivate cotton, while making them aware in all stages of production until collecting the crop and preparing to market it, where the relative importance of the weights ranged between 25.0% to 2.6%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The southern part of the Punjab province is blessed with a warm climate favorable for cotton production. Most of the rural families are dependent on cotton for socio-economic survival. Therefore, they utilize huge financial resources on pesticides to get maximum cotton production for sustainable rural livelihoods. However, lack of information about safe usage of pesticides may result not only in wastage of resources but also causes harmful effects. Therefore, the present study has been designed to assess the knowledge level of farmers about safe use of pesticides. From southern part of the Punjab, district Khanewal was selected for in-depth analysis about knowledge and behavior of pesticide users. A sample of 160 respondents was selected randomly and data from them was collected through interviews. Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) was used for data analyzing. Results depict that instructions regarding safe use of pesticides application was ranked 1st due to highest weighted score with value of 581. Based on ranking of health and environmental effects of pesticides, headache (health hazard) and ground water pollution (environmental hazard) were ranked 1st as perceived by farmer respondents. There is a need for training of farming community concerning safe usage of pesticides to avoid its health and the environmental effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We explore the intentions of farmers' pesticide use by using expanded versions of the theory of planned behavior (TPB). We added variables such as farmers' knowledge about pesticides, moral norms, progressive farming approach, farm size, farming experience, and formal education of the farmers as additional predictors in the original TPB model. We interviewed 390 cotton farmers in Multan and used a hierarchical multiple regression modeling framework to run a series of multiple regression models (based on original and expanded versions of TPB) and found that the expanded TPB models with the addition of, (a) farmers' knowledge of pesticides (R2 change = 0.089, F change(2, 384) = 24.8, p < 0.01), (b) farmers' progressiveness (R2 change = 0.037, F change(1, 383) = 21.5, p < 0.01), and (c) socio-economic variables (R2 change = 0.032, F change(3, 380) = 6.4, p < 0.05) statistically significantly improved the explanatory power of the original TPB model. Farmers' knowledge of pesticides (β = 0.316, t = 6.320, p < 0.01), and progressive farming approach (β = 2.80, t = 5.834, p < 0.01) were the most influential variables determining pesticide use intention. Pesticide use can be optimized through improved extension services, by improving pesticide knowledge and training farmers in new farming practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since its introduction in India, Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) cotton technology has been the object of controversial scholarly and non-academic debate. The recent return of pink bollworm (Pectinophora gossypiella) pests in several Indian states has provided cause for concern about widespread resistances in Lepidopteran pests towards the endotoxins produced in Indian Bt cotton plants as well as about severe setbacks in regard to cotton farmers' livelihood security. This study is the first to provide empirical evidence on the socio-economic consequences of recent bollworm attacks in India based on an exploratory study conducted in Karimnagar district, Telangana, India. It analyses the changed vulnerabilities that smallholders currently face and identifies the reasons why some peasant farmers can only deal with the consequences of this technological failure to a limited extent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A biophysical survey was conducted in 15 cotton-growing districts of Pakistan. Four hundred cotton growers were approached and inquired about the production technology of Bt cotton. Further, 25 strip tests using combo strips (Cry1Ac, Cry2Ab, Vip3Aa and Cp4, EPSPS gene) were performed at each farmer's field. Out of 10,000 total-tested samples, farmers claimed 9682 samples as Bt and 318 samples as non-Bt. After performing a strip test, 1009 and 87 samples were found false negative and false positive, respectively. Only 53 samples were found positive for Cry2Ab, 214 for EPSPS and none for Vip3Aa gene. Quantification of Cry endotoxin and bioassay studies were performed by taking leaves from upper, middle, and lower canopies, and fruiting parts at approximately 80 days after sowing from 89 varieties. Expression was highly variable among different canopies and fruiting parts. Moreover, Cry endotoxin expression and insect mortality varied significantly among varieties from 0.26 µg g−1 to 3.54 µg g−1 with mortality ranging from 28 to 97%, respectively. Highest Cry1Ac expression (3.54 µg g−1) and insect mortality (97%) were observed for variety FH-142 from DG Khan. Cry endotoxin expression varied significantly across various plant parts, i.e., IUB-13 variety from upper canopy documented 0.34 µg g−1 expression with 37% insect mortality in Layyah to 3.42 µg g−1 expression and 96% insect mortality from DG Khan. Lethal dose, LD95 (2.20 µg g−1) of Cry1Ac endotoxin was optimized for effective control of H. armigera. Our results provided evidence of practical resistance in H. armigera and way forward. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current research study was designed to evaluate the impact assessment of Better Management Practices of cotton by comparing the performance of both the adopters and non-adopters of BMPs. The present quantitative (cross-sectional) study was conducted in the Southern region of the Punjab province of Pakistan. A sample of 160 farmers constituting equal number of adopters and non-adopters of BMPs of cotton was drawn from district Khanewal which was purposively selected from the Southern Punjab. Data were collected by the utilization of a well-structured interview schedule. The results of the logit model revealed that education and farming experience had a significant influence on the adoption of BMPs. Furthermore, it was found that the adoption of BMPs was mainly affected by the area under cotton cultivation, land ownership status, age, and family size of the cotton grower, but the probability of these variables was not found statistically significant. The frequency analysis of the collected data revealed that the average number of irrigations applied by both the adopters and non-adopters was 16.0 and 21.0, respectively. Mean numbers of fertilizer (Urea, DAP, Potassium Nitrate, etc.) bags and pesticide applications applied by the adaptors and non-adopters were 3.5 and 4.2 bags, 3.8 and 7.7 applications, respectively. Child labor was exploited by 11.3% of adopters and 78.8% of non-adopters. Health and safety measures were highly considered by 75.0% of the adopters and 42.5% of the non-adopters. It was concluded that BMPs on cotton had significant impact not only on the productivity but also on the environmental safety and sustainability of the cotton crop. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper attempted to analyze the impact of farm size on the economic efficiency of cotton farmers in southern Punjab of Pakistan. Farm-level allocative, economic and technical efficiency of samples of 240 small, medium and large-scale cotton farmers was estimated using Stochastic Frontier Approach of district Rahim Yar Khan Punjab, Pakistan. Empirical findings of the study indicated that medium farm size cotton farmers were more allocative, technically and economically efficient (0.90, 0.94, 0.85) rather than small farm farmers (0.79, 0.92, 0.76) and large farm farmers (0.70, 0.97, 0.68). Farmers schooling years, formal credit access, own tubewell availability, adequate extension access and sowing cotton crop timely were significant socioeconomic factors that affect farmers efficiency level. Medium farm size cotton farmers were producing higher cotton yield and earning higher per acre gross profit (Rs. 18142.28) relatively to small (Rs. 15232.94) and large (Rs. 8231.349) farm size cotton farmers. There is a need for significant prolong state-based policy measures for provision of adequate and quality based crop inputs, infusion of advanced mechanisation and regulating market mechanism for consistency in prices of crop inputs and outputs. It is essential to increase managerial competencies among farmers through increasing literacy, sufficient access of extension services, familiarity and infusion of advanced mechanisation and adequate access of formal credit through implementing adequate policy measures by concerned authorities of the state. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In discussing the paradoxical violation of expected utility theory that bears his name, Maurice Allais noted that people tend to "greatly value" certainty. Allais' observation implies that people will undervalue insurance relative to the predictions of expected utility theory because, as conventionally constructed, insurance offers an uncertain benefit in exchange for a certain cost. Pursuing this logic, we implemented insurance games with cotton farmers in Burkina Faso. On average, farmer willingness to pay for insurance increases significantly when a premium rebate framing is used to render both costs and benefits of insurance uncertain. We show that the impact of the rebate frame on the willingness to pay for insurance is driven by those farmers who exhibit a well-defined discontinuous preference for certainty, a concept that we adapt from the u − v model of utility and measure with a novel behavioral experiment. Given that the potential impacts of insurance for small scale farmers are high, and yet demand for conventionally framed contracts is often low, the insights from this paper suggest welfare-enhancing ways of designing insurance for low-income farmers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Farmer support systems, mainly by the state, have long been considered as central in the agricultural development in Zimbabwe. While this is partly true, the main contention of this paper is that such a perspective fails to grasp the complex relationship between proletarianization and rural agriculture, and the significance of the rural economy within the life course of rural households. The paper develops this argument by focusing on the experiences of farmers in the mid-Zambezi to illustrate how they developed successful farming careers by investing income accumulated from employment. These farmers were formerly proletarianized. Rural production, therefore, met their income accumulation needs after retirements or retrenchments. The mid-Zambezi frontier offered scope for accumulation because of the availability of land and labour for extensive farming. The paper illustrates that the main aspect driving farming was access to financial capital accumulated from employment, which allowed farmers to take advantage of opportunities offered by the new environment. It concludes by examining policy implications of this case study for agricultural development in the country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Following the collapse of the Soviet Union, Tajikistan, like other postcommunist states, embarked on agricultural land reform. The government, assisted by international organizations, implemented laws and created campaigns to break up Soviet-style collective farms and encourage independent farms. After over a decade, 66 percent of farmers in the country, including in cotton-growing areas, continue to work collectively, and 71 percent of arable land is held in collectives. I argue that the decentralized nature of the land redistribution program enabled the managers of former collective farms, re-labeled as "collective peasant farms," to gain power so that they could use informal practices to resist peasant shareholders' efforts to actualize their land rights. Theoretically, my argument reconciles competing perspectives about the reasons for limited land redistribution in the context of postsocialist transition. The study's policy implication is that the government of Tajikistan, and foreign donors, instead of decentralizing the implementation of land reform, should take an active role in physically redistributing land among shareholders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper uses primary sources from Tanzania National Archives to examine four decades of cotton farming and marketing by local peasants in the Western Cotton Growing Area (WCGA) in British colonial Tanzania mainland. Cotton was essential for the colonial economy so it was promoted and developed through legislations and enforced by the colonial officials and local chiefs that compulsorily fixed peasants into the farming of the crop. Upon harvest, peasant producers sold the produce to Indian traders who had monopoly over most of the profitable sections of the industry such as ginning (processing) and export of the crop. Under such monopoly of the value chain, peasants were perpetually marginalised by traders when selling their cotton. The colonial intervention to address the situation failed or was undermined by some officials. At the end of the 1940s, peasants and other stakeholders in the production chain took initiatives against marginalisation and from 1953 they eventually wrestled merchants’ monopoly through cooperatives and gained control over the lucrative cotton value chain. This paper discusses this struggle and the final cohesion that was mobilised by the peasants to cement one historical fact that peasants throughout colonial times were not passive receivers of colonial orders. When necessary, such producers resisted exploitation through creative ways as witnessed by cotton producers in the WCGA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pakistan is blessed with different seasons making it favorable for production of variety of crops, fruits and vegetables. Globally, it has a considerable share in crop production especially in quality rice and cotton production. It has been many years that country is experiencing decline in rice and cotton production due to natural and farmers associated factors. Therefore, the present study has been designed to identify damages caused by environmental degradation and what strategies have been used by farmers to cope these damages. Two well known districts having maximum rice and cotton growers were selected as a study population. The respondents of the research were limited to 120 (60 from each district) due to unavailability of sufficient funds. Interview and Focus Group Discussion were used for data collection from the selected respondents. The collected data were then analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). Findings indicate that majority of the farmers were lacking information in appropriate seed selection followed by maintenance of plant populations of selected crops. Meanwhile, a positive relationship was found among farming experience and annual income of the respondents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Autonomous tractor technology is increasingly viewed as a key factor in changing the paradigm of conventional agriculture, allowing a shift away from ever-increasing crop machinery sizes to swarms of smaller agricultural robots (agbots). The predicted benefits of agbots include improved productivity relating to key inputs such as labour, energy, and chemicals, as well as yield improvements from improved crop and fallow management and reduced compaction. To understand the economic potential of agbots in Australian cotton production, this analysis applied discounted cash flow analysis to compare changes in income and costs associated with investment in an agbot spraying system. The results showed that switching to agbot spraying is economically feasible compared to two conventional spray platforms in a representative cotton farming enterprise. Compared to a self-propelled sprayer, agbot spraying returned an average annual NPV of $95,750 (at a 5 per cent real discount rate) and a MIRR of 16 per cent, while compared to a threepoint linkage tractor sprayer, agbot spraying returned an average annual NPV of $178,603 and a MIRR of 13 per cent. Differences in the NPV and MIRR rules were due to variations in the cashflow patterns. For both scenarios, the largest benefit component was increased crop income from yield gain, followed by avoided machinery capital costs, and reduced chemical costs. Sensitivity testing revealed that, for the self-propelled sprayer scenario, the yield change and farm size variables were both individually significant to the results as they both had the capacity to reduce the NPV below $0 at their maximum range. In the tractor sprayer scenario, the yield gain was the only significant variable, reducing the NPV to $0. With the increasing commercial availability of agbots and the widely predicted benefits, it is timely to understand the economic potential for agbot adoption in the Australian cotton industry. From the results we infer that agbot sprayer technology can be a viable economic technology for adoption in a cotton farming system if yield gains can be generated. The economic viability will also be influenced by a number of factors that will differ between farming operations, and as with any decision, farmers should closely review agbots in their own operational context before investment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Historically, the agriculture sector served as the fundamental engine of growth. In Pakistan, the agricultural sector contributes about 19% of the gross domestic product (GDP). There are nine agro-climatic zones in Pakistan. The cotton-wheat zone is the poorest among them. Cotton is an important cash crop, yet the largest producing zone ranks amongst the poorest zones of the country. This study aimed to calculate the economics of cotton production. The specific objectives were to a) estimate the cost of production of the cotton crop in the study area, b) measure the profitability of farmers, c) estimate domestic terms of trade and d) suggest policy implications. Primary data from 200 cotton farmers of district Vehari of province Punjab, Pakistan were collected. Profitability was calculated using the most common economic analytical techniques i.e., profit, benefit-cost ratio (BCR), and input-output ratios. Results showed that there was a slight difference in cost of production and profit margins and benefit-cost ratios of the small, medium and large farmers that were not statistically significant. Overall, the BCR remained 1.136 which showed a decline over the time when compared to the previous studies. The results of domestic terms of trade analyses confirmed these results and explained that the domestic terms of trade have deteriorated over time. This underlines the importance of correcting imbalances in the prices (received and paid). Hence, there is a dire need to correct the imperfections in both input and output markets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]