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This study explores how climate change affects agriculture in Ambarawa, Central Java, a region prone to irregular rainfall and flooding. We surveyed 270 farmers in the study area to gauge their willingness to participate in climate change mitigation efforts and the impact of social capital on their decisions. Farmers were presented with the option to contribute a predetermined amount of money towards climate change mitigation. The objective of this initiative was to identify farmers committed to addressing climate change. To establish benchmarks, we organised focus groups involving twenty prominent individuals. A contingent value survey was subsequently conducted in Ambarawa District to ascertain farmers’ readiness to financially support climate change mitigation efforts. We found that 71.9% of farmers are willing to support financially, and social connections, such as community involvement and trust, strongly influence their decisions. This highlights the importance of using social connections to strengthen climate change plans. Using logistic regression, our research shows how farmers’ social networks affect their ability to address climate change. Socioeconomic factors and farmers’ views on climate risks also shape their support. Strong social connections among farmers help them adapt to climate change, improve productivity, and find new solutions. Thus, local leaders should provide targeted help to farmers facing climate challenges, with a focus on building community bonds and trust. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ObjectivesMethodsResultsConclusionFarmers have higher risk of suicide than the general working population but are less likely to seek help from mainstream mental health services. Farmer-focused sources of support such as farmer helplines may be a viable alternative, and several currently operate internationally. However, it is unclear whether these specialized helplines collectively tend to be used and are acceptable or effective in reducing farmers’ distress. This review aimed to fill this important knowledge gap.The PRISMA 2020 guidelines, in consultation with the extension for scoping reviews, guided the review process. The search included 13 academic databases and grey literature via Google.The database search yielded 1,337 initial results and a Google search strategy resulted in 620 links to investigate. Data extraction was sought from 28 papers and 332 online links. We identified 35 unique helplines operating across Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, India, and Austria. Farmers do use helplines when experiencing stress; however, we found little empirical evidence of the acceptability or effectiveness of helplines. Anecdotal evidence suggested farmers are more likely to trust telephone support services operated by people who understand the farming way of life.Research in this area is scant but promising. Farmers and farming communities will use farmer helplines in times of elevated stress. However, there is a pressing need for more rigorous evaluation studies to determine their effectiveness in this at-risk group. Further, when designing farmer helplines, careful consideration should be given to the extent to which those answering calls understand farming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In rural ecological revitalization, farmers have a dual identity and play a dual role, that is, the main body and direct beneficiaries of revitalization. The level of their ecological civilization awareness directly affects the effectiveness of rural ecological revitalization. Therefore, it is imperative to improve farmers’ ecological civilization awareness, which is not only an inherent requirement for implementing rural ecological revitalization, but also a necessary obligation to achieve harmonious coexistence and modernization between humans and nature. In this context, to cultivate farmers’ awareness of ecological civilization, we must adhere to the principles of leadership by rural grassroots party organizations, leading by farmers and the government, and strengthen ideological education;increase investment in ecological construction; starting from the construction of institutional systems and other aspects, to assist in promoting rural ecological revitalization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of the study was to determine the level of satisfaction among farmers who participated in the Konya Agricultural Fair with regard to their experience of agricultural fairs. The sample size was calculated according to simple random probability sampling based on finite population ratios. A survey was conducted with 96 farmers participating in the Konya agricultural fair. The age, education level, and social security status of the farmers were given with simple percentage calculations. The reasons for farmers' participation in agricultural fairs and their satisfaction levels with agricultural fairs were measured with a 5-point Likert scale. The research results showed that the farmers participating in the agricultural fair were between 30 and 49 and were high school and secondary school graduates. The vast majority of them had social security statuses such as Bağkur. It was determined that the participants participating in agricultural fairs generally had an intermediate level of education and that the farmers were satisfied with the agricultural fair. Rapid developments have also emerged in industry and technology with the globalization of the world. Fairs have a very important share in the introduction of these technologies. In addition, fairs have become the biggest dynamics of the need for socialization limited by development. Therefore, efforts should be made to increase the number of participants in agricultural fairs, and the participation of farmers in the fairs should be increased. In particular, farmers participating in agricultural fairs should be provided with access to financial resources to purchase the technologies they see at the fair. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study is undertaken to determine the behaviors of sugar beet farmers regarding pesticide selection and applications in the Çumra, Altınekin, and Seydişehir districts of Konya province, where sugar beet production is concentrated in 2023. A total of 20 sugar beet farmers were randomly selected from each district through a random sampling method, and evaluations were made based on their responses to 16 face-to-face questions. The results were calculated as percentages and presented in tables. The behaviors of farmers regarding pesticide selection and application practices were assessed in two stages. It was found that sugar beet farmers often seek information from pesticide dealers when choosing and determining the dosage of agricultural chemicals, and they mainly obtain pesticides from agricultural chemical dealers. It was noted that they acquire the chemicals when they start growing the crop, do not spray regularly for pests and diseases as a preventive measure, and pay attention to the legality, cost-effectiveness, and effectiveness of the pesticides they purchase. Half of the sugar beet farmers reported conducting at least two pesticide applications during the season, and the majority stated that they perform pesticide applications in the morning and afternoon. Farmers acknowledged the importance of pesticide residues but emphasized that the effectiveness of the pesticide was more crucial. They also reported not adhering to the waiting periods between the last pesticide application and harvest. Regarding pesticide handling, application, and post-application practices, it was observed that farmers partially protected themselves. They tended to spray excess pesticide-contaminated water at the edge of the orchard or on vacant land and dispose of empty pesticide containers haphazardly on the edge of the field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The prevalence of hypertension among farmers/farm workers in Indonesia has reached 36.1%. Many studies have been conducted on hypertension's causes and risk factors in farmers/farm workers. However, each agro-industrial area has its characteristics, so it is essential to recognize these problems to find solutions. This study aims to identify problems related to risk factors that cause hypertension in agricultural workers in Jember Regency. Materials and methods: This research is an observational analytical research. The target population is the agro-industrial community, especially those who work in the agromedical field, namely agricultural workers. Determining the sample size in this study used total sampling, namely 64 agricultural workers with hypertension based on medical record data at the community health center. The research instrument is a questionnaire with structured interviews. The data analysis test that will be used in this research is the chi-square test to analyze the relationship hypertension risk factors in farm workers. The data had been collected from various risk factors that can determine the prevalence of hypertension in farm workers, such as smoking, obesity, high fat intake, excessive alcohol intake, high salt intake, and ignorance. Results: From the statistical test results of the six variables, only two variables had high significance values (α<0.05). High salt intake (α=0.045) and ignorance factor (α=0.027) are those variables. Conclusion: The conclusion in this study is that the risk factors that cause the high prevalence of hypertension in farmers are factors of high sodium intake and ignorance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agribusinesses invest in harnessing the goodwill affiliated with US agrarianism and farm iconography, hoping publics transfer the goodwill they attach to farming onto corporations. To make apparent agribusiness’s rhetorical strategies, we analyze “For the Farmers,” a 2021–2022 John Deere and Anheuser-Busch collaborative campaign to raise money for the nonprofit Farm Rescue. We theorize how productive tensions—farmers as thriving vs. farmers as needy and farms as human spaces vs. farms as machine spaces—mobilize the contradictions of agribusiness mythmaking in the twenty-first century. Our analysis of this campaign’s beer packaging and promotional video offers scholars who are invested in food rhetoric and agricultural communication an invitation to notice how agribusiness atmospheres both host contradiction about imagined pasts and recenter white masculinity to evoke a secure future based on trust of industrial-scale farming and the hydrocarbon economy. By theorizing how rhetorical affect aligns drinking beer with rescuing farmers, we offer a model of critiquing agribusiness’s reliance on myths to promote their brands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This perspective paper presents a conceptual, theoretical framework of the weather as a determinant of mental health for farmers. This model proposes that the effects of extreme weather events have interacting and cumulative effects for farmers, who are dependent on the land. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Ongoing consumer support of the Australian red meat industry requires the industry to be transparent and accountable about the welfare of beef cattle under production. We conducted an online survey of Australian pasture-based beef cattle producers to determine the welfare measures they thought were important to include in a welfare benchmarking system and the feasibility of self-collecting animal-based data. Overall, the perceived feasibility of collecting animal-based data was related to land size and herd size, the producers' overall attitude about the importance of quality of life in food-producing animals and the importance of individual cattle welfare measures to that producer. A well-designed and targeted programme to educate producers on why certain welfare measures are important will be crucial to increase uptake and retention in a voluntary welfare benchmarking system. A voluntary, producer-driven welfare benchmarking system has been explored as a way of incentivising welfare improvement in pasture-based beef cattle and providing transparency and accountability to the industry. This study aimed to determine the acceptability and feasibility of measures for inclusion in a welfare benchmarking system and how this is influenced by respondents' attitudes and beliefs. A survey was disseminated online to Australian producers in July 2020. Producers were asked to indicate the welfare measures (n = 59) they thought most important to check to determine if cattle on pasture-based farms have a good quality of life (QOL) and the feasibility of collecting animal-based welfare data and completing a stockperson attitudes questionnaire. Basic demographic and attitude data were also collected. Responses from 274 producers were included (52% male) with median land size 340 Ha (range 4–500,000) and herd size 200 head (2–200,000). Feasibility was related to QOL attitudes for 11 of the 17 animal-based measures (p < 0.01–0.02). Feasibility was also related to land or herd size but was not affected by other demographics, such as gender. In all significant dependencies, feasibility was reported as greater in those who thought it important to check the corresponding welfare measure. Producers who rated QOL as very important were also more likely to perceive the collection of animal-based data as feasible. A well-designed and targeted programme to educate producers on why certain welfare measures are important will be crucial to increase uptake and retention in a voluntary producer-driven welfare benchmarking scheme. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present research aimed to characterize the socioeconomic and productive aspects of the horticultural and fruit systems in the communities of Pachinché, Sasay and Estancia Vieja, belonging to the Colón parish of the Portoviejo canton. For this purpose, a survey was carried out through the form to 80 fruit and vegetable producers from the communities of Estancia Vieja (26), Pachinche (26) and Sasay (28). The non-parametric test was applied using the chi square statistical method to identify differences between variables. The results show that 30 producers (38%) have a level of primary education, 48 (60%) have secondary education and 2 (3%) have higher education, the p value associated with this distribution is 0.804, which indicates that no There is a statistically significant difference in the level of education between the different locations. In planting preference, banana is the most planted vegetable, representing 25% of the total responses. It is followed by cassava with 20%, pepper with 18%, and chili with 19%. This suggests a clear preference for these vegetables in all three communities. The productive characterization of the horticultural and fruit crops of the Colón canton shows that the producers, for the most part, work on small plots of 0.5 to 1 hectares. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cette étude présente une réflexion sur l'habitation d'un lieu et la constitution d'un « Soi territorial », dans le contexte de la vie et du travail « paysan ». L'hypothèse est alors posée d'une possible « psychopathologie de la (dé-) territorialisation », selon laquelle un « non-lieu », générateur de non-sens, peut se trouver impliqué dans une dynamique suicidaire en lien spécifique avec la dimension territoriale du Soi et l'habitation impossible d'un lieu. Les aspects cliniques et psychopathologiques sont appréhendés dans la perspective du lien entre certains « paysans de tradition » et leur lieu de vie, au regard de l'empreinte réciproque entre psychisme et territoire. Cette réflexion exploratoire permet d'orienter des recherches cliniques auprès d'agriculteurs en souffrance en marge des « troubles psycho-sociaux » habituellement recensés. Les limitations et impasses induites par des processus dissociatifs, ou mélancoliques sont rapportés soit à une défaillance de la Présence, compromettant la construction d'un monde habitable, c'est-à-dire territorialisable, soit à l'hostilité d'un monde réfractaire à la dynamique d'un processus de territorialisation, et donc inapte à permettre d'y séjourner. Ces considérations ouvrent une perspective originale de recherches qualitatives visant à appréhender les rapports entre altération des assises territoriales du Soi et intentionnalité suicidaire. This study presents a reflection on the inhabitation of a place and the constitution of a territorial Self,' in the context of 'country' life and work. The hypothesis is then put forward of a possible 'psychopathology of (de-)territorialization,' according to which a 'non-place,' generator of meaninglessness, may be involved in a suicidal dynamics specifically linked to the territorial dimension of the Self and the impossible inhabitation of a place. The clinical and psychopathological aspects are examined from the perspective of the link between certain 'traditional farmers' and the place where they live, with regard to the reciprocal imprint between psyche and territory. This exploratory study will provide guidance for clinical research into the suffering of farmers who fall outside the scope of commonly identified 'psycho-social disorders.' The limitations and impasses induced by dissociative or melancholic processes are related either to a failure of Presence, compromising the construction of a habitable world, i.e. one that can be territorialized, or to the hostility of a world that is resistant to the dynamics of a territorialization process, and therefore unfit to allow us to dwell in it. These considerations open up an original perspective for qualitative research aimed at understanding the relationships between alteration of the territorial foundations of the Self and suicidal intentionality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the determinants of life insurance ownership with a focus on rural areas and farming households in the United States. Utilizing data from online surveys conducted in 2019 and 2021, this paper explores how psychological factors, financial knowledge, and household characteristics influence life insurance ownership. Traditional indicators like wealth, income, and age were evaluated alongside less frequently discussed variables such as farm loans and rural residency. Machine learning techniques, including neural networks, Support Vector Machine modeling, Gradient Boosting, and logistic regression, were employed to identify the most robust predictors of life insurance demand. The findings reveal that farming-associated factors, particularly holding a farm loan and living in a farming household, significantly predict life insurance ownership. The study also highlights the complexity of life insurance demand, showing that financial education and management practices are critical determinants. This research underscores the need for tailored financial risk management strategies for rural and farming households and contributes to a nuanced understanding of life insurance demand in varying contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) serve as crucial first-line extension networks, facilitating the dissemination of agricultural technologies tailored to the specific needs of agricultural and allied sectors. These institutions serve to accelerate farm productivity and ensure overall development of the farming community. The perception and disposition of farmers towards the Krishi Vigyan Kendra of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) significantly impacts the operational effectiveness of the institution. An instrument was developed with the purpose of assessing the farmers' attitude towards the agriculture and allied sector extension activities implemented by the Krishi Vigyan Kendra by employing the Thurston and Chave equal appearing interval approach of scale construction. The final scale comprised of 20 statements, evenly divided into ten positive and ten negative statements. The determination of the scale's dependability was assessed using the reliability coefficient, namely the Cronbach alpha. The scale's validity was assessed using the expert evaluations. The scale's reliability and validity are indicative of the consistency and precision of its results. The present scale possesses the capability to assess the attitudes of farmers towards the Krishi Vigyan Kendra of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Migrant and seasonal farmworkers are a vulnerable population with a potentially high risk for hearing loss due to farm-related noise exposures. Occupational noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) is permanent, and it is associated with an increased risk for injuries on the job, as well as communication difficulties, isolation, and depression. The México/US border region is one of the most productive agricultural regions in the country, however, no known studies have explored hearing loss among farmworkers in this area. This pilot study was a first step toward measuring and addressing hearing loss and noise exposure among this region's farmworkers. We conducted a cross-sectional survey to estimate the prevalence of subjective hearing difficulties among Yuma County, Arizona farmworkers. Survey interviews took place during a late-night farmworker health fair from 2 am to 6 am to accommodate local farms' labor schedules. Multivariable regression adjusted for demographic and work covariates estimated subjective hearing loss prevalence ratios. Among 132 farmworker participants, 36% reported they have or might have hearing loss, and 62% reported no hearing loss. Subjective hearing loss prevalence was lower in farmworkers who report not working in noise compared to prevalence in farmworkers who work in noise [prevalence ratio, 0.44 (95% CI 0.23–0.82)]. This report contributes to understanding the perception of hearing-related health and occupational exposures among farmworkers in the México-US Southwest border region. The information from this line of research will inform appropriate safety measures known to lower the risk of experiencing occupational NIHL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated insecticide usage and associated acute health hazards in rice farming in Odisha, India. A retrospective cross-sectional study design was used to collect data from 139 participants, in the post-monsoon period, 2023. The participants were overwhelmingly male, mostly aged 30 and over, with basic literacy and a range of educational attainment, three-quarters ceasing education by 10th grade and a significant number never attending school. Most farmers/farmworkers used low or moderately toxic insecticides in low doses, typically 3 times/year. However, uptake of appropriate PPE was poor when mixing and applying insecticides. Almost two-thirds (63.4%) of participants reported discomfort/illness after insecticide exposure. Over 90% reported up to 3 symptoms, most experiencing skin irritation. The reported health symptoms were significantly higher among those who ate and drank during insecticide application, compared to those who did not. The number of symptoms reported was also significantly higher in participants who had seen or heard of community insecticide poisoning cases in the previous 12 months, compared with those who had not. Further research is needed on barriers to using effective PPE and on information and training on risks and controls of insecticide exposure that are appropriate for rice farmers in Odisha, India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Farmers in the United States (U.S.) are exposed to myriad stressors and experience their negative effects, including higher rates of suicide than individuals in some other occupations. However, interventions to address mental health amongst farmers have faced barriers, such as farmers' perceived stigma regarding mental health, time constraints, and geographical isolation. Using text-messaging for intervention delivery may help to address some barriers, as text messages are private, delivered directly to one's phone, and require no travel. Our objective was to develop and assess the feasibility, acceptability, and initial efficacy of a text-messaging mental health literacy intervention tailored to U.S. farmers: Growing Resiliency in Tough Times (GRITT). U.S. farmers (N = 134) were randomly assigned to an intervention group, who received 12 weeks of text messages regarding mental health literacy, or a control group, who received no treatment. Online pre-test and post-test surveys assessed mental health knowledge, familiarity with relevant mental health resources, self-efficacy to manage stress, and perceived stress. Feasibility was assessed via recruitment and retention data, and intervention group participants completed post-test measures to assess acceptability. Results indicate that intervention group participants were highly satisfied with the intervention and had higher post-test scores on multiple facets of mental health literacy and self-efficacy to manage farm stress than control group participants. The intervention group experienced a significant drop in perceived stress from pre-test to post-test. Participant retention was relatively high (84%). However, recruitment difficulties call into question intervention feasibility. Though the intervention was efficacious in enhancing mental health literacy, improving stress management self-efficacy, and reducing stress, difficulties with participant recruitment indicate the need for continued intervention research in this context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Irish farmers are adversely affected by noncommunicable diseases. Although there has been an increase in farmer health promotion activities in Ireland, farmers views on lifestyle programs are currently unknown. To qualitatively analyze the impact of the previously mentioned 6-week physical activity and health education intervention on farmer health and to investigate how best to support this cohort moving forward. A qualitative study was conducted online (two interviews, three focus groups) with fourteen Irish farmers (53.5 ± 6.5 years) who completed the 6-week program in December 2019. Interviews and focus groups were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed for themes. The main themes that emerged from this study were barriers, facilitators, and recommendations for lifestyle programs aimed to improve farmer health. Additional views on health and lifestyle behaviors were mentioned. Time of year was reported as the main barrier for farmers to engage in lifestyle programs. The key facilitators reported by farmers were the social health benefits obtained from the program and the farmer-specific nature of the program. Farmers suggested that physical activity and health education programs that are farmer-specific, delivered locally and catering for all fitness abilities should be more widely available to them. Although some farmers reported that they maintained the lifestyle behaviors they established during the initial 6-week program, follow-up supports are needed to encourage sustainable behavior change. Interventions that are farmer-specific, community-based, and feasible within the context of available resources may be effective in improving farmer health. Working in partnership with organizations that support farmers has the potential to improve farmer health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes how Kolis—who are an OBC—and Adivasis in Gujarat negotiate and are constituted by militant Hinduism. Once the anchor of a secular political coalition, the political personhood of Kolis has shifted since 2014. The television complex and temple-building activities of Hindu chauvinism create a context in which identification with Brahmanical Hinduism, a vegetarian normativity, and distancing from Muslims transpires. However, the Hindutva-identifying subjectivity is fractured. Adivasi self-making resists temple cultures and caste Hinduism and asserts non-vegetarianism. Some Kolis' affective relationalities with Bhakti saints and critiques of temple-going suggest that oppositional potentialities to Brahmanical Hinduism are always present. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the Contentious issue of agricultural reform in India, particularly focusing on the three Acts proposed by the ruling party in September 2021. These Acts aimed to revolutionize farming practices but faced significant opposition from agrarian communities nationwide, culminating in extensive protests and the eventual withdrawal of the bills. The debate surrounding these Acts delves into questions of agrarian identity and the historical construction of the farmer's role, going back, to colonial-era policies and their lasting impact. The article highlights the complex interplay between legal frameworks, social identities, and economic structures, emphasizing the transition of the farmer's identity from a class-based to a caste-based construct. Through historical analysis and contemporary parallels, it explores how colonial legacies continue to shape agrarian politics and the ongoing struggle to define and protect the interests of farmers in India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study aims to estimate the burden and risk of Musculoskeletal Disorders among Indian farmers in Haryana. A total of 634 participants were recruited in this present study. The Nordic Musculoskeletal Disorders Questionnaire was used to assess the prevalence of Musculoskeletal Disorders. A modified interview schedule was used to assess and identify the major socio-demographic and work-related variables of the participants. Further, the collected data were entered and cleaned using MS Excel. IBM SPSS vs.20 was used for statistical analysis. Description for continuous variables is presented as mean± SD and median. Categorical variables are reported as count (N) and percentage (%). T-test and chi-square were used to examine the significant differences between the groups. Binary logistic regression was run to find the risk of socio-demographic variables in Musculoskeletal Disorders. For all statistical analyses, the p-value of <0.05 was considered to be significant. The most common type of MSD in the studied populations was knee pain (48.3%) followed by lower back pain (38.6%) and shoulder pain (29.7%). Female and non-literate participants were found to be at higher risk for the development of MSDs as compared to their counterparts. Consumption of alcohol and smoking were found to have reduced the risk for the development of MSDs. Early ergonomic interventions in the form of the use of the right size of tool, good postural adaptation, and updated farm equipment among the farming communities will help them in combating Musculoskeletal Disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The implementation of precision technology procedures is declared in EU documents, including the implementation of these technologies in all areas of production, production, trade, including all areas of everyday life of the population. The article deals with the use of IT technologies in activities dealing with land management: i.e. crop production including landscape maintenance. In this context, precision technologies are used in agriculture, crop and livestock production, horticulture, forestry and comprehensive maintenance of the agricultural landscape. With remote sensing, all land areas are monitored, data is stored, and the whole process takes place continuously. The data is displayed in information maps that perfectly map the properties of the monitored area. Today, the development of the information society and specialized internet services of the state administration would not be possible without precise technologies and information portals. These are portals for the public needs of citizens or a specific professional community, and these must be user-friendly, clear, intuitive, visually interesting, trustworthy and complete in content. The article deals with a detailed analysis of the Czech Farmer's Portal from multiple angles, including stateof- the-art tools such as the AMS system (AMS, 2023). This is a new way of monitoring agricultural areas using a satellite system. On the basis of the analysed services, deficiencies are identified and suggestions for improvement are presented. . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Local climate change impacts hit hard at smallholder farmers in developing countries due to their overreliance on rain-fed farming. Whilst ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA) to climate change holds an answer to smallholder farmers' adaptation needs, there are inadequate empirical results from the field to support formulation of effective adaptation strategies. Hence, this paper aimed at investigating EbA practices adopted by farmers, in North-Western Ghana to ameliorate local climate change impacts, with emphasis on benefits and associated challenges. The study methods were cross-sectional survey, mixed methods, and case study approach, with all data collected in the Wa West District of Ghana. Data were gathered using questionnaire, focus group discussion (FGD) and interviews. Data from the questionnaire were entered into SPSS version 20 to analyze associations between the variables using cross-tabulation. Descriptive statistics, in the form of percentages and frequencies, were then generated from the survey data and integrated with the qualitative information in the presentation of results. Also, statistical significance of the relationships was analyzed using chi-square test. Chi-squared tests were done to determine associations between socio-economic and environmental factors, and challenges and benefits associated with the adoption of EbA practices. This was necessary to give further insights to inform policy-related decisions aimed at addressing EbA adoption challenges. The results revealed that farmers use a combination of practices rather than single practice. Farmers integrated crops and trees and keep local breed of farm animals. Benefits of EbA included improvements in soil fertility leading to high crop yield and availability of food and income. Challenges of adopting EbA were the long timespan for benefits of most EbA practices to begin to accrue, lack of extension information and increasing cost of hired labour. It is recommended that tree integration should emphasis trees with multiple benefits and compatible with food crops. For the achievement of food security policy objectives, agroforestry promotion should focus on the integration of fruit tree crops and food crops to address hunger and increase farmers' incomes. Mobile extension technology should be exploited by government for the provision of EbA-specific information to farmers to bridge the extension services gap. Climate change policy of government should include the planting of non-fruit trees as windbreaks to provide multi-purpose benefits including provision of stakes for yam farmers, live-fencing and firewood for women. There is the need for government policy objectives to include EbA by farmers under the flagship 'planting for food and jobs' programme. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flock health planning has been advocated as part of a wider drive within livestock production for veterinarians and farmers to adopt a prevention‐focused approach to veterinary medicine. This approach has, at its core, a cyclical process of assessment, evaluation, action and re‐assessment, and is documented, at least in summary, in a health plan (HP). The HP has become a defining pillar of farm quality assurance schemes (QASs), introduced to address calls for greater transparency and accountability in food production. There is limited current information on the attitudes and behaviours surrounding flock HPs in the sheep sector and the barriers to greater involvement in an active process of continual improvement through reflective flock health planning. This study aims to address these issues with reference to the national flock in Northern Ireland. A mixed‐methods approach was used to explore farmers' and veterinarians' opinions and behaviours related to QASs and HP, with data obtained through an online scoping questionnaire, semi‐structured interviews with 27 farmers and 15 veterinarians, and discussion groups with farmers and veterinarians. No evidence of a positive association between a farm having a HP and implementation of 12 industry‐recommended flock health activities was identified using the Fisher's exact test. Farmers reported a reluctance to pay for veterinary advice while some veterinarians reported a lack of time to develop HPs for farmers, and sheep‐related work generally. Farmers predominantly saw the HP as a static, physical document, which had limited impact on their management practices, rather than a proactive, reflective and collaborative planning process. Veterinarians tasked with completing HPs felt restricted by limited knowledge of on‐farm practices, flock production data and a lack of confidence in the accuracy of on‐farm medicine records. This led some to believe that the HPs may fail to address critical issues. A new approach to engage farmers and veterinarians together in active flock health planning needs to be developed. This will need a sustainable delivery plan. Then the focus can be shifted towards ongoing reflective health planning to drive change for the betterment of sheep health and welfare. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Low back pain is prevalent in workers' health and functional performance. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of a physical exercise program on low back pain and disability in fruit workers. METHODS: This randomized controlled trial assigned 44 workers (37 ± 9 years) to two groups. The experimental group consisted of 10 men and 12 women with an average age of 38 (± 9) years, and the control group consisted of 8 men and 14 women with an average age of 36 (± 10) years. The experimental group (EG) performed a program of strength and flexibility exercises for eight weeks, twice a week. The control group (CG) received minimal care, with a booklet with guidelines for performing exercises. The primary outcomes included changes in perceived disability and the intensity of pain evaluated by the Rolland-Morris questionnaire and the Numerical Pain Scale, respectively. All outcomes were measured at baseline and after eight weeks of intervention. RESULTS: A significant difference was observed in the within-group analysis, with a mean reduction in pain intensity in the EG and CG of - 4.55 (95%CI - 7.01 to - 2.09) and - 3.81 (95%CI 1.72–5.90), respectively. For disability, a reduction of - 4.45 (95% CI - 8.89 to - 0.02) was observed in the EG and of - 4.43 (- 7.38 to - 1.48) in the CG. There were no significant differences in the between-groups analysis. CONCLUSIONS: The exercise program was not superior to using the educational booklet. However, both interventions showed substantial decreases in pain and disability levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pesticides, especially the newly developed neonicotinoids, are increasingly used in many countries around the world, including Cameroon, to control pests involved in crop destruction or disease transmission. Unfortunately, the pesticides also pose tremendous environmental problems because a predominant amount of their residues enter environmental matrices to affect other nontargeted species including humans. This therefore calls for continuous biomonitoring of these insecticides in human populations. The present study sought to assess the neonicotinoid insecticide exposures in two agrarian regions of Cameroon, the South‐West region and Littoral region. The study involved 188 men, including 125 farmers and 63 nonfarmers. Spot urine samples were obtained from these subjects and subjected to liquid chromatographic–tandem mass spectrometric analysis for concentrations of neonicotinoid compounds, including acetamiprid, clothianidin, dinotefuran, imidacloprid, thiacloprid, nitenpyram, thiamethoxam, and N‐dm‐acetamiprid. Neonicotinoid compounds were detected in all study participants, and residues of all the screened pesticides were detected among participants. N‐dm‐Acetamiprid and imidacloprid were the most prevalent among the subjects (100.0% and 93.1%, respectively), whereas nitenpyram was less common (3.2%). The median values of imidacloprid and total urinary neonicotinoid concentrations were elevated among farmers (0.258 vs. 0.126 µg/L and 0.829 vs. 0.312 µg/L, respectively). Altogether the findings showed that both the farmer and nonfarmer study populations of Cameroon were exposed to multiple residues of neonicotinoids, with relatively higher levels of pesticides generally recorded among farmers. Although exposure levels of the neonicotinoids were generally lower than their respective reference doses, these results warrant further research on the health risk evaluation of multiple residues of the pesticides and reinforcement of control measures to minimize the exposure risks, especially among farmers. Environ Toxicol Chem 2024;43:952–964. © 2024 SETAC [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to explore the impact of participating in new forestry management entities on farmers' income, the following conclusions were drawn through the questionnaire survey of farmers in Mayang County, Baojing County, Changsha County, and with the use of multiple linear regression model and instrumental variables estimation method: joining the new forestry management entity can significantly increase farmers' household income and forestry income; after introducing the instrumental variables estimation to solve the endogeneity problem, the regression results can still verify the significant impact of new forestry management entities on farmers' income, but the coefficient of this variable has become larger; from the results of heterogeneity analysis, there were significant regional differences in the impact of joining new forestry management entities on farmers' income. Based on the above analysis, this article suggests; strengthening policy support for new forestry business entities, such as cold storage construction, production equipment procurement, logistics system construction, brand protection, etc; enhancing farmers' satisfaction with new forestry business entities through positive publicity and various measures to benefit farmers, such as seedling cultivation, technical training, agricultural material procurement, and forest product procurement, in order to attract more farmers to join the new forestry business entities; implementing support policies for new forestry management entities tailored to local conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The purposes of this study were to explore behavioral and mental health outcomes among a sample of farmers living in the United States and to compare differences between male and female farmers. Methods: An online cross-sectional survey was distributed within the farming community by researchers, farming consultants, and community partners. χ² and analysis or variance analyses were used to explore relationships between variables of interest. Results: Female survey respondents reported significantly higher perceived stress and significantly lower resilience than their male counterparts. A significant interaction effect was observed between gender and farm roles on alcohol consumption patterns, with female farm owners and managers reporting binge drinking behavior most frequently. Conclusions: This study identified distinct differences between respondents in terms of stress, resilience, and alcohol consumption patterns, based on both gender and occupational roles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main actors responsible for pesticide use behavior are farmers. Still, factors are influencing the pesticide use behavior of farmers in the background. The theory of planned behavior is a widely used concept that explains farmers’ pesticide use behavioral intention. However, previous studies show that behavior is not included in the model. As a novelty, it was investigated whether behavioral intention transforms into behavior in this study. In this context, it is the first study conducted in Turkey. Turkey is in the top three for pepper production in the world. In addition, pepper is among the agricultural products that use the most pesticides. This study aims to determine and explain Capia pepper farmers’ pesticide reduction intention and pesticide use behaviors in Turkey. For this purpose, the pesticide use behaviors of farmers in the province of Çanakkale, which ranks first in Capia pepper production in Turkey, were analyzed with the Structural Equation Model. Face-to-face surveys were conducted with 206 Capia pepper farmers selected by a proportional sampling method. The research results show that subjective norms and attitudes are important determinants of farmers' willingness to reduce pesticide use. Likewise, perceived behavioral control is a unique factor in farmers' use of pesticides. However, farmers' intentions to reduce pesticide use were not reflected in their actions. It is important to increase awareness among farmers about pesticide behavior. Agricultural policy implications should be planned that target the perceived behavior, subjective norms, and attitudes of farmers regarding pesticide use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Finland, agriculture is practiced in variable growing conditions that are further challenged by climate change and under external pressure caused by international competition, changing consumer preferences and demands, and the renewal of the European Union Common Agriculture Policy and Paris Agreement climate targets. Futures studies in agriculture have focused on scenario building with expert panels, though usually without farmers' involvement. This study focuses on farmers' views of shaping the future of Finnish agriculture. It builds on the disaggregative Delphi method and combines interviews and a representative survey of Finnish farmers. The study is based on a bottom-up process in which a farmer panel of 20 farms defined their views of the future in a semi-structured thematic interview. The views were turned into statements in a structured survey sent to the second panel, which comprised all Finnish farmers who had received agricultural subsidies in 2016, with 4401 respondents. The results were analyzed using quantitative factor analysis, which produced five future images for Finnish agriculture. The images were shown to the original farmer panel for reflection. They considered the probability of each future image and their own role in it. Technology solves as a future image was most favored by farmers, followed by Ecological and specializing small-scale production image. Business-as-usual was the least likely future images according to the interviewed farmers. This paper describes the process and discusses both methodological benefits and pitfalls, as well as farmers' future views of the forthcoming decades. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Improving health and welfare outcomes for replacement and surplus dairy calves is important for the sustainability of the dairy industry. Dairy farmers and veterinarians hold expertise in calf management and have valuable perspectives on how to practically motivate improvements. The objective of this study was to determine strategies that could improve the care calves receive on dairy farms from the perspective of dairy farmers and their herd veterinarians. Two veterinary clinics specializing in dairy practice in British Columbia, Canada, and 21 of their client dairy farms participated in the project. Following a meeting in which calf colostrum management was discussed between farmers and their herd veterinarian, participant interviews were conducted. Separate interviews were conducted for the farmers (n = 27 farmers from 21 farms) and their herd veterinarians (n = 7, with 1 to 5 farms that each vet worked with enrolled in the study) using tailored semi-structured question guides. Interviews (n = 42) were transcribed and coded following inductive thematic analysis methodology. The themes identified included strategies for farmers, veterinarians, and calf buyers, as well as contexts that influenced the dairy farmers' internal motivation to provide good calf care. Results indicated that farmers could optimize their calf management through fostering engagement of calf care personnel or by enlisting technology. Veterinarians could provide support to farms by being actively involved in calf monitoring, assisting in developing operating protocols, and setting goals, and especially by using farm-specific data to guide their management recommendations. Calf buyers could communicate with and provide accountability to farmers and improve their purchasing strategies to encourage farms to raise more vigorous surplus calves. Farmers' personal values, social networks, and relationships with different dairy industry stakeholders influenced their concern about the standards of their calf care practices. These findings provide guidance on how dairy farmers could achieve or be prompted to achieve improvements in their calf care practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study deals with daily life experiences of individuals living in a coastal region and laboring in agriculture. Tourism and agriculture open different areas in terms of urban life and social organization in the city. The contact of these two different areas is experienced in some places, and this experience carries social contents that are open to discovery. Places that are both tourism and agricultural zones are of special importance in this regard. In the research, Demre district of Antalya province was chosen as the research region, and interviews were conducted with 9 farmers living here. The interviews were conducted with the help of a semi-structured interview form and the participants were asked questions about Demre and their daily life experiences in Demre. With the data obtained from the interviews, social experiences and meanings in the region were revealed in the context of the dual existence of tourism and agriculture in Demre. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Considerations of farm animal welfare are usually driven by either what is important to the animal or the consumer. Farmers also play a key role in farm animal welfare as they manage the interfaces between, first, the animal and its environment and, second, the supply of animals to the retailer and thence to the consumer. This commentary seeks to put farmers' perspectives on what is important in animal welfare and what options they have to address the key issues. The most important issues are identified as climate change, availability and cost of key resources, social licence, antibiotics and disease, long-distance transport and biodiversity loss. Options for them to diminish adverse effects on welfare include improved nutrition, diversification to other enterprises, silvopastoral systems, reversing genetic gains and precision livestock farming. It is concluded that farmers play a vital role that should be recognised as a key component in determining the welfare of farm animals. Improvements in the welfare of animals in the intensive production industries are increasingly being demanded by the public. Scientific methods of welfare improvement have been developed and are beginning to be used on farms, including those provided by precision livestock farming. The number of welfare challenges that animals are facing in the livestock production industries is growing rapidly, and farmers are a key component in attempts to improve welfare because their livelihood is at stake. The challenges include climate change, which not only exposes animals to heat stress but also potentially reduces forage and water availability for livestock production systems. Heat-stressed animals have reduced welfare, and it is important to farmers that they convert feed to products for human consumption less efficiently, their immune system is compromised, and both the quality of the products and the animals' reproduction are adversely affected. Livestock farmers are also facing escalating feed and fertiliser costs, both of which may jeopardise feed availability for the animals. The availability of skilled labour to work in livestock industries is increasingly limited, with rural migration to cities and the succession of older farmers uncertain. In future, high-energy and protein feeds are unlikely to be available in large quantities when required for the expanding human population. It is expected that livestock farming will increasingly be confined to marginal land offering low-quality pasture, which will favour ruminant livestock, at the expense of pigs and poultry unable to readily digest coarse fibre in plants. Farmers also face disease challenges to their animals' welfare, as the development of antibiotic resistance in microbes has heralded an era when we can no longer rely on antibiotics to control disease or improve the feed conversion efficiency of livestock. Farmers can use medicinal plants, pro-, pre- and synbiotics and good husbandry to help maintain a high standard of health in their animals. Loss of biodiversity in livestock breeds reduces the availability of less productive genotypes that survive better on nutrient-poor diets than animals selected for high productivity. Farmers have a range of options to help address these challenges, including changing to less intensive diets, diversification from livestock farming to other enterprises, such as cereal and pseudocereal crops, silvopastoral systems and using less highly selected breeds. These options may not always produce good animal welfare, but they will help to give farm animals a better life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In developing countries, rural farmers contribute significantly to food production, but their households are still vulnerable to poverty, food insecurity, and malnutrition. Food security is a concept that refers to the ability of a country or region to ensure the availability, accessibility, and utilization of sufficient and nutritious food for its entire population, both in normal situations and under crisis conditions such as natural disasters or political instability. Food security is critical as it is directly related to national security, public health, and sustainable development. To improve food security, governments and international agencies often focus on policies such as increased food production, diversification of food sources, sustainable management of natural resources, and food assistance programs for vulnerable populations. The practice of agroforestry in home gardens offers a variety of readily available, cost-effective, and nutritious food options, which plays a significant role in enhancing the food security of agricultural families. Agroforestry, an integrated land management system combining food crops, trees, and sometimes livestock, offers a potential solution to improve food security. By growing various crops, farmers are not solely dependent on a single source of food, which reduces the risk of crop failure. Agroforestry systems increase resilience to climate change by reducing the impact of natural disasters, such as floods and droughts. Trees can act as wind barriers, reduce soil erosion, and aid in water conservation. This qualitative research with a systematic exploratory approach and grounded analysis examines how agroforestry contributes to farmers' food security by conducting in-depth interviews with farmers in North Luwu, Indonesia. The study identified home garden categories of agroforestry and then evaluated the role of agroforestry food production in terms of securing the food needs of households. The study discovered that restructure food bolsters across various income brackets by promoting healthier eating habits. Additionally, food production enhances the sustainability of food supplies for households and the health and prosperity of agriculturalists. The primary obstacles to producing food at the household level were identified as secure access to appropriate land and the possession of adequate farming expertise. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Explaining farmer decision making using cumulative prospect theory is of increasing importance. We present a systematic review on European farmers' preferences under the cumulative prospect theory framework. We identified 17 studies covering 2324 farmers from 12 European countries. All studies report that (on average) farmers are: (i) risk averse, (ii) loss averse, and (iii) overweight small probabilities and underweight large probabilities. However, there is a large heterogeneity across and within studies. These findings have implications for the analysis and design of policy and insurance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the nuanced perspectives of small-scale sugarcane farmers around the Kilombero Sugar Company in the Kilombero District, Morogoro, regarding the effects of weather variability, climate change, extension services, and support from sugar processing companies on sugarcane production. Cross-sectional research design was employed to gather information using a questionnaire survey from 128 farmers who were obtained through a simple random sampling technique. Descriptive statistics were used for analysis. The findings elucidate climate change and altered weather patterns are influencing agriculture, in this case, impacting the cultivation of sugarcane such that that changes in temperature and rainfall patterns have indeed resulted in unpredictable flowering and maturity cycles in sugarcane crops. Furthermore, the study highlights the significant role of extension services in enhancing agricultural practices and adequate pest and disease management practices contributes to the overall health and vigour of their sugarcane crops. It is concluded that weather variability, climate change, extension services, and support from sugar processing companies on sugarcane production are important factors influencing sugarcane production. The study emphasises the necessity of tailored education and outreach programs to bolster farmers' understanding and adoption of effective pest and disease management practices essential for sustainable sugarcane production in the Kilombero District. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Global climate change has resulted in an increase in the frequency, intensity, and duration of extreme events. However, we know very little about the associations between large temperature changes lasting for several days (LTCD) and CVD, particularly in less-developed, rural areas. We collected daily data on cardiovascular-related diseases and weather conditions from 119 villages in seven counties between 2010 and 2016. A distributed lag non-linear model was used to investigate the association between LTCD and relative risk (RR) of hospital admissions for CVD. Analyses were stratified by the duration and intensity of LTCD, age, and sex. The RR of CVD increases with the intensity and duration of LTCD. Men and young people were more vulnerable to LTCD of longer duration and higher intensity than women and old. Our findings may help local public health authorities develop adaptive preventive strategies targeting inhabitants of villages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Developing strategic land use issues into agrotourism is increasingly prevalent in Batu City. This condition raises various kinds of farmers' perceptions about who feels the benefits of the presence of tourism. Various backgrounds make these differences in perception even more visible. This study aims to analyze the influence of farmers' characteristics on their perceptions of developing "Bon Deso" agrotourism in Tulungrejo Village, Batu City. The location of the study was determined deliberately with consideration for agrotourism activities. "Bon Deso" is located in the village. This study used quantitative survey methods with data collection techniques through interviews, observations, and instruments. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and simple linear regression. The population was 646, with a sample of 87 farmers obtained by calculating the Slovin formula. A simple random technique determined the sample. The results of this study show that characteristic variables simultaneously affect perception. The characteristic sub-variables that affect perception are age, length of formal education, farming experience, and land area. Characteristic sub-variables that do not influence perception are non-formal education and primary income. This finding could be used as a reference for agrotourism managers in determining programs that suit farmers. It is hoped that the presence of a program will get support and participation from farmers to maximize the development of "Bon Deso" Agrotourism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The goats of local breed (LB) and 'ettawa crossbreed' (ECB) are generally reared in Manado by farmer to contribute meat production in the local market. The assessment ability in oestrus performance is important to improve breeding livestock. This study aims to determine the assessment ability of farmer in assess the estrus in their reared in the Manado area. The results of the study showed that there was no significant difference between assessment ability to the farmer of local breed (LB) and 'ettawa crossbred' (ECB (P>0.05). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plastic mulch film is an important agricultural input in China. Effective prevention and control of residual film pollution are of great significance for promoting green agricultural development in China. Farmers are the basic unit for preventing and controlling residual film pollution. Their behaviors and decisions directly affect the effectiveness of the prevention and control of residual film pollution. Therefore, this study investigated the behavior and driving factors of farmers′ purchase, use, recycling, and treatment of plastic film in three representative provinces, i.e., Xinjiang, Shandong, and Hubei. The survey results showed that local retail was the most popular choice for purchasing plastic mulch film, and 85.9% of surveyed farmers purchased plastic mulch film from local retail. The quality and price of the plastic mulch film were the most important factors influencing their purchasing decision, as chosen by 68.3% and 53.2% of the surveyed farmers, respectively. Regarding the judgment of the quality of mulch film upon purchase, 64.5% of the surveyed farmers would base their judgment on the tensile strength of mulch film, but only 49.5% of the farmers knew about the new national standard on the thickness of mulch film. The surveyed farmers mainly used the plastic mulch film for cotton, melons, and corn, with coverage rates of 96.3%, 48.3%, and 96.0%, respectively, in Xinjiang; peanuts and melons, with coverage rates of 72.9% and 92.3%, respectively, in Shandong; and melons and tobacco, with coverage rates of 40.1% and 100%, respectively, in Hubei. In addition to increasing income, the driving factors for the use of plastic film include increasing temperature and water conservation in Xinjiang, increasing temperature in Shandong, and controlling grass in Hubei. Manual recycling was the main recycling method in the three provinces, and only 45.7% of the residual film recycling rate exceeded 80%. The main factor influencing recycling was the farmers′ awareness of the ecological environment. The surveyed farmers tended to provide the waste plastic mulch film to recycling networks, accounting for 47.8%. The impact of plastics on the environment and investment cost were the main factors affecting their treatment of residual film. The age of the farmers and household population had a significant positive impact on the farmers′ recycling behavior at the 5% level, and whether the plastic film could be exchanged for new film had a significant negative impact on farmers′ recycling behavior at the 5% level. High school or above, agricultural income, and whether they would be punished had a significant, positive impact on the farmers′ film treatment behavior at the 5% level, and whether there were recycling outlets had a significant positive impact on their film treatment behavior at the 1% level. In conclusion, agricultural material retail stores were the main purchasing channels; cotton, melons, corn, and tobacco were the main film-covered crops in the research area; manual recycling was the main recycling method; online store recycling was the main treatment method; the scientific cognition level of farmers in the three provinces regarding plastic mulch needed to be further improved; and educational background, agricultural income, supervision, and recycling outlets significantly affected farmers′ processing behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Access to land is critical to reducing poverty and ensuring sustained agrarian livelihoods. However, access and security of rights are shaped by land governance regimes. With increased population and urbanization, peri-urban frontiers have become key battlegrounds for control of land rights. Using the Tamale area in Ghana as a case study, we examined the perceptions of smallholder farmers on land governance practices and adaptation strategies. In a multi-stage sampling process, the study interviewed 86 smallholder farmers in five communities. The study revealed that good land governance indicators, ‘Recognition and Enforcement of Rights,’ ‘Efficient and Effective Conflict and Dispute Management,’ ‘Subsidiarity and Inclusiveness,’ as well as ‘Transparency and Accountability’ were generally below the minimum good practices benchmark based on smallholder farmers’ assessment. With the increasing deprivation of their land use rights, farmers switch to non-agricultural businesses, and/or seek refuge in nearby communities to farm either by renting or engaging in sharecropping arrangements. The results of this study underscore the need to improve land governance practices – specifically, compensation payment, transparency and accountability for land revenues, disputes resolution, and consultation on land use conversions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Focusing on “ professional, employment, entrepreneurship”, from the aspects of curriculum system, practical teaching system, government and school enterprise cooperation and education mechanism, teaching staff, employment and entrepreneurship service system, this paper systematically summarizes the new farmers’ “ professional, employment and entrepreneurship integration” training mode, in order to provide reference for vocational colleges’ rural revitalization personnel training. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article analyses the strengths and bottlenecks of institutional capacity between social security institutions implementing the reform in Zambia, which focuses to provide social security to small-scale dairy farmers, a group of informal economy workers. Zambia's informal economy workers absorb over 80 per cent of the labour force. This is a qualitative study of institutional capacity in the extension of social security. Twenty-one interviews were conducted with participants from Farmers' Cooperatives (MCC), National Pension Scheme Authority (NAPSA), and Dairy Association of Zambia (DAZ). We selected participants through a purposive sampling technique. We reflected on data using a Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR) built on thematic analysis. Analysis suggests that the institutions of the partnership are committed towards extending social security to informal economy workers. There was low involvement of local NAPSA officers in the project design and their role during implementation of the pension extension was unclear. This contributed to a lack of trust by some non-NAPSA members towards social security institutions. Knowledge and beliefs about the capabilities of implementers were essential in the activities for implementing the public policy on the extension of social security. However, there are several implementation lacunas concerning the process, its overarching infrastructure, and adequate human resources. There is a critical need to address gaps in process and procedures, equipment and materials, infrastructure, human resource, trust, and knowledge of context for the extension of social security to informal economy workers in Zambia. This could make the new public policy scheme more attainable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: This study, which was carried out as a large-scale investigation in 444 farms throughout Greece, explores the beneficial effects to small ruminant dairy farms of a steady and professional relationship with a veterinarian. The findings of detailed analyses indicated that, in summary, these benefits related to lower parasitic burden in animals of the farms and higher production of better-quality milk, as shown by the assessment of outcomes related to the health and production of animals. Moreover, the welfare of the animals in the farms was also improved, as evidenced by the lower incidence of painful diseases (e.g., clinical mastitis) and the effective use of relevant pharmaceutical products (e.g., non-steroid inflammatory drugs). The results attest that the application of veterinary advice and veterinary clinical services in sheep and goat dairy farms contributes to the improved health, production and welfare of animals. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the potential benefits of veterinarians in improving the health and welfare of dairy sheep and goats by studying the associations of management practices employed in the farms with production- or health-related outcomes in sheep and goat farms in Greece. This work explored associations with 'professional relationship with a veterinarian' at 444 small ruminant dairy farms in an investigation performed around Greece, where 106 variables, related to infrastructure, animals, production outcomes, health management, health problems and human resources, were assessed. In 384 (86.5%) farms, a professional relationship with a veterinarian was maintained. The median value of visits made annually by veterinarians to these farms was five. In farms with a professional relationship with a veterinarian, significant differences were found in 24 variables (35.8%) related to management practices and 6 (30.0%) production- or health-related outcomes. In multivariable analysis, the following emerged with a significant association: epg counts in faecal samples (p = 0.014), average annual milk production per ewe/doe (p = 0.015), somatic cell counts in bulk-tank milk (p = 0.037), and annual incidence of clinical mastitis (p = 0.044). Moreover, associations of the characteristics of veterinarians emerged with somatic cell counts in bulk-tank milk: the gender (p < 0.0001) and the age (p = 0.004) of the veterinarians. The results attest that the application of veterinary advice and clinical services in sheep and goat dairy farms contributes to the improved health, production and welfare of animals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pesticide safety is an important guarantee for food security. At present, there are many problems in the process of choosing pesticides by farmers, such as low discernment ability and difficulty in retroactive blame, slow replacement of medical equipment, slow promotion of technology assistance, lack of professional knowledge, difficult to grasp the key points of application, improper use of pesticides, large resistance to reducing quantity and increasing efficiency, etc. In order to use pesticides rationally and realize safe production, countermeasures and suggestions on pesticide application are put forward from the aspects of drug development and application, promotion of biopesticides, change of farmers' concept and cultivation of new farmers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The high population number of Indonesia has led to an increase in household organic waste. This organic waste has the potential to be processed into ecoenzymes that can enhance plant productivity. Currently, several farmers in Sugihwaras Village, Maospati District, Magetan Regency, East Java, face limitations in obtaining inorganic fertilizer (NPK) for their plants. This activity aimed to provide training in ecoenzyme production, analyze the change in farmers' knowledge about ecoenzyme production, and assess the effects of ecoenzyme application on the growth improvement of the teak (Tectona grandis) agroforestry system. This activity was carried out within the Subur Farmer Group in Sugihwaras Village, Magetan Regency, East Java, in 2022. The method used was a demonstration of ecoenzyme production, pre-test and post-test evaluations conducted on 20 members of the farmer group, as well as direct measurements of teak plant diameter growth and elephant grass plant height. The ecoenzyme production training in the teak agroforestry system enhanced the knowledge of the Subur Farmer Group, as shown by the average pre-test score of 45.1, while the average post-test score was 90.5. Based on the evaluation of the training activity, 74.3% of the farmer group members strongly agreed that the ecoenzyme production training was highly beneficial and aligned with their needs. Furthermore, according to the program evaluation, the ecoenzyme production training was deemed highly feasible for implementation with a score of 94%. The ecoenzyme production training provided to the Subur Farmer Group has been proven to enhance the partners' knowledge, increase the growth of teak plant diameter and elephant grass plant height, and holds the potential for enhancing the income of the community in Sugihwaras Village, Magetan Regency, East Java. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Obtain a broad impression of the health and wellbeing of working farmers in a representative population. A cross-sectional study using data from a large, general population-based survey, The HUNT Study, Norway (HUNT survey 4, 2017–2019, response rate 54%). The study included 24,313 occupationally active participants aged 19 to 76 years, including 1,188 farmers. Prevalences are estimated for outcomes covering musculoskeletal, respiratory, and mental health as well as general health and life satisfaction, with adjustment for worker age and sex. The estimates for farmers are compared to skilled white collar workers and skilled manual workers. Farmers had a higher estimated prevalence of poor overall health (prevalence ratio [PR] 1.56 [95%CI 1.34,1.82]), chronically impaired mobility (PR 1.83 [1.53, 2.20]), long-standing musculoskeletal pain or stiffness (PR 1.29 [1.21, 1.37]), work-related respiratory attack (PR 4.32 [3.67, 5.08]), depression symptoms (PR 1.30 [1.04, 1.61]) and symptoms of psychological distress (PR 1.23 [1.04, 1.47]) than skilled white collar workers. The estimated prevalence of poor overall health (PR 1.19 [1.00, 1.41]) and work-related respiratory attacks (PR 1.44 [1.24, 1.67]) was also higher for farmers than skilled manual workers, after adjustment for age and sex. Farmers had greater odds of rating themselves less satisfied with life in general than skilled white collar workers (adjusted OR 1.17 [1.04, 1.31]). These results are consistent with previous research and add evidence that farm work is associated with high prevalences of a broad range of adverse health outcomes. The associations with chronically impaired mobility, long-standing musculoskeletal pain, and poor self-rated health were strong. The adjusted PRs for work-related respiratory attacks relative to both comparison groups were particularly high. More research is needed to identify and evaluate interventions that can improve farmer health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Clarifying the impact of livelihood interventions on the livelihood resilience of farmers in undeveloped mountain areas can not only optimize interventions, but also provide experiential support for global poverty alleviation. To analyze the impact of multiple livelihood interventions on livelihood resilience, we constructed an analytical framework and analyzed the enjoyment of livelihood interventions and the heterogeneity of livelihood resilience among out-of-poverty farmers in the Longnan mountain areas, China. Then, we studied the impact of intervention intensity on livelihood resilience through the multiple linear regression model. The results revealed that: 1) the livelihood interventions enjoyed by out-of-poverty farmer in mountain areas were multiple. The proportion of farmers enjoyed diversified livelihood interventions was in descending order of high mountain areas, semi-mountain area and Chuanba valley areas. 2) The overall livelihood resilience of farmers in Longnan mountain areas was generally low, with an average of 0.299. There were significant differences in the livelihood resilience of farmers across different geographic areas in the study area and types of interventions. 3) The effects of industry interventions, employment interventions and education interventions were significant. The endogenous power of farmers not only had a significant positive effect on livelihood resilience, but also positively moderated the impact of the intensity of interventions on livelihood resilience. In addition, the household dependency ratio and the average altitude of the village area had a significant negative impact on their livelihood resilience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The essence of modernization is the modernization of human beings, and the premise of human modernization is the modernization of ideas. The modernization of farmers' life view refers to the “simplicity” of their material life, "initiative" of their political life,"quality" of their cultural life and "stability" of their rural life. With Chinese modernization promoting rural revitalization, we should take the socialist core values as the “lead", high quality rural industry development as the " theme”, with rural culture construction as the “gripper”, with a harmonious rural community construction as the "cornerstone", promote the farmers' life modemnization, construction and the community of rural life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Janti Village, Jogoroto, Jombang has a corn productivity of 2020 reaching 84.5 Kw/Ha, this achievement exceeds national average corn productivity. However, this is inversely proportional to the unstable price of corn, which can even be far from the normal price. Besides, the lack of farmer participation makes the problem drag on longer. The existence of farmer group institutions is very important to solve this problem. In addition, the application of participatory technology to farmers also provides clear goals for future agricultural production activities. Therefore, it is necessary to be active and participate in the Janti Village farmer group members. The purpose of this study is to describe the influence of participatory technology (discussions, workshops, and action planning) and institutional participation of farmer groups (participation in planning, implementation, utilization of results, and evaluation) on farming development (social, economic, and environmental) in Janti Village. Jogoroto District, Jombang Regency. The research method uses descriptive quantitative data collection techniques namely interviews, observation, and questionnaires. Previously, the questionnaire had to be tested for validity and reliability tests to support the validity of the research data obtained. The sampling method used is a simple random sample. Then the data analysis used is multiple linear regression analysis using the ordinary least square method including data tabulation, estimation of multiple linear regression models, classical assumption tests, regression feasibility tests, and interpretation of multiple linear regression models. Results showed that there was no significant effect if independent variables moved independently on dependent variables. Meanwhile, if independent variables move simultaneously, there will be a significant influence between participatory technology and the institutional participation of farmer groups in the development of farming businesses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Antimicrobial resistance is a severe threat to public and environmental health. The agricultural sector contributes significantly to resistance, where antimicrobials are used as prophylaxis, growth promoters, and for treatment. A series of studies have been conducted to assess farmers' knowledge and attitude levels with varying results, particularly in Asia, one of the world's largest producers of livestock products. Purpose: To review the pooled estimated level of knowledge and attitude towards antimicrobial use and resistance in Asia. Methods: A literature search was conducted according to PRISMA in Scopus, PubMed, Google Scholar, and Embase for studies up to 30 April 2023. Quality was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) for cross-sectional studies. Outcomes were further categorized into constructs under knowledge and attitude. Random-effect meta-analysis was conducted using STATA 17. Results: 11 studies and 2131 subjects were included with fair to excellent quality. From the metaanalysis, the following knowledge and attitude levels were estimated: definition [55.7% (95%CI: 37.3%-74%)] and cause [60.6% (95%CI: 40.5%-80.6%)] of antimicrobial resistance; the negative impact of antimicrobials [62.6% (95%CI: 16.9%-100.0%)]; use of antimicrobials for treatment [47.8% (95%CI: 6.1%-89. 4%)], prophylaxis [58.5% (95%CI: 28.5%-88.5%)], growth promoter [39% (95%CI: 23.1%-54.9%)]; discontinuation of antimicrobials upon improving conditions [42.5% (95%CI: 15.4%-69.5%)]. Conclusions: Farmers in Asia have moderate knowledge of antimicrobial resistance but still exhibit attitudes that support resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]