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Copyright of Letras Verdes is the property of FLACSO - Ecuador (Facultad Latinoamericana de Ciencias Sociales) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This study covers the agricultural farms producing potato and onion which apply good agricultural practices and apply conventional agricultural in Middle Black Sea Transitional Zone of Turkey. The basic purpose of this study is the determination of input use amounts and energy use efficiency and economical comparison in the farms that make the conventional and good agricultural practices. In study region the survey were made with 40 farms producing potato and onion. According to the research results, the energy value of the total inputs for potato production in the farms that make good agriculture practice is 33802,69 MJba-1 and for in the farms that make conventional agricultural it is 37192,92 MJha-1. The energy value of the total inputs for onion production in the farms that make good agriculture practice is 254 78,07 MJha-1 and for in the farms that make conventional agricultural it is 29707,81 MJha-1 The energy use efficiency and energy productivity of the potato and onion produced by applying good agriculture in the research region was higher than that of traditional agriculture. The cost of potato producing; one kg of potato was calculated 0,23 $ in the farms that make good agriculture practice while it was calculated 0, 15 $ at the farms that conventional agriculture. The cost of onion producing; one kg of onion was calculated 0,25 $ in the farms that make good agriculture practice while it was calculated 0,17 $ at the farms that conventional agriculture. As a result, it is more advantageous to use good agricultural practice method in terms of energy efficiency. Conventional agricultural is more advantageous in terms of production cost. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, carbon pools and some soil quality parameters were compared to organic and conventional agriculture lands in Adiyaman. In this context, soil samples were taken from the surface soils (at 0-20 cm depth) and analyzed in areas in the process of transitioning to organic agriculture and conventional agricultural land for 5 to 10 years. According to analysis results, soil quality parameters of the land in organic agriculture for 10 years were determined to be better than the quality parameters of other soils. Mean carbon pools of the soils taken from the conventional agriculture land (Akpinar- Gozebasi villages) varied between 1.85 and 1.92 kg C m-2, and mean C:N ratios varied between ~8:1 and ~9:1, and similar results were obtained. Mean carbon pools of the land practice in organic agriculture soils (Güzelsu-Gözebaşı villages) varied between 1.76 and 2.97 kg C m-2, and average C:N ratio was determined to be 11:1. C:N ratios as one of the soil quality parameters were optimally determined in organic agriculture soils. In conventional agriculture land, the C:N ratio was determined to be at a low ratio, and the reason for this was considered to administer chemical over-fertilization application, stubble burning, collect stubble for animal feed and energy and over-cultivate. All the data analysis was performed using SPSS 24.0 for Windows software. In the statistical analysis, there was no positive significant correlation between the other parameters except known as soil quality parameters bulk density and organic carbon in organic and conventional agriculture lands (P=0.029<0.05). At the end of this study an idea emerged to add organic residues for health and quality, and sustainability of soils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract This study assesses the effectiveness of climate-resilient agriculture (CRA) practices in terms of cost–benefits, and prioritizes the activities involved. It was carried out in the Udayapur district of Nepal, where the application of CRA practices into vegetable farming has introduced jholmol (a bio-pesticide and nutrient supplement); water conservation technologies; support for formation of farmers’ groups; regular technical follow-up; and flow of regular market information through short message services (SMS: that is, text messaging). This study is based on the discussions of five focus groups held with local farmers, and on 300 interviews with participating households in the study area. The results indicate that CRA generates multiple benefits compared to conventional agricultural practices. For instance, the benefit–cost ratio (BCR) of CRA practice is 1.81 as compared to 1.02 for conventional farming. In addition, practicing CRA has changed the food habits of farmers, since the proportion of vegetables consumed in their regular meals has increased substantially. Farmers are also engaging in vegetable farming in their leisure time, instead of drifting around their villages. However, CRA practice demands capital NPR. 537,695/ha/year (USD 5220/ha/year) as compared to conventional agricultural practice NPR. 140,171/ha/year (USD 1361/ha/year). Formation of the farmers’ group probably promoted dissemination of knowledge on CRA practices, as it facilitated interaction and the exchange of ideas. CRA is, therefore, an integrated approach rather than the simple provision of technology. Highlights • Climate-resilient agriculture practice requires about 3.5 times more capital compared to conventional farming. • Material support is the first priority to implement climate-resilient agriculture. • Benefit–cost ratio of climate-resilient agriculture is 1.81 as compared to 1.02 for conventional farming. • Regular technical support and field demonstrations are more effective than classroom-based training. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The extensive use of conventional farming has brought about numerous negative effects in the environment and the quality of agricultural products, emerging the introduction of alternative forms of agriculture, including organic and integrated farming. The recent reforms of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) implemented a policy scheme to encourage the engagement in organic and integrated farming, in an effort to ensure the quality and safety of agricultural production and enhance environmental protection. The objective of the present study is to investigate the main factors of the CAP that contribute to the implementation of these two alternative farming systems in Greece, furthermore analysing the farmers’ characteristics, opinions and attributes, towards the significance of each factor. The results indicate that the three main CAP's measures that affect the application of organic and integrated farming refer to the importance of farm certification, the product's promotion by other EU programmes and, predominantly the subsidized support of agricultural production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim of the research was to record the Critical Control Points (CCPs) between the three agricultural certification systems: Organic Agriculture (OA), Integrated Management (IM) and Conventional Agriculture (CA). For the collection of the information, non-structured and in-depth interviews, as well as closed-ended questionnaires were used. A total of 25 people from various fields, always related to agriculture and particularly to certification, attended the interviews. Among those who participated in the interviews were academics, directors of certification organisations and cooperatives, journalists and others. Correspondingly, the sample of persons who completed the questionnaires included people involved in the agricultural sector (eg. producers, processors etc.), constituted of a representative sample of the research target group. Concluding, it was found that in Greece the most important CCPs of the three agricultural certification systems were: a) the subsidy in OA production, b) the pricing of IM products and c) the lack of state control in CA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Policy makers rarely feature in research into alternative and local food systems (ALFS), yet are often regarded as central actors in supporting such local food systems, sometimes as part of wider rural development strategies. Furthermore, what 'local' actually means has long been debated in the alternative food networks literature, with the consensus that the term is contested and defies definition. This paper explores discursive constructions of 'local' food, drawing on in-depth interviews with farmers, local food businesses, consumers and policy makers in East Yorkshire. The paper argues that the concept of local food is contextualised and refracted through the people and places in which food is produced and consumed. It illustrates the complexities involved in understanding, and making sense of, local food networks and their relationship with conventional food systems. The paper has two core concerns. The first is to challenge conceptualisations of local food as linked only to non-intensive agricultural regions. The second attends to situating food production and consumption within local contexts to understand the diverse and relational interpretations of the 'local' which policy makers, businesses and consumers have with regard to food. The paper concludes that alternative and local food systems interact with the conventional food system in complex and multiple ways, underlining that it is not a case of 'either/or', but that food production and consumption are heterogeneous and refracted through specific places. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The consumers are affecting directly, the protection of the environment through the elections that they make when they buy products. For this reason, the present article is highlighting the importance of studying the concept of consumer's behavior, as well as the factors that influences decisions of buying in relation to products characteristics and their present situation on the market. Also, by addressing the product from the perspective of marketing it aims to provide consumers with correct information regarding the risks of choosing products that may affect health. Basically, are made proposals for a better consumer information about the risks and benefits of the acquisition of natural products as organic or bio. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Sociology & Space / Sociologija i Prostor is the property of Institut za drustvena istrazivanja u Zagrebu (Institute for Social Research of Zagreb) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

In Romania, as in other European countries, organic farming has become more attractive and increasingly important. Since the organic breeding is still in an incipient state, a current procedure consists of testing the existing cultivars concerning their pretability to organic agriculture. Five sweet corn hybrids ('Prima', 'Dulcin', 'Estival', 'Deliciul verii' and 'T145'), released by the Agricultural Research and Development Station (ARDS) Turda, Cluj County, were tested in 2008-2009 in three different locations (Turda, Jucu and Morau, Cluj County), both under mineral N fertilization with doses specific for conventional agriculture (100 kg N/ha and 150 kg N/ha) and under low N input (50 kg N/ha) or no N input, specific for organic agriculture. In all locations a basic organic fertilization with manure 40 t/ha was applied in the fall of 2007 and in 2008 and 2009 sweet corn was planted in a winter wheat - corn rotation. Most of the yield elements (ear weight, no. of rows/ear, no. of kernel/row) were found under a strong genotypic effect when conventional practices of N fertilization were applied. The share of genotype in the phenotypic expression of these characters remains rather high (68-91%) in the organic system but nevertheless, lower than in the conventional one. In the newly released sweet corn hybrids there might be found yield elements (i.e. ear length) which would be expressed phenotipically at the same level both under conventional and organic practices of N fertilization. Such genotypes are prone to achieve a greater suitability to organic agricultural practices due to their strong genotype determinism of yield elements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cotton producers in Pakistan must manage many concerns, for example, climate change, traditional agricultural management practices and depletion of land resources i.e. land, and water have resulted in low productivity and pose the largest challenge ever to the sustainability of cotton production in Pakistan. Sustainable land and water (SL&W) management practices of climate resilient agriculture (CRA) such as irrigation (laser land levelling, bed sowing, and drainage management), soil (minimum tillage), and crop (flood and drought tolerant varieties) management practices are recognized as the most efficient and sustainable, particularly for growing cotton. Using cross-sectional data from cotton-growing districts of Punjab, this study attempted to estimate and compare the economic benefits of SL&W management practices of CRA and conventional agricultural practices. The study also estimated the impact of technical training, SL&W management practices of CRA and changing soil quality to improve cotton productivity and sustainability in Punjab, Pakistan. The economic analysis showed that the adopters of CRA have significantly higher economic benefits from one hectare of cotton compared with non-adopters. The economic benefits of adopters significantly increased after implementing SL&W management practices of CRA. Additionally, this study also explores the SL&W management practices; technical training regarding SL&W management practices of CRA; access to credit; varying soil quality; and other inputs lead to significant variation in cotton productivity. The most important implications are that cotton farmers improved productivity through the SL&W management practices of CRA. Hence, proved that CRA are economically, financially, and environmentally, desirable. The findings of the study in a nutshell also reveal that CRA have an absolute advantage over traditional cotton farming. • Due to the conventional agricultural practices, depletion of land resources i.e. land and water are common in study area. • This study identified adopters using (SL&W) practices of CRA and non-adopters using conventional agricultural practices. • SL&W practices significantly increased economic benefits of farmers as compared to conventional agricultural practices. • Cotton farmers can save land resources and improved productivity through the SL&W practices of CRA. • SL&W practices are economically, financially, and environmentally desirable as well as advantage over traditional farming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The general public's perceptions and attitudes about agriculture have become more diverse and divergent in recent years. Extension professionals can find themselves working with widely varied audiences whose members adhere to a range of agricultural values. This commentary focuses on how changes in agriculture have affected the work of Extension professionals. I argue that Extension professionals need to find ways to recognize what their own agricultural values are and to determine how those values will influence their work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sustainable agriculture is an area that is gaining momentum. Extension agents are expected to teach production methods that include sustainable agriculture, yet little is known regarding how Extension agents feel about this agricultural paradigm. The research reported here sought to further develop an instrument that could quantitatively measure Extension faculty members' agricultural paradigms and be used as a program-planning tool that serves to support the identification of educational program needs. The pilot study offers a valid and reliable instrument useful to both Extension agents and administration in measuring individuals' agricultural paradigms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]