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Since the beginning of life on earth, mankind has always used animals and plants for its nutrition and has continuously trained and developed them for their benefits and social, cultural, and economic needs. In the past, livestock and crop breeding were done by traditional farmers and ranchers. It improves the performance of livestock and crops, they performed the selection, which is one of the principles of plant breeding and livestock breeding. They made this choice with the help of information that was passed down to them from successive generations. It is a participatory plant breeding and production of crops with the help of researchers alongside farmers. Farmers work with researchers, scientists, and other stakeholders -even consumers- to improve crops and develop resilient plant varieties. Farmers are aware of their needs and have a conscious understanding of their agricultural land in terms of soil type, seed type, weather conditions, surface water, underground water conditions, etc. Therefore, they can play an important role in making decisions about the implementation of plant breeding and the type of planting pattern in the cultivated microclimates. In other words, farmers determine their cultivation goals based on their environments, conditions, tastes, and local cultures. The seed that is obtained in this way by the breed researchers with the help of the leading farmers, actually contributes significantly to the food governance of the people of that region and that country.

The majority of indigenous farmers in South Africa depend on rain-fed agricultural production for their livelihoods. Reliable indigenous weather forecasts are, therefore, required to guide rural farmers' decisions in regard to climate change. Much of the literature has shown that western scientific knowledge has failed at rural level. Indigenous knowledge has, for the past century assisted rural farmers' households in tackling the challenges of climate stressors and enhanced decision-making for adaptation. There is, therefore, much room for advancement in assessment processes to ensure adequate credit for indigenous knowledge systems. This study aimed to address two major knowledge gaps (i) to assess the relevance of indigenous knowledge in weather forecasts used by local farmers for climate adaptation, and (ii) examine farmers' perceptions in regard to climate change in Levubu and Nwanedi sites. Indigenous knowledge indicators used by farmers for weather forecasting, within their communities, were collected through questionnaires, interviews and focus group discussions. The results revealed various forms of indigenous indicators used by local farmers for weather forecasting, such as, star and moon movement, appearance of red and black ants and mist-cover on mountains. A better knowledge of indigenous knowledge systems should play an important role in determining suitable adaptation strategies toward climate change. It is recommended, hence, that policy makers should enhance indigenous knowledge among local communities regarding the implications of climatic stressors to increase crop production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Local foods play an influential role in improving the tourism experience in destinations. Local foods can enormously enrich the tourism experience by connecting tourists with the heart and soul of a destination. Past research has identified various perception and motivational factors that support local foods' purchase intentions, but only from a consumer point of view. As the demand for local foods in tourist destinations is gaining more and more importance year after year, this study investigates the influence of those perceptions and motivational factors on purchasing local foods in a tourism destination. A survey was conducted among 470 US tourists who have visited destinations and tasted or purchased local foods in the last three years. Regarding the perception of local foods, the study's findings show that factors like freshness, trust and transparency, preservatives free, and better nutrition are highly reported. Regarding the motivations to buy local foods, the study findings show that factors like supporting the local farmers, enhancing sustainable agriculture, increasing local revenue, and reducing carbon emissions were highly reported. The findings of this study will provide a holistic experience for the tourists that allows them to immerse themselves in the destination's food culture and support the local economy and community. By effectively developing and promoting the destination's local foods by highlighting and promoting the highly rated perception and motivational factors, the destination can attract more food enthusiasts and curious tourists seeking authentic food and cultural experiences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the beginning of life on earth, mankind has always used animals and plants for its nutrition and has continuously trained and developed them for their benefits and social, cultural, and economic needs. In the past, livestock and crop breeding were done by traditional farmers and ranchers. It improves the performance of livestock and crops, they performed the selection, which is one of the principles of plant breeding and livestock breeding. They made this choice with the help of information that was passed down to them from successive generations. It is a participatory plant breeding and production of crops with the help of researchers alongside farmers. Farmers work with researchers, scientists, and other stakeholders -even consumers-to improve crops and develop resilient plant varieties. Farmers are aware of their needs and have a conscious understanding of their agricultural land in terms of soil type, seed type, weather conditions, surface water, underground water conditions, etc. Therefore, they can play an important role in making decisions about the implementation of plant breeding and the type of planting pattern in the cultivated microclimates. In other words, farmers determine their cultivation goals based on their environments, conditions, tastes, and local cultures. The seed that is obtained in this way by the breed researchers with the help of the leading farmers, actually contributes significantly to the food governance of the people of that region and that country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The global seed trade has reached and conquered Northern Ghana, squeezing out local suppliers. Considering ongoing population growth, rapidly urbanizing communities, changing diets, and vast quantities of imported food products, the endeavours of enterprises that try to reduce the local food production deficit should be more appreciated. Rice, maize, and soybeans are three types of grain that dominate the global seed trade. Furthermore, the natural conditions and vegetation of the sub-tropical region are close to optimal. While rice and maize have been cultivated for a long time, soybeans are a new crop in the semi-arid climate zone of the Guinea-Savannah. The motivations and ambitions are clear: pushing improved soybean seeds into the traditional farming system of Northern Ghana to meet the zero hunger sustainable development goal while widening the market for western seed producers. In the Ghanaian context, microfinance is built on making customers dependent on services. On the bone hand, it is a tool to extend farm sizes through mechanization, fertilizers, and modern cultivation technologies to increase yield; on the other hand, microfinance could cause financial difficulties within society and farmer associations, and it has negative effects on unsupported and unfinanced activities such as cultivating indigenous crops. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper uses Will County in Illinois as a case study to examine the relationship between food citizenship and local food consumption in what we term to be the rural-urban blend of America. Food citizenship is participating in food-related actions promoting democratic, socially and economically equitable, and environmentally sustainable food systems. On the other hand, local food consumption is choosing and preferring to buy and eat local food over other conventional forms of food. The study used data analysis from a survey of 342 residents in Will County, Illinois, to test a conceptual model that considers various socio-psychological traits that food citizens might have, which could explain their preferences for local food, including local patriotism, perceived similarity with local farmers, social concern for the community's well-being, and environmental concerns. The findings reveal the intertwined nature of local patriotism and place identity, shedding light on their direct influence on food citizens' preferences. The perceived similarity with farmers and active engagement with local food producers deepen food citizens' understanding and connection, ultimately influencing their preferences for locally sourced food. The study also highlights the distinct roles of men and women in local food preferences, with local patriotism being more significant for men aged 40 and above. Finally, the results underscore the Midwest's unique socio-political landscape and the complex interplay of factors shaping local food preferences within rural-urban blends like Will County. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agritourism is gaining growing recognition in both developed and developing countries. In developing countries, it is considered as an instrument, not only for sustainable rural development but also for local community poverty alleviation. Al-Baqura is an important agricultural village in the north of Jordan. In 2019, Jordan retrieved control over it after 25 years of leasing to external investors. Thereupon, the Jordanian government should encourage investments in this area and improve its agricultural production in terms of quality and quantity. The objectives of this study were to explore the perspectives of local farmers on the launch of agritourism in this village and to identify the variables that affect farmers' motives for engagement in agritourism activities in their locality. In addition, the study aimed at determining the agritourism-associated difficulties faced by the residents who seek to boost their livelihoods through tourism. The study followed the quantitative research approach and used a questionnaire as the data collection tool in a survey of 163 residents of Al-Baqura village. The results of the analysis uncovered a high potential for economic, environmental, and socio-cultural benefits of agritourism in this village. In particular, it will empower the women to improve their social status in society, provide the rural population with increased revenue and new job opportunities, and improve the quality of the environment. However, for agritourism development in this area, the government should support the local families and help them in establishing and operating tourism enterprises. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Direct sales by farmers gained acceptance in Hungary following the incursion of healthy eating and the enhancement of local economic development efforts. Conducting questionnaire surveys and interviews, our research investigated the means through which locally produced goods reach consumers, e.g., short food supply chains, as well as the farmers’ motivations and the necessary developments. According to the main results, personal direct consumer relations are vital for local farmers; however, advanced sales channels are not popular nor fully developed in Hungary. Only the capital city shows some development here, catalysing and stimulating the domestic market and consumer behaviour. On the other hand, the age structure of local farmers or the lack of knowledge hinder the advent of advanced sales channels. Nevertheless, there is a continuous and immanent need for development in this sector; although, the recent conditions of subsidies unfortunately do not support small scale local farmers.

Understanding climate variability and change is essential for designing adaptation policies and strategies to deal with the impacts of climate change on the agricultural sector. This Paper aims at assessing climate variability/change, the perception of rural farmers on climate change and preferred  adaptation strategies among the farmers in some selected farming communities in Nigeria. The study thus used both meteorology data and social survey, to examine variability/change in climate and factors determining the adaptation techniques adopts by rural farmers. The results show a relatively uniform temperatures and some seasonal variations in recent years (diurnal range of temperature is about 10 °C) but the rainfall shows much more seasonal variations. The rainfall has relatively undeviating trend from 1981 to 1996 but the trend appears to be upwards from the year 1997 to 2010. About 72.8% participants responded in the affirmative that climate is changing but there appears to be a significant relationship between the length of farming experiences and farmers’ perceptions of climate change adaptation techniques. Water-related (about 53%) and nutrient related (about 52%) technologies appear to have a high preference among the farmers. The major driver that determines farmers’ preference for climate change adaptation techniques is their incomes and experiences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil is an important natural resource which when effectively managed, could increase the livelihoods of households in sedentary agricultural communities. Soil erosion is however an emerging challenge as a cause of environmental degradation and this paper sought to ascertain the nature of soil erosion on maize farms, the effects of soil erosion on maize crop farmers and the effectiveness of local control measures on output levels and the livelihoods of the farmers. A cross-section of the community was taken and participants were selected non-probabilistically by snow-balling for questionnaire administration and focus group discussions. The study revealed that the local farmers perceived soil erosion as the wearing away of the top soil and nutrients, under the influence of running water during rainy periods and the slope of the land. The major effects of soil erosion were found to be the loss of fertile soils, reduction in the cultivable land area, the reduction in the crop yield and a fall in the living standards of farmers’ households. The findings also indicated that some of the adaptive strategies to reduce the effects of soil erosion include shifting cultivation, ridging across slopes, planting on raised mounds and avoidance of deep ploughing. It was further revealed that farmers who successfully applied the traditional methods improved upon their output levels per land area and the standards of living of their families It was recommended that modern agricultural extension services were needed, not to replace, but to complement the local knowledge systems in order to ensure sustainability.

Geographical Aspect of School Fruit and Vegetable Scheme (SFVS) as an Example of Cross-Sectoral Collaboration between the Sectors of Education, Agriculture and Healthcare The school fruit and vegetable scheme (SFVS) is a complex European Union action since 2009 with the goal of reducing the number of overweight children by both training them to adopt healthier eating habits as well as support local producers. Once a week 86 % of all elementary school children in Slovenia receive a subsidized portion of fruit and vegetable. The research is based on case study at area of Temenica valley and Mirna valley, Slovenia where the scheme is based on short food supply chain, mainly supplied by local farmers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Ethical beliefs are the basis for consumer's socio-environmental considerations. • Health consciousness influences consumer's attitude towards organic food. • Concern for local farmers influences consumer's attitude towards organic food. • No influence of environmental concern on consumer's attitude towards organic food. This study aims to examine the role of socio-environmental factors in forming a favorable attitude of consumers towards the consumption of organic foods. We developed the research instrument by pooling items from literature, followed by a pilot test. We collected the final data and statistically analyzed the same to validate the proposed model. Notably, we analyzed the proposed inter-relationships between the factors using SEM. The results suggest that the constructs of ethical beliefs, health consciousness, and concern for local farmers do have a significant and positive influence. Largely, the findings offer valuable insights to both marketers and producers in devising marketing strategies related to the promotion of organic food products in the Indian market. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To explore the perspectives of various stakeholders on whether an HBCU has the resources to establish a farm-to-university program that can improve fruits and vegetables intake among African American students. Additionally, this study assessed students' satisfaction with fruits and vegetables served in University dining halls, and their desire for changes in policies to increase local fruits and vegetables access on campus. Methods: This study employed a mixed method data collection strategy. Semistructured interviews were used to explore the stakeholders' perspectives and self-administered questionnaires were used to assess students' satisfaction with fruits and vegetables and desire for policy changes. Results: Barriers reported by both food service administrators and farmers were cost and variation in supply and demand. Students expressed lack of satisfaction with fresh produce served in campus dining halls and a desire for change in policies to increase local fruits and vegetables access on campus. Conclusion: While there is student desire for improved access to fresh produce on campus, there are perceived barriers to overcome. University partnerships are needed to address the desired nutritional improvements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change poses significant challenges to biodiversity, food security, water availability and health, especially in Africa. Research within local communities can lead to a better understanding of the observed changes in climate, and help to find more appropriate strategies for dealing with them. A number of studies have been carried out in West Africa, but most focus on Sahelian countries and all focus on a single area with one or two ethnic groups. Therefore, to determine whether a countrywide multi-ethnic assessment could provide more accurate information, we studied perceptions of climate change in local communities in Benin. Two focus groups (men and women) were carried out in nine villages. Local farmers and herders were asked about the changes in climate they have observed, the effects of these changes, and how they have adapted to them. Observed changes in climate followed a latitudinal trend, and were in agreement with available climatic studies. Some of the observed changes in climate had not been reported before for this latitude in West Africa. The effects of these climatic changes and the adaptive strategies used differed between areas and ethnic groups. Some adaptive strategies were only used by some ethnic groups. We found that the main obstacles preventing communities from adopting new strategies were unavailability of credit, lack of improved seeds and insufficient information. The findings support the conclusion that country-level multi-ethnic assessments provide key information for both climate change research and policy development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Viral infections greatly limit sweetpotato yields. Good farming practices are critical for effective disease management. 383 Ugandan farmers were surveyed to document symptom incidence, crop-management practices, and buyer preferences. Results showed that 89.27% farmers grow sweet potatoes yearly and 62.76% of these farmers were female. A total of 56.83% farmers obtained vine seeds from their previous gardens, 25.85% from neighbours, and 12.20% purchased. Only ~8% of sellers and ~4% of buyers were selected for disease-free materials. None of the farmers who used vine-cutting knives sterilised them. Almost half of farmers (47%) observed whitefly or aphids but most were unaware they are viral vectors. Most farmers (77%) observed viral symptoms, but few (<2%) recognised them as infections. Insufficient knowledge of sweetpotato viruses and their vectors is common and increases the risk of spread. Practices like vine selling, sharing of vines coupled with insufficient knowledge on sweet potato viruses and its vectors among farmers increase the risk of virus spread among different farms., Competing Interests: The authors have not declared any conflict of interests., (© 2018 Author(s) retain the copyright of this article.)