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This report analyzes the challenges faced by small-scale farmers and explores potential solutions to help them adapt to new technologies while maintaining their traditional farming practices. The research delves into the daily life journey of small-scale farmers, including their agricultural practices and the rural community. The author conducted 20 days of field research in a rural area of China and discovered that many of these small farms operate on a tight budget, and farmers rarely use machines to cultivate their land. The thesis project offers a complete solution with a weather station, soil sensor, and app. The weather station is shared by the entire village and provides real-time weather data to farmers. Soil sensors, owned by farmers and placed near crops, provide real-time data on soil moisture, temperature, and nutrient levels. The app provides a user friendly interface for farmers to access the data collected by both the soil sensor and weather station. This project provides a vision to help farmers manage their crops better and accurately forecast their crop yield.

This report analyzes the challenges faced by small-scale farmers and explores potential solutions to help them adapt to new technologies while maintaining their traditional farming practices. The research delves into the daily life journey of small-scale farmers, including their agricultural practices and the rural community. The author conducted 20 days of field research in a rural area of China and discovered that many of these small farms operate on a tight budget, and farmers rarely use machines to cultivate their land. The thesis project offers a complete solution with a weather station, soil sensor, and app. The weather station is shared by the entire village and provides real-time weather data to farmers. Soil sensors, owned by farmers and placed near crops, provide real-time data on soil moisture, temperature, and nutrient levels. The app provides a user friendly interface for farmers to access the data collected by both the soil sensor and weather station. This project provides a vision to help farmers manage their crops better and accurately forecast their crop yield.

In recent decades, small-scale farmers’ market orientation approaches have increasingly been adopted to tackle the problem of food insecurity. However, little is known about how this affects other non-market exchange relationships. The present paper addresses this knowledge gap using qualitative data gathered from small-scale farmers at three selected sites in northern Ethiopia. We took a social exchange theory perspective to examine how resource exchanges have altered after-market orientations in rural communities. The results indicate that, in addition to the benefits for better-off households, integration into the market economy improves the bargaining power and autonomy of middle-income groups as well as the physically fit younger generations. The results also suggest that market orientation generates new livelihood opportunities and market-based relationships, which in turn facilitate the formalisation and transformation of local institutions. On the other hand, market orientation has adverse impacts on traditional practices of resource exchange – such as labour for labour, oxen for labour, labour for harvest/yield, or labour for food – or the exchange of other services. Our results indicate that because these in-kind resource exchange relationships have been replaced by monetary transactions, the poor have become even more vulnerable. The policy implication is that while promoting market-driven approaches to food security, complementary mechanisms must be put in place to empower those living in the most vulnerable conditions.

Agricultural expansion into subtropical and tropical forests causes major environmental damage, but its wider social impacts often remain hidden. Forest-dependent smallholders are particularly strongly impacted, as they crucially rely on forest resources, are typically poor, and often lack institutional support. Our goal was to assess forest-smallholder dynamics in relation to expanding commodity agriculture. Using high-resolution satellite images across the entire South American Gran Chaco, a global deforestation hotspot, we digitize individual forest-smallholder homesteads (n = 23,954) and track their dynamics between 1985 and 2015. Using a Bayesian model, we estimate 28,125 homesteads in 1985 and show that forest smallholders occupy much larger forest areas (>45% of all Chaco forests) than commonly appreciated and increasingly come into conflict with expanding commodity agriculture (18% of homesteads disappeared; n = 5,053). Importantly, we demonstrate an increasing ecological marginalization of forest smallholders, including a substantial forest resource base loss in all Chaco countries and an increasing confinement to drier regions (Argentina and Bolivia) and less accessible regions (Bolivia). Our transferable and scalable methodology puts forest smallholders on the map and can help to uncover the land-use conflicts at play in many deforestation frontiers across the globe. Such knowledge is essential to inform policies aimed at sustainable land use and supply chains.

Agricultural expansion into subtropical and tropical forests causes major environmental damage, but its wider social impacts often remain hidden. Forest-dependent smallholders are particularly strongly impacted, as they crucially rely on forest resources, are typically poor, and often lack institutional support. Our goal was to assess forest-smallholder dynamics in relation to expanding commodity agriculture. Using high-resolution satellite images across the entire South American Gran Chaco, a global deforestation hotspot, we digitize individual forest-smallholder homesteads (n = 23,954) and track their dynamics between 1985 and 2015. Using a Bayesian model, we estimate 28,125 homesteads in 1985 and show that forest smallholders occupy much larger forest areas (>45% of all Chaco forests) than commonly appreciated and increasingly come into conflict with expanding commodity agriculture (18% of homesteads disappeared; n = 5,053). Importantly, we demonstrate an increasing ecological marginalization of forest smallholders, including a substantial forest resource base loss in all Chaco countries and an increasing confinement to drier regions (Argentina and Bolivia) and less accessible regions (Bolivia). Our transferable and scalable methodology puts forest smallholders on the map and can help to uncover the land-use conflicts at play in many deforestation frontiers across the globe. Such knowledge is essential to inform policies aimed at sustainable land use and supply chains.

Farm consolidation is a continuing trend across Canada and within Manitoba. At the same time, there is a growing movement toward supporting local food production and consumption in Manitoba and across Canada. This major degree practicum project uses document analysis, mapping analysis, and semi-structured interviews to examine how the City of Winnipeg could better support small-scale food production, as well as to identify areas of Winnipeg’s peri-urban space that could benefit from creation of a regulatory framework establishing small-scale food production. This research found that strong leadership is needed to ensure preservation of high quality agricultural lands near urban areas, policies that establish and permit a greater variety of agriculture forms and scales help to better support agriculture in cities, and there is significant opportunity for agricultural development within Winnipeg’s peri-urban space. Five recommendations for action are provided including provincially mandating farmland preservation, incorporating small-scale food production and other related uses into the City of Winnipeg’s zoning by-law, and creating an advocacy body for local producers.

Farm consolidation is a continuing trend across Canada and within Manitoba. At the same time, there is a growing movement toward supporting local food production and consumption in Manitoba and across Canada. This major degree practicum project uses document analysis, mapping analysis, and semi-structured interviews to examine how the City of Winnipeg could better support small-scale food production, as well as to identify areas of Winnipeg’s peri-urban space that could benefit from creation of a regulatory framework establishing small-scale food production. This research found that strong leadership is needed to ensure preservation of high quality agricultural lands near urban areas, policies that establish and permit a greater variety of agriculture forms and scales help to better support agriculture in cities, and there is significant opportunity for agricultural development within Winnipeg’s peri-urban space. Five recommendations for action are provided including provincially mandating farmland preservation, incorporating small-scale food production and other related uses into the City of Winnipeg’s zoning by-law, and creating an advocacy body for local producers.

Alternative food networks are organisations of consumers and food producers that oversee and promote the functioning of short food supply chains, with the aim of fostering a direct and local exchange between producers and consumers. New short-chain economic infrastructures provide food producers – especially small-scale farmers – with a whole new set of commercial opportunities, directed towards the construction of an alternative food economy. But how does value circulate within these innovative economic platforms? And what values are debated, negotiated and exchanged through these circuits? Employing the analytical lenses of de-commodification and embeddedness, this article discusses the modalities and outcomes of the processes of value-creation and value-appropriation that spring out of the direct exchange occurring between consumers and food producers in the alternative food economy. Based on empirical data collected through extensive qualitative field research in Italy and England, the article exposes the dynamics and limits of the on-going processes of de-commodification, proposing an analysis centred on the concept of ‘partial’ de-commodification. This conceptual tool is used to assess the differences that emerged between the Italian and English fields, and to provide conclusive remarks about the potential of place- and culture-specific configurations of practices to advance a transformation of the food system.

Farm consolidation is a continuing trend across Canada and within Manitoba. At the same time, there is a growing movement toward supporting local food production and consumption in Manitoba and across Canada. This major degree practicum project uses document analysis, mapping analysis, and semi-structured interviews to examine how the City of Winnipeg could better support small-scale food production, as well as to identify areas of Winnipeg’s peri-urban space that could benefit from creation of a regulatory framework establishing small-scale food production. This research found that strong leadership is needed to ensure preservation of high quality agricultural lands near urban areas, policies that establish and permit a greater variety of agriculture forms and scales help to better support agriculture in cities, and there is significant opportunity for agricultural development within Winnipeg’s peri-urban space. Five recommendations for action are provided including provincially mandating farmland preservation, incorporating small-scale food production and other related uses into the City of Winnipeg’s zoning by-law, and creating an advocacy body for local producers.

Farm consolidation is a continuing trend across Canada and within Manitoba. At the same time, there is a growing movement toward supporting local food production and consumption in Manitoba and across Canada. This major degree practicum project uses document analysis, mapping analysis, and semi-structured interviews to examine how the City of Winnipeg could better support small-scale food production, as well as to identify areas of Winnipeg’s peri-urban space that could benefit from creation of a regulatory framework establishing small-scale food production. This research found that strong leadership is needed to ensure preservation of high quality agricultural lands near urban areas, policies that establish and permit a greater variety of agriculture forms and scales help to better support agriculture in cities, and there is significant opportunity for agricultural development within Winnipeg’s peri-urban space. Five recommendations for action are provided including provincially mandating farmland preservation, incorporating small-scale food production and other related uses into the City of Winnipeg’s zoning by-law, and creating an advocacy body for local producers.

The emergence, spread, and persistence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) remains a pressing global concern. Increased promotion of commercial small-scale agriculture within low-resource settings has facilitated an increased use in antimicrobials as growth promoters globally, creating antimicrobial-resistant animal reservoirs. We conducted a longitudinal field study in rural Ecuador to monitor the AMR of Escherichia coli populations from backyard chickens and children at three sample periods with approximately 2-month intervals (February, April, and June 2017). We assessed AMR to 12 antibiotics using generalized linear mixed effects models (GLMM). We also sampled and assessed AMR to the same 12 antibiotics in one-day-old broiler chickens purchased from local venders. One-day-old broiler chickens showed lower AMR at sample period 1 compared to sample period 2 (for 9 of the 12 antibiotics tested); increases in AMR between sample periods 2 and 3 were minimal. Two months prior to the first sample period (December 2016) there was no broiler farming activity due to a regional collapse followed by a peak in annual farming in February 2017. Between sample periods 1 and 2, we observed significant increases in AMR to 6 of the 12 antibiotics in children and to 4 of the 12 antibiotics in backyard chickens. These findings suggest that the recent increase in farming, and the observed increase of AMR in the one-day old broilers, may have caused the increase in AMR in backyard chickens and children. Small-scale farming dynamics could play an important role in the spread of AMR in low- and middle-income countries.

Employing qualitative empirical data collected in Italy and England for a doctoral research on small-scale primary food producers in the alternative food economy, this chapter provides an interpretation of the peculiar nature of the entrepreneurialism that characterizes those small-scale farmers who entrust their economic reproduction (at least partially) to short, direct supply chains and alternative food networks (AFNs). The chapter summarizes the strategies implemented by farmers to ‘go alternative' as well as the subsequent transformation of growing and business practices that such a process entails, for then comparing the researcher's empirical results with four studies on farmers' entrepreneurialism. Issues of care, trust, change-orientedness, risk-taking, lifestyle, and autonomy are discussed, and farmers' entrepreneurial spirit is found to be cautious, due to the interplay of a traditional farming business orientation, a more pronounced relational disposition, and the characteristics and requirements of the alternative economy in which farmers are embedded.

Smallholders are crucial for global sustainability given their importance to food and nutritional security, agriculture, and biodiversity conservation. Worldwide smallholders are subject to expanded telecoupling whereby their social-ecological systems are linked to large-scale socioeconomic and environmental drivers. The present research uses the synthesis of empirical evidence to demonstrate smallholder telecoupling through the linkages stemming from the global-level integration of markets (commodity, labor, finance), urbanization, governance, and technology. These telecoupling forces are often disadvantageous to smallholders while certain conditions can contribute to the potential sustainability of their social-ecological systems. Case studies were chosen to describe sustainability opportunities and limits involving smallholder production and consumption of high-agrobiodiversity Andean maize amid telecoupled migration (Bolivia), the role of international eco-certification in smallholder coffee-growing and agroforests (Colombia), smallholder organic dairy production in large-scale markets and technology transfer (upper Midwest, U.S.A.), and smallholders’ global niche commodity production of argan oil (Morocco). These case studies are used to identify the key challenges and opportunities faced by smallholders in telecoupling and to develop a conceptual framework. This framework specifies the integrated roles of global systems together with influential public and private institutions operating at multiple scales including the national level. The framework also integrates the local dynamics of smallholders’ multiple land use units and their socioeconomic and environmental variation. Spatial spillover effects in smallholder landscapes are an additional element. This framework further establishes the un-Romantic, nonteleological, and antifetishistic view of smallholders. It provides specific insights on the multilevel dynamics of smallholder telecoupling and potential s

Homegardens are socio-ecological systems playing an important role in the conservation of agrobiodiversity and socio-cultural processes in local contexts. From different bibliographical sources, we compiled and analyzed the available information about homegardens in Chile, mainly their composition, richness and plant uses. The information was analyzed according to the geographic zone: north (N), central-south (CS) and south (S) of Chile. We found 46 studies, which reported a total of 125 species cultivated belonging to 46 plant families in the country. The predominant uses of plants included food (54%) and medicine (23%). Based on the Jaccard Index, we found higher similarity between plant families cultivated for the zones CS and S (47%), followed by N and-S (31%). Fifteen families were cultivated exclusively in the N, nine only in the CS zone and three only in the S. From the 125 recorded species, at least 25 (20%) were cultivated in pre-Hispanic times (previous to 1541). Some species such as Chenopodium quinoa, Zea mays, Phaseolus coccineus, Solanum tuberosum and Capsicum annuum, were widely reported upon the arrival of the Spaniards, along with others already extinct like Madia sativa and Bromus mango. There is a poor knowledge on the diversity of plants cultivated in homegardens in Chile. Homegardens are places where traditional knowledge is actively generated and crucial for allowing the maintenance of plant species and associated socio-cultural processes. The current decline of small-scale agriculture in Chile could result in an erosion of both culture and agrobiodiversity associated with homegardens., Las huertas familiares son sistemas socio-ecológicos que cumplen un importante papel en la conservación de la agrobiodiversidad y de procesos socio-culturales locales. Con base en distintas fuentes bibliográficas, se compiló y analizó la información existente sobre las huertas familiares en Chile, especialmente los datos referidos a compo­sición, riqueza y usos de especies vegetales. Se analizó la información según zona geográfica norte (N), centro-sur (CS) y sur (S) del país. Se encontraron 46 estudios, los cuales reportaron 125 especies cultivadas pertenecientes a 46 familias a nivel nacional. Del total, predominaron las plantas usadas en la alimentación (54%) y medicina (23%). Mediante el Índice de Jaccard se obtuvo una mayor similitud entre las familias de plantas cultivadas en las zonas CS y S (47%), seguido por N y S (31%). Quince familias de plantas fueron exclusivas para la zona N, nueve para la zona CS y tres para la S. De las 125 especies registradas, al menos 25 (20%) se cultivaban desde épocas pre-hispánicas (previo a 1541). Algunas especies como Chenopodium quinoa, Zea mays, Phaseolus coccineus, Solanum tuberosum y Capsicum annuum, fueron ampliamente reportadas a la llegada de los españoles, junto a otras ya extintas como Madia sativa y Bromus mango. Existe un bajo conocimiento sobre la diversidad de plantas cultivadas dentro de las huertas en Chile. En la huerta familiar se genera activamente una trama de conocimientos que permiten la mantención de especies vegetales y procesos culturales asociados. La actual disminución de la pequeña agricultura en Chile podría producir una erosión cultural y, en consecuencia, de la agrobiodiversidad asociada a las huertas familiares.

Tourism and agriculture are important contributors to the development of local economies. Many developing nations that are now experiencing rapid tourism growth have agrarian societies and tourism is the first or second source of export earnings. In this context, the main objective of this study is to identify what are the main challenges for horticultural value chains to effectively benefit from tourism and foster sustainable development in the United Republic of Tanzania. Our results are based on pro-poor tourism, which is an approach that aims at generating net benefits for the poor, including unlocking opportunities by building a more supportive policy and planning framework. The study concludes that tourism and agriculture have an important contribution to make to local development in Tanzania. However, horticultural supply chains face a number of constraints that hold back growth and competitiveness in reaching the local tourism industry. These constraints can be divided into two main categories: lack of direct communication channels; and bottlenecks or inefficiencies in the supply chain., QC 20170801

Tourism and agriculture are important contributors to the development of local economies. Many developing nations that are now experiencing rapid tourism growth have agrarian societies and tourism is the first or second source of export earnings. In this context, the main objective of this study is to identify what are the main challenges for horticultural value chains to effectively benefit from tourism and foster sustainable development in the United Republic of Tanzania. Our results are based on pro-poor tourism, which is an approach that aims at generating net benefits for the poor, including unlocking opportunities by building a more supportive policy and planning framework. The study concludes that tourism and agriculture have an important contribution to make to local development in Tanzania. However, horticultural supply chains face a number of constraints that hold back growth and competitiveness in reaching the local tourism industry. These constraints can be divided into two main categories: lack of direct communication channels; and bottlenecks or inefficiencies in the supply chain.

The past decade has witnessed an intensifying focus on the development of irrigation in sub-Saharan Africa. It follows a 20-year hiatus in the wake of disappointing irrigation performance during the 1970s and 1980s. Persistent low productivity in African agriculture and vulnerability of African food supplies to increasing instability in international commodity markets are driving pan-African agricultural investment initiatives, such as the Comprehensive Africa Agricultural Development Programme (CAADP), that identify as a priority the improvement in reliability of water control for agriculture. The paper argues that, for such initiatives to be effective, there needs to be a re-appraisal of current dynamics of irrigation development in sub-Saharan Africa, particularly with respect to the role of small-scale producers’ initiatives in expanding irrigation. The paper reviews the principal forms such initiatives take and argues that official narratives and statistics on African irrigation often underestimate the extent of such activities. The paper identifies five key characteristics which, it argues, contradict widely held assumptions that inform irrigation policy in Africa. The paper concludes by offering a definition of ‘farmer-led irrigation’ that embraces a range of interaction between producers and commercial, government and non-government agencies, and identifies priority areas for research on the growth potential and impact of such interactions and strategies for their future development.

The paper studies 7 new entrant smallholders on the Italian agricultural sector to begin to understand how such a grassroots movement may challenge the status-quo vis-à-vis the Italian Food-system. Additionally, the study conducts a public questionnaire survey in an attempt to gauge attitudes toward a changing food-system in Italy. Using Critical Theory to highlight the trend of critical-consumer to critical-producer, and transition movement theory to assess the real regime-change ability of such movements, this paper finds that new entrant smallholders in Italy are playing a potentially significant role in moving the sector into more sustainable territory. Current certified organic agriculture is increasingly dominated by larger farms, and excludes new entrant smallholders, this is to the detriment of sustainable agriculture goals, by identifying the barriers to such stakeholders, in addition to recognising their strengthens - namely the commitment to triple bottom line sustainability - new entrant smallholders have a significant role to play in making organic agriculture truly a mechanism by which true sustainable agriculture can be achieved.

The paper studies 7 new entrant smallholders on the Italian agricultural sector to begin to understand how such a grassroots movement may challenge the status-quo vis-à-vis the Italian Food-system. Additionally, the study conducts a public questionnaire survey in an attempt to gauge attitudes toward a changing food-system in Italy. Using Critical Theory to highlight the trend of critical-consumer to critical-producer, and transition movement theory to assess the real regime-change ability of such movements, this paper finds that new entrant smallholders in Italy are playing a potentially significant role in moving the sector into more sustainable territory. Current certified organic agriculture is increasingly dominated by larger farms, and excludes new entrant smallholders, this is to the detriment of sustainable agriculture goals, by identifying the barriers to such stakeholders, in addition to recognising their strengthens - namely the commitment to triple bottom line sustainability - new entrant smallholders have a significant role to play in making organic agriculture truly a mechanism by which true sustainable agriculture can be achieved.

A major consequence of climate change will be changes in precipitation. Both amount and distribution will be affected and the changes will vary greatly between different places on the globe. In the inland parts of Pudukottai district, located in southern India, as well as in many other places, the result will likely be increased water scarcity and severe droughts, with dire consequences for food security. The aim of this study is to investigate different techniques for adapting small-scale agriculture to these changes in precipitation, focusing on rainfed agriculture in dry areas where water scarcity is a major problem. A mixed method has been used, consisting of a preparatory literature review and a field study in Pudukottai district. The literature review provided an overview of available techniques for dryland farming, whereas the field study examined the sustainability of one chosen technique; crop and variety selection. The field study was divided into two parts, partially quantitative interviews with farmers and qualitative interviews with experts working at the organisation Kudumbam. The results when changing to a more drought-tolerant paddy variety or a more drought-tolerant crop (millets) primarily show advantages in all three aspects of sustainability; ecological, economic and social. However, if the effects of climate change will continue or worsen, it is likely that further measures has to be taken to enable future farming in the area., Klimatanpassning av småskaligt jordbruk - en fallstudie i södra Indien En förutsättning för att vi i framtiden ska kunna föda jordens ökande befolkning är att vi anpassar vårt jordbruk till klimatförändringarna. På många platser i världen innebär detta att man måste möjliggöra odling i ett mycket torrare klimat. I vår studie undersöker vi vilka tekniker som finns för att underlätta detta och ger en hållbarhetbedömning på en utvald teknik. En av nutidens största utmaningar är hur vi ska hantera och anpassa oss till rådande och framtida klimatförändringar. En viktig och väldigt omfattande aspekt av detta är förändringen i nederbörd, något som kommer visa sig både i förändrade mängder och mönster av regn. Inte minst är detta ett stort problem inom jordbrukssektorn, som är så intimt kopplad till vatten. Syftet med den här studien är att undersöka olika tekniker för att bedriva jordbruk i väldigt torra områden. En litteraturstudie ger en överblick över vilka tekniker som finns och en fältstudie i Tamil Nadu, Indien undersöker hållbarheten hos en av dessa tekniker, nämligen val av sort och gröda.Vi kom fram till att byta sort eller gröda till ett mer torktåligt alternativ är ekologiskt, ekonomiskt och socialt hållbart men ställer oss frågande till huruvida detta kommer räcka för att möjliggöra framtida jordbruk i torra områden. Vilka delar av världen kommer då drabbas av klimatförändringarnas effekt på nederbörd? Förändringarna kommer troligtvis att se väldigt olika ut beroende på var i världen man befinner sig och kommer variera på lokal skala. På vissa platser kommer man få problem med intensiva regn och översvämningar och i andra områden kommer långa torkperioder vara ett stort problem. Särskilt utsatta områden kommer vara de som redan nu känner effekterna av ett förändrat klimat. I många av dessa områden är även matförsörjningen ett stort problem vilket förväntas förvärras i framtiden. I inlandsdelarna av distriktet Pudukottai, där fältstudien genomfördes, är torka oc

A major consequence of climate change will be changes in precipitation. Both amount and distribution will be affected and the changes will vary greatly between different places on the globe. In the inland parts of Pudukottai district, located in southern India, as well as in many other places, the result will likely be increased water scarcity and severe droughts, with dire consequences for food security. The aim of this study is to investigate different techniques for adapting small-scale agriculture to these changes in precipitation, focusing on rainfed agriculture in dry areas where water scarcity is a major problem. A mixed method has been used, consisting of a preparatory literature review and a field study in Pudukottai district. The literature review provided an overview of available techniques for dryland farming, whereas the field study examined the sustainability of one chosen technique; crop and variety selection. The field study was divided into two parts, partially quantitative interviews with farmers and qualitative interviews with experts working at the organisation Kudumbam. The results when changing to a more drought-tolerant paddy variety or a more drought-tolerant crop (millets) primarily show advantages in all three aspects of sustainability; ecological, economic and social. However, if the effects of climate change will continue or worsen, it is likely that further measures has to be taken to enable future farming in the area., Klimatanpassning av småskaligt jordbruk - en fallstudie i södra Indien En förutsättning för att vi i framtiden ska kunna föda jordens ökande befolkning är att vi anpassar vårt jordbruk till klimatförändringarna. På många platser i världen innebär detta att man måste möjliggöra odling i ett mycket torrare klimat. I vår studie undersöker vi vilka tekniker som finns för att underlätta detta och ger en hållbarhetbedömning på en utvald teknik. En av nutidens största utmaningar är hur vi ska hantera och anpassa oss till rådande och framtida klimatförändringar. En viktig och väldigt omfattande aspekt av detta är förändringen i nederbörd, något som kommer visa sig både i förändrade mängder och mönster av regn. Inte minst är detta ett stort problem inom jordbrukssektorn, som är så intimt kopplad till vatten. Syftet med den här studien är att undersöka olika tekniker för att bedriva jordbruk i väldigt torra områden. En litteraturstudie ger en överblick över vilka tekniker som finns och en fältstudie i Tamil Nadu, Indien undersöker hållbarheten hos en av dessa tekniker, nämligen val av sort och gröda.Vi kom fram till att byta sort eller gröda till ett mer torktåligt alternativ är ekologiskt, ekonomiskt och socialt hållbart men ställer oss frågande till huruvida detta kommer räcka för att möjliggöra framtida jordbruk i torra områden. Vilka delar av världen kommer då drabbas av klimatförändringarnas effekt på nederbörd? Förändringarna kommer troligtvis att se väldigt olika ut beroende på var i världen man befinner sig och kommer variera på lokal skala. På vissa platser kommer man få problem med intensiva regn och översvämningar och i andra områden kommer långa torkperioder vara ett stort problem. Särskilt utsatta områden kommer vara de som redan nu känner effekterna av ett förändrat klimat. I många av dessa områden är även matförsörjningen ett stort problem vilket förväntas förvärras i framtiden. I inlandsdelarna av distriktet Pudukottai, där fältstudien genomfördes, är torka oc

The IFAMR is published quarterly by the International Food and Agribusiness Management Association. www.ifama.org, [EN] Ecuador supplies 70% of the world’s fine aroma cocoa (Theobroma cacao). This paper defines a model of post-harvest technology selection, adapted to small producers, using two multi-criteria models that evaluate the quality, processing cost, and technology adoption capability of each technology. To achieve this result, a preliminary assessment of nine post-harvest technologies is performed, considering only the quality criteria. We then apply the analytical hierarchy process and fuzzy logic methodologies considering the other criteria (processing cost and technology adoption capability). The models provide alternative methods to achieve solutions that reflect the reality of small cocoa producers’ decision-making processes.

The IFAMR is published quarterly by the International Food and Agribusiness Management Association. www.ifama.org, [EN] Ecuador supplies 70% of the world’s fine aroma cocoa (Theobroma cacao). This paper defines a model of post-harvest technology selection, adapted to small producers, using two multi-criteria models that evaluate the quality, processing cost, and technology adoption capability of each technology. To achieve this result, a preliminary assessment of nine post-harvest technologies is performed, considering only the quality criteria. We then apply the analytical hierarchy process and fuzzy logic methodologies considering the other criteria (processing cost and technology adoption capability). The models provide alternative methods to achieve solutions that reflect the reality of small cocoa producers’ decision-making processes.

Small-scale agriculture is a topic that has drawn the attention of many State agencies, local, regional and international during the last few years, due to their importance in the food production and poverty reduction in rural communities of the world. In this context, the present investigation had as its objective to characterize socio-economically and productively to the small-scale agriculture in the communal section of Cap Rouge (Cayes-Jacmel). The methodology used, it connected with a study case, collecting information through a static and semi-open survey applied to 36 small farmers and an interview applied to the key experts (the leaders of community-based organization, the representatives of the agroecology training center, the NGOs'professionals and representatives of the State). The results allow highlighting an average age of 49 years for small farmers in the section, with a low participation of women as farmers. More than half of them are incorporated by family tradition. In relation to the economic aspects, the activity in more carrier item is the livestock with hens and pigs of 37.9% and 33.47% respectively and the 27.78 per cent of small farmers exceeds the 50,000 gourdes per year (equivalent to $1200 US). In addition, the productive aspects indicate that 80.56% of the farmers are landowners whose average is less than one hectare., La pequeña agricultura es un tema que ha llamado la atención de muchas entidades estatales, locales, regionales e internacionales durante los últimos años, por su importancia en la producción de alimentos y la reducción de la pobreza en las comunidades rurales del mundo. En este contexto la presente investigación tuvo como objetivo caracterizar socioeconómica y productivamente a la pequeña agricultura en la sección comunal de Cap-Rouge (Cayes-Jacmel), Haití. La metodología empleada correspondió a un estudio de caso, recolectando información mediante una encuesta estática y semiabierta, aplicada a 36 pequeños agricultores de ambas zonas agroecológicas (cálida y moderada) y una entrevista, aplicada a los expertos claves (los líderes de organización comunitaria, los representantes del centro de formación en agroecología, los profesionales de ONG y representantes del Estado). Los resultados permiten destacar una edad media de 49 años para los pequeños agricultores en la sección, con una baja participación de mujeres como agricultoras. Más de la mitad de los agricultores se incorporan a esta actividad por tradición familiar. En relación con los aspectos económicos, la actividad que más aporta es la pecuaria, donde gallinas y cerdos aportan el 37,9% y 33,47%, respectivamente. El 27,78% de los pequeños agricultores supera los 50.000 gourdes al año (equivalente a $ 1.200 US). Respeto de los aspectos productivos, se indica que el 80,56% de los campesinos son propietarios de la tierra, cuyo promedio es inferior a una hectárea.

Small-scale agriculture is a topic that has drawn the attention of many State agencies, local, regional and international during the last few years, due to their importance in the food production and poverty reduction in rural communities of the world. In this context, the present investigation had as its objective to characterize socio-economically and productively to the small-scale agriculture in the communal section of Cap Rouge (Cayes-Jacmel). The methodology used, it connected with a study case, collecting information through a static and semi-open survey applied to 36 small farmers and an interview applied to the key experts (the leaders of community-based organization, the representatives of the agroecology training center, the NGOs'professionals and representatives of the State). The results allow highlighting an average age of 49 years for small farmers in the section, with a low participation of women as farmers. More than half of them are incorporated by family tradition. In relation to the economic aspects, the activity in more carrier item is the livestock with hens and pigs of 37.9% and 33.47% respectively and the 27.78 per cent of small farmers exceeds the 50,000 gourdes per year (equivalent to $1200 US). In addition, the productive aspects indicate that 80.56% of the farmers are landowners whose average is less than one hectare., La pequeña agricultura es un tema que ha llamado la atención de muchas entidades estatales, locales, regionales e internacionales durante los últimos años, por su importancia en la producción de alimentos y la reducción de la pobreza en las comunidades rurales del mundo. En este contexto la presente investigación tuvo como objetivo caracterizar socioeconómica y productivamente a la pequeña agricultura en la sección comunal de Cap-Rouge (Cayes-Jacmel), Haití. La metodología empleada correspondió a un estudio de caso, recolectando información mediante una encuesta estática y semiabierta, aplicada a 36 pequeños agricultores de ambas zonas agroecológicas (cálida y moderada) y una entrevista, aplicada a los expertos claves (los líderes de organización comunitaria, los representantes del centro de formación en agroecología, los profesionales de ONG y representantes del Estado). Los resultados permiten destacar una edad media de 49 años para los pequeños agricultores en la sección, con una baja participación de mujeres como agricultoras. Más de la mitad de los agricultores se incorporan a esta actividad por tradición familiar. En relación con los aspectos económicos, la actividad que más aporta es la pecuaria, donde gallinas y cerdos aportan el 37,9% y 33,47%, respectivamente. El 27,78% de los pequeños agricultores supera los 50.000 gourdes al año (equivalente a $ 1.200 US). Respeto de los aspectos productivos, se indica que el 80,56% de los campesinos son propietarios de la tierra, cuyo promedio es inferior a una hectárea.

Title: Organic Coffee for a sustainable development in Peru -­‐ A qualitative study on how Peruvian coffee farmers’ development is affected by choosing organic cultivation and certification Seminar date: 2013-­‐05-­‐31 University: Mälardalen University Västerås Institution: School of Business, Society and Engineering Level: Bachelor Thesis in Business Administration Course name: Bachelor Thesis in Business Administration, FÖA 300, 15 ECTS Author: Marcus Brink 1987-­‐05-­‐10 Tutors: Birgitta Schwartz Examiner: Peter Dobers Pages: 145 Attachments: List of interviews, Interview questions to coffee farmers Key words: Sustainable development, organic, coffee, certifications, coffee farmers, small scale farmers, Peru, bachelor, conventional coffee, organic certification, profitability, environment, social entrepreneurship, context, coffee producers Research question: In what way are small-­‐scale coffee farmers in the region of Junín, Peru, able to benefit from “Organic” certifications or conventional coffee cultivation to develop sustainable? Purpose: The purpose of this field study was to get an understanding of how and if organic farming is an adequate solution for sustainable development of small-­‐scale coffee farmers in developing countries or not. Method: This bachelor thesis was done as a field study financed by the Swedish International Development Agency (Sida) under the program of Minor Field Studies provided by the International Programme Office for Education and Training. For the field study a qualitative method has been used to better submit how the people involved understand and interpret their surrounding reality and to get a deep insight in their lives. The nature of the research question and the test subjects provided for a qualitative method rather than a quantitative. Qualitative measuring methods used for primary data gathering were, in-­‐depth interviews, observations, participations, spontaneous conversations, videos and photographs. S, Resumen Titulo: Café Orgánico para un desarrollo sostenible en el Perú – Un estudio cualitativo sobre como el desarrollo de los agricultores peruanos de café es afectado por elegir trabajar con café orgánico y certificaciones Fecha de examen: 2013-05-31 Universidad: Universidad de Mälardalen Facultad: Facultad de Negocios, Sociedad e Ingeniería Nivel: Tesis de licenciatura en Administración de Empresas Nombre de curso: Tesis de licenciatura en Administración de Empresas, FÖA 300, 15 ECTS Autor: Marcus Brink 1987-05-10 Tutor: Birgitta Schwartz Examinador: Peter Dobers Paginas: 145 Adjuntos: Lista de las entrevistas, Preguntas de entrevista para agricultores de café Palabras clave: Desarrollo sostenible, orgánico, café, certificaciones, agricultores de café, agricultores de pequeña escala, Perú, bachiller, café convencional, certificación orgánica, rentabilidad, medio ambiente, empresariado social, contexto, productores de café. Pregunta de investigación: ¿De que manera se pueden beneficiar los productores de café en la región Junín, Perú, con las certificaciones orgánicos o con los cultivo de café convencional para desarrollarse de una manera sostenible? Propósito: El propósito de este estudio fue obtener conocimientos sobre si es y como la agricultura orgánica es una solución adecuada para desarrollo sostenible de pequeños agricultores de café en países de desarrollo o no. Método: Esta tesis de licenciatura se realizó como un estudio de campo financiado por la Agencia Sueca de Desarrollo Internacional (ASDI) bajo el programa de “estudio de campo de menor envergadura” proveído por la Oficina del Programa Internacional de Educación y Formación. Para el estudio de campo un método cualitativo ha sido usado para de una mejor manera presentar como la gente involucrada entiende y interpreta su realidad circundante y para obtener una visión profunda de sus vidas. La naturaleza de la pregunta de investigación y los sujetos dio razones e hizo relevante usar un método cualita

Without increasing small-scale agricultural productivity, the prospects of decreasing poverty and encouraging rural development in Bolivia will remain dim. There is very little scientific literature about the role entrepreneurship can play for enhancing agricultural productivity. Exploring this link in the Bolivian context is highly relevant due to the generally high occurrence of self employment, persistently low productivity among small-scale producers, and high youth migration to urban areas. The purpose of the study was to explore if young agronomists have the potential to impact agricultural productivity in the Yungas through entrepreneurship. I employed a qualitative research design (case study) with the unit of analysis being agronomy students enrolled at the Unidad Académica Campesina-Carmen Pampa (UAC-CP) in the Yungas region. The analysis focused on the agent-level while taking into consideration institutions that impact the agent’s potentials. The study showed that the Yungas has a group of highly prepared young agronomists who not only have entrepreneurial capacities to create growth-oriented businesses, but who also have the technical capacities necessary to overcome current productivity constraints in the Yungas. However, this potential is unlikely to be realized unless access to finance improves, and the business- and agricultural environment become more conducive to agricultural entrepreneurs.

Without increasing small-scale agricultural productivity, the prospects of decreasing poverty and encouraging rural development in Bolivia will remain dim. There is very little scientific literature about the role entrepreneurship can play for enhancing agricultural productivity. Exploring this link in the Bolivian context is highly relevant due to the generally high occurrence of self employment, persistently low productivity among small-scale producers, and high youth migration to urban areas. The purpose of the study was to explore if young agronomists have the potential to impact agricultural productivity in the Yungas through entrepreneurship. I employed a qualitative research design (case study) with the unit of analysis being agronomy students enrolled at the Unidad Académica Campesina-Carmen Pampa (UAC-CP) in the Yungas region. The analysis focused on the agent-level while taking into consideration institutions that impact the agent’s potentials. The study showed that the Yungas has a group of highly prepared young agronomists who not only have entrepreneurial capacities to create growth-oriented businesses, but who also have the technical capacities necessary to overcome current productivity constraints in the Yungas. However, this potential is unlikely to be realized unless access to finance improves, and the business- and agricultural environment become more conducive to agricultural entrepreneurs.

Title: Organic Coffee for a sustainable development in Peru -­‐ A qualitative study on how Peruvian coffee farmers’ development is affected by choosing organic cultivation and certification Seminar date: 2013-­‐05-­‐31 University: Mälardalen University Västerås Institution: School of Business, Society and Engineering Level: Bachelor Thesis in Business Administration Course name: Bachelor Thesis in Business Administration, FÖA 300, 15 ECTS Author: Marcus Brink 1987-­‐05-­‐10 Tutors: Birgitta Schwartz Examiner: Peter Dobers Pages: 145 Attachments: List of interviews, Interview questions to coffee farmers Key words: Sustainable development, organic, coffee, certifications, coffee farmers, small scale farmers, Peru, bachelor, conventional coffee, organic certification, profitability, environment, social entrepreneurship, context, coffee producers Research question: In what way are small-­‐scale coffee farmers in the region of Junín, Peru, able to benefit from “Organic” certifications or conventional coffee cultivation to develop sustainable? Purpose: The purpose of this field study was to get an understanding of how and if organic farming is an adequate solution for sustainable development of small-­‐scale coffee farmers in developing countries or not. Method: This bachelor thesis was done as a field study financed by the Swedish International Development Agency (Sida) under the program of Minor Field Studies provided by the International Programme Office for Education and Training. For the field study a qualitative method has been used to better submit how the people involved understand and interpret their surrounding reality and to get a deep insight in their lives. The nature of the research question and the test subjects provided for a qualitative method rather than a quantitative. Qualitative measuring methods used for primary data gathering were, in-­‐depth interviews, observations, participations, spontaneous conversations, videos and photographs. S, Resumen Titulo: Café Orgánico para un desarrollo sostenible en el Perú – Un estudio cualitativo sobre como el desarrollo de los agricultores peruanos de café es afectado por elegir trabajar con café orgánico y certificaciones Fecha de examen: 2013-05-31 Universidad: Universidad de Mälardalen Facultad: Facultad de Negocios, Sociedad e Ingeniería Nivel: Tesis de licenciatura en Administración de Empresas Nombre de curso: Tesis de licenciatura en Administración de Empresas, FÖA 300, 15 ECTS Autor: Marcus Brink 1987-05-10 Tutor: Birgitta Schwartz Examinador: Peter Dobers Paginas: 145 Adjuntos: Lista de las entrevistas, Preguntas de entrevista para agricultores de café Palabras clave: Desarrollo sostenible, orgánico, café, certificaciones, agricultores de café, agricultores de pequeña escala, Perú, bachiller, café convencional, certificación orgánica, rentabilidad, medio ambiente, empresariado social, contexto, productores de café. Pregunta de investigación: ¿De que manera se pueden beneficiar los productores de café en la región Junín, Perú, con las certificaciones orgánicos o con los cultivo de café convencional para desarrollarse de una manera sostenible? Propósito: El propósito de este estudio fue obtener conocimientos sobre si es y como la agricultura orgánica es una solución adecuada para desarrollo sostenible de pequeños agricultores de café en países de desarrollo o no. Método: Esta tesis de licenciatura se realizó como un estudio de campo financiado por la Agencia Sueca de Desarrollo Internacional (ASDI) bajo el programa de “estudio de campo de menor envergadura” proveído por la Oficina del Programa Internacional de Educación y Formación. Para el estudio de campo un método cualitativo ha sido usado para de una mejor manera presentar como la gente involucrada entiende y interpreta su realidad circundante y para obtener una visión profunda de sus vidas. La naturaleza de la pregunta de investigación y los sujetos dio razones e hizo relevante usar un método cualita

Linear programming techniques are used to illustrate the potential effects of targeted agricultural development interventions by non-governmental organizations. The results demonstrate the interconnection of nutrition, agricultural production, and economics in determining optimum decisions for farm families in the study area in northern Ecuador. The findings suggest that planned interventions for small-scale farmers should first consider a range of nutritional, agricultural, and economic factors before an intervention is implemented. Otherwise, planned interventions that focus on only one aspect of the family's well-being have a high probability of being unsustainable

A large and rapidly growing population in Kenya together with increasing demands put heavy pressure on the country’s resources. Primary to produce enough food but also to meet other needs such as access to timber and firewood. A large part of the population relies on yields from their own farming for their survival. The farms are generally small and the needs many which makes it important to get out as much as possible from a limited space. A common alternative is to plant trees and implement agroforestry. Agroforestry trees are often multi-functional, but they have different main usages and the high competition of land force the farmers to select how they use their land and their agroforestry systems carefully. It is important to remember that even though tree planting can contribute to food security; it is not always a direct source of food and trees also consumes resources such as nutrients and water. The aim of this study was to investigate how water proximity influences land cover, the distribution of tree species, and the main functions of the trees (Fiber, Firewood, Fodder or Fruit) in an agro-ecosystem in Hututu settlement, Trans Nzoia County, Kenya. Further, land cover maps over five settlements in Trans Nzoia were ground truthed. User’s accuracy, producer’s accuracy, overall accuracy, and Kappa value were calculated and evaluated for all maps. Through these results together with interviews and field observations was the study area in Hututu settlement selected and a detailed land cover map created. The results show that water proximity has an influence on land cover to some degree, but since small-scale farmers mainly tries to meet their own needs can maize and beans, the staple food in Kenya, be seen everywhere. The same result can be seen for tree species, and especially when Eucalyptus is considered which the most common tree species in the area is. Tree functionality is indirectly influenced by water proximity and it can be concluded that trees that re

This study compares farmer and professional mental perceptions, in the village of Tentuli, India, of their preferences of specific conservation agricultural production systems and objectives as they relate to the goal of improved income. The analytical hierarchy process is used to compare mental perceptions of various agricultural technology characteristics. Results reveal that farmers prefer intercrop/ plow with yield, while professionals prefer intercrop/ minimum tillage with profit as the most preferred objective. Results can be used to support and promote collaborations amongst stakeholders and farmers to reduce perception gaps and provide recommendations towards other agricultural efforts in extension, government and agribusiness.

This study compares farmer and professional mental perceptions, in the village of Tentuli, India, of their preferences of specific conservation agricultural production systems and objectives as they relate to the goal of improved income. The analytical hierarchy process is used to compare mental perceptions of various agricultural technology characteristics. Results reveal that farmers prefer intercrop/ plow with yield, while professionals prefer intercrop/ minimum tillage with profit as the most preferred objective. Results can be used to support and promote collaborations amongst stakeholders and farmers to reduce perception gaps and provide recommendations towards other agricultural efforts in extension, government and agribusiness.

Objetivo General: Contribuir al desarrollo sostenible de las poblaciones de la subcuenca del río Chimbo, mediante el manejo integrado de los recursos naturales.

Objetivo General: Contribuir al desarrollo sostenible de las poblaciones de la subcuenca del río Chimbo, mediante el manejo integrado de los recursos naturales.

This presentation reports on the work of the SANREM CRSP long term research activity 3 (LTRA-3), "Watershed-based natural resource management (NRM) for small-scale agriculture."

This presentation reports on the work of the SANREM CRSP long term research activity 3 (LTRA-3), "Watershed-based natural resource management (NRM) for small-scale agriculture."

In South-East Asia patterns of forest loss can predict the number of threatened birds. on the oceanic islands of Wallacea, small-scale agriculture, rather than commercial logging, is the main cause of forest loss and conversion, but few studies have directly examined their responses to land use. In 2001, 1 studied the birds of primary forest and anthropogenic gardens on the well-forested, and remote, Damar Island (198 km(2)) in the Banda Sea. Furthermore, I examined broad changes to the islands bird fauna by comparing baseline bird lists obtained in the 19th century with 2001 data. The conversion of primary forest to garden resulted in substantial changes in avifaunal composition, and to the abundance of individual bird species, particularly to frugivorous and globally restricted-range species. Of 15 common birds, four were significantly more abundant in primary forest (blue-tailed imperial pigeon Ducula concinna, northern fantail Rhipidura rufiventris, golden whistler Pachycephala pectotalis and red-chested flowerpecker Dicaeum maugei) and one (scaly-breasted honeyeater Lichmera squamata) was more abundant in garden habitat. Incidental observations provided further evidence that many forest specialists (including the island endemic Damar flycatcher Ficedula henrici) rarely, if ever, used garden habitats notwithstanding its relative proximity. The number of resident birds recorded in 2001 (39) was similar to the 1890s (38), but six forest-dependent passe-rines were extirpated between samples. These losses are associated with the conversion of 25% of the primary forest to modified habitat since the 1890s, but given the sparse species and environmental change data available it is impossible to definitively pinpoint this as the only cause underlying the species losses. This study demonstrates that remote and relatively well-forested islands are not immune to the threatening processes impacting bird populations elsewhere in South-East Asia. (c) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All ri

In South-East Asia patterns of forest loss can predict the number of threatened birds. on the oceanic islands of Wallacea, small-scale agriculture, rather than commercial logging, is the main cause of forest loss and conversion, but few studies have directly examined their responses to land use. In 2001, 1 studied the birds of primary forest and anthropogenic gardens on the well-forested, and remote, Damar Island (198 km(2)) in the Banda Sea. Furthermore, I examined broad changes to the islands bird fauna by comparing baseline bird lists obtained in the 19th century with 2001 data. The conversion of primary forest to garden resulted in substantial changes in avifaunal composition, and to the abundance of individual bird species, particularly to frugivorous and globally restricted-range species. Of 15 common birds, four were significantly more abundant in primary forest (blue-tailed imperial pigeon Ducula concinna, northern fantail Rhipidura rufiventris, golden whistler Pachycephala pectotalis and red-chested flowerpecker Dicaeum maugei) and one (scaly-breasted honeyeater Lichmera squamata) was more abundant in garden habitat. Incidental observations provided further evidence that many forest specialists (including the island endemic Damar flycatcher Ficedula henrici) rarely, if ever, used garden habitats notwithstanding its relative proximity. The number of resident birds recorded in 2001 (39) was similar to the 1890s (38), but six forest-dependent passe-rines were extirpated between samples. These losses are associated with the conversion of 25% of the primary forest to modified habitat since the 1890s, but given the sparse species and environmental change data available it is impossible to definitively pinpoint this as the only cause underlying the species losses. This study demonstrates that remote and relatively well-forested islands are not immune to the threatening processes impacting bird populations elsewhere in South-East Asia. (c) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All ri

In the promotion of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) as an alternative to pesticides, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the Office of International Research and Development (OIRD) at Virginia Tech, and the Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute (CARDI) supported my research to uncover the socio-economic constraints to IPM adoption and to determine the amount of gendered participation in three rural Jamaica farming communities. The thesis examines the gendered participation in crop production, marketing, and decision making as well as the ability of farmers to identify key pests of three nontraditional agricultural exports: callaloo, "Scotch Bonnet" hot pepper, and sweet potato. While men generally participated to a greater extent in crop production and decision making, women also made a significant contribution. Less female participation is due in part to women owning, renting, or leasing a smaller amount of land. However, decision making about income derived from farming was found to be almost equally split between males and females. Another important finding is that women were able to identify key crop pests. To facilitate the introduction of IPM in the three communities, the small-scale farmers' limited access to irrigation and markets must be addressed. Moreover, the thesis advocates that instead of the singular focus on pest control, the holistic spirit of IPM should be seen as the catalyst for an overall integrated approach to rural farm development.