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The technical report of the Pilot Evaluation Study of Functional Literacy Project in Lucknow District, Uttar Pradesh, India presents the research procedures and statistical analysis for the previously published non-technical report of the study. The main study objectives were to obtain qualitative and quantitative measurements of attainment and use of literacy skills, the impact of the program on the individual with particular emphasis on changes in agricultural production, and teaching/learning situation. Experimental groups of 240 randomly selected respondents from 12 villages who had attended functional literacy classes were matched with 80 control group respondents from four villages without functional literacy programs and assessed for: (1) literacy attainment (reading ability level, writing ability level, arithmetic performance level, degree of comprehension, degree of application of reading/writing ability, and number of drop-outs); (2) living standard; (3) professional competence; (4) relation toward means of mass communication and personal sources; (5) attitude toward education; and (6) social participation. The data, which is presented in tabular form, positively related high literacy achievement to knowledge regarding High Yield Variety package practices, more adoption of farm technology, and more favorable attitudes toward adult literacy programs. An evaluation form is appended. (EA)

The article reports on the decision of Uganda to join the Cotton made in Africa (CmiA) initiative, which offers farmers training in modern, efficient and environmentally friendly cultivation methods, in a bid to improve the competitiveness of its domestic cotton.

A study examined the impact of agricultural education and training on farm business practice and the influence of training on changes to farming practice in Australia. Data were from an additional set of questions on the Australian Bureau of Statistics' 1993-94 Agricultural Financial Survey and an interview survey of 65 Tasmanian farmers. Findings indicated that farm businesses that had no one in the management team with education to year 10 level were least likely to make a change to their practice; 68 percent of farm businesses that participated in training in the past year and 39 percent of non-training farm businesses had made a change to practice in the past 3 years; farm businesses with a low level of education were over-represented in the group that identified no training events as worth attending; 31 percent of farm businesses in the lowest education category and less than 10 percent of farm businesses with higher education attended no training events and planned no training in the next 3 years; farm businesses that trained and made changes to practice had a higher average gross operating surplus; prompts for change were (in descending order of importance) other farmers, training events, family, and staff; and almost two-thirds of Tasmanian participants in three survey classes made at least one change to practice as a result of attending a course. (Contains 41 references.) (YLB)

The article reports that the Cotton made in Africa (CmiA) initiative has reached more than 5.5 million people across ten countries in Sub-Saharan Africa.

The issue will open for subscription on August 18, 2023 and will close on August 22, 2023 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a case study at Nestlé SA which explores the importance of corporate social responsibility at a business' activities. Demonstrated is the establishment of shared value, environmental sustainability, and compliance at its cocoa supply chain to as enhance the lives among cocoa farmers while improving the quality of its products for consumers. Indicated is that Nestlé had adopted a wider focus to its responsibilities through the Cocoa Plan.

The issue will open for subscription on November 28, 2022 and will close on November 30, 2022 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Keywords: Barry Callebaut; Hershey; Mars; Mondelez International; Nestl&eacute EN Barry Callebaut Hershey Mars Mondelez International Nestl&eacute N.PAG N.PAG 1 12/04/20 20201123 NES 201123 Ghana has reportedly accused some in the chocolate industry of a "ploy to derail" government attempts to improve income for farmers. We encourage and support all efforts by C&Amp;ocirc;te d'Ivoire and Ghana's governments to improve the standards of living for cocoa farmers. [Extracted from the article]

This publication provides a fair reflection of the progress, the achievements, and obstacles in the integration of environmental concerns into European Union (EU) agriculture policy, based on indicators developed in the Indicator Reporting on the Integration of Environmental Concerns into Agriculture Policy (IRENA) operation. It cites different possibilities for analysing policy integration. External and internal driving forces that impact on agriculture are described.

The Farmers Training and Functional Literacy Programme, initiated by the government of India in 1968, was an effort to translate into practice the concept of linking education (not only vocational training) to development, particularly for increasing production. The project, a joint enterprise of three government ministries, provides participating farmers with: training and field demonstration facilities, functional literacy programs, and special types of farm broadcasts through the All India Radio. The following aspects of the program are described in separate sections of the document: concepts, organization, curriculum and learning materials, methods of teaching and learning, problem oriented learning materials, evaluation (stating that the overall impact on learners has been satisfactory), and problems and deficiencies. A map of the districts covered by the project, a chart contrasting 14 aspects of traditional and functional literacy programs, and a graphic representation of program evaluation are also included. (Author/MS)

A study was conducted to develop an understanding of retraining from the perspective of those who have experienced it--to know more about how and why they decided to undertake the process of acquiring new or additional work skills, how they learned about the alternatives available to them, and what feelings accompanied this experience. Research was conducted using focus groups of the following types of persons: (1) workers retraining as a result of being displaced by job cut-backs or plant closures; (2) workers retraining in order to seek better jobs, either with their present employer or a new employer; (3) workers enrolled in company-sponsored retraining programs; and (4) farmers training for nonagricultural employment. Participants included men and women representing a range of ages, ethnicity, and educational backgrounds. The participants reported a variety of reasons for getting retraining, mostly as a result of losing a job or selling their farms; they had to overcome a number of psychological and emotional barriers, such as disbelief, guilt, isolation, lack of information about options, pride, and fear. The knowledge gained in the study will be used to assist in the creation of public service announcements and other broadcast materials to encourage dislocated workers to begin thinking now about the necessity of retraining in order to avoid future displacement. (KC)