Search

CONTEXT: In Ethiopia, many agricultural interventions have been introduced for mixed farm types in different biophysical and socioeconomic conditions. The contribution of such interventions to multi-objectives at farm level and beyond remains unclear. OBJECTIVE: To derive insights into interaction of multi-objectives on economic profit-, nutrition security-, and environmental performance that are relevant for improvement of farm household living income in Amhara, Ethiopia. METHODS: FarmDESIGN model evaluated performance of four stylized medium- and small-scale farm types in a low (Lay Gayint)- and high (South Achefer)- potential district: LG-M, LG-S, SA-M and SA-S. Pareto-based multi-objective optimization was performed to maximize farm profit, livestock density, dietary energy and vitamin A yield, and minimize GHG and soil N losses. Further analysis resulted in 3–4 clusters per farm type with varied farm configurations. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Higher dietary energy- and vitamin A- yield that meets household and Ethiopian society requirements increased synergistically with profit in three of the four farm type clusters, while LG-S clusters could only increase vitamin A yield substantially with profit. Only LG-M clusters intensified livestock by addition of 4–8 crossbred cows and 1–10 chickens, supported by imported feed and off-farm grazing but face strong environmental trade-offs of increased GHG and soil N losses. Chicken production (eggs and chicken meat) is an option to reduce environmental impact, increase profit and contribute to both human nutrition requirements. In LG-S, SA-M and SA-S farm type clusters, profit was generated mainly from sale of eucalyptus, maize, potato, carrot, finger millet, garlic, beetroot and banana, with eucalyptus accounting at least 35% of the crop profit. Livestock diversification in these clusters also contributed to farm revenue, but always to a smaller extent, due to relatively high management costs. A living income from farming activities was only achieved on SA-M3 as 3.96 USD/capita/day (+0.36 above the threshold). This cluster had a 2.90 ha land area, farm income almost equally generated from crop and livestock production, and successfully met all set objectives except maximizing livestock density. SIGNIFICANCE: Our study infers the need to increase land area, expand poultry and rear crossbred cows, and cultivate high value crops to realize a living income solely from agricultural activities. For implementation, current land-use policies should support farm area expansion. The suggested agricultural options, which already align with current Ethiopian development plans, must utilize sustainable measures that will not lead to short- or long-term challenges as higher GHG and soil nutrient mining.

The São Francisco River Basin in Brazil’s Northeast region suffered from a serious multi-year drought, which started in 2012. This drought was characterized by long periods of water stress, variability and unpredictability of levels and flows of rivers and reservoirs, decreases in hydropower generation, and rising of conflicts between agricultural and electrical sectors. Besides, the electricity sector faced a crisis due to its dependency on hydroelectricity generation. Applying a Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) can contribute to resolve such conflicts. Particular challenges are establishing transparent rules for water level management at the dams and securing electricity supply. Ultimately, identifying options to invest in sustainable power sources may positively impact the regional electricity matrix. We used Soft Systems Methodology to structure the decision-making context and set the main objectives to be considered in the MCDA. Different scenarios of reservoir management were simulated using the Soil and Water Integrated Model and Incomplete Pairwise Comparison, while bibliographic research and expert interviews led to the selection of indicators for structuring the MCDA. We present projections for hydropower generation and meeting of water demands of further users, based on two climate change projections. The driest scenario shows a reduction in hydropower generation, indicating the necessity to reconfigure the composition of electricity sources, considering economic, technical and social-environmental constraints. These elements of the structuring phase are prerequisites for the evaluation phase of the MCDA.

Semiarid regions are often secondary on the national to global (scientific) agenda, especially if abundant vegetation elsewhere draws attention and the local population is considered backwards thinking and poverty-stricken. The Caatinga, our case study, is such a region, home to millions of Brazilians and a vast biodiversity. Unfortunately, a widely uncoordinated land use change and biodiversity decline are happening, while farmers’ livelihoods are at risk. We hypothesize substantial weaknesses in the current governance practices. To explore governance of the less noticed region, we conducted interviews and field visits and complemented the findings with the literature and internet resources. Our multi-method approach combines the social–ecological systems framework with constellation analysis and dynamic modeling. The aim was to understand the current state of governance in the region and identify clues for more sustainable land management. The use and conservation of Caatinga are negotiated at multiple levels, which are only sporadically interlinked. The conversion of forest land into alternative land uses shifts and shares responsibility among different sectors, while cross-sectoral cooperation is rarely observed. The region and its population face massive prejudices. Obstructing attitudes, such as thinking in dichotomies, and paternalistic and opportunistic approaches, are being addressed by some new coalitions taking alternative action. It is unlikely that these isolated initiatives will converge by themselves to a larger transformation toward sustainable resource use. There is a need to bring the dispersed actions in a more focused and coordinated approach, integrating socioeconomic and ecological concerns, values, and partnerships.

O Brasil introduziu, desde o marco constitucional de 1988, uma série de avanços no envolvimento potencial da sociedade em tomadas de decisões. A participação pública é um conceito abrangente que se realiza em diferentes escalas e com diversos atores envolvidos. Analisou-se neste estudo se a imprecisão conceitual do que é participação pública alimenta expectativas diversas e contraditórias, limitando a efetividade desse conceito central da gestão. A pesquisa se baseia em um estudo sobre governança participativa na bacia hidrográfica do rio São Francisco, tendo o comitê dessa bacia como um caso, e um estudo de escala municipal da mesma bacia hidrográfica. Ambos os estudos utilizaram observação participante e entrevistas. Derivamos critérios de boa e má prática na participação pública da literatura e comparamos a situação da participação pública nas duas escalas. A participação em ambos os casos continua sendo uma atividade de um grupo especial. Outros atores ainda devem rever as suas atividades e assumir novas tarefas nesse novo sistema. Assim que as condições do processo melhorarem, a avaliação temática pode ocorrer. Sugere-se uma série de perguntas para provocar e contribuir no discurso social sobre o conceito político da participação pública. Aponta-se à justiça interacional como uma dimensão relevante até agora pouco contemplada

For decades, large reservoirs have been built for hydropower plants in Brazil’s São Francisco River Basin. Rural development has been a simultaneous goal with a primary focus on irrigation. Irrigated agriculture, however, has suffered from poor soils, insufficient water management strategies, and a disregard for integrating grazing-based smallholdings outside of the irrigation schemes. Recurrent droughts are distressing all sectors. This synthesis assessed sustainable land management options by investigating the aquatic and terrestrial land use systems alongside their underlying ecosystem functions and services. Decisions about the allocation of scarce water proved to be both the major issue of land use discourses and driver of practices. The primarily hydroelectricity-focused water management practice cannot be maintained at the same level in the long run, as it has become ever more adverse towards competing water usages. The increasing use of the water and adjacent land also constitutes a major potential threat to water quality. Managed water level fluctuations should generally mimic natural patterns. Wind and solar power generation are suitable complements to agricultural land use. Cycling scarce nutrients between aquatic and terrestrial sectors is ambitious but promising, ultimately improving the generally poor soils in the area. Smart management of biodiversity can foster intensively-irrigated cropping, although the non-irrigated Caatinga ecosystem needs better management of its conflicting uses. Aims and responsibilities of multi-level planning and management require clarification and coordination between sectors, while practices of public participation should be revised in order to better support a comprehensive and transparent transition towards sustainability.

In Brazil’s semi-arid Northeast, most rural dwellers derive income from the dry Caatinga forest through livestock farming, fruit collection, and firewood extraction. However, recurring droughts and inadequate land use practices jeopardize farmers’ livelihoods. The drought-resistant, endemic Umbuzeiro tree provides fruit for direct consumption and allows for the creation of transformed products. The planting of this native species can enhance the well-being of the ecosystem and establish future benefits for smallholdings. However, it is crucial that when taking up innovative practices to cope with environmental change, a willingness to apply them should be fostered among local farmers. We used constellation analysis as a transdisciplinary approach to identify elements of current land management which subsequently defined the nodes of a Bayesian network (BN). We developed probabilities of practice uptake that strengthen success, namely the conservation of natural resources while securing the incomes of smallholders. In collaboration with stakeholders and experts, 25 identified nodes for the BN were tested under various scenarios. Adopting all suggested innovative practices secures the final objectives—ecosystem health and farmer benefits (approx. 90%). The analysis quantified the relevance of single issues that may impede farmers to adopt the practices, such as having to cultivate seedlings or avoiding long-term investments. Further crucial actions include the fencing-off of livestock and marketing pathways. Affordable credit, research, and supportive farmers’ institutions can encourage farmers to implement innovative practices. The use of modeled scenarios can provide evidence, which might encourage sustainable land management.

Ecosystems around the world generate a wide range of services. Often, there are trade-offs in ecosystem service provision. Managing such trade-offs requires governance of interdependent action situations. We distinguished between (1) enhancing action situations where beneficiaries create, maintain, or improve an ESS and (2) appropriation action situations where actors subtract from a flow of ESS. We classified ESSs in order to identify focal action situations and link them to ESS governance types which are likely to strengthen sustainable ecosystem management. The classification is applied to six forest cases in Asia, Africa and Latin America. Our results confirm that ecosystem management, which more strongly supports the provision of public goods and common pool resources, is often under strong pressure to be transformed into systems that mainly provide private goods. This can be partly explained by incentive constellations in the action situations of public goods and common pool resources. Therefore, governance has to be adapted to specific ESSs. ESS governance needs to identify institutions which best fit to different ESSs and to harmonize them for all the ESSs provided by the system. Our approach helps to understand why institutions fail or succeed in maintaining ESSs.

Jatropha seed is a biomass suitable for bioenergy production that can be produced by smallholders, even on marginal lands. However, the current oilseed production is too low to meet the needs of the planned renewable electricity system in the Galapagos Islands. Pruning and fertilization are management options that can be used to increase the dry seed yields. The effects of both treatments were tested in a split-plot design with jatropha trees, which were monitored during a three-year production period. The average seed production was 643±58 kg ha-1 year-1 in the unpruned trees and 696±50 kg ha-1 year-1 in the pruned trees. Although this difference is small, it is expected to increase over time. The pruned trees developed more slowly than the unpruned trees but showed higher (and still increasing) yields at the end of the three-year test period, while the unpruned trees appeared to have reached their maximum production by the second year of the trial. The low fertilizer doses approved by the smallholders did not have a significant impact on the dry seed yield, and the management options that show benefits in the long term are generally not accepted or adopted by them. Cost-effective nutrient enhancement should be investigated, such as inoculation with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. RESUMEN La semilla de jatropha es una biomasa adecuada para la producción de bioenergía que pueden producir los pequeños agricultores, incluso en tierras marginales. Sin embargo, actualmente la producción es demasiado baja para satisfacer las necesidades del sistema de electricidad renovable planificado en las Islas Galápagos. La poda y la fertilización son opciones de manejo que pueden utilizarse para aumentar los rendimientos de semillas secas. Se probaron los efectos de ambos tratamientos en un diseño de parcelas divididas con árboles de jatropha, que se monitorearon durante un período de producción de tres años. La producción promedio de semillas fue de 643±58 kg ha-1 año-1 en los árboles sin podar y 696±50 kg ha-1 año-1 en los árboles podados. Aunque esta diferencia es pequeña, se espera que aumente con el tiempo. Los árboles podados se desarrollaron más lentamente que los árboles sin podar, pero mostraron rendimientos más altos (con potencial de seguir aumentado) al final del periodo de prueba de tres años, mientras que los árboles sin podar parecían haber alcanzado su producción máxima para el segundo año de la prueba. Las bajas dosis de fertilizante probadas por los pequeños agricultores no tuvieron un impacto significativo en el rendimiento de la semilla seca y las opciones de manejo forestal que suponen beneficios a largo plazo generalmente no son aceptadas o adoptadas por ellos. Se deben investigar otras fuentes rentables de mejora de nutrientes, como la inoculación de los árboles con hongos micorrízicos arbusculares.

Transdisciplinary research is a well-recognised approach to address complex real-world problems. However, the literature on a central aspect of transdisciplinarity, namely stakeholder involvement, largely lacks a reflection on its objectives. In response, we present a framework defining four general rationales for stakeholder involvement: normative, substantive, social-learning, and implementation objectives. We demonstrate the applicability of the framework and analyse how the design and processes of three collaborative research projects dealing with sustainable land management in Southern Africa, Southeast Asia, and South America were affected by motivations to include stakeholders. Our assessment indicates that at the projects' outset, many scientists pursued a normative rationale and saw stakeholder involvement as a burden. In the course of the projects, the substantive objective became more relevant as being closely linked to the core mandate of scientists. The projects also aimed for social learning and implementation processes, which, however, did not remain uncontested among team members. Overall, our study indicates that jointly negotiating, clarifying, communicating, and reflecting the underlying objectives of stakeholder involvement can help developing more effective interaction strategies and clarifying expectations. The conceptual framework can guide a systematic reflective and reflexive practise and support the planning and co-designing of future transdisciplinary research projects.

Balsa trees are native to neotropical forests and frequently grow on fallow, degraded land. Balsa can be used for economic and ecological rehabilitation of farmland with the aim of restoring native forest ecosystems. Although Ecuador is the world&rsquo, s largest producer of balsa, there is a lack of knowledge about production indicators for management of balsa stands in the country. The aim of this study was to develop growth and yield models (i.e., site index (SI) curves and stem volume models) for balsa plantations in the coastal lowlands of Ecuador. Balsa trees growing in 2161 plots in seven provinces were sampled. Here we present the first growth and yield models for the native, although underutilized, balsa tree. Three curve models were fitted to determine SI for balsa stands, differentiating five site quality classes. Eight volume models were compared to identify the best fit model for balsa stands. The mean annual increment was used to assess balsa production. The generalized algebraic difference approach (GADA) equation yielded one of the best results for the height&ndash, age and diameter&ndash, age models. The Newnham model was the best volume model for balsa in this comparative study. The maximum annual increment (i.e., for the best stand index) was reached in the second year of plantation. The fitted models can be used to support management decisions regarding balsa plantations. However, the models are preliminary and must be validated with independent samples. Nevertheless, the very fast development of the native balsa tree is particularly promising and should attract more attention from forest owners and politicians.

Currently, artisanal fisheries in fresh water reservoirs have been losing ground to commercial fish farming and a great deal of fishery resources are being threatened by human interventions, such as reservoir management and increasing net-cage aquaculture. This study aims to understand the impacts of environmental changes on fishery resources and analyse the migratory fish breeding season as a missing link for fishery management in the semi-arid area of the São Francisco River Basin. Among the 870 fishermen operating in the Pernambuco part of the Itaparica Reservoir, 10% were interviewed and affirmed that fish stocks have been compromised due to the closed fishing period’s incoherence, exotic species insertion, and changes to the river flow caused by reservoir construction and operation. A significant correlation was observed between the Reproductive Activity Index (RAI) and precipitation (p = 0.745) as well as between the RAI and the river’s flow (p = −0.909). This shows how important it is to consider both the semi-arid climate setting and reservoir operation in determining the closed period which should safeguard fish reproduction. Monitoring the fish reproduction period and research on the reproductive biology of native fish species is needed in the São Francisco River Basin’s different stretches in order to guarantee valuable fish stocks and fisheries maintenance. Integrated action between the fish resource users, civil society, and federal bodies/agencies is essential in order to mitigate impacts and improve fish production systems, not only in Brazil, but in other regions experiencing a similar scenario.

Jatropha is promoted as a pro-poor bioenergy plant, while basic information about its productivity, age of maximum production, and oil content are missing. This study aims to determine the seed yield (dry weight) for three INIAP elite jatropha accessions, and to evaluate the changes in physical and chemical seed traits at the different fruit ripening stage in a split-plot design. Maximum seed production occurred four years after planting for the accessions CP041 and CP052, while for accession CP054, it occurred after the first year. CP041 was the most productive, with a mean of 316.46 g tree&minus, 1 year&minus, 1 (&plusmn, 76.50) over the 8-year study period. No significant differences in oil content were found among accessions, fruit ripening stage, and their respective interactions. Seed moisture content decreased drastically as the fruit ripening stage increased, from 40.5% &plusmn, 1.0% at fruit ripening stage 1 (greenish-yellow) down to 13.8% &plusmn, 0.4% at fruit ripening stage 4 (black-brown). No significant differences in seed weight were found among accessions, but it decreased as maturation progressed. Yellow fruits (stage 2) were the heaviest (62.4 g &plusmn, 1.5 g) and the black-brown fruits the lightest (44.3 g &plusmn, 1.9 g). The oil content (%) increased with seed weight up to the point of 58.3 g, but then decreased for heavier seeds.

No Nordeste Paraense alguns agricultores familiares têm implantado pequenas áreas de pastagens e manejado pequenos rebanhos com o objetivo de aplicar eventuais ganhos obtidos com os cultivos, criando uma poupança a ser utilizada nas necessidades futuras da família ou da propriedade. Há indícios de problemas nas pastagens e no rebanho que limitam tanto a produção e a sustentabilidade da pecuária, como comprometem os cultivos agrícolas que realmente sustentam a propriedade. Este estudo tratou de identificar as principais limitações e propor alternativas de manejo que sejam econômica e ecologicamente mais sustentáveis. Na primeira fase do estudo, numa amostra ao acaso de 38 propriedades, descreveu-se o manejo da pastagem e do rebanho, e na segunda, numa amostra menor, de doze propriedades e por um período de 29 meses, avaliou-se o potencial desses dois componentes. As propriedades estudadas desenvolvem uma pecuária de baixa produtividade. Devido à baixa fertilidade do solo e o deficiente manejo, as pastagens não suprem os alimentos necessários ao rebanho, tanto em quantidade como em qualidade. Também foram identificadas deficiências no manejo do rebanho, próprias de sistemas extensivos. Contudo, as limitações podem ser solucionadas com práticas amplamente conhecidas de manejo da pastagem (como formação, manutenção e manejo) e do rebanho (reprodução, manejo de bezerros e sanidade em geral). Novos modelos de exploração também foram sugeridos. In Northeastern Pará, smallholder agriculturalists have established small pastures and manage small herds, mainly with the objective of investing profits in their crops, as a form of savings to meet the family's and property's future needs. There are indications of pasture and herd problems that limit production and sustainability, and threaten the crops that really sustain the property. This study sought to identify constraints and technological solutions, and make information available for public policies. In the 1st phase of this study and using 38 smallholdings sampled at random, the pastures and herd management were described, and in the 2nd phase, with a smaller sample of 12 smallholdings during 29-month period, the potential of these two components was evaluated. In general, the smallholdings have low-productivity and ranching is vulnerable. Due to the low soil fertility and the deficient management, pastures do not supply all the herd's feed needs, neither in quantity nor quality. Herd management deficiencies are characteristic of extensive production systems. However, these constraints can be overcome with well-known technologies of pasture establishment, maintenance and management, and herd reproduction, calf management, and herd health, allowing significant improvement. New exploitation models were suggested also.

Agricultural landscapes safeguard ecosystem services (ES) and biodiversity upon which human well-being depends. However, only a fraction of these services are generally considered in land management decisions, resulting in trade-offs and societally inefficient solutions. The TEEB Study (The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity) spearheaded the development of assessments of the economic significance of ES and biodiversity. Several national TEEB follow-ups have compiled case studies and derived targeted policy advice. By synthesizing insights from “Natural Capital Germany – TEEB DE” and focusing on rural areas, the objectives of this study were (i) to explore causes of the continued decline of ES and biodiversity, (ii) to introduce case studies exemplifying the economic significance of ES and biodiversity in land use decisions, and (iii) to synthesize key recommendations for policy, planning and management. Our findings indicate that the continued decrease of ES and biodiversity in Germany can be explained by implementation deficits within a well-established nature conservation system. Three case studies on grassland protection, the establishment of riverbank buffer zones and water-sensitive farming illustrate that an economic perspective can convey recognition of the values of ES and biodiversity. We conclude with suggestions for enhanced consideration, improved conservation and sustainable use of ES and biodiversity. Agricultural landscapes safeguard ecosystem services (ES) and biodiversity upon which human well-being depends. However, only a fraction of these services are generally considered in land management decisions, resulting in trade-offs and societally inefficient solutions. The TEEB Study (The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity) spearheaded the development of assessments of the economic significance of ES and biodiversity. Several national TEEB follow-ups have compiled case studies and derived targeted policy advice. By synthesizing insights from “Natural Capital Germany – TEEB DE” and focusing on rural areas, the objectives of this study were (i) to explore causes of the continued decline of ES and biodiversity, (ii) to introduce case studies exemplifying the economic significance of ES and biodiversity in land use decisions, and (iii) to synthesize key recommendations for policy, planning and management. Our findings indicate that the continued decrease of ES and biodiversity in Germany can be explained by implementation deficits within a well-established nature conservation system. Three case studies on grassland protection, the establishment of riverbank buffer zones and water-sensitive farming illustrate that an economic perspective can convey recognition of the values of ES and biodiversity. We conclude with suggestions for enhanced consideration, improved conservation and sustainable use of ES and biodiversity.

Even two decades after independence in 1991, the agricultural sector of Uzbekistan remains regulated by the government, prescribing the number of cattle head per agricultural area or imposing mandatory cash crops. The policy makers are insufficiently informed about the bottlenecks in the different livestock production units and base their policies mainly on general knowledge. This study analyzed the two major cattle farm types in the Khorezm province, 56 medium-scale farms (LS; on average 22 ha) and 80 household farms (HH; on average 0.2 ha). While LS farms produced more metabolizable energy and crude protein than required by their own ruminant livestock, the feeds produced by HH farms covered only a third of the requirements. Despite their limited farm size, the HH farmers took an active part in the commercial farming sector, for example, through the purchase of inputs for cattle and crop production, and product sales. The HH farms generated higher relative crop yields than their LS counterparts, while cattle productivity of both was comparable, albeit low. The present findings can be considered as a benchmark for monitoring developments in the cattle sector and as a source of information for directing improvements in feed supply, cattle health and husbandry.

Game harvesting in South Africa generally leaves behind edible by-products, which could be a low-cost source of protein for poor people in rural areas. Seven professional and nine recreational hunters were interviewed, a game harvest and trophy hunt attended and literature reviewed, in order to describe the food value chain for game and ways in which edible by-products could be legally channelled into the human food chain, rather than being left in the field for scavengers. Practices of informal vendors (n = 51) were assessed using structured interviews, observation and microbiological analysis. In an experiment, inspected game by-products (shinbones from impala and springbok) were provided to eight informal traders for cooking at an informal market and microbiological analysis was done before and after preparation. The results showed that providing edible by-products to poor consumers appears to be culturally acceptable, affordable, accessible and safe. A crossover from formal to informal marketing is recommended as it would enhance traceability and safety of the product and minimise the risk of poaching. It is suggested that methods should be developed which make the distribution of edible by-products to vulnerable rural communities feasible.

Social farming uses farm activities as a means of promoting human mental and physical health. As organized social farming became more professional, some European countries introduced support centres to assist in its development. This paper reports on a study that examined the experience of such support centres in the Netherlands, Norway and Flanders to assess their current activities and their impact on social farmers who kept livestock. Information was gathered through interviews and online questionnaires. The Dutch farmers had generally restructured their livestock activities to meet some of the demands of social farming, whereas the Flemish farmers had not adapted their system, as they derived their main income from farming rather than from social care.

Rural livelihoods in West Africa depend largely on livestock. The sub-humid and humid zones of the region, however, are highly affected by the tsetse flies, vector of trypanosomosis, by severely limiting livestock production and livelihood options. Endemic ruminant livestock breeds are trypanotolerant, but perceived as inferior compared to other breeds in terms of productivity. The paper shows trends of relative decline in endemic population as a result of increased crossbreeding, largely with zebu cattle and Sahelian sheep and goats, and considerable decline in habitat quality due to forest conversion, logging activities and bushfires. The trade-offs between livelihoods and income strategies and endemic ruminant and habitat conservation are captured by an understanding of the socio-economic conditions and potential drivers of breed choices and forest use within households and communities. The paper shows that livelihood analysis is an important step in understanding impacts and therefore responses to development projects and to ensure that the poorest categories are not excluded from development interventions.

Bolivia accounts for approximately 63% of the South American llama population. Llamas keep playing an important role in the subsistence of smallholdings in the Andean regions fulfilling various functions in the productive, social and cultural life of the people. The present study evaluates functions of llama keeping as a prerequisite to the formulation of a community-driven breeding programme. A ranking approach was applied with 75 farmers in 6 villages. Sampling considered the factors gender and central versus remote communities. The different functions were presented visually. Each farmer was asked to arrange the illustrations according to his preference order. In total, 10 functions were suggested, covering the categories transport, sale or use of products, integration of animals in cultural events and herd size as capital asset. Ranking frequencies of stated preferences were calculated. A rank-based t-test was applied for multiple pair-wise comparisons within ranking groups gender and community provenance, respectively. Between-group comparison was performed by non-parametric Wilcoxon rank-sum test. The capital function was most important (14.6% of total ranking frequency) followed by the transport function to cultivated areas (13.7%) and the transport function for other purposes in third place (10.8%). All pair-wise comparison analysis indicated a significant difference for the two highest ranked functions. Functions ranked from 3rd to 9th position showed poor separation due to similar means with high variance. Bottom ranked function with significant separation for all ranking groups was the ‘Integration of animals in cultural events or rituals’. Women appreciated the dung of the animals more than men (p = 0.0376), whereas men put higher value on the sale of live animals for cash generation in case of emergency (p = 0.0006) and for cash availability (p = 0.0371). It is concluded that traditionally important functions of llamas like wealth accumulation and the close integration of the animals in mixed farming systems prevail. Breeding policies and breeding decisions will be more suitable when taking into account farmers' preferences and gender-specific perceptions.

Under hot conditions, contemporary commercial broilers do not reach their full genetic potential for growth rate, body weight (BW), or breast meat yield because dissipation of their excessively produced internal (metabolic) heat is hindered by the feathers. Therefore, it was hypothesized that heat stress can be alleviated by using the naked-neck gene (Na) or the featherless gene (sc). The study consisted of 4 experimental genetic groups (fully feathered, heterozygous naked neck, homozygous naked neck, featherless), progeny of the same double-heterozygous parents (Na/na +/sc), and commercial broilers. Birds from all 5 groups were brooded together until d 21 when one-half of the birds from each group were moved to hot conditions (constant 35 degrees C), and the others remained under comfortable conditions (constant 25 degrees C). Individual BW was recorded from hatch to slaughter at d 45 and 52 at 25 and 35 degrees C, respectively, when breast meat, rear part, heart, and spleen weights were recorded. Body temperature was recorded weekly from d 14 to 42. Feather coverage significantly affected the thermoregulatory capacity of the broilers under hot conditions. With reduced feather coverage (naked-neck), and more so without any feathers (featherless), the birds at 35 degrees C were able to minimize the elevation in body temperature. Consequently, only the featherless birds exhibited similar growth and BW under the 2 temperature treatments. The naked-neck birds at 35 degrees C showed only a marginal advantage over their fully feathered counterparts, indicating that 20 to 40% reduction in feather coverage provided only limited tolerance to the heat stress imposed by hot conditions. Breast meat yield of the featherless birds was much greater (3.5% of BW, approximately 25% advantage) than that of their partly feathered and fully feathered counterparts and the commercial birds under hot conditions. The high breast meat yield (at both 25 and 35 degrees C) of the featherless broilers suggests that the saved feather-building nutrients and greater oxygen-carrying capacity contribute to their greater breast meat yield. Because of these results, further research on genetically heat-tolerant broilers should focus on the featherless phenotype.

Assessments of ecosystem services (ES), that aim at informing decisions on land management, are increasing in number around the globe. Despite selected success stories, evidence for ES information being used in decision making is weak, partly because ES assessments are found to fall short in targeting information needs by decision makers. To improve their applicability in practice, we compared existing concepts of ES assessments with focus on informing land use decisions and identified opportunities for enhancing the relevance of ES assessments for decision making. In a process of codesign, building on experience of four projects in Brazil, China, Madagascar, and Vietnam, we developed a step-wise approach for better targeting ES assessments toward information needs in land use decisions. Our problem-oriented approach aims at (1) structuring ES information according to land use problems identified by stakeholders, (2) targeting context-specific ES information needs by decision makers, and (3) assessing relevant management options. We demonstrate how our approach contributes to making ES assessments more policy relevant and enhances the application of ES assessments as a tool for decision support.

The National Water Resources Policy prescribes a model of decentralization and participation. Committees stand out as a major contributor to the governance of basins. Its position in regional water decisions has been sometimes contradictory by other institutions. This study combines inter-, transdisciplinary and multi-level perspectives on sustainable water management of the whole São Francisco watershed and Itaparica reservoir region to identify entry points for promoting good governance at different scales. By applying constellation analysis, we detected drivers and barriers in water management. The São Francisco Watershed Committee is not sufficiently represented in the local population and also is not connected with local institutions for water management. Strategies are identified in the participation of sub-committees and in strengthening the local level by “bottom up” approaches. Therefore, strategic planning and development instruments carry an important contribution at municipal government scale. A Política Nacional de Recursos Hídricos prescreve um modelodescentralizado e participativo, donde os comitês se destacam comimportantes contribuições na governança em escala de bacias. A posição docomitê nas decisões regionais da água é às vezes contraditória à das demaisinstituições. A presente pesquisa vincula perspectivas inter/transdisciplinarese multiníveis sobre a gestão sustentável da bacia hidrográfica do Rio SãoFrancisco e do reservatório Itaparica para identificar interfaces da escala localde uma bacia, a fim de promover boa governança. Com base na metodologiade análise de constelação, foram detectadas dinâmicas e barreiras nas quaisse enfatizaram a pouca representatividade do Comitê da Bacia Hidrográficado Rio São Francisco (CBHSF) na população local e a falha na interação entreas instituições locais de gestão de água. Algumas estratégias são vistas porparticipação da sociedade civil nos futuros subcomitês e no fortalecimentoda escala local, por meio de capacitação e cooperação de atores do mesmoâmbito. Além disso, os instrumentos de planejamento estratégico edesenvolvimento trazem contribuição importante para o governo municipal.

In many countries, governmental systems and their areas still mirror vanished historical logics rather than contemporary active citizenship based on environmental units. The Brazilian Water Act from 1997 institutionalizes the watershed as the planning unit and the creation of participatory watershed committees. What is the state of this radical shift in governance? Will the notorious system of alliances among powerful actors again impede participation of the broader public? How are the social actors dealing with their role as committee members? We establish our reasoning based on literature, documents published by a selected committee, observations while attending a plenary session, and carrying out key person interviews and a survey among members. Constellation analysis has been used to visualize the complex governance setting. The Sao Francisco River is a challenging case, as its watershed comprises a very large, heterogeneous and, about half of it, semiarid area. Sixty-two voluntary committee members are to govern the area of 16.6 million inhabitants. The established multi-level governance system (municipal, state, regional and federal scale) co-exists—external and internal frictions are unavoidable. So far, it appears that the governmental agencies are not yet ready to share responsibility. The committee members themselves are in a process of learning by doing. If participation is really wanted—in the study watershed and similarly others in the world—then both members of line organizations and the watershed committee need to build up more trust and should champion for the common goal. Nonetheless, controversies about the allocation and management of scarce water resources will continue be a tough challenge for the various actors.

Compared to the total water use in livestock production systems, water for livestock drinking is small in amount but is an important requirement for health and productivity of animals. This study was carried out to assess constraints and challenges of meeting drinking water requirements of livestock in rural mixed smallholder crop-livestock farming districts in the Ethiopian Rift Valley area. Data was collected by individual interviews with randomly selected respondents and farmer group discussions. Farmers ranked feed and water scarcity as the two most important constraints for livestock husbandry, although the ranking order differed between districts and villages. Poor quality water was a concern for the communities in proximity to urban settlements or industrial establishments. Water provision for livestock was challenging during the dry season, since alternative water sources dried up or were polluted. Though rainwater harvesting by dugout constructions was practiced to cope with water scarcity, farmers indicated that mismanagement of the harvested water was posing health risks on both livestock and people. A sustainable water provision for livestock in the area, thus, depends on use of different water sources (intermittent or perennial) that should be properly managed. Industrial establishments should adopt an environment-friendly production to minimize pollution of water resources used for livestock consumption. Technical support to farmers is required in proper design and use of existing rainwater harvesting systems. Further investigations are recommended on effect of poor quality water (perceived by farmers) on performance of livestock.

Heavy grazing of communal rangeland appears to be in conflict with the societal aim of conserving biodiversity. Understanding the grazing system in context is essential for intervention. One mixed and one pastoral system along a rainfall gradient on communal lands in Namibia were studied. Data on 224 calves were gathered from the life history data of 81 cows. Body measurements of 80 cattle were recorded. Fifteen households were interviewed regarding their cattle management practices. Age at first calving differed between the two systems, being 32 months in the pastoral and 61 in the mixed system. Calving intervals were shorter and the number of parities higher in the pastoral system (16 c.f. 27 months, and 3.0 c.f. 2.2, respectively). Cows in the mixed system were older (100 c.f. 60 months), and had better body condition. In the pastoral system, male calves were sold and females retained, while in the other, male calves were kept in the herd. In the mixed system, males provided draught power and their grazing resources were primarily threatened by cropland expansion. In the pastoral system, reducing head counts in order to diminish grazing pressure would require incentives and alternative options through changes in societal priorities and policies.

Where the main purpose of cattle keeping is not for meat and milk production, their valuation should be based on other functions, which may be deduced from the origin and meaning of the term ‘live stock’. By way of example, the monetary value was calculated of the market and non-market functions of cattle kept on Amazonian smallholdings. These cows were kept primarily for savings and financing.

Summary The prevalence of mastitis and brucellosis in urban and peri-urban settings was studied in Awassa and two smaller nearby towns in southern Ethiopia, because milk-born diseases are causing a risk for human health, besides direct impacts on animal production. Mastitis was investigated by examining 80 cows (320 udder quarters) using California mastitis test (CMT) and somatic cell count (SCC). The prevalence of brucellosis was assessed by sampling 177 cattle in Awassa and its peri-urban areas using serological methods. Logistic regression was used to analyse risk factors associated with mastitis. Prevalence of clinical mastitis on quarter level was 0.9%, and 1.9% of quarters were non-functional or blocked. Prevalence of sub-clinical mastitis at quarter level in urban and peri-urban areas was significantly different (P

Cattle on smallholder farms are kept for socio-economic reasons, rather than physical production, which explains why farmers favour low input and discontinuous management. To find out how this form of livestock husbandry relates to the other main farming sub-systems, cattle-keeping was compared with cassava and black pepper production. Data was collected from 37 cattle-keeping, mixed smallholdings, during 15 visits, at monthly intervals. The three sub-systems were studied in terms of productive efficiency of resource use, socio-economic contribution, and ecosystem-friendliness, using cash flow, non-market output and non-parametric rankings. Their relative performances in each domain were ranked and put on an AMOEBA diagram, “a general method of system description and assessment”. The markings connected across functions produced an outline of a polygon, reminding the shape of an amoeba. It was found that productive efficiency was lowest in cattle, benefit:cost ratio was highest in cassava, while return to labour was especially strong in black pepper production. The highest status, lowest production risk, highest liquidity and ease of sale, related to cattle. Cattle and pastures ranked worst in terms of biodiversity, damage to and pollution of water courses. Nutrient losses were highest in cassava, due to the large amount harvested. The differences in function meant that the three polygons occupied different segments of the circular diagram. Nevertheless, together they formed a well-rounded shape. The amoeboid nature of these polygons can be used to predict the effect of a shift of activity on the farm, making the diagram a useful illustrative tool for planning and teaching.

This study evaluates the household income contribution and the profitability of traditional small ruminant enterprises in two mixed-farming systems of southern Ethiopia (viz. Adilo and Kofele). Small ruminant production is an integral part of mixed systems in the Ethiopian highlands. The assessment of the current economic performance of small ruminants indicates production-related opportunities and constraints and provides baseline data against which the success of future interventions can be measured. Detailed information on economic parameters was gathered through a 1-year period of flock and household monitoring (155 households) between September 2005 and August 2006. Structured surveys were conducted with the participating households to elicit information on income-expense details of small ruminant and other agricultural enterprises. Small ruminants contributed considerably to cash income and to a limited extent to human nutrition especially when other sources were in short supply. The annual profit per animal ranged from 20 to 37 Ethiopian Birr. The return to capital was 17% in Kofele and 29% in Adilo, with both values vastly exceeding the national interest rate. The sale of small ruminants contributed to 39% and 23% of total farm cash income among small ruminant keepers in Adilo and Kofele, respectively. Sale prices are highest before holidays. Researches should target at how to use available feed resources in a timely and cost-effective fashion to make use of the seasonal market opportunities.

SUMMARYSmall ruminants are an integral part of mixed-farming systems throughout southern Ethiopia. Yet, they have received little research attention or institutional support. Characterizing the existing small ruminant production systems and analysing their production constraints are important tools to diagnose the status and trends of the systems, and thus to identify areas for future interventions. A survey was conducted between April and July 2004 in the Adilo and Kofele areas of the southern mixed-farming systems of Ethiopia to explore reasons for keeping small ruminants and to evaluate the existing status of and the prospects for the small ruminant sector. Additional information was obtained during discussions with key informants who had experience of small ruminant keeping. Small ruminants fill several roles in the study area. However, the principal purpose of keeping sheep and goats was to generate cash income. Sheep milk consumption was widespread around Kofele unlike most agricultural systems in the country. Nearly all respondents in Adilo reported fattening their sheep before sale, while such a practice was uncommon in Kofele. Informal insurance schemes were evolving among the sheep keepers in Adilo, and these can be considered as entry points for future interventions. The common problem identified from both individual interviews and group discussions was feed shortage. The identification of alternative feed resources and strategic feeding management might be options for development. Small ruminant disease was the major constraint in Kofele, where marshy areas are increasingly assigned for grazing in the rainy season as suitable land is more and more used for cropping. The growing demand for meat from small ruminants, the improving transportation infrastructure and the experience of farmers in small ruminant keeping are providing opportunities to enhance the contribution of the sector. A thorough monitoring of the productive and economic performance of small ruminants is required to capture the full picture of their contribution thereby directing possible intervention areas to maximize benefits to the farmers.

The presence of cattle in the Amazon region is controversial in terms of their ecological suitability and profitability compared with crops. Nevertheless, they are widely distributed in the study area in north-eastern Para and, contrary to the common image of cattle on large ranches, a high proportion of them are kept on smallholder farms. To explain their presence, cattle are assumed to have benefits beyond physical production, such as complementing resource use or representing capital. To test this hypothesis, the costs and benefits of the three main agricultural activities, cattle, cassava and black pepper production, in terms of land, labour and capital productivity, were recorded in 37 small farms over a period of 15 months. To provide a longer perspective, benefits and costs of these activities were calculated for their assumed lifetime, which in the case of cattle, assumed a stable herd, derived from a deterministic herd model. The resultant values for land, labour and capital productivity of cattle were much lower than the values derived from direct observations during the study period, and were not as high as those for cassava and black pepper. Furthermore, the analysis of resource use in the farms showed that cattle production was not usually integrated with cropping activities, did not improve the use of available labour, and competed for land. Therefore, there had to be a reason for keeping cattle beyond their physical productivity. It was deduced to be their functional quality. Cattle could be disposed of quickly and easily at any time, in order to acquire large sums of cash or the equivalent in kind. The liquidity derived from keeping living stock was not matched by other agricultural activities or by the financial market. Hence, cattle turned out to be the best instrument of finance for the smallholder. Farmers were not interested in the continuous development of their herds, or sustainable production practices, and favoured low input management. Consequently, development plans relying on long-term, continuous commitments to pasture and cattle management are inappropriate. Instead, research and extension work should focus on simple, flexible and low-cost improvements to cattle keeping on crop-livestock smallholder farms, until credit programmes are available that replace the financing function of cattle.

Rapid urbanization in Africa leads to a spatial concentration of people with different cultural origins and socioeconomic backgrounds resulting in a great diversity of life styles and livelihood strategies. One common strategy in Maroua/Cameroon and Bobo-Dioulasso/Burkina Faso is urban sheep keeping. Cluster analyses identified distinct socioeconomic groups with similarities between the towns: Traditional livestock keepers, households headed by well educated government employees or traders, and more vulnerable groups formed of households headed by females, retired people or people with limited formal education. The household types in Bobo varied in their perception of the importance and the development of urban sheep keeping and their future plans. Those in Maroua differed in management intensity and in the potential to adapt their practices to the urban environment. Development interventions to reduce environmental pollution and risks for human health associated with urban sheep keeping need to account for these differences in the target group.

Urban sheep production is widespread in Bobo-Dioulasso despite its formal illegality. This study was aimed at the identification of socioeconomic characteristics influencing the decisions of households to take up this activity. One hundred and thirty-six households (half of them keeping sheep, half not keeping small ruminants) were interviewed to collect data on their socioeconomic situation. Three techniques of multivariate analyses were compared. Cluster analysis and logistic regression revealed the following socioeconomic differences between the two groups: the probability of keeping sheep increases with the size of the household and the rate of illiteracy. Households are also more likely to keep sheep if urban cattle husbandry is practised, if there is only one household in the compound and if the keeper has already changed his/her trade at least once. Correspondence analysis provided visual confirmation of these results. Cluster analysis allowed a more profound understanding of the situation by drawing attention to a ‘transitional differentiation’: non-keepers in a group of keepers and vice versa tell us something about potential future keepers or non-keepers.

This paper takes up the case of two market-sheds in the southern Ethiopian highlands (namely Adilo and Kofele) to examine the factors affecting the adoption of small ruminant related technologies in mixed-farming systems. A survey was conducted using semi-structured questionnaires with 155 randomly selected small ruminant keepers between May and June 2006. Farmers in each site initiated new practices like small ruminant fattening and managing a household ‘veterinary kit’. Logistic regression analysis revealed that size of land and livestock holdings significantly affected the adoption of small ruminant technologies in both study sites. Farmer variables such as gender, literacy, age and family size appeared to influence adoption only in one location. In the densely populated area, Adilo, the adoption of more intensive feeding technology of commercial concentrates decreased with increasing farm size only up to a point. Younger farmers, female farmers and literate household heads were more likely to adopt the utilization of commercial concentrates. In relatively resource rich Kofele, treating small ruminants via the household veterinary kit increased with number of livestock, however with farm size only up to the point at which it reached a maximum. The present study showed that location or production system remarkably affects the options of interventions and determines their adoption.