Search

Rice is a staple food for vast population of China and it remarkably contributes toward China's food security. Several fiscal programs have been implemented by Chinese central government for sustainable agriculture production. In this study, we examine the long‐run influence of agricultural public investment (API) and (agro)chemical inputs use (i.e., fertilizer and pesticide) on rice yield in main rice‐producing provinces of China. Second‐generation panel unit root tests, Westerlund error correction model cointegration test, Augmented‐Mean Group (AMG) and Common Correlated Effect Mean Group (CCEMG) estimation techniques have been used in this article. The co‐integration test results reveal strong evidence of the existence of the long‐run co‐integrating link between the considered series. The results of the AMG and CCEMG methods show that (i) API, (ii) fertilizer use, and (iii) power consumption for agricultural machinery positively and significantly impact rice productivity, whereas pesticide usage affects it negatively. Panel quantile regression showed that API, fertilizer use, power consumption, and sown area are significant and positive at 0.10–0.90 quantiles. The results also indicate that pesticide usage increases rice production at 0.10–0.30 quantiles but decreases rice production at 0.40–0.90 quantile levels. Based on these findings, we derive pertinent implications for China's food security. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we identify and quantify various types of risks associated with the rice-based production system in Odisha using both secondary and primary data. The data was collected from 240 farmers selected from East and South Eastern Coastal Plains zones of Odisha, where rice cultivation and climatic-related hazards are widespread. Results showed that farmers faced many adverse climatic environments, such as floods, drought, cyclones, and infestation of pests and diseases, which pose severe threats to crop cultivation practices and farmers' income levels in the study area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fossil fuels, particularly oil, face sustainability challenges due to depletion and their role in increasing atmospheric CO2 levels, contributing to climate change and impacting global agriculture. Renewable energy sources like solar power offer a viable alternative. This study explores the feasibility of agro-photovoltaic (APV) systems, which integrate solar panels with agricultural land to generate electricity while cultivating crops. Specifically, the impact of APV systems on rice production and quality was investigated. Solar modules with a total capacity of 99.84 kW were installed on a 2580 m² site, with two module configurations tested. Two rice (Oryza sativa L.) cultivars, Woonkwang and Saenuri, were transplanted and monitored for growth characteristics, chlorophyll content, and fluorescence, as well as yield and quality. Growth analysis of rice under APV systems showed minimal impact on plant height and tiller numbers, though chlorophyll content analysis indicated delayed leaf aging and extended maturation time. Rice yield decreased due to altered panicle and spikelet numbers. Quality analysis revealed changes in head rice rate and broken rice, stressing optimal harvest timing in APV systems. Shading conditions also affected physicochemical properties and taste profiles. Yields dropped by about 20% under APV systems, but the financial returns from electricity generation significantly outweighed the crop revenue loss. Despite the high initial installation costs and regulatory challenges, APV systems present a promising dual-use approach for enhancing farm income and promoting renewable energy. Continued research and investment are essential for optimizing APV systems and expanding their adoption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Food Science & Technology & Economy is the property of Grain Science & Technology & Economy Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Revista de Economia e Sociologia Rural is the property of Sociedade Brasileira de Economia e Sociologia Rural and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Climate variables mainly greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, temperature, precipitation, and rainfall are affecting crop production across the world. Nepal as a vulnerable country in terms of climate change, has raised the attention of researchers and policymakers in recent years. In this scenario, this study has attempted to find the impact of GHG emissions, temperature, and precipitation on rice production in Nepal. The study is based on time serried data from 1990 to 2019. The findings show that GHG emission has a significant positive impact on rice production. However, the annual average mean temperature has a significant negative impact on rice production. Besides having a negative coefficient, precipitation did not affect rice production significantly. The study recommends concrete climate change adaptation practices in the major rice production areas of Nepal, mainly in the Terai and Hilly belts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Indonesia is an agricultural country where the source of livelihood for most of its population is in the agricultural sector. Indonesia is called an agricultural country because it has abundant natural resources and extensive agricultural land. However, just having a large area of land and getting the title of an agricultural country does not mean that you can produce your own food. The large population is one of the factors that influences Indonesia to import food commodities to meet basic domestic needs. This research aims to determine the influence of rice production, rice prices, exchange rates on rice imports from an Islamic perspective. The research method uses a quantitative approach with the VAR/VECM method. The data collected is secondary data and analyzed using software Eviews 13. The sample for this research is monthly and annual data on rice production, rice prices, exchange rates and rice imports from 2000-2023. The research results show that rice production partially influences rice imports. Rice prices influence rice imports. The exchange rate partially has a significant negative effect on rice imports and rice production, rice prices, the exchange rate partially has a significant negative effect on rice imports. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores the impact of exogenous salicylic acid (SA) alongside conventional treatment by farmers providing positive (Mancozeb 80 % WP) and negative (water) controls on rice plants (Oryza sativa L.), focusing on antioxidant enzyme activities, phytohormone levels, disease resistance, and yield components under greenhouse and field conditions. In greenhouse assays, SA application significantly enhanced the activities of peroxidase (POX), polyphenol oxidase (PPO), catalase (CAT), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) within 12–24 h post-inoculation (hpi) with Magnaporthe oryzae. Additionally, SA-treated plants showed higher levels of endogenous SA and indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) within 24 hpi compared to the controls. In terms of disease resistance, SA-treated plants exhibited a reduced severity of rice blast under greenhouse conditions, with a significant decrease in disease symptoms compared to negative control treatment. The field study was extended over three consecutive crop seasons during 2021–2023, further examining the efficacy of SA in regular agricultural practice settings. The SA treatment consistently led to a reduction in rice blast disease severity across all three seasons. Yield-related parameters such as plant height, the number of tillers and panicles per hill, grains per panicle, and 1000-grain weight all showed improvements under SA treatment compared to both positive and negative control treatments. Specifically, SA-treated plants yielded higher grain outputs in all three crop seasons, underscoring the potential of SA as a growth enhancer and as a protective agent against rice blast disease under both controlled and field conditions. These findings state the broad-spectrum benefits of SA application in rice cultivation, highlighting its role not only in bolstering plant defense mechanisms and growth under greenhouse conditions but also in enhancing yield and disease resistance in field settings across multiple crop cycles. This research presents valuable insights into the practical applications of SA in improving rice plant resilience and productivity, offering a promising approach for sustainable agriculture practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main purpose of this study was to optimize the methods for determining methane emission in a continuously flooded (CF) and an alternately wetted and dried rice system. A field experiment was conducted at Block B1, Pili Drive, Los Baños, Laguna for one cropping season to evaluate the CH4 emission in both FP and AWD treatment plots. Fertilizer application rates were similar across treatments and were based on the recommended rate. Gas sampling was done weekly at 0, 15, and 30 - minute intervals and gas samples were analyzed using a gas chromatograph equipped with a flame-ionization detector (FID). Results showed that FP plots emitted methane at 15.07 to 459.14 mg CH4 day-1 m-2, which was higher than those produced in AWD plots which ranged from 1.68 to 36.26 mg CH4 day-1 m-2 throughout the cropping period. In both treatments, a decreasing trend in methane emission was observed which was attributed to the depleting carbon source of methanotrophs where methane was utilized rather than produced at an unfavorable redox potential for methane production. Global warming potential (GWP) of 7.000 kg CO2-eq and 1.350 kg CO2-eq was contributed by FP and AWD treatments, respectively. Overall, CH4 emission was reduced by 80-85% when AWD was employed without having a yield compromise. The result of this pilot study is limited to a 1.300 m2 field area but it showed a significant comparison between the two water management strategies in rice systems. Also, the learnings in this study will be used further for landscape greenhouse gas measurements in major rice-producing areas in the Philippines and ultimately will contribute to the carbon footprint assessment of rice cultivation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ministry of Agriculture has initiated the IP 400 program, which aims to ensure adequate rice supplies in the country. This program promotes the idea of planting rice repeatedly throughout the year using short-term rice varieties, especially on land that is irrigated throughout the year. Sukoharjo District, with a land area of 10,000 hectares, is one of the priority areas in this program. This study pursues to investigate the factors affecting from rice production with IP 400 cropping system in Sukoharjo District. In addition, this study will also discuss land management and irrigation techniques that can improve production efficiency. The purposive sampling method was used to select 90 farmers as samples in this research. The collected data was then analyzed using stochastic frontier analysis utilizing the maximum likelihood estimation (MLE) method via Frontier 4.1 software. The results of the analysis indicate that land area with coefficient values 4,160; pesticide use with coefficient values 0,004; and labour with coefficient values 0,069 are significant factors influencing the results of rice production in the IP 400. Then, seed use with coefficient value 0,010 and inorganic fertlizers with coefficient values 0,002 havent significant effect on production yields.

Abstract Ensuring the security of China’s rice harvest is imperative for sustainable food production. The existing study addresses a critical need by employing a comprehensive approach that integrates multi-source data, including climate, remote sensing, soil properties and agricultural statistics from 2000 to 2017. The research evaluates six artificial intelligence (AI) models including machine learning (ML), deep learning (DL) models and their hybridization to predict rice production across China, particularly focusing on the main rice cultivation areas. These models were random forest (RF), extreme gradient boosting (XGB), conventional neural network (CNN) and long short-term memory (LSTM), and the hybridization of RF with XGB and CNN with LSTM based on eleven combinations (scenarios) of input variables. The main results identify that hybrid models have performed better than single models. As well, the best scenario was recorded in scenarios 8 (soil variables and sown area) and 11 (all variables) based on the RF-XGB by decreasing the root mean square error (RMSE) by 38% and 31% respectively. Further, in both scenarios, RF-XGB generated a high correlation coefficient (R2) of 0.97 in comparison with other developed models. Moreover, the soil properties contribute as the predominant factors influencing rice production, exerting an 87% and 53% impact in east and southeast China, respectively. Additionally, it observes a yearly increase of 0.16 °C and 0.19 °C in maximum and minimum temperatures (Tmax and Tmin), coupled with a 20 mm/year decrease in precipitation decline a 2.23% reduction in rice production as average during the study period in southeast China region. This research provides valuable insights into the dynamic interplay of environmental factors affecting China’s rice production, informing strategic measures to enhance food security in the face of evolving climatic conditions.

Gaining a comprehensive understanding of the carbon emissions cycle in the atmosphere resulting from agricultural activities is crucial for assessing its influence on environmental quality. This study used panel datasets covering the period from 1990-2022 to investigate the influence of wheat and rice production on environmental quality in the six mega agricultural provinces of China namely Anhui, Hebei, Hubei, Henan, Jiangsu, and Sichuan. Study employed several econometric approaches such as Cross-Sectional Dependency tests, unit root and cointegration tests, Panel Mean Group Autoregressive Distributed Lag (PMG-ARDL), Panel Quantile (PQ) and Panel Least Square (PLS) regression analysis for the robustness of the findings. The empirical findings of PMG-ARDL model reveal that rice production positively increases CO2 emissions in the long run. The variables fertilizers usage, agricultural water consumption and agricultural credit also have positive impact on CO2 emission in the long run. Further, short-term results reveal that all the concerned variables positively contribute to increase the CO2 emissions. The PQR results illustrate that rice and wheat production, fertilizer consumption, agricultural water usage, agricultural credit and agricultural GDP have positive and significant impact on CO2 emission across the quantiles. Additionally, PLS outcomes show positive and significant association between wheat productivity, agricultural credit, fertilizer and agricultural GDP on CO2 emissions. The Dumitrescu and Hurlin (D-H) panel causality show unidirectional association among: carbon emission → pesticides use, carbon emission → temperature, and carbon emission → agricultural GDP. A significant bidirectional causal association was found between: carbon emission ↔ rice production, carbon emission ↔ wheat production, carbon emission ↔ fertilizers use, carbon emission ↔ agricultural water use, and carbon emission ↔ agricultural credit. These findings contribute to the understanding of the drivers of CO2 emissions in agriculture and provide valuable insights for policymakers aiming to mitigate environmental impacts while promoting sustainable agriculture, resilience, financial support to encourage green technology and implement robust monitoring mechanisms to protect quality of environment and agricultural sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates the trends and impact of climate change on production of paddy in Punjab for the period 1990 to 2021. Employing ARDL analysis to assess both short and long-term perspectives, alongside diagnostic analysis, the research finds that positive relationship between rainfall and rice production. Specifically, a 1% rise in rainfall leads to a 0.88% increase in rice production. Similarly, a 1% increase in maximum temperature is associated with a 1.82% rise in rice production. Additionally, a 1% increase in minimum temperature resulted in a 4.67% boost in rice production. In conclusion, this research confirms that rainfall and temperature have a favourable effect on rice output. Furthermore, the paper highlights the importance of government support and effective policy implementation as key factors contributing to these observed outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study evaluated the level of interactions and efficacy of climate change adaptation efforts among farmers, agricultural extension agents (AEAs), and researchers in the northern region of Ghana. The study employed a cross-sectional survey design technique. Three hundred and twentyone smallholder farmers were used for the study. Factor analysis, analysis of variance, frequencies, means, and standard deviations were tools used for quantitative analysis. The results revealed about 68 % variations in the effect of climate change on rice production. The findings also showed that researchers (x̅ = 3.52a) interacted significantly more with AEAs (x̅ = 3.16b) than farmers (x̅ = 2.81c). Farmers stated that the technique and outcome demonstrations were effective in adopting adaption technology, with a mean score of 4.53. Farmers' limited engagement with Agricultural Extension Agents (AEAs) and researchers hinders the development, modification, and dissemination of adaptation technologies for rice production. The study's outcome is crucial for understanding the impact of climate change on rice production. Additionally, it reveals how various actors in rice production interact to address climate change through various adaptive measures. Also, the theoretical implication is embedded in higher levels of interaction by researchers and AEAs, compared to farmers, suggesting potential communication and technology transfer gaps that hinder the successful adoption of adaptation technologies among farmers. The originality of this study lies in the interaction among rice production actors in addressing the climate change effect, which is absent in current climate change literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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

Improving the nutrient content of red soils in southern China is a priority for efficient rice production there. To assess the effectiveness of oilseed rape as green manure for the improvement of soil phosphorus nutrient supply and rice yield in red soil areas, a long-term field plot experiment was conducted comparing two species of rape, Brassica napus (BN) and Brassica juncea (BJ). The effects of returning oilseed rape on soil phosphorus availability, phosphorus absorption, and yield of subsequent rice under rice-green manure rotation mode were analyzed, using data from the seasons of 2020 to 2021. The study found that compared with winter fallow treatment (WT) and no-tillage treatment (NT), the soil available phosphorus content of BN was increased, and that of BJ was significantly increased. The content of water-soluble inorganic phosphorus of BJ increased, and that of BN increased substantially. Compared with the WT, the soil organic matter content and soil total phosphorus content of BN significantly increased, as did the soil available potassium content of BJ, and the soil total phosphorus content of BJ was significantly increased compared with NT. The soil particulate phosphorus content of BJ and BN was significantly increased by 14.00% and 16.00%, respectively. Compared with the WT, the phosphorus activation coefficient of BJ was significantly increased by 11.41%. The rice plant tiller number under the green manure returning treatment was significantly increased by 43.16% compared with the winter fallow treatment. The green manure returning measures increased rice grain yield by promoting rice tiller numbers; BN increased rice grain yield by 9.91% and BJ by 11.68%. Based on these results, returning oilseed rape green manure could augment the phosphorus nutrients of red soil and promote phosphorus availability. Rice-oilseed rape green manure rotation could increase rice grain yield. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate variables mainly greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, temperature, precipitation, and rainfall are affecting crop production across the world. Nepal as a vulnerable country in terms of climate change, has raised the attention of researchers and policymakers in recent years. In this scenario, this study has attempted to find the impact of GHG emissions, temperature, and precipitation on rice production in Nepal. The study is based on time serried data from 1990 to 2019. The findings show that GHG emission has a significant positive impact on rice production. However, the annual average mean temperature has a significant negative impact on rice production. Besides having a negative coefficient, precipitation did not affect rice production significantly. The study recommends concrete climate change adaptation practices in the major rice production areas of Nepal, mainly in the Terai and Hilly belts.

Rice is the dominant food staple and an important economic resource throughout Asia. Lowland rice production also provides important wetland habitats in support of biodiversity that may provide ecosystem services back to the rice agroecosystems. This review summarizes the literature on the ecosystem benefits that amphibians, birds, bats, and rodents support in the context of the Southeast Asia rice agroecosystems. The literature provides evidence that these taxonomic groups contribute to cultural, regulatory, and provisioning services in support of smallholder farmers and may allow for economic benefits through reduced use of chemical inputs into crops. We encourage a multipronged research approach to bring stakeholders together to provide structured and scalable education programs that will lead to improved human and agroecosystem health through the promotion of understanding the positive feedbacks from biodiversity in these important agricultural wetland habitats.

ABSTRACTFloods are a climatic risk that can result in significant yield losses for smallholder farmers. In this study, the impacts of the 2012 floods on rice productivity in Benin were investigated. A socioeconomic and productivity survey of 150 rice farmers was conducted in 17 villages across 2 districts that are highly vulnerable to climate change. The generalised propensity score method was employed to account for the continuous nature of the treatment variable, with the results indicating a decrease in rice yield accompanied by an increase in flooded farm proportion. The expected rice yield for a 10% flooded rice land was 7.20 tons/ha throughout the year. Additionally, an increase in the proportion of flooded rice land from 10% to 20% resulted in a decrease of 1.19 tons/ha of rice yield. During the wet season, floods negatively impacted rice yield, irrespective of their severity. Conversely, flooding benefited rice production in the dry season following flooding. These findings offer policymakers insight into appropriate protection plans and adaptation strategies.

AbstractThis article examines the crucial role played by Japan in the development of irrigation infrastructure in Indonesia from the 1960s to the 1990s. While the assistance provided by Japan in irrigation infrastructure significantly enhanced the prominence of the Brantas river valleys as a major rice granary during the green revolution, it has been largely overlooked in Indonesian historiography. Despite the historical influence of the Dutch, this article aims to elucidate the reasons behind Japan’s involvement in the modernization of irrigation systems along the Brantas river in East Java, as well as the resultant effects on food production and the environment. Employing a historical approach and drawing on both primary and secondary sources, this study argues that Japan’s role in Indonesia’s irrigation development during the independence period originated from the war compensation fund paid by the Japanese government. This fund subsequently paved the way for greater involvement of Japanese agencies in mutual cooperation in developing irrigation infrastructure. The expansion of irrigated lands and increased rice productivity, facilitated by Japan-supported irrigation infrastructure, mitigated the risks of harvest failure due to droughts and floods. The infrastructure has also played a significant role in flood control during rainy seasons and in securing irrigation water, especially during dry seasons. Additionally, while acknowledging sacrifices incurred during the construction process and the environmental consequences of their operations, it is evident that the Japan-supported irrigation infrastructure effectively tamed the ferocity of the river and optimized its benefits, significantly improving the livelihoods of many people. To ensure the long-term sustainability of Japanese-funded infrastructure along the Brantas River, comprehensive strategies encompassing regular maintenance, technological updates, community engagement, integrated water resource management, agriculture diversification, and climate change adaptation are essential.

The aim of this study was to demonstrate the capacity of Geographic Information System (GIS) procedure in the analysis of suitable site for rice farming in Bende Local Government Area (LGA), Abia State. Rice is one of the most important staple foods consumed in every household in Nigeria. Therefore, studies of this nature are highly needed as rice production in Nigeria is still below the consumption rate. The result from the suitability mapping of suitable farm location for rice production using GIS therefore will aid in optimizing its production by revealing the varying degrees of suitable location for rice production. The GIS suitability map will enable farmers to be aware of the best location for rice production. Optimal location is important for every business venture to thrive. The GIS-based suitability map will contribute to the call for the mechanization of rice to encourage increase in production rate from 5.4 million to 7.2 million tons. To achieve this aim, individual maps which represent factors that determine rice production such as soil, slope, nearness to river, and accessibility were developed and applied in analysis. These maps were re-classified and assigned suitability weight based on their relative importance. The soil was assigned the highest weight while accessibility (road) was assigned the lowest weight. The essence of re-classifying the maps and assigning weights to the individual maps was to generate individual factor suitability maps. Thereafter, the new re-classified and individual suitability maps were overlaid on each other using ArcGIS 10.4 weight overlay tool to generate the rice suitability map. The final suitability map showed that 13.16 % of the area in Bende Local government Area is highly suitable for rice production, 34.67% is moderately suitable and 35.60% is marginally suitable. The other 15.94% is currently not suitable. This study recommended setting up field trials in the various suitability classes as identified in the study. This will allow for testing of the various management options for sustainable rice production in each of the suitability classes. The outcome of this study is important for policy makers and planners for efficient rice production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fertilization plays a crucial role in ensuring global food security and ecological balance. This study investigated the impact of substituting innovative biological manure for chemical fertilization on rice (Oryza sativa L) productivity and soil biochemical properties based on a three-year experiment. Our results suggested rice yield and straw weight were increased under manure addition treatment. Specifically, 70% of total nitrogen (N) fertilizer substituted by biological manure derived from straw, animal waste and microbiome, led to a substantial 13.6% increase in rice yield and a remarkable 34.2% boost in straw weight. In comparison to the conventional local farmer practice of applying 165 kg N ha−1, adopting 70% of total N plus biological manure demonstrated superior outcomes, particularly in enhancing yield components and spike morphology. Fertilization treatments led to elevated levels of soil microbial biomass carbon and N. However, a nuanced comparison with local practices indicated that applying biological manure alongside urea resulted in a slight reduction in N content in vegetative and economic organs, along with decreases of 10.4%, 11.2%, and 6.1% in N recovery efficiency (NRE), respectively. Prudent N management through the judicious application of partial biological manure fertilizer in rice systems could be imperative for sustaining productivity and soil fertility in southern China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Arid Land Geography is the property of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology & Geography and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The Land Titling policy has been massively carried out by the government since 2017 until now, the land Sertipication policy in addition to providing legal certainty is expected to be utilized by the community as one of the access to capital, especially the agricultural sector. This research discusses the effect of land certification on rice production in Indonesia. This research applies panel data regression analysis that analyzes the Land Sertipication Policy at the Regency / City level unit with the period 2017 to 2020. The research findings prove that there is no significant influence by land certification, rainfall, or labor force in the agricultural sector. The variable that has a significant impact on rice production is the size of agricultural land. Thus, this research is in line with previous research by proving that there is no significant difference in the productivity of rice farming due to changes in land ownership status of rice farming households in Indonesia. However, the government needs to pay more attention to policies that can increase the size of agricultural land, because empirically and significantly it can increase the production of the agricultural sector in Indonesia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The inappropriate use, especially overuse, of fertilizers aggravates greenhouse gas emissions and non-point source pollution. China is the largest fertilizer user worldwide, and information provision is a determinant of farmers' fertilizer use. Using survey data of 1002 rice farmers from Hubei, Jiangsu and Jiangxi provinces in China, this study aims to analyze the heterogeneity in farmers' fertilizer use and evaluate the heterogeneous effects of various modes of information provision on fertilizer use among different groups of farmers. A group of extended difference-in-differences models are developed and estimated based on a two-year randomized controlled trial. Results show that while farmers as a whole overuse fertilizers, there is copresence of overusers, consistent users and underusers. Information provision induces a sizeable fertilizer reduction among the overusers and a moderate increase among the underusers. Moreover, the reduction is small among top overusers. Information provision by public agricultural extension agents exerts larger reduction effects among the overusers than that by fertilizer firms, while that by fertilizer firms exerts larger incremental effects among the underusers. These findings illustrate that information provision is effective in rationalizing farmers' fertilizer use in China and underscores the importance of reinforcing such a mechanism. This study provides fresh evidence for the copresence of fertilizer overuse and underuse in China and might be the first to investigate the heterogeneous effects of various modes of information provision on fertilizer use among the overusers, consistent users and underusers of fertilizers, which has crucial policy implications for rationalizing fertilizer use in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: This study emphasizes the importance of agricultural efficiency for food security and income generation, especially among smallholder rice farmers in southern China. Limited access to essential agricultural services hinders productivity in this region. The study highlights the significant potential of agricultural socialized services (ASS) in improving the technical efficiency of smallholder rice production. Methods: To analyze the impact of ASS on technical efficiency in rice production, we focused on tillage, transplanting, crop protection, and harvest operations. We employed stochastic frontier analysis and collected data from smallholder farmers in Hunan, Jiangxi, and Zhejiang provinces. By estimating the technical efficiency of rice production, we aimed to assess the relationship between ASS and smallholder farmers' technical efficiency. Results and discussion: The results of our analysis revealed that ASS significantly enhance the technical efficiency of rice production among smallholder farmers by supporting agricultural practices such as transplanting, crop protection, and harvest operations. However, we found that the impact of ASS on tillage operations was not statistically significant. Participation in ASS enhances smallholders' access to modern production techniques, resources, and knowledge, leading to improved technical efficiency. These services also empower smallholder rice producers to adopt sustainable farming practices, access credit, financing, and market information, and promote collective action and cooperation, ultimately influencing technical efficiency. Conclusion: This study emphasizes the potential of ASS in improving the technical efficiency of smallholder rice production in southern China. Policymakers and agricultural organizations can use these insights to design interventions that promote efficient practices, enhance productivity, support livelihoods, and ensure food security in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study utilized the contingent valuation method to estimate the value of water-related ecosystem services (ES) in Vietnam, focusing on provisioning and regulating services for addressing water scarcity (WS) in rice farming. By incorporating gender and climate change perceptions, it expanded the existing literature on valuing river ecosystem services. The findings showed a significant number of households experiencing severe water scarcity in the past five years, with over 70% facing occasional or regular WS in the last 12 months. Rice farmers were willing to adopt coping measures and preventive practices to preserve water-related ES, recognizing their importance for sustaining rice cultivation. Farmers demonstrated willingness to contribute financially to restore and maintain water-related ES in rivers and canals. The median willingness to pay for restoration was VND188,300/ha, with estimated values of US$2,898,133 for a 10% affected area and US$23,185,068 for an 80% affected area over five years. Perception of WS severity and associated risk positively influenced households' decisions to contribute financially. These findings have policy implications and provide insights for effective coping strategies against WS, enhancing water-resilient agriculture in the Lower Mekong Basin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates the factors affecting the labour allocation decisions of rice‐producing households in Bangladesh. A farm‐household model has been used to explore the household decision‐making mechanism. We use a primary questionnaire survey, and a Generalised Ordered Logit model is used to identify the factors affecting the sample households' likelihood of choosing different labour regimes, assuming hiring‐in is the top ordered alternative, followed by self‐cultivator and smallholders. Results show that one more year of schooling of the household head increases the likelihood of choosing the hiring‐in category against the lower‐ordered choices by 25 per cent. Having more cultivated land substantially improves the propensity of a household to hire labour versus selling labour or self‐cultivation (odds ratio 11.68). If a household lives a kilometre further from the Upazila headquarter, it is 11 per cent more likely to hire labour than being either a smallholder or self‐cultivator, which might be a result of the larger availability of labour in those areas. Additionally, an increase in the number of visits by agricultural extension officers reduces the household's likelihood of hiring labour by almost 21 per cent while making the households more likely to be self‐cultivators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Models are a core element in performing local estimation of the climate change input. In this work, a novel approach to perform a fast downscaling of global temperature anomalies on a regional level is presented. The approach is based on a set of data-driven models linking global temperature anomalies and regional and global emissions to regional temperature anomalies. In particular, due to the limited number of available data, a linear autoregressive structure with exogenous input (ARX) has been considered. To demonstrate their relevance to the existing literature and context, the proposed ARX models have been employed to evaluate the impact of temperature anomalies on rice production in a socially, economically, and climatologically fragile area like Southeast Asia. The results show a significant impact on this region, with estimations strongly in accordance with information presented in the literature from different sources and scientific fields. The work represents a first step towards the development of a fast, data-driven, holistic approach to the climate change impact evaluation problem. The proposed ARX data-driven models reveal a novel and feasible way to downscale global temperature anomalies to regional levels, showing their importance in comprehending global temperature anomalies, emissions, and regional climatic conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gaining a comprehensive understanding of the carbon emissions cycle in the atmosphere resulting from agricultural activities is crucial for assessing its influence on environmental quality. This study used panel datasets covering the period from 1990–2022 to investigate the influence of wheat and rice production on environmental quality in the six mega agricultural provinces of China namely Anhui, Hebei, Hubei, Henan, Jiangsu, and Sichuan. Study employed several econometric approaches such as Cross-Sectional Dependency tests, unit root and cointegration tests, Panel Mean Group Autoregressive Distributed Lag (PMG-ARDL), Panel Quantile (PQ) and Panel Least Square (PLS) regression analysis for the robustness of the findings. The empirical findings of PMG-ARDL model reveal that rice production positively increases CO2 emissions in the long run. The variables fertilizers usage, agricultural water consumption and agricultural credit also have positive impact on CO2 emission in the long run. Further, short-term results reveal that all the concerned variables positively contribute to increase the CO2 emissions. The PQR results illustrate that rice and wheat production, fertilizer consumption, agricultural water usage, agricultural credit and agricultural GDP have positive and significant impact on CO2 emission across the quantiles. Additionally, PLS outcomes show positive and significant association between wheat productivity, agricultural credit, fertilizer and agricultural GDP on CO2 emissions. The Dumitrescu and Hurlin (D–H) panel causality show unidirectional association among: carbon emission → pesticides use, carbon emission → temperature, and carbon emission → agricultural GDP. A significant bidirectional causal association was found between: carbon emission ↔ rice production, carbon emission ↔ wheat production, carbon emission ↔ fertilizers use, carbon emission ↔ agricultural water use, and carbon emission ↔ agricultural credit. These findings contribute to the understanding of the drivers of CO2 emissions in agriculture and provide valuable insights for policymakers aiming to mitigate environmental impacts while promoting sustainable agriculture, resilience, financial support to encourage green technology and implement robust monitoring mechanisms to protect quality of environment and agricultural sustainability.

Expanding local rice production to meet consumer demand is a priority action under the Government of Ghana’s Planting for Food and Jobs initiative. While studies on yield-enhancing interventions abound, fewer studies focus on food safety issues (e.g., the potential toxic element status of the production ecosystems). This study was, therefore, conducted to bridge the knowledge gap. Chemical analyses were conducted on water, soil, and rice grain samples from different production ecosystems in the Northern and Upper East regions of Ghana. Statistical analysis of the data showed that soil and rice grain arsenic concentrations were significantly higher (P

Models are a core element in performing local estimation of the climate change input. In this work, a novel approach to perform a fast downscaling of global temperature anomalies on a regional level is presented. The approach is based on a set of data-driven models linking global temperature anomalies and regional and global emissions to regional temperature anomalies. In particular, due to the limited number of available data, a linear autoregressive structure with exogenous input (ARX) has been considered. To demonstrate their relevance to the existing literature and context, the proposed ARX models have been employed to evaluate the impact of temperature anomalies on rice production in a socially, economically, and climatologically fragile area like Southeast Asia. The results show a significant impact on this region, with estimations strongly in accordance with information presented in the literature from different sources and scientific fields. The work represents a first step towards the development of a fast, data-driven, holistic approach to the climate change impact evaluation problem. The proposed ARX data-driven models reveal a novel and feasible way to downscale global temperature anomalies to regional levels, showing their importance in comprehending global temperature anomalies, emissions, and regional climatic conditions.

Rice has a huge impact on socio-economic growth, and ensuring its sustainability and optimal utilization is vital. This review provides an insight into the role of smart farming in enhancing rice productivity. The applications of smart farming in rice production including yield estimation, smart irrigation systems, monitoring disease and growth, and predicting rice quality and classifications are highlighted. The challenges of smart farming in sustainable rice production to enhance the understanding of researchers, policymakers, and stakeholders are discussed. Numerous efforts have been exerted to combat the issues in rice production in order to promote rice sector development. The effective implementation of smart farming in rice production has been facilitated by various technical advancements, particularly the integration of the Internet of Things and artificial intelligence. The future prospects of smart farming in transforming existing rice production practices are also elucidated. Through the utilization of smart farming, the rice industry can attain sustainable and resilient production systems that could mitigate environmental impact and safeguard food security. Thus, the rice industry holds a bright future in transforming current rice production practices into a new outlook in rice smart farming development.

The rising demand for climate change mitigation has brought attention to agricultural systems focused on carbon farming and reducing emissions. Composting food wastes and livestock manure not only mitigates environmental concerns but also boosts soil fertility and crop yields as an alternative fertilizer. In this experiment, we investigated the effects of different fertilizer types (chemical and organic waste compost) and crop rotations (rice–fallow, rice–Italian ryegrass, and rice–potato) on rice production, nitrogen use efficiency, and soil carbon stocks. In this experiment, soil carbon and nitrogen retention were more influenced by compost nutrient levels than by crop rotation types. Overall, as the nitrogen levels increased, the rice yields improved with both chemical and organic waste fertilizers. Among the crop rotations, the rice–Italian ryegrass rotation showed a higher nitrogen use efficiency. Optimal fertility levels, balancing nitrogen use efficiency, yield, and soil carbon were observed between 523 and 582 kg N ha−1 when combined with specific crop rotations. Moreover, soil total carbon and soil total nitrogen varied among crop rotation systems. Our results indicate that organic waste compost can be a potential alternative to chemical fertilizers, while crop rotations offer a viable approach for maximizing the environmental benefits.

We examined the postharvest rice value chain among farmers in the Arequipa region of Peru, focusing on the stages of value creation after harvest. Our study is complemented by an economic analysis that provides insights into farmers’ decisions on whether or not to store rice after harvest. We found that farmers produced, on average, 65 tons of paddy rice on a 5 ha farm. Most farmers (over 85%) milled their paddy rice immediately after harvest, usually by paying a fee to a private mill. Milled rice was then sold to intermediaries (wholesalers and retailers). Approximately 13% and less than 1% of farmers stored their paddy rice before and after milling, respectively. Storage provided minimal financial benefits once grain preservation costs and price arbitrage were considered. Our findings offer guidance for policymakers and investment partners to enhance the efficiency of the postharvest rice value chain and to improve outcomes for farmers in Peru and other developing countries.

This study evaluated the economic efficiency of rice production among the small-scale women farmers in the Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria. A multi-stage sampling technique was used to select 100 small-scale women rice farmers. The primary data were collected with the aid of a well-designed and well-structured questionnaire. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, farm budgeting technique, financial analysis, the Stochastic production frontier efficiency model, and the Tobit dichotomous regression model. The results show that 88% of women rice farmers were below 50 years old. The mean age was 44 years. Averagely, they were small-scale farmers with 1.31 hectares of farm land. The labor input in man-days constituted the highest percentage of about 50.8% of the total costs of activities involved in rice production. The net farm income and gross margin ratio was estimated at 416,800 Naira and 0.63 respectively. This shows that the rice production by women farmers was profitable and worthwhile. The mean allocative, economic, technical efficiency scores were 50.3%, 50.8%, and 51.20% leaving the efficiency gaps of 49.7%, 49.2%, and 48.8% for improvement respectively. The significant factors influencing the economic efficiency of the rice production among women farmers include the following: - farm size, labor input, household size, seed input, fertilizer input, chemical input, farm experience, and access to credit. The major constraints encountered by women rice farmers include the following: inadequate credit facilities (1st), high cost of labor (2nd), high cost of fertilizers (3rd) and high cost of herbicides (4th). The study recommends that farm inputs such as improved seeds, fertilizer input, chemical input and herbicides should be made available to women farmers at affordable prices. Credit facilities devoid of rigorous administrative procedures at low interest rate should be made available to women farmers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pulu mandoti is a local type of rice that is fragrant and rare. This glutinous rice has a high selling price and can only thrive when planted in Salukanan Village. However, its productivity is still relatively low, so efforts are needed to sustain the farming business. This study aims to analyze farmer households' livelihood patterns and sustainability strategies. The respondents were 50 farmers selected using simple random sampling. The data were analyzed in descriptive, qualitative, and quantitative ways. The results showed that the pattern strategy of pulu mandoti rice farmer households is an intensification and extensification strategy in agricultural landuse, and diversification strategies in the livestock, service, trade, and employment sectors. The sustainability of farming livelihood patterns resulted in an index of 89.66%, included in the sustainable category. The government needs to pay attention to production factors that affect the productivity of pulu mandoti rice farming so that farming can be sustainable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research article aims to give a description of the level of rice production in Albuera, Leyte, Philippines, and determine the statistically significant predictors affecting it. The study used primary and cross-sectional data from small-scale farmers (with 2-hectare rice farms or less) through a face-to-face interview with the aid of a constructed questionnaire. The gathered information was summarized with the assistance of descriptive metrics and presented in a tabular form. In addition, binary logistic modeling was constructed to extract influencing predictors of the level of rice production and tested its significance. Results portrayed that more farmers in Albuera, Leyte are experiencing a low level of rice production. The findings of the study depicted that small-scale farmers do not have enough capital to buy the necessary agricultural inputs due to their high prices in the market. Plus, farmers do not have sufficient credit facilities that they may use for their farming process and it is also shown that farmers are adversely affected by pests and diseases that destroy their rice cultivation. The binary logistic model shows that a married farmer, with a lower monthly income and with a smaller paddy farm tends to have a higher production level. Moreover, another regression model revealed that the presence of pests and diseases, and being provided with solutions by extension agents are significant predictors of high production levels in rice farming. The study suggests that small-scale farmers in rural areas must be supported regarding their capital and farming facilities, and must be guided and facilitated by expert extension agents in solving different problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rice has a huge impact on socio-economic growth, and ensuring its sustainability and optimal utilization is vital. This review provides an insight into the role of smart farming in enhancing rice productivity. The applications of smart farming in rice production including yield estimation, smart irrigation systems, monitoring disease and growth, and predicting rice quality and classifications are highlighted. The challenges of smart farming in sustainable rice production to enhance the understanding of researchers, policymakers, and stakeholders are discussed. Numerous efforts have been exerted to combat the issues in rice production in order to promote rice sector development. The effective implementation of smart farming in rice production has been facilitated by various technical advancements, particularly the integration of the Internet of Things and artificial intelligence. The future prospects of smart farming in transforming existing rice production practices are also elucidated. Through the utilization of smart farming, the rice industry can attain sustainable and resilient production systems that could mitigate environmental impact and safeguard food security. Thus, the rice industry holds a bright future in transforming current rice production practices into a new outlook in rice smart farming development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]