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This article provides an overview of the regulation of artificial intelligence (AI) in Brazil, with a focus on its impact on labor and employment. While AI adoption in Brazilian industry is still limited, a significant portion of jobs in the country are considered highly vulnerable to AI. The article highlights the challenges and lack of regulation surrounding platform work and the potential impact of AI on agriculture. The Brazilian government has established the Brazilian National Strategy for Artificial Intelligence (EBIA) to promote responsible AI development and the training of qualified professionals. Additionally, there are bills being drafted to regulate AI and establish principles, rights, and duties for its use, as well as to provide rights for individuals affected by AI systems. The article emphasizes the importance of social dialogue and workers' organizations in protecting workers' rights in the face of AI advancements. [Extracted from the article]

This study was conducted in the Lamto area to evaluate the effect of cocoa shell compost and chicken droppings compost on cassava agronomic variables. The main aim is to increase cassava production, which is in relative decline due to soil impoverishment through organic amendments. The evaluation led to the monitoring of plant development until harvest by measuring some agronomic variables of growth and yield of four varieties of cassava, Alleda agba, Bonoua, Six mois and Yacé each grown on soil fertilized with cocoa shell compost or chicken droppings compost. The experimental design used for this study was a complete randomized block design with 3 replicates. The results showed that the two fertilizers used, being rich in mineral elements, improved the agronomic variables of cassava, superior to the control. This was reflected in a high number of stems per cutting (3.62). However, the chicken droppings compost gave the best development in stem length for the Six mois variety (121.10 cm). The Bonoua variety gave the largest diameter stems (21.98 mm). This variety gave the highest number of leaves (59) and a wider span (109 cm) with wider (16.75 cm) and longer (17.96 cm) leaves. As for yields, the best was obtained with the Bonoua variety, respectively 27.13 t/ha and 35.26 t/ha with cocoa shell compost and chicken droppings compost compared with 12.77 t/ha for the control. Thus, compost and chicken droppings compost can be recommended to improve cassava productivity in Côte d'Ivoire. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The adoption of agricultural harvest and post-harvest mechanization is crucial for addressing drudgery, food losses, climate vulnerability and food security. Despite considerable efforts by government and development partners to prioritize agricultural mechanization, labour-intensive manual (post-)harvest activities continue to dominate in Bangladeshi smallholder systems. Explorations of this has been limited by simplistic binary approaches that ignore the dynamic pathways to usage outcomes. Instead, we apply non-binary analytical methods to district representative data to highlight the value in moving beyond binary adoption analysis. Results highlight that a national (post-)harvest mechanisation rate of 74% is insufficient to capture the true adoption status, given substantial disparity exists across machinery and by district. Deeper exploration of temporal and spatial differences enable the identification of key trends that warrant further in-depth explorations, while only 46% satisfaction with extension systems highlights the need to re-evaluate key information exchange mechanisms. We conclude that there is a clear need for district and machinery specific policy arrangements if Bangladesh is to achieve (post-)harvest mechanisation objectives that aim to reduce food loses and enable greater food security nationwide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change and heat stress pose significant challenges to livestock. Local breeds, particularly small ruminants, are gaining importance due to their adaptability to harsh climates. However, the extensive system they are commonly reared in leaves them exposed to the effects of climate change. This study aims to describe the distribution and climate-related challenges faced by registered Italian sheep and goat breeds over the past seven decades. Geolocalized data from all registered small ruminant farms were combined with climatic information retrieved from the "ERA-5-Land hourly data from 1950 to present" dataset. These data were used to calculate average daily temperature, temperature humidity index (THI), and total precipitation during summer. Additionally, THI-based heat waves (HWs) were examined, including the yearly number of HW days and mean THI during HW days. These data were analysed through linear regression models including region or breed, year, and their interaction as fixed factors. The climate data indicate a concerning trend of rising summer temperatures, THI, and HW frequency and intensity, particularly over the past three decades. Central-northern Italy, including the Po Valley and the Alpine Arch, is the most affected region, impacting breeds like Rosset and Brogne sheep, and Lariana and Frisa Valtellinese goats. This is of particular concern because these populations have not been selected for hot climates, and their already small population size exacerbates the problem. Conversely, southern Italy, characterized by hotter and drier temperatures, remained relatively stable. Breeds from this region, such as Girgentana and Nicastrese goats and Nera di Arbus sheep, might represent excellent case studies for climatic adaptation and potential resources for selection for resilience in the face of ongoing climate changes. The findings presented here are essential for the development of monitoring and intervention strategies for breeds facing future vulnerabilities, as well as for designing experiments to explore environmental adaptability in small ruminants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The list of standard abbreviations for JDS is available at adsa.org/jds-abbreviations-24. Nonstandard abbreviations are available in the Notes. Although dairy goat production, characterized by traditional production on small farms, is an important source of income in the Czech Republic and Slovakia, locally adapted breeds have not been fully consolidated over the last 100 yr due to large fluctuations in population size and inconsistent breeding programs that allowed for different crossbreeding strategies. Our main objective in this study was therefore to assess the conservation status of 4 Czech (Alpine Goat, White Shorthair, Brown Shorthair, and Czech Landrace) and 1 Slovak (Slovak White Shorthair) local goat breeds, to analyze their population structure and admixture, and to estimate their relatedness to several neighboring breeds. Our analyses included 142 goats belonging to 5 local breeds genotyped with the Illumina 50K BeadChip, and 618 previously genotyped animals representing 15 goat breeds from Austria and Switzerland (all analyses based on 46,862 autosomal SNPs and 760 animals). In general, the conservation status of the Czech and Slovak local goat breeds was satisfactory, with the exception of the Brown Shorthair goat, as the analyzed parameters (heterozygosity, haplotype richness, runs of homozygosity–based inbreeding, and effective population size) were mostly above the median of 20 breeds. However, for all 5 Czech and Slovakian breeds, an examination of historical effective population size indicated a substantial decline about 8 to 22 generations ago. In addition, our study revealed that the Czech and Slovakian breeds are not fully consolidated; for instance, White Shorthair and Brown Shorthair were not clearly distinguishable. Considerable admixture, especially in Czech Landrace (effective number of parental clusters = 4.2), and low but numerous migration rates from other Austrian and Swiss breeds were found. These results provide valuable insights for future breeding programs and genetic diversity management of local Czech and Slovak goat breeds. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The inclusion of rural smallholder farmers in the export of horticultural products has two major implications: increased household income through a promising global market, which is a catalyst for productivity, cumulatively growing Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and foreign exchange. So far, there are an estimated 2500 smallholder farmers who participate in the export of horticulture in Kenya. As a result, the current study sought to establish the nexus between quality control practices by the small holder farmers and the growth of the horticultural export market in Kenya. The study collected quantitative data using a structured questionnaire from a sample of 334 smallscale horticultural farmers who were randomly selected. Validity and reliability tests were performed before the main study. Then, descriptive and simple linear regression was used to analyze the data. Quality control practices can be measured through the Pre-production measures, Production and post-production control measures. Findings indicated that there was a statistically significant relationship between quality control practices and the growth of horticultural export markets. It was however observed that, there are weak quality control practices among the farmers which lead to non-conformities of products. This implies that the exports from Kenya become less attractive and make the smallholder farmers less competitive. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study assesses postreplanting oil palm farming risks, analyzes seed procurement parameters, investigates seed institutions' performance factors and develops a framework for improved sustainability. Design/methodology/approach: Incorporating data from 219 smallholder farmers in designated replanting areas, our study comprehensively evaluates seed supply performance, examining the roles of stakeholders and identifying potential risks in seed management. We assess these risks using the Risk Priority Number (RPN) methodology and Multidimensional Scaling (MDS) techniques. Findings: The results show that the timing and quantity of oil palm seed supply have a relatively small impact on postreplanting failure risk. To mitigate this risk, focus on monitoring seed purity using high-quality Tenera oil palm-type seeds and early detection technology. Encourage seed-producing cooperatives to become legal seed producers for an inclusive system and consider smallholders' variety preferences. Originality/value: This study's significance lies in its comprehensive assessment of the risks associated with oil palm replanting on smallholder plantations, detailed analysis of critical parameters in seed procurement, investigation into the performance of palm oil seed institutions across various dimensions and development of a strategic framework to strengthen inclusive seed institutions for sustainable oil palm farming. This strategy holds valuable potential for the development of oil palm in Indonesia, particularly in expediting the smallholders' replanting program. Peer review: The peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/IJSE-10-2023-0811 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Digital technology holds significant potential for enhancing business efficiency in agricultural marketing. However, empirical research on the use of digital technology among smallholder farmers engaged in staple crop marketing in Sub-Saharan Africa remains limited. Recognizing the pivotal role of digital technology in agriculture, this study aims to analyse and synthesize existing knowledge regarding the impact of mobile phones on market participation among smallholder farmers. Through a comprehensive analysis, we seek to provide a robust understanding that can inform policies and programs aimed at enhancing smallholder market integration. To achieve this objective, we collected cross-sectional data from 360 farmers in southeast Nigeria and implemented a double hurdle model to analyse market participation decisions and the extent of farmers' involvement in staple crop markets. In addition to traditional econometric methods, we employed propensity score matching to further investigate the impact of mobile phone ownership on market participation. Our analysis revealed that ICT tools, particularly mobile phones and radios, significantly influence both the decision and intensity of market participation among smallholder farmers. Specifically, mobile phones were found to play a crucial role in facilitating access to market pricing information and disseminating knowledge on improved production methods. Given the volatility of farm prices, the timely dissemination of market information through mobile phones is essential for farmers to make informed decisions. With a high percentage of mobile phone ownership and substantial investments in mobile networks in Nigeria, the digitalization of extension services and marketing information delivery systems could catalyse rapid improvements in agribusiness and marketing. This shift towards digital platforms has the potential to address information asymmetry, particularly among smallholder farmers, thereby fostering greater market integration and economic empowerment within rural communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of the study was to assess the determinants of the utilization of digital technologies by smallholder farmers in South Africa. A cross-sectional survey of 250 smallholder farmers was purposively sampled from Port St Johns and Ingquza Hill Local Municipalities. Binary and ordered logistic regression were used to analyse the data. The results show that 55% of the smallholder farmers were using digital technologies. Out of these, 40% were using smartphones and radio. Close to 47% of the smallholder farmers who were using digital technologies were using them to some extent and 65% had been using digital technologies for a period of 1–4 years. 89% of the smallholder farmers using digital technologies indicated that they are beneficial and 83% had opted to continue using digital technologies to increase their skills and knowledge. However, 44% of the smallholder farmers who had opted to discontinue the use of digital technologies indicated that these technologies were not beneficial for them. Overall, 85% of the smallholder farmers would recommend the use of digital technologies to other farmers. Factors such as age, educational level, marital status, full-time farming, and land size affected the utilization of digital technologies while age, marital status, educational level, full-time farming, household size, non-crop producing, and tenure affected the extent of digital technology utilization. The study concludes that the partial utilization of low-tech digital technologies is a socio-economic driver. Recommendations include the promotion of digital technologies, especially high-tech technologies, taking into account the socio-economic circumstances of smallholder farmers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper discusses the survival strategies of small family farms in a western Anatolian village in the context of ongoing debates in the current literature concerning the future of small or peasant family farms under the conditions of the neoliberal era. The main argument of the paper is that even though the neoliberal agrarian policies in Turkey put into effect since the early 1980s have divested farmers of much of the protective policies in force in earlier periods—thereby putting them under much severe market pressures—other pressure mechanisms in this case under investigation have a more central impact on their survival. These pressures are the patterns of social and cultural change that occur due to modernization, alongside regulations concerning access to land which the farmers seem to be able to counter by organizing and mobilizing their internal, material, and social resources, within cultural norms. The arguments presented are based on the analysis of empirical data collected through field work carried out in a village of farmers specializing and engaged in the production of dried figs. The study emphasizes the multi‐causal, multi‐layered, contingent, and hybrid nature of the question of survival for these villagers and argues that it should be evaluated as a process, rather than an outcome, with the villagers themselves as agents in this process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An exponential growth in global population is expected to reach nine billion by 2050, demanding a 70% increase in agriculture productivity, thus illustrating the impact of global crop production on the environment and the importance of achieving greater agricultural yields. Globally, the variety of high-quality microgreens is increasing through indoor farming at both small and large scales. The major concept of Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) seeks to provide an alternative to traditional agricultural cultivation. Microgreens have become popular in the twenty-first century as a food in the salad category that can fulfil some nutrient requirements. Microgreens are young seedlings that offer a wide spectrum of colours, flavours, and textures, and are characterised as a "functional food" due to their nutraceutical properties. Extensive research has shown that the nutrient profile of microgreens can be desirably tailored by preharvest cultivation and postharvest practices. This study provides new insight into two major categories, (i) environmental and (ii) cultural, responsible for microgreens' growth and aims to explore the various agronomical factors involved in microgreens production. In addition, the review summarises recent studies that show these factors have a significant influence on microgreens development and nutritional composition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change threatens the lives and livelihoods of smallholder farmers throughout the global South. In order to address the challenges these farmers face, researchers and practitioners need reasonable theoretical models of how humans and the environment interact within social–ecological systems (SES). Social–ecological resilience theory has proved to be a popular model for understanding human environment relationships within SES; however, the theory lacks a sophisticated understanding of power, relying instead on outdated functionalist sociological approaches. We reconstruct social–ecological resilience theory through a case study of smallholder climate change adaptation in Southern Province, Zambia. Farmers in the region focus on cattle and maize production. Though the changing environment would seem to favor different crops and livestock, institutional (power) dynamics determine whether or not individuals have the capacity (or desire) to adapt. Our critical reconstruction provides researchers and practitioners with an improved social–ecological lens for understanding the causes and consequences of vulnerability and adaptation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the drivers of farmers' dissatisfaction with market-specification contracts for finger millet crop in Kenya. The researcher analysed data from 336 farmers contracted by USOMI, out of which a sub-sample of 146 farmers who grew millet in 2021 was analysed using a probit model and descriptive analysis approach, which showed that asymmetric information related to the role of the contracting firm, lack of adequate understanding of the contract, poor pricing, and input market imperfections are some of the critical constraints and sources of dissatisfaction in the commercialisation of millet farming in Western Kenya. On the other hand, farmers' satisfaction is driven by access to market and reasonable prices offered by the spot market traders. While the study found out that productivity and pricing were not gendered, it was observed that women were generally satisfied with contract farming. Consequently, contractual schemes should integrate complementary factors such as input provision. While the results do not show explicit benefits to women farmers, they do allow for the backing of contract farming in rural development programs to reduce gender inequalities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the world's population increases, the growing demand for food intensifies the generation of agricultural waste, leading to several environmental issues. Intensive research indicates black soldier fly (BSF) larvae Hermetia illucens (Linnaeus, 1758) as efficient converters of organic waste into nutrient-rich biomass suitable for animal feed. Using a structured questionnaire and volunteer farmers (N = 595), we investigated the potential for adoption of BSF larvae composting technology for sustainable agricultural waste management in Greater Ahafo-Ano. Almost all surveyed farmers declared they generated a significant amount of biowaste on their farms and were willing to learn how to use the BSF-based technology to transform it into value-added products. The waste generated was mainly disposed of in pits at Ahafo-Ano South-East (56.2%), by composting at AhafoAno South-West (34.9%) and by sale at Ahafo-Ano North (34.4%). Across the three districts, awareness of the BSF was very low - 14.5% in Ahafo-Ano South-East, 14.1% in Ahafo-Ano South-West and 0.5% in Ahafo-Ano North. However, high acceptance of the technology was recorded. It was found that about 8% of farmers surveyed in Ahafo-Ano South-East had already tried BSF farming on a small scale. Indicating this district as a good entry point to introduce the technology into Greater Ahafo-Ano. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper revisits the debate on the relationship between farm size and utilisation of agricultural land. Since the 1960s, a large number of studies have been examining this relationship and suggesting possible explanations supporting their thoughts. Three significant hypotheses exist in the literature forwarded by different scholars in this regard: an inverse relationship, a positive and a U-shaped one. Using the recent data from the Agriculture Census of India, this paper attempts to analyse the spatio-temporal trends of the relationship between farm size and land utilisation and examine the hypotheses and explanations already advanced, taking a state-level analysis in India. We found an inverse relationship where smaller farms are more fully and intensively used compared to the larger farms; however, the increasing share of unutilised land among the small and medium farms in the recent decade of 2005–2006 to 2015–2016 indicates a losing ground of small farmers because of ongoing agrarian distress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Smallholder farmers in Ahafo Ano North District, Ghana, face multiple climatic and non-climatic issues. This study assessed the factors contributing to the livelihood vulnerability of smallholder farmers in this district by household surveys with 200 respondents and focus group discussions (FGDs) with 10 respondents. The Mann-Kendall trend test was used to assess mean annual rainfall and temperature trends from 2002 to 2022. The relative importance index (RII) value was used to rank the climatic and non-climatic factors perceived by respondents. The socioeconomic characteristics affecting smallholder farmers' perceptions of climatic and non-climatic factors were evaluated by the binary logistic regression model. Results showed that mean annual rainfall decreased (P>0.05) but mean annual temperature significantly increased (P<0.05) from 2002 to 2022 in the district. The key climatic factors perceived by smallholder farmers were extreme heat or increasing temperature (RII=0.498), erratic rainfall (RII=0.485), and increased windstorms (RII=0.475). The critical non-climatic factors were high cost of farm inputs (RII=0.485), high cost of healthcare (RII=0.435), and poor condition of roads to farms (RII=0.415). Smallholder farmers' perceptions of climatic and non-climatic factors were significantly affected by their socioeconomic characteristics (P<0.05). This study concluded that these factors negatively impact the livelihoods and well-being of smallholder farmers and socioeconomic characteristics influence their perceptions of these factors. Therefore, to enhance the resilience of smallholder farmers to climate change, it is necessary to adopt a comprehensive and context-specific approach that accounts for climatic and non-climatic factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the efficiency of utilizing labor potential in rural areas of Kazakhstan. Topics include the impact of agricultural enterprises on labor productivity, the socio-economic challenges faced by rural populations, and strategies for sustainable rural development, particularly in enhancing income levels and employment opportunities while addressing issues of inequality.

Jujube (Ziziphus jujuba Mill.) makes up a traditional characteristic industry with ecological significance in the Lüliang Mountain of middle reaches of the Yellow River (LMMRYR). However, low economic efficiency has reduced local farm households' willingness to continue jujube cultivation, threatening the sustainable maintenance and development of jujube forests and the ecological environment. In response, Lüliang City implemented a technological innovation program, that is, the Jujube Forest High Grafting and Optimization Program (JFHGOP), in 2018. Based on survey data from 302 local farm households, an empirical analysis using propensity score matching and ordinary least squares methods revealed that the program significantly enhanced the economic, ecological, and social benefits for participating farm households, improving their overall welfare. Robustness tests confirmed these findings, and a heterogeneity analysis showed varied impacts across different dimensions. The program improved welfare through government support and cooperatives' assistance. To further promote green development and farm households' welfare, recommendations include advancing forestry innovation technology, supporting small farm households with policy, capital, and technology, optimizing subsidy mechanisms, supporting new business entities, and promoting cooperation and benefit-sharing among stakeholders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study is based on field research conducted by an international team of researchers investigating the opportunities for social upgrading of smallholder farm owners and tenants and their workers in the Global South. The main objective has been to assess the influence of crop characteristics, end markets, and value chain governance (including product and process standards), as well as national political, economic, and cultural contexts, on the conditions of farmers and farmworkers. Accordingly, the selected crops differ along the axes of domestic versus international end markets and short versus long shelf-life: coffee (cash crop), rice (staple crop), and mangoes (perishable crop). The selected countries are Bangladesh, Brazil, Colombia, Ghana, India, Pakistan, and Vietnam. Our main findings relate to the importance of collective action by key stakeholders, including smallholders and a supportive state, for economic and social upgrading. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although improving both the ecological and social conditions of agriculture are central pillars of agroecology, emerging empirical research has focused largely on exploring its ecological contributions. Key among the less studied social aspects is gender (in)equity. Drawing data from northern Malawi, this paper investigates the relationship between agroecology and women's autonomy in smallholder farming households. Overall, our findings showed participatory agroecology with a gender transformative lens can promote women's autonomy. Although there was no observed significant difference in women's autonomy at the baseline, women in agroecology practicing households (β = 0.20, p < 0.05) had significantly higher autonomy than their counterparts in non-agroecology households at the endline. These findings suggests that the broader gender-transformative praxis of agroecology which emphasizes the engagement of both men and women in deliberative dialogue and community-led education on social inequalities can contribute to improving household gender relations. In the context of widespread gender inequality in sub-Saharan Africa, and the limits these inequalities have on agricultural development, our findings provide promising entry points for development policy and the emerging sub-field of feminist agroecology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the typology of smallholder maize farmers is crucial to elucidate the diversity in local farming systems, and therefore, devise effective interventions and policies that maximize the impact of agricultural innovations in South-Kivu province, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). This study aimed at characterizing maize farmers in South-Kivu province and clustering them based on various socioeconomic and agronomic factors to identify specific production constraints and devise more effective interventions. A household survey among 300 South-Kivu maize farmers allowed to identify four distinct clusters based on farm size, land use, income, and agricultural technology adoption. The clusters ranged from resource-poor smallholder (Types 1 and 2) to medium-resource semi-innovative producers (Type 3) and highly equipped innovative farmers (Type 4). Key discriminative factors included total farm size, maize farm size, farming experience, access to agricultural credit, income, and innovation adoption rate. This study revealed specific constraints for each cluster, including low soil fertility, poor weed management, low market access, and labor scarcity. This study's findings demonstrate the value of farm typology in guiding targeted interventions to address specific constraints and improve maize productivity, and suggest specific strategic directions for research and development projects in rural areas of the South-Kivu province. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agricultural research for development agencies in sub-Saharan Africa increasingly implements innovation platforms (IPs) to address institutional barriers to innovation in smallholder agriculture. This research aims to understand the activities, actions or arrangements that were mediated by a multilevel set of IPs to sustain the use of livestock feeding practices in the Ethiopian Highlands. Data was collected two years after the multilevel IPs had been phased out to ascertain if innovation outcomes had been sustained beyond the life of the project. The study identified specific IP interventions that constrained or enabled sustained use of the livestock innovations among two groups of smallholders based on their livestock production objective, i.e., commercially oriented or subsistence. Where the feed innovations had been tailored to specific enterprises and aligned to farmers' production goals, such as improved dairy farming, they were sustained. Transitioning to a livestock feed system was enabled in the case of commercially oriented smallholders and remained a challenge for subsistence-oriented smallholders, especially where access to forage seeds and affordable input services is limited. Finally mechanisms and strategies to inform similar future interventions to support the development of different groups of farmers along the value chain to achieve impact beyond project period are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Population growth exacerbates the pressure on land carrying capacity, affecting the sustainability of agricultural production, and also impacts non-agricultural industries. This paper utilizes grain price data from southern China during the Qing Dynasty (1776–1910) to examine the impact of population and land pressure on the development of the commodity economy under the "involution" of smallholder agriculture. This study finds that under conditions of stagnant technological advancement and limited natural resources, population growth during the Qing Dynasty created significant "Malthusian" population pressure. This pressure on land first resulted in the over-concentration of agricultural labor and saturation of the farming population. Surplus labor, unable to be absorbed by agriculture, shifted to non-agricultural sectors, engaging in the transportation and trade of grain. The pressure on land carrying capacity facilitated the cultivation and processing of cash crops, and product trade was supported by efficient waterway transportation. These activities generated commercial profits that alleviated survival pressures and promoted the prosperity of the commodity economy. However, this prosperity did not accompany significant productivity improvements; instead, it was a product of "involution" agriculture under high population density pressures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Brazilian agriculture is characterized by the prevalence of small farms and regions with a high degree of rurality and dominance of the agricultural sector in the economy. These two characteristics affect the diversity of agricultural production in the country. Specifically, the article aims to analyze the effects of size farm and farmland use on agricultural diversification and the effects of demand and technology adopted by farmers. The database encompasses 4298 Brazilian municipalities from 1996 to 2017 (the last three agricultural censuses). Empirically, we consider spillover effects by estimating spatial models at the municipal level using panel data, highlighting the importance of location and neighborhood. The study's findings indicate a tendency toward local concentration of agricultural production in the country, despite the balance between municipalities with diversified and concentrated production. The results showed a significant effect of small farms and the municipalities' rurality degree on the agricultural output diversification. The study provides insights into the discussion on measures to strengthen support for small properties and regions that diversify crops to ensure economic efficiency and food security. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Agriculture education promotes farmers and societal welfare through a more efficient use of resources and the adoption of sustainable farming practices. Nevertheless, farmers' educational attainment is limited across countries. This study explores farmers' intention to participate in formal agriculture education. Design/methodology/approach: A discrete choice experiment survey with 363 farmers exploring their preferences for different specifications within a diploma in agriculture was employed. We focus on Northern Ireland, a country with a relatively large agricultural sector and were farmers have a low level of formal education. Findings: Our results show that farmers exhibited a preference for short courses delivered in the evenings, with 75% of the teaching time delivered online, favouring educational topics linked to farm performance against those related to socio-environmental outcomes. Part-time younger farmers, operating in small farms located in less favoured areas, reported the highest willingness to pay for the course. However, farmers that had previously participated in a Young Farmer Payment Scheme reported the lowest interest in undertaking the course. Practical implications: The study provides useful information to education providers in relation to the design of agriculture courses to better meet farmers' preferences and therefore encourage levels of uptake. Secondly, the study can help policymakers to make informed decisions about policy instruments incentivising farmers to engage in education. Theoretical implications: By drawing from random parameter choice models, the study highlights that the heterogeneity of farmers' preferences should be considered when modelling their decision to engage in agriculture education. Originality/value: This is the first study that elicits farmers' preferences towards agriculture education via a discrete choice experiment. Secondly, the study explores preference heterogeneity based on farmers and farms' characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Brazilian agriculture is characterized by the prevalence of small farms and regions with a high degree of rurality and dominance of the agricultural sector in the economy. These two characteristics affect the diversity of agricultural production in the country. Specifically, the article aims to analyze the effects of size farm and farmland use on agricultural diversification and the effects of demand and technology adopted by farmers. The database encompasses 4298 Brazilian municipalities from 1996 to 2017 (the last three agricultural censuses). Empirically, we consider spillover effects by estimating spatial models at the municipal level using panel data, highlighting the importance of location and neighborhood. The study’s findings indicate a tendency toward local concentration of agricultural production in the country, despite the balance between municipalities with diversified and concentrated production. The results showed a significant effect of small farms and the municipalities’ rurality degree on the agricultural output diversification. The study provides insights into the discussion on measures to strengthen support for small properties and regions that diversify crops to ensure economic efficiency and food security.

Kyrgyzstan experienced a remarkable boom in potato production over the past thirty years, driven almost entirely by small farms. Today, potatoes are at once the backbone of national food security, a central source of income for many Kyrgyz households, and a non-trivial source of export earnings. This paper documents the central characteristics of the Kyrgyz potato economy and explains the conditions of its emergence and resilience. We show that Kyrgyzstan's potato economy is driven by three main features: land reforms that dispersed ownership of land early in the post-Soviet transition, dense social networks that connect producers to input suppliers and markets, and a match between the potato and the country's mountainous terrain and continental climate. Together, these features have given rise to a food security model that leverages the potato's well-known nutritional qualities, its cultural status as a food staple across the region, and Kyrgyzstan's geography and climate. We term this the Kyrgyz Potato Model (KPM). Unlike critics that stress the inefficiencies of Kyrgyz potato production, we highlight the model's strengths: it is extremely effective in feeding citizens, generates much-needed household incomes, and has been remarkably resilient in the face of recent global economic crises. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article draws from African and Indian experiences to create a roadmap depicting points along the value-chain where social enterprises have leveraged partnerships. It explores the success of these enterprises in creating partnerships through opportunity recognition and co-creation of solutions, service delivery, market development, and scaling of social impact and examines the inherent attributes that social enterprises provide to transform the lives of smallholder communities. This article draws the attention of stakeholders including impact-institutions and traditional sectors that partnership with social enterprises, to maximise the impact on smallholder agriculture, given their unique attributes to create lasting changes in the smallholders' lives, is a valuable proposition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conventional approaches to irrigation development involve large lumpsum investments in big infrastructure that cannot adapt to changing climate and socio-economic conditions. There is an urgent need for alternative ways of investing in smallholder irrigation in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) that are adaptive and avoid capital lock-in. Adaptive Investment Pathways (AdIP), inspired by the Dynamic Adaptive Policy Pathways (DAPP) concept, proposes stepwise investments to support smallholder irrigation development. AdIP builds resilience to future shocks through dynamic and flexible investment plans instead of investing in single static solutions. To develop an empirical grounding for operationalizing AdIP, we draw lessons from three case studies representing different stages of irrigation development along shallow sand river aquifers in Kenya and Zimbabwe. We retrospectively analyse the nature of investments at farm and landscape scales, and the type of risks and opportunities that farmers respond to. We find that in face of risks, farmers diversify their livelihoods, make small investments incrementally especially in response to opportunities and risks created by external triggers, and pause or reorient activity when they reach saturation points, i.e., biophysical or socio-political limits to their development objective, here irrigation development. Governments and external agencies can support smallholder irrigation development in SSA through targeted landscape scale investments that address saturation points faced by smallholders. This requires a robust participatory monitoring framework to identify and respond to saturation points, and a re-thinking of financing mechanisms which do not measure progress against a fixed schedule of investments, but instead measure continuous progress towards the development objective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Agriculture is Ethiopia's principal economic activity, employing the vast majority of the population, however, smallholder farmers in the country face long-standing challenges, including low levels of production, low income, and less credit use. This study aimed to analyze the impact of access to credit on crop productivity and income among small-scale farmers in the study area. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study from January 1st to 30th, 2022. Primary data were collected from purposely selected seven (7) kebele of the district based on potential users of agricultural credit. Then the impact was investigated by applying the propensity score matching technique. A Probit regression model was used to determine factors associated with credit use. The significance of the variables was decided at a 5% level of significance. Results: In our study, a total sample of 347 smallholder farmers were randomly selected, out of which 42.9% were credit-users while 59.1% were non-users. Regarding sources of credit use, Vision Fund was the most commonly used source of credit with 67.8% of users, followed by the Omo Microfinance institution with 22.1%. Sex of the farmer, age of the farmer, existence collateral, farm size, attitude towards risk, extension service, membership in credit institutions, road access, and number of total livestock units in tropical livestock units (TLU) had significant effects on credit use at a 5% level of significance. Moreover, the estimates showed that utilizing credit resulted in a rise in crop productivity in current market value and total yearly income by 19,302.44 and 18,009.63 respectively. Conclusion: Our study suggested that credit use had a considerable impact on crop productivity and total annual income. As a result, the study recommended that the government's rural finance policy agenda should prioritize opening different branches near farmers, improving credit usability, and providing more training programs to smallholder farmers to improve their skills and help reduce the problems that impede their use of agricultural credit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Biosecurity measures are necessary to the development of a family alpine farming system. In this study, good practices and areas of improvement have been investigated. In particular, practices related to quarantine, cleaning, waste milk feeding to calves, immunization, and diagnostics could be improved to implement optimal biosecurity measures. Farmers confirm that they are willing to adopt effective preventive measures under the recommendation of the veterinarian, and this attitude may be crucial to designing multisectoral participatory activities and strategies. Further investigations and the development of customized applications and digital toolkits are now required to better understand farmers' drivers toward biosecurity and to provide support. Background: Biosecurity measures are essential to improve animal health and welfare, tackle antimicrobial resistance (AMR), minimize the burden of infectious diseases, and enhance the safety, security, and quality of sustainable agricultural products. However, the implementation of these measures in small mountain farms can be influenced by several factors, which probably differ from the main variables that affect intensive farming systems. Methods: This study investigated the awareness among farmers regarding the implementation of biosecurity measures at the local level in small dairy farms located in the Autonomous Province of Bolzano/Bozen (Italy). In order to determine to what extent these measures are in line with the recommendations, a questionnaire was conceptualized and sent by post to a representative group of local farmers. The initiative was voluntary and anonymous. Results: A total of 50 farmers responded to the questionnaire, resulting in a response rate of 27.5%. This study confirms that most of the farmers are familiar with biosecurity, and 38% of them know its comprehensive definition. The results indicate that 77% of respondents are willing to implement preventive measures to reduce the use of antimicrobials, and 76% of them acknowledge that they would follow the recommendations provided by veterinarians. In agreement with other studies, the role of the veterinarian as a person of trust among farmers is confirmed. Conclusions: Main strengths and areas of improvement have been identified. Additional data and effective tools are needed to better investigate drivers toward biosecurity and to implement impactful and practical measures for mountain farming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research aims to measuring the efficiency of investment in Moringa farms in New Lands, quantifying the potential impacts of changes in major technical and economic variables on efficiency, and determining the Switching Value for the most affecting variables. A sample of 15 farms, located in Wadi El-Natroun in Alexandria Governorate, was Surveyed and post-stratified into small size farms (5 faddan and less) and large size farms (more than 5 faddan) to generate technical coefficients. Cash flow was prepared per faddan for each scale and IRR and NPV were calculated. Major results and conclusions can be summarized as follows: (1) Investment efficiency was achieved for Moringa production in the Wadi El-Natroun region, where the average internal rate of return was estimated at about 57%. The net present value is about 125.13 thousand pounds. (2) The decrease in the number of trees produced per faddan by 10% led to a decrease in the internal rate of return and the net present value with an average decrease of 19.98% and 22.22%, but it is still good and achieves investment efficiency. The Switching Value for the number of trees was estimated at 540 trees/faddan, 440 trees/faddan, i.e. 71% and 58.67% of the current situation for the small and large capacities, respectively. (3) The prevailing agricultural pattern is (80% moringa leaf production: 20% moringa seed production), and specialization in agriculture for the purpose of producing moringa seeds is the best in terms of the values of the investment efficiency standards used, followed by diversification between seed and leaf production. (4) The Switching Value for the productivity of an faddan of moringa seeds was estimated at approximately 10%, 0% of the current productivity for the small and large capacities, respectively, while the productivity of an faddan of moringa leaves at approximately 54%, 39% of the current productivity for the two capacities, respectively. (5) The Switching Value for the selling prices of seeds was estimated at approximately 88% and 0% of the current prices for the small and large containers, respectively, while for the selling prices of leaves at approximately 62.67% and 53.75% of the current prices for the two capacities, respectively. (6) The change in human labor costs is the most influential item in outflows on the internal rate of return. (7) There are many production and marketing problems facing Moringa producers in the Wadi El Natroun region. The research ended with Some recommendations and mechanisms for achieving them that can help the producer and take more efforts to overcome the problems and encourage growth and production of moringa in Egypt. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Baby corn is the name given to the female inflorescence of corn (Zea mays L.) before fertilization, being harvested in 2–3 days after the issuance of the styles‐stigmata. Currently, in Brazil, there is no specific corn cultivar for baby corn production, which leads to the use of popcorn and sweet corn cultivars because they are more accepted in the food industry. Therefore, the objective of this work was to estimate the genetic parameters and determine the efficiency of simultaneous selection based on productivity, adaptability, and stability of corn genotypes for baby corn production in the state of Espírito Santo, Brazil. The evaluations were conducted in 2019 on family properties in six municipalities in the state of Espírito Santo. Eleven corn genotypes were evaluated for baby corn production, being a double hybrid, four native varieties, and six commercial varieties. The design was randomized blocks with four repetitions each. The genetic parameters were estimated, which were obtained using the best linear unbiased prediction (BLUP), and the selection was carried out by the harmonic mean of the relative performance of genotypic values (HMRPGV). It was observed that the environments influenced the performance of the genotypes, configuring specific adaptation. The genotypes AG 1051, Aliança, and BR 106 presented the best performances in all the environments evaluated, considering, simultaneously, the productivity, adaptability, and stability of marketable ears. The HMRPGV method provided optimized selection of corn genotypes to produce baby corn with high productive potential, predictable behavior, and responsive to environmental stimuli. Core Ideas: The diversification of cultivated species is a key alternative to make the activities of small farms viable.The cultivation of baby corn allows earnings four to five times greater than corn intended for grain.In Brazil, there are no specific corn cultivars to produce baby corn.The study of adaptability and stability allows selecting more productive genotypes.Genotypes with predictable behavior and responsive to environmental variations were identified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Achieving sustainable agricultural development is a vital concern as soil degradation poses a growing threat to the livelihoods of smallholder farmers in the developing world. Previous literature has highlighted the potential for rural population growth to exacerbate this concern by leading to smaller farm sizes and crop production on marginal land. This paper uses a theoretical model to demonstrate a countervailing effect consistent with the work of Esther Boserup: Smaller farm sizes can encourage greater intensification and investment in the soil. Using panel data from the Tanzania National Panel Survey, I test the model and find some evidence consistent with this effect. Smaller farms are associated with greater organic, but not inorganic, fertilizer application, and higher levels of some soil quality proxies. These results suggest that if key resource and information constraints are overcome, population growth need not be an obstacle, and can be a boon, to sustainable agricultural development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Climate change is an emerging stressor that impacts negatively on the livelihoods of smallholder farmers in developing countries. This study assessed the socio-economic determinants of climate change perception in the uMkhanyakude district in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Assessment of the determinants of climate change perception is imperative in the design for effective climate change communication and policy formulation at the country and regional level. A stratified random sampling procedure was used to collect data from a sample of 400 smallholder farmers. A binary logistic regression model was used to analyse the determinants of climate change perception. Descriptive statistics revealed that 95.5% of the sampled farmers perceived climate change in the study area. Farmers perceived long term increases in temperatures and a decrease in rainfall. The results of the binary logistic regression revealed that climate change perception is influenced by the age of the household head, adult equivalents in the household, land size, involvement in farmers’ organisations, access to irrigation, and level of education. Policies aimed at addressing the impacts of climate change should place an emphasis on dealing with drought, which has been a prominent phenomenon in the study area and in the Southern African region. In addition, it is recommended that government policies geared toward the support of extensive educational programmes should consider the determinants of climate change perception. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Low coffee productivity has been linked to farmers’ limited use of agricultural financing due to credit rationing motivated by moral hazard and information asymmetry. As an intervention, the Kenyan government (GoK) established the Commodity Fund to provide financing to coffee growers to increase coffee productivity, alleviate poverty, and promote economic development. Despite this intervention, credit acceptance remains low; for example, agricultural credit made up only 4.3 percent of total private sector credit in 2016 and 3.62 percent in 2018. This low adoption of agricultural financing raises an important question: does the perception of credit’s influence on coffee output shape the current dismal trend in coffee production? As a result, this study aims to fill a research gap by exploring the impact of agricultural financing on coffee productivity in Kiambu County, Kenya. Primary data was gathered through farmers’ group discussions (FGDs) with twelve farmers’ cooperatives and fifteen key informants from five coffee value chain actors. A subsequent survey of 174 smallholder coffee farmers was conducted. Phenomenological explication and a logistic regression model were used to analyze data from key informants and focus group discussions. According to the study’s findings, farmers perceived agricultural credit as having a positive impact on demand for coffee inputs and returns while having a negative impact on demand for labor and coffee productivity efficiency. As a result, this study recommends that the GoK examine Commodity Fund policies to catalyze credit in order to stimulate increased coffee productivity and economic transformation among coffee producers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Crop diversification is a potential strategy that farmers can employ to address household food insecurity and low farm incomes. Smallholder coffee farmers face low and insufficient levels of crop diversification in Kirinyaga East and Central SubCounties, Kirinyaga County, Kenya. This study examines those factors that influence household decisions to diversify crops and further attempts to analyze the factors that influence the extent to which diversification takes place among smallholder coffee farmers. The study was guided by utility theory and used a descriptive survey design. Structured questionnaires were used to collect the survey data and a sample size of 408 smallholder farmers was chosen using multistage sampling procedure. The crop diversification index was 0.390 on average. Cragg’s double-hurdle model findings at the first stage of the model revealed that there was a positive and significant relationship at p < 0.05 between access to extension services (6.5%) and land size (8.8%) on the probability of the farmer participating in crop diversification. The extent of crop diversification was positively and significantly associated with land size (6.7%), where (p < 0.05), while gender (5.3%) had a negative influence. Farmers should be encouraged to diversify their crops to maximize land productivity through increased crop yields. Finally, the findings suggest that the government should allocate resources to supplement existing extension programs and policies that improve skills and knowledge of farmers concerning crop diversification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The amount of actively cultivated land in China is increasingly threatened by rapid urbanization and rural population aging. Quantifying the extent and changes of active cropland and cropping intensity is crucial to global food security. However, national-scale datasets for smallholder agriculture are limited in spatiotemporal continuity, resolution, and precision. In this paper, we present updated annual Cropland Use Intensity maps in China (China-CUI10m) with descriptions of the extent of fallow/abandoned, actively cropped fields and cropping intensity at a 10-m resolution in recent six years (2018–2023). The dataset is produced by robust algorithms with no requirements for regional adjustments or intensive training samples, which take full advantage of the Sentinel-1 (S1) SAR and Sentinel-2 (S2) MSI time series. The China-CUI10m maps have achieved high accuracy when compared to ground truth data (Overall accuracy = 90.88%) and statistical data (R2 > 0.94). This paper provides the recent trends in cropland abandonment and agricultural intensification in China, which contributes to facilitating geographic-targeted cropland use control policies towards sustainable intensification of smallholder agricultural systems in developing countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents a low-cost insurance system developed for smallholder farms in disaster-prone regions, primarily using free Earth observation (EO) data and free open source software's (FOSS), collectively termed "sustainable geoinformatics." The study examined 30 farms in Risaralda Department, Colombia. A digital elevation model (12.5 m pixels) from the ALOS PALSAR satellite sensor was used with a geographic information system (GIS) to map the terrain, drainage, and geohazards of each farming district. Google Earth Engine (GEE) was used to carry out time-series analysis of 15 EO and weather datasets for 1998 to 2020. This analysis enabled the levels of risk from hydrometeorological hazards to be determined for each farm of the study, providing key data for the setting of insurance premiums. A parametric insurance product was developed using a proprietary mobile phone app that collected GPS-tagged, time-stamped mobile phone photos to verify crop damage, with further verification of crop health also provided by daily near-real-time satellite imagery (e.g., PlanetScope with 3 m pixels). Machine learning was used for feature identification with the photos and the satellite imagery. Key features of this insurance system are its low operational cost and rapid damage verification relative to conventional approaches to farm insurance. This relatively fast, low-cost, and affordable approach to insurance for small-scale farming enhances sustainable development by enabling policyholder farmers to recover more quickly from disasters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nutrition-sensitive agriculture is an approach that aims to ensure the production of affordable, safe, culturally appropriate, and nutritious foods in sufficient quantity and quality to meet dietary needs. This study aims to examine the production pathway by which smallholder farmers adopt nutrition-sensitive agriculture in northwest Ethiopia. Data were collected from 478 randomly sampled households through a structured questionnaire-based survey, observations, and group discussions. Descriptive and inferential statistics were employed for analysis. Binary logistic regression analysis was used to estimate the influences of demographic, socioeconomic, and institutional explanatory variables on the production of various food groups in households. Arable land owned by households, the use of irrigation, access to the nearest markets, contacts with agricultural extension workers, and management practices affect plant-sourced food production. On the other hand, the number of livestock owned, the total crop produced, and contacts with extension workers affected animal-sourced food production. However, different factors, such as technological, institutional, and managerial challenges, that include dependency on rain-fed and free-grazing-based traditional herding systems adversely affect the production pathway to nutrition-sensitive agriculture. The study concludes that improving agricultural extension services, promoting small-scale irrigation schemes, and introducing improved animal feeding with improved crop and livestock management techniques could significantly contribute to increased household availability of diversified foods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the question of optimal farm size in the context of contemporary agricultural challenges such as rapid population growth, climate change, and limited natural resources. The analysis shows that farm economic size can have a significant impact on financial performance indicators including productivity, profitability, liquidity, solvency, and sustainability. The article provides a detailed overview of the pros and cons of different farm economic sizes and their impact on financial sustainability, drawing on academic literature, available data, and statistical methods. The results indicate that larger farms have lower factor productivity but higher solvency. Smaller farms on the other hand have higher profitability and productivity. Medium-sized farms are characterized by high liquidity and financial autonomy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

South Africa's 2030 National Development Plan (NDP), which is a long-term policy and development strategic guideline, places agriculture at the centre of employment creation. It estimates that a million jobs could be created through the agricultural sectors, including the smallholder farming sector. Considering the NDP's goal, this viewpoint unpacks how smallholder agricultural labour supply has evolved over time and highlights the implications of this vigorous change. In doing so, it traces this evolution back to the kinships that have kept rural African communities together for many years. The viewpoint also raises looming issues for discussion by policymakers and development practitioners. To effectively develop rural communities it is important to understand and appreciate the rural sociological realities that are behind the remarkable changes in the use of labour in smallholder agriculture. The viewpoint is based on the author's long-term engagement with smallholder farmers in his previous works. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: This study investigates the prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites in small ruminant farms (159 sheep and 39 goats) in southern Spain, a key area for the country's livestock production. This research reveals that Eimeria spp. Is the most common parasitic infection, followed by Strongyles. Other parasites, like Moniezia spp., Trichuris spp., and D. dendriticum, are less prevalent but more common in sheep. This study also includes a survey on farmers' management practices, highlighting that regular monitoring through coprological analyses is not common; veterinarians are seldom involved in deworming plans, and anthelmintic treatment is typically applied twice a year in sheep and once in goats. This report suggests that implementing certain management measures could potentially mitigate parasite infections. This constitutes the first report on the epidemiological status of gastrointestinal parasites in small ruminants in southern Spain. The primary population of small ruminants in Spain is concentrated in the southern region, a critical area for the country's livestock production. Indirect economic losses can occur when this livestock is affected by gastrointestinal parasites. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of these parasites in small ruminant herds (159 sheep and 39 goats) through coprological analyses and conducted a survey on farmers' management practices related to gastrointestinal parasite control. The survey results revealed some important aspects: monitoring through coprological analyses is not a common practice; veterinarians are not typically involved in deworming plans; anthelmintic treatment in adults is often applied twice a year in sheep and once a year in goats; and finally, drug rotation was higher in sheep farms. Coprological analyses showed Eimeria spp. as the most common parasitic infection, followed by Strongyles infection. Other parasites like Moniezia spp., Trichuris spp., and D. dendriticum were less important, although their prevalence was higher in sheep than goats. This constitutes the first report on the epidemiological status of gastrointestinal parasites in small ruminants in southern Spain. Based on the survey findings, the introduction of certain management measures on farms could potentially mitigate parasite infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Horticulture represents an important part of the agricultural economy in Burkina and Benin. Strawberry growing is a main activity for many producers. Strawberries are a high value-added product. This analytical review aims to summarize the work carried out on strawberries in order to define research perspectives for a better understanding of the constraints of its production. This review is produced from documentation focused on the relevance of the articles. The identified diseases and pests as the major constraints that can cause losses of up to 100% of production. Burkina is one of the major strawberry producers in West Africa unlike Benin where there are small farms in the North. A research perspective based on major constraints would make it possible to boost strawberry production and ensure better productivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Timely and accurate extraction of crop planting units plays a critical role in crop yield estimation, soil management, food supplies, and disaster warnings. However, precisely mapping crop types is challenging in smallholder farming systems due to heterogeneous and mixed pixels, where field sizes are small, and crop types are very diverse. In this paper, the crop type system of Huocheng County in northwest China as an example area, crop classification feature variables are constructed using Sentinel-2 remote sensing images, and combining the ReliefF algorithm, three feature selection classification models are established by 3092 crop type sampling points data. The crop planting units are extracted using pixel-based and object-based classification methods, respectively, and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) data assess the accuracy as ground truth. The Sentinel-2 image based smallholder crops classification results indicate that: The effective combination of optimal input feature variables selection and classification models significantly improves crop classification accuracy. This is particularly evident when integrating this approach into pixel-based classification, addressing challenges such as low pixel classification accuracy in regions of this type. The validation results from UAV data also confirm these findings. At validation points 2, 3, and 4, pixel-based classification demonstrates significantly higher accuracy compared to object-based classification, with pixel-based classification accuracy improving by 9.16%, 7.83%, and 31.83%, respectively. Although the UAV validation accuracy does not reach a high level, pixel-based classification remains the optimal choice for smallholder crop classification. This method offers new insights and references for research related to the classification of smallholder crops with complex planting structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]