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Potato has multiple benefits and thus can play a vital role in ensuring food security in Ethiopia. However, for diverse reasons, its productivity is low. The farming systems in Ethiopia in which potato is grown, are predominantly mixed farming systems. Most of the research in Ethiopia is focused on crop-specific constraints and thus there is limited research in which the interrelations between crop and livestock management practices are investigated. There is also not enough research focused on combined analysis of soil nutrient and animal feed balances and agronomic and socioeconomic efficiencies at farm level. This study assessed production constraints and agronomic and socioeconomic sustainability of the farming systems in South Ethiopia and explored the possible synergetic options to alleviate major constraints. More specifically, the study intended to quantify the variation in input and output among farms, to identify constraints hindering expansion of potato production, to evaluate the sustainability of the farming systems at farm level, to identify constraints of sustainable intensification, and to explore synergetic solutions for the major constraints. Different research approaches were used ranging from lab analysis, household surveys, group discussions, to farm surveys. Results showed that constraints related to input and product use in potato production vary across households indicating a need for a pluriform advisory model recognizing (and building upon alleviation of) the diversity of constraints identified in this analysis. The sustainability of the farming system is constrained by low agricultural productivity, low soil fertility, poor labour efficiency and limited economic return associated with improper crop rotation, inappropriate soil fertility management practices, shortage of animal feed, labour- and economically inefficient farm practices and labour shortage. However, there is ample scope to overcome the major constraints and simultaneously to optimize farm management. The core messages of the study can be summarized as follows: 1) the current potato production is characterized by low productivity and economic returns due to various socioeconomic, agronomic and biological factors; 2) the soil fertility is low and there is uneven distribution of nutrients over plots with relatively high fertility levels in the homestead areas; 3) the current labour shortage can be attributed to mainly inefficiency of agricultural management practices and labour migration to towns for economic reasons indicating that the farming system is not sustainable in terms of labour; 4) considering the direct return from animal production, most of the farms had very low gross margin with the current management system and this reduced the overall operating profit of farms. The low return from animal rearing was offset by the relatively high profit from crop production indicating the benefit of mixed farming system in sustaining agricultural production; and 5) each farm can have a wide range of optimized solutions mainly through introduction of improved technologies and subsequent redesigning of the farm managements. In general, the findings of the current study indicate that it is worthwhile to assess the sustainability of agricultural production in different farming systems and agro-ecologies of Ethiopia. In addition, the combined effect of introducing improved agricultural technologies and subsequent reconfiguring the farm management is very crucial to increase and sustain agricultural production.

Sinds het vrijlaten van de prijs van onverpachte grond, in 1963, heeft er in Nederland zowel eind jaren zeventig als eind jaren negentig een explosieve grondprijsstijging plaats gevonden, gevolgd door een bijna even forse daling. De reële grondprijsontwikkeling laat zien dat beide pieken ongeveer even hoog zijn. Voor elk van de 2 perioden werd in dit onderzoek de prijs afgezet tegen de verhandelde oppervlakte. Dat leverde in beide gevallen een cyclus op. Een grondmarktcyclus vangt aan wanneer grondeigenaren verwachten dat de grondprijs zal gaan stijgen en vervolgens de verkoop van de grond uitstellen. Wanneer de prijs uiteindelijk gaat stijgen en vooral wanneer die prijs, vanwege de steeds krapper wordende grondmarkt, ook nog eens doorschiet, bieden grondeigenaren weer meer grond aan: gaan winst nemen. Echter, dan gaan kopers anticiperen op een daling van de dan zeer hoge grondprijs. Bij het grotere aanbod en stakende kopers, daalt de grondprijs en neemt het aantal transacties nog verder af. Pas wanneer kopers er van overtuigd raken dat er geen verdere daling van de grondprijs meer in zit, gaat men weer aankopen. Trefwoorden: Landbouwgrond, grondmarkt, grondprijs, grondmobiliteit, marktcyclus, grondeigenaar, belegging in grond, rendement landbouwgrond, flow market, stock market, real estate cycles, business cycles, bedrijfsbeeindiging.

Sinds het vrijlaten van de prijs van onverpachte grond, in 1963, heeft er in Nederland zowel eind jaren zeventig als eind jaren negentig een explosieve grondprijsstijging plaats gevonden, gevolgd door een bijna even forse daling. De reële grondprijsontwikkeling laat zien dat beide pieken ongeveer even hoog zijn. Voor elk van de 2 perioden werd in dit onderzoek de prijs afgezet tegen de verhandelde oppervlakte. Dat leverde in beide gevallen een cyclus op. Een grondmarktcyclus vangt aan wanneer grondeigenaren verwachten dat de grondprijs zal gaan stijgen en vervolgens de verkoop van de grond uitstellen. Wanneer de prijs uiteindelijk gaat stijgen en vooral wanneer die prijs, vanwege de steeds krapper wordende grondmarkt, ook nog eens doorschiet, bieden grondeigenaren weer meer grond aan: gaan winst nemen. Echter, dan gaan kopers anticiperen op een daling van de dan zeer hoge grondprijs. Bij het grotere aanbod en stakende kopers, daalt de grondprijs en neemt het aantal transacties nog verder af. Pas wanneer kopers er van overtuigd raken dat er geen verdere daling van de grondprijs meer in zit, gaat men weer aankopen. Trefwoorden: Landbouwgrond, grondmarkt, grondprijs, grondmobiliteit, marktcyclus, grondeigenaar, belegging in grond, rendement landbouwgrond, flow market, stock market, real estate cycles, business cycles, bedrijfsbeeindiging.

Small ruminants are an important but neglected resource in developing countries. Small ruminant production systems are complex. The multiple goals related to small ruminants, combined with the complexity of their management, and the resources and social arrangements involved, make small ruminants keeping an enterprise that is inherently difficult to study and to understand. This study analysed the behaviour of small ruminant production systems in order to understand their development prospects in different agro-ecological zones in Central Java, Indonesia. Three districts of Yogyakarta Province, Central Java-Indonesia, were selected to be the research sites, namely Bantul (lowlands), Sleman (middle zone) and Kulon Progo (uplands) districts. The data were gathered by studying literature to obtain primary and secondary data on small ruminant development, interviewing farmers and key persons, group meetings, field observations and monitoring feeding practices, animal performances and marketing strategies, and laboratory analyses on air and water qualities inside and around small ruminant houses. During about one century of small ruminant development in Indonesia, the role of small ruminants has remained more or less the same, whereas major changes occurred in the types of animals kept, in animal numbers and in farmer's management. Driving forces for changes in small ruminant systems have acted at different aggregation levels. The intensification of land use has resulted in major changes in management. In the middle zone and uplands the majority of small ruminants are kept in confinement, whereas in the lowlands small ruminants are mainly kept in a combination of grazing and confinement. Farmers referred to their small ruminants as a saving (tabungan in Javanese) that provides security and helps to accumulate capital, which in turn helps to reduce hunger and buffers against periodic drought. Manure was the second main reason for keeping small ruminants. The supply and demand of sheep and goats fluctuated throughout the year. The demand for and price of small ruminants increased dramatically during the weeks before Idul Adha, the feast of sacrifice. Farmers do not seem to profit from this increased demand. Farmers rarely sell their animals directly on the small ruminant market or to the consumers. The housing of small ruminants close to the family quarters resulted in very high levels of faecal coliform bacteria and total coliform bacteria, two groups of bacteria used as indicators for water contamination caused by manure. It is unlikely that small ruminants will become a main income earner in rural households. If households have sufficient family labour for the management of small ruminants, small ruminants are an appreciated secondary activity. Efforts to improve small ruminant production need to be facilitated by stronger institutions, local empowerment and regulation of access to resources. The local government, scientists, extension workers, and farmers themselves have to work together, because improving small ruminant production means that farmers have access to reliable and affordable support services, offering them access to knowledge and inputs, including credit and marketing information.

Small ruminants are an important but neglected resource in developing countries. Small ruminant production systems are complex. The multiple goals related to small ruminants, combined with the complexity of their management, and the resources and social arrangements involved, make small ruminants keeping an enterprise that is inherently difficult to study and to understand. This study analysed the behaviour of small ruminant production systems in order to understand their development prospects in different agro-ecological zones in Central Java, Indonesia. Three districts of Yogyakarta Province, Central Java-Indonesia, were selected to be the research sites, namely Bantul (lowlands), Sleman (middle zone) and Kulon Progo (uplands) districts. The data were gathered by studying literature to obtain primary and secondary data on small ruminant development, interviewing farmers and key persons, group meetings, field observations and monitoring feeding practices, animal performances and marketing strategies, and laboratory analyses on air and water qualities inside and around small ruminant houses. During about one century of small ruminant development in Indonesia, the role of small ruminants has remained more or less the same, whereas major changes occurred in the types of animals kept, in animal numbers and in farmer's management. Driving forces for changes in small ruminant systems have acted at different aggregation levels. The intensification of land use has resulted in major changes in management. In the middle zone and uplands the majority of small ruminants are kept in confinement, whereas in the lowlands small ruminants are mainly kept in a combination of grazing and confinement. Farmers referred to their small ruminants as a saving (tabungan in Javanese) that provides security and helps to accumulate capital, which in turn helps to reduce hunger and buffers against periodic drought. Manure was the second main reason for keeping small ruminants. The supply and demand of sheep and goats fluctuated throughout the year. The demand for and price of small ruminants increased dramatically during the weeks before Idul Adha, the feast of sacrifice. Farmers do not seem to profit from this increased demand. Farmers rarely sell their animals directly on the small ruminant market or to the consumers. The housing of small ruminants close to the family quarters resulted in very high levels of faecal coliform bacteria and total coliform bacteria, two groups of bacteria used as indicators for water contamination caused by manure. It is unlikely that small ruminants will become a main income earner in rural households. If households have sufficient family labour for the management of small ruminants, small ruminants are an appreciated secondary activity. Efforts to improve small ruminant production need to be facilitated by stronger institutions, local empowerment and regulation of access to resources. The local government, scientists, extension workers, and farmers themselves have to work together, because improving small ruminant production means that farmers have access to reliable and affordable support services, offering them access to knowledge and inputs, including credit and marketing information.

Aardappelen worden in verschillende vormen en via verschillende wegen op de markt gebracht. Het merendeel van de tafelaardappelen en de verwerkte aardappelen wordt via de supermarkt afgezet. De marges die op aardappelen gemaakt worden hangen sterk af van het soort product en het afzetkanaal. Snackbars behalen over het algemeen de grootste marges

Aardappelen worden in verschillende vormen en via verschillende wegen op de markt gebracht. Het merendeel van de tafelaardappelen en de verwerkte aardappelen wordt via de supermarkt afgezet. De marges die op aardappelen gemaakt worden hangen sterk af van het soort product en het afzetkanaal. Snackbars behalen over het algemeen de grootste marges

The Reseeding Indicator is an Internet program with which insight can be gained into the relationship between costs and profits of grassland renewal. The program computes an economic balance on the basis of current data on the plot. It provides insight into the improvement of the productivity and gives advice on whether or not to reseed. Moreover, an estimated nitrogen balance is provided. The program can be found on the website ASG (www.asg.wur.nl) and can be consulted directly

Voor het berekenen van de kostprijs is uitgegaan van een modelbedrijf. De uitgangspunten hiervoor zijn vermeld. Vanuit kostenoogpunt en concurrentiepositie lijkt er perspectief te zijn voor de biologische vleeskuikenhouderij in Nederland. De afzet van biologisch kuikenvlees is een belangrijke factor die geregeld moet zijn

In dit onderzoek is in de tuinbouw nagegaan of de voordelen die worden toegeschreven aan het vormen van telersverenigingen ook daadwerkelijk gerealiseerd zijn. Hiervoor zijn vertegenwoordigers van 16 telersverenigingen mondeling geïnterviewd. In de analyse van de resultaten is onderzocht in welke mate voordelen behaald zijn, op het financiële, logistieke, organisatorische en marktkundige vlak. Tevens is onderzocht in welke mate de gekozen organisatievorm bepalend is voor het al dan niet behalen van de strategische doelstellingen. Nagegaan is of de voordelen die aan telersverenigingen in de tuinbouwsector worden toegeschreven, doorvertaald kunnen worden naar de varkenshouderij. Tot slot worden aangrijpingspunten voor het beleid geformuleerd

In dit onderzoek is in de tuinbouw nagegaan of de voordelen die worden toegeschreven aan het vormen van telersverenigingen ook daadwerkelijk gerealiseerd zijn. Hiervoor zijn vertegenwoordigers van 16 telersverenigingen mondeling geïnterviewd. In de analyse van de resultaten is onderzocht in welke mate voordelen behaald zijn, op het financiële, logistieke, organisatorische en marktkundige vlak. Tevens is onderzocht in welke mate de gekozen organisatievorm bepalend is voor het al dan niet behalen van de strategische doelstellingen. Nagegaan is of de voordelen die aan telersverenigingen in de tuinbouwsector worden toegeschreven, doorvertaald kunnen worden naar de varkenshouderij. Tot slot worden aangrijpingspunten voor het beleid geformuleerd