Do Methods Matter Implications For Understanding Agricultural Productivity Drivers In Smallholder Farming Systems

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Do Methods Matter? Implications for Understanding Agricultural Productivity Drivers in Smallholder Farming Systems

Author : Sydney M. Gourlay
Publisher :
ISBN 13 : 9781088333747
Total Pages : 281 pages
Book Rating : 4.3/5 (337 download)

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Book Synopsis Do Methods Matter? Implications for Understanding Agricultural Productivity Drivers in Smallholder Farming Systems by : Sydney M. Gourlay

Download or read book Do Methods Matter? Implications for Understanding Agricultural Productivity Drivers in Smallholder Farming Systems written by Sydney M. Gourlay and published by . This book was released on 2019 with total page 281 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The effects of the structure and efficiency of agricultural systems are pervasive throughout developing economies, reaching numerous sectors including food security, health, economic growth, income inequality, poverty and vulnerability, and gender equality, among others. Despite the ubiquitous impacts of agricultural productivity on various indicators of wellbeing, realized productivity is generally well below its potential. Increasing agricultural productivity, therefore, is central to many poverty reduction policies. Policy aimed at increasing agricultural productivity is often informed by household surveys that rely on self-reported information. Measurement error in household survey data could potentially lead to inappropriate or insufficient understandings of the drivers of agricultural production and the policy levers that could be used to improve productivity.I hypothesize that measurement error in household surveys, including that resulting from inadequate survey methodology, alters our understanding of certain agricultural productivity relationships. Unique survey data from Uganda and Ethiopia, which included the measurement of key agricultural inputs and production through both traditional self-reported methods as well as utilizing highly advanced data collection methodology, allows for unprecedented agricultural analysis. This dissertation, which takes the form of three essays, examines the following questions: (i) can the commonly observed inverse farm size-productivity relationship be explained by measurement error in production measurement?; (ii) how is agricultural productivity hindered by crop-specific soil suitability, and how are productivity constraints distributed across the agricultural population?; and (iii) does high-resolution plot-level soil data reveal gender-differentiated land quality endowments, and does this explain observed gender-based productivity gaps? Through this research I illustrate that methods do matter. The controversial inverse farm size-productivity relationship vanishes when objective methods of measuring crop production and plot area are used in place of farmer estimated production. Analysis of crop-specific soil suitability reveals additional nuances of agricultural productivity that are otherwise undetectable with farmer-assessment of soils, highlighting limited potential production gains for maize farmers in Eastern Uganda. Finally, utilization of high-resolution plot-level soil data vis-a-vis geospatial soil data uncovers gender-based differences in soil quality endowments, which, when included in productivity analysis, are shown to make up as much as 30 percent of the total gender-based productivity gap in Malawi.

Save and Grow

Author : Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Publisher : Food & Agriculture Org.
ISBN 13 : 9251068712
Total Pages : 116 pages
Book Rating : 4.2/5 (51 download)

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Book Synopsis Save and Grow by : Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

Download or read book Save and Grow written by Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and published by Food & Agriculture Org.. This book was released on 2018-06-22 with total page 116 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The book offers a rich toolkit of relevant, adoptable ecosystem-based practices that can help the world's 500 million smallholder farm families achieve higher productivity, profitability and resource-use efficiency while enhancing natural capital.

Methods for Measuring Greenhouse Gas Balances and Evaluating Mitigation Options in Smallholder Agriculture

Author : Todd S. Rosenstock
Publisher : Springer
ISBN 13 : 3319297945
Total Pages : 217 pages
Book Rating : 4.3/5 (192 download)

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Book Synopsis Methods for Measuring Greenhouse Gas Balances and Evaluating Mitigation Options in Smallholder Agriculture by : Todd S. Rosenstock

Download or read book Methods for Measuring Greenhouse Gas Balances and Evaluating Mitigation Options in Smallholder Agriculture written by Todd S. Rosenstock and published by Springer. This book was released on 2016-08-23 with total page 217 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book provides standards and guidelines for quantifying greenhouse gas emissions and removals in smallholder agricultural systems and comparing options for climate change mitigation based on emission reductions and livelihood trade-offs. Globally, agriculture is directly responsible for about 11% of annual greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and induces an additional 17% through land use change, mostly in developing countries. Farms in the developing countries of sub-Saharan Africa and Asia are predominately managed by smallholders, with 80% of land holdings smaller than ten hectares. However, little to no information exists on greenhouse gas emissions and mitigation potentials in smallholder agriculture. Greenhouse gas measurements in agriculture are expensive, time consuming, and error prone, challenges only exacerbated by the heterogeneity of smallholder systems and landscapes. Concerns over methodological rigor, measurement costs, and the diversity of approaches, coupled with the demand for robust information suggest it is germane for the scientific community to establish standards of measurements for quantifying GHG emissions from smallholder agriculture. Standard guidelines for use by scientists, development organizations will help generate reliable data on emissions baselines and allow rigorous comparisons of mitigation options. The guidelines described in this book, developed by the CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture, and Food Security (CCAFS) and partners, are intended to inform anyone conducting field measurements of agricultural greenhouse gas sources and sinks, especially to develop IPCC Tier 2 emission factors or to compare mitigation options in smallholder systems.

Sustainable Intensification

Author : Jules N. Pretty
Publisher : Routledge
ISBN 13 : 1136529276
Total Pages : 292 pages
Book Rating : 4.1/5 (365 download)

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Book Synopsis Sustainable Intensification by : Jules N. Pretty

Download or read book Sustainable Intensification written by Jules N. Pretty and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2012-06-25 with total page 292 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Continued population growth, rapidly changing consumption patterns and the impacts of climate change and environmental degradation are driving limited resources of food, energy, water and materials towards critical thresholds worldwide. These pressures are likely to be substantial across Africa, where countries will have to find innovative ways to boost crop and livestock production to avoid becoming more reliant on imports and food aid. Sustainable agricultural intensification - producing more output from the same area of land while reducing the negative environmental impacts - represents a solution for millions of African farmers. This volume presents the lessons learned from 40 sustainable agricultural intensification programmes in 20 countries across Africa, commissioned as part of the UK Government's Foresight project. Through detailed case studies, the authors of each chapter examine how to develop productive and sustainable agricultural systems and how to scale up these systems to reach many more millions of people in the future. Themes covered include crop improvements, agroforestry and soil conservation, conservation agriculture, integrated pest management, horticulture, livestock and fodder crops, aquaculture, and novel policies and partnerships.

Farming Systems and Poverty

Author : John A. Dixon
Publisher : Food & Agriculture Org.
ISBN 13 : 9789251046272
Total Pages : 424 pages
Book Rating : 4.0/5 (462 download)

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Book Synopsis Farming Systems and Poverty by : John A. Dixon

Download or read book Farming Systems and Poverty written by John A. Dixon and published by Food & Agriculture Org.. This book was released on 2001 with total page 424 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A joint FAO and World Bank study which shows how the farming systems approach can be used to identify priorities for the reduction of hunger and poverty in the main farming systems of the six major developing regions of the world.

Survey Measurement Errors and the Assessment of the Relationship between Yields and Inputs in Smallholder Farming Systems

Author : Ismael Yacoubou Djima
Publisher :
ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : pages
Book Rating : 4.:/5 (128 download)

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Book Synopsis Survey Measurement Errors and the Assessment of the Relationship between Yields and Inputs in Smallholder Farming Systems by : Ismael Yacoubou Djima

Download or read book Survey Measurement Errors and the Assessment of the Relationship between Yields and Inputs in Smallholder Farming Systems written by Ismael Yacoubou Djima and published by . This book was released on with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: An accurate understanding of how input use affects agricultural productivity in smallholder farming systems is key to designing policies that can improve productivity, food security, and living standards in rural areas. Studies examining the relationships between agricultural productivity and inputs typically rely on land productivity measures, such as crop yields, that are informed by self-reported survey data on crop production. This paper leverages unique survey data from Mali to demonstrate that self-reported crop yields, vis-à-vis (objective) crop cut yields, are subject to non-classical measurement error that in turn biases the estimates of returns to inputs, including land, labor, fertilizer, and seeds. The analysis validates an alternative approach to estimate the relationship between crop yields and agricultural inputs using large-scale surveys, namely a within-survey imputation exercise that derives predicted, otherwise unobserved, objective crop yields that stem from a machine learning model that is estimated with a random subsample of plots for which crop cutting and self-reported yields are both available. Using data from a methodological survey experiment and a nationally representative survey conducted in Mali, the analysis demonstrates that it is possible to obtain predicted objective sorghum yields with attenuated non-classical measurement error, resulting in a less biased assessment of the relationship between yields and agricultural inputs. The discussion expands on the implications of the findings for (i) future research on agricultural intensification, and (ii) the design of future surveys in which objective data collection could be limited to a subsample to save costs, with the intention to apply the suggested machine learning approach.

A Research Agenda for Entrepreneurship and Context

Author : Friederike Welter
Publisher : Edward Elgar Publishing
ISBN 13 : 1784716847
Total Pages : 185 pages
Book Rating : 4.7/5 (847 download)

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Book Synopsis A Research Agenda for Entrepreneurship and Context by : Friederike Welter

Download or read book A Research Agenda for Entrepreneurship and Context written by Friederike Welter and published by Edward Elgar Publishing. This book was released on 2016-09-30 with total page 185 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: There is growing recognition that entrepreneurship can be better understood within its context(s). This carefully designed book invites readers to take a journey: from reflecting critically on where the discussion on context and entrepreneurship stands today towards identifying future research questions and themes that deserve the attention of entrepreneurship scholars. This collection draws attention to the research challenges the entrepreneurship field faces by reviewing the many facets of contexts and by reflecting on methods and theoretical approaches that are required in order to contextualize entrepreneurship research. Students and academics interested in context and entrepreneurship will benefit from this far-reaching and forward-thinking book.

Climate-smart Agriculture Sourcebook

Author : Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
Publisher : Food & Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO)
ISBN 13 : 9789251077207
Total Pages : 0 pages
Book Rating : 4.0/5 (772 download)

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Book Synopsis Climate-smart Agriculture Sourcebook by : Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)

Download or read book Climate-smart Agriculture Sourcebook written by Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and published by Food & Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO). This book was released on 2014 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "Climate-smart agriculture, forestry and fisheries (CSA), contributes to the achievement of sustainable development goals. It integrates the three dimensions of sustainable development (economic, social and environmental) by jointly addressing food security and climate challenges. It is composed of three main pillars: sustainably increasing agricultural productivity and incomes; adapting and building resilience to climate change; reducing and/or removing greenhouse gases emissions, where possible. The purpose of the sourcebook is to further elaborate the concept of CSA and demonstrate its potential, as well as limitations. It aims to help decision makers at a number of levels (including political administrators and natural resource managers) to understand the different options that are available for planning, policies and investments and the practices that are suitable for making different agricultural sectors, landscapes and food systems more climate-smart. This sourcebook is a reference tool for planners, practitioners and policy makers working in agriculture, forestry and fisheries at national and subnational levels." -- Back cover.

Agricultural Systems: Agroecology and Rural Innovation for Development

Author : Sieglinde Snapp
Publisher : Academic Press
ISBN 13 : 0128020954
Total Pages : 560 pages
Book Rating : 4.1/5 (28 download)

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Book Synopsis Agricultural Systems: Agroecology and Rural Innovation for Development by : Sieglinde Snapp

Download or read book Agricultural Systems: Agroecology and Rural Innovation for Development written by Sieglinde Snapp and published by Academic Press. This book was released on 2017-02-17 with total page 560 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Agricultural Systems, Second Edition, is a comprehensive text for developing sustainable farming systems. It presents a synthetic overview of the emerging area of agroecology applications to transforming farming systems and supporting rural innovation, with particular emphasis on how research can be harnessed for sustainable agriculture. The inclusion of research theory and examples using the principles of cropping system design allows students to gain a unique understanding of the technical, biological, ecological, economic and sociological aspects of farming systems science for rural livelihoods. This book explores topics such as: re-inventing farming systems; principles and practice of agroecology; agricultural change and low-input technology; ecologically-based nutrient management; participatory breeding for developing improved and relevant crops; participatory livestock research for development; gender and agrarian inequality at the local scale; the nature of agricultural innovation; and outreach to support rural innovation. The extensive coverage of subjects is complemented with integrated references and a companion website, making this book essential reading for courses in international agricultural systems and management, sustainable agricultural management, and cropping systems. This book will be a valuable resource for students of agricultural science, environmental engineering, and rural planning; researchers and scientists in agricultural development agencies; and practitioners of agricultural development in government extension programs, development agencies, and NGOs. Provides students with an enhanced understanding of how research can be harnessed for sustainable agriculture Incorporates social, biological, chemical, and geographical aspects important to agroecology Addresses social and development issues related to farming systems

Sustainable intensification of smallholder farming systems in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia

Author : Benjamin Karikari
Publisher : Frontiers Media SA
ISBN 13 : 2832546471
Total Pages : 223 pages
Book Rating : 4.8/5 (325 download)

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Book Synopsis Sustainable intensification of smallholder farming systems in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia by : Benjamin Karikari

Download or read book Sustainable intensification of smallholder farming systems in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia written by Benjamin Karikari and published by Frontiers Media SA. This book was released on 2024-04-17 with total page 223 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Sustainable Agricultural Mechanization: A Framework for Africa

Author : Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Publisher : Food & Agriculture Org.
ISBN 13 : 9251308713
Total Pages : 150 pages
Book Rating : 4.2/5 (513 download)

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Book Synopsis Sustainable Agricultural Mechanization: A Framework for Africa by : Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

Download or read book Sustainable Agricultural Mechanization: A Framework for Africa written by Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and published by Food & Agriculture Org.. This book was released on 2019-03-13 with total page 150 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This framework presents ten interrelated principles/elements to guide Sustainable Agricultural Mechanization in Africa (SAMA). Further, it presents the technical issues to be considered under SAMA and the options to be analysed at the country and sub regional levels. The ten key elements required in a framework for SAMA are as follows: The analysis in the framework calls for a specific approach, involving learning from other parts of the world where significant transformation of the agricultural mechanization sector has already occurred within a three-to-four decade time frame, and developing policies and programmes to realize Africa’s aspirations of Zero Hunger by 2025. This approach entails the identification and prioritization of relevant and interrelated elements to help countries develop strategies and practical development plans that create synergies in line with their agricultural transformation plans. Given the unique characteristics of each country and the diverse needs of Africa due to the ecological heterogeneity and the wide range of farm sizes, the framework avoids being prescriptive.

Progress towards sustainable agriculture – Drivers of change

Author : Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Publisher : Food & Agriculture Org.
ISBN 13 : 9251354200
Total Pages : 102 pages
Book Rating : 4.2/5 (513 download)

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Book Synopsis Progress towards sustainable agriculture – Drivers of change by : Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

Download or read book Progress towards sustainable agriculture – Drivers of change written by Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and published by Food & Agriculture Org.. This book was released on 2021-12-06 with total page 102 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Progress towards Sustainable Agriculture initiative (PROSA) is a framework that seeks to complement ongoing efforts on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and particularly indicator 2.4.1, to support country-level assessments using data already available at the national level. Making agriculture more sustainable – productive, environmentally friendly, resilient and profitable is fundamental, as agriculture remains the main source of livelihood for the majority of the world’s poor and hungry. The pathway towards sustainable agriculture must ensure increasing output, but also make more efficient use of increasingly scarce global resources, be resilient to and help mitigate climate change, and improve human well-being. This technical study examines the key factors driving changes in trends in the indicators of sustainable agriculture and provides decision-makers with insights into viable options for achieving this goal. The study identifies five key groups of drivers that most influence these indicators globally. The ways in which each driver affects the multiple dimensions of sustainability highlights the interconnections, synergies and trade-offs that must be managed in different global contexts to achieve agricultural sustainability. The analysis can help decision-makers operating in different country contexts to identify practical solutions to ensure that their interventions contribute positively to a more sustainable agriculture.

Smallholder Farmers and Farming Practices

Author : Oluwatoyin Dare Kolawole
Publisher :
ISBN 13 : 9781536168921
Total Pages : 0 pages
Book Rating : 4.1/5 (689 download)

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Book Synopsis Smallholder Farmers and Farming Practices by : Oluwatoyin Dare Kolawole

Download or read book Smallholder Farmers and Farming Practices written by Oluwatoyin Dare Kolawole and published by . This book was released on 2020 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book emanated from the research outputs of different authors whose diverse academic traditions and wide geographic spread play a major role in enriching its contents. The volume is mainly a compilation on smallholder farmers and their practices. The book also highlights the challenges, which that small farmers frequently encounter, and the opportunities or prospects, which abound in their farming operations. Compartmentalised into three major sections, this 11-chapter volume provides an account of thought-provoking scenarios and narratives, which are rich and well- suited for policy development and praxis. The book, therefore, compels policymakers to see opportunities in every challenge associated with smallholder agriculture rather than see challenges in every opportunity therein. While some of the chapters present the results of field experimentations that highlight the impacts of certain geographic features and fertilizer use on root tuber cultivars' production, some explore the effect of climate change on smallholder farming practices and how small farmers counteract the vagaries of weather conditions, which might impede their livelihoods. Nonetheless, most of the chapters largely rely on sociological methodologies to identify pertinent issues affecting the smallholder agriculture. While some of the issues underscore the advocacy for organic farming and its associated benefits or opportunities, others emphasize the uniqueness of certain agro-ecological farming systems and the opportunities, which they might offer resource-poor, smallholder farmers. A number of the chapters specifically provide some historical perspectives on the political economy of smallholder agriculture and identify the motivating and demotivating factors influencing young farmers' affection for farming while some accentuate the pertinent role of research in determining small farmers' response to the adoption of improved biotechnology in achieving food security. In the context of this book, there is a convergence in the findings and viewpoints of the authors in many places regarding topical issues on environmental sustainability, mitigation of climate change, ethics of the agri-food systems and agricultural policy.

Challenges and Opportunities for Agricultural Intensification of the Humid Highland Systems of Sub-Saharan Africa

Author : Bernard Vanlauwe
Publisher : Springer
ISBN 13 : 3319076620
Total Pages : 399 pages
Book Rating : 4.3/5 (19 download)

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Book Synopsis Challenges and Opportunities for Agricultural Intensification of the Humid Highland Systems of Sub-Saharan Africa by : Bernard Vanlauwe

Download or read book Challenges and Opportunities for Agricultural Intensification of the Humid Highland Systems of Sub-Saharan Africa written by Bernard Vanlauwe and published by Springer. This book was released on 2014-10-07 with total page 399 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The humid highlands in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) are characterized by high population densities and require intensification. The Consortium for Improving Agriculture-based Livelihoods in Central Africa (CIALCA) has set up a research for development platform in various mandate areas in DR Congo, Burundi, and Rwanda, aiming to identify improved production, market, and nutrition options and facilitating the access for development partners to these options. This platform is supported by capacity building, multi-stakeholder dialogue, and monitoring and evaluation efforts. The conference, facilitated by CIALCA, aimed to (i) take stock of the state-of the art in agricultural intensification in the highlands of SSA and (ii) chart the way forward for agricultural research for development in the humid highlands of SSA, and more specifically in the recently launched Humidtropics Consortium Research Programme, through keynote, oral and poster presentations, and strategic panel discussions.

Integrated Soil Fertility Management in Africa

Author : Nteranya Sanginga
Publisher : CIAT
ISBN 13 : 9290592613
Total Pages : 270 pages
Book Rating : 4.2/5 (95 download)

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Book Synopsis Integrated Soil Fertility Management in Africa by : Nteranya Sanginga

Download or read book Integrated Soil Fertility Management in Africa written by Nteranya Sanginga and published by CIAT. This book was released on 2009 with total page 270 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Forward. A call for integrated soil fertility management in Africa. Introduction. ISFM and the African farmer. Part I. The principles of ISFM: ISFM as a strategic goal, Fertilizer management within ISFM, Agro-minerals in ISFM, Organic resource management, ISFM, soil biota and soil health. Part II. ISFM practices: ISFM products and fields practices, ISFM practice in drylands, ISFM practice in savannas and woodlands, ISFM practice in the humid forest zone, Conservation Agriculture. Part III. The process of implementing ISFM: soil fertility diagnosis, soil fertility management advice, Dissemination of ISFM technologies, Designing an ISFM adoption project, ISFM at farm and landscape scales. Part IV. The social dimensions of ISFM: The role of ISFM in gender empowerment, ISFM and household nutrition, Capacity building in ISFM, ISFM in the policy arena, Marketing support for ISFM, Advancing ISFM in Africa. Appendices: Mineral nutrient contents of some common organic resources.

Farming Systems in the Tropics

Author : Hans Ruthenberg
Publisher :
ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 412 pages
Book Rating : 4.E/5 ( download)

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Book Synopsis Farming Systems in the Tropics by : Hans Ruthenberg

Download or read book Farming Systems in the Tropics written by Hans Ruthenberg and published by . This book was released on 1976 with total page 412 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Some general charscteristics of farming in a tropical environment; Shifting cultivation systems; Fallow systems; Ley systems; Systems with permanent upland cultivation; Systems with arable irrigation farming; Systems with perennial crops; Grazing systems; General tendences in the development of tropical farm systems.

Farming Systems Research into the 21st Century: The New Dynamic

Author : Ika Darnhofer
Publisher : Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN 13 : 9400745036
Total Pages : 488 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (7 download)

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Book Synopsis Farming Systems Research into the 21st Century: The New Dynamic by : Ika Darnhofer

Download or read book Farming Systems Research into the 21st Century: The New Dynamic written by Ika Darnhofer and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2012-05-30 with total page 488 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Farming Systems Research has three core characteristics: it builds on systems thinking, it depends on the close collaboration between social and biophysical sciences, and it relies on participation to build co-learning processes. Farming Systems Research posits that to contribute towards sustainable rural development, both interdisciplinary collaborations and local actor engagement are needed. Together, they allow for changes in understanding and changes in practices. This book gives an overview of the insights generated in 20 years of Farming Systems Research. It retraces the emergence and development of Farming Systems Research in Europe, summarises the state-of-the-art for key areas, and provides an outlook on new explorations, especially those tackling the dynamic nature of farming systems and their interaction with the natural environment and the context of action.