The document discusses using ICT tools and information services to help farmers in India prepare for droughts. It describes a study in Andhra Pradesh where drought vulnerability maps created with GIS and ICT tools like phone calls and video conferences were used to educate farmers about drought and provide agricultural advisories. By giving farmers early access to weather information and advisories, it helped them make informed decisions to cope with drought and reduce losses. The document outlines the methodology used, including developing learning materials about drought and creating drought severity maps for villages to assess vulnerability.
Information technology for sustainable agricultural development: A reviewKawita Bhatt
Sustainable agricultural development ensures safe and high-quality agricultural products in a way that Safeguards the health and welfare of farmed species, Protects and improves the natural environment, etc. ICT can play a critical role in various aspects of sustainable agricultural development such as Farmer's welfare, climatic change, application of fertilizers and pesticides etc.
Analysis of current Governance in the Sustainable Management of the Virunga N...AI Publications
This document analyzes governance in the sustainable management of Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo. It finds that the majority of respondents living near the park are youths under 61 years old and have no collaboration with park management. Most respondents also do not participate in park management. The presence of park governance is highly contested by local communities and needs to be revised to better incorporate local population concerns to improve relationships and trust between locals and park management.
This document summarizes a panel discussion on establishing data-driven agronomic services to support small-scale farmers. The panelists discussed using big data and models to predict fungal disease outbreaks, develop climate services and decision support systems, improve responses to climate variability, and crowd-source on-plot data to build complex decision support systems. The goal is to help smallholders increase productivity and resilience through open data sharing and tailored services that engage farmers in the development process.
A Review on Effects of Deforestation on Landslide: Hill Areasijsrd.com
Deforestation, clearance or clearing is the removal of a forest or stand of trees where the land is thereafter converted to a non-forest use. Deforestation includes conversion of forestland to farms, ranches, or urban use. Since the industrial age, about half of world's original forests have been destroyed and millions of animals and living things have been endangered. Despite the improvements in education, information and general awareness of the importance of forests, deforestation has not reduced much, and there are still many more communities and individuals who still destroy forest lands for personal gains. Deforestation also provides stability to slope through which mass movement of rocks, debris could not occur. As the plant or tree roots provides some reinforcement and also remove groundwater. On hilly areas vegetation can stabilize steep slopes and if the cutting of trees continues it would result in a drastic change in the atmosphere or in the environment. In this paper there is summarization of cause of deforestation, deforestation causes, environment changes i.e. loss of biodiversity and how deforestation is related to landslide.
Empowering farmers in conserving soil and water in the sampeyan watershed, si...Alexander Decker
1) The document discusses efforts to empower farmers in managing the Sampeyan watershed in Situbondo, East Java, Indonesia for soil and water conservation.
2) It uses structural equation modeling to analyze relationships between variables like human capital, social capital, government role, and farmer empowerment, finding they all significantly influence the empowerment process.
3) A SWOT analysis identifies supporting factors like available dry land and labor, and weaknesses like lack of capital and perceptions, as well as opportunities to strengthen institutions and threats like land development.
The natural environment of the Nsukka, is characterized by a combination of trees and grasses in different proportions. This readily provides conducive conditions for the combined cultivation of annual crops and perennial crops, or trees. But, some factors might have stalled the espousal and practice of agro forestry in Nsukka; this is because Nsukka until recently was generally inaccessible and lacked basic infrastructure. These have contributed negatively to result in wastage of farm products especially during harvest periods, and consequent loss of income to the farmers. The broad aim of the study was to analyze agro forestry land use practices of Nsukka farmers, assess the benefits, and draw up lessons and recommendations for sustainable agro forestry development in community-based forestry projects by describing the socioeconomic characteristics of farmers, determining the type of agro forestry practiced in the area, identifying the reasons for farmers’ participation in agro forestry practices, identifying the constraints to sustainable agro forestry in the area and the measures for tackling the constraints and determining the benefits of agro forestry to participating farmers and their communities at large. The results of the study showed that most farmers sale greater part of their produce as the only source of income and most farmers spend less because they use animal dropping as a source of fertilizer. The land tenure system of the entire study area is largely by inheritance, and land use is determined by the male head and, on whom the right of usage is vested. Similarly, the ownership, sponsorship and management of agro forestry farms are largely by the families.
Sustainable Forestry for Food Security and Nutrition: FTA for better food sys...CIFOR-ICRAF
Forests play a crucial role in food security and nutrition in three key ways:
1) Forests directly provide food and generate income that supports food access for over 1 billion people worldwide. Forest foods contribute significantly to dietary diversity and quality.
2) Forests sustain agriculture through ecosystem services like water regulation, soil health, and pollination that support food production.
3) Maintaining forest and landscape diversity increases the resilience of food systems and dependent communities to climate change and other shocks by acting as a safety net during crises.
Information technology for sustainable agricultural development: A reviewKawita Bhatt
Sustainable agricultural development ensures safe and high-quality agricultural products in a way that Safeguards the health and welfare of farmed species, Protects and improves the natural environment, etc. ICT can play a critical role in various aspects of sustainable agricultural development such as Farmer's welfare, climatic change, application of fertilizers and pesticides etc.
Analysis of current Governance in the Sustainable Management of the Virunga N...AI Publications
This document analyzes governance in the sustainable management of Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo. It finds that the majority of respondents living near the park are youths under 61 years old and have no collaboration with park management. Most respondents also do not participate in park management. The presence of park governance is highly contested by local communities and needs to be revised to better incorporate local population concerns to improve relationships and trust between locals and park management.
This document summarizes a panel discussion on establishing data-driven agronomic services to support small-scale farmers. The panelists discussed using big data and models to predict fungal disease outbreaks, develop climate services and decision support systems, improve responses to climate variability, and crowd-source on-plot data to build complex decision support systems. The goal is to help smallholders increase productivity and resilience through open data sharing and tailored services that engage farmers in the development process.
A Review on Effects of Deforestation on Landslide: Hill Areasijsrd.com
Deforestation, clearance or clearing is the removal of a forest or stand of trees where the land is thereafter converted to a non-forest use. Deforestation includes conversion of forestland to farms, ranches, or urban use. Since the industrial age, about half of world's original forests have been destroyed and millions of animals and living things have been endangered. Despite the improvements in education, information and general awareness of the importance of forests, deforestation has not reduced much, and there are still many more communities and individuals who still destroy forest lands for personal gains. Deforestation also provides stability to slope through which mass movement of rocks, debris could not occur. As the plant or tree roots provides some reinforcement and also remove groundwater. On hilly areas vegetation can stabilize steep slopes and if the cutting of trees continues it would result in a drastic change in the atmosphere or in the environment. In this paper there is summarization of cause of deforestation, deforestation causes, environment changes i.e. loss of biodiversity and how deforestation is related to landslide.
Empowering farmers in conserving soil and water in the sampeyan watershed, si...Alexander Decker
1) The document discusses efforts to empower farmers in managing the Sampeyan watershed in Situbondo, East Java, Indonesia for soil and water conservation.
2) It uses structural equation modeling to analyze relationships between variables like human capital, social capital, government role, and farmer empowerment, finding they all significantly influence the empowerment process.
3) A SWOT analysis identifies supporting factors like available dry land and labor, and weaknesses like lack of capital and perceptions, as well as opportunities to strengthen institutions and threats like land development.
The natural environment of the Nsukka, is characterized by a combination of trees and grasses in different proportions. This readily provides conducive conditions for the combined cultivation of annual crops and perennial crops, or trees. But, some factors might have stalled the espousal and practice of agro forestry in Nsukka; this is because Nsukka until recently was generally inaccessible and lacked basic infrastructure. These have contributed negatively to result in wastage of farm products especially during harvest periods, and consequent loss of income to the farmers. The broad aim of the study was to analyze agro forestry land use practices of Nsukka farmers, assess the benefits, and draw up lessons and recommendations for sustainable agro forestry development in community-based forestry projects by describing the socioeconomic characteristics of farmers, determining the type of agro forestry practiced in the area, identifying the reasons for farmers’ participation in agro forestry practices, identifying the constraints to sustainable agro forestry in the area and the measures for tackling the constraints and determining the benefits of agro forestry to participating farmers and their communities at large. The results of the study showed that most farmers sale greater part of their produce as the only source of income and most farmers spend less because they use animal dropping as a source of fertilizer. The land tenure system of the entire study area is largely by inheritance, and land use is determined by the male head and, on whom the right of usage is vested. Similarly, the ownership, sponsorship and management of agro forestry farms are largely by the families.
Sustainable Forestry for Food Security and Nutrition: FTA for better food sys...CIFOR-ICRAF
Forests play a crucial role in food security and nutrition in three key ways:
1) Forests directly provide food and generate income that supports food access for over 1 billion people worldwide. Forest foods contribute significantly to dietary diversity and quality.
2) Forests sustain agriculture through ecosystem services like water regulation, soil health, and pollination that support food production.
3) Maintaining forest and landscape diversity increases the resilience of food systems and dependent communities to climate change and other shocks by acting as a safety net during crises.
1) Approximately 51% of households in Cusuco National Park in Honduras are multidimensionally poor, deprived in nearly 45% of basic indicators like electricity, safe water, and assets. Poverty in the park is comparable to rural Honduras.
2) Perceptions of ecosystem services differ between communities in the park, likely due to differences in enforcement of rules and activities. Water provision and climate regulation are highly valued. Agriculture is also important for livelihoods.
3) Community-based management could help address poverty by targeting deprivations, linking conservation to development goals, and providing alternatives to unsustainable land uses and resources like firewood. However, restrictions may reinforce poverty if sustainable alternatives are not
Assessing Agricultural Losses of 2014/2015 Flood Disaster in Kelantan, MalaysiaPremier Publishers
Floods account for a significant socio-economic loss against all other natural disasters occurring in most part of the world in recent decades, especially to small farming communities living along coastal and low-lying areas. Hence, flood loss assessment which has become an important segment in decision making processes towards flood risk management needs to be given adequate attention by the policy makers and/or researchers. This paper therefore, aimed at describing and examining the extent of agricultural losses of 2014/2015 flood disaster in Kelantan, Malaysia. Data were gathered from 344 smallholder farmers using multi-stage sampling technique and analyzed through the use of descriptive (using bar charts) and Paired sample t-test. Findings of the study revealed that, agricultural losses incurred by farmers were significant at 5% level of significance for almost all the reported crops, livestock and agricultural assets. The implication of this study would give an insight to the policy makers in facilitating cost-effective integrated flood management to avoid future losses. In addition, while promising a baseline data it would further give an insight to the academicians in employing advanced methods of analysis while undertaking post disaster damage, loss and needs assessment of flood and/or other natural disasters in the future.
A Review of Global Experiences on using of Indigenous Knowledge in Rangelands...AI Publications
With the further advancement of rangeland science in recent decades, the importance of utilizing the indigenous knowledge is further highlighted. However, in many cases, there are some disagreements between executive managers and specialists of rangelands on the one hand, and local communities on the other hand, which is usually due to the importance of each side to certain aspects of effective parameters in pastures. In any case, more attention to local communities and indigenous knowledge in this matter is indisputable and should be used to integrate these two factors. In this paper, the role of utilizing the indigenous knowledge in the utilization of the rangelands and their management and its experiences in Iran and several parts of the world that are located on different continents has been studied, then the results as well as the effectiveness have been discussed for pasture in Iran, and in the end, some suggestions have been made for this purpose in Iran.
Major human and natural disruptions that facilitated vegetation cover removal...Alexander Decker
This document discusses major human and natural disruptions that facilitated vegetation cover removal in the Ethiopian highlands. It analyzes how prolonged civil unrest and conflicts, as well as catastrophic droughts, posed turning points that increased deforestation. During times of severe instability, only forests near religious institutions or with local protection laws survived. Much of Ethiopia's history involved internal and external wars that likely damaged the environment through troop movements and resource exploitation. The study examines deforestation patterns through community interviews in northern and southern Ethiopia to understand the nonlinear impacts of conflicts and droughts on natural resource degradation over decades.
Swarming: A Quality Agricultural Extension Technique among Organic Farmers in...AI Publications
This study examined the agricultural extension techniques used among organic farmers in Cameroon. A survey was conducted with 17 organic pineapple farmers in the Moungo region to understand how they learned and transmitted organic farming practices. The results showed that 60% of farmers reported learning organic agriculture through "swarming", which refers to reproducing knowledge and skills by observing and mimicking other farmers. Statistical analysis confirmed there was a very strong correlation between how farmers appropriated organic practices and how they transmitted them to others, primarily through swarming. The study concluded that swarming is the most widely used extension method for promoting organic farming in the Moungo region due to its low cost and ease compared to more formal training programs.
This document discusses crops failure, its causes and consequences. It outlines various adaptation strategies to mainstream crops against failure, including crops diversification, using drought resistant varieties, changing cropping patterns, mixed cropping, and improved irrigation. It also discusses how crops production relates to development if issues like inequitable land distribution and lack of infrastructure are addressed. Finally, it outlines relevant national and international policies and institutions that work on crops adaptation, climate change adaptation, and yield forecasting.
This document summarizes a study on farmer awareness of sustainable agriculture and food security in India. The study surveyed 100 farmers in West Bengal to assess their educational levels and knowledge of topics like pesticides, fertilizers and soil erosion. The findings showed that the majority of farmers had not completed elementary education and were unaware of environmental impacts. Only 11% were aware of sustainable agriculture and food security. The conclusion calls for educational programs to increase farmer awareness of these issues for the benefit of communities and the nation.
Types and Percentations of Parasitization Egg Parasitoids Spodoptera frugiper...AI Publications
This document summarizes a study on egg parasitoids of the fall armyworm Spodoptera frugiperda in North Sulawesi, Indonesia. The study identified two types of parasitoids - Telenomus sp. and Trichogramma sp. - through inventory and examination of S. frugiperda egg groups from different regions. Telenomus sp. had a higher presence than Trichogramma sp. across sampling areas. The percentage of parasitization was highest in Manado City at 85% and lowest in Bolaang Mongondow Regency at 5%.
Valuation of soil conservation practices in adwa woreda, ethiopia a conting...Alexander Decker
This document summarizes a study that uses contingent valuation methods to estimate the value that farmers place on soil conservation practices in Adwa Woreda, Ethiopia. 218 farmers were surveyed using a double bounded dichotomous choice format to elicit their willingness to pay for soil conservation. Regression analysis found that age, sex, education level, family size, perceptions, land tenure, livestock ownership, and initial bids were significant factors influencing willingness to pay. The average willingness to pay per household was estimated to be 56.65 person days per year. Aggregated across the study area, the total value of soil conservation was estimated to be 1,373,592 person days per year or approximately 16.5 million Ethiopian Birr. The
This document provides an introduction to agroforestry, which is an integrated land management system that combines trees, shrubs, and livestock with annual crops. It discusses the history and evolution of agroforestry, defines its three sub-systems, and examines some of the most common agroforestry techniques practiced in temperate and tropical regions. These techniques include silvopasture, alley cropping, forest farming, windbreaks, and riparian buffers for temperate areas, and home gardens, silvopasture, and shifting cultivation for tropical areas. The document aims to analyze the components, actors, and projected environmental, economic, and social impacts of agroforestry worldwide.
This document discusses governance challenges around achieving both food security and biodiversity conservation in southwestern Ethiopia. It identifies four discourses around food security: smallholder commercialization, agroecology and resilience, local economy and equity, and market liberalization. It also examines preferences for "land sharing" versus "land sparing" approaches to land use. There are gaps in horizontal coordination between different governance levels and a lack of integration between food security and biodiversity actors. The zone level plays an important role in brokering between higher-level policies and local implementation challenges.
Assessment of Drought Occurrence in Kano State, Nigeriaijtsrd
Drought occurrence is caused by the breaking of water balance, which usually leads to negative impact on agriculture, as well as ecological and socio economic spheres. The main purpose of the current study is to conduct drought assessment over Kano State, Nigeria for 2018. We used two different drought indices including Standardized Precipitation Index SPI and the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index NDVI . Meteorological data on precipitation was used to compute the Standardized Precipitation Index, and Normalized Difference Vegetation Index was generated from MODIS NDVI data sets. The conventional SPI classification scheme which categorize drought under seven groups was used along with the NDVI values which ranges from 1 to 1. Results indicate a near normal condition in the study area. Ezekiel. O. Eguaroje | Thomas. U. Omali | Kebiru Umoru ""Assessment of Drought Occurrence in Kano State, Nigeria"" Published in International Journal of Trend in Scientific Research and Development (ijtsrd), ISSN: 2456-6470, Volume-4 | Issue-2 , February 2020, URL: https://www.ijtsrd.com/papers/ijtsrd29976.pdf
Paper Url : https://www.ijtsrd.com/other-scientific-research-area/enviormental-science/29976/assessment-of-drought-occurrence-in-kano-state-nigeria/ezekiel-o-eguaroje
11.population growth and sustainable land management in indiaAlexander Decker
This document summarizes the relationship between population growth, sustainable land management, and food security in India. It notes that India faces challenges of high population growth putting pressure on limited land and water resources, leading to issues like land degradation, water scarcity, and food crises. Sustainable land management is presented as a solution that can help increase agricultural production to meet food demands while preserving land quality and the environment for future generations. Key concepts discussed include Malthusian theory of population growth outpacing food supply, the environmental impacts of intensive cultivation and groundwater extraction for irrigation, and balancing economic development with sustainable resource use.
This document summarizes a study on using water resources in West Bengal, India for sustainable freshwater fish farming (pisciculture) to generate income. It discusses how pisciculture can utilize unused water bodies while maintaining ecological balance. The study focuses on the districts of Burdwan and Birbhum, examining their water resources, existing fish production, and potential for increased production and income through pisciculture. The objective is to develop a plan for sustainable water management and poverty reduction through fish farming.
New ways of protecting the environment the case of agro processors in ghanaAlexander Decker
This document summarizes a journal article about agro-processing and environmental protection in Ghana. It discusses how agro-processing activities can both positively and negatively impact the environment through waste production, resource use, and emissions. While agro-processing supports economic development, it can also lead to problems like water pollution, air pollution, and improper waste disposal if not properly managed. The document then examines strategies that shea butter processors in northern Ghana employ to promote environmental sustainability, such as waste recycling and reducing resource depletion. It argues that supporting these environmental protection practices is important for balancing economic growth and environmental stewardship.
Adaptation to climate change and variability in eastern ethiopiaAlexander Decker
This document summarizes a study on climate change adaptation in eastern Ethiopia. It finds that small-scale agriculture is vulnerable to climate impacts like drought and flooding. While farmers have adapted practices over time, climate change poses new challenges. The study analyzes factors influencing farmers' choices of adaptation strategies like changing planting dates or crops. It finds that education, land size, credit access, and climate factors like decreasing rainfall influence strategy selection. The conclusion calls for policies to improve farmers' access to resources and increase climate change awareness to support better adaptation.
Digital society a review of e service and mobile technology in earthquakes re...IJMIT JOURNAL
This document provides a literature review of the roles of e-service and mobile technology in earthquake relief operations. It discusses how GPS, Bluetooth, VSAT, RFID, and GIS technologies can help to track affected individuals, facilitate emergency response, enable communication when infrastructure is damaged, identify people and objects, and monitor hazardous areas. The review finds that these technologies can improve relief efforts by expediting the resettlement of displaced persons and aiding organizations responding to disasters. However, it notes limitations that must be addressed and ways technology could further help predict natural disasters.
DIGITAL SOCIETY : A REVIEW OF E-SERVICE AND MOBILE TECHNOLOGY IN EARTHQUAKES ...IJMIT JOURNAL
Developing countries lacking technology infrastructures experience most disasters such as tsunami,
hurricane Katrina, earthquakes. Even though, many lives are saved in developed countries through the use
of high-level or sophisticated technology, only the technology that is easy to use, inexpensive, durable and
field-tested should be introduced and used during the relief operation. The effect of climate change and
rapid population growth are probably exposed people inhabiting areas to substantial environmental risks.
The authors highlight and identify current practices, particularities, and challenges in earthquakes relief
operations with the aims of reviewing the roles E-Service and Mobile Technology tools in real-life
situations and practices could do to help in disaster operations. This study focuses on victims of
earthquakes worldwide. The study will review and provide insights into the roles of E-Service and Mobile
Technologies in earthquakes relief operations and how the internally displaced person could benefit from
these services. The limitations of these services will be discussed and how the technology could be used to
further predict natural disaster such as earthquakes is also considered.
Effectiveness of drip irrigation in enhancing smart farming: a micro-study in...AkashSharma618775
This study aims to examine the effectiveness of drip irrigation in enhancing smart farming in the midnorth of Uganda. A descriptive review was adopted targeting one smart farm in the district. Data was gathered by
means of an interview guide and a farmers’ observation guide, and it was analysed using content analysis
correspondingly. The outcomes suggest that drip irrigation does not represent a large fraction of irrigation systems
in mid-north Uganda and the world in general; however, a number of new drip irrigation systems are being set-up
notwithstanding the very slow pace. Further revelation suggests that farmers can benefit from drip irrigation
through gaining knowledge and skills from visits and advises from the frequent visits; being a source of income
when the produce are sold; as well as providing food security for families, the adjacent community and the district
as a whole. Nonetheless, drip irrigation faces challenges of dearth of commitment by some members of the family,
untimely delivery of agro inputs, over cultivation of the land and very expensive inputs. It is obvious that drip
irrigation technologies are essential in enhancing smart farming in Oyam district, mid-north Uganda and the
country as a whole. The outcomes of the study can be useful as a source for scaling out drip irrigation in the region
and beyond especially when mounting a parameter on integration of drip irrigation on community development
agendas for small-holder farmers as targeted by the government’s agricultural cluster development programme.
This article contributes to the budding body of information on smart farming by emphasising obtainable
prospects, which can generate more pro-active small scale drip irrigation technologies.
The document discusses a study on the effectiveness of drought mitigation strategies in Bikita District, Zimbabwe. The study used questionnaires, interviews, observations and focus groups to assess the strategies used by households. The main strategies identified were food aid, food for work, sale of livestock, remittances, and irrigation. Food aid and food for work were found to be the most effective, while remittances, irrigation and drought-resistant crops were the least effective. Most households reported not benefiting from the strategies. The document recommends improving irrigation infrastructure, incorporating local knowledge, increasing access to agricultural inputs, and providing more technical assistance to farmers.
1) Approximately 51% of households in Cusuco National Park in Honduras are multidimensionally poor, deprived in nearly 45% of basic indicators like electricity, safe water, and assets. Poverty in the park is comparable to rural Honduras.
2) Perceptions of ecosystem services differ between communities in the park, likely due to differences in enforcement of rules and activities. Water provision and climate regulation are highly valued. Agriculture is also important for livelihoods.
3) Community-based management could help address poverty by targeting deprivations, linking conservation to development goals, and providing alternatives to unsustainable land uses and resources like firewood. However, restrictions may reinforce poverty if sustainable alternatives are not
Assessing Agricultural Losses of 2014/2015 Flood Disaster in Kelantan, MalaysiaPremier Publishers
Floods account for a significant socio-economic loss against all other natural disasters occurring in most part of the world in recent decades, especially to small farming communities living along coastal and low-lying areas. Hence, flood loss assessment which has become an important segment in decision making processes towards flood risk management needs to be given adequate attention by the policy makers and/or researchers. This paper therefore, aimed at describing and examining the extent of agricultural losses of 2014/2015 flood disaster in Kelantan, Malaysia. Data were gathered from 344 smallholder farmers using multi-stage sampling technique and analyzed through the use of descriptive (using bar charts) and Paired sample t-test. Findings of the study revealed that, agricultural losses incurred by farmers were significant at 5% level of significance for almost all the reported crops, livestock and agricultural assets. The implication of this study would give an insight to the policy makers in facilitating cost-effective integrated flood management to avoid future losses. In addition, while promising a baseline data it would further give an insight to the academicians in employing advanced methods of analysis while undertaking post disaster damage, loss and needs assessment of flood and/or other natural disasters in the future.
A Review of Global Experiences on using of Indigenous Knowledge in Rangelands...AI Publications
With the further advancement of rangeland science in recent decades, the importance of utilizing the indigenous knowledge is further highlighted. However, in many cases, there are some disagreements between executive managers and specialists of rangelands on the one hand, and local communities on the other hand, which is usually due to the importance of each side to certain aspects of effective parameters in pastures. In any case, more attention to local communities and indigenous knowledge in this matter is indisputable and should be used to integrate these two factors. In this paper, the role of utilizing the indigenous knowledge in the utilization of the rangelands and their management and its experiences in Iran and several parts of the world that are located on different continents has been studied, then the results as well as the effectiveness have been discussed for pasture in Iran, and in the end, some suggestions have been made for this purpose in Iran.
Major human and natural disruptions that facilitated vegetation cover removal...Alexander Decker
This document discusses major human and natural disruptions that facilitated vegetation cover removal in the Ethiopian highlands. It analyzes how prolonged civil unrest and conflicts, as well as catastrophic droughts, posed turning points that increased deforestation. During times of severe instability, only forests near religious institutions or with local protection laws survived. Much of Ethiopia's history involved internal and external wars that likely damaged the environment through troop movements and resource exploitation. The study examines deforestation patterns through community interviews in northern and southern Ethiopia to understand the nonlinear impacts of conflicts and droughts on natural resource degradation over decades.
Swarming: A Quality Agricultural Extension Technique among Organic Farmers in...AI Publications
This study examined the agricultural extension techniques used among organic farmers in Cameroon. A survey was conducted with 17 organic pineapple farmers in the Moungo region to understand how they learned and transmitted organic farming practices. The results showed that 60% of farmers reported learning organic agriculture through "swarming", which refers to reproducing knowledge and skills by observing and mimicking other farmers. Statistical analysis confirmed there was a very strong correlation between how farmers appropriated organic practices and how they transmitted them to others, primarily through swarming. The study concluded that swarming is the most widely used extension method for promoting organic farming in the Moungo region due to its low cost and ease compared to more formal training programs.
This document discusses crops failure, its causes and consequences. It outlines various adaptation strategies to mainstream crops against failure, including crops diversification, using drought resistant varieties, changing cropping patterns, mixed cropping, and improved irrigation. It also discusses how crops production relates to development if issues like inequitable land distribution and lack of infrastructure are addressed. Finally, it outlines relevant national and international policies and institutions that work on crops adaptation, climate change adaptation, and yield forecasting.
This document summarizes a study on farmer awareness of sustainable agriculture and food security in India. The study surveyed 100 farmers in West Bengal to assess their educational levels and knowledge of topics like pesticides, fertilizers and soil erosion. The findings showed that the majority of farmers had not completed elementary education and were unaware of environmental impacts. Only 11% were aware of sustainable agriculture and food security. The conclusion calls for educational programs to increase farmer awareness of these issues for the benefit of communities and the nation.
Types and Percentations of Parasitization Egg Parasitoids Spodoptera frugiper...AI Publications
This document summarizes a study on egg parasitoids of the fall armyworm Spodoptera frugiperda in North Sulawesi, Indonesia. The study identified two types of parasitoids - Telenomus sp. and Trichogramma sp. - through inventory and examination of S. frugiperda egg groups from different regions. Telenomus sp. had a higher presence than Trichogramma sp. across sampling areas. The percentage of parasitization was highest in Manado City at 85% and lowest in Bolaang Mongondow Regency at 5%.
Valuation of soil conservation practices in adwa woreda, ethiopia a conting...Alexander Decker
This document summarizes a study that uses contingent valuation methods to estimate the value that farmers place on soil conservation practices in Adwa Woreda, Ethiopia. 218 farmers were surveyed using a double bounded dichotomous choice format to elicit their willingness to pay for soil conservation. Regression analysis found that age, sex, education level, family size, perceptions, land tenure, livestock ownership, and initial bids were significant factors influencing willingness to pay. The average willingness to pay per household was estimated to be 56.65 person days per year. Aggregated across the study area, the total value of soil conservation was estimated to be 1,373,592 person days per year or approximately 16.5 million Ethiopian Birr. The
This document provides an introduction to agroforestry, which is an integrated land management system that combines trees, shrubs, and livestock with annual crops. It discusses the history and evolution of agroforestry, defines its three sub-systems, and examines some of the most common agroforestry techniques practiced in temperate and tropical regions. These techniques include silvopasture, alley cropping, forest farming, windbreaks, and riparian buffers for temperate areas, and home gardens, silvopasture, and shifting cultivation for tropical areas. The document aims to analyze the components, actors, and projected environmental, economic, and social impacts of agroforestry worldwide.
This document discusses governance challenges around achieving both food security and biodiversity conservation in southwestern Ethiopia. It identifies four discourses around food security: smallholder commercialization, agroecology and resilience, local economy and equity, and market liberalization. It also examines preferences for "land sharing" versus "land sparing" approaches to land use. There are gaps in horizontal coordination between different governance levels and a lack of integration between food security and biodiversity actors. The zone level plays an important role in brokering between higher-level policies and local implementation challenges.
Assessment of Drought Occurrence in Kano State, Nigeriaijtsrd
Drought occurrence is caused by the breaking of water balance, which usually leads to negative impact on agriculture, as well as ecological and socio economic spheres. The main purpose of the current study is to conduct drought assessment over Kano State, Nigeria for 2018. We used two different drought indices including Standardized Precipitation Index SPI and the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index NDVI . Meteorological data on precipitation was used to compute the Standardized Precipitation Index, and Normalized Difference Vegetation Index was generated from MODIS NDVI data sets. The conventional SPI classification scheme which categorize drought under seven groups was used along with the NDVI values which ranges from 1 to 1. Results indicate a near normal condition in the study area. Ezekiel. O. Eguaroje | Thomas. U. Omali | Kebiru Umoru ""Assessment of Drought Occurrence in Kano State, Nigeria"" Published in International Journal of Trend in Scientific Research and Development (ijtsrd), ISSN: 2456-6470, Volume-4 | Issue-2 , February 2020, URL: https://www.ijtsrd.com/papers/ijtsrd29976.pdf
Paper Url : https://www.ijtsrd.com/other-scientific-research-area/enviormental-science/29976/assessment-of-drought-occurrence-in-kano-state-nigeria/ezekiel-o-eguaroje
11.population growth and sustainable land management in indiaAlexander Decker
This document summarizes the relationship between population growth, sustainable land management, and food security in India. It notes that India faces challenges of high population growth putting pressure on limited land and water resources, leading to issues like land degradation, water scarcity, and food crises. Sustainable land management is presented as a solution that can help increase agricultural production to meet food demands while preserving land quality and the environment for future generations. Key concepts discussed include Malthusian theory of population growth outpacing food supply, the environmental impacts of intensive cultivation and groundwater extraction for irrigation, and balancing economic development with sustainable resource use.
This document summarizes a study on using water resources in West Bengal, India for sustainable freshwater fish farming (pisciculture) to generate income. It discusses how pisciculture can utilize unused water bodies while maintaining ecological balance. The study focuses on the districts of Burdwan and Birbhum, examining their water resources, existing fish production, and potential for increased production and income through pisciculture. The objective is to develop a plan for sustainable water management and poverty reduction through fish farming.
New ways of protecting the environment the case of agro processors in ghanaAlexander Decker
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1. Micro-Level Drought Preparedness with ICT Tools and Information Services… 7
MICRO-LEVEL DROUGHT PREPAREDNESS WITH
ICT TOOLS AND INFORMATION SERVICES:
EXPERIENCES FROM ICRISAT
G. Sreedhar1
, G. Dileep Kumar1
, P. Vijaya Raju1
, N.T. Yaduraju1
and R. Nagarajan2
1
International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-arid Tropics (ICRISAT), Patancheru–502 324
2
CSRE, Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay
ABSTRACT
Drought is one of the most insidious and creeping natural hazards that we face today, yet its origin and alleviation are still not
easily controlled. The agricultural sector is the first to face the crisis of drought, primarily because of its heavy dependency on
rainfall and surface water. The severity of drought’s impact on rainfed agriculture cannot be altogether curtailed, but it can be
reduced by implementing drought preparedness plans. In this paper, the authors discuss the use of ICTs in developing and
implementing drought preparedness plans. A study was conducted in Adakkal Mandal, Mahabubnagar district of Andhra
Pradesh to educate farmers about drought awareness using GIS derived micro-level drought maps and ICT tools to
mitigate losses, due to more informed decisions. ICRISAT and its partners experimented with various ICT tools like video-
conferencing, audio-conferencing, and mobile telephony for delivering agro-advisories related to weather and best
agriculture practices. Advance availability of drought vulnerability maps and timely weather information accompanied with
agro-advisories played a pivotal role in helping farmers to make informed decisions to cope with drought.
Keywords: Drought, GIS, ICT for Agro-Advisory, VASAT and Triple Helix Model.
1. INTRODUCTION
Global agriculture is confronted by several disasters like climate change, droughts, floods, land degradation, loss of
biodiversity, food crisis, energy crisis and population growth. If not controlled, their confluence would lead to a “perfect
storm” triggering a global disaster posing challenges to feed the world. There is already evidence that climate change has
induced warmer temperatures for longer periods, prolonged droughts and floods during the 20th
century. The impact
of climate change on rainfall pattern is likely to be more prominent as their effects are going to be borne by all,
particularly the poor people who live in the drylands (IPCC, 2001; Mall et al., 2006; Dar, 2010; SASA, 2012). There is a
growing concern about the future changes in the climate, particularly drought which has many direct or indirect effects on
agriculture and its allied sectors (IPCC, 2001; Aggarwal et al., 2003; Mall et al., 2006). Millions of farmers in the
Semi Arid Tropics (SAT) continue to gamble with the monsoon and a variety of constraints directly or indirectly linked
with climate change. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report issued in 2007 indicates that the poor in
the SAT regions will be more vulnerable to the adverse impacts of climate change (Mula et al., 2010).
Drought is a “creeping phenomenon” of climate change whose effects accumulate gradually and may persist over long
periods of time, making it a difficult task to determine the beginning and end of droughts. Characteristics such as intensity,
time of occurrence, duration and spatial coverage determine the severity of drought hazards. The severity of drought is
also militated by the demands made by human activities and the vegetation as well as the region’s water supplies
(Meyer et al., 1993). In drought affected rural areas, the major damage is incurred by the food and agricultural sector,
which jeopardizes the lives of people dependent on it. Drought impact on the rural economy dependent on agriculture and
allied sectors is very severe, as 57% of agricultural land in India is rainfed. Delayed or reduced or uneven distribution
of rainfall in space and time in drylands exacerbates the water shortages, leaving the rural poor in semi-arid regions more
vulnerable to disasters. The response to drought is often varied and the assistance provided is judged as too little and late.
Though, India doesn’t have a strategy or a long-term action plan for drought preparedness and mitigation (NAAS, 2011),
preparedness is considered better than relief in drought matters. Despite the availability of advance warnings of drought,
most of the farm communities do not know what to do to cope with the situation. It is expected that timely issuing of
drought warning and awareness about drought coping measures can help farm communities to sustain themselves during
times of drought. Realizing the importance of information services, the Science and Technology Commission of the
United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) recommended the adoption of a communication
framework that combines top-down approaches and community mobilization to enhance preparedness (UNSO, 2000).
So, a pilot study was undertaken in drought prone Mahabubnagar district to understand the efficacy of ICT, GIS
derived drought vulnerability maps and information services interventions in drought preparedness.
Proceedings of AIPA 2012, INDIA
2. 8 Agro-Informatics and Precision Agriculture 2012 (AIPA 2012)
2. STUDY AREA
Adakkal block consisting of 37 villages includes 16 hamlets, located in Mahabubnagar district of Andhra Pradesh
was selected as the study area for pilot testing the ICT interventions for drought preparedness. Geographical area of the
study area is 196 km2
with 60 per cent of the region being under rainfed agriculture, located between 16° 28′ 28.3″
and 16° 41′ 1.98″ N latitude and 77° 2′ 47.34″ and 78° 2′ 46″ E longitude. The region falls under the rain shadow region
with an elevation ranging from 380 to 647 m above Mean Sea Level (MSL) and receives annual precipitation
ranging from 391.0 to 542.6 mm, categorized under the Southern Telangana agro-climatic zone. The region has a
population of 46,380 which includes 50.7 % males and 49.43% females. Though agriculture is the main occupation
of the region, only 15% of the region has irrigation facilities and most of the region is rainfed, dairy farming and
allied activities are other prominent occupations. The most important crops grown in the region are castor,
groundnut, maize, chickpea, sorghum, pearl millet and rice. This region is prone to recurrent droughts and mass migration
has been noticed and reported in last two decades. The water resources in the region are dwindling depending on the local
rainfall, groundwater availability is marked semi-critical, cultivation in the region is mainly dependent on rainfall or
tank irrigation based on the amount of rainfall runoff stored. Irrigation tanks act as insulators when drought or flood events
occur; they also contribute for groundwater recharge. Global Positioning System (GPS) aided surveys conducted in
the region from 2009 to 2011 showed that the irrigation tanks had accumulated with 1.82 to 3.0 meters silt and also
were infested with weeds. Efforts are being made under government implemented schemes to clean-up silt and weeds.
Adarsha Mahila Samaikhya (AMS-Adarsha Women’s Welfare Organization) located in this region actively works
with governmental and non-governmental organization in many developmental activities. AMS has a strong network of
8100 women members and works closely with the farmers. AMS, with the help of the Govt. of Andhra Pradesh,
approached ICRISAT to help rural communities to cope with drought. To facilitate communication between the farm
communities and ICRISAT, AMS identified individuals to act as Village Network Assistance (VNA). The VNAs act
as information carriers at the bottom of the triangle to share information with farmers during village meetings.
3. METHODOLOGY
An integrated framework developed to help farm communities to cope with drought, GIS derived village drought
vulnerability maps and agro-advisories given using ICTs were the tools used in this framework. ICRISAT with a vision to
help rural poor to cope with drought has set-up Virtual Academy for Semi-arid Tropics (VASAT) to achieve food
security. Keeping this as a priority, VASAT is also devising plans to set up a centre for excellence to achieve Food
Security at its headquarters.
VASAT developed a three strand triple helix model that consists of knowledge systems for food security.
Strand 1: Useful Knowledge in all Areas Relating to Drought Mitigation and Management
(a) Development of Learning Resources on Drought/Climate Related Aspects
VASAT developed re-usable learning objects, digital entities developed to facilitate knowledge sharing and learning;
on drought/climate related aspects (Figure 1.) and ICRISAT mandate crops and soil and water management. These
learning resources have been developed through a peer review process by the institutional members of VASAT
coalition. These modules are meant to support building natural resource literacy among rural women and men. Many
of them have not had the level of classroom learning opportunities that some of us have been privileged to have.
This is why our designers have followed the granule-of-learning approach. Every module is split into granules most of
which will have a definite learning outcome. The learning resources are presented both in whole and as granules in
PPT (R) or Flash(R) formats. The learning resources can be accessed at http://www.vasat.icrisat.org/?q=content/learning-
modules-page. These learning resources were converted into local language (i.e. Telugu) with the help of AMS volunteers
and were made available on PCs that were installed in village knowledge centres set-up by ICRISAT.
(b) Drought Vulnerability Scenario Development
The drought assessment framework developed by Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay was adopted to develop
drought severity maps. To ascertain the vulnerability of a village to drought, the water budget method was adopted.
The percentage of water deficit was estimated by taking into consideration water availability from rainfall/ runoff and
water demand for cultivation, livestock and human consumption. This has been pilot tested in parts of Addakal
mandal and the results were promising (Dileepkumar, 2007). Census information—like human, livestock and crops grown
and acreage—was collected from the mandal revenue office, Adakkal Mandal, Mahabubnagar District. Census data was
used to calculate village water requirements by taking into consideration the standard recommended values for
3. Micro-Level Drought Preparedness with ICT Tools and Information Services… 9
human consumption, livestock consumption and water required for growing crops. The water availability for each
village during a particular rainfall (i.e., @500 mm annual rainfall the amount of surface water stored after evaporation and
seepage losses) was estimated using the standard water balance techniques. The water required and available for each
village was used to estimate the water deficit/surplus status of each village. This information has further been used
to prepare thematic drought vulnerability maps.
Fig. 1: RLO’s Prepared on Drought Related Aspects Fig. 2: Drought Vulnerability Map and Long
Range Prediction (@500 mm annual rainfall)
Adakkal mandal village map was digitised by scanning and geo-referencing the hard copy maps obtained from
Central Survey Office, Hyderabad with reference to topographic maps, available from Survey of India, Hyderabad.
This map consists of village boundaries of 21 villages available in the mandal, the water deficit/surplus information
estimated earlier was entered into the respective village database in GIS. This information was used to develop
thematic maps showing the drought vulnerability variation, where red colored villages indicated high vulnerability
to drought, orange and yellow indicated lower vulnerability to drought compared red colored villages while light
green and green indicated low and very low vulnerability to drought. The most important parameter in drought
vulnerability scenario development is the rainfall prediction for the growing season. For rainfall prediction, the India
Meteorological Department of India issued long range forecast for 2011 was considered and used. The long range
forecast for 2011 south-west monsoon for the country was likely to be near normal and 99% of the long period average
with a model error of +5%. Adakkal Mandal which is located in Mahabubnagar district receives a normal rainfall of
550 mm, the region experiences very fluctuating rainfall as it is located in rain shadow region. Because of this, a
rainfall scenario of 500 mm (Figure 2) was selected for the year 2011 to prepare the drought vulnerability maps. The
maps were made available to rural communities during field surveys and farming communities were sensitized about
drought preparedness using the ICT tools discussed in the strands below.
Strand 2: ICT4D Models
ICRISAT’s VASAT group has been experimenting with several information and communication technology tools
(Figure 3.) for information dissemination to farm communities for rural development. ICRISAT has set-up eight
village knowledge centres and a hub in Adakkal mandal under the aegis of AMS members. The AMS women were
trained on basic computer skills and also on video conferencing, audio conferencing systems and mobile based agro-
advisory receiving. PCs were used to access drought and other learning resources as well as local school students were
sensitized about basic computer literacy. Mobile telephony, video and audio conference systems formed a means to
communicate agro-advisory to the farmers and also to solve real time field problems. The AMS hosts the hub
infrastructure comprising a bank of PCs, and low-cost satellite connectivity to the Internet. In Dec. 2005, the Indian Space
Research Organization (ISRO) donated the AMS a complete kit to connect to a satellite-based video conferencing
4. 10 Agro-Informatics and Precision Agriculture 2012 (AIPA 2012)
facility. ICRISAT-KVK Mahabubnagar and AMS have joined hands to implement agro-advisory service to the farmers of
the Adakkal region using vKVK platform.
Fig. 3: Levels of Information Linkages
Voice-Krishi Vigyan Kendra (vKVK): The mobile revolution is considered to be the most innovative approach for the last
mile connectivity. An innovative voice-KVK platform developed by Indian Institute of Technomlgy was used for
delivering agricultural information to farmers using SMS and voice messaging systems. The KVK (Krishi Vigyan
Kendras) scientists were trained to use the v-KVK platform and to develop and issue advisories on the mobile
phones of farmers either in the form of simple Short Message Services (SMS) or voice messages. Advent of voice KVK
system, the constraints such as illiteracy and the mobiles not supporting the local fonts were overcome. The vKVK
platform allows the extension officer to record messages directly on their mobile phones and send them to the farmers’
mobile phone directly or through web. As of January, 2012, nearly 10,000 voice and 2000 text messages were sent
out free of cost to nearly 175 farmers in Adakkal region. The advisories are provided on sowing, different stages of
plant growth, remedial measures taken to tackle disease and pest attack, harvesting technology and weather.
Strand 3: The Open Distance Learning Paradigm: Personalized Learning for the Masses
ICRISAT has been using video and audio conference facilities to educate AMS women and Village Network Assistants
(VNAs) about best agricultural practices related to dry land crops cultivation and mobile telephony for agro-advisory
delivery. VNAs further share this information to other villagers during the village meetings.
3.1 Validation
To validate the developed drought vulnerability maps, ICRISAT established five rain gauge stations in Adakkal
surrounding villages and AMS women were trained to measure the rainfall and curate records for further assessment.
Impact assessment studies were also conducted to assess the utility of mobile based advisories regarding dry-land
crops cultivation practices.
Fig. 4: Rural Women Measuring Rainfall
5. Micro-Level Drought Preparedness with ICT Tools and Information Services… 11
4. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
The study on drought preparedness using information services has been going on since 2008, primarily to understand the
ICT’s role in information sharing and drought preparedness. In 2011, 21 villages were covered in this study. ICRISAT
scholars, with the help of village volunteers, contacted rural residents to exchange information on upcoming droughts
and dryland crop cultivation before the start of the season. Another field survey was conducted at the end of the season to
assess the utility of the maps and agro-advisory. Figure 5 shows the comparison of measured and predicted rainfall
of the study area. 80% of the villages in the Adakkal region received below normal and forecasted rainfall. Around
50% of the villages which were marked in red and orange colors were observed to have very critical rainfall levels and
suffered severe drought. Farmers in these villages reported paddy crop failure and groundwater depletion has further
disheartened the farmers’ hope to sustain themselves during the crisis. However, many farmers still continued growing
paddy and suffered huge losses. Some farmers heeding to the advisory switched from paddy cultivation to dryland crops.
They also mentioned that the agro-advisory on pest management and best practices provided through mobile telephony,
video and audio conferencing during the growing season was helpful in their decision making. It was evident from
the study that information services can play a crucial role in facilitating rural learning, and also in sensitizing
communities about upcoming disasters, particularly to support drought preparedness. This study emphasizes the necessity
of fostering the capacity of local agencies and institutes on drought preparedness using various information services
in order to enhance the livelihoods of dryland farmers. Overall, it was observed that village knowledge centres and
ICT tools particularly the mobile based advisory has come hand to the farmers in making crucial decisions and also
contributed to improved understanding of micro-level drought preparedness among the rural communities.
Predicted and actual rainfall distribution
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
Jun-11 Jul-11 Aug-11 Sep-11 Oct-11 Seasonal
Month and season
Rainfallinmm
Rachala
Kandoor
Thimmapur
Moosapet
Janampet
Predicted
Fig. 5: Predicted and Actual Rainfall Distribution
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The financial support of ICAR to ICRISAT is gratefully acknowledged. The authors would also like to thank IIT
Kanpur Team led by Prof. T V Prabhakar for facilitating the use of vKVK platform, Dr Kiran Yadav and Ria Misra,
colleagues from ICRISAT, for their help in developing this manuscript and Dr Rajendra Reddy, program Coordinator,
KVK. Mahbubnagar for providing agro-advisories to farmers.
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