Sakson, N. (author / Center for Education and Progress in Agriculture, Poznan, Poland) and Center for Education and Progress in Agriculture, Poznan, Poland
Format:
Journal article
Publication Date:
1986
Published:
USA
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 61 Document Number: C01890
10 pages., Smallholder farmers in Afghanistan are already facing various risks in agricultural production due to past continuous insurgencies. Climate change is likely to amplify the risk and make them even more vulnerable. The present study attempted to evaluate the vulnerability profiles of smallholder farmers due to climate change using the IPCC Framework. Primary data on relevant parameters for assessing climate change-led social vulnerability in the region were collected by classifying study region into two zones: the plain and the hills of Yangi Qala District in Takhar province, Afghanistan. Thirteen villages from each zone were selected at random, and face-to-face interviews were conducted with ten randomly selected households in each of the selected villages in both zones based on a pre-tested questionnaire. The questionnaire contained indicators for all three dimensions of vulnerability: exposure, sensitivity and adaptive capacity. The collected data were subjected to a proposed vulnerability index, after estimating the indices of the three dimensions of vulnerability. The Iyenger and Sudershan weighting method was used to assess the contribution of each vulnerability dimension. Vulnerability was classified according to different categories based on beta distribution to evaluate the villages’ vulnerability status. The results showed that about 23% of all 26 sampled villages in both zones had low exposure, 26% moderate exposure and 51% high exposure to climate-change hazards and extreme weather events. High sensitivity was observed in 51%, moderate sensitivity in 7%, and low sensitivity in 42% of villages. High adaptive capacity to climate change was observed in 38% of villages, 19% were moderately adaptive and 42% showed a low adaptive capacity. High vulnerability was observed in 50% of villages, 4% were moderately vulnerable, and 46% had low vulnerability. A high proportion of smallholder farmers in the hilly zone in the sampled district were highly vulnerable, exposed and sensitive with a low adaptive capacity to climate change compared to the plain zone. The high vulnerability in the hilly zone was attributed to limited resources with a low adjustment capability to counter the disturbances, especially in crop cultivation, in response to climate change. A handful of low-cost and local approaches such as improving farmer extension services, introducing small-scale local infrastructure projects, reinforcing informal safety nets and protecting natural ecosystems could be viable cost-effective options that would also be sustainable given their low recurring costs and the limited maintenance required.
Online from https://doaj.org, Authors examined extension professionals, county agricultural commissioners, and members of farm bureaus and producer groups regarding their behavior and attitudes about use of information and communication technologies (ITCs). Results indicated that extension professionals experienced challenges in using ICTs more than the other sustainable agriculture stakeholders, "creating a technology gap between extension professionals and their clientele." Authors suggested use of an ICT community of practice and clear organizational guidelines for measuring and reporting performance related to ICT.
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 156 Document Number: D07304
Notes:
Paul Hixson Collection., Presentation at the State Extension Staff Seminar, Illinois Cooperative Extension Service, University of Illinois, at Turkey Run State Park, Indiana, December 8, 1976. 12 pages.
Chamala, Shankariah (author), Crouch, Bruce R. (author), and Agricultural Extension Unit, Department of Agriculture, University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland, Australia; Agricultural Extension Unit, Department of Agriculture, University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland, Australia
Format:
Book chapter
Publication Date:
1981
Published:
USA
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 71 Document Number: C03184
Notes:
In: Crouch, Bruce R., and Chamala, Shankariah, eds' Extension education and rural development. Volume 2 : experience in strategies for planned change. New York : John Wiley & Sons Ltd., 1981. p. 267-275
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 191 Document Number: D03025
Notes:
Three-part research report for a course, Agricultural Communications 300, University of Illinois, Urbana. 12 pages., Part 1 - Communication methods used by the Extension Service in Nigeria. 13 pages. Part 2 - Factors that effective effectiveness of communication. 17 pages. Part 3 - Ways to overcome problems and recommendations in use of communication in the Extension Service. 28 pages.
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 186 Document Number: D00713
Notes:
PowerPoint presentation at"New perspectives on rural extension," U.S. Agency for International Development, Washington,D.C., March 29, 2011. Parts 1 (4 pages), 2 (3 pages) and 3 (2 pages).
