22 pages, While climate change threatens global food security, health, and nutrition outcomes, Africa is more vulnerable because its economies largely depend on rain-fed agriculture. Thus, there is need for agricultural producers in Africa to employ robust adaptive measures that withstand the risks of climate change. However, the success of adaptation measures to climate change primarily depends on the communities’ knowledge or awareness of climate change and its risks. Nonetheless, existing empirical research is still limited to illuminate farmers’ awareness of the climate change problem. This study employs a Bayesian hierarchical logistic model, estimated using Hamiltonian Monte Carlo (HMC) methods, to empirically determine drivers of smallholder farmers’ awareness of climate change and its risks to agriculture in Zambia. The results suggest that on average, 77% of farmers in Zambia are aware of climate change and its risks to agriculture. We find socio-demographics, climate change information sources, climate change adaptive factors, and climate change impact-related shocks as predictors of the expression of climate change awareness. We suggest that farmers should be given all the necessary information about climate change and its risks to agriculture. Most importantly, the drivers identified can assist policymakers to provide the effective extension and advisory services that would enhance the understanding of climate change among farmers in synergy with appropriate farm-level climate-smart agricultural practices.
6 pages, The COVID-19 pandemic has restricted traditional delivery of Extension programs. Our group of Rutgers agricultural agents responded by developing a weekly webinar series to remotely continue agricultural consultations and provide an open forum for farmers. Pandemic-related topics included farm labor, compliance with state executive orders, supply-chain disruptions, livestock processing, farmer assistance programs, and other issues. Participation from 258 farmers, agricultural agencies, and other groups resulted in effective networking and timely delivery of information to the agriculture industry. By using available online tools, we were able to efficiently deliver Extension programming and resources to agricultural producers and industry partners. Our efforts may be informative for others as needs related to the pandemic evolve.
Announcement of a 2002 Sigma Delta Chi award entry in the category, Investigative reporting - newspaper/wire service. Mike Lee of theTri-City Herald, Kennewick, Washington, received the award. Investigation uncovered 15 years of flagrant law-breaking and abuse by two farmer brothers. Actions involved disregard of state and federal laws and regulations, including illegal water and air pollution. Series titled, "Bitter Harvest."
Jones, Sandra C. (author), Waters, Louise (author), Byrne, Fiona (author), Iverson, Don (author), Sutherland, Max (author), Gold, Julian (author), and Puplick, Chris (author)
Format:
Journal article
Publication Date:
2012
Published:
Australia
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 155 Document Number: D07139
