Format: Journal article / Subject Term: small farms / Within Last x Years: within 5 Years

1. Determinants of soil conservation technologies among small-scale farmers in Tanzania: evidence from national panel survey

Collection:: Agricultural Communications Documentation Center (ACDC)
Contributers:: Lasway, Jovin Aveline (author), Temba, George Raphael (author), and Ruhinduka, Remidius Denis (author)
Format:: Journal article
Publication Date:: 2020
Published:: International
Location:: Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 131 Document Number: D11323
Journal Title:: African Journal of Economic Review
Journal Title Details:: 8(1) : 89-105
Notes:: An analysis of secondary data from the National Panel Survey in Tanzania revealed physical, socioeconomic, and institutional factors influencing the adoption of soil conservation technologies among small-scale maize farmers. Findings revealed, for example, only 13.9 percent of those had adopted soil conservation technology. This was cited as small, compared with other countries.

2. The role of information and interaction processes in the adoption of agriculture inputs in Uganda

Collection:: Agricultural Communications Documentation Center (ACDC)
Contributers:: Freeman, Kathlee (author) and Qin, Hua (author)
Format:: Journal article
Publication Date:: 2020
Published:: Uganda
Location:: Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 133 Document Number: D11373
Journal Title:: Agronomy
Journal Title Details:: 10, 202
Notes:: 16 pages., Online via Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ.org)., Interviews with 203 smallholder farmers in Uganda indicated that households with higher level of information access through cell phone use and weak-tie information sources were more likely to use inputs.

3. The effectiveness of audio media in enhancing farmers' knowledge: the case of smallholder banana farmers in western Uganda

Collection:: Agricultural Communications Documentation Center (ACDC)
Contributers:: Kaahwa, Mark (author), Zhu, Chang (author), Muhumuza, Moses (author), Mutyebere, Rodgers (author), and Karemera, Charles (author)
Format:: Journal article
Publication Date:: 2019
Published:: Uganda
Location:: Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 133 Document Number: D11374
Journal Title:: International Journal of Recent Contributions from Engineering, Science and IT
Journal Title Details:: 7(2) : 68-90
Notes:: 23 pages., Authors used a baseline survey, an intervention, and an end line survey to assess farmers' knowledge of farming practices, knowledge level, and relationship between information source and knowledge gain. Interventions were provided by radio broadcasts and audio CDs. Findings suggested that '...audio media remains a vital source of information for resource-poor farmers and can greatly enhance their agricultural knowledge when audio media is used as an intervention."

4. Understanding the adoption of climate change adaptation strategies among smallholder farmers: Evidence from land reform beneficiaries in South Africa

Collection:: Agricultural Communications Documentation Center (ACDC)
Contributers:: Thinda, K.T. (author), Ogundeji, A.A. (author), Belle, J.A. (author), and Ojo, T.O. (author)
Format:: Journal article
Publication Date:: unknown
Published:: International: Elsevier
Location:: Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 201 Document Number: D11872
Journal Title:: Land Use Policy
Journal Title Details:: 99
Notes:: 11 pages, Climatic change has a negative impact on people’s livelihoods, agriculture, freshwater supply and other natural resources that are important for human survival. Therefore, understanding how rural smallholder farmers perceive climate change, climate variability, and factors that influence their choices would facilitate a better understanding of how these farmers adapt to the negative impacts of climate change. A Zero-inflated double hurdle model was employed to estimate the factors influencing farmers’ adoption of adaptation strategies and intensity of adoption at the household level in South Africa. Different socioeconomic factors such as gender, age, and experience in crop farming, institutional factors like access to extension services, and access to climate change information significantly influenced the adoption of climate change adaptation strategies among beneficiaries of land reform in South Africa. Concerning intensity of adoption, age, educational level, farming experience, on-farm training, off-farm income, access to information through ICT and locational variables are the significant determinants of intensity of adaptation strategies. Thus, education attainment, non-farm employment, farming experience are significant incentives to enhance smallholder farmers' adaptive capacity through the adoption of many adaptation approaches. This study therefore concluded that farm-level policy efforts that aim to improve rural development should focus on farmers’ education, on-farm demonstration and non-farm employment opportunities that seek to engage the farmers, particularly during the off-cropping season. The income from non-farm employment can be plough-back into farm operations such as the adoption of soil and water conservation, use of improved planting varieties, insurance, among others to mitigate climate variability and subsequently increase productivity. Policies and investment strategies of the government should be geared towards supporting education, providing on-farm demonstration trainings, and disseminating information about climate change adaptation strategies, particularly for smallholder farmers in the country. Thus, the government, stakeholders, and donor agencies must provide capacity-building innovations around the agricultural extension system and education on climate change using information and communication technologies.

5. Utilisation of mobile phones in accessing agricultural information by smallholder farmers in Dzindi Irrigation Scheme in South Africa

Collection:: Agricultural Communications Documentation Center (ACDC)
Contributers:: Holmner, Marlene (author)
Format:: Journal article
Publication Date:: 2021
Published:: International: African Journals Online
Location:: Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 202 Document Number: D12100
Journal Title:: African Journal of Library, Archives and Information Science
Journal Title Details:: Vol. 29 No. 1
Notes:: 21 pgs., CTs (Communications technologies) have revolutionized agricultural information services at every level in the agricultural sector, thus impacting rural development and catalysing poverty alleviation strategies. This has largely been the case with small-scale farmers in rural areas in developing countries where mobile technologies have penetrated more than most other ICT tools. However, in some of the farming environments, mobile phone use is largely driven by agricultural extension workers. This paper seeks to examine the way mobile phones are used for information access in situations where agricultural extension workers are a critical intermediary in the agricultural information services. Interviews were conducted with 10 randomly selected farmers who were part of the Dzindi irrigation scheme. The findings were that from the variety of information available to the farmers the most important source was the extension officer. The extension officer and the radio were indicated to be the most reliable independent sources of information. The other sources, such as the radio, family members, and friends, suppliers of chemicals, books and magazines, were only considered reliable if the information could be verified or vouched for by the extension officer. Increasing the information handling skills of extension officers, training of farmers to use smart features of their phones and promoting the usual face-to-face communication use of conventional methods, which is what usually gives rise to the mediation of mobile phones, were recommended.

6. Perceptions of Social Media Use Among U.S. Women Farmers

Collection:: Agricultural Communications Documentation Center (ACDC)
Contributers:: Daigle, Kerry (author) and Heiss, Sarah N. (author)
Format:: Journal article
Publication Date:: 2021-02
Published:: United States: New Prairie Press
Location:: Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 202 Document Number: D12101
Journal Title:: Journal of Applied Communications
Journal Title Details:: Vol. 105, Issue 1
Notes:: 23 pgs., Online Journal, Communication networks and knowledge sharing are important for the persistence of small farms that operate outside of industrial agriculture. In past years, internet platforms have been promoted as a tool for farm businesses to connect with customers and other farmers. Social media in particular has gained attention as a user friendly and accessible tool for small business viability. Drawing on Uses and Gratifications Theory, this study uses examines interviews with women farmers' in the United States to explore how they view the role of social media for their agricultural practice. Results demonstrate that women farmers report using social media to reach consumers, seek agricultural information, and maintain emotional connections with other farmers. Though important, women farmers are often overlooked in agricultural research and training programs. Theoretical and practical implications highlight how social media and agricultural trainings can promote media literacy and promote women farmers' success in agriculture.

7. Management information sources and communication strategies for commercially oriented smallholder beef cattle producers in Limpopo province, South Africa

Collection:: Agricultural Communications Documentation Center (ACDC)
Contributers:: Mapiye, Obvious (author), Makombe, Godswill (author), Mapiye, Cletos (author), and Dzama, Kennedy (author)
Format:: Journal article
Publication Date:: 2019-06-19
Published:: International: SAGE Journals
Location:: Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 203 Document Number: D12172
Journal Title:: Outlook on Agriculture
Journal Title Details:: Vol 49, Issue 1, 2020
Notes:: 7 pages., A survey was conducted to identify management information sources and communication channels used by commercially oriented smallholder beef cattle producers (n = 62) in Limpopo province, South Africa. A total of 62 commercially oriented smallholder farmers under the Limpopo Industrial Development Corporation-Nguni cattle project were interviewed using a structured questionnaire to collect data. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse data on farmers’ demographic and farm characteristics, sources of information and communication channels used. A multinomial logistic regression model was used to evaluate factors that influenced farmers’ choices of information sources and communications channels used. Findings show that government extension (53% of the respondents) and other farmers (30%) were the major sources of management information for the farmers. Based on the logistic regression results, the decision to choose government extension as the main source of information was mainly influenced by respondents’ gender (p = 0.001) and access to training (p = 0.023). Communication was mainly through farm-to-farm visits (56%) and the use of mobile phones (30%). Based on the current findings, the infusion of modern information communication technologies such as mobile phone-based innovations with the existing government extension service could further strengthen the capacity of farmers to share information among themselves as well as providing feedback to extension agents. Furthermore, it is essential to take cognizance of farmers’ socio-economic factors when identifying and characterizing their management information sources and communication strategies.

8. Dissemination of information to dairy farmers in Jammu and Kashmir: Developing a web module

Collection:: Agricultural Communications Documentation Center (ACDC)
Contributers:: Singh, Jaspal (author), Jumar, Pranav (author), and Singh, Amandheep (author)
Format:: Journal article
Publication Date:: 2019-11-03
Published:: International: SAGE Journals
Location:: Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 203 Document Number: D12195
Journal Title:: Information development
Journal Title Details:: Vol 36, Issue 4, 2020
Notes:: 13 pages., The Internet is booming with need-based information and communication technologies (ICTs) catering to the needs of a huge number of farmers. For dissemination of scientific dairy practices a need-based Web Module for Scientific Dairy Practices (WMSDP) was developed. A total of 120 farmers from Jammu District and 20 scientists from the Sher-E-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences & Technology of Jammu were selected by proportionate random sampling for assessing and prioritizing the information needs of the farmers. Information on healthcare management was highly required by the farmers, followed by information on fodder production and management, general management, nutrition and feeding, and least on breeding and reproduction. The scientists prioritized information on general management as most required, followed by information on healthcare management, breeding and reproduction, nutrition and feeding, and least on fodder production and management. Keeping the information needs of the farmers and priority of the scientists in mind, an interactive IT-enabled web module was developed using the latest Microsoft dot (.) net technology. The perceived utility of WMSDP was calculated based on six indicators and the overall perceived utility score was found to be 11.18 out of 12.00. ICT tools like WMSDP can be an excellent medium for dissemination of required information to the farmers.

9. A review of soil fertility management communication in sub-Saharan Africa

Collection:: Agricultural Communications Documentation Center (ACDC)
Contributers:: Amoakohene, Margaret (author) and Nanaa Baah-Ofori, Rebecca (author)
Format:: Journal article
Publication Date:: 2021
Published:: Germany: Kassel Univ Press GMBH, Kassel, Germany
Location:: Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 203 Document Number: D12206
Journal Title:: Journal of Extension and Rural Development
Journal Title Details:: Vol 122, No 1
Notes:: 12 pages., In sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), declining soil fertility is among the factors affecting optimal food production. Although a number of interventions have been implemented to improve soil fertility management (SFM) in SSA, their adoption especially among small scale farmers has been low. Although the literature provides considerable evidence of socio-economic factors which influence adoption, the subject of how communication influences adoption of SFM remains under-explored. This paper therefore reviewed studies on SFM communication in SSA. The objectives were to identify the current focus of studies on SFM communication, the current definitions of communication which informed such studies, and the type of SFM practices being communicated in the SSA region. Using specific search terms, articles were collected from various databases and content analysed. The review revealed five main themes as the focus of current studies on SFM. The study also revealed two main interpretations of communication which in turn influence the use of either diffusion or participatory communication strategies for SFM communication. The review also showed a focus on integrated soil fertility management (ISFM) messages in the SSA area. The study concludes that while each of the two communication strategies has their individual strengths, farmers prefer participatory strategies. This is because participatory strategies foster interaction and greater understanding; thereby, increasing the likelihood of farmer adoption of SFM practices in SSA. The review concludes by calling for further research on the use of participatory communication to engage farmers about various SFM practices in SSA.

10. Use of information and communication technologies by Vietnamese smallholders: Implications for extension strategies

Collection:: Agricultural Communications Documentation Center (ACDC)
Contributers:: Hoang, Hung Gia (author)
Format:: Journal article
Publication Date:: 2021-02-18
Published:: International: SAGE Journals
Location:: Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 203 Document Number: D12212
Journal Title:: Information Development
Journal Title Details:: Vol.37(2)
Notes:: 9 pages., In order to facilitate the adoption of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) for accessing agricultural information by smallholders, it is critical to understand their perspectives on the use of ICT. However, few empirical studies have considered how smallholders utilise ICT in Central Vietnam. This research investigates the Central Vietnamese smallholders’ views on the extent of use of ICT for accessing agricultural information. A sample size of 250 smallholders was randomly selected from a total of 687 smallholders in Trieu Phong district, Central Vietnam. A two-section questionnaire was used to gather data. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyse the data. The smallholders used mobile phones, TV and radio networks/broadcasts as the common ICT tools, and these were also effective ICT tools for accessing agricultural information. Lack of knowledge and skills for using applications on mobile phones were the main challenge to the smallholders’ use of ICT. A statistically significant relationship, existing between the extent of mobile phone use and the smallholders’ age (χ = 10.04, p = 0.040), gender (χ = 5.99, p = 0.014) and the type of households (χ = 6.84, p = 0.033), was found. Similarly, there was a statistically significant relationship existing between the extent of radio network/broadcast use and the smallholders’ age (χ = 9.58, p = 0.048) and gender (χ = 4.83, p = 0.028).

11. What makes a small farm successful? a review of success factors, needs, and challenges

Collection:: Agricultural Communications Documentation Center (ACDC)
Contributers:: Tritsch, Katie (author), Mix, Ken (author), Edwards, Michelle L. (author), and Legault, Eileen (author)
Format:: Journal article
Publication Date:: 2021-06-16
Published:: United States: Clemson University Press
Location:: Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 203 Document Number: D12294
Journal Title:: Journal of Extension
Journal Title Details:: V. 59, N. 3
Notes:: 8 pages, Small-scale farmers face unique challenges. In this review, we conceptualize small farm success by aggregating and categorizing results from recent (post-2000) literature on small farm success factors and producer needs assessments. Our findings suggest that small farm success is multifaceted and not limited to profitability. We find that small farms have a diverse range of needs, though little has been done to rank their importance. We conclude that future research would benefit from increased methodological transparency and a systematic approach to needs evaluation. We consider the role of Extension professionals regarding the continued success of small farms.

12. Information and communication technologies (ICT) towards agricultural development in rural areas: case of smallholder farmers in Umzimvubu local municipality of the Eastern Cape Province in South Africa Authors

Collection:: Agricultural Communications Documentation Center (ACDC)
Contributers:: Makaula, Z. (author)
Format:: Journal article
Publication Date:: 2021-05-25
Published:: South Africa: Academy of Science of South Africa
Location:: Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 203 Document Number: D12307
Journal Title:: South African Journal of Agricultural Extension
Journal Title Details:: Vol. 49 No. 1 (2021)
Notes:: 11 pages., This paper was initiated in order to find the usage and relevance of theInformation and Communication Technologies(ICT) by the smallholder farmers of the Umzimvubu Local Municipality of the Eastern Cape Province in South Africa. A survey questionnaire was then developed to collect the relevant data from randomly selected six villages of Umzimvubu Local Municipality targeting 138 respondents. The questionnaires structure employed both closed and open-ended questions that were administered using a face to face interview, conducted on the sample population in each village. There seems to be a correlation between ICT usage and the economies of scale in agricultural development, where smallholder farmers tend to use less of highly modernized ICT, while commercial large scale farmers use more of the modernized ICT. This disparity amongst farmers is exacerbated in many areas by the differing support systems employed by the public extension services.

13. Adoption and intensity of use of mobile money among smallholder farmers in rural Ghana

Collection:: Agricultural Communications Documentation Center (ACDC)
Contributers:: Kofi Asravor, Richard (author), Boakye, Afia Nyarko (author), and Essuman, John (author)
Format:: Journal article
Publication Date:: 2021-04-21
Published:: International: SAGE Journals
Location:: Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 203 Document Number: D12310
Journal Title:: Information Development
Journal Title Details:: Online First
Notes:: 10 pages., he impact of mobile money services in sub-Saharan Africa have been largely recognised. However, empirical studies are principally lacking on the factors influencing the decision to own a mobile phone (first hurdle), register with mobile money (second hurdle) and the intensity of use of mobile money services (third hurdle). This study examined the determinants of the mobile phone ownership, drivers of registration (participation) of mobile money services, and the intensity of use of mobile money services in rural Ghana by employing the triple hurdle approach. The first and second hurdle were analysed using the logit model while quasi-poisson regression was used to analyse the third hurdle. The analysis from the cross-sectional data showed that the decision to own a mobile phone was driven by household size, marital status, the farm size, access to electricity, income status and the type of occupation engaged, whereas the decision to register with mobile money was influenced by the age, educational status, marital status, household size, farm size and the type of occupation engaged in by the household head. The intensity of usage of mobile money services was influenced by the age of the household head, higher educational level, marital status of the household head, household and farm size as well as the distance of the household heads from the mobile money agent which directly influences the intensity of use of mobile money services by household heads. The study recommends that strategies that promote access to electricity and occupation in the formal sector or both farming and trading in the rural communities should be promoted. Furthermore, policy attention should focus on location, farmers and farm characteristics.

14. Using hybrid learning to improve educational programs for small-acreage farmers

Collection:: Agricultural Communications Documentation Center (ACDC)
Contributers:: DePhelps, Colette (author), Newman, Soren (author), Golden, Lauren (author), and Mayes, Iris (author)
Format:: Journal article
Publication Date:: 2019-08
Published:: United States: Extension Journal, Inc.
Location:: Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 203 Document Number: D12328
Journal Title:: Journal of Extension
Journal Title Details:: v. 57, n. 4
Notes:: 8 pages, A whole-farm planning course in Idaho has evolved from an in-person course offered by a single instructor in one location to an online course to a hybrid learning course that combines online learning with in-person and webinar components offered simultaneously at multiple sites across the state. Evaluation data suggest that all three approaches have been effective at increasing knowledge and skills. The hybrid learning model allows for using technology to leverage faculty and farmer expertise and increase participant numbers while maintaining in-person interaction and experiential learning. Findings support the concept of the hybrid learning model as a tool for Extension audiences in rural states.

15. Factors influencing smallholder farmers to participate in farmer-led research of agro-ecological practices in selected areas, Tanzania

Collection:: Agricultural Communications Documentation Center (ACDC)
Contributers:: Kihoma, Luambano (author), Churi, Ayubu J. (author), Sanga, Camilius A. (author), and Tisselli, Eugenio (author)
Format:: Journal article
Publication Date:: 2021-10-22
Published:: International: Academic Journals
Location:: Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 203 Document Number: D12336
Journal Title:: Journal of Agricultural Extension and Rural Development
Journal Title Details:: Vol.13(4)
Notes:: 11 pages., Declining crop productivity is a great challenge facing smallholder farmers in Tanzania. Agro-ecological practices can improve crop productivity in a sustainable way and produce healthy food among smallholder farmers. Initiation of “Farmer-Led Research of Agro-Ecological Practices” (FLRAG) may enhance farmers’ capacities for innovation and co-develop suitable agro-ecological practices. This study aimed at identifying factors influencing smallholder farmers to participate in FLRAG. A cross-sectional survey was used to collect qualitative and quantitative data from 90 smallholder farmers in Mvomero, Bagamoyo and Masasi districts in Tanzania. Data were also collected from key informants who were extension officers. The study identified that experience in farming, easiness in accessing agro-ecological inputs, interest in doing experiments and farm size ownership are the factors that substantially influence smallholder farmers to participate in FLRAG. Therefore, researchers are advised to select participants of FLRAG by considering the mentioned factors. Furthermore, farmers selected to participate in FLRAG are advised to the use of ugunduzi app” that was developed purposefully to enhance agro-ecological research in order to test and understand its potential on smoothing agro-ecological research activities.

16. Edu-Communication Strategies of Cashew Production in a Rural Ghanaian Community

Collection:: Agricultural Communications Documentation Center (ACDC)
Contributers:: Anyarayor, B.K (author), Amadu, M.F. (author), and Alhassan, A. (author)
Format:: Journal article
Publication Date:: 2021-10-03
Published:: Ghana: Extension Education Society
Location:: Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 203 Document Number: D12337
Journal Title:: Journal of Extension Education
Journal Title Details:: Vol. 32 No. 3
Notes:: 10 pages., This study examined the edu-communication strategies that agriculture extension service agencies use in the dissemination and promotion of innovation adoption among cashew farmers in the Kpandai district agricultural zones in Northern Ghana. A total of 140 cashew farmers were sampled using simple random sampling technique. Three District Agricultural Officers (DAO) and twenty-one satellite Agriculture Extension Officers (AEO) were also drawn into the sample. The results of the study show that, face to face interaction, field demonstration, entertainment- education through community radio broadcasting and Farmer Group Discussions (FGDs) were extensively and efficiently used by the AEOs to promote adoption of improved production technologies among cashew farmers. The study discovered that EduCom strategies contribute to higher rates of adoption and partly accounts for increased cashew yields in the study area. The indigenisation of agriculture extension services approaches using local language in the design and dissemination of adoption process is, highly recommended as a core tenet of technology dissemination if higher adoption rates are expected.

17. Information Needs and Seeking Behavior of Agricultural Community of Attabira area of Bargarh District, Odisha: A Survey

Collection:: Agricultural Communications Documentation Center (ACDC)
Contributers:: Panda, Abinash (author), Rani Dash, Lipsa (author), and Panda, Debasmita (author)
Format:: Journal article
Publication Date:: 2021-03
Published:: United States: University of Nebraska Press, Lincoln.
Location:: Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 204 Document Number: D12355
Journal Title:: Library Philosophy and Practice
Notes:: 27 pages., The study on the information-seeking behavior of the agricultural community was undertaken in the attabira area of bargarh district of Odisha with objectives to study the different areas in which they require information frequently and determine the sources through which they rely on. It was found that most of the people are dependent upon agriculture in the attabira area. They started working at the age of 18. Most of the farmers (85.6%) of farmers opted for pooja seeds for cultivation. The study shows 7.36% of the respondents are facing difficulties in irrigation facilities. About 78.9% of the people are talking about MSP (Minimum support price). About 7.3% of farmers gathered information from social media, TV, Call centers, etc. It is observed that the highest numbers of people are talking from a nationalized bank. The farmers were getting information from various sources like TV media, print media, etc. The library plays a crucial role in the dissemination of knowledge. The farmer knowledge center was established where they could get their query solved. The knowledge centers need to provide the right information at the right time in a personal way. The result reveals that a large number of people of the attabira district are influenced by socio-economic variables.

18. Information Needs and Resource Utilization of Rice Farmers in Anyiin, Logo Local Government Area of Benue State, Nigeria

Collection:: Agricultural Communications Documentation Center (ACDC)
Contributers:: Iorver, Richard Tondo (author), Ternenge, Simon Tofi (author), Terlanga, Ugba (author), and Terkaimo, Akaaimo (author)
Format:: Journal article
Publication Date:: unknown
Published:: United States: University of Nebraska Press, Lincoln.
Location:: Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 204 Document Number: D12375
Journal Title:: Library Philosophy and Practice
Journal Title Details:: Spring 2019
Notes:: 53 pages., The study was design to investigate the information needs and resources utilization of rice farmers in Anyiin, Logo Local Government Area of Benue State, Nigeria.. The study adopted descriptive research design. The population of the study comprises rice farmers in Anyiin, Logo Local Government Area of Benue State. The sample size of 70 rice farmers was drawn from the population using simple random sampling technique. A self-design questionnaire was used as instrument of data collection. Frequency counts and percentages were used to analyzed the collected data. The findings of the study indicated that, rice farmers need information. The study also indicated that, the information resources needed by rice farmers in Anyiin are journals and pamphlets. The findings of the study showed that, the sources of information used by rice farmers in the area under study are extension services, research institutes and public library. The study also showed that, the rice farmers need information to get improved varieties, modern farm technology, market location, agricultural loan and credit facilities. The information needs of the rice farmers under study are not being satisfied. The study showed that, the rice farmers are faced with the problem of high cost of information resources, inadequate funds and high level of illiteracy. The study concluded that a great number of rice farmers encountered difficulties in utilizing information resources to meet up their information needs. This is either because, most of the information resources are not adequately provided. The study recommended amongst others that, Government should organize and provide agricultural workshops for farmers. This is because, through this workshops and conferences, farmers will be trained on modern farming technique which in will help improve their farmer produces.

19. Farmers' Perception Analysis about the Use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) in Agriculture Extension services of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

Collection:: Agricultural Communications Documentation Center (ACDC)
Contributers:: Salam, Abdus (author) and Khan, Muhammad Zafarullah (author)
Format:: Journal article
Publication Date:: 2020-07-25
Published:: Pakistan: Smith and Franklin Publishers
Location:: Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 204 Document Number: D12381
Journal Title:: Sarhad Journal of Agriculture
Journal Title Details:: Vol. 36 Issue 3
Notes:: 7 pages., Agricultural extension as a mean of dissemination of agricultural latest technologies to the farming communities and motivating them for its adoption can be achieved through better use of communication among relevant stakeholders. The existing extension and communication strategies used in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province have many limitations. The present study was thus conducted to compare and analyze the farmers’ perceptions regarding use of information and communication technologies (ICT) in agriculture extension at three selected districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Based on the multi-stage sampling technique, population for the current study, 3 zones from 5 were purposively selected on the basis of their different agricultural condition. Selection of sample size was made using Yamane formula. The number of respondents as per formula was confined to 188 respondents in district Mansehra, 153 respondents in district Swabi and 59 respondents from district Karak, where data were collected randomly. Five point Likert scale was used to record responses of the respondents. The results of the study clearly showed that majority of the farmers in the study area were literate (73%) and comparatively was greater in district Mansehra (77%), while least in district Swabi (64%) using ICT for agricultural purposes and observed a significant correlation between the literacy and ICT i.e. 0.77. The results also showed that 39% respondents from District Mansehra, and 33% from district Swabi were fulltime farmers, used ICT. The results also showed that regarding the effectiveness of ICT tools in crop production, printed material; TV and Mobile Phone were used in districts Mansehra, Karak and Swabi respectively. Similarly, it was also inferred that ICT is very effective tool for communication between farmers and with extension workers. Hence, ICT is the most effective and useful tool for the improvement of the overall extension delivery system, so agriculture extension department may establish a formal structure to initiate free SMS and voice message service in the easiest and understandable languages for increasing overall coverage of the extension delivery.

20. Knowledge management best practices among rice farmers in selected areas of Tanzania

Collection:: Agricultural Communications Documentation Center (ACDC)
Contributers:: Mtega, Wulystan Pius (author) and Ngoepe, Mpho (author)
Format:: Journal article
Publication Date:: 2019-07-19
Published:: South Africa: SAGE Journals
Location:: Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Document Number: D12389
Journal Title:: Journal of Librarianship and Information Science
Journal Title Details:: Vol. 52 (2)
Notes:: 14 pages., For improved rice production, farmers need access to timely and relevant knowledge at each stage of the rice-cropping calendar. To understand how farmers involve themselves in acquiring and sharing agricultural knowledge, this study investigates how knowledge management best practices can be enhanced among rice farmers in selected rural areas of Tanzania. Data were collected from 226 rice farmers in three districts (Kilombero, Kilosa and Mvomero) of the Morogoro region in Tanzania. Findings from structured questionnaires and focused group discussion indicate that rice farmers accessed, shared and used agricultural knowledge. It was found that individual, institutional and knowledge factors influence the performance of agricultural knowledge management activities. For enhancing effective agricultural knowledge management, it is important to take into consideration the knowledge management best practices, which include developing effective knowledge infrastructure, involving different stakeholders and using appropriate information and communications technology tools in enhancing access to knowledge. It is concluded that effective knowledge management activities increase the level of adoption of agricultural innovations. It is recommended that the proposed agricultural knowledge management best practices be adapted for improving rice production.

21. Sustaining agriculture with information: An assessment of rural citrus farmers’ information behaviour

Collection:: Agricultural Communications Documentation Center (ACDC)
Contributers:: Hassan, Ali (author)
Format:: Journal article
Publication Date:: 2020-07-14
Published:: United States: Sage Journals
Location:: Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Document Number: D12411
Journal Title:: Information Development
Journal Title Details:: Vol. 37 Issue (3)
Notes:: 15 pages, Information needs, surveys, extension agents, information seeking, small farmers, small farms, development, Pakistan(Southern Asia), This study investigated information behaviour of citrus farmers residing in rural areas of Sargodha, Pakistan. The data were collected from 120 adult male farmers through face to face interviews using preformulated questionnaire and analyzed by applying descriptive statistics. The citrus farmers required information on land preparation, soil fertility management, better citrus varieties, citrus trees protection, harvesting techniques, pest and diseases control, fertilizer applications, plantation techniques, finance, Government policies and programs, better pricing, labor information in the locality, agrochemicals, how to stop fruit drop, weather, irrigation management, pesticides application, health and safety information, buyers, collections and traders, and herbicide. These farmers relied overwhelmingly on their prior experience and interpersonal relationships such as fellow farmers/friends, progressive farmers, for agricultural information. More than two-third of these farmers did not seem to have any contact, either written or oral, with government agricultural officials. The farmers’ farm size, education, and income appeared to predict their information needs and sources. Lack of timely access, inaccessibility, unawareness, bad timing of television programs, poor economic conditions, infrequent visits of extension staff, low level of education and language barriers were the primary obstacles in information acquisition. The results will be helpful for extension agents and librarians of the public libraries in the area while making adjustments for efficient and effective information delivery. This study would make a contribution in the existing research on farmers’ crop-specific information behaviour.

22. Factors influencing the information needs and information access channels of farmers: An empirical study in Guangdong, China

Collection:: Agricultural Communications Documentation Center (ACDC)
Contributers:: Lu, Yonghe (author) and Chen, Yongshan (author)
Format:: Journal article
Publication Date:: 2019-01-08
Published:: China: SAGE Journals
Location:: Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Document Number: D12412
Journal Title:: Journal of Information Science
Journal Title Details:: Vol. 46 Issue (1)
Notes:: 20 pages., China, Information needs, access, rural communities, small farms, information channels, surveys, development, Information plays an important role in meeting the quantitative and qualitative goals of agriculture in the 21st century. As an emerging economy in a developing continent, China has already made many interventions to use information technology to support agricultural development. However, information service in some rural areas is still severely limited. The overall impact of the changing information environment on the farmers’ information needs and access channels has not been fully studied. Thus, this study systematically investigates the characteristics of the information needs and channels of farmers in Guangdong, China. We have collected 4006 questionnaire samples and used correlation analysis to explore the relationships between farmers’ information needs and access channel preferences. The results indicate that individual characteristic factors, social factors and family factors have different degrees of influence on farmers’ information needs and access channel preferences. These findings can provide a reference for information construction in the rural areas of Guangdong Province and thus promote its economic development. This study can also provide useful insights for policy-makers and researchers from other developing countries to formulate implementation plans to promote agricultural development.

23. The influence of public relations on food security among cocoa marketers in Ondo State, Nigeria

Collection:: Agricultural Communications Documentation Center (ACDC)
Contributers:: Abdulganiyu Salau, Shehu (author)
Format:: Journal article
Publication Date:: 2021-12-28
Published:: Poland: Poznan University Press
Location:: Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 204 Document Number: D12416
Journal Title:: Journal of Agribusiness and Rural Development
Journal Title Details:: Vol 62 No 4 (2021)
Notes:: 4 pages., Food insecurity is quickly becoming a key topic in national and international debates. Consequently, series of studies have been conducted on food security and its determinants. However, none of these studies have measured food security among cocoa marketers and have considered the influence of public relations (PR) on food security among cocoa marketers in Nigeria Thus, this study measured food security status and determined the influence of PR strategies on food security of marketers. A combination of purposive and random sampling techniques were employed to select 100 respondents for this study. The analytical tools include: descriptive statistics, food security index and logistic regression analysis. The result revealed that majority of the sampled respondents were males with an average household size of 8 persons. The food security index indicated that 65% and 35% of the respondents were food insecure and secure respectively. The logistic regression indicated that about 53% of the total variation in food security of the wholesale cocoa marketers was accounted for by the estimated explanatory variables. Age of the respondents, marketing margin, household size, credit access and PR strategies were the critical determinants of food security among cocoa marketers in the area. Government should provide PR tools at subsidized rate as well as train marketers on the effective use of these tools. Policies to address irregular network and high airtime tariff challenges associated with the adoption of PR strategies in the country must be supported. Policy aimed at reducing household size should be encouraged.

24. Adoption Determinants of Agricultural Extension Communication Channels in Emergency and Non-emergency Situations in Ghana

Collection:: Agricultural Communications Documentation Center (ACDC)
Contributers:: Bawa, Kambersua (author), Abukari, Abdul-Basit Tampuli (author), Awuni, Joseph Agebase (author), and Yildiz, Fatih (author)
Format:: Journal article
Publication Date:: 2021-01-21
Published:: International: Taylor & Francis
Location:: Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 204 Document Number: D12426
Journal Title:: Cogent Food & Agriculture
Journal Title Details:: Vol. 7 Issue 1
Notes:: 15 pages., The determinants of agricultural extension communication channel usage depend on several factors but have not been explored in the context of emergency (Fall Armyworm outbreak) and non-emergency situations. A multistage purposive sampling technique was used to select 318 farmers, focusing on the districts and the communities with the highest reported cases of fall armyworm infestation. Descriptive statistics and a multivariate probit analysis were used in the analysis of the data. The results showed an increase in the intensity of channels’ usage in the emergency situation. It was also found that fertilizer and improved seeds were the most common extension need. Channels are found to be more complementary in the emergency case. In both situations, some factors explaining the choices of these channels varied, while others agreed. The study recommends multiple channels are made available and that time-consuming channels irrespective of their effectiveness should be avoided by extensionists in emergency situations.

25. The Role of Social Media Applications in Palm Oil Extension Services in Malaysia

Collection:: Agricultural Communications Documentation Center (ACDC)
Contributers:: Peng, Tan Say (author), Lyndon, Novel (author), Hashim, Khairuman (author), and Aman, Zaki (author)
Format:: Journal article
Publication Date:: unknown
Published:: Malaysia: UKM Press
Location:: Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 204 Document Number: D12428
Journal Title:: Journal of Southeast Asia Social Sciences and Humanities
Journal Title Details:: Vol. 91 (3)
Notes:: 21 pages, The Malaysian palm oil industry faces many challenges, especially in agricultural technology at the plantation level because smallholders have trouble getting detailed information and the latest data on the palm oil industry issues. More efficient extension services are needed in meeting the need to increase knowledge. Information and Communication Technology (ICT) is the best method to accelerate agricultural technology transfer from research institutions to smallholders. Growing concerns about the impact of the covid-19 pandemic on health have prompted development agents to change the course and landscape of their delivery to social media application as a new norm socialisation agent. The study aims to examine the role of information and communication technology as a tool for developing new norms in conveying information and empowering smallholders’ knowledge. This study uses a qualitative approach through content analysis on several reports from the Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB), Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) and the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC). The study found that the use of social media platforms among Malaysians is high, thus the level of application of technology and palm oil information needs to be improved through social media applications. The government needs to develop social media applications that are friendly, easily accessible and the information presented is easy to understand. The implication of this study is that the use of information and communication technology will change the pattern of expansion of the palm oil sector in Malaysia in the future.

26. The use of local knowledge in agricultural extension: A systematic review of the literature

Collection:: Agricultural Communications Documentation Center (ACDC)
Contributers:: Hainzer, Kirt (author), Hugh Brown, Philip (author), and O’Mullan, Catherine (author)
Format:: Journal article
Publication Date:: 2022-01-31
Published:: United States of America: Academic Journals
Location:: Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 204 Document Number: D12434
Journal Title:: Journal of Agricultural Extension and Rural Development
Journal Title Details:: Vol.14(1)
Notes:: 12 pages, Smallholder farms are complex systems, constantly adapting to context and rely on local, place-based knowledges. The vital role of local knowledge in smallholder farming systems has seen attempts throughout low- and middle-income countries to entwine local knowledge with scientific knowledge to improve outcomes from agricultural extension. Using a systematic review and exploratory meta-synthesis of selected literature, this research explored the use of local knowledge in agricultural extension. The synthesis found local knowledge plays a vital role in the adoption of new technologies or practices because as the dominant form of knowledge in communities they give learners confidence and they provide a context upon which new information can be introduced. However, effective use of local knowledge requires a realistic perspective which recognises that some combination of local and scientific knowledge, developed in a participatory process, will likely result in extension delivering greater outcomes to farmers.

27. Information and communication technologies (ICTs): The potential for enhancing the dissemination of agricultural information and services to smallholder farmers in sub-Saharan Africa

Collection:: Agricultural Communications Documentation Center (ACDC)
Contributers:: Mapiye, Obvious (author), Makombe, Godswill (author), Molotsi, Annelin (author), Dzama, Kennedy (author), and Mapiye, Cletos (author)
Format:: Journal article
Publication Date:: 2021-12-21
Published:: South Africa: SAGE Journals
Location:: Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 204 Document Number: D12436
Journal Title:: Information Development
Journal Title Details:: I-21
Notes:: 21 pages, The transformation of smallholder farming is poised to be one of the key drivers of achieving the dual objectives of food security and poverty reduction in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Smallholder farmers account for between 60–80% of the food produced in the region but face many challenges that impede their productivity. Such challenges include a lack of timely access to appropriate agricultural information and services, which results in poor decision-making, particularly in addressing challenges and responding effectively to opportunities. In that context, the effective use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) in improving accessibility to appropriate agricultural information and services presents substantial prospects for transforming the productivity and livelihoods of the farmers. Currently, the region experiences massive penetration and propagation of mobile and web-based applications. However, there is a dearth of compelling, comprehensive reviews evaluating their importance in enhancing agricultural information and services dissemination to smallholder farmers. Therefore, the current review explores the potential of enhancing agricultural information and services dissemination to smallholder farmers through ICTs and highlights gaps in their development and deployment in SSA. Five existing mobile applications used to disseminate agricultural information and services to smallholder farmers were identified, and their advantages, limitations, and opportunities were discussed. These were Esoko, iCow, Community Knowledge Workers, WeFarm and DigiFarm. The development and deployment of user-driven mobile applications that provide curated skill-sharing platforms, encourage farmers to give feedback to extension systems in real-time and promote the participation of women and youth in agriculture are recommended. Keywords

28. Influence of public agricultural extension on technology adoption by small-scale farmers in Zimbabwe

Collection:: Agricultural Communications Documentation Center (ACDC)
Contributers:: Worth, S. (author) and Masere, T.P. (author)
Format:: Journal article
Publication Date:: 2021-11
Published:: South Africa: SciELO
Location:: Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 204 Document Number: D12446
Journal Title:: South African Journal of Extension
Journal Title Details:: Vol. 49 No. 1 (2021)
Notes:: 18 pages, This paper presents the findings of challenges facing Zimbabwe’s extension services and how these have affected the adoption of technologies they render to small-scale farmers. This study uses a critical review of relevant literature on Zimbabwe’s primary public extension agency (AGRITEX). Additionally, 21 key informant interviews (KIIs) were conducted to corroborate data collected in secondary research on extension approaches currently in use, the key factors affecting technology adoption, and the technology adoption process of small-scale farmers. The study found AGRITEX’s major challenges to be poor funding, poor remuneration and incentives for extension personnel, lack of in-service training, lack of appropriate technology, as well as poor operational resources like transport to reach all farmers. Consequently, services offered to small-scale farmers were compromised, which led to poor adoption of recommended technologies. Furthermore, the study determined that key factors influencing technology adoption are related to the farmers’ circumstances, the operating environment, and the attributes of technology itself. As a lasting solution to poor technology adoption, an adaptive extension system that promotes building the capacity of extension workers and researchers, as well as embracing farmers and their indigenous knowledge, is proposed

29. The Dynamics of Climate Change Adaptation in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Review of Climate-Smart Agriculture among Small-Scale Farmers

Collection:: Agricultural Communications Documentation Center (ACDC)
Contributers:: Abegunde, Victor (author), Sibanda, Melusi (author), and Obi, Aburuchukwu (author)
Format:: Journal article
Publication Date:: 2019-03-01
Published:: United States of America: MDPI
Location:: Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 204 Document Number: D12470
Journal Title:: Climate
Journal Title Details:: Vol. 7 Issue 11
Notes:: Climate-smart agriculture (CSA) as a credible alternative to tackle food insecurity under the changing climate is gaining wide acceptance. However, many developing countries have realized that concepts that have been recommended as solutions to existing problems are not suitable in their contexts. This paper synthesizes a subset of literature on CSA in the context of small-scale agriculture in sub-Saharan Africa as it relates to the need for CSA, factors influencing CSA adoption, and the challenges involved in understanding and scaling up CSA. Findings from the literature reveal that age, farm size, the nature of farming, and access to extension services influence CSA adoption. Many investments in climate adaptation projects have found little success because of the sole focus on the technology-oriented approach whereby innovations are transferred to farmers whose understanding of the local farming circumstances are limited. Climate-smart agriculture faces the additional challenge of a questionable conceptual understanding among policymakers as well as financing bottlenecks. This paper argues that the prospects of CSA in small-scale agriculture rest on a thorough socio-economic analysis that recognizes the heterogeneity of the small farmer environment and the identification and harnessing of the capacities of farming households for its adoption and implementation

30. Drivers and Constraints to the Adoption of Organic Leafy Vegetable Production in Nigeria: A Livelihood Approach

Collection:: Agricultural Communications Documentation Center (ACDC)
Contributers:: Adbegboyega, J.A. (author), Olabisi, L.S. (author), Liverpool-Tassie, L.W. (author), and Delate, K. (author)
Format:: Journal article
Publication Date:: 2020-12-21
Published:: United States: MTDI
Location:: Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 204 Document Number: D12471
Journal Title:: Sustainability
Journal Title Details:: 12(1), 96
Notes:: Nigeria, the seventh most populous country in the world, is plagued by livelihood challenges such as poverty and food insecurity, which are more pervasive among farming households and rural communities. Organic farming is being promoted by some domestic non-governmental organizations as a means of addressing the problem of poverty and food insecurity among farming households and rural communities in the country. Promoters consider organic farming to be well-suited to smallholder farmers’ socio-economic conditions in Nigeria, and that it can help improve their livelihood conditions through increased agricultural productivity and farm income. However, the adoption of the technology by smallholder farmers has been underwhelming, for reasons yet to be studied. Using a livelihood framework and through a case study of farmers in Ibadan, Oyo State, this study qualitatively explores and provides insights into the factors that influence, constrain, and gender the adoption of organic farming in Nigeria. Overall, it was found that a mix of factors, which include institutional considerations, farmers’ livelihood assets and vulnerability contexts, their livelihood activities, and gender-related variables shaped adoption decision-making. The policy implications of the findings were outlined.

31. Rural farmers perception and coping strategies towards climate change and their determinants: Evidence from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, Pakistan

Collection:: Agricultural Communications Documentation Center (ACDC)
Contributers:: Ali, Sajjad (author), Ying, Liu (author), Nazir, Adnan (author), Ishaq, Muhammad (author), Shah, Tariq (author), Ye, Xinyue (author), LLyas, Aasir (author), and Tariq, Azam (author)
Format:: Journal article
Publication Date:: 2021-04-01
Published:: Interational: Elsevier
Location:: Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: Box 204 Document Number: D12476
Journal Title:: Journal of Cleaner Production
Journal Title Details:: Vol. 291
Notes:: 14 pages, Climate change has severe consequences not at just local, regional but also at a global scale. Since such shifts in the climate, the substantial agriculture sector of Pakistan has been suffering widely from its drastic change. The present study is carried out in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) province of Pakistan, to explore the perception of smallholder farmers related to climate change. Data is collected from 400 smallholder farmers of Malakand, Mardan and Swabi districts in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. This study expounds the perception of farmers and their farming adaptations to variations in climatic occurrence. Binary logistic regression was employed to discover the aspects that shape smallholder farmer’s adaptation strategies. Our results depicted that the awareness and farm household’s exploits methods for climate change adaptation were common throughout the study area. The main adaptation strategies carried out or executed by the smallholder farmers were irrigation, non-farm activities and early planting schemas. This research identified the barriers to climate change adaptation were lack of money, unavailability of required seed, nonexistence of market access, insecure land tenure system and shortage of information. The findings of the study recommend improving farmer’s awareness and providing timely information about climate change. To improve farmer’s well-being, adequate extension services and greater investment facilities are required to support farmers to sustain their livelihoods in the long run to cope with climate change.

32. Farmers’ perception on soil erosion in Ghana: Implication for developing sustainable soil management strategy

Collection:: Agricultural Communications Documentation Center (ACDC)
Contributers:: Tesfahunegn, Gebreyesus Brhane (author), Ayuk, Elias T. (author), and Adiku, S. G. K. (author)
Format:: Journal article
Publication Date:: 2021-03-02
Published:: International: PLOS
Location:: Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 204 Document Number: D12477
Journal Title:: PLoS One
Journal Title Details:: 16 (3)
Notes:: 26 pages, Farmers’ perception on soil erosion has not adequately reported in the conditions of Ghana though its causes and effects are time and site-specific. The objective of this study was to assess farmers’ perception on soil erosion and implication for developing soil management strategy in the Eastern and Northern Regions of Ghana. A total of 130 household head farmers were interviewed and complemented with field observation and group. Data was analyzed using descriptive, chi-square test, T-test and binary logistic regression. The results show that there was significant variation in socioeconomic, farm and institutional attributes among the farmers`in the study regions. In the Eastern and Northern Regions, significantly higher proportions of the farmers (95.7% and 86.7%, respectively) perceived soil erosion as serious problem. Significantly higher proportions of the respondents (80%) perceived severe erosion problem at homestead land in the Eastern Region whereas severe erosion in the Northern Region was more noticed at distance farmlands (85.0%). In the two regions, the major causes of severe erosion as perceived by most farmers were over-cultivation, deforestation and heavy rainfall events. In the Eastern and Northern Regions, 58.6% and 75.0% of the farmers perceived, respectively, that soil erosion severity has been increased since the past 10-years. Perceptions of most frequently noted indicators of soil erosion were declined productivity, shallow soil depth, presence of rills, sheet erosion, soil loss from farmland, and change in soil color. Results of the binary logistic regression indicate that there is heterogeneity in the factors accounting for the perception of soil fertility. In developing promising soil management strategy in the study area, attention must be given to key socioeconomic, biophysical, farm and institutional factors.

33. Factors influencing farmers’ satisfaction with the quality of agricultural extension services

Collection:: Agricultural Communications Documentation Center (ACDC)
Contributers:: Kassem, Hazem S. (author), Alotaibi, Bader Alhafi (author), Muddassir, Muhammad (author), and Herab, Ahmed (author)
Format:: Journal article
Publication Date:: 2021-01-17
Published:: International: Elsevier
Location:: Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 204 Document Number: D12478
Journal Title:: Evaluation and Program Planning
Journal Title Details:: Vol. 85
Notes:: 18 pages, Assessing farmers’ satisfaction with the quality of agricultural-extension services is essential for developing extension programs that comply with farmers’ needs and agroecological conditions. This study aimed to determine factors influencing farmers’ satisfaction with extension services. Data were collected through a questionnaire from a random sample of 393 farmers in the Kafr El Sheikh governorate. Farmers assessed the quality of extension services by five main indicators: (1) availability, (2) accessibility, (3) diversity, (4) relevance, and (5) effectiveness. Descriptive statistics and a logistic-regression model were used to analyze the data. Results showed that farmers had lowly participated in the provided extension services. The accessibility of services was ranked first with regard to satisfaction, while diversity of services was the lowest-ranked quality attribute. Results also revealed that factors significantly influencing farmers’ satisfaction included farm size, diversity of farming activities, annual income, and participation in extension services. Results provide practical implications for policy makers to support smallholder farmers by providing high-quality extension programs.

34. COVID-19 and the Sustainability of Agricultural Extension Models

Collection:: Agricultural Communications Documentation Center (ACDC)
Contributers:: Siankwilimba, E. (author), Hiddlestone-Mumford, J. (author), Hang’ombe Mudenda, B.M. (author), Mumba, C. (author), and Hoque, Md. E (author)
Format:: Journal article
Publication Date:: 2022-01-05
Published:: United Kingdom: Visnav
Location:: Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 204 Document Number: D12485
Journal Title:: International Journal of Applied Chemical and Biological Sciences
Journal Title Details:: Vol. 3 (1)
Notes:: 20 pages., Agricultural extension and advisory services in information and technology dissemination and delivery are critical in a developing country’s food security and sustainability. Without extension service provision, the productivity and production smallholder farmers are experiencing would have been much lower, and current global hunger and malnutrition worse. This paper assesses the effects of COVID-19 on the sustainability of agricultural extension models/approaches for smallholder farmers in developing countries. Over 60 papers were reviewed covering 2019-2021, commencing with the disease outbreak in China. Based on characteristics and usage, the findings indicate most reviewed extension models were disrupted. No single model was entirely disbanded as the impact of COVID-19 was being felt. However, each model incorporated a digital means of communication to keep farmers and service providers in touch. There is considerable criticism around the inadequacy of these extension techniques in advancing the agenda for smallholder farming’s long-term viability that needs to be addressed

35. Adapting yet not adopting? Conservation agriculture in Central Malawi

Collection:: Agricultural Communications Documentation Center (ACDC)
Contributers:: Bouwman, T.I. (author), Andersson, J.A. (author), and Giller, K.E. (author)
Format:: Journal article
Publication Date:: 2021-02-28
Published:: United States: Elsevier
Location:: Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 204 Document Number: D12487
Journal Title:: Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment
Journal Title Details:: Vol. 307
Notes:: 12 pages, Conservation Agriculture (CA) has been widely promoted as a pathway to sustainably intensify agriculture in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Yet despite decades of promotion, CA uptake in SSA remains sparse with only few analyses of its impacts on farming and rural livelihoods. This study, which focuses on areas in Central Malawi considered to have a relatively high uptake of CA, uses analyses of satellite images, field observations, interviews with farmers, extension workers and other people involved in CA promotion, as well as a household survey, to investigate how CA has been adapted. We find that the three CA principles – (1) continuous minimum tillage, e.g. no-ridging, (2) permanent ground cover, and (3) crop rotation/intercropping – were not practiced as intended. First, one-third of non-ridged land was tilled during the growing season, and half was again ridged in the following season. Second, unless crop residues were added, the soil’s surface of non-ridged plots was usually bare at planting, causing weed control problems, and an increased risk of erosion. Most farmers added large volumes of crop residues to their non-ridged plots. They collected these from the surrounding fields, but this practice severely restricted the size of these plots. Third, crop rotation/intercropping was practiced less when farmers stopped ridging. Thus overall, very few farmers practised all of the three CA principles simultaneously. CA promotion appeared to only increase yields on plots where mulch was added, but this practice is not scalable. CA promotiondoes not seem to have provided substantial benefits for overall farm productivity, labour-savings or soil cons

36. Realizing the potential of digital development: The case of agricultural advice

Collection:: Agricultural Communications Documentation Center (ACDC)
Contributers:: Schilbach, Frani (author), Kremer, Michael (author), and Fabregas, Raissa (author)
Format:: Journal article
Publication Date:: 2019-12-13
Published:: United States: American Association for the Advancement of Science
Location:: Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 204 Document Number: D12491
Journal Title:: Science
Journal Title Details:: Vol 366, Issue 6471
Notes:: 12 pages, Mobile phones are almost universally available, and the costs of information transmission are low. They are used by smallholder farmers in low-income countries, largely successfully, to optimize markets for their produce. Fabregas et al. review the potential for boosting mobile phone use with smartphones to deliver not only market information but also more sophisticated agricultural extension advice. GPS-linked smartphones could provide locally relevant weather and pest information and video-based farming advice. But how to support the financial requirements of such extension services is less obvious, given the unwieldiness of government agencies and the vested interests of commercial suppliers.

37. Stakeholders’ Perceptions on Agricultural Land-Use Change, and Associated Factors, in Nigeria

Collection:: Agricultural Communications Documentation Center (ACDC)
Contributers:: Johnpaul Ihemezie, Eberechukwu (author) and Dallimer, Martin (author)
Format:: Journal article
Publication Date:: 2021-10-21
Published:: International: MDPI
Location:: Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 204 Document Number: D12498
Journal Title:: Environments
Journal Title Details:: 8 (11)
Notes:: 18 pages, Agricultural Land-Use Change (ALUC) is a major driver of global environmental change, not least via its direct impact on the sustainability and resilience of the rural economy. Its drivers are complex and have remained contentious, necessitating further empirical study. This study aims to derive context-specific evidence on the driving factors and effects of ALUC from different stakeholders’ perceptions. We carried out household surveys and participatory rural appraisal across Benue State, Nigeria. ALUC has economic, social, ecological, and institutional implications for farmers and on agricultural productivity. Farmers perceived that the main factors driving ALUC were land conflict, government land-use policies and infrastructural development. Stakeholders’ perceptions revealed that although the factors driving ALUC are diverse in nature, they are somewhat embedded within the broader issue of land-use conflict, which has led to cropland abandonment, clearing of forest vegetation, soil degradation, changes from large scale to subsistence farming, and farmers’ eventual loss of interest in agriculture. This suggest that the drivers and implications of ALUC go beyond simple changes to the extent of land used for agriculture, but also incorporates other regional socio-ecological changes. Our study highlights the importance of stakeholders’ perceptions in understanding complex socio-ecological issues if we are to provide clear direction into areas where policy interventions are most needed.

38. Determinants of cohesion in smallholder farmer groups in Uganda

Collection:: Agricultural Communications Documentation Center (ACDC)
Contributers:: Agole, David (author), Yoder, Edgar (author), Brennan, Mark (author), Baggett, Connie (author), Ewing, John (author), Beckman, Matthew (author), and Biryabaho Matsiko, Frank (author)
Format:: Journal article
Publication Date:: 2021-01-29
Published:: United States: OJS / PKP
Location:: Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 204 Document Number: D12502
Journal Title:: Advancements in Agricultural Development
Journal Title Details:: 2 (1)
Notes:: 16 pages, Cohesion is a fundamental determinant of performance in farmer groups in which collective action is pursued for the benefit of the members. The study examined the influence of individual members’ objectives, participation culture, group rewards, structure of tasks and perceived equity on cohesion of farmer groups that can promote access to agricultural extension services. Quantitative data were collected from 180 members of 19 farmer groups using questionnaires selected in a multi-stage process that combined purposive and random sampling. Qualitative data were gathered from 20 key informants in oral interviews and three focus group discussions. Regression analysis indicated that there were statistically significant negative relationships between individual members’ objectives, structure of the tasks, group reward system and cohesion of farmer groups. In contrast, perceived equity had a statistically significant positive relationship with cohesion in farmer groups. We recommend that, for sustainability of group cohesion, group facilitators work with the farmer groups to ensure alignment of group and NAADS institutions and performance indicators. A group dynamics perspective to understanding farmer group cohesion should be a helpful organizing principle.

39. Channels used to deliver agricultural information and knowledge to smallholder farmers

Collection:: Agricultural Communications Documentation Center (ACDC)
Contributers:: Ndimbwa, Tumpe (author), Mwantimwa, Kelefa (author), and Ndumbaro, Faraja (author)
Format:: Journal article
Publication Date:: 2020-09-10
Published:: International: SAGE Journals
Location:: Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 204 Document Number: D12504
Journal Title:: IFLA Journal
Journal Title Details:: 47 (2)
Notes:: 17 pages., This study examined the effectiveness of the channels used to deliver agricultural information and knowledge to smallholder farmers in Tanzania. A descriptive cross-sectional design alongside quantitative and qualitative approaches was employed to collect data from 341 respondents. While the data collected through the questionnaire was analysed by using Statistical Product and Service Solutions (SPSS) version 21, the data collected through the interview was analysed by using thematic analysis. The findings suggest that delivery of and access to timely and relevant agricultural information and knowledge, appropriately packaged, is one of the critical problems undermining smallholder farmers’ efforts to increase their production. As a result, most smallholder farmers mainly depend on informal channels. Besides informal channels, farmer groups and demonstration plots are becoming popular channels to deliver and access agricultural information and knowledge. To make a difference in agricultural production, deliberate efforts should be made to enhance the delivery of agricultural information and knowledge.

40. Multi-Dimensional Motivations and Experiences of Small-Scale Farmers

Collection:: Agricultural Communications Documentation Center (ACDC)
Contributers:: Iles, Keri (author), Ma, Zhao (author), and Nixon, Rebecca (author)
Format:: Journal article
Publication Date:: 2019-09-19
Published:: United States: Taylor & Francis
Location:: Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 204 Document Number: D12512
Journal Title:: Society & Natural Resources
Journal Title Details:: 34 (3)
Notes:: Preconceived notions exist about small-scale farmers in the U.S. Beyond research on new and beginning farmers, few empirical studies have learned directly from small-scale farmers in the U.S. about their perspectives and experiences. By analyzing semi-structured interviews of small-scale farmers in Indiana, this study develops an in-depth understanding of the multi-dimensional motivations and experiences of small-scale farmers and the interconnected, multi-scalar challenges they face. The lack of social infrastructure to support small-scale farmers becomes paramount as they contend with dilemmas of engaging in pluriactivity, securing reliable labor, and navigating relationship building with consumers and peers for both short-term profits and long-term social capital. This study contributes to understanding how small-scale farmers’ motivations, experiences, challenges, and strategies interact to shape their relationship to the land, their farming enterprise, and their perception of and position in the larger agro-ecological-social-economic system, and highlights the need to improve social infrastructure to support small-scale farmers.

41. Context Specificity and Time Dependency in Classifying Sub-Saharan Africa Dairy Cattle Farmers for Targeted Extension Farm Advice: The Case of Uganda

Collection:: Agricultural Communications Documentation Center (ACDC)
Contributers:: Ahikiriza, Elizabeth (author), Wesana, Joshua (author), Gellynk, Xavier (author), Van Huylenbroeck, Guido (author), and Lawyers, Ludwig (author)
Format:: Journal article
Publication Date:: 2021-07-29
Published:: Switzerland: MDPI
Location:: Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 204 Document Number: D12516
Journal Title:: Agriculture
Journal Title Details:: 11 (9)
Notes:: 6 pages, Despite the huge potential for milk production, interventions to improve productivity in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) are barely based on specified farm classifications. This study aimed to develop robust and context-specific farm typologies to guide content of extension farm advice/services in Uganda. From a sample of 482 dairy farmers, we collected data on farmer socio-demographics, farm management practices, ownership of farm tools and facilities, willingness to pay for extension services, milk production, and marketing. Farm typologies were obtained based on principal component and cluster analyses. Thereby, of the three dairy production systems that emerged, small-scale, largely subsistence yet extensive and low productive farms were more prominent (82.6%). Farms that were classified as large-scale, less commercialized yet extensive with modest productive systems were more than the medium-scale commercial farms with intensive and highly productive systems. However, the later were considered to potentially transform dairy farming in Uganda. It was also predicted that the validity of our farm classification may persist until half of the farms have moved between clusters. The study gives new insights on dairy production systems in Uganda, which can be used to organize more targeted research on farmers’ extension needs for facilitating delivery of relevant and effective extension services and designing appropriate extension policies

42. To work alone or with peers: Examining smallholder coffee farmers’ perceptions influencing collective actions

Collection:: Agricultural Communications Documentation Center (ACDC)
Contributers:: Silvert, Colby (author), Diaz, John (author), Warner, Laura (author), and Ochieng, Willis (author)
Format:: Journal article
Publication Date:: 2021-06-01
Published:: International: OJS / PKP
Location:: Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 204 Document Number: D12524
Journal Title:: Developments in Agriculture
Journal Title Details:: Vol 2(2)
Notes:: 14 pages, This study examines how smallholder coffee farmers’ perceptions may influence their engagement in peer mobilization and collective action. Forty smallholder coffee farmers were interviewed in the Central Highlands region of Peru using a closed-ended instrument. The sample of smallholder farmers was achieved using purposive and snowball sampling methods. Quantitative data on farmers’ attitudes and aspirations regarding working with peers, autonomy, and external support as well as knowledge, skills, and behaviors pertinent to collective actions were collected and analyzed using descriptive and correlational procedures. Key findings indicate farmers perceive a need for external support, feel there are benefits of collective actions, and aspire to work with their peers. Based on the findings, it is recommended that practitioners and farmer group leaders focus training efforts on building smallholders’ knowledge and skills in mobilization, encourage peer association/collective action as a source of external support, and target knowledgeable, skilled and confident farmers to lead collective actions. This study has implications to bolster support for farmer-to-farmer extension and technical assistance systems and inform the identification of leader farmers.

43. Building Self-reliance: A Framework to Evaluate Smallholder Coffee Farmers’ Pursuit of Commercialization

Collection:: Agricultural Communications Documentation Center (ACDC)
Contributers:: Silvert, Colby (author), Diaz, John (author), Warner, Laura (author), Grady Roberts, T. (author), and Injoque, Raul (author)
Format:: Journal article
Publication Date:: 2021-08-21
Published:: United States: New Prairie Press
Location:: Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 205 Document Number: D12525
Journal Title:: Journal of International Agricultural and Extension Education
Journal Title Details:: Vol. 28(4)
Notes:: 18 pages, This study examines the application of a self-reliance framework for practitioners and evaluators to better understand the capacities and intrinsic factors impacting smallholder coffee farmers’ commercialization behaviors. We surveyed 40 smallholder coffee producers in Peru using a quantitative instrument. Data were analyzed to determine if statistical relationships exist between farmers’ self-reliance (measured via knowledge and skills, attitudes, and aspirations) and their commercialization behaviors. Findings indicate the self-reliance framework effectively illustrates relationships between farmers’ aspirations, knowledge and skills and their commercialization behaviors, while future, additional studies are needed to better measure and understand the role of commercialization-related attitudes. Practitioners can leverage the study’s findings by using a self-reliance framework to infer farmers’ likeliness to pursue sustainable commercialization practices and align their trainings and design interventions based on evaluation findings. The conceptual self-reliance framework is the first of its kind applied for smallholder coffee commercialization. The findings demonstrate that self-reliance concepts employed recently in other contexts may potentially be used similarly by extension and development facilitators.

44. Agricultural Information Need of Smallholder Farmers in Chitwan District, Nepal

Collection:: Agricultural Communications Documentation Center (ACDC)
Contributers:: Mishra, B.P. (author) and Bhatta, S. (author)
Format:: Journal article
Publication Date:: unknown
Published:: Nepal: Nepal Journals Online
Location:: Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 205 Document Number: D12526
Journal Title:: International Journal of Applied Sciences and Biotechnology
Journal Title Details:: Vol 9 (2)
Notes:: 10 pages, Agricultural information is very essential for smallholder farmers to increase farm production and productivity. However, there is no proper access to accurate and adequate agricultural information to smallholder farmers. This paper attempts to identify the existing agricultural information source and the agricultural information need of the smallholder farmers along with usefulness of the provided agricultural information. Household level data were obtained from four wards of Bharatpur metropolitan of Chitwan district during 2019. The result showed agrovet shops as most common source of agricultural information for smallholder farmers. The most needed agricultural information was about input market and prices followed by disease and pest control. Moderately useful agricultural information was provided to smallholder farmers. Findings of this research suggest that context specific agricultural information should be provided through the existing channels to the smallholder farmers.

45. Extension Agents’ Perception on Suitability of Climate Change Information Disseminated to Smallholder Farmers

Collection:: Agricultural Communications Documentation Center (ACDC)
Contributers:: Mbali Zikhali, Zafezeka (author), Mafongoya, Paramu (author), Mudhara, Maxwell (author), Jiri, Obert (author), and Mudaniso, Blessing (author)
Format:: Journal article
Publication Date:: 2021-04-16
Published:: United States: SAGE Journals
Location:: Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 205 Document Number: D12527
Journal Title:: Journal of Asian and African Studies
Journal Title Details:: 56 (8)
Notes:: 18 pages, This study examined gaps in climate information within public agricultural extension in Limpopo Province, South Africa. It assessed extension officers’ climate change perceptions, knowledge and climate education. Lastly, the study examined the extension approaches for overall suitability of climate information disseminated to rural smallholder farmers. The results indicated that participants were predominately male, with tertiary education. Education levels had an influence on exposure to climate education and extension approaches in disseminating agricultural information to farmers. There is a need to retool extension officers in climate change extension work, integrating indigenous knowledge to increase suitability and acceptability of information by smallholder farmers.

46. Towards a Revolutionized Agricultural Extension System for the Sustainability of Smallholder Livestock Production in Developing Countries: The Potential Role of ICTs

Collection:: Agricultural Communications Documentation Center (ACDC)
Contributers:: Mapiye, Obvious (author), Makombe, Godswill (author), Molotsi, Annelin (author), Dmaza, Kennedy (author), and Mapiye, Cletos (author)
Format:: Journal article
Publication Date:: 2021-04-02
Published:: International: MDPI
Location:: Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 205 Document Number: D12537
Journal Title:: Sustainability
Journal Title Details:: 13 (11)
Notes:: 17 pages, The creation of commercialization opportunities for smallholder farmers has taken primacy on the development agenda of many developing countries. Invariably, most of the smallholders are less productive than commercial farmers and continue to lag in commercialization. Apart from the various multifaceted challenges which smallholder farmers face, limited access to extension services stands as the underlying constraint to their sustainability. Across Africa and Asia, public extension is envisioned as a fundamental part of the process of transforming smallholder farmers because it is their major source of agricultural information. Extension continues to be deployed using different approaches which are evolving. For many decades, various authors have reported the importance of the approaches that effectively revitalize extension systems and have attempted to fit them into various typologies. However, there is a widespread concern over the inefficiency of these extension approaches in driving the sustainability of smallholder farming agenda. Further, most of the approaches that attempted to revolutionize extension have been developed and brought into the field in rapid succession, but with little or no impact at the farmer level. This paper explores the theory and application of agricultural extension approaches and argues the potential of transforming them using digital technologies. The adoption of information and communication technologies (ICTs) such as mobile phones and the internet which are envisaged to revolutionize existing extension systems and contribute towards the sustainability of smallholder farming systems is recommended

47. Assessing farmer perceptions on livestock intensification and associated trade-offs using fuzzy cognitive maps; a study in mixed farming systems in the mid-hills of Nepal

Collection:: Agricultural Communications Documentation Center (ACDC)
Contributers:: Alomia-Hinojosa,Victoria (author), Groot, CJ (author), Andersson, Jens (author), Speelman, Erika (author), McDonald, Andrew (author), and Tittonnell, Pablo (author)
Format:: Journal article
Publication Date:: 2022-06-02
Published:: United States: Wiley Online
Location:: Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 205 Document Number: D12562
Journal Title:: Systems Research and Behavioral Science
Journal Title Details:: Online only
Notes:: 13 pages, Intensified livestock production is considered as a promising pathway for smallholder farmers. Nevertheless, this pathway may entail prohibitive investment requirements of labour, capital or trade-offs at farm level that preclude sustainable intensification. We used fuzzy cognitive mapping (FCM) to assess farmers' perceptions of changes in the farm household system resulting from adding livestock to their mixed farms. Farmers identified trade-offs between the increased income and farmyard manure production versus increases in labour requirements for fodder imports. Furthermore, a sensitivity analysis performed on the FCMs showed that an increase in milk market demand could have strong positive effects on livestock production and income. We conclude that FCM is a good tool to rapidly identify trade-offs and analyse perceptions of farmers which revealed that although they consider intensification a promising strategy, the perceived deepening of labour constraints and increasing dependency on fodder import makes a concurrent (sustainable) intensification of these farm systems unlikely.

48. Perception and adaptation to higher temperatures among poultry farmers in Nigeria

Collection:: Agricultural Communications Documentation Center (ACDC)
Contributers:: Sanou, Awa (author), Kerr, John (author), Hodbod, Jennifer (author), and Saweda, Linda (author)
Format:: Journal article
Publication Date:: 2022-01-19
Published:: International: Springer Link
Location:: Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 205 Document Number: D12566
Journal Title:: Environment Development and Sustainability
Journal Title Details:: Vol. 23
Notes:: 8 pahes, The poultry sector is large and expanding in the global South, playing a central role in providing increased protein to a rapidly growing base of consumers. The sector includes small backyard farms, small commercial operations, and very large, complex enterprises. Although there is substantial literature on climate adaptation by crop farmers and large livestock farmers, such information is limited for poultry. This study focuses on the effects of higher temperatures on commercial poultry farms in southwest Nigeria and their adaptation strategies. We use a rich set of in-depth interviews to describe how poultry farmers are adapting to higher temperatures and their reasons for adopting particular practices. In general, interviewees are aware that temperatures have increased over time and that heat stress reduces poultry productivity in terms of weight gain and laying capacity. They are knowledgeable and are not passively enduring the adverse effects of higher temperatures as they have adopted a range of adaptation practices. This study identified three main adaptation strategies: (i) keeping drinking water cool, (ii) keeping the building cool and increasing ventilation, and (iii) giving birds medicines and supplements that help them cope with increased heat. Small farms tend to adopt simple and low-cost practices, and large farms tend to adopt more sophisticated and expensive approaches, in line with the nature of their respective operations. The paper’s findings can help address gaps in strategies aiming to help this critically important sector of the food system be robust to future environmental change.

49. Knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions of dairy farmers regarding antibiotic use: Lessons from a developing country

Collection:: Agricultural Communications Documentation Center (ACDC)
Contributers:: Dankar, Imam (author), Hassan, Hussein (author), and Serhan, Mireille (author)
Format:: Journal article
Publication Date:: 2022-02-12
Published:: United States: Elsevier
Location:: Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 205 Document Number: D12568
Journal Title:: Journal of Dairy Science
Journal Title Details:: 2
Notes:: 14 pages, In lower- and middle-income countries, uncontrolled use of antibiotics is causing antimicrobial resistance, affecting both animal welfare and public health. Meanwhile, studies on antibiotic use in these countries are limited. A crucial step to limit the spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is to examine the use of these drugs and identify its determinants. The aim of our study, the first of its kind in Lebanon, was to assess dairy farmers' knowledge and awareness of antimicrobial use (AMU) and AMR. For this, 18 farmers from different regions, educational backgrounds, experience levels, and herd sizes were interviewed. Results showed that owners of larger farms were more aware of AMU and AMR, and trying to implement preventive actions, whereas nonsystematic antimicrobial use was prevalent among the smaller farms. Mastitis and laminitis were the most treated diseases, and antibiotics used were oxytetracycline, penicillin, streptomycin, and florfenicol. Overall, antibiotic use was found as a preventive measure and a treatment of nonbacterial diseases. Irregular uses were linked to easy access of farmers to antibiotics, interrupted relations with veterinary authorities, and lack of self-assessment and inspection. Lebanese dairy farmers and owners reported feeling disadvantaged in their local trade field, facing illegal competition and unauthorized farms and industries, and lacking support from the government. Training and awareness programs must be implemented, and policies and regulations must be set, to reduce antibiotic use and hinder the spread of AMR in Lebanon.

50. The Adoption of food safety practices and the implications of regulation for small scale farms

Collection:: Agricultural Communications Documentation Center (ACDC)
Contributers:: Canales, Elizabeth (author), Silva, Juan (author), and Anderson, Joy (author)
Format:: Journal article
Publication Date:: 2022-06-16
Published:: USA: Clemson University Press
Location:: Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 205 Document Number: D12604
Journal Title:: Journal of Extension
Journal Title Details:: V. 60, N.2
Notes:: 10 pages, In this article we examine the adoption of food safety practices among produce growers in the south and discuss implications of food safety regulations in the U.S. Produce growers have adopted standard food safety practices to varying degrees, but there is still an adoption gap, particularly among small scale operations. Market-driven and regulatory food safety enforcement continues to tighten, and this can further hinder market access for small scale producers.

Search

Search Constraints

Search Results

Limit your search

Collection

Format

Publication Year

Subject Term

Language

Journal Title

Within Last x Years