Simumba, Davy (author) and Koopman, Martine (author)
Format:
Brief
Publication Date:
2011-01
Published:
The Netherlands: International Institute for Communication and Development (IICD)
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 149 Document Number: D10109
Notes:
5 pages., Via website., This project learning brief describes the lessons learned from the INFORNET (Development of an Effective Information Flow Network) project carried out by the Zambia Agriculture Research Institute (ZARI) with support from IICD. ICT was used to improve access to the knowledge generated by agricultural researchers and transmitted to farmers by extension workers. Improved research-extension linkages, as well as enhanced communication among researchers in different regions, were central to ZARI's INFORNET project.
The Netherlands: International Institute for Communication and Development (IICD)
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 149 Document Number: D10107
Notes:
9 pages., Via website., This thematic brief describes the work that IICD and local Burkinabe organisations have been implementing since 1997 to bring about ICT-enabled development at the grassroots level. It includes short case studies on: using television and puppetry for market price information services, strengthening the production and marketing of women's shea products and imprving linkages in the shea value chain, the establishment and use of a community radio station for women-led community development, and using grassroots multimedia to enhance rural sanitation and hygiene.
Journal currently known as: Crop and Pasture Science, Via CSIRO Journals., There is considerable potential for seasonal to inter-annual climate forecasts derived from dynamic models of the earth’s climate to be used widely to help improve management of important real-world issues in a variety of different areas (e.g. disaster management, agriculture, water management, health, natural resource management, food security, and insurance). Unfortunately, several factors currently inhibit this potential, e.g. low skill, low awareness, mismatches in what model forecasts can provide and what users need, and the complexity and probabilistic nature of the information provided. Substantial effort around the world is currently directed towards reducing these impediments. For example, climate model development continues behind the scenes, and techniques such as multi-model ensemble forecasting are progressing rapidly. Communication strategies that enable probabilistic information to be communicated more effectively have been developed and exciting developments such as the emergence of the Argo float program have dramatically improved our ability to initialise forecast systems. We can also look forward to greater computing power in the future, which will allow us to increase the resolution of the models used to perform forecasts. Research on the integration of climate forecasts with risk-management tools more useful to managers is also occurring.
The great potential for much wider use of climate model forecasting cannot be denied. However, it will only be realised if models continue to be developed further, if climatic variability continues to be closely monitored from the surface, the atmosphere, the ocean, and from space, and if these data are made readily available to the research community.
34 pages, A growing body of research lends support to opportunity theory and its variants, but has yet to focus systematically on a number of specific offenses and contexts. Typically, the more crimes and contexts to which a theory applies, the broader its scope and range, respectively, and thus generalizability. In this paper, we focus on agricultural crime victimization— including theft of farm equipment, crops, livestock, and chemicals—an offense that opportunity theory appears well-situated to explain. Specifically, we examine whether key dimensions of the theory are empirically associated with the likelihood of victimization and also examine factors associated with farmers’ use of guardianship measures. In contrast to much previous research, we combine multiple individual-level measures of these dimensions. We conclude that the theory partially accounts for variation in agricultural crime victimization, depending on the type of crime, and that greater work is needed investigating how key dimensions of opportunity theory should be conceptualized and operationalized in rural contexts. The study’s implications for theory and practice are discussed.
Zeng, Douglas Zhihua (author / World Bank) and Wang, Shuilin (author)
Format:
Research report
Publication Date:
2007
Published:
China: The World Bank
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 124 Document Number: D11231
Notes:
World Bank Policy Research Working Paper 4223. 36 pages., Analysis of some strengths, weakenesses, opportunities and challenges of China's knowledge economy in the areas of economic incentives and institutional regimes, human capital, innovation systems, and information infrastructures.
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 146 Document Number: C23101
Notes:
2 pages., National television survey showed 50% net positive response to the restaurant industry. Farming/agriculture industry ranked third (45% net positive response), behind computer industry (47%).
Harris, Craig K. (author) and Bailey, Conner (author)
Format:
Book chapter
Publication Date:
2002
Published:
USA
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Document Number: C18456
Notes:
Pages 31-42 in Ronald C. Wimberley, Craig K. Harris, Joseph J. Molnar and Terry J. Tomazic (eds.), The social risks of agriculture: Americans speak out on food, farming and the environment. Praeger, Westport, Connecticut. 163 pages.
Coughenour, C. Milton (author) and Swanson, Louis E. (author)
Format:
Book chapter
Publication Date:
2002
Published:
USA
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Document Number: C18461
Notes:
Pages 103-116 in Ronald C. Wimberley, Craig K. Harris, Joseph J. Molnar and Terry J. Tomazic (eds.), The social risks of agriculture: Americans speak out on food, farming and the environment. Praeger, Westport, Connecticut. 163 pages.
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 136 Document Number: C20806
Notes:
Burton Swanson Collection, from "Integrating multiple landuse for a sustainable future" 15th European Seminar on Extension and Education, Wageningen International Conference Centre, The Netherlands, August 27-31, 2001
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 147 Document Number: C23503
Notes:
Bureau of Sociological Research, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, via http://poll.orspub.com/poll/ 7 pages., Responses in a Nebraska survey to questions inviting views about the definition of agriculture and the levels of public funds to be spent for agriculture.
7 pages, This study was conducted to assess the knowledge and perceptions of 4-H members in a midwestern state regarding agriculture, food, and natural resources. Data were collected from 550 respondents but did not constitute a representative sample of all 4-H members. However, the results of this study may have implications for agricultural literacy educational initiatives on a practical basis. Three objectives were specified for this study as follows: 1) to assess the level of agricultural knowledge among 4-H members; 2) to assess the level of positive perceptions about agriculture among 4-H members; and, 3) to describe the demographic variables of 4-H members that may influence their agricultural literacy. 4-H members were most knowledgeable about the Natural Resources and Marketing of Agricultural Products concept areas, whereas the lowest group mean knowledge score was the Plant concept area. The 4-H members group produced lower (most positive) perception mean scores for the Natural Resources and Animal Science concept areas, whereas the highest (least positive) score was in the Policy concept area. Respondents who indicated their farms were between 10 and 50 acres and who had experience in raising plants, gardens, or crops, and who were enrolled in high school agricultural education produced lower knowledge of agriculture scores than those who did not possess those characteristics. However, 4-H members who lived on a farm produced higher knowledge of agriculture scores than those who did not possess those characteristics. 4-H members who lived on a farm produced less positive perception of agriculture scores while 4-H members who indicated their farms were between 10 and 50 acres and were also enrolled in high school agricultural education produced more positive perception of agriculture scores.
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 147 Document Number: C23504
Notes:
Kaiser Family Foundation and Harvard Program on Public Opinion and Health Care, Harvard School of Public Health via http://poll.orspub.com/poll/ 1 page., Responses in a national survey to a question inviting opinions about reducing the federal deficit by decreasing spending on agricultural price supports.
