Organic agriculture has offered a more sustainable alternative to conventional agricultural production and has grown rapidly in many countries. By 2012, over 5,000 hectares of land will be farmed organically in Taiwan. To understand and predict Taiwanese farmers¡¦ intention to become engaged in organic agricultural production, this study assessed participants¡¦ behavior determinants based on an integrated model, including Ajzen¡¦s (1988) theory of planned behavior and Roger¡¦s (1995) theory of innovation diffusion. An extra variable¡Xresponsibility¡Xwas also added to the model. The study interviews 166 farmers from organic farming class held by Agriculture Reform Fields, and 187 farmers from conventional farming class held by local Farmers¡¦ Associations. Assessments show that for farmers who attended organic-farming classes, (a) attitude, perceived behavioral control and responsibility predict participants¡¦ intention behind engagement in organic agriculture, and that (b) complexity, compatibility and observability predict their attitude. As for farmers who attended conventional-farming classes, assessments reveal that (a) attitude, subjective norm, perceived behavioral control and responsibility predict participants¡¦ intention behind engagement in organic agriculture, and that (b) environmental concern, complexity and observability predict participants¡¦ attitude. Furthermore, results also suggest that farmers who have younger ages, degrees of higher education, ownership of larger land, or suspicions that acquaintances fell ill due to pesticides are more willing to engage in organic agriculture. Implications regarding how to construct organic agriculture policy and how to distribute to farmers relevant information (e.g., certification process, sales skills and skills in organic farming) are discussed.

Taiwan, as one of the Far East Asian countries, has been founded on agriculture since ancient times. Historically, farming has always played a pivotal role in the economic development of Taiwan. However, there have problems since the implementation of ¡§customary line of farming¡¨, which has been excessively adapted to the traditional farming method. For instance, the widespread use of pesticides and chemical fertilizer has not only severely damaged farmlands but has also threatened the quality of life for those involved in them. As well as the humanitarian issue of inorganic farming effecting workers within the industry, there is also a strong need to revise production from a growing change in demand in Taiwan¡¦s markets. It has been found that consumers are becoming more aware about issues regarding the quality, or lack of quality, in food available to them. This can be explained in relation to improvements in technology and increased living standards, where people are now able to be more selective about what they eat. This has lead to a general increase in the demand for organic produce in an attempt to achieve a healthier diet. From a growing awareness about where their food comes from, consumers are more cautious about buying from producers whose products fail to meet the required standards expected from organic produce. As well as a shift in demand within Taiwan¡¦s agricultural industry, the growing popularity of organic products in other counties has also affected Taiwan export markets. If the agricultural industry wishes to maintain the levels of prosperity it has enjoyed historically, it must yield to the growing demands of the market. But despite the growing appreciation for organic produce, there is a problem of how to verify authentically organic products from the inorganic. Whether or not organic products sold in the market are the genuine has been a growing dispute. It can be seen that more needs to be done encourage the verification system. This is if consumers peace of mind is to be properly addressed as to what can be safely regarded as genuinely organic. Also, further investigation into differences between organic and inorganic need to be continued if the implications to health are to be properly understood. With the increasingly recognized and trusted stamp of organic approval, advantages are available to both the consumer and producer. For consumers, it grantees quality of produce and assures consumers not to worry about and health and security issues. For producers, benefits from this system include an increase to their competitive advantages by way of offering higher quality produce. As a result, it can be argued to be beneficial to help farmers attain a verified stamp of approval for their produce.

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of using the blade roller for no-till/reduced tillage in organic green manure management. The study was conducted in Carman, Manitoba and Oxbow, Saskatchewan. In the spring, a pea/oat intercrop was seeded as a green manure. The green manure was terminated by rolling, tilling, or a combination of the two. The following spring, spring wheat was seeded. In the year of the green manure, measurements taken included: biomass, soil nitrogen, and ammonia emissions. In the year of the wheat, measurements taken included: soil cover, soil moisture, weed competition, soil nitrate-N, and wheat biomass. Results showed increased soil cover, minimal effect on soil moisture, delayed wheat development, an effect on weed communities, reduced rate of nitrogen release, and reduced wheat yield. No-till green manure management can therefore provide benefits of soil conservation and nitrogen conservation but may result in decreased wheat yield.

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of using the blade roller for no-till/reduced tillage in organic green manure management. The study was conducted in Carman, Manitoba and Oxbow, Saskatchewan. In the spring, a pea/oat intercrop was seeded as a green manure. The green manure was terminated by rolling, tilling, or a combination of the two. The following spring, spring wheat was seeded. In the year of the green manure, measurements taken included: biomass, soil nitrogen, and ammonia emissions. In the year of the wheat, measurements taken included: soil cover, soil moisture, weed competition, soil nitrate-N, and wheat biomass. Results showed increased soil cover, minimal effect on soil moisture, delayed wheat development, an effect on weed communities, reduced rate of nitrogen release, and reduced wheat yield. No-till green manure management can therefore provide benefits of soil conservation and nitrogen conservation but may result in decreased wheat yield.

The aim of this study was to explore how land degradation influences the living conditions of a farming community in Kenya. Investigation method used was qualitative research and data collection through semi -structured interviews with chosen farmers, interview with a professional in the relevant profession, and field observation within a farming community in central province of Kenya. In developing countries many families live in rural areas and depend on small scale farming for livelihood. These communities are however faced with poverty from degraded lands as is indicated by the interviews conducted in this rural community where farming activities has resulted in degradation of land. Unhealthy agricultural practices threaten human survival by not only eating innutritious food, but reduction in economic capability, as well as causing loss of biodiversity which is indispensable for environmental sustainability.

This study is concentrated on the evaluation of competitive ability of spring and winter wheat varieties by selected characteristics affecting competitiveness against weeds. They evaluated the characteristics (shape tuft, the length of the plant, LAI, coverage and the position of the flag leaf). For the evaluation of characters (tuft shape, length and position of flag leaf) methodology was used, based on the methodical approach ÚKZÚZ for tests of its utility varieties. For the analysis was used LAI (SunScan Devices - Canopy Analysis Sytem).

Andrade, José Alessandro Campos de. Análise da produção de banana orgânica no município de Itapajé - Ceará,Brasil. 2005. 107 f. : Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Federal do Ceará, Pró-Reitoria de Pesquisa e Pós-Graduação, Programa Regional de Pós-Graduação em Desenvolvimento e Meio Ambiente-PRODEMA, Fortaleza-CE, 2005. / Submitted by guaracy araujo (guaraa3355@gmail.com) on 2016-04-27T18:53:49Z No. of bitstreams: 1 2005_dis_jacandrade.pdf: 2039676 bytes, checksum: bc654bf01785878529d9d394c87871fa (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by guaracy araujo (guaraa3355@gmail.com) on 2016-04-27T19:02:58Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 2005_dis_jacandrade.pdf: 2039676 bytes, checksum: bc654bf01785878529d9d394c87871fa (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-04-27T19:02:58Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 2005_dis_jacandrade.pdf: 2039676 bytes, checksum: bc654bf01785878529d9d394c87871fa (MD5) Previous issue date: 2005 / The present research has as main objective to describe the process of organic bananicultura practiced in Itapajé - Ceará, analyzing the aspects social, environmental and economical of this culture’s production. Furthermore, the objective specific are: to analyze organic banana's production after the creation of the Associação dos Fruticultores do Município de Itapajé – AFMI, to make the analyses technique, social and environmental and under the optical of organic banana's consumer's acceptance produced in Itapajé, to analyze the economical viability of the activity for the associated producers AFMI, to discuss some aspects related to the advantages and disadvantages of the production and the organic banana’s market. The study area is located in Itapajé, one of the largest producing of banana of the State of Ceará in Brazil. Itapajé is a city characterized by an intense modification in the physical space in mountainous areas. Primary and secondary datas were used to understand banana's organic production. The present study is classified as analytical-descriptive. Also, an analysis of the economical viability is elaborated for the Association's producers. The analysis of the data was studied through the descriptive statistics instruments and used tables, pictures and illustrations. The organic agriculture in Itapajé is an innovative experience. There are 16 sixteen organic banana´s producers that are linked to AFMI. These producers are developing that activity with many problems, for intance, low infrastructure and precariousness of the roads that harm the production’s drainage. In conclusion, some factors are decisive for the low productivity: the cultural treatments, no irrigation, incipient nutrients’replacement, irregular relief, a stony soil and an old plant banana. It was registered the organic manuring (composting of organic matter). Also, it was registered that the organic banana's producers are concerned with the environmental, they preserve the local biodiversity and they preserve an area of, at least, 20% of forest, the call legal reservation, in organic banana's properties. Finally, this activity of organic banana's production in Itapajé is profitable economically. / A presente pesquisa tem como objetivo principal descrever o processo de bananicultura orgânica praticada em Itapajé - Ceará, analisando os aspectos sociais, ambientais e econômicos dos produtores desta cultura. Além disso, são objetivos específicos: analisar a produção de banana orgânica com o advento da criação da Associação dos Fruticultores do Município de Itapajé – AFMI, efetuar as análises técnica, social e ambiental e sob a óptica de aceitação do consumidor de banana orgânica produzida em Itapajé, analisar a viabilidade econômica da atividade para os produtores associados à AFMI e discutir alguns aspectos relacionados às vantagens e desvantagens da produção e mercado da banana orgânica. A área de estudo está localizada em Itapajé, um dos maiores produtores de banana do Estado do Ceará, caracterizado por uma intensa modificação no espaço físico em áreas serranas. Fez-se uso de dados tanto primários quanto secundários. O presente estudo classifica-se como sendo de caráter analítico-descritivo. Efetua-se também uma análise da viabilidade econômica para os produtores ligados à referida Associação. A análise dos dados levantados foi efetuada utilizando-se tabelas, quadros e figuras, por meio dos instrumentos da estatística descritiva. A agricultura orgânica nesse Município é uma experiência inovadora, em que 16 produtores de banana orgânica, ligados à AFMI, vêm desenvolvendo esta atividade em meio a muitos problemas, tais como os de baixa infra-estrutura, principalmente, no que diz respeito à precariedade das estradas, que prejudicam o escoamento da produção. Concluiu-se que alguns fatores são determinantes para a baixa produtividade dos bananeirais, podendo-se citar os tratos culturais deficitários, a ausência de irrigação, a incipiente reposição de nutrientes, a alta declividade do relevo, solos pedregosos, além do fato do bananeiral já ser velho. Registrou-se que a adubação orgânica (compostagem) é utilizada nas propriedades e que os bananicultores demonstraram ter uma profunda preocupação com a questão ambiental, buscando a preservação da biodiversidade local, mantendo em suas propriedades uma área de, pelo menos, 20% de mata, ou seja, a chamada reserva legal. Por fim, quanto à viabilidade, concluiu-se que a atividade da produção de banana orgânica em Itapajé é rentável economicamente.

O objetivo principal da presente pesquisa foi estimar a Disposição a Pagar (DAP) do consumidor do município de São Paulo (SP) pelo café orgânico. O método utilizado foi de valoração contingente, adotando-se o modelo de referendo com distribuição de probabilidade logística. O levantamento de dados foi realizado no período de 22 de setembro à 2 de outubro de 2006, realizando-se 498 entrevistas, as quais foram aproveitadas 478. Foram feitas duas amostras distintas: uma para o município de São Paulo, com a execução de 400 entrevistas e aproveitamento de 384, e uma para a feira orgânica (AAO), com a realização de 98 entrevistas e aproveitamento de 94. O valor médio da Disposição a Pagar para a amostra do município de São Paulo foi de R$ 7,69 ( para renda declarada) e R$ 7,69 (para renda estimada pelo IBOPE). Estes valores para a amostra da feira orgânica foram R$ 9,81 (com renda declarada) e R$ 9,81 (com a renda estimada). Com estes valores é possível determinar ou refinar melhor a viabilidade econômica da conversão do café convencional para orgânico, além de poder ser utilizado como instrumento para melhorar as políticas públicas neste setor. O estudo também levantou alguns motivos para o não aceite ao pagamento. O valor elevado sugerido em alguns questionários se destaca como o principal motivo para este não pagamento. / The main objective of this present research was to estimate the monetary value of willingness to pay (WTP) of consumers in the city of São Paulo (SP) to organic coffee. The method used was contigent valuation, adopting the countersignature with distribution of logistic probability. The data-collected was in the period between September 22nd and October 2nd. The sample was 498 interviews, out of which was used 478. Was realized two different samples: one of São Paulo city, with 400 interviews and used 384, and in organic fair, with 98 interviews and used 94. The average value of WTP to the sample of São Paulo was R$ 7,69 (with declared income) and R$ 7,69 (IBOPE estimated income). These values for the organic fair was R$ 9,81 (declared income) and R$ 9,81(IBOPE estimated income). With these values is possible to determinate or get better views of the economic viability of the conversion of conventional coffee to organic coffee, beside that this can be used as instrument to get better public policy in this sector. This study also gets some reasons to not accept the payment. The high value suggest in some questionnaire was the main reason to this refuse.

A preocupação com novos conceitos de produção é importante devido às mudanças observadas no mundo. Para isto, o conhecimento da diversidade dos ambientes se torna uma ferramenta de comparação entre diferentes ambientes, sendo onde se encaixa o uso das formigas como bioindicadoras, pela sua fácil coleta e identificação. O objetivo deste projeto foi identificar as espécies da família Formicidae (Hymenoptera), presentes no solo em cultivo orgânico de café (Coffea arabica), com a finalidade de determinar a riqueza e a diversidade de espécies, e as espécies que possam ser consideradas bioindicadoras dentro deste sistema. Os experimentos foram desenvolvidos em área de plantio do sistema de cultivo orgânico de café (Coffea arabica) no município de Dois Córregos, SP, em dois períodos distintos do ano: chuvoso (fevereiro/2008) coleta I e seco (julho/2008) coleta II. A coleta da mirmecofauna foi realizada utilizando-se dois tipos de armadilhas a de solo Pitfall e a do tipo Winkler. Posteriormente o material foi triado e identificado. As áreas de café foram separadas em duas a pleno sol e sombreada. Foram coletados 7101 espécimes distribuidos em 38 espécies. Poucas espécies foram constantes e freqüentes ao longo do estudo. Com relação ao índice de diversidade apenas dois pontos se destacaram ao longo do estudo na coleta I a pleno sol e na coleta II na sombra, de acordo com os índices de Shanon-Wiener e Simpson. O único ponto que teve maior dominância foi na coleta I a pleno sol. Através da análise de agrupamento dois grupos distintos foram formados a partir dos tipos de armadilha utilizados. Linepthema humile foi considerada como espécie bioindicadora para o cultivo orgânico de café. / This paper deals with a survey and identification of soil ant species (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) occurring in organic coffee (Coffea arabica) crop in order to determine species richness and diversity, as well as the ant species to be used as bioindicators of habitat disturbance in the coffee agroecosystem. Two experiments were set in an organic coffee (Coffea arabica) plantation in Dois Corregos, State of São Paulo, Brazil, one in rainy season (experiment I, February/2008) and other in the dry season (experiment II, July/2008). The ants were collected by using Pitfall trap and Winkler trap and the material was brought to the laboratory were the ant species were identified. There were two coffee areas: sun exposed crop and shadowed crop. One collected 7.101 specimens distributed in 38 species. Few species were constant and frequent ones along the research: Collect I-sun exposed and Collect II-shadowed crop, according to Shanon- Wiener and Simpson indices. The only point to present high dominance was observed in Collect I-sun exposed. One conclude that Linepthema humile is the ant species to be used as bioindicator of habitat disturbance in the organic coffee.

Orientadores: Mauro Jose Andrade Tereso, Roberto Funes Abrahão / Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Engenharia Agricola / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-11T01:58:25Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Gemma_SandraFranciscaBezerra_D.pdf: 4151256 bytes, checksum: 28174605e237953b40d28d5e6eb46f3c (MD5) Previous issue date: 2008 / Resumo: A agricultura orgânica tem sido apontada como uma forma de cultivo sustentável do ponto de vista ecológico, econômico e social. No entanto, não se encontram pesquisas que tenham por objetivo discutir a sustentabilidade do ¿homem trabalhador¿ dentro deste sistema; ou seja, não há um corpo de conhecimentos consolidado sobre este tipo de atividade, assim como não existem indicadores, que nos permitam avaliar os impactos que este trabalho pode ter sobre a saúde e o bem estar das pessoas, embora a exclusão da manipulação de biocidas tóxicos já constitua um grande avanço. Nesta pesquisa investiga-se, através da Análise Ergonômica do Trabalho e da Teoria da Complexidade, as características do trabalho humano na agricultura orgânica, e em particular do trabalho dos gestores, focando nos aspectos da organização do trabalho e da tecnologia utilizada, buscando ampliar a compreensão das atividades desenvolvidas, suas dificuldades e estratégias de superação. O gestor da produção orgânica é geralmente administrador e executor do trabalho, assumindo todas as funções administrativas de planejamento, organização, direção e controle de todas as áreas: produção, manutenção, finanças, recursos humanos e comércio, bem como a responsabilidade pelas questões ligadas à certificação, ao reflorestamento e à conservação do solo e da água. Ele necessita ainda pensar a unidade de produção de forma integrada e sistêmica, entendendo-a e tratando-a como um ser vivo, observando e identificando os elementos que o auxiliem na tomada de decisões para enfrentar as múltiplas dificuldades, em um ambiente onde não se dispõe de tecnologia adequada, com poucos recursos financeiros, e sem assessoria técnica. As dificuldades relatadas pelos agricultores são de natureza bastante variada. Vê-se desde aquelas relacionadas com exigências predominantemente físicas, cognitivas e afetivas do trabalho, até aquelas relacionadas mais diretamente com a falta de recursos tecnológicos, organizacionais, materiais, financeiros e humanos. Pode-se concluir que a hipótese inicialmente formulada é verdadeira, ou seja, que o trabalho na agricultura orgânica é complexo, pois incorpora os preceitos ecológicos, econômicos e sociais de sustentabilidade, que podem ser contraditórios entre si. Estes preceitos trazem determinantes específicos de natureza bastante variada que geram contradições e incertezas para o trabalho do agricultor, principalmente para o do gestor da produção. Esta complexidade do trabalho se relaciona com a necessidade de integrar múltiplas dimensões, demandando do gestor o desenvolvimento e a integração de variados saberes a fim de criar uma organização do trabalho dinâmica, como aquela descrita por Edgar Morin, que precisa ser freqüentemente reconstituída devido ao grande número de interações e de relações complementares e antagonistas entre ordem e desordem . Muitas pesquisas ainda precisam ser feitas, especialmente sobre as questões técnico-agronômicas e de saúde e conforto, assim como aquelas relacionadas com a comercialização, certificação e acesso a crédito. Será preciso ainda desenvolver políticas públicas que favoreçam a assistência e suporte técnico adequados. Somente a integração destes vários esforços poderá contribuir para o desenvolvimento deste setor, não somente em termos de produtividade e qualidade, mas também de melhorias para o trabalho e a qualidade de vida dos agricultores / Abstract: The organic agriculture has been indicated as a form of sustainable cultivation under the ecological, economical and social perspectives. However, researches addressing the sustainability of the ¿worker¿ within this system are not available; this means that there is not a consolidated knowledge package about this type of activity, as well as there are no indicators to allow us to evaluate the impact of such work on people¿s health and well-being, although the exclusion of toxic biocides on handling operations is already considered a big step ahead. In this research, it is investigated through the Ergonomic Analysis of the Work method and the Theory of Complexity, the human work characteristics at the organic agriculture, in particular the work of the managers, focusing the work organization aspects and the technology used, aiming to amplify the comprehension of the performed activities, the difficulties found and the overcoming strategies. The organic production manager is usually not only the administrator but also the executor of the job, assuming all administrative functions with regards to planning, organization, management and control in all areas like production, maintenance, finance, human resources and sales, as well as systems certification, reforesting and water and soil preservation . He still needs to think about the Production Unit in an integrated and systemic way, building knowledge through a very complex approach, understanding it and treating it like a live system, watching and identifying the elements which can help him on decisions making, to face multiple difficulties, in an environment where a suitable technology and technical support are not available, with few financial resources. The difficulties reported by agriculture workers have many different natures, varying from those related mainly to physical, cognitive and affective work demands, to those directly connected to lack of technological, organizational, material, financial and human resources. It is feasible to infer that the originally formulated hypothesis is valid, i.e., that the organic agriculture work is complex, as it incorporates the ecological, economical and social sustainability principles, which may be contradictory among themselves. These sustainability principles carry specific determinants, with several different aspects which bring contradictions and uncertainties to the agriculture worker job, mainly to the production manager. This work complexity is related to the need to integrate multiple dimensions, demanding the manager to develop and integrate diverse knowledge, in order to create a dynamic work organization, as the one described by Edgar Morin, which needs to be frequently remodeled due to the large number of interactions and complementary and opposed relations between order and disorder. Many researches must still be done, mainly about the technical-agronomic and health and comfort questions, as well as those related to sales, certification and credit access. It will be still necessary to develop public policies, to provide the require technical and assistance support. Just the integration of these several efforts can collaborate to the development of this segment, not only in terms of quality and productivity, but also to improve agriculture workers¿ job and quality of life / Doutorado / Planejamento e Desenvolvimento Rural Sustentável / Doutor em Engenharia Agrícola