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Anaerobic digester (AD) technology is a form of renewable energy that’s economic feasibility assessment is required site by site. This thesis presents a freely available workbook to determine the financial feasibility of a farm-based AD and to demonstrate its use for the Ontario livestock sector. To assess the profitability of ADs for farmers in Ontario with uncertainty included the theory of real options is used. Investment in an AD is financially feasible only for the largest dairy farms in Ontario under current electricity prices, which are approximately six times greater than the wholesale price. Shifting to a duel fuel continuous system would improve returns, as would the availability of additional substrate material in the form of solid grease waste. The real options approach shows that even higher net returns are necessary, than indicated by more traditional approaches, in order for AD investments to be feasible for Ontario livestock farmers.

A field survey was conducted in eight villages in Northeastern Thailand to examine the impact of non-farm employment on rice production during the 1994-95 crop year. This study uses the human ecology approach based on the conceptual framework of Duncan's (1959) ecological complex. This study found that participation in non-farm employment directly affects whether the household will produce rice, but its impacts vary according to the extent of participation. Full-time employment, particularly with the yearlong absence of the male head of household, appears to inhibit rice production because it has the potential to cause a critical farm labor shortage. Part-time employment creates opportunities for farmers to integrate both farm and non-farm production to sustain their households. Women and elders have become the principal labor source for their own farms and waged labor for others. The traditional pattern of exchange labor can hardly be practiced when the demand for hired labor exceeds the supply. Waged laborers receive the same pay regardless of age and gender, and employers have no control over the wage rate. The use of machines is increasing. The supply of threshers exceeds demand, but there is a shortage of power-tillers. / However, non-farm employment does not lead to increased levels of farm investment as hypothesized, because a large proportion of waged income was used for other purposes, including daily consumption and debt repayment. Consequently, there is no significant difference in farm productivity (kg. of paddy/unit area) between households with and without participation in non-farm employment. Out-migration to participate in non-farm employment seems inevitable in the face of population growth and land scarcity, but its impacts on rice production vary according to how farmers adapt to the changing resource base and use of modern farm technology. If possible, farmers tend to continue farm and non-farm employment to distribute their risks. However, it is crucial to retain a balance between the types of employment so that the loss of labor does not lead to poor farm productivity nor to production costs that exceed the farm household's means.

A group of students from the Peace and Development master program at Linnaeus University in Växjö have conducted a field study on agriculture in Ribaue district, Nampula, Mozambique. This study took place over a period of five weeks starting from the beginning of April. The purpose of the research was to perform a socio-economic study to gain a better understanding of the conditions under which the population of Ribaue live, the majority of which are small-scale farmers. Also, how they manage to access resources in order to improve their livelihoods and how small-scale farmers are striving to reach a lifestyle that is more sustainable. This study concentrates on the potential introduction of the Green Revolution Strategy, which is linked to food security and combating poverty, in Mozambique. It asks the question: under what conditions can it be possible for a Green Revolution Strategy to be developed and implemented in the district of Ribaue in Nampula, and which are the necessary prerequisites for a successful implementation of such a strategy? We have, through interviews, observations and participation in various activities, discovered the main issues that need to be addressed in the district. The Green Revolution Strategy exists in theory on the national level but has not yet been fully implemented in practice. Very few producers in Ribaue have heard of the concept ‘Green Revolution’, however, certain parts of its content were known to farmers, such as improved seeds and fertilizers. Furthermore, the gender conditions are still in favor of men, although some significant progress has been made. Better access to education and credit, improved infrastructure, and more effective spread of information and communication are some of the prerequisites that need to be addressed in Ribaue and they are presented in this study.

Research suggests that the connection between poor diet and obesity among rural residents may be partially explained by limited access to healthy foods including fruits and vegetables (F&V). Based on federal suggestions to improve access, the purpose of this study was to assess the relationship between food shopping habits food venues and dietary intake of residents in rural counties of Kentucky. In May, 2013, a telephone survey was conducted using random-digit dial methods among n=149 participants in all three counties. Results showed that grocery shopping at supermarkets had a moderate positive correlation with F&V intake (r=.357, .348). These findings suggest participants who shop at supermarkets also consume F&V. Our study’s findings did not give a strong correlation between F&V consumption and farmers’ market use, which could be due to the locations of these markets, price of produce, or other environmental barriers that were not looked at in this study. Although the results from our study do not show a correlation, the majority of previous research supports the need to improve farmers’ market locations to help increase accessibility for groups with low F&V consumption and emphasize the importance of addressing economic barriers to food access.

This study employed qualitative research methods to explore the motivations, perceptions, and regional contextual factors that influence the management decisions of small-scale farmers in East Central Indiana (ECI). In-depth, semi-structured interviews with 15 key informants and 29 farmers were recorded, transcribed, and coded using content analysis to understand the factors most relevant to small-scale farming in the region. Several important themes and subthemes arose in the data related to farming motivations, barriers to farm sustainability, and farmer learning and education. The results of this study complement the findings of previous work that describe the complex framework farmers navigate when making decisions on the farm. Still, this study identifies subtle regional factors (i.e., market conditions, farming culture, local economy)that significantly impact farmers’ decisions, and emphasizes the importance of local context in crafting agricultural policies and outreach efforts. Implications and recommendations for East Central Indiana are discussed. / Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Management

The aim of this study was to find out about the Swedish pig farmers strategies to keep up with the competition against the import of pork from Denmark and at the same time be able to satisfy the pigs need of acting out their natural behavior. This study is based on in-depth interviews with the company "MinFarm" and eight Swedish pork producers. The result of the study was several different strategies for the Swedish pork producers to maintain in the competition against the imported meat and farmers opinions about animal welfare. One of the pork producers pointed out that it is not possible to create a completely natural environment because the pigs live in stables. The concept about animal welfare is not easy to define but pigs that are healthy, gets its social needs satisfied and doesn't suffer from any diseases has a better life and higher welfare than animals who does not live under those conditions. For the farmers to make it worth the extra cost of the higher welfare, customers must be willing to prioritize the animal’s welfare and be willing to pay the extra money that will provide for the production. At present, it is not possible to have an effective meat production and high economic viability while ensuring animal welfare. To secure the Swedish meat production financial compensation will be needed for higher welfare. The market for locally produced products might be limited as it doesn't involve all kind of customers.

Research into the psychological consequences of natural disasters in South Africa remains largely unexplored. This is surprising, given the devastating economical and psychological ramifications that result from major catastrophic events. No research has been done relating specifically to the experiences and coping strategies of fanners who have experienced a veld fire disaster in South Africa. Farmers constitute an important sub-group for study as they may be psychologically at risk to the effects of disasters. In the international research arena exploration of the long-term consequences of disasters is lacking. In considering the question of coping following a disaster, few studies have focused on the influence of temporal dynan1ics, which would seem to be crucial to the outcomes of coping strategies. This study aims to address these gaps in the literature by exploring the experiences and coping strategies of farmers who have experienced a veld fire disaster which occurred in the North West Province of South Africa on 23 August 2011. The total financial loss as a result of the fire amounted to R42 276 I 71. The fires were allegedly caused by damaged power lines, which produced sparks and ignited the nearby veld. This study used a qualitative design. This methodological approach was adopted for its ability to capture the complex and time-sensitive dynamics of coping strategies. This was combined with a case study approach, based on the experiences and coping strategies of eight farmers who had experienced a veld fire disaster within the boundaries of one geographical area. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with the farmers in their homes and were recorded, transcribed and thematically analysed. The results of the analysis showed that the farmers progressed through three time periods with distinct patterns of experience and corresponding coping strategies. The person environment relationship, as well as transitioning situational demands inherent in this relationship, were found to be crucial in determining the outcomes of the fanners• experiences and coping strategies. The results also suggest that successful coping is reliant on the individual’s ability to continually adapt their coping strategies in a context-appropriate manner. It is recommended that psychological debriefing should be avoided and that crisis intervention teams (CIT) should focus on the long-term consequences of the veld fire. Future coping research needs to take the temporal aspects of coping into account. / MA (Research Psychology), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

The Canadian government has been holding an inconsistent position in the agricultural trade negotiations of both the Uruguay and Doha rounds. It has been advocating for freer agricultural trade while defending its supply management system, a protectionist policy that governs dairy, poultry and eggs in the country. The thesis attempts to answer the question: What domestic factors explain the inconsistent position, advocating for both liberalization and protectionism, that Canada has been advocating in the Uruguay and Doha rounds of negotiations on agriculture since 1985? The thesis starts with the assumption that the Canadian government has had a preference for free trade and market-based economic policies since the 1980s. The question is therefore less about explaining Canada???s dual position, but rather about explaining why Canada continues to defend supply management, a system that appears to be in contradiction with its policy preferences. The thesis explores two arguments. First, it analyses the lobbying power of the farmers??? organizations from the supply-managed sectors and from the export-dependent sectors. Second, the thesis evaluates the impact of the concentration of supply-managed farms in Quebec and Ontario. It looks at the effect of support by these two provincial governments, at electoral motivations behind the maintenance of supply management as well as at Quebec separatism and nationalism. Finally, the thesis presents the importance of corporatism in the continued governmental support to supply management.