Sudan is the largest country in Africa and boasts the largest farm in the world. Sudan is a predominately agricultural economy; agriculture employs more than eighty percent of the country's labour force and its industry. The national agricultural research institutions are charged with the key responsibility of implementing sustainable agricultural growth and development in Sudan. By adoption of demonstrable benefit farms, the research institutions view their contribution as providing improvements to traditional Sudanese practices rather than focusing on developing new techniques. Any research institution must have methodsof improving farming practices and the pertinent test of their relevance is improved management practices. Crop productivity is extremely low and does not exceed thirty percent of the level attained in research or demonstration fields; the difficult economic position of the country has adversely affected the activities of the agricultural research institutions; technology generation is greatly hampered; the extension service is fragmented and its efforts are conned to a small number of farmers; the research institutions are weakened due to frequent staff turnover, lack of continuity in the research agenda and inadequacies in management and hence their impact is limited. The main purpose of this study is to critically evaluate the implementation capacity constraints which exist in formal agricultural research and the impact this has on thedevelopment of the agricultural sector of the Sudanese economy. The study also attempts to provide a better understanding of the relationships between low productivity in Sudan and the determinants of this. The data for this research were obtained from a field survey carried out in 1999. In the survey, a total of 120 farmers from the Gezira Scheme, 84 researchers from the Agricultural Research Corporation, 33 academic staff from the Gezira University as well as extensionists from the Central State were successfully interviewed. The research explores various aspects of the internal technology transfer system and the productivity gap in traditional agriculture. A critical review of the theoretical and empirical literature on technology transfer has been conducted in the study. It is obvious that economic analysis alone will not provide a satisfactory solution to the type of problems investigated in the study as these issues and problems also have political and socio-cultural dimensions. Therefore, the proposed solutions simply seek to change the behaviours of both individuals and institutions. To do this it is necessary to recognise all the dimensions of the technology transfer problem. This study provides insights into the influence of demographic, socio-economic, cultural, technical and decision-making factors on technology transfer and productivity in Sudan. The thesis concludes with discussion of key policy implications and areas for further research. The findings of this research should assist in guiding planners and policy-makers in improving the internal technology transfer system and perhaps in enabling agricultural productivity to improve in the Sudan.

Philosophiae Doctor - PhD / Cape Town includes two vegetable farming areas within the city limits, the Joostenbergvlakte/Kraaifontein area and the Philippi area. Both areas supply produce to local markets and further afield. Sporadically, high levels of cadmium, copper, lead and zinc have been found to occur in some of the soils, irrigation water resources and crops. To find the sources of specifically Cd, Pb and Zn to these agricultural systems, extensive analysis of several heavy metals in inputs such as fertilizers, agrochemicals and supplementary water resources to these farming areas was undertaken. Heavy metal concentrations in soils, irrigation water resources and crops were also determined. Two mitigation techniques that could be used to remediate Cd, Pb and Zn contamination were investigated. The first mitigation method included immobilization of heavy metals as phosphate complexes by using a triple super phosphate fertilizer, while the second method involved mobilisation and thus leaching of heavy metals away from plant roots using EDTA. These mitigation methods were tested in a pot experiment using cabbage as the experimental crop and soil from these areas as growth medium. A survey of common farming practices in these two areas and farmers‟ willingness to use remediation methods was conducted. The results in general indicated that crops from these two areas were fit for human consumption and that raw (unprocessed) cattle manure and chicken manure were the greatest sources of heavy metals in both farming areas. It was found that the use of EDTA led to elevated levels of Cd, Pb and Zn in cabbage, while the use of triple super phosphate at a low concentration contributed to limiting the uptake of Cd, Pb and Zn, but only minimally. Most farmers are willing to apply remediation methods but only when they have been proven necessary. In general, the same farming practices occurred in both areas. Farmers from the Philippi area tended to rely more heavily on subterranean water resources. It became clear that unprocessed manures should be used with caution and that more appropriate heavy metal remediation methods should be sought.

No description available.

Several farming systems, in a region of the Dark Brown soil zone west of Saskatoon, were investigated to identify farming practices that are soil-conserving, or soil-degrading, by measuring their effects on soil quality. The study identified soil properties that are practical and measurable indicators of soil quality, and factors that influence farmers adoption of soil-conserving farming practices. On coarse-loamy to sandy-textured, glaciolacustrine soils, farming systems with long rotations and adequate fertilizer inputs or permanent cover, were associated with a higher quality of soils than tillage-intensive crop-fallow systems. Better soil quality was attributed to the larger addition of crop residues, enabling long-rotation soils to maintain a relatively large pool of mineralizable C, N, and P, and a large microbial biomass. The larger microbial biomass was an indicator of the improved quality of continuously cropped soils as a habitat for microorganisms, and their increased ability to cycle nutrients and C. Other indicators of improved soil quality were increased soil thickness, organic C content, infiltration rate, and aggregation, and decreased bulk density and salinity. Slightly lower A horizon pH was the only negative indicator of quality associated with the continuously cropped soils. The ability of farmers to adapt the longer-rotation systems was constrained by capital and labour limitations, management skills or lifestyle choices. Farmers with limited capital were less willing to invest in the inputs required to continuously crop, because they perceived an increase in the risk of crop failure in that system. Farmers with a large land base, or with off-farm employment, may not have the time or labour to seed and harvest all of their land every year. Among the study farms, the farmers who were best able to adopt continuous cropping systems were those involved in multifamily, mixed farms. There were less labour and capital limitation to continuous cropping on multifamily farms. On mixed farms, where income was derived from both livestock and grains, the risk of reduced grain yield was less serious. Appropriate use of low quality, erodible soils was often an important consideration of farmers who raised cattle.

The overall purpose of this study was to find out whether changes in social action or social practices are predicated on, or correspond with changes in ontological assumptions and social normative structures or ethical orientations. Specifically, this study investigated the relationship between a range of farming practices and the two predominant ontological assumptions about human-nature relationship. As well, the study investigated the relationship between the range of farming practices and categories of environmental ethical orientations. The two ontological orientations include the 'externality' assumption, which represent the social understanding that humans interact with nature but are only externally related to nature. The 'internality' assumption, on the other hand, is the understanding that humans are internally related to nature or the physical environment. The study also investigated the role of other structural forces that can shape farming practices. The theoretical orientation that informed this study was Habermas' neo-modernity thesis, which primarily argues that changes in social normative structures, which induces appropriate social action can, and do develop, without changes in ontological assumptions about human-nature relationship. The Habermasian approach thus rejects the reenchantment thesis espoused by constructive postmodernists. In this study Habermas' thesis has been contrasted with the neo-conservative and postmodernist approaches. The study involved two forms of investigation. One aspect of the study involved archival research of Canadian agricultural policy as an overarching background against which contemporary farming practices may be understood. The other aspect of the study involved a survey of farm families living in the south western Saskatchewan section of the Palliser Triangle. The study found a moderate to strong relationship between the 'internality' ontological assumption and alternative farming practices. The 'externality' assumption was more predominant among conventional farmers. This pattern also corresponded with a relatively higher incidence of environmentalism among alternative farming practitioners, with a relatively higher incidence of resourcism among conventional and conventional-alternative farmers. Despite these patterns the study found partial support for the Habermasian thesis. For example, a significant minority of alternative farmers who espouse environmentalist ethics also espouse an 'externality' ontological assumption.

Submitted by Gabriela Pinheiro de Sousa null (gabipinheiro_adv@hotmail.com) on 2016-03-07T23:12:25Z No. of bitstreams: 1 DISSERTAÇÃO FINAL.pdf: 893070 bytes, checksum: cb7684ad5147e49e7061388e0d0f9748 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Ana Paula Grisoto (grisotoana@reitoria.unesp.br) on 2016-03-09T14:41:12Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 souza_gp_me_tupa.pdf: 893070 bytes, checksum: cb7684ad5147e49e7061388e0d0f9748 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-03-09T14:41:12Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 souza_gp_me_tupa.pdf: 893070 bytes, checksum: cb7684ad5147e49e7061388e0d0f9748 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-02-19 / O tema bem-estar animal vem crescendo em escala de estudos e compreensão. Chegar a um limite aceitável de práticas que coloquem os animais de produção em condições mínimas de bem-estar é, hoje, uma questão ética. Na avicultura de postura, o sistema convencional de gaiolas é predominante, o que acarreta diversas polêmicas pelo fato das aves sofrerem privação de ambientes naturais e de algumas de suas características biológicas naturais. Por isso muitos países já emitiram legislações e protocolos de bem-estar animal, buscando incentivar os produtores a adotar medidas que melhorem as condições de ambiência, sanidade e comportamento animal. Países integrantes da União Europeia já utilizam sistemas alternativos de criação de aves, como o sistema de camas e o sistema ao ar livre, também chamado free range. No Estado da Califórnia/EUA houve uma determinação para que a partir de 2015 o sistema de gaiolas convencionais fosse abolido completamente. No Brasil são produzidas trimestralmente cerca de 700 milhões de dúzias de ovos de galinhas, com a maior concentração na região sudeste do país, especificamente no município de Bastos/SP, também conhecido como “a capital do ovo”. Não há legislação específica de bem-estar para a avicultura de postura no país, mas existem protocolos de boas práticas agropecuárias que atendem parâmetros internacionais de bem-estar, emitidos pela ABPA e Embrapa. Assim, se fez necessário avaliar se os referidos documentos podem gerar uma melhoria para o setor produtivo de ovos do Estado de São Paulo. Esta pesquisa foi dividida em três etapas, materializada através de três artigos científicos distintos. O primeiro artigo visa analisar normativas internacionais, comparando-as com os protocolos nacionais, através do instituto do Direito Comparado, buscando-se identificar qual a distância da norma nacional com as internacionais e se o Brasil comporta novos sistemas de produção sem prejudicar o setor. Pôde-se concluir que os protocolos da ABPA e Embrapa muito se assemelham a normas internacionais, considerando-os como adequados no que tange as suas especificações de bem-estar animal. O segundo artigo tem o condão de identificar como se encontra a o setor de produção de ovos em relação ao bem-estar animal na cidade de Bastos/SP. Para isso, foi aplicada uma entrevista estruturada com dezoito produtores de ovos, visando captar suas opiniões sobre o tema. Pôde-se concluir que é necessário adotar medidas de incentivo a aplicação das boas práticas pelos produtores. O terceiro artigo objetivou criar direcionadores para uma norma ideal de bem-estar animal na avicultura de postura comercial, utilizando a teoria da norma jurídica para identificar se o setor pode ser melhorado através de sansões positivas aplicadas em quesitos técnicos inerentes a produção. Pôde-se concluir que medidas de incentivo são mais eficazes e elaborou-se um modelo de direcionadores para uma norma ideal. / Animal welfare is growing in scale of studies and understanding. Reach an acceptable limit practices that put the animal production in minimum conditions of welfare is now a obligation. In poultry posture the conventional cage system is predominant, which causes many controversies because laying hens suffer deprivation of natural environments and some of its natural biological characteristics. So many countries have issued legislation and animal welfare protocols, seeking to encourage producers to adopt measures to improve the ambience conditions, animal health and behavior. EU member countries already use alternative systems of poultry, as the system beds and free range. The State of California/USA there was a determination that from 2015 the system of conventional cages were abolished completely. In Brazil are produced quarterly about 700 million dozen hen eggs, with the highest concentration in the southeastern region of the country, specifically in the municipality of Bastos/SP. There is no specific legislation welfare for laying poultry in the country, but there are good agricultural practices protocols that meet international standards of welfare, issued by the ABPA and Embrapa. Thus, it was necessary to assess whether those documents can generate an improvement to the productive sector of São Paulo eggs. This study was divided into tree stages, materialized by tree different papers. The first article aims to analyze international standards, comparing them with national protocols, through the Comparative Law Institute, seeking to identify how far the national standard with international and if Brazil holds new production systems without harming the sector. It could be concluded that the protocols of ABPA and Embrapa much resemble international standards, considering them as appropriate with regard their animal welfare specifications. The second item has the power to identify how is the egg production industry in relation to animal welfare in the city of Bastos/SP. For this, a structured interview with eighteen egg producers was applied, aiming to capture their views on the topic. It could be concluded that is necessary to adopt measures to encourage the implementation of best practices by producers. The third article aim to create a guide for ideal standard of animal welfare in poultry posture, using the theory of the rule of law to identify whether the industry can be improved through positive sanctions applied in technical issues inherent in production. It could be concluded that incentives are more effective and elaborated a model guide for ideal standard.

Orientador: Danilo Florentino Pereira / Coorientador: Pedro Cataneo / Coorientador: Kássia Watanabe / Banca: Daniella Jorge de Moura / Banca: Leda Gobbo de Freitas Bueno / Resumo: O tema bem-estar animal vem crescendo em escala de estudos e compreensão. Chegar a um limite aceitável de práticas que coloquem os animais de produção em condições mínimas de bem-estar é, hoje, uma questão ética. Na avicultura de postura, o sistema convencional de gaiolas é predominante, o que acarreta diversas polêmicas pelo fato das aves sofrerem privação de ambientes naturais e de algumas de suas características biológicas naturais. Por isso muitos países já emitiram legislações e protocolos de bem-estar animal, buscando incentivar os produtores a adotar medidas que melhorem as condições de ambiência, sanidade e comportamento animal. Países integrantes da União Europeia já utilizam sistemas alternativos de criação de aves, como o sistema de camas e o sistema ao ar livre, também chamado free range. No Estado da Califórnia/EUA houve uma determinação para que a partir de 2015 o sistema de gaiolas convencionais fosse abolido completamente. No Brasil são produzidas trimestralmente cerca de 700 milhões de dúzias de ovos de galinhas, com a maior concentração na região sudeste do país, especificamente no município de Bastos/SP, também conhecido como "a capital do ovo". Não há legislação específica de bem-estar para a avicultura de postura no país, mas existem protocolos de boas práticas agropecuárias que atendem parâmetros internacionais de bem-estar, emitidos pela ABPA e Embrapa. Assim, se fez necessário avaliar se os referidos documentos podem gerar uma melhoria para o setor pro... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: Animal welfare is growing in scale of studies and understanding. Reach an acceptable limit practices that put the animal production in minimum conditions of welfare is now a obligation. In poultry posture the conventional cage system is predominant, which causes many controversies because laying hens suffer deprivation of natural environments and some of its natural biological characteristics. So many countries have issued legislation and animal welfare protocols, seeking to encourage producers to adopt measures to improve the ambience conditions, animal health and behavior. EU member countries already use alternative systems of poultry, as the system beds and free range. The State of California/USA there was a determination that from 2015 the system of conventional cages were abolished completely. In Brazil are produced quarterly about 700 million dozen hen eggs, with the highest concentration in the southeastern region of the country, specifically in the municipality of Bastos/SP. There is no specific legislation welfare for laying poultry in the country, but there are good agricultural practices protocols that meet international standards of welfare, issued by the ABPA and Embrapa. Thus, it was necessary to assess whether those documents can generate an improvement to the productive sector of São Paulo eggs. This study was divided into tree stages, materialized by tree different papers. The first article aims to analyze international standards, comparing them with national... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Mestre

Russian leaders have sought to put the theory of Communism into actual practice in the farming practices of the country. What has been accomplished? This study has been undertaken with this question in mind.

La notion "d'entre-tenir la montagne" est au cœur de cette thèse. Celle-ci tente de montrer comment les éleveurs ont réagi et ont adapté leurs façons de travailler, de penser et d'organiser le territoire pastoral face à la crise sociale et paysagère qui affecte les Pyrénées, en particulier depuis les années 1970. Trois vallées forment le cadre d'une analyse comparée : la vallée d'Oueil-Larboust (31), la valée de Campan (65) et la haute vallée du Gave de Pau (65). Les modalités de "l'entre-tenir la montagne" sont abordées à partir de trois entrées : (1) spatiale à l'échelle des terroirs et de la vallée, (2) une entrée temporelle entre le maintenu et l'abandonné, et (3) une entrée sociale au sens des modes d'organisation collective. la démarche d'ethnogéographie élaborée repose sur la combinaison d'une analyse spatiale in-situ des paysages, d'une analyse diachronique des évolutions paysagères à partir de photo-comparaisons et d'une enquête sociale auprès d'éleveurs pour récolter le témoignage de leurs pratiques et de leurs perceptions.Les principaux résultats montrent que les changements paysagers sont notamment à mettre en lien avec les modifications des pratiques et/ou avec l'existence de projets individuels ou collectifs, dans lesquels la préoccupation paysagère de "l'entre-tenir" est présente de façon de plus en plus explicite. Ce constat apporte un éclairage innovant sur les pratiques de l'agriculture de montagne et sur la place du paysage au sein de celles-ci. Il éclaire la capacité des groupes sociaux à prendre en charge la gestion de leur territoire et ouvre de nouvelles perspectives pour repenser l'avenir des paysages montagnards. / The concept of "entre-tenir" the mountains is at the heart of this thesis. This research attemps to show how farmers have reacted and adapted their ways of working, thinking and organizing the pastoral territory facing the crisis affecting both the social and landscape aspects of the Pyrenees, particulary since the 1970s. Three valleys form the framework for a comparative analysis: the valley of Oueil-Larboust (31), the valley of Campan (65) and the upper valley of the Gave de Pau (65). The modalities of "entre-tenir" the mountains are discussed from three different perspectives: (1) a spatial perspective on a regional scale and that of the valley, (2) a temporal perspective between the maintened and the abandonned, and (3) a social perspective of modes of collective organization.The developed ethnogeographical approach is based on a combination of in situ spatial analysis of landscapes, a diachronic analysis of landscape changes from photo comparisons and a social survey among farmers to gather viewpoints of their practices and their perceptions.The main results show that the nuances in the landscape maintenance are particulary related to changes in practices and/or the existence of individual or group prjects, in which the landscapre concern of "entre-tenir" is present in the background, sometimes implicitly, but often more and more explicitly. This finding sheds light on innovative practices of mountain agriculture and the role of the landscape. It throws light on the ability of social groups to take responsability over the management of their territory and opens perspectives for the thinking about of the future of mountain landscapes.

<p>Cape Town includes two vegetable farming areas within the city limits, the Joostenbergvlakte/Kraaifontein area and the Philippi area. Both areas supply produce to local markets and further afield. Sporadically, high levels of cadmium, copper, lead and zinc have been found to occur in some of the soils, irrigation water resources and crops. To find the sources of specifically Cd, Pb and Zn to these agricultural systems, extensive analysis of several heavy metals in inputs such as fertilizers, agrochemicals and supplementary water resources to these farming areas was undertaken. Heavy metal concentrations in soils, irrigation water resources and crops were also determined. Two mitigation techniques that could be used to remediate Cd, Pb and Zn contamination were investigated. The first mitigation method included immobilization of heavy metals as phosphate complexes by using a triple super phosphate fertilizer, while the second method involved mobilisation and thus leaching of heavy metals away from plant roots using EDTA. These mitigation methods were tested in a pot experiment using cabbage as the experimental crop and soil from these areas as growth medium. A survey of common farming practices in these two areas and farmers willingness to use remediation methods was conducted.</p>