The Lake Urmia positioned in a closed basin in north-west Iran, positioned at altitude 1250 m above the sea level, and has been rapidly drying since 1990. The lake water level has declined to 1271.58 m in 2008 from the last highest record 1277.80 m in 1994. The lake water volume has fluctuated during the observation period and shows a drop from of 32 to 14.5 million cubic meters, while the lake salinity has increased from 205 to 338 g/l due to the evaporation and water inflow reduction. In the Lake Urmia basin, there has been an increase in public awareness of the possible environmental threat and the unpleasant socio-economical consequences on the region’s inhabitants.  The main aim of this study is to assess the current water use pattern in the Urmia Lake basin system with emphasis on the agricultural sub-system, and to propose adaptive measures and sustainable water management scenarios. The study shows that the main cause for these changes are the diversion of rivers and streams for agricultural irrigation; agriculture is a sector with one of the highest water demands, and frequent drought in early 2000s exacerbated the situation. In addition, a growing population and the increased development of agricultural land has led to an increase in unsustainable practices which have an unpredictable impact on the Lake Urmia ecosystem. This study investigates sustainable water use strategies for Lake Urmia basin, and considers economic and environmental factors, including the loss of valuable ecosystems that highlights social and ethical issues for the current and coming generations.

Farming systems are characterized by many attributes. In order to evaluate their overall sustainability, it is necessary to consider all relevant attributes together. This study uses a multiattribute utility model (MAUM) to compare two tillage technologies (conventional tillage versus zero tillage) to draw an inference about their sustainability. On the basis of five cropping systems, two soil landscapes and two tillage technologies, twenty large size farms are used to represent different range of farms in Saskatchewan. A bio-economic simulator is used to estimate stochastic values of the attributes characterizing these farming systems. The data for bio-economic simulator are obtained from Erosion Productivity Impact Calculator (EPIC) and Top Management Farm Business Simulator (TMFBS) models. The MAUM, based on the preferences of the individuals from two groups (Producers and Agrologists), is used to identify the preferred farming systems. Based on the simulated attribute values and their desirability, conventional tillage systems are preferred in the Brown soil zone. In the Dark Brown and the Black soil zones, the results are mixed. In the Gray soil zone, the zero tillage systems are preferred.

The purpose of this research was to investigate how sustainable agriculture is being conceptualized and implemented in Saskatchewan. Zero tillage, organic farming, and the discourses surrounding them were examined as theoretical and practical responses to sustainable agriculture. Characteristics of 33 organic and 33 zero tillage farming systems located throughout the soil climatic zones of southern Saskatchewan were compared, as well as farmers' perceptions of sustainable agriculture and factors influencing their management decisions. The analysis was extended beyond the local level by examining the links between major socio-political forces shaping agriculture and farmers' perceptions and choices. Central to this analysis is an examination of the role of informal and formal knowledge systems in the development of sustainable agriculture, and how relations of power affect the knowledge that is being produced and ultimately the direction of change in agriculture. Interdisciplinary and exploratory approaches were used to identify and examine a range of emergent issues. The data gathered was analyzed both quantitatively and qualitatively. This study revealed commonalities between zero tillage and organic farmers' basic views on sustainable agriculture, and important differences in the ways these two groups of farmers translated these ideas into practice. Most farmers defined sustainability at the farm-level, focusing on land stewardship and the preservation of the family farm. Farmers adopted zero tillage because of specific environmental, economic and labour advantages, whereas organic farming was adopted for a combination of environmental, health, economic, philosophical/spiritual and labour factors. In general, zero tillage and organic farming systems differed in size, in production and management operations, in land tenure, and in the use of purchased inputs and labour. Zero tillage farms tended to be large, capital-intensive, specialized cropping operations, with a significant proportion of rented land and non-family hired labour. Organic farms were moderate-sized, diversified crop and livestock operations that substituted biological and cultural practices for purchased (agrochemical) inputs, had a high degree of ownership, and relied more upon labour exchange. These characteristics create distinct environmental, economic and social advantages and disadvantages. Zero tillage, compatible with the dominant agricultural paradigm and the industrial model, continues to be promoted by agricultural institutions and agribusiness as the best solution to farm-level sustainability. Interest in organic agriculture and the alternative agricultural paradigm is increasing, however, due to the current crisis in the farm economy and changes in consumers' perceptions and choices.

, Diss--Univ. Stuttgart-Hohenheim, 2006. / Literaturverzeichnis S. [291] - 300.

Thesis (doctoral)--Berlin, Humboldt Universität, 1999. / Originally presented as the author's thesis under the title: Naturressourcen-Nutzung unter kommunalen Bedingungen im Muzarabani Distrikt, Zimbabwe. Includes bibliographical references (p. 227-250).

The entire thesis text is included in the research.pdf file; the official abstract appears in the short.pdf file; a non-technical public abstract appears in the public.pdf file. Title from PDF of title page (University of Missouri--Columbia, viewed on December 18, 2009). Thesis advisor: Dr. Corinne Valdivia. Includes bibliographical references.

Building from existing literature on anthropology of food, political economy of food and consumption, and social movement theory, I examine the direct agriculture network of Tampa Bay Florida through a mixed-method ethnography. The research consisted of one year of field-work, with 6 months and over 100 hours of active participant observation, open-ended interviews with eight local producers, and short surveys with 100 market patrons. This thesis is an analysis of the results of this rigorous qualitative and quantitative work and, perhaps more importantly, an account of my own personal struggles in joining the direct agriculture network and my ultimate commitment to the movement. This report documents one student's transition from a researcher to an activist, finally settling in a local place that occupies both worlds in an effort to help increase the accessibility of others who wish to join the movement; an equal access based not only on economic capital, but also social and cultural capital in order to sustain an alternative food social movement.

M. Tech. Operations Management / Makhathini Farmers have produced cotton for over 10 years at subsistence level despite utilising related technology extensively; the farmers' mission remains to produce cotton at commercial level. The technology mentioned in the study is available worldwide, as well as locally. The technology accessed is readily available to the local farmers. Theories pertaining to technology were explored to assimilate a kaleidoscope of technological perspectives and to gain a better understanding of what can be expected if these were utilized. Against the above background the research problem was formulated as: How technology could be deployed to upcoming commercial - cotton farmers in the Makhathini region to support sustainable cotton production in this specific area.

published_or_final_version / abstract / toc / Urban Planning and Environmental Management / Master / Master of Philosophy

The promoter system of agriculture extension has been widely studied and accepted as a tool for agriculture development where local resources are scarce. Much development work has been done in Panama using the promoter model. In order to ascertain the local success of this model, promoters trained by World Vision were visited. The adoption of sustainable agriculture practices were measured in five communities where 7 promoters were trained and placed in Veraguas, Panama. Despite the long-term presence of World Vision and trained promoters, only six farmers have adopted at least one sustainable agriculture technique as a result of these extension efforts. Low adoption rates do not necessarily indicate project failure, but does indicate several barriers. These barriers are explored as well as reasons farmers gave for land use. Reasons for S/A use are also explored. Finally, recommendations for improving extension methods and future research are made.