The purpose of this study is to understand what impact courses in sustainable agriculture have had on small-scale farming women in Zambia, who have started using alternative techniques in their farming. Weather conditions, political issues and other circumstances in Zambia have made it difficult for people to grow enough crops to feed their families and gain extra money alternative methods are being promoted by organisations at all institutional levels, in order for people to survive. At Kasisi Agricultural Training Centre, east of the capital, Lusaka, sustainable methods in farming practices are taught to small-scale farmers. It is a qualitative study, accomplished within the field of Human Geography, and the theoretical frameworks that have been used are political ecology of sustainability, low-external input in sustainable agriculture, and gender and development. The qualitative methods used are in accordance to Rapid Rural Appraisal, where small-scale farming women have been interviewed on a semi-structural basis. Additionally, secondary data in the form of literature has been gathered and direct observations have been made in the field. Results show that the courses in sustainable agriculture have had an impact on the lives of participating small-scale farming women and that they are able to spread their knowledge to neighbouring small-scale farmers. It also shows that politics has a major influence on the daily life of the women.

Diss. Stockholm : Univ., 2004.

This report will outline a new framework for improved yields and increased sustainability in Sub-Saharan African smallholder agriculture. Given the failures of agricultural development aid and policy in the past, cross-sector collaboration among local farmer networks, national governments, and private corporations could represent a new model to foster sustainable agricultural production and growth, as each has had past successes but have not traditionally come together to work as a collaborative unit. This paper will examine each sector to look at best practices and then develop a framework for such collaboration. After a normative case with a positive outlook as to the potential for implementing the framework to Senegal‘s groundnut sector, the paper concludes that the framework can work in a variety of settings as long as one is aware of and respects local conditions. / text

Cities, particularly in developing countries, are faced .with the challenge of population increase aggravated by rural to urban migration. This has increased the level of unemployment since job creation does not keep up with the rate at which population influx to cities occurs. This leads to poverty that undermines the economy of the city. Urban agriculture (UA) has the potential to improve livelihoods of the urban poor people through contributing to food security and generating income. However, UA has generally not been practised successfully and in a sustainable manner, owing to the lack of resources (land and finance), farming skills, and inadequate support services from organizations. This study presupposes that the inadequacy of resources in support of UA strongly reflects the level of co-operation and co-ordination among those who are, or could support UA. It will also reflect the levels of commitment of a shared vision. It thus sets out to explore the prospects of organizational collaboration to support UAand uses the Greater Pietermaritzburg Area (PMB) as a focus for the study. The local organizations in PMB were found to have frameworks through which they supported UA and other development projects. They were however found not to have any strategic plan, clear definition of organizations' roles, no common understanding of UA, nor a shared mission or vision of UA. As a result there was poor coordination and commitment to collaboration. It appears that a successful collaboration requires most importantly, an acknowledgement of the complexity of collaboration and a clear understanding of its purpose among the collaborating partners. Also required is accepting the need for leadership, integration of ideas when planning and implementing, clarification of roles and accountability. To appreciate this, organizational and individual empowerment is needed. Empowerment could take three forms: objective (knowledge of collaborations' aim, objectives, and procedures), subjective (assertiveness to undertake work involved), and competency (acquisition of skills to enhance ability to perform). The study believes these .factors could help improve the performance of organizational frameworks in developing UA to a point that its full potential is realized. The findings emphasized the value of adopting a systems approach in organizing delivery of services in support of UA. / Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2003.

A study was conducted to establish whether farmers are changing land use from growing food crops for human consumption to biofuel production to an extent that could significantly affect food security. Following concerns in the recent years about the excessive global demand for fossil fuel that drove prices to very high levels, biofuel alternatives derived mainly from agricultural food crops such as soybean, maize and sugarcane are being pursued in many countries. This study targeted a sample emerging farmers in the Northern Agricultural Region, one of the four administrative areas for agricultural extension services in the province of KwaZulu-Natal. Biophysical suitability for change from maize food crop to soybean for biofuel land use was assessed using the locally developed Bio-resource spatial database. A sample of 11 emerging farmers was interviewed regarding land use change of food to biofuel production, farming operations, inputs and yields. Emerging farmers are black African farmers who were previously deprived of land and institutional support in developing into commercial farmers, but who are now recipients of land as well as financial and technical agricultural support services. This group of farmers arguably comes from vulnerable communities who depend on food crops for subsistence and who could influence change in land use with food security implications in their communities. Further information was obtained from an agricultural consultant regarding 7 commercial farms producing soybean biofuel. The study revealed that the Northern Agricultural Region had adequate suitability for profitable soybean production for biofuel. Furthermore, the majority of farmers interviewed had changed from maize production for human consumption to soybean production for biofuel. All the farmers interviewed applied farming operations with modern technology including land preparation and planting, fertilisation, irrigation, crop protection and harvesting. The majority interviewed farmers reported varied total earnings from soybean derived biofuel ranging from R 50, 000 to R 500, 000. The variability in earnings is consistent with the varied range of ages as attributable to experience and with the varied levels of education which may be related to management skills. Although the sample of farmers interviewed was too small to provide statistically valid conclusions, they represent an important sector in the farming community that shows future directions of food versus biofuel productions. The farmers indicated that they are fully aware of food production requirements and will endeavour to balance the two through soybean-maize crop rotation, a practice that not only ensures food security but also improves soil quality. / Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2009.

The aim of the research presented in this dissertation was to further the implementation of push-pull for control of Eldana saccharina on sugarcane in the Midlands North region, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Eldana saccharina, an indigenous stem borer, is the most damaging pest of sugarcane in South Africa, and sustainable control has still not been achieved. The push-pull strategy, a form of habitat management, has been developed for E. saccharina and is recommended as part of an integrated pest management (IPM) approach. Implementation of this strategy for both large- and small-scale farmers was facilitated through mixed methods social research. It included a novel exploratory network analysis to understand the process of technology adoption by farmers. Surveys showed that large-scale farmers have a good knowledge of E. saccharina, IPM and push-pull but that they needed more practical knowledge for implementation of the strategy. Farmers recommended experiential learning opportunities such as field days and model farms to get to know more about this technology. Despite demonstrating a positive attitude towards push-pull, farmers perceived it to be a ‘hassle’ and this is potentially the biggest barrier to its adoption. However, with suitable learning opportunities for farmers and good support for planting inputs, implementation of push-pull is likely to succeed. Sugarcane was shown to play an important role in the livelihoods and farming systems of small-scale growers. They did not perceive E. saccharina as a serious production constraint and had poor knowledge of the pest and its control. Extension for small-scale growers in this region should focus primarily on weed management and on reducing input costs, but still raising awareness of the increasing threat of E. saccharina. On-farm push-pull field trials showed a significant reduction of E. saccharina damage on two farms. Mean percentage damaged internodes decreased from 4.1% to 2.7% and from 1.7% to 1.1% in the presence of the repellent grass species, Melinis minutiflora. Where farmers did not manage their crops well, push-pull was not effective. It is therefore crucial that push-pull within an IPM framework be implemented together with good crop management practices. Stem borer surveys in wetlands on sugarcane farms revealed a high diversity of indigenous stem borers and parasitoids, including a stem borer species, Pirateolea piscator, which may pose a threat to crops in the future. These findings, together with a literature review on the significance of on-farm biodiversity and ecosystem services, demonstrated the value which wetlands have for pest management on sugarcane farms. Wetland health assessments were used to develop a tool for farmers to assess and utilise the wetlands on their farms for improved management of E. saccharina. This study highlights the importance of a farmer-participatory approach to implementation of knowledge-intensive farming practices such as push-pull. The importance of wetlands for providing pest regulatory services on sugarcane farms has shown that environmental sustainability needs to become a fundamental principle of farming and agricultural research. Participatory implementation of push-pull, as recommended in this dissertation, could act as a driving force for agroecology in the South African sugar industry and move sustainable farming practices off the pages of journals and manuals onto farmers’ fields. / Thesis (MSc (Zoology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013

The aim of the research presented in this dissertation was to further the implementation of push-pull for control of Eldana saccharina on sugarcane in the Midlands North region, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Eldana saccharina, an indigenous stem borer, is the most damaging pest of sugarcane in South Africa, and sustainable control has still not been achieved. The push-pull strategy, a form of habitat management, has been developed for E. saccharina and is recommended as part of an integrated pest management (IPM) approach. Implementation of this strategy for both large- and small-scale farmers was facilitated through mixed methods social research. It included a novel exploratory network analysis to understand the process of technology adoption by farmers. Surveys showed that large-scale farmers have a good knowledge of E. saccharina, IPM and push-pull but that they needed more practical knowledge for implementation of the strategy. Farmers recommended experiential learning opportunities such as field days and model farms to get to know more about this technology. Despite demonstrating a positive attitude towards push-pull, farmers perceived it to be a ‘hassle’ and this is potentially the biggest barrier to its adoption. However, with suitable learning opportunities for farmers and good support for planting inputs, implementation of push-pull is likely to succeed. Sugarcane was shown to play an important role in the livelihoods and farming systems of small-scale growers. They did not perceive E. saccharina as a serious production constraint and had poor knowledge of the pest and its control. Extension for small-scale growers in this region should focus primarily on weed management and on reducing input costs, but still raising awareness of the increasing threat of E. saccharina. On-farm push-pull field trials showed a significant reduction of E. saccharina damage on two farms. Mean percentage damaged internodes decreased from 4.1% to 2.7% and from 1.7% to 1.1% in the presence of the repellent grass species, Melinis minutiflora. Where farmers did not manage their crops well, push-pull was not effective. It is therefore crucial that push-pull within an IPM framework be implemented together with good crop management practices. Stem borer surveys in wetlands on sugarcane farms revealed a high diversity of indigenous stem borers and parasitoids, including a stem borer species, Pirateolea piscator, which may pose a threat to crops in the future. These findings, together with a literature review on the significance of on-farm biodiversity and ecosystem services, demonstrated the value which wetlands have for pest management on sugarcane farms. Wetland health assessments were used to develop a tool for farmers to assess and utilise the wetlands on their farms for improved management of E. saccharina. This study highlights the importance of a farmer-participatory approach to implementation of knowledge-intensive farming practices such as push-pull. The importance of wetlands for providing pest regulatory services on sugarcane farms has shown that environmental sustainability needs to become a fundamental principle of farming and agricultural research. Participatory implementation of push-pull, as recommended in this dissertation, could act as a driving force for agroecology in the South African sugar industry and move sustainable farming practices off the pages of journals and manuals onto farmers’ fields. / Thesis (MSc (Zoology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013

This study develops a basis for a land information system for the 40 ha subtropical highland catchment of Wang Jia, Yunnan Province, China. Information, including meteorology, geology, geomorphology, biology, pedology and crop productivity, was integrated using a geomorphopedological approach and expressed as maps using GIS. The developed protocol is proposed as a generic system, applicable to agricultural land evaluation in subtropical highland catchments. The results demonstrate that Wang Jia Catchment is relatively representative of the region, in terms of geomorphological features and land cover. Catchment soils, developed from residual, colluvial and alluvial materials of sandstone, shale and dolomite on different landscapes, were still young and strongly influenced by their geological parent material. Soils were normally slightly acidic to neutral. Soil fertility varied from poor to very fertile. Maize yield was significantly correlated with soil pH, total N, available N, P and K and thus the Soil Fertility Index. In 2002, maize yield was significantly correlated with manure and urea applications. There was considerable potential to increase maize yield with modified and innovative cropping practices in the catchment. Adopted primarily as a soil conservation practice, contour cultivation did not increase maize yield compared to downslope cultivation. Polythene mulch tended to increase maize yield in most years. These results largely accord with the results from controlled research plots in the same catchment. Analysis of intra-plot variations showed that soil samples from planting pits had higher total soil organic matter, total N, available N, available P and available K than inter-row samples, but with higher standard deviations. Most soil fertility parameters for inter-row samples were more similar to traditional random composite samples. These results suggest if composite samples were taken only from inter-rows, the results would have been similar, but the risk of sampling error would have been reduced. The land information system established in this study is suitable for designing, evaluating and monitoring sustainable agricultural practices central to soil conservation and crop yield improvement and thus contributing to decision-making for sustainable agricultural land management in this region.

Alternative agriculture and counter-cuisine movements have grown to a strong cultural current in Western European and North American societies. In recent years,these movements have begun to converge and coalesce around the concept of localizing agri-food relations and commodity chains as a way of redressing the deleterious environmental, social, and economic consequences of what are seen as dominant globalized food relations. This dissertation reports on a regional study in Eastern Kansas of the political economy of local food relations that has arisen through this producer and consumer response. It is an effort to recognize the regional interplay of disparate forces in constructing local food systems in the interest of framing more contextualized and nuanced questions about the environmental, social, and economic outcomes of alternative agri-food development. Network, conventions, and spatial analysis theories and methods were customized and put into practice in the service of these aims, using triangulation among them to mitigate each of their individual weaknesses in representing the variable embeddedness, politics, and spaces of local food in Eastern Kansas. It was found that local food generally represents a marketing niche in urban consumerism that is served primarily by regional rural producers. The distances, agricultural and food ecologies, forms of organization, and values underpinning local food linkages were all found to vary quite considerably throughout the region, creating a diverse combination of development agendas and impacts from local food networks and making food localization a highly contested concept. Local food development in its current form is thus highly dependent on urban/rural dialectics and projects of urbanization that lack open, transparent, and reflexive governance. Critical acknowledgement of these development interdependencies is important as a step toward encouraging social, economic, and environmental justice through local food development.

No description available.