Intercropping maize with planted fallows on smallholder farms in Ghana

10.1002/ts.20 ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 45 (4) ◽  
pp. 155-158 ◽  
Author(s):  
JO Fening ◽  
T Adjei Gyapong ◽  
F Ababio ◽  
E Gaisie
Keyword(s):  
Smallholder Farms ◽  
Planted Fallows

Early action supports smallholder farms

Nature Food ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (4) ◽  
pp. 221-221
Author(s):  
Annisa Chand
Keyword(s):  
Smallholder Farms ◽  
Early Action

scholarly journals Delineating Smallholder Maize Farms from Sentinel-1 Coupled with Sentinel-2 Data Using Machine Learning

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (9) ◽  
pp. 4728
Author(s):  
Zinhle Mashaba-Munghemezulu ◽  
George Johannes Chirima ◽  
Cilence Munghemezulu
Keyword(s):  
Machine Learning ◽  
Food Security ◽  
Rural Communities ◽  
Machine Learning Algorithms ◽  
Support Vector ◽  
Subsistence Agriculture ◽  
Smallholder Farms ◽  
Main Driver ◽  
Sentinel 2

Rural communities rely on smallholder maize farms for subsistence agriculture, the main driver of local economic activity and food security. However, their planted area estimates are unknown in most developing countries. This study explores the use of Sentinel-1 and Sentinel-2 data to map smallholder maize farms. The random forest (RF), support vector (SVM) machine learning algorithms and model stacking (ST) were applied. Results show that the classification of combined Sentinel-1 and Sentinel-2 data improved the RF, SVM and ST algorithms by 24.2%, 8.7%, and 9.1%, respectively, compared to the classification of Sentinel-1 data individually. Similarities in the estimated areas (7001.35 ± 1.2 ha for RF, 7926.03 ± 0.7 ha for SVM and 7099.59 ± 0.8 ha for ST) show that machine learning can estimate smallholder maize areas with high accuracies. The study concludes that the single-date Sentinel-1 data were insufficient to map smallholder maize farms. However, single-date Sentinel-1 combined with Sentinel-2 data were sufficient in mapping smallholder farms. These results can be used to support the generation and validation of national crop statistics, thus contributing to food security.

scholarly journals Prevalence of Brucellosis in Dairy Cattle in Organized and Smallholder Farms in Some Selected Areas of Bangladesh

2014 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 167-171
Author(s):  
MAS Sarker ◽  
MS Rahman ◽  
MT Islam ◽  
AKMA Rahman ◽  
MB Rahman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Age Groups ◽  
Dairy Farm ◽  
Economic Loss ◽  
Screening Tests ◽  
Ring Test ◽  
Serum Samples ◽  
Smallholder Farms ◽  
Three Samples ◽  
Holstein Friesian ◽  
Confirmatory Tests

Brucellosis causes a great economic loss to the livestock industries through abortion, infertility,birth of weak and dead offspring, increased calving interval and reduction of milk yield and it is endemic in Bangladesh. In this study we collected milk and blood samples simultaneously from533 cows of Central Cattle Breeding and Dairy Farm, Savar, Dhaka and different Upazilas of Gaibandha and Mymensingh District. Five hundred thirty three samples were examined for antibodies to Brucella using the Milk Ring Test (MRT) and Rose Bengal Test (RBT). Overall 2.62 % of milk samples were positive according to MRT, while2.06 % of the serum samples were positive to the RBT. Only 6 (1.13 %) of the samples were positive for both test (MRT and RBT). Out of 312 samples only 10 (3.20 %) were positive to MRT while 8(2.06%) were positive to RBT in Holstein Friesian cross (p>0.05) on the other hand out of 221 samples only 4 (1.80%) were positive to MRT while 3(1.35%) were positive to RBT in Sahiwal cross. The prevalence of brucellosis was significantly higher in the age group of > 5 years than other age groups (p?0.01) on both test (MRT 2.75%and RBT 2.25%).Based on parity, significantly higher prevalence (MRT 2.93% and RBT 2.44%) of MRT and RBT were obtainedin parity 3-5in comparison to other parity group (p?0.01). It is, however, obvious that although the MRT is 1st-line screening tests for brucellosis in cows in some countries, their lack of specificity is of concern. Therefore, the requirement for other confirmatory tests that are more specific should be used for the diagnosis of the disease, especially in Bangladesh.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjvm.v12i2.21280 Bangl. J. Vet. Med. (2014). 12 (2): 167-171 

Soil fertility and biodiversity on organic and conventional smallholder farms in Kenya

2019 ◽  
Vol 134 ◽  
pp. 85-97 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juliet Wanjiku Kamau ◽  
Lisa Biber-Freudenberger ◽  
John P.A. Lamers ◽  
Till Stellmacher ◽  
Christian Borgemeister
Keyword(s):  
Soil Fertility ◽  
Smallholder Farms

scholarly journals A holistic sustainability assessment of organic (certified and non-certified) and non-organic smallholder farms in Kenya

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juliet Wanjiku Kamau ◽  
Christian Schader ◽  
Lisa Biber-Freudenberger ◽  
Till Stellmacher ◽  
David M. Amudavi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Management Practices ◽  
Farm Management ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Economic Resilience ◽  
Organic Farms ◽  
Smallholder Farms ◽  
Sustainability Performance ◽  
Certified Organic ◽  
Environmental Integrity ◽  
Farm Types

AbstractThe introduction of organic farm management practices in sub-Saharan Africa could act as a lever for supporting regional sustainable development. In this study, we sought to assess the sustainability performance of organic (certified and non-certified) and non-organic farms in the dry Kajiado County and the wet Murang’a County in Kenya, based on four sustainability dimensions: Good Governance, Environmental Integrity, Economic Resilience and Social Well-Being. We collected household survey data from 400 smallholder farms, which were formally characterized into five types (mixed organic and conventional, certified organic, organic, conventional, and subsistence farms). We used multivariate analysis of variance, linear fixed-effects and general linear models to examine differences in sustainability performance. Model results indicate that all farms lack reliable farm management information and that only limited knowledge, skills and social security exist for farmers and farm workers. Comparison of the five farm types indicates no significant differences in their sustainability performance. Nonetheless, certified organic farms had better sustainability performance than non-certified farms due to higher economic resilience, environmental integrity, better support and training for workers. However, except for avoiding the use of agrochemicals in certified farms, there is relatively little difference in the farm management practices across farm types. Our results also indicate that farms in Murang’a were more sustainable than those in Kajiado due to better regional land-tenure security and conflict resolution mechanisms, soil and water conservation measures, and farm commercial viability. Nonetheless, unlike Kajiado, farms in Murang’a showed a tendency toward poor animal husbandry practices which affects overall animal welfare, limited credit uptake and market involvement. The results of this study can support decision making to identify appropriate interventions for improving sustainability in smallholder farms.

scholarly journals Development and Performance Evaluation of a Small-scale Maize Harvester for Developing Countries

2020 ◽  
pp. 144-156
Author(s):  
Julus H. Vodounnou ◽  
Emmanuel A. Ajav ◽  
Gontrand C. Bagan ◽  
Victorin K. Chegnimonhan
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Performance Evaluation ◽  
Engine Speed ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Drive Power ◽  
Smallholder Farms ◽  
Testing Experiment ◽  
And Performance ◽  
A Chain ◽  
Chain Conveyor

A small-scale maize harvester was designed and fabricated for developing countries and is composed of a harvester header, a chain conveyor, a drive power unit and a five-wheel tricycle. Fabrication of components was made and assembling of the devices on the tricycle was done. The performance evaluation of the small-scale maize harvester was done at 15% kernels moisture content (wet basis). Three rotational speeds of the engine, 1347, 1521 and 1937 rpm were used, while the forward velocity of the harvester was kept at an average of 0.617 km.hr-1. The testing experiment revealed significant effect of physical properties of maize (p<0,05). The highest machine capacity was obtained at 0.05 ha.hr-1, while the highest driving efficiency was 97.30% and the highest picking and conveying efficiencies were 84.11% and 98.21%, respectively. However, it was observed that the machine noise level decreased with increase in engine speed. Also, the engine speed affected both picking and conveying efficiencies. The designed machine is found suitable for most smallholder farms.

scholarly journals Sustainability Assessment of Smallholder Farms in the Savannah Transition Agro-Ecological Zone of Ghana

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (11) ◽  
pp. 1185-1214
Author(s):  
Johnny Kofi Awoonor ◽  
Edward Yeboah ◽  
Bright Fafali Dogbey ◽  
Fowzia Adiyah
Keyword(s):  
Sustainability Assessment ◽  
Ecological Zone ◽  
Smallholder Farms

The diversity of rural livelihoods and their influence on soil fertility in agricultural systems of East Africa – A typology of smallholder farms

2010 ◽  
Vol 103 (2) ◽  
pp. 83-97 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Tittonell ◽  
A. Muriuki ◽  
K.D. Shepherd ◽  
D. Mugendi ◽  
K.C. Kaizzi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Soil Fertility ◽  
East Africa ◽  
Rural Livelihoods ◽  
Agricultural Systems ◽  
Smallholder Farms
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