scholarly journals How Information Communication Technology Can Enhance Evidence-Based Decisions and Farm-to-Fork Animal Traceability for Livestock Farmers

2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-12
Author(s):  
G. Mwanga ◽  
E. Mbega ◽  
Z. Yonah ◽  
M. G. G. Chagunda
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Developing Countries ◽  
Data Analysis ◽  
Data Management ◽  
Animal Health ◽  
International Standards ◽  
Analytical Models ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Livestock Sector ◽  
Small Scale Farmers

Due to changes in the livestock sector and the rise of consumer demand for comprehensive and integrated food security and safety, there has been a concern on the use of farm data in enhancing animal traceability and decision-making by farmers and other decision-makers in the livestock sector. To ensure high production through effective decision-making and auditable standards, producers are required to have better traceability and record systems. Therefore, this study aimed at (1) reviewing the current recording/data management and animal traceability systems used by small-scale farmers in developing countries and (2) analyzing how data management systems should be designed to enhance efficient decision-making and animal traceability from farm to fork. This study found that, still, a majority of small-scale farmers do not keep records leading to poor decision-making on the farm and policymaking. We also found that those who keep records do not store their data in electronic format, which again poses another challenge in data analysis. Moreover, this study found that the majority of traceability tools used by farmers in developing countries do not meet international standards based on tools they use for tracing animals; farmers were reported to use tools like branding and ear tagging, which provide very little information about the animal. Such tools lack the capability to keep track of useful information about an animal, e.g., information about feeding and animal health. In conclusion, this study recommended a better electronic system to be used at the farm level to facilitate data analysis, hence promoting informed decision-making and adherence to the international animal traceability standards. Otherwise, there is a need for researchers to conduct more studies in developing different analytical models for exploring on-farm data in order to improve the decision-making process by farmers and other stakeholders.

MECHANIZATION OF POTATO GRADING ON SMALL-SCALE FARMS: A CASE STUDY FROM PERU

2005 ◽  
Vol 41 (1) ◽  
pp. 81-92 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. P. BUTLER ◽  
T. BERNET ◽  
K. MANRIQUE
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Market Integration ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Farming System ◽  
Agricultural Products ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Critical Aspect ◽  
Small Scale Farmers ◽  
Important Cash Crop

Potatoes are an important cash crop for small-scale producers worldwide. The move away from subsistence to commercialized farming, combined with the rapid growth in demand for processed agricultural products in developing countries, implies that small-scale farmers and researchers alike must begin to respond to these market changes and consider post-harvest treatment as a critical aspect of the potato farming system. This paper presents and assesses a low cost potato-grading machine that was designed explicitly to enable small-scale potato growers to sort tubers by size for supply to commercial processors. The results of ten experiments reveal that the machine achieves an accuracy of sort similar to commercially available graders. The machine, which uses parallel conical rollers, has the capacity to grade different tuber shapes and to adjust sorting classes, making it suitable for locations with high potato diversity. Its relatively low cost suggests that an improved and adapted version of this machine might enhance market integration of small-scale potato producers not only in Peru, but in other developing countries as well.

scholarly journals Analysis of Challenges Facing Rice Processing in Nigeria

2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 ◽  
pp. 1-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. S. Ajala ◽  
A. Gana
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Growth Rate ◽  
Developing Countries ◽  
Population Growth Rate ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Basic Information ◽  
Food Crop ◽  
Important Food ◽  
Rice Processing

Rice is the most economically important food crop in many developing countries and has also become a major crop in many developed countries where its consumption has increased considerably. It has become necessary to meet the demand of the world’s current population growth rate, and the least costly means for achieving this aim is to increase rice productivity, wherever possible. The main challenges encountered by rice processors in Nigeria are to find appropriate solutions for quality rice processing. Therefore this work provides basic information about the challenges of rice processing and focuses on the challenges faced by the small scale rice processors and reasons for continuous rice importation with a view to guiding decision-making to be self-sufficient in rice production, thereby making some improvement in Nigerian economy.

Enhancing crop-livestock systems for agricultural productivity, food security and reduced poverty in developing countries

2007 ◽  
Vol 2007 ◽  
pp. 258-258
Author(s):  
J. M. Lenne
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Food Security ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Cash Income ◽  
Food Items ◽  
Livestock Sector ◽  
High Quality Protein ◽  
Livestock Products ◽  
Livestock Systems

Mixed farming systems, in which crops and livestock are integrated on the same farm, are the backbone of small-scale agriculture in most developing countries (Lenné and Thomas, 2006). Crops and livestock contribute in a diversity of ways to enhancing the livelihoods of the poor through provision of food, income, draught power and employment. Livestock are a major source of high-quality protein, minerals, vitamins and micro-nutrients for developing country populations and livestock-derived food items contribute significantly to agricultural GDP. Animals also play a major role in improving food security in such countries, because cash income obtained from the sale of animals is regularly used to buy non-livestock food items and inputs to farming. It is predicted that the demand for livestock products in developing countries will increase substantially over the next 25 years (Delgado et al., 1999). Failure to meet the challenge of further growth in the livestock sector in these regions is likely to result in the growing urban demand for livestock products being met by subsidized imports. This will be to the detriment of small-scale producers and national and regional economic growth.

An adaptive management case study for managing macropods on Maria Island National Park, Tasmania, Australia: adding devils to the detail

2018 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
pp. 108 ◽  
Author(s):  
Janeane Ingram
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Adaptive Management ◽  
National Park ◽  
Animal Health ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Management Approach ◽  
Tasmanian Devil ◽  
Integrated Monitoring ◽  
Juvenile Mortality ◽  
Management Actions

Adaptive management is driven by structured decision making and evidence from monitoring in a ‘learning’ framework that guides management actions. In a conservation context, this iterative approach includes evaluation of the impacts on natural processes. On Maria Island National Park, Tasmania, Australia, introduced Forester kangaroo, Bennetts wallaby and Tasmanian pademelon have been intensively managed by an annual cull since 1994. Management actions were triggered by high parasite loads, intense grazing pressure and high juvenile mortality during drought periods. Criticism of the annual cull from animal welfare groups initiated the development of an adaptive management approach for decision making that replaces the historic ‘trial and error’ process. Following a comprehensive review of the existing macropod management program in 2011, an integrated monitoring strategy was established to provide evidence for informed decision making. Assessments of animal health and estimates of population trends are the key indicators for management actions to occur. Maintaining viable macropod populations and protecting natural values form the basis of management objectives. Management actions in each year, for each species, represent ‘treatments’ as spatial replication is not possible at such a small scale. An adaptive management approach for macropod management on Maria Island has resulted in only one species being culled in 2014 and 2015 for the first time in almost 20 years. However the recent introduction of a major predator, the Tasmanian devil, has increased uncertainty for long-term macropod management on Maria Island with no cull occurring in 2016 and 2017.

scholarly journals Perceptions of Brazilian small-scale farmers about genetically modified crops

2015 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 193-210 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carla Almeida ◽  
Luisa Massarani ◽  
Ildeu de Castro Moreira
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Focus Groups ◽  
Genetically Modified ◽  
Genetically Modified Crops ◽  
Free Food ◽  
Economic Feasibility ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Small Scale Farmers ◽  
The Impact ◽  
To Receive

The aim of this paper is to investigate the perceptions of small-scale farmers in Brazil towards genetically modified (GM) crops based on a sample of 15 focus groups involving 111 individuals. The analysis of the corpus shows heterogeneous perceptions regarding these crops, shaped by diverse factors, including economic prospects and concerns with the impact on health and the environment. There are many misgivings about these effects among the farmers, who are keen to receive unbiased information on the topic. These uncertainties affect them more as consumers, as most would prefer eating GM-free food, than as producers, as they consider other aspects, especially economic feasibility, when deciding what to grow. Although most farmers believe they should have a voice in decision-making on agricultural issues, few have made concerted efforts to be heard.

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