The smallholder farmers in Zambia have been constant victims of the lack of financial resources, technical expertise, and sustainable agricultural extension, which restricts their livelihood prospects and sustainability. This paper gives an analysis of the role of cooperative-level matching grants in promoting multidimensional livelihood capitals among smallholder farmers in Chipili District: human, social, financial, and natural. The survey data were obtained with 352 respondents (240 grant beneficiaries and 112 non-beneficiaries), and the results were analysed in terms of socioeconomic factors with such variables as age, education, farm size, household size, gender, and farm experience. Analyses of reliability established high internal consistency of all livelihood-capital indices (Cronbachs 0.67 or more). Descriptive statistics and independent-samples t-tests showed consistently greater scores among the grant beneficiaries in all dimensions of the capital, and medium-to-large effect sizes in human, financial, and natural capital. Adjusted ordinary least squares regressions, controlling for individual characteristics and clustering at the cooperative level, showed that grant participation remained significantly associated with increased livelihood-capital scores (p < 0.001). These findings indicate that matching grants that incorporate trainings provided to cooperatives may assist farmers to learn better farming skills and practices, and better management of their resources. Policy makers and development agencies ought to think of extending these matching grants and incorporate follow up support to enable small holder farmers to advance their capacities and enhance sustainable rural livelihoods.
Risk management is essential for ensuring the stability and sustainability of both agricultural enterprises and economic agents as a whole. The paper analyzes the evolution of the concept of risk in agriculture, highlighting the transition from a reactive to a proactive approach based on identification, assessment and control. The main risk management strategies are also presented, including the use of agricultural insurance instruments. The study is based on a review of the specialized literature and relevant research, emphasizing the importance of adopting effective practices to protect agricultural enterprises, but also for creating training programs for farmers so that they can move towards a digitalized agriculture that aims to ensure both socio-economic stability and the food needs of the global population.
A homegrown restaurant is typically a restaurant that is locally owned and operated, often with a focus on using locally sourced ingredients and reflecting the local culture and cuisine. Homegrown restaurants are often considered to be more authentic and unique than chain restaurants or franchises because they are created and run by people who are passionate about their community and their food. The study investigated the experiences and challenges of the Binahon Farm Restaurant owner, manager, and employee. In which they attain sustainability in terms of the three pillars, namely economic, environmental, and socio-cultural, despite challenges. The study employed the qualitative narrative case study method of research and used the semi-structured interview guide question. The data was analyzed using the thematic analysis modeled by Braun and Clarke (2006). Results revealed that Binahon Farm engaged in organic farming and home-grown resources mainly to deliver quality food to its visitors as well as to the family. Experiences of economic, environmental, and sociocultural practices lead to sustainability. Economic practices as sustainable practice were achieved through online selling, innovation of products, management of plantations through intercropping, and providing the needs of customers' demand for organic products. Environmental practices lead to more customers desiring agritourism in terms of natural amenities, freedom from pollution, and refreshing surroundings through the preservation of nature. Attaining socio-cultural sustainable practices of promotion of culture through sharing of arts and music with others and supporting the Indigenous people by providing trainings and livelihood.
This study analyzed the role of traditional agricultural practices in household food security among farming households in Akure South Local Government Area, Ondo State, Nigeria. Primary data were collected from 120 farming households using a multistage sampling technique and structured questionnaires. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, the household food expenditure approach, and a binary logit regression model. The findings revealed that 79.2% of households were food secure, while 20.8% were food insecure. Farming households were predominantly male-headed, with a mean age of 41 years and an average farming experience of 17 years. Common traditional practices included mixed cropping, crop rotation, shifting cultivation, bush fallowing, and traditional irrigation. Regression results indicated that household size, years of farming experience, and shifting cultivation had a significant (p < 0.05) influence on household food security. Major constraints included limited government support, inadequate access to farm machinery, high cost of farm inputs, limited access to credit, land constraints, and climate-related challenges. The study concludes that traditional agricultural practices play a significant role in enhancing household food security. Strengthened policy support, income diversification, access to credit, and targeted capacity-building initiatives are recommended to sustain food-secure outcomes among farming households.
The research conducted at NIRDPSB Brașov aimed to evaluate the influence of variety, density of vitroplants and sucrose concentration in the nutrient medium on the potato micro tuberization process, analyzing two elements: the number of micro tubers/plantlet and weight of micro tubers/plantlet. The experiment included four varieties (Azaria, Brașovia, Cosiana and Cezarina – control), two densities of vitroplants (15, as control and 10 plantlets/container,) and two concentrations of sucrose (80, as control and 90 g/l). The analysis of variance revealed that variety had a very statistically significant influence on both number of micro tubers/plantlet and the weight of micro tubers/plantlet. The sucrose concentration significantly influenced the weight of micro tubers, but did not cause significant changes for micro tubers number. The density of the vitroplants did not have a statistically significant influence on the analyzed parameters, although a tendency for micro tubers weight to increase was observed at lower densities. The best results regarding micro tuberization capacity were obtained for Brașovia variety, which recorded the highest number of micro tubers/plantlet and the highest values of micro tubers weight/plantlet were observed for Brașovia and Cosiana varieties, especially at the concentration of 90 g/l sucrose. The results highlight the importance of the genetic factor in the micro tuberization process, as well as the role of sucrose concentration in increasing micro tubers weight.
