In recent years, Jamaica has been seriously affected by a number of extreme meteorological events. The one discussed here, Hurricane Dean, passed along the south coast of the island in August 2007, damaging crops and disrupting livelihood activities for many small-scale farmers. This study is based on detailed ethnographic research in the southern coastal region of St. Elizabeth parish during t...

Small-scale subsistence farmers in South Africa have been introduced to genetically modified (GM) crops for more than a decade. Little is known about i) the extent of transgene introgression into locally recycled seed, ii) what short and long-term ecological and socioeconomic impacts such mixing of seeds might have, iii) how the farmers perceive GM crops, and iv) to what degree approval conditi...

the purpose of the study was to identify and document technical knowledge and information gaps that can inform development of appropriate training programs for cane farmers. the study employed a survey research design; involving 105 small scale farmers in selected from eight sub-counties of kakamega county. data was analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistics. pearson’s product m...

this study investigates issues on efficiency and elasticity of broiler production in peninsular malaysia. data from 296 broiler farms were subjected to sfa, dea and bootstrap methods for technical efficiency; translog and tobit regression analyses to estimate elasticity of production and determinants of efficiency respectively in broiler production. we found that farmers produce mean efficiency...

Context & Rationale Despite a probable net reduction in the overall population since independence, there has been a small increase in the number of Armenia’s farming households. Many of these are relatively new and inexperienced farmers with very limited access to capital and farm inputs. Agriculture is the primary employer and accounts for about 28% of the GDP. Yet with few exceptions i.e. som...

In spite of the development of various improved cultivars of maize, yield in Nigeria has continued to be hampered by the over cropped nature of most farmlands as well as a wide range of pests and diseases. This study therefore carried out an analysis of agro-chemical inputs’ use in maize production among small scale farmers in Iwo Local Government Area of Osun State. Specifically, the study inv...