a research study was carried out on the indirect selection efforts amongst small scale holders of west african dwarf (wad) goats based on coat pigmentation and wattle types in ogbomoso, nigeria using personal interviews and structured questionnaires given using simple random on-farm techniques. the questionnaires were focused on the ownership distribution, preferred pigmentation and wattle type...

The adoption of small-scale pumped irrigation technologies was evaluated using field surveys in Malawi. Four systems were identified, distinguished by ownership (group versus individual) and technology (treadle motorized). Farmer access to pumps either through organizational support (incentivized) or privately (self-motivated), with progression depending on the mode farmers’ attributes. Self-mo...

At a 50-acre farm in the California Central Coast1 region, I spoke with Alejandra, who personifies the ideal outcome of the beginning farmer movement. Coming to the United States in the mid-1980s, she described herself as the latest of “three generations of migrant farmworkers” from the Mexican state of Guerrero, following in the footsteps of her father and grandfather, who emigrated for contra...

The trade relationship between small-scale growers and processing companies often plays an important role in determining the nature and extent of benefi ts derived from commercial forestry, and the distribution of these benefi ts. Many strategies are used by individual small-scale growers, village communities, companies and government agencies to form partnerships to undertake commercial forest...

The study sought to explore approaches for co-creation of conservation agriculture (CA) knowledge amongst farmers, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), government and specialist researchers. The aim of the study was to explore farmer initiated food security strategies among small holder resource poor farmers, through enhancement of farmers’ own productive capacity. The study was born out of th...

Small-scale farmers in developing countries use hazardous pesticides taking few or no safety measures. Farmer field schools (FFSs) teaching integrated pest management (IPM) have been shown to reduce pesticide use among trained farmers. This cross-sectional study compares pesticide-related knowledge, attitude, practice (KAP), potential exposure, and self-reported poisoning symptoms among 35 FFS ...

Small-scale studies on long-term change in agricultural knowledge might uncover insights with broader, regional implications. This article evaluates change in farmer knowledge about crop genetic resources in highland Guatemala between 1927/37 and 2004. It concentrates on maize (Zea mays ssp. mays L.) in one Guatemalan township, Jacaltenango, an area with much ecological and maize diversity. It ...

small-scale dairy farming in bangladesh is constrained mostly due to acute shortage, high price and seasonal fluctuation of energy and protein supplements. poor economic conditions of dairy farmers do not allow them to purchase adequate conventional energy and protein supplements. locally available non-conventional energy and protein sources can be used as alternatives, cheaper than conventiona...