in this study 495 smallholder dairy farms in 52 villages of different township in southwestern province of iran (chaharmohal and bakhtiari province) included 1321 lactating cows and 2811 total mature cows (lactating and dry) during winter 2009 to summer 2010 were used to estimate economic opportunities insmallholder dairy farms. questionnaire survey was used to collect data from last year infor...

Land-use changes threaten biodiversity and ecosystem services. Some of the last remaining forest fragments in Ethiopia, and the world’s only habitats that retain genetically diverse wild Arabica coffee populations, have experienced rapid recent conversion to coffee farms, plantations and agricultural fields. We examined patterns of remnant woody plant diversity in the remaining forests, and ass...

The agricultural research and development institutions in most developing countries are poorly equipped to support the needs of millions of smallholder farmers that depend upon them. The research approaches taken by these systems explicitly or implicitly seek simple, one-size-fits-all solutions for problems and opportunities that are extremely diverse. Radical change is needed to facilitate the...

There is strong advocacy for agricultural machinery appropriate for smallholder farmers in South Asia. Such 'scale-appropriate' machinery can increase returns to land and labour, although the still substantial capital investment required can preclude smallholder ownership. Increasing machinery demand has resulted in relatively well-developed markets for rental services for tillage, irrigation, ...

A cross-sectional study was conducted to detect the presence of Salmonella spp., Candida albicans, Aspergillus spp., and antimicrobial residues in raw milk (n = 120) and processed cow milk (n = 20) from smallholder dairy farms from three sites in Zimbabwe. Culture and isolation of Salmonella spp., C. albicans, and Aspergillus spp. were performed using selective media, while antimicrobial residu...

This paper presents the experiences on capacity development for irrigation in Kenya, drawing from a study of seven smallholder irrigation schemes, namely: New Mutaro, Emening, Mitunguu, Ng’uuru Gakirwe, Lari, MukuriaKyambogo and Isiolo River Water Users Association. These schemes were selected for their apparent success in irrigation management, sustainability and poverty reduction among the be...

The objective of this article was to develop a deeper understanding of the interdependences between smallholder farming and the state of environmental management in rural Malawi. We examined the agricultural local governance framework in Malingunde Extension Planning Area (EPA), its contribution to food security and how it conflicts with overall land and forest resources management. The charcoa...

This special feature calls for forward thinking around paths of convergence for agriculture, health, and wealth. Such convergence aims for a richer integration of smallholder farmers into national and global agricultural and food systems, health systems, value chains, and markets. The articles identify analytical innovation, where disciplines intersect, and cross-sectoral action where single, l...

four hundered and ninety five (495) smallholder dairy farms active in 52 villages of different cities in chaharmohalo bakhtiari province, keeping 1321 lactating within a total of 2811 mature cows (lactating and dry) were used. these herds were taken during winter 2009 to summer 2010 to assess some of the production, reproductive and economic performance traits under smallholder management syste...

This paper assessed factors which influence market access for smallholder farmers in the major maize producing districts (Mbozi and Sumbawanga) of Mbeya and Rukwa regions, located in the Southern Highland of Tanzania. Cross sectional data were collected from a sample of 240 smallholder farmers which were randomly selected and interviewed using standardized questionnaires. Data were analyzed usi...