Author: Ika Darnhofer Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media ISBN: 9400745036 Category : Technology & Engineering Languages : en Pages : 488
Book Description
Farming Systems Research has three core characteristics: it builds on systems thinking, it depends on the close collaboration between social and biophysical sciences, and it relies on participation to build co-learning processes. Farming Systems Research posits that to contribute towards sustainable rural development, both interdisciplinary collaborations and local actor engagement are needed. Together, they allow for changes in understanding and changes in practices. This book gives an overview of the insights generated in 20 years of Farming Systems Research. It retraces the emergence and development of Farming Systems Research in Europe, summarises the state-of-the-art for key areas, and provides an outlook on new explorations, especially those tackling the dynamic nature of farming systems and their interaction with the natural environment and the context of action.
Author: W. W. Shaner Publisher: Routledge ISBN: 0429704933 Category : Social Science Languages : en Pages : 433
Book Description
In recent years, policy makers have been paying more attention to the problems of small farmers in developing countries with the idea of increasing their pro-duction and standard of living. The policy makers' objec-tives are twofold: I 1 I to help those whose welfare is materially below the rest of society, and 121 to help a coun-try increase its agricultural production. With adequate agricultural policies, these two objectives are mutually reinforcing. For example, increased food production gives farm households additional food for consumption and surpluses for sale. Farmers can then use the money from these sales to buy items they do not produce, and the buyers of farm products benefit from the increased sup-plies.
Author: National Research Council Publisher: National Academies Press ISBN: 0309148960 Category : Technology & Engineering Languages : en Pages : 598
Book Description
In the last 20 years, there has been a remarkable emergence of innovations and technological advances that are generating promising changes and opportunities for sustainable agriculture, yet at the same time the agricultural sector worldwide faces numerous daunting challenges. Not only is the agricultural sector expected to produce adequate food, fiber, and feed, and contribute to biofuels to meet the needs of a rising global population, it is expected to do so under increasingly scarce natural resources and climate change. Growing awareness of the unintended impacts associated with some agricultural production practices has led to heightened societal expectations for improved environmental, community, labor, and animal welfare standards in agriculture. Toward Sustainable Agricultural Systems in the 21st Century assesses the scientific evidence for the strengths and weaknesses of different production, marketing, and policy approaches for improving and reducing the costs and unintended consequences of agricultural production. It discusses the principles underlying farming systems and practices that could improve the sustainability. It also explores how those lessons learned could be applied to agriculture in different regional and international settings, with an emphasis on sub-Saharan Africa. By focusing on a systems approach to improving the sustainability of U.S. agriculture, this book can have a profound impact on the development and implementation of sustainable farming systems. Toward Sustainable Agricultural Systems in the 21st Century serves as a valuable resource for policy makers, farmers, experts in food production and agribusiness, and federal regulatory agencies.
Author: Michael P. Collinson Publisher: Food & Agriculture Org. ISBN: 9789251043110 Category : Agricultural systems Languages : en Pages : 452
Book Description
This book provides a detailed history of farming systems research (FSR). While it includes the application of FSR to developed country agriculture, its main focus is on FSR in its original role, with small scale, resource-poor farmers in less developed countries. There are some 40 contributions from nearly 50 contributors from 20 countries, illustrating both the diversity and yet the coherence of FSR. The five parts of the book cover: (1) FSR - understanding farmers and their farming (FSR origins and perspectives; understanding farming systems); (2) the applications of farming systems research (FSR in technology choice and development; FSR in extension and policy formulation); (3) institutional commitment to FSR (FSR: some institutional experiences in national agricultural research; dimensions of the organization of FSR; training for FSR); (4) FSR: the professional dimension (regional and international associations; FSR and the professional disciplines); and (5) cutting edge methods, abiding issues and the future for FSR.
Author: W. R. Schmehl Publisher: Routledge ISBN: 1000309053 Category : Social Science Languages : en Pages : 149
Book Description
This collection offers a comprehensive view of the commonalities and diversities of the farming systems research and development (FSR&D) approaches being applied around the world. The authors–among the leading practitioners in FSR&D–discuss conceptual frameworks, research methodology, data collection, and several ongoing FSR&D programs. The book is a must for anyone interested in gaining a concise, yet broad view of this new and growing field of research and its importance to small-scale farming in developing countries.
Author: Jules N. Pretty Publisher: Routledge ISBN: 1136529276 Category : Nature Languages : en Pages : 292
Book Description
Continued population growth, rapidly changing consumption patterns and the impacts of climate change and environmental degradation are driving limited resources of food, energy, water and materials towards critical thresholds worldwide. These pressures are likely to be substantial across Africa, where countries will have to find innovative ways to boost crop and livestock production to avoid becoming more reliant on imports and food aid. Sustainable agricultural intensification - producing more output from the same area of land while reducing the negative environmental impacts - represents a solution for millions of African farmers. This volume presents the lessons learned from 40 sustainable agricultural intensification programmes in 20 countries across Africa, commissioned as part of the UK Government's Foresight project. Through detailed case studies, the authors of each chapter examine how to develop productive and sustainable agricultural systems and how to scale up these systems to reach many more millions of people in the future. Themes covered include crop improvements, agroforestry and soil conservation, conservation agriculture, integrated pest management, horticulture, livestock and fodder crops, aquaculture, and novel policies and partnerships.
Author: Hans Ruthenberg Publisher: ISBN: Category : Technology & Engineering Languages : en Pages : 412
Book Description
Some general charscteristics of farming in a tropical environment; Shifting cultivation systems; Fallow systems; Ley systems; Systems with permanent upland cultivation; Systems with arable irrigation farming; Systems with perennial crops; Grazing systems; General tendences in the development of tropical farm systems.
Author: Ika Darnhofer
Author: Frank Casey
Author: W. W. Shaner
Author: National Research Council
Author: Jayne T. MacLean
Author: Michael P. Collinson
Author: Laurie E. Drinkwater
Author: W. R. Schmehl
Author: Jules N. Pretty
Author: Hans Ruthenberg