Agroclimatology is the science of those climatic or weather factors important to agriculture. Climate is generally thought as an uncontrollable factor, and this book provides an understanding of the agroclimatic system and its influences on the failure or success of agricultural development activities; looking at misunderstandings and the value of research into this area
"This book is a comprehensive collection of research on the emerging trends and advances in the global application of information and communication technology use in agriculture and rural development"--Provided by publisher.
Two of the greatest current challenges are climate change (and variability) and food security. Feeding nine billion people by 2050 will require major efforts aimed at climate change adaptation and mitigation. One approach to agriculture has recently been captured by the widely adopted term of "Climate Smart Agriculture" (CSA). This book not only explains what this entails, but also presents practical on-the-ground studies of practices and innovations in agriculture across a broader spectrum, including agroecology and conservation agriculture, in less developed countries. It is shown that CSA is not a completely new science and a number of its recommended technologies have been used for some time by local farmers all over the world. What is relevant and new is ‘the approach’ to exploit their adaptation and mitigation potential. However, a major limitation is the lack of evidence-based knowledge that is necessary for policy makers to prepare strategies for adaptation and mitigation. This book assembles knowledge of CSA, agroecology and conservation agriculture, and perspectives from different regions of the world, to build resilient food systems. The first part analyzes the concept, opportunities and challenges, and provides a global perspective, drawing particularly on studies from Africa and Asia. The second part of the book showcases results from various studies linked to soil, water and crop management measures from an ongoing program in India as well as experiences from other regions. The third section assesses the needs for an enabling policy environment, mainstreaming gender and sime final recommendations for up-scaling and/or out-scaling innovations.
This book investigates the interactions between different shifts in innovation models. It underlines ecological conditions and production intensification in the agriculture sector. In total six innovation processes were analyzed in different countries such as Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Haiti, Madagascar and Senegal. The similarities between these case studies are that they all demonstrate that sustainable and sufficient network between actors of the innovation are particularly useful for the development of agricultural innovation systems. The different papers demonstrate that there is a need for more commitment of public policy in innovation processes.
A team of scientists and researchers from the University of Agriculture Faisalabad and University of Arid Agriculture Rawalpindi, in collaboration with FAO and Government of Punjab (Agriculture Department) worked together to delineate the Agro-Ecological Zoning (AEZ) in Punjab. AEZ refers to the division of Punjab region into land resource mapping units, having a unique combination of landform, soil and climatic characteristics, and/or land cover. Based on the most up to date collected information on natural resources, climate and agricultural markets, AEZ reveals an enormous potential for crop diversification and productivity. And it is the need of the hour in a country where population is rapidly growing and where climate changes (increases in temperature, changes in rainfall pattern, extreme weather events) evidence the vulnerability of the current agricultural systems. From a side AEZ will help to make smallholder farming a profitable business and overall enhance agriculture efficiency. On the other side, policymakers will be able to use data of AEZ and associated information on land characteristics (soil quality, topography, agricultural land use, yeld etc) to formulate optimal policies for sustainable agricultural production.
This textbook is written for undergraduate and postgraduate students of Extension Education at Home Science Colleges. It shall serve as a reference book for Extension students of Agriculture, Veterinary, Forestry, Fisheries and Basic Science at Universities, Colleges and Institutes. It shall as well serve as a handbook for Government Departments, Non-Government Organizations, Rural Banks and Cooperatives, Krishi Vigyan Kendra, etc. to support them in extension work. The meaning, process and evolution of extension and extension systems from India’s pre independence era to the present era are described in this book as well as the different extension teaching methods and teaching aids used while extending information at villages. The book also comprehends the relationship between Home Science education and extension systems familiarizing with the structural and functional concepts of rural society. The concept, use, importance and limitations of each of the extension teaching methods are important to know for extension workers so that they can use them efficiently. However, these course contents are primarily meant for the use of student communities, teaching and research fraternities of Home Science, Agricultural and allied Sciences all over the globe in general and India in particular.
West and Central African nations face major obstacles to achieving the Millennium Development Goal of cutting poverty and hunger in half by 2015, not least among them the fragile state of their agriculture. Although most regional economies depend on agriculture for employment, national income, and export revenues, farm productivity tends to be low, owing to relatively little use of chemical fertilizers, improved seeds, and other modern technologies. Yield Gaps and Potential Agricultural Growth in West and Central Africa responds to this problem by identifying potential areas of growth in the agricultural and livestock sectors. Using data on the soil, water availability, and weather in different parts of West and Central Africa, the authors find significant gaps in different locations between the potential and actual yield of various agricultural products. They then use an economywide multimarket model to simulate the future economic effects of closing these yield gaps. In coastal nations, crops such as cassava, cereals, and yams have the greatest yield gaps, whereas, in the Sahel, livestock, rice, coarse grains and oilseeds (groundnuts) have more room for growth. Although identifying these yield gaps does not guarantee that they can be closed, it does provide a focus for development efforts in the region. The authors conclude, moreover, that if such efforts involve transnational cooperation in agricultural research, marketing, and other areas, they could produce significant benefits across West and Central Africa. This study's findings will be of interest to policymakers, researchers, and others concerned with African development.
