A History of Farming Systems Research
A History of Farming Systems Research

Author: Michael P. Collinson

Publisher: Food & Agriculture Org.

Published: 2000

Total Pages: 452

ISBN-13: 9789251043110

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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.

Gender, Agriculture and Agrarian Transformations
Gender, Agriculture and Agrarian Transformations

Author: Carolyn E. Sachs

Publisher: Routledge

Published: 2019-05-15

Total Pages: 239

ISBN-13: 0429763816

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This book presents research from across the globe on how gender relationships in agriculture are changing. In many regions of the world, agricultural transformations are occurring through increased commodification, new value-chains, technological innovations introduced by CGIAR and other development interventions, declining viability of small-holder agriculture livelihoods, male out-migration from rural areas, and climate change. This book addresses how these changes involve fluctuations in gendered labour and decision making on farms and in agriculture and, in many places, have resulted in the feminization of agriculture at a time of unprecedented climate change. Chapters uncover both how women successfully innovate and how they remain disadvantaged when compared to men in terms of access to land, labor, capital and markets that would enable them to succeed in agriculture. Building on case studies from Africa, Latin America and Asia, the book interrogates how new agricultural innovations from agricultural research, new technologies and value chains reshape gender relations. Using new methodological approaches and intersectional analyses, this book will be of great interest to students and scholars of agriculture, gender, sustainable development and environmental studies more generally.

Agricultural Technologies for Market-led Development Opportunities in the 1990s
Agricultural Technologies for Market-led Development Opportunities in the 1990s

Author: Shawki M. Barghouti

Publisher: World Bank Publications

Published: 1993-01-01

Total Pages: 174

ISBN-13: 9780821324622

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Argentina has reformed its public finance system and reversed years of economic decline and deficit spending. This study recommends policy options to speed the already impressive progress. These options would expand the ambitious reform program already under way. This study shows how to sustain balanced public finances over the medium term. It describes ways to sustain price stability and economic growth while providing a cushion against unexpected downturns. Also examined are ways to improve social services while reducing the size of government. Researchers discuss key reforms that could boost the fiscal surplus by as much as 1.4 percent of gross domestic product. They look at ways to build tax revenues, reduce provincial finances, and make social security more equitable. They review methods to cut defense spending and revive a moribund education system. Additional policy options offered are reforms for housing and welfare programs and pension fund investments. The study suggests ways to improve the legal framework for a stronger central bank. Also reviewed are ways to eliminate unnecessary administrative agencies and to privatize public enterprises. The government's new health insurance program is examined. This program offers universal coverage. It lets contributors choose providers and includes subsidies for those who can't pay. It also requires a minimum package of health care at a set price.

Economic Policy and Sustainable Land Use
Economic Policy and Sustainable Land Use

Author: Nico Heerink

Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media

Published: 2012-12-06

Total Pages: 388

ISBN-13: 3642575587

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Since the 1980s many developing countries have implemented macro-economic policy reforms to curb inflation, reduce fiscal deficits and control foreign debt. The policy instruments used, such as exchange rate adjustment, budget cuts, trade policy reforms, public expenditure reviews and privatisation, have different and sometimes opposite consequences for agricultural land use. During the same period awareness was growing that deteriorating soil quality could become a limiting factor to increase or even sustain agricultural production. As a result, food availability and even accessibility for large population groups in developing countries may be jeopardised in the near future. Recently, quantitative models have made useful contributions to understanding the impact of economic policy reforms on the sustainability of land use. They provide a consistent analytical framework to deal with complex issues such as the direct and indirect effects of economic, agricultural, environmental and population policies, the role of market imperfections in transmitting economic policy signals, and the interactions between soil quality, agricultural production and household economic decision making. Different types of models can be distinguished: bio economic models, focussing on the link between farm household decisions and the agricultural resource base, household and village models, examining the impact of the socio-economic environment on farm household decisions, and more aggregate models, analysing interactions between sectors and their implications for sustainable land use.