The cocoa sub-sector is an important pillar of Ghana’s economic stability and growth prospects; the sub-sector contributes to fiscal stability, infrastructure, and employment. In recent times, diversification has become a common observable feature in the industry. This study uses the conditional mixed process approach to examine the interaction between the diversification status and profitability of cocoa farming simultaneously in a single system. Using data from 401 farmers in the Western and Ashanti regions of Ghana in 2022, the study found that more profitable farmers were more likely to diversify. Conversely, diversified farmers were likely to be more profitable than non-diversified farmers. It also found that the farmer's age, experience, farm area, and location of the farm impacted both the profitability and diversification status of farmers. Thus, it is suggested that policymakers should direct policies and programs to support the creation of alternative farm-based livelihoods for farmers.

The economy of Tanzania relies on agriculture as the main economic activity, because agriculture provides both food and income to the population of the country, especially the rural households. Improvement of market access to crops also increases the productivity. Therefore, in this study, descriptive statistics and statistical analysis of the probit model were used to analyze the factors that determine the market accessibility of small-scale farmers in Chemba, Tanzania. Cross-sectional data collected by the systematic sampling method for 200 corn peasants in Chemba, Tanzania were used. As a result of probit regression analysis, it was found that access to improved seeds and technology had a positive statistically significant effect on the accessibility to the market, while the age of the head of the household, production cost, distance to the market, and household size had a negative statistically significant effect. Therefore, in this study, policy establishment and implementation are recommended. A policy needs to be considered to reduce the transaction costs that eventually allows the farmers to increase the accessibility to markets, enables small-scale farmers to participate in cooperatives, lowers input costs and provides educational programs on quality products to increase their competitiveness in the marketplace.

This study was conducted to determine the acceptability of locally accepted japonica rice varieties among 53 farmers in Bohol and 38 farmers in Nueva Ecija, who were further classified into adopters and non-adopters of the GUVA japonica rice variety. Snowball sampling was made on farmer adopters/cooperators of a high-quality seed multiplication and dissemination project in the said provinces. The farmer respondents were mostly male whose ages ranged from 30 to 80 years and with farm sizes from 0.5 to 16 hectares. The farmers’ rice variety and usage were assessed by comparing the GUVA japonica rice variety with their commonly planted indica rice variety based on its agronomic characteristics, yield and income potential, and seed purity concerns. The barriers/hesitations to adoption of the GUVA japonica rice variety, namely seed availability, varietal information, and market potential, must be complemented with the suggested improvements on the variety together with factors that convince the farmers for committed use of this variety. Researchers together with partner agencies must put a lot of thought on how to integrate and synchronize these concerns so that the farmers can adopt GUVA japonica rice. Interest check on the usage of GUVA japonica rice variety in rice production as well as suggested improvements were solicited as the basis for continuous R&D pursuits that would eventually promote and adopt the GUVA japonica rice variety from these provinces.

경북대학교 친환경농업연구센터에서는 농업인들의 효과적인 천적 활용을 증진시키기 위하여 2016년부터 경상북도 농민사관학교의 지원을 받아서 친환경천적 교육과정을 개설하고 천적 자가생산 및 현장적용 기술의 실습교육을 실시하였다. 그동안 토양 포식성 천적인 총채가시응애(Gaeolaelaps aculeifer)와 뿌리이리응애 (Stratiolaelaps scimitus), 그리고 점박이응애의 포식성 천적인 칠레이리응애(Phytoseiulus persimilis)와 사막 이리응애(Neoseiulus californicus)의 간편하고 경제적인 대량생산기술을 개발하고 그 기술을 약 180명의 농업 인에게 전수하였다. 즉, 농업인들이 스스로 천적을 자가생산하여 시설재배지에 적용함으로서 비용절감 및 청정 농산물 생산 효과를 높히는데 기여했다. 또한, 간편한 천적생산기술을 전국적으로 농업기술원, 농업기술센터, 그리고 친환경농업인단체 등 20여개 기관에 전수하였다. 최근, 경북의 농업기술센터(안동, 고령, 경주)에서 농업 인을 대상으로 천적 대량생산 시스템 보급 시범 사업을 실시하면서 뿌리이리응애 및 칠레이리응애 등의 천적 자가생산시설을 구축하고 자체적으로 생산함으로서 지속적인 천적 활용이 가능하게 되고 해충 방제 효과를 증가시킬 수 있었다. 즉, 농업인들이 직접 천적을 생산하고 활용하게 함으로서 천적농업의 성공사례가 증가하였 을 뿐만 아니라 국내 천적 공급 시스템이 다양화되어 천적농업의 활성화에 크게 기여한다고 판단한다.

Despite being one of the world's largest coffee exporters, Indonesia's coffee output for the international market has recently been dropping. Smallholder coffee growers and their cooperatives faced production challenges due to a lack of market demand knowledge, financial assistance, cultivation and processing equipment, and business practice expertise, according to a case study investigation of these groups. The research then conducted a quantitative survey of 84 international customers from 29 countries and enhanced it by speaking with ambassadors of the Indonesia Trade Promotion Centre in nine different nations. These global players' insights produce helpful information, such as product details, pricing ranges, and quality standards. The results show that for smallholder farmers and cooperatives to fulfil the demands of the global market, relevant commercial actors must assist them. As a result, this study creates a model of the coffee value chain that demonstrates how market demand data motivates cooperatives and smallholder coffee farmers to increase coffee output in a diverse business environment. Marketing might contribute to smallholder farmers' and cooperatives' economic prosperity and well-being by using varied insights from foreign consumers.

Enhancing income for small-scale farmers in developing countries, is one of the major concerns for governments and many stakeholders. This is attributed by the fact that, a majority of smallscale farmers in the region are characterized by low income earners caused by agronomic related challenges, such as low productivity of input factors. In addressing this challenge, the purpose of this study was to assess the impact of outgrower scheme on its members’ income, using the propensity score matching approach. Through this approach the study assessed cross-sectional data, collected from small-scale tea farmers in the Mufindi district, founded in Tanzania. Results of the assessment on the impact of outgrower scheme on its members, suggest that the scheme has a negative and insignificant impact on its members’ income. This implies that, the outgrower scheme does not meet its intended objective of raising the income of its members, due to failure of improving quality as well as quantity of tea produced in the study area.

To assist farmers in shifting from subsistence to commercial agriculture, the government of Laos has promoted farmer organizations throughout the country. The farmer production groups have gradually transformed and emerged into strong cooperatives or associations. The purpose of this study was to examine the factors affecting farmers’ participation in FPGs. Data were collected from primary and secondary sources. A total of 140 respondents participated in a field survey in three kumb ban (village groups) in the Xepon District. Descriptive statistics and binary logistics regression models were used to analyze the data. The results show that the education level of household head, farmland size, access to credit, and perceived trust for farmer production group membership are significantly different from those who are non-members of the groups. However, non-members of FPGs face more constrain in accessing the market, as compared to the members of FPGs. The empirical results from the Binary Logit Model indicate that education level of headed household, farmland size, access to credit, perceived trust, and constraint to market are factors that significantly determine farmers’ participation in FPGs. This study contributes to the empirical literature by providing a better understanding of farmer participation in the groups. The government of Laos should consider and promote access to credit, farmer learning, and market integration to improve farmers' participation in FPGs.

The purpose of this study was to examine the extent to which influencing factors impact the transference willingness of farmers. The research method is based on the survey data on transference willingness, and the binary logistic model was used to analyze the influencing factors. The results show that the educational level, annual household income, farm labor, and farmers' understanding of land transfer policy notably influence land transfer. Based on the results, suggestions include improving farmers' social security system, improving a sound market for rural land transfer, and deepening the promotion and explanation of land-related policies.

This study was carried out the estimation on consumption patterns and consciousness of domestic forage for improvement of the quality of domestic forage. Although the cultivated area in South Korea of forage has increased significantly compared to the past, the self-sufficiency rate of domestic forage has increased to around 80% since 2010. Also, livestock farmers prefer to use import forage than domestic due to convenience of use. In Korean beef farms, the ratio of import to domestic forage was higher in domestic forage (import forage 3 : domestic forage 7). In the method of securing domestic forage, purchase of forage (55.6%) was higher than self-cultivation of forage (44.4%). The ratio of use by bailing type was shown in the order of rice staw rice straw (50.5%), domestic hay (15%), imported hay (12.5%), and total mixed ratio (10.7%). The preference of forage was in the order of amount of foreign matter, moisture content, price, feed value in Korean native cattle farm. The result of satisfaction with domestic and import forage showed that the satisfaction of domestic forage price was higher than import forage, while the moisture content and foreign matter of forage were lower than import forage. In addition, in the results of the satisfaction and importance of domestic roughage compared to imported roughage, satisfaction with imported roughage was generally high in all items except for price. As a result, in order to improve the satisfaction of domestic forage in Korean native cattle farm, it is necessary to minimize foreign matter in forage and increase hay production for moisture content uniform in forage.

농업의 지속가능성을 확보하기 위해서 농업인들의 직업에 대한 만족은 필수조건이다. 본 연구의 목적은 농업인의 직업만족도에 영향을 미치는 요인을 제시하는데 있다. 분석을 위해 경상북도농업기술원에서 2016년부터 2018년까지 실시한 생산자 패널 농업경영성과와 농촌생활만족도 설문조사 자료를 활용하였다. 분석모형은 자료의 특성을 고려하여 패널 순위 프로빗 모형을 이용하였다. 분석결과 농업인의 직업만족도에 영향을 미치는 요인은 농업소득, 가격경쟁력, 정책만족도, 영농기술만족도 등으로 나타났다. 농업소득이 높을수록, 가격경쟁력, 정책만족도, 영농기술만족도가 높을 수록 농업인의 직업만족도가 높아지는 것으로 분석되었다. 본 연구의 분석결과는 농업인 직업만족도 제고 방안 수립에 기초자료로 활용될 것으로 기대된다.

딸기 품종 선택의 중요도와 만족도 분석을 위하여 우리나라에서 가장 많이 재배되고 있는 ‘설향’ 품종을 선택하였다. 자료는 2016년 6월 30일부터 10월 12일까지 산청, 진주, 논산 등 딸기 주산지역 농가 177명으로 부터 수집하였다. 딸기 재배농가의 품종 선택에 대한 중요도와 만족도 분석을 위하여 첫째 9개의 변수에 대하여 요인분석을 실시하였다. Kaise-Meyer-Olkin(KMO) 검증과 Bartlett의 구형성 검정을 통하여 9개의 변수 중 6개를 선택하였다. 둘째, 재배 편리, 병해충, 수량, 판매용이, 소비, 소득의 6개 문항을 활용하여 중요도 만족도(IPA) 분석을 실시하였다. 그 결과, 수량과 소득은 중요도와 만족도 모두 높아 지속적으로 유지시켜 나가야할 요인으로 나타났다. 병해충 요인은 중요도는 높지만 만족도는 낮아서 최우선적으로 개선되어야할 요인으로 분석되었다. 재배편리는 중요도와 만족도가 모두 낮아 장기개선영역으로 나타났다. 판매용이, 소비는 중요도는 낮지만 만족도는 높아서 현재 수준을 유지하거나 다른 분야에 투입하는 것이 더 효율적인 것으로 나타났다.

This paper examined farmers’ perceptions and preferences for improved varietal traits in the Wenchi and Offinso North Municipalities of Ghana. Data from 306 randomly selected tomato farmers were analyzed using perception indices, Kendall’s Coefficient of concordance and the Poisson regression model. The results show that tomato farmers are willing to adopt an improved variety with long shelf life, good fruit quality and large fruit size. The study further indicates that tomato farmers lack requisite skills in pest and disease management. The number of varietal attributes preferred by farmers was positively influenced by sex of farmer, education, experience in tomato cultivation, household size, access to credit, FBO membership, extension contacts farm size and off-farm income. These factors and attributes need to be carefully considered by breeders and policy makers in the development of an improved tomato variety to enhance its uptake. The major constraints identified in tomato production include limited access to capital followed by low commodity prices coupled with low demand with the least constraint being access to tractors for land preparation. The potential of adoption of improved tomato varieties in Ghana will be augmented through paragenetic measures towards addressing these constraints.

Postural stability can reduce the likelihood of critical slip and fall accidents in workplaces. The present study aimed to analyze the effect of shoes type on the ability of postural control during quiet standing. The effect of workload on the body balance was also of primary concern. Thirteen healthy male undergraduate students participated voluntarily in the experimental study. Standing on a force plate with wearing slippers, sports shoes, or safety shoes, two-axis coordinate on subjects’ center of pressures (COP) was obtained in the two levels, rest and workload. For the workload level, subjects performed treadmill exercise to reach the predetermined level of physical workload. By converting the position coordinates of COPs, the postural sway length in both anterior-posterior (AP) axis and medio-lateral (ML) axis was assessed. ANOVA results showed that, in AP direction, wearing slippers significantly increased the postural sway length compared to wearing sports shoes or safety shoes. No significant difference in the mean sway length in AP axis was observed between sports shoes and safety shoes. In ML direction, both the workload and the shoes type did not significantly affect the mean length of postural sway. However, the postural sway length increased marginally with the slippers especially during the workload condition. This study explains wearing slippers may interfere with the ability of postural control during quiet standing. Physical workload decreases the ability of postural stability further.

경기 북부 내 직거래 매장에서 유통 되는 농산물 207건을 수거하여 잔류농약의 실태를 조사하였다. 로컬푸드와 소비자생활협동조합(생협) 매장을 대상으로 일반농산물 94 건, 친환경농산물 113건의 다소비 채소류를 수거하여 다종농약다성분 분석법으로 GC/ECD, GC/NPD, GC-MS/MS, LC/PDA, LC/FLD, LC-MS/MS를 이용하여 263종의 농약을 분석하였다. 잔류농약이 검출된 검체는 모두 로컬푸드 매장에서 수거한 일반 농산물로 14건의(6.8%) 시료에서 잔류농약이 검출되었고, 그 중 1건에서(0.5%) 잔류농약허 용기준을 초과하였다. 총 16개 농약성분이 검출되었고 검 출된 작물은 시금치, 얼갈이, 깻잎, 아욱, 오이, 부추, 미나리였다. 농약 검출량을 바탕으로 일일섭취추정량(EDI)과 일일섭취허용량(ADI)을 이용하여 위해성 평가를 하였으며, %ADI 값의 범위는 0.0134-61.6259%로 안전한 수준이었다.

농업은 고용, 식량 및 생계를 목적으로 하는 카메룬 경제의 중심이다. 그러나 카메룬 농업은 낮은 생산성, 비효율성 및 수입에 의존하여 전염병에 시달리고 있다. 이러한 이유로 본 연구는 카메룬 북서부 지역의 쌀 농가의 기술적 효율성을 조사했다. 구조화된 설문지와 인터뷰를 사용하여 144명의 농부로부터 데이터를 수집했다. 기술 통계 및 확률적 프런티어 분석을 사용하여 데이터를 분석하였다. 확률적 프런티어 분석의 결과는 분산 매개 변수 (시그마 제곱 및 감마)가 통계적으로 유의하다는 것을 보여준다. 농장 규모, 비료, 노동 및 제초제의 계수는 긍정적이고 중요했다. 평균 기술 효율성 수준이 84%로 나타낸 것은 가용 자원을 효율적으로 활용한다면 쌀 농민의 기술 효율성을 16%로 증가할 수 있다. 비효율성 모델은 신용 액세스가 기술적 비효율 성과 부정적인 관련이 있는 중요한 요소임을 보여준다. 이 결과는 농민에게 생산성을 향상시키기 위해 신용을 제공하려는 정부의 노력 (SEMRY, UNVDA, ARFIC및 2세대 농업)과 일치한다.

상업적 영농을 하는 양돈농가는 돼지의 생산비를 줄이면서 소비자들이 선호하는 고품질의 고기를 생산하는 것이 소득증 대에 있어서 무엇보다 중요한 일이다. 이에 농림축산식품부는 돼지도체를 1+, 1, 2 및 등외등급으로 판정하고, 그 결과에 따라 농가수취가격을 차등화함으로써 고품질 돼지고기 생산을 촉진하기 위해서 돼지고기 도체등급제도를 시행하고 있으며, 돼지도체의 체중과 등지방두께를 기준으로 1차 등급판정을 한 다. 가장 높은 등급인 1+ 등급은 돼지의 탕박 기준으로 도체 중이 83-93 kg, 등지방두께가 17~25 mm이다. 축산물등급판정 통계연보에 의하면, 2018년 경락단가가 가장 높은 평균 도체 중량은 암퇘지가 83.5 kg, 거세돼지가 77.8 kg이었으며, 평균 등지방두께는 암퇘지가 19.2 mm, 거세돼지가 20.3 mm인 것으로 조사되었다. 본 연구는 거세돼지와 암퇘지에 대한 분산분석, 육량변수와 육질변수 사이의 개별 상관관계, 그리고 육량변수세트와 육질 변수세트 사이의 정준상관분석을 수행하였다. 먼저 분산분석의 결과는 다음과 같이 요약할 수 있다. 첫째, 돼지의 육량 및 육질특성변수들에 있어서 성별 차이를 분석한 결과는 등지방두께는 거세돼지가 암퇘지보다 0.14㎜ 두꺼웠다(P<0.05). 둘째, 육즙감량과 가열감량은 거세돼지가 암퇘지보다 많았다 (P<0.05). 셋째, 보수력, 콜라겐함량, 지방함량, 수분함량, 단백질함량 및 전단가는 암퇘지가 거세돼지보다 높았다 (P<0.05). 육량특성과 육질특성 사이의 상관분석 결과는 다음과 같이 요약할 수 있다. 첫째, 도체중이 무거울수록 등지방두께가 두껍고, 육즙감량이 많이 생기지만, 가열감량은 줄어드는 관계를 갖는다 (P<0.01). 둘째, 등지방두께가 두꺼울수록 지방함량이 늘어나고, 육즙 감량이 많이 생기지만, 콜라겐함량, 수분함량, 단백질함량 및 가열감량과는 음(-)의 상관관계를 갖는 것으로 나타났다 (P<0.01). 셋째, 수분함량과 지방함량의 상관관계가 가장 높았으며 (0.793), 이어서 단백질함량과 지방함량의 상관관계가 높았지만 (0.634), 이들 함량 간에서는 서로 음(-)의 관계를 보이고 있다 (P<0.01). 마지막으로 정준상관분석의 결과는 다음과 같이 요약할 수 있다. 첫째, 육량특성변수 짝과 육질특성변수 짝 사이에 유의한 관계가 있는 것으로 나타났다 (P<0.01). 둘째, 등지방두께(BFT)가 높으면 지방함량과 육즙감량은 높은 반면, 수분함량, 단백질함량, 가열감량, 콜라겐함량, 전단가 및 보수력이 낮은 것으로 나타났다. 이와 같은 결과에 따르면, 소비자들은 지방함량이 많으면서 수분손실이 많은 돼지고기와 단백질함량과 콜라겐함량이 적은 돼지고기는 기피할 수 있다는 점을 간과하여서는 안 될 것이다. 특히 국내 돼지도체등급은 1차적으로 돼지도체중량과 등지방두께를 평가한 이후, 육질항목을 평가하여 최종등급이 판정 되고 있기 때문에 우선적으로 육량지수인 도체중량과 등지방 두께를 적절하게 관리하는 것이 소비자의 요구를 충족하면서 농가의 생산비 절감 및 농가수취가격상승에 의한 소득증대로 이어지는 중요한 요인이 된다는 사실에 주목할 필요가 있다.