The rice area cultivated by individual farmers in Northeast Thailand has gradually decreased since the 2010s. As Northeast Thailand is a major rice-growing region in Thailand, this trend might suggest a potential decline in total rice production at the national level. In order to examine this concern, we investigated fluctuations in the scale of rice production among individual farmers in Northeast Thailand from 2010 to 2019, focusing on the relationship between cultivated area and rice yield. This study used household panel data collected by Thailand Vietnam Socio-Economic Panel project. We compared 445 farmers who reduced their rice cultivation area with 208 who expanded it, comparing rice yield, production disposal, and input usage. The results indicate a decrease in the number of farmers cultivating a rice area of more than 3.2 ha and an increase in those cultivating less than 1.6 ha during the period. The farmers who enlarged their rice cultivation area had a higher yield in 2010 than those who reduced it, but their unit yield fell below that of the reducing group by 2016. This finding suggests difficulties for farmers who increase the area under rice production in sustaining the intensity of production over time.

Promoting sustainable production systems is one of the pillars of sustainable development. Rural development strategies, therefore, should enhance production systems that are sustainable for the future. In Kenya, horticulture exports are a state-induced development strategy meant to raise incomes, improve productivity, and eradicate poverty in rural areas. However, with the ongoing proliferation of regulatory standards and stiff competition, horticulture is becoming increasingly challenging for producers in developing countries. Phytosanitary standards have become a de facto requirement for participating in the lucrative market, intended to bridge the information asymmetry between buyers and producers and serve as an assurance of food safety and environmentally conscious production systems, thereby ensuring that more areas of production are certified. Consequently, buyers prefer producers certified by at least one of the internationally recognized schemes. Producers strive for certification, often certifying only a portion of their producing area to meet the standards, which can hinder the promotion of sustainable agricultural practices. This study aimed to assess the recent priorities for Kenyan horticulture in terms of more certified producers or more certified areas of production, what the trends are, and how these trends affect production. Using panel data obtained from GlobalGAP and FAOStat (2008 to 2020), the study found that the number of certified producers and the certified production area (ha) have both increased. The Pseudo-Poisson Maximum Likelihood (PPML) estimator shows that increasing the number of certified producers has a significant effect on exported volumes and total value, while the area under certified production for both covered and uncovered crops has no significant effect. This could imply that farmers are keen on maintaining the market requirements as opposed to increasing the certified area.

The Japanese government established the Foreign Technical Intern and Training Program (TITP) for developing countries, enabling trainees from these countries to improve technology, skills, and practical knowledge in an actual work environment and apply their skills when they return home. However, due to issues including improper wage payments and overwork, this approach has received harsh criticism from human rights organizations inside and outside Japan. Previous research has primarily focused on the negative aspects of this program, with little emphasis placed on its positive impacts. TITP is considered critical for Indonesia because it provides high-paying jobs for “unskilled” youth, accounting for more than half of the unemployed population. This research aimed to summarize the current general condition of the TITP, classify the different programs under TITP, and compare the socio-economic conditions of the alumni after finishing TITP and returning to Indonesia. Based on the findings, we can assert that the TITP in the agriculture sector has attracted TITP alumni to pursue a career in agriculture, thereby contributing to an increase in young farmers, desperately needed to ensure the future of Indonesia’s agriculture. The majority of alumni became farmer entrepreneurs. The average income of TITP alumni working in the agriculture sector was found to be more than three times that of the average Indonesian farmer’s monthly income. The main programs realized under the TITP and reviewed in the current study included the Industrial Training Program (ITP) and the Technical Intern Program (TIP). These programs were compared with the NT Farm (NTF) in Fukui, which is recognized for its exceptional training methodology, including entrepreneurship development training. All NTF alumni now own land, and their average income is slightly higher compared to that of the ITP and TIP alumni.

In Australia, salinity is a significant issue plaguing freshwater systems, especially in catchments modified by mining activities. River salinity varies in composition from changes in aquifer lithology, natural salt deposits and salt accumulation due to land altering activities (e.g., mining and agriculture). Complex salinity matrixes arise when different salinity sources and compositions are diluted into freshwater systems. Monitoring waterway salinity and characterizing salinity matrixes is vital to mitigating adverse impacts on agriculture, drinking water supplies and ecosystem health. However, to date, few studies have focused on characterizing salinity in freshwater systems based on source. In this paper, case studies drawn from the Burdekin and Fitzroy catchments, Queensland, are characterized for different salinities associated with mining and natural geogenic mineralization. Salinity coefficients (ke), a ratio of total dissolved solids (TDS in mg/L) to electrical conductivity (EC in µS /cm), are utilized to identify variations in salinity composition. Long-term water quality data (1964-2023) is retrieved from the Queensland Government’s water monitoring program. Findings indicate that mining activities in both catchments have a significant influence on freshwater salinity matrixes, driving lower k_e values (0.561-0.587). A novel method for analyzing long-term k_e data is introduced, utilizing the slope (m) of k_e in cumulative distribution plots. Significant variations in slope in the Fitzroy (m: 9.6, 5.3, 2.3) and in the Burdekin River (m: 8.9, 1.6, 1.0, 0.7) reveal influences on local mineralization and industry, not readily evident when only considering average k_e. This study demonstrates that utilizing known geochemical, EC and TDS relationships and k_e is an effective preliminary method for identifying salinity complexity, composition and source. Salinity in the Fitzroy catchment surpasses aquatic toxicity thresholds (EC50: 2410 µS/cm), revealing significant risks to freshwater aquatic species.

The exploitation of tropical peatlands has triggered serious environmental problems such as deforestation and peat fires, loss of biodiversity, and emission of greenhouse gases. This process includes peat drainage and drying, followed by peat degradation. Dam construction is expected to decrease the vulnerability of peatlands to fires and improve the regeneration of degraded peatland. This study investigated the effects of dam restoration for peat swamp forests degraded by drainage on the dynamics of organic matter that regulate peat conditions. We compared the organic matter dynamics of three types of forest in Palagnkaraya, Central Kalimantan, Indonesia: less-drained (almost natural), drained (degraded), and dam-restored forest. Both drained and dam-restored forests experienced drainage in 1995; however, dams were constructed at the dam-restored site in 2005. Within each site, we measured litterfall, fine root production, and decomposition as indices of the peat accumulation rate, water table, and soil moisture. The mean groundwater level at the dam construction site was significantly higher than that of the drained forest. Litterfall was highest in the drained forest and lowest in the dam-restored site. The decomposition rates were not significantly different among the sites. We estimated the changes in peat mass using a model. The amounts of peat accumulation after 5 years were found to be 3.46, -1.60, and -2.86 kg/m² in the less-drained, drained, and dam-restored sites, respectively. These results showed that peat deposition decreased at the dam construction site but decreased less in the drained forest. A possible explanation for the observed results is increased primary production in drained forests caused by reduced flooding stress and increased nutrient supply from oxidized peat for primary producers.

Hydroponics can be integrated into Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA), in combination with greenhouses. They can successfully optimize the use of fertilizers and water for arid zones. Elevated costs of this type of agriculture lead farmers to implement semiautomated systems and use recyclable materials to stabilize plant productivity. This paper discusses the different growth ratios of tomato plants estimated with logistic curves when tap water with fertilizer (T1), Oxidixed Water-OW [reclaimed water] (T2), and Disinfected Tertiary Recycled Water- DTRW [renewable water] (T3) are used; additionally, a new module is presented to avoid underestimation of plant height when fertilization is carried out at the flowering stage. This model was adapted only for treatment 1. Logistic curves were created with low RMSE values using the least-square method. Despite presenting better mass volume and fruit quantity in OW [reclaimed water] treatment at the final stage of the plant, a t-test revealed that there is not a significant difference among treatments of OW and DTRW [renewable and reclaimed water] for the height of plants. The adjustment of a logistic equation with the inclusion of a linear module allowed to decrease in the RMSE from 73 to 21 mm.

In recent years, the demand for meat has increased due to changing dietary habits as well as global population growth. In response to the increased demand for livestock products, grassland ecosystems are increasingly used for grazing and feed crop production, raising concerns about the negative environmental impacts caused by the expansion of livestock production. The author has studied a beef cattle farm that is one of the few farms in Japan that uses forest grazing. There have been concerns about the negative impact of farming grazing livestock near water bodies. When considering sustainable grazing livestock farming, the challenge is to conserve water quality and propose appropriate habitat design to conserve biodiversity. River ecosystem studies require an assessment of the physical environment and surveys of the number of organisms. RHS-HQA is a method developed in the UK and is a relatively easy survey method for obtaining information. This study investigated how grazing cattle use the rivers present in their pastures. A physical environment survey using the RHS-HQA was also carried out to investigate the status of the river on the grazing land. Based on these results, the environmental design of pastureland for sustainable grazing livestock production was discussed, with particular attention to rivers and other riparian areas. The results of the RHS-HQA showed that the river flowing through the target farm was maintained in its natural state, with diverse flow and bed material and a suitable bank environment for biological habitat. Also, the results suggest that by maintaining riparian forest between the grazing land and the river, riverbanks are less likely to become bare or collapse even when grazing cattle use rivers.

Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and iron ions dissolved from steelmaking slag (SS), when attached to an electrode surface, improve the performance of carbon fiber electrodes. However, the electrode potential decreases during the attachment (fermentation without aeration), leading to decreased electrode performance when used as a cathode. Additionally, SS dissolution increases the solution pH, which can affect the survival rate of LAB. This study examines the effects of aeration on an electrode potential and solution pH on the survival rate of LAB in solution during fermentation. In the experiments, SS, LAB beverage, bamboo powder, and carbon fiber electrodes were placed in a bottle with and without aeration. Temporal measurements of the solution pH, iron ion concentrations, adenosine triphosphate (ATP), and electrode potential were performed. The results showed that aeration could prevent a 0.5-fold decrease in the electrode potential due to fermentation. The solution pH temporarily increased and exceeded eight during the fermentation, suggesting that SS had been dissolved. ATP began to decrease when the solution pH exceeded 8, indicating that the solution pH influences the survival rate of LAB. It is recommended that the fermentation should be conducted within three days. Furthermore, to improve the performance of a sediment microbial fuel cell (SMFC), the electrodes with and without aeration should be used as the cathode and anode of SMFC, respectively.

Viticulture has been an important agricultural sector throughout history in many countries. In Japan, grape-growing areas cover 17,800 ha, and the estimated annual grape production is 172,700 tons. The leading prefecture for grape production and winemaking is Yamanashi Prefecture. The land area under grapevine cultivation in Yamanashi Prefecture is around 3,780 ha with an estimated production of 36,900 tons per year, while grape production and winemaking are two key sources of income for local farmers. However, despite many advances in grape and wine production, these sectors face significant challenges both in Yamanashi Prefecture and across Japan, including a shortage of qualified labor. There is a lack of information and studies that focus on examining factors impacting the grape and wine industry in Yamanashi Prefecture. The objectives of the current study were 1) to examine the economic characteristics of grape farmers in Yamanashi Prefecture, 2) to evaluate factors influencing and limiting the contribution of grape farming to household income, and 3) to assess challenges facing grape farmers and wine producers in the study area. Field surveys in the form of structured and semi-structured questionnaires were conducted with grape farmers and wine producers during the ripening and harvesting grape season in 2022. Data were analyzed descriptively using SPSS software. The result indicated that on average, 80% of farmers in Yamanashi Prefecture were part-time farmers and had 1 to 3 ha of land, of which 40% was under grape cultivation and 60% under peach cultivation. The majority of respondents (88%) had a university education, while 12% had only a high school education, with female grape growers predominating (60%). The majority of the produced grape (80%) was sold fresh and only 20% was used for making wine. Most of the grape growers used the pergola method for training vines and preferred sandy and silty soil, with 90% of respondents using sprinkler irrigation. The results indicated that key environmental factors affecting grape bunches were light exposure, temperature, humidity, wind, rainfall, and the physiology of the grapevine by water and nutrients. The result showed that initial investments, labor inputs, small size of land parcels, and the depopulation of rural areas are the core factors that influence and limit the contribution of grape farming to household income. Therefore, if these issues are not considered, the long- term viability of sustainable grape production and winemaking in Yamanashi Prefecture will be at risk.

Rice productivity in Cambodia has increased dramatically in recent decades. The main factor behind this breakthrough has been the spread of irrigation and modern rice varieties. However, the formal rice seed supply system is still not well established, and most farmers use seeds collected by themselves. In this situation, it is difficult to maintain the new varieties’ field performance. This study investigated the current situation of farmers’ rice seed treatment practices and the concern that these practices hinder the improvement of rice productivity in Cambodia. Data for this study were collected from 80 conveniently selected farmers in irrigated and rainfed areas in Takeo Province of Cambodia. Farmers in the irrigated area cultivated modern varieties and sold most of their production, while farmers in the rainfed area grew traditional and improved varieties and used them for home consumption. In both areas, farmers procured rice seed through self-collection, and when they changed the variety cultivated, they mostly procured seed from relatives or neighboring farmers. This fact suggested that most farmers did not purchase formally produced seeds. The seed used per hectare in the irrigated area was two times higher than in the rainfed area. In addition, the rice yield per seed used in the irrigated area was lower than in the rainfed area, even though farmers in the irrigated area were growing modern varieties.

Cambodian farmers have gradually started growing no-tilled vegetables, but production is low due to manual practices. No-till transplanter use in Conservation agriculture (CA) can boost small-holder vegetable production and decrease production costs. Thus, this paper aimed (1) to compare the working capacity of a no-till vegetable transplanter with punch planter work in CA and hand planting in CT (Conventional tillage) and (2) to assess the economic performance of the equipment. The experiment was conducted in Battambang province, Cambodia, from January to August 2022. The experiment was arranged in RCBD with three treatments, plating using a no-till vegetable transplanter, punch planter, and manual or hand plating, each replicated four times. Tomato seedlings were used for this experiment. As a result, the no-till vegetable transplanter’s working capacity was shown to be 16 h/ha, or nearly three times faster than punch plater and hand plating and could transplant 10 seedlings per minute. Plant spacing and density were similar for all the treatments at 0.8 m, and the plant density of the hand planter and punch planter was 11,660 plants/ha compared to the no-till transplanter at 9,921 plants/ha. Economic recovery is attainable at the break- even point of 18.20 ha/y for the transplanter.

Among new farmers, farming discontinuation within a few years is prevalent due to various issues, including difficulty in securing farmland, insufficient technology adoption, low income, and weak branding. In recent years, the importance of recruitment and support services for new farmers has been gaining recognition. Therefore, studies that can provide insights and innovations to improve the business operations and resilience of each new farmer are relevant and timely. Tomato is the most common fruit vegetable consumed fresh or processed in Japan. For new farmers, tomatoes are considered one of the favored high-value commodities for production. In response to the needs of a young female new farmer who ventured into greenhouse tomato farming in H City, Tokyo, this study aims to clarify the consumption and purchasing behavior, satisfaction and brand familiarity of randomly selected tomato consumers. We conducted a consumer survey from May to June 2022. Although we had 470 respondents, we only utilized responses from 213 consumer-respondents to capture the characteristics and preferences of those who experienced buying tomatoes from the selected farm (NF Farm). Through this case study approach, the survey revealed that supermarkets (31%) were the main place of purchase for fresh tomatoes due to convenience, followed by direct stores (28%) and unmanned stores (17%) due to both convenience and good product quality. Results indicated that cherry tomatoes were the most widely consumed across all seasons, while summer was the season with highest consumption of all tomato types, with prices ranging between 101 JPY and 500 JPY (1 USD = 133.9 JPY). After only 5 years in business, NF Farm seemed to have gained a fan base. Unfortunately, 63.8% of consumer- respondents indicated no knowledge of the farm logo. Most related the farm to the name of the farmer. Thus, there is a need for NF Farm to re-evaluate its farm brand (e.g., logo, farm name, labeling) so that it will be properly recognized even by its long-time customers.

Sweet net melon (Cucumis melo L.) is an annual climbing plant famous for its delicious fleshy fruit. It is one of the most widely cultivated and consumed around the world. This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of pollination employing Apis mellifera L. (Hymenoptera: Apidae) on yield and growth in greenhouse conditions, compared to the traditional method of hand cross-pollination and self-pollination. The experiment was laid out using a completely randomized design (CRD) with three treatments and one hundred replications: T1 represented self-pollination, T2 - hand cross-pollination, and T3 - Apis mellifera pollination. Plant growth, fruit yield, and sugar content were analyzed by using a portable refractometer. Results revealed that the Apis mellifera pollination had resulted in a significantly greater fruit set of sweet net melon than hand cross-pollination and self- pollination (100%, 74%, and 62%, respectively). Furthermore, Apis mellifera had significantly enhanced fruit yield compared to both self-pollination and hand cross- pollination. In addition, self-pollination, hand cross-pollination, and Apis mellifera pollination were not significantly different in terms of sweetness, fruit thickness, fruit weight, number of seeds per fruit, and fruit size. Therefore, pollination by Apis mellifera can be used to increase fruit yield and ensure food security, in line with Cambodia’s National Strategy for Food Security and Nutrition from 2019 to 2023. In addition, pollination by Apis mellifera may be one of the most powerful tools for agricultural adaptation to climate change.

Variety is a key factor in the quality and productivity of paddy rice. In 2010, the Royal Government of Cambodia promulgated a paddy/rice policy that introduced 10 high- yielding rice varieties to farmers. This study investigated the socio-economic factors influencing farmers’ decisions to adopt these high-yielding rice varieties while examining the impact of their adoption on yields and profits. Probit regression and propensity score matching methods were applied for analysis. The empirical results of the probit regression indicated that factors such as gender (male), paddy field size, and distance to a paved road had a significantly positive influence on farmers’ adoption of the improved rice varieties. Meanwhile, household size, the number of paddy field plots owned, car ownership, off-farm job engagement, and the number of cows owned had a significantly negative effect. The results from propensity score matching methods revealed that farmers who had adopted high-yielding rice varieties experienced a significantly positive impact on yields and profits.

In Cambodia, most historical materials have been lost due to the genocide and the book-burning policy under the Pol Pot regime, and therefore, limited scientific records of the names, raw materials, manufacturing methods, and ingredients of traditional foods exist today. Current changes in the Cambodian lifestyle, such as the westernization of eating habits and increased food safety awareness, are driving factors that may result in the gradual disappearance of traditional foods. The Elaeocarpus hygrophilus Kurz fruit, known as Madenh or Romdenh in Khmer, is one example of a traditional food under pressure from changing eating habits. This study aimed to identify the consumption trends of Elaeocarpus hygrophilus Kurz and its processed products. The field survey revealed six ways of eating Elaeocarpus hygrophilus Kurz, including pickled, smashed-in-sugar, raw, caramelized, pickled-in-honey, and pickled-in-rice liquor. Additionally, the results of interviews with 514 customers in the local market about their habits regarding the product showed that younger customers tended to consume more pickled, smashed-in-sugar, and fresh fruit than the older generations. Further studies on the nutritional content of these products are needed to explore their relationship with eating habits and to prevent the decline in traditional food preferences.

Biotope, where the ecosystems have been lost due to industrial development and urbanization, should be restored to rehabilitate the organisms of the original inhabitants. Although there are more than 1,500 school biotopes in Japan, few research have been conducted for evaluating their soil and water quality. Compared to lakes and rivers, biotopes have problems as there is less data on soil and water quality. Furthermore, there were no ‘environmental standards for biotopes,’ so it was hard to evaluate if their soil and water conditions are appropriate for biotopes. Accordingly, the aims of this study are to determine soil and water quality in several biotopes and to develop a draft of environmental standards for biotopes. Various surveys were conducted by disseminating questionnaires to elementary school students on current management systems and their perception of the function of biotopes. Also, soil and water samples were collected from a public park and four elementary schools in Tokyo and Kanagawa Prefectures for quality analysis. As biological characteristics, coliforms and E. coli were measured from soil samples. Also, total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP), pH, EC, SS, coliforms and E. coli were measured from water samples. The results of TN and TP tended to increase in summer due to the increase in algae. The school that keeps bantams and goats near the biotope detected coliforms and E. coli. The excrement of these animals may cause contamination. However, the results from the questionnaire survey indicated that the water appears to be clean. Accordingly, there was a difference in their perception and water quality condition. Therefore, the draft of environmental standards, TN and TP values may be consistent with the standards for the lakes, although there are size differences between lakes and biotopes. However, the standards on coliforms and E. coli should be more restricted, since children often play with biotopes.

Tonga is a tropical nation that faces susceptibility to the effects of climate change, with one of the primary challenges for its agricultural sector being the impact of El-Nino leading to prolonged periods of drought. The resulting economic crisis in the region was notable during the 2015-2016 drought season, leading to food shortages and a subsequent increase in food prices. This necessitated the importation of more expensive perishable goods to supplement locally produced items. This study aimed to investigate the use of coconut charcoal as a soil water amendment to mitigate water scarcity during drought periods. The findings demonstrated that incorporating 10 % of coconut charcoal with particle sizes of less than 1 mm into the soil can enhance soil physical properties, particularly in terms of maintaining optimal soil water levels of 50 kPa to 100 kPa for plant vegetative growth and grain growth 100 kPa to 1200 kPa. This amendment was found to alleviate plant water stress by prolonging the period before soil dryness occurs, benefiting vegetative growth and grain development stages. In conclusion, the incorporation of coconut charcoal as a soil amendment showed significant improvement in overall plant performance, such as an average increase in leaf area from 33.7 cm² to 93.9 cm². This suggests that coconut charcoal can be a viable recommendation as a soil amendment, aiding in the conservation of water resources and reducing irrigation costs and other expenses for small-scale farmers. This approach could enhance the resilience of Tonga’s agricultural sector and small farmers in coping with drought conditions attributed to El-Nino. Consequently, this strategy could help diminish the need for importing perishable agricultural products from abroad during drought periods.

Despite rapid economic growth, income inequality between rural and urban areas remains an important social issue in Thailand. In 2020, the disparity between the Northeast region, which has the lowest GRP per capita, and the East region, which has the highest GRP per capita, was approximately 5.05 times. Northeast Thailand is an agricultural area and is famous for silk production. According to the Queen Sirikit Department of Sericulture, in 2017 sericulture silk yarn production in the Northeast region was 520 metric tons and engaged 82,071 households (or approximately 80% of all households in the region). Improving the silk industry in the Northeast is essential for economic development in this region. Obtaining certifications that guarantee quality is considered one effective way to increase farmers’ income. Hence, this study aimed to clarify the factors that play a role in obtaining certification and the impact of obtaining certification on farmers’ profits from silk weaving. We examined the case of farmers in Khon Kaen province in Northeast Thailand and focused on four certifications: Organic Thailand, Geographical Indication (GI), OTOP, and Peacock. We conducted both quantitative and qualitative analyses based on the primary data collected through in-person interviews with 103 farmers from October to November 2022. The results showed that the important factors affecting profits from silk weaving are design, the type of dyestuffs, and the ability to access markets where products fetch high prices. To identify the key factors to obtain certification, we used logistic regression, and to evaluate the impact of the certifications, we conducted a two-sample t-test. Statistical analysis results revealed that joining a farmers’ community and the number of processes involved in sericulture are two important factors in obtaining certifications and that farmers who have certifications tend to earn more income compared to non-certificated farmers.

Buffalo raised by smallholder farmers play important roles for agricultural production, including providing draught power and fertilizer. Buffalo are suited to poor feeding management and adapt to hot-humid tropical climate conditions. Recently the swamp buffalo population of Thailand has been declining. The objectives of the current study are to examine the socio-economic background of Thai farmers engaged in buffalo raising, buffalo raising practices, and farmer needs in terms of extension work focused on buffalo raising. Data collection for the study consisted of questionnaires submitted to 45 farmers in May - October 2020 by convenience sampling. SPSS for Windows was used for analysis to determine the percentage, mean, minimum, and maximum values. In-depth interviews were conducted with farmers who were members of a buffalo-raising group, and with several village headmen and local staff in communities around the Kaeng Lawa Reservoir wetland, in Ban Phai District, Khon Kaen Province, Thailand. The results indicated that members of the buffalo-raising group had an average of 23.9 years’ experience in buffalo raising, with an average of 8-9 heads of buffalo per household. The majority of farmers (92.1%) sold their buffalo per head to local merchants, while the average annual income from buffalo sales was 63,233.71 baht per household. Additionally, farmers sold buffalo manure by 20 kg bag for 20-25 baht, earning 2,000 - 3,000 baht a year. The extension work on buffalo raising showed that farmers needed the following: 1) knowledge, in particular on selecting and buying female breeders, breeding improvements, keeping buffalo manure and added value of buffalo manure; 2) training; 82.22% of farmers wanted training provided at the village level, while 75.56 % requested livestock officers as training facilitators; and 3) support, in particular with buying high-quality breeders from government organizations, services on injections for animal health, provision of vaccinations and prevention of disease.

Maize is the main staple crop in Tanzania; it is produced in almost all agroecological regions of the country, with production dominated by small-scale rain-fed farming. Maize production in Tanzania is constrained by climate change impacts such as rises in temperature, changes in rainfall patterns, and increases in plant diseases, insects, pests, floods, and droughts. Small-scale maize farmers have low climate change adaptation capacity, as the majority still use unsustainable farming practices such as monoculture, intensive tillage, and burning of crop residues, all of which increase the farmers’ vulnerability to climate change impacts. Sustainable farming practices, in particular Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) practices such as the ones considered in this study, are believed to contribute significantly to restoring and conserving agroecosystems, increasing maize productivity and resilience towards climate change. This study aimed to identify the common EbA practices adopted by farmers in Tanzania and to determine the factors influencing adoption of EbA practices in maize farming. The study was conducted in the Kilosa district of the Morogoro region of Tanzania. Both primary and secondary data were used in the study. Primary data was collected through key informant interviews with the agricultural extension officers and a semi-structured questionnaire survey administered to 350 farmers. The T-test and the Tobit regression model were used for data analysis. Based on the T-test results, commonly adopted EbA practices included crop rotation, maize-legume intercropping, and improved seeds. Based on the Tobit regression analysis, farm size, household income, land ownership, access to climate information, labor, knowledge of EbA practices, and membership in the farmer field schools were found to significantly influence the adoption of EbA practices in maize farming. This study highlighted the importance of the government’s role in increasing EbA knowledge dissemination to the farmers through improving the training facilities in the farmer field schools and increasing opportunities for the farmers to have access to credit from financial service providers, allowing maize farmers to boost their income and become able to adopt more EbA practices.

In Thailand, the sacred lotus (Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn.) is used as an ingredient for healthy food and beverage production and plays a role in Buddhist rituals. In particular, dried lotus petal tea and jasmine rice wrapped in lotus leaves are a staple of traditional food menus, but detailed nutritional information on these products is lacking. Hence, the objective of this research was to standardize some traditional value-added Thai foods and beverages made from lotus and assess their nutritional value. First, a recipe for rice mixed with lotus seed, shrimp, and chicken wrapped in lotus leaves was standardized as a main course, to be served along with lotus petal tea. Subsequently, a nutritional analysis of the two products was carried out for the purpose of nutritional information labeling. The estimated nutritional values in both products were assessed according to the criteria of Percentage of Thai Recommended Daily Intakes for population over 6 years of age (% Thai RDI) with a 2,000-kcal diet. The results showed that the nutritional value of rice wrapped in lotus leaves per net weight of 180 g as a percentage of RDI (excluding a nutritional analysis of the lotus leaves) was 390 kcal (20%) of total energy, 14 g (22%) of total fat, 285 mg (95%) of cholesterol, 18 g of protein, 48 g (16%) of total carbohydrate, 620 mg (31%) of sodium, and vitamin A, B1, and B2. For the nutrition value of a lotus petal teacup per 100 g net weight, only 20 mg (1%) of sodium was found. Lastly, the preliminary results of this study were evaluated based on a value index over five years. The findings revelated that the value addition of sacred lotus represented 8,859 Thai Baht of net present value (NPV), a benefit-cost ratio (BCR) of 1.34, and 8.1% of internal rate of return (IRR), and showed the break-even value of the project budget. Therefore, the result findings are expected to enhance development of sacred lotus products oriented towards green production.

Bioenergy derived from anaerobic digestion has gained attention for a decade because of its ability to convert waste into biogas. The advantages of this biotechnology could substitute conventional energy, lower greenhouse gas emissions, and produce less biodegradable waste. This study focused on methane production from ensiled Napier grass (Pak Chong 1) by co-digestion with anaerobic mixed cultures of an Expanded Granular Sludge Bed (EGSB) from a bakery factory. The ratio of co-digestion between ensiled Napier grass feedstock and inoculum (F/I ratio) was 1:1 and 1:3 based on volatile solids (VS). The potential of methane production was evaluated using a batch experiment for 30 days in the laboratory at room temperature (32-35 ± 5 ºC). To enhance biogas production, an alkaline pre-treatment of Napier grass was prepared by adding 1% NaOH. The results demonstrated that the methane production potential of the F/I ratio at 1:1 and 1:3 was 311.11 ± 29 and 255.56 ± 91 mL CH₄/g COD, respectively. The maximum energy production based on methane production was approximately 9.17 kJ/L. The range of pH was 6.96 ± 0.2 to 9.93 ± 0.2 and the percentage of SS, TS, and COD removal were 60.10, 24.69, and 48.63, respectively. The results of this study indicated that the feedstock and inoculum ratio (F/I) including pretreatment of feedstock and inoculum is necessary for biogas potential production. The potential biogas production of the CSTR reactor and its economic feasibility should be further considered.

Ovche Pole Region is the second largest agricultural area in Macedonia. It is a plain with a dry climate, characterized by low precipitation and high ambient temperatures during the growing period and prevailing winds which are frequently present throughout the year. During the 1950s, the government took a large-scale operation for the establishment of tree windbreaks (field shelterbelts) that would reduce wind velocity, protect agricultural land, and increase crop productivity. Even though these systems perform important functions, approximately half of the initial tree windbreak area has been lost mainly due to land use change. Today a significant area of the existing tree windbreak belts is damaged. Actions for the protection, rehabilitation, and restoration of these systems are needed, however, without active support and understanding of farmers’ perspectives on tree windbreak systems, any activity would be without major and long-term success. Therefore, the objectives of this study are to: (1) examine farmers’ attitudes toward the tree windbreak system and its rehabilitation, and (2) assess farmers’ awareness and perceptions of ecosystem services provided by the tree windbreak system. In this aim a semi-structured questionnaire was developed and following the convenience sampling method distributed to 72 farmers to gather the needed information. Data analysis showed that in general farmers have positively valued the tree windbreak systems and agreed that rehabilitation and restoration are needed. Regarding the ecosystem functions, the results indicate that farmers gave uniform answers in some cases, the farmers had split perceptions. According to farmers’ responses, the most important ecosystem service provided by the tree windbreaks is climate regulation, this is followed by the reduction of soil erosion and runoff and the source of provisional materials function.

The IAS 41 accounting standard for agriculture aims to standardize the accounting practices among entities engaged in agricultural production. However, there has been limited awareness and adoption of the standard, especially in the agritourism sector. This study examined accounting practices of selected agritourism farms in Region IV-A, Philippines, and aimed to identify the factors that influence their accounting practices. Interviews were conducted with eighteen farms and their financial records were reviewed. A descriptive analysis composed of mean and median rating and odds ratio analysis were performed. Additionally, sentiment analysis was conducted to evaluate the attitudes of the respondents toward the factors that influence their practices. Results indicated that most farms did not adhere to the established accounting standards for recognizing and measuring biological assets, instead relying on current practices. Only five farms recognized biological assets composed of living animals and plants, and only three farms maintained a Biological Asset account and measured it using the fair market value approach. The study highlighted that owner or management preferences, and the ease of calculation contributed very significantly to the farm’s accounting practices. Training in finance and accounting and recommendations of external auditors increased the likelihood of farms adopting the standard. Notably, sentiment analysis revealed a positive score for training, while recommendations of the auditors received a moderately positive score. The study recommends enhanced education on accounting for agriculture. A framework on how to record and measure biological assets must be developed to improve the accounting practices of agritourism farms and their compliance with accounting standards.

Agriculture and tourism are two critical sectors with a considerable influence on the socio-cultural, economic, and environmental aspects of Tanzanian society. These two sectors not only offer substantial employment opportunities but also contribute significantly to income generation and foreign exchange earnings. Nevertheless, the success of these sectors depends upon the participation and support of local communities, whose engagement is closely linked to their perceptions. In recent years, agritourism has emerged as a unique form of diversification in the agricultural sector, offering Tanzanian farmers a potential avenue to introduce a blend of agriculture and tourism-related activities and open a new income stream. Furthermore, since the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on conventional farming and agritourism was different, post-pandemic opinions in the local community are likely to differ. Therefore, this study aimed to provide insights into the locals’ perceptions and the factors that influence their perceptions to support a sustainable post-pandemic recovery. The study was conducted in the Arusha and Mwanza regions of Tanzania, and a total sample of 191 respondents was selected randomly for interviewing and filling out the questionnaires. To analyze the data, descriptive analysis, and principal component analysis were used. The findings indicate that locals’ perceptions of conventional and agritourism farming are, on average, positive. Despite both sectors being perceived positively, the underlying reasons for the perception and support were different. For agritourism, the positive perception was primarily associated with the economic benefits, including income generation and the creation of employment opportunities. Whereas, for conventional farming, positive perception was associated with environmental conservation, economic benefits, food security, and community cohesion.

Sediment microbial fuel cell (SMFC) performance can be improved using electrodes fermented with and without aeration as cathodes and anodes, respectively. However, this improved performance does not exceed 60 days. In this study, the cathode water-based factors affecting SMFC performance were identified using long-term electricity generation. Meanwhile, SMFC performance (polarization) was measured in experimental conditions. In addition to the polarization measurement, the pH, electrical conductivity (EC) of the cathode water, and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) on the cathode surface were measured. Experiments were conducted with and without the overflow of cathode water. Thereafter, the scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive X-ray (SEM-EDX) analysis of the cathodes was performed. In line with existing literature, SMFC performance began to decrease on Day 60 from the commencement of the experiments. Furthermore, the pH difference before and after Day 60 was within 0.2, indicating that the pH of the cathode water did not directly affect SMFC performance. Moreover, EC was kept low with cathode water overflow, significantly decreasing SMFC performance. Further, the SMFC performance increased with an increase in ATP, indicating that the bacterial activities on the electrode affected SMFC performance. The SEM-EDX results revealed that metal ions that were obtained from the dissolution of steelmaking slag attached to the cathode surface, indicating the crystallization of these metal ions during the experiments. These findings indicate that the crystallization on the cathode driven by long-term electricity generation inhibited bacterial activities and cathode reactions, thereby decreasing SMFC performance.