Search Results (1,612)

In the current era, Indian agriculture faces a significant demand for increased food production, which has led to the integration of advanced technologies to enhance efficiency and productivity. Drones have emerged as transformative tools for enhancing precision agriculture, reducing costs, and improving sustainability. This study provides a comprehensive review of drone adoption in Indian agriculture by examining its effects on precision farming, crop monitoring, and pesticide application. This research evaluates technological advancements, regulatory frameworks, infrastructure, farmers’ perceptions, and the financial accessibility of drone technology in the Indian agricultural context. Key findings indicate that, while drone adoption enhances efficiency and sustainability, challenges such as high costs, lack of training, and regulatory barriers hinder widespread implementation. This paper also explores the growing market for agricultural drones in India, highlighting key industry players and projected market growth. Furthermore, it addresses regional differences in adoption rates and emphasizes the increasing social acceptance of drones among Indian farmers. To bridge the gap between potential and practice, the study proposes several policy and institutional recommendations, including government-led financial incentives, training programs, and public–private partnerships to facilitate drone integration. Moreover, this review article also highlights technological advancements, such as AI and IoT, in agriculture. Finally, open issues and future research directions for drones are discussed. Full article

This study investigates the production and economic feasibility of biochar for smallholder and family farms in Central Amazonia, with potential implications for other tropical regions. The costs of construction of a prototype mobile kiln and biochar production were evaluated, using small-sized biomass from acai (Euterpe oleracea Mart.) agro-industrial residues as feedstock. The biochar produced was characterised in terms of its liming capacity (calcium carbonate equivalence, CaCO_3eq), nutrient content via organic fertilisation methods, and ash analysis by ICP-OES. Field trials with cowpea assessed economic outcomes, as well scenarios of fractional biochar application and cost comparison between biochar production in the prototype kiln and a traditional earth-brick kiln. The prototype kiln showed production costs of USD 0.87–2.06 kg⁻¹, whereas traditional kiln significantly reduced costs (USD 0.03–0.08 kg⁻¹). Biochar application alone increased cowpea revenue by 34%, while combining biochar and lime raised cowpea revenues by up to 84.6%. Owing to high input costs and the low value of the crop, the control treatment generated greater net revenue compared to treatments using lime alone. Moreover, biochar produced in traditional kilns provided a 94% increase in net revenue compared to liming. The estimated externalities indicated that carbon credits represented the most significant potential source of income (USD 2217 ha⁻¹). Finally, fractional biochar application in ten years can retain over 97% of soil carbon content, demonstrating potential for sustainable agriculture and carbon sequestration and a potential further motivation for farmers if integrated into carbon markets. Public policies and technological adaptations are essential for facilitating biochar adoption by small-scale tropical farmers. Full article

The work presents a comprehensive analysis and costing of sugar beet cultivation in 2020–2022, for individual farms of the Lublin region. About 120 farms were analyzed. Based on this analysis, the criteria for a model farm were determined and adopted for the calculation of sugar beet production costs. ARIMA process modeling was performed, based on which forecasts were determined for several selected parameters. Customs tariffs introduced by the USA have a drastic impact on the economy. The effects of the COVID19 pandemic may also have a significant impact on the current market situation. Forecasting in the current geopolitical situation is very difficult because of the lack of stationarity of parameters. The financial result obtained by growers is mainly influenced by indirect costs absorbing 61.31% of total costs in 2020. In 2021 and 2022, indirect costs were 61.16% and 59.61% of production income, respectively. Among this group of costs, the largest share is accounted for by the costs of sowing services, sugar beet harvesting, and soil liming amounting from 14.27% to 15.92%. During the analyzed period, sugar beet cultivation remained profitable, with a production profitability index of 1.31 in 2020 and 2021, and 1.10 in 2022. The unit cost of production increased every year. In 2020, it was 14.27% and in 2021, it increased to 15.19%. The unit cost of production in 2022 was the highest, at 23.41%. Sugar beet cultivation is one of the profitable activities in agricultural production, but it is characterized by high production costs, which increased during the years analyzed (2020 to 2022), topping out at 90.87% of total revenue. The information and data presented in this study will be used in the development of a farmer-oriented application and will support the creation of an expert system for sugar beet growers. Cost forecasting will enable farmers to plan their production more effectively. Full article

Against the backdrop of increasingly frequent extreme weather events and heightened market price volatility, investigating the relationship between agricultural insurance and farmers’ livelihood resilience is crucial for ensuring rural socioeconomic stability. This study utilizes field survey data from 1196 households across twelve county-level divisions (three cities and nine counties) from China’s Hainan and Yunnan provinces, specifically in natural rubber-producing regions. Using propensity score matching (PSM), we empirically examine agricultural insurance’s impact on household livelihood resilience. The results demonstrate that agricultural insurance increased the effect on farmers’ livelihood resilience by 1%. This effect is particularly pronounced among recently poverty-alleviated households and large-scale farming operations. Furthermore, the analysis highlights the mediating roles of credit availability, adoption of agricultural production technologies, and production initiative in strengthening insurance’s positive impact. Therefore, policies should be refined and expanded, combining agricultural insurance with credit support and agricultural technology extension to leverage their value and ensure the sustainable development of farm households. Full article

Solid biomass (agro-residue) is the most important source of renewable energy. The accelerating impacts of climate change and global population growth contribute to air pollution through the use of fossil fuels. These processes increase the demand for energy. The European Union has adopted a climate action plan to address the above challenges. The main aim of this study was to assess the economic performance of the producers of biomass for energy generation in Poland. The detailed objectives were to determine land resources in the studied agricultural farms and to determine the value of fixed and current assets in the analyzed farms. We used questionnaires as the main method to collect data. Purposive sampling was used to choose the farms. We conducted various tests to analyze the revenues from biomass sales and their normality, such as the Dornik–Hansen test, the Shapiro–Wilk test, the Liliefors test, and the Jargue–Berra statistical test. Moreover, we conducted regression analysis to find factors that are the basis for the economic performance (incomes) of farms that sell biomass. Results: This study demonstrated that biomass sales had a minor impact on the performance of agricultural farms, but they enabled farmers to maintain their position on the market. The economic analysis was carried out on a representative group of Polish agricultural farms, taking into account fixed and current assets, land use, production structure, and employment. The findings indicate that a higher income from biomass sales was generally associated with better economic results per farm and per employee, although not always per hectare of land. This suggests that capital intensity and strategic resource management play a crucial role in the profitability of bioenergy-oriented agricultural production. Conclusions: We concluded that biomass sales had a negligible influence on farm income. But a small income from biomass sales could affect a farm’s economic viability. Full article

West Africa faces persistent food and nutrition insecurity despite agricultural efforts, exacerbated by population growth, climate change, and socio-economic vulnerabilities. This study argues that integrating food processing principles with nutrition-sensitive agriculture (NSA) and nutrition-smart agriculture (NSmartAg) offers a transformative solution for human health. Therefore, we delineate these interconnected concepts and highlight their synergistic potential for a nutrition-focused food system. Likewise, critical analysis of key regional challenges, including infrastructural weaknesses, policy gaps, and gender inequities, was made prior to identifying significant opportunities for leveraging food processing as a strategic entry point to accelerate the implementation of NSA and NSmartAg. Based on these insights, six strategic pathways are proposed to achieve this objective: (i) integrating food processing into policies; (ii) investing in interdisciplinary R&D that puts nutrition and health benefits at the forefront of desired outcomes along with others; (iii) strengthening farmer and food processor capacities; (iv) improving agri-food infrastructure; (v) fostering multi-sectoral collaboration; and (vi) prioritizing youth engagement and market development. By adopting these integrated strategies, West African countries can build more resilient, equitable, and nutrition-centered food systems, ultimately improving public health outcomes and fostering sustainable regional development. Full article

Small-scale farms deserve attention and support because they play crucial and important roles. Apart from ensuring provision of food security, they also provide other economic, environmental, and social–cultural benefits. In the United States of America, these farms are agriculturally, culturally, and geographically different. They have varied needs that trigger an array of distinct biophysical, socioeconomic, and institutional challenges. The effects of these challenges are exacerbated by economic uncertainty, technological advancements, climate change, and other environmental concerns. To provide ideal services to the small-scale farm audience, it is necessary to understand these challenges and opportunities that can be leveraged to enhance their productivity and profitability. This article reviews the challenges faced by small-scale farming in the United States of America. It then reviews possible pathways to enhance their productivity and profitability. The review revealed that U.S. small-scale farms face several challenges. They include accessing farmland, credit and capital, lack of knowledge and skills, and technology adoption. Others are difficulties to insure, competition from corporations, and environmental uncertainties associated with climate change. The paper then reviews key pathways to enhance small-scale farmers’ capacities and resilience with a positive impact on their productivity and profitability. They are enhanced cooperative extension services, incentivization, strategic marketing, annexing technology, and government support, among others. Based on the diversity of farms and their needs, responses should be targeted towards individual needs. Since small-scale farm products have an effect on human health and dietary patterns, strategies to increase productivity should be linked to nutrition and health. Full article

Foliar application of biostimulants can be a valid option to reach the goal of sustainable intensification in agriculture, especially in extensive crops such as durum wheat. However, due to the wide range of active ingredients and their mixtures available in the market, the need to select the most efficient product in a specific growing environment is of dramatic importance to achieve remarkable results in yield and grain quality. To analyze the potential of different active ingredients, a field trial was performed in two consecutive growing seasons (2023 and 2024) under Mediterranean climatic conditions. A randomized block design with three replicates was used. Durum wheat cultivar “Iride” was treated with the following five foliar biostimulants in comparison with the untreated control (T0): seaweed and plant extracts (T1); micronized vaterite (T2); culture broth of Pseudomonas protegens (T3); humic and fulvic acids (T4); organic nitrogen fertilizer (N 5%) containing glycine betaine (T5). Biostimulant treatment was applied at the end of tillering and at heading. Root length, chlorophyll content, grain yield, yield components and grain quality were measured and subjected to a one-way analysis of variance. As compared to the control, seaweed and plant extracts as well as micronized vaterite showed the best results in terms of grain yield (29% and 24% increase, respectively), root length (120% and 77% increase, respectively) and grain protein content (one percentage point increase, from approx. 12% to 13%). The results from this study can help Mediterranean farmers and researchers to develop new fertilization protocols to reach the goals of the “Farm to Fork” European strategy. Full article

Our study aimed to identify the overall and cluster-specific characteristics of Czech beef cattle breeding systems. We used data from an online survey to ascertain farmers’ preferences in breeding objectives. Considering various evaluation criteria and clustering approaches in 41 farms, three beef systems were defined according to herd size, management, marketing, breeding strategies and structures, and farmer age. Breeding values and performance were jointly used as the primary information in all three systems. Cow temperament and calf viability, maternal fertility and longevity, and animal health were found to be the most important traits. Cluster 1 represents pure-breeding farms that specialize in producing breeding animals. Farms in clusters 2 and 3 combined pure- and crossbreeding strategies with production, which was partially (cluster 2) and fully (cluster 3) diversified for all beef categories. Farms also prioritized calving performance and calf growth (clusters 1 and 2) and exterior traits (cluster 3). Production type scores significantly (p < 0.05) differed in clusters 3 (4.12) and 2 (3.25). The proportion of production, functional, and exterior trait categories was 12:37:51, with low variability among clusters (±1 to 2 percentage points). The inter-cluster comparison showed that specific characteristics were compatible with certain breeding goal trait preferences. Full article

Small-scale fisheries and aquaculture play a crucial role in securing food, income, and nutrition for millions, especially in the Global South. Rural small-scale aquaculture (SSA) is characterized by limited investment and technical training among farmers, diversification and dispersion of farms over large areas, reduced access to competitive markets for inputs and products, and family labor. Small-scale integrated circular aquaponic (ICAq) systems, in which systems’ component outputs are transformed into component inputs, have significant potential to increase circularity and promote economic development, especially in a rural context. We offer an integrated and comprehensive approach centered on aquaponics or aquaponic farming for small-scale aquaculture units. It aims to identify and describe a series of circular processes and causal links that can be implemented based on deep study in SSA and ICAq. Circular processes to treat by-products in ICAq include components like composting, vermicomposting, aerobic and anaerobic digestion, silage, and insect production. These processes can produce ICAq inputs such as seedling substrates, plant fertilizers, bioenergy, or feed ingredients. In addition, the plant component can supply therapeutic compounds. Further research on characterization of aquaponic components outputs and its quantifications, the impact of using circular inputs generated within the ICAq, and the technical feasibility and economic viability of circular processes in the context of SSA is needed. Full article

Traditional seed supply chains face several hidden risks. Certain regulatory departments tend to focus primarily on entity circulation while neglecting the origin and accuracy of data in seed quality supervision, resulting in limited precision and low credibility of traceability information related to quality and safety. Blockchain technology offers a systematic solution to key issues such as data source distortion and insufficient regulatory penetration in the seed supply chain by enabling data rights confirmation, tamper-proof traceability, smart contract execution, and multi-node consensus mechanisms. In this study, we developed a system that integrates blockchain and neural networks to provide seed traceability services. When uploading seed traceability information, the neural network models are employed to verify the authenticity of information provided by humans and save the tags on the blockchain. Various neural network architectures, such as Multilayer Perceptron, Recurrent Neural Network, Fully Convolutional Neural Network, and Long Short-term Memory model architectures, have been tested to determine the authenticity of seed traceability information. Among these, the Long Short-term Memory model architecture demonstrated the highest accuracy, with an accuracy rate of 90.65%. The results demonstrated that neural networks have significant research value and potential to assess the authenticity of information in a blockchain. In the application scenario of seed quality traceability, using blockchain and neural networks to determine the authenticity of seed traceability information provides a new solution for seed traceability. This system empowers farmers by providing trustworthy seed quality information, enabling better purchasing decisions and reducing risks from counterfeit or substandard seeds. Furthermore, this mechanism fosters market circulation of certified high-quality seeds, elevates crop yields, and contributes to the sustainable growth of agricultural systems. Full article

This work presents a parallel agent-based framework designed to analyze the dynamics of vegetable trade within a metropolitan area. The system integrates agent-based and discrete event techniques to capture the complex interactions among farmers, vendors, and consumers in urban agricultural supply chains. Decision-making processes are modeled in detail: farmers select crops based on market trends and environmental risks, while vendors and consumers adapt their purchasing behavior according to seasonality, prices, and availability. To efficiently handle the computational demands of large-scale scenarios, we adopt an optimistic approximate parallel execution strategy. Furthermore, we introduce a credit-based load balancing mechanism that mitigates the effects of heterogeneous communication patterns and improves scalability. This framework enables detailed analysis of food distribution systems in urban contexts, offering insights relevant to smart cities and digital agriculture initiatives. Full article

This qualitative case study explores Missouri-based consumers’ ethical beliefs regarding restaurant sourcing from minority farmers. Guided by the Hunt–Vitell theory of ethics (H-V model), it applies the model in a new context: culturally inclusive restaurant sourcing. Based on 15 semi-structured interviews conducted between September 2024 and October 2024, the study explores how ethical beliefs shape dining intentions. Participants generally viewed support for minority farmers as ethically appropriate. Thematic analysis revealed six key themes: (1) community-oriented social values (e.g., social responsibility toward local businesses); (2) cultural identity (e.g., traditional farming methods); (3) consumer values—food-oriented (e.g., quality); (4) consumer values—people-oriented (e.g., financial support for ethical sourcing); (5) trust-building mechanisms (e.g., sourcing transparency); and (6) barriers (e.g., lack of awareness). These findings highlight limited consumer awareness of minority farmers and the need for transparent communication and cultural education. The study contributes theoretically by extending the H-V model to the intersection of ethics, culture, and restaurant sourcing. Practically, it offers guidance for restaurant managers, marketers, and policymakers to support minority farmers, build trust, and promote inclusive and socially responsible dining. One key limitation of this study is its reliance on a small, Missouri-based consumer sample, which limits generalizability and excludes perspectives from other stakeholders. However, as a regional case study, it provides important depth and contextual insight into an underexplored aspect of sustainable sourcing. This study also highlights the need for multi-stakeholder engagement to advance equity in the food system. Full article

This study examines Poland’s agricultural land market between 2009 and 2023 through fixed effects and spatial econometric models, highlighting economic and spatial determinants of land prices. Key results show that GDP per capita strongly increases land values (β = +0.699, p < 0.001), while agricultural gross value added (–2.698, p = 0.009), soil quality (–6.241, p < 0.001), and land turnover (–0.395, p < 0.001) are associated with lower prices. Spatial dependence is confirmed (λ = 0.74), revealing strong regional spillovers. The volume of state-owned WRSP land sales declined from 37.4 thousand hectares in 2015 to 3.1 thousand hectares in 2023, while non-market transfers, such as donations, exceeded 49,000 annually. Although these trends support farmland protection and family farms, they also reduce market mobility and hinder generational renewal. The findings call for more flexible, sustainability-oriented land governance that combines ecological performance, regional equity, and improved access for young farmers. Full article

Informal groundwater markets, where farmers with wells sell surplus water to neighbors, are a widespread adaptive response to water scarcity, particularly in South Asia where they are most prevalent and well-documented. This review (1990–2025) examines the evolving patterns of these markets by synthesizing global literature and viewing them through the lens of three transformative trends: energy transition (especially solar pumps), digital innovations (e.g., blockchain and IoT), and new policy pathways. We synthesize literature to evaluate market structures, contract forms, efficiency and equity outcomes, environmental impacts, and the influence of energy policies and digital tools. The review assesses whether these informal trades fulfill their promise of enhancing water productivity and equity or if new challenges are creating pitfalls. Key objectives include documenting historical evolution, analyzing market performance, discussing externalities like aquifer depletion, examining policy interactions, reviewing digital pilots, exploring social inclusion, comparing governance frameworks, identifying research gaps linked to SDGs, and proposing a policy roadmap for harnessing benefits while ensuring sustainability. Full article