Search Results (3)

In Nigeria’s northwestern states of Kano, Katsina, and Kaduna, mechanized rice production is an important contributor to household income and rural economic activity, especially amid a rapidly growing population projected to exceed 400 million by 2050. This study investigates the socio-economic insights of mechanized rice farmers and assesses the impact of mechanization on income, seasonal production, government support, and rural poverty alleviation. Data were collected from 125 respondents across 14 local government areas by using structured questionnaires and analyzed through descriptive statistics and hybrid machine learning models. The findings show that revenue generation significantly influences the adoption of mechanized rice farming, while government involvement is limited and largely ineffective. Advanced predictive modeling revealed that hybrid approaches, particularly those combining regression and Artificial Neural Networks with Bayesian Optimization, outperformed traditional models in forecasting rice yield. Key challenges identified include the high cost of equipment and restricted access to subsidized inputs. This study concludes that income from rice sales drives mechanization and that targeted policy interventions are necessary to overcome socio-economic barriers and improve productivity. These findings highlight the dual importance of economic empowerment and technological innovation in advancing sustainable rice production and improving livelihoods in Nigeria’s rice-growing regions. Full article

Rice production in the Central Plains of Thailand plays a key role in the country’s food security. However, the overuse of inputs coupled with the rising production costs are making it increasingly difficult for smallholder rice farming to remain economically and environmentally sustainable. Replicated production-scale field trials of Cost Reduction Operating Principles (CROP)—Thailand’s national package of best management practices for rice production—were established in tandem with laser land leveling (LLL), mechanical drum seeder, and the application of two biofertilizer products (i.e., PGPR II, that contains Azospirillum brasilense Sp. TS29 and Burkholderia vietnamiensis S45; and LDD #12, that contains Azotobacter tropicalis, Burkholderia unamae and Bacillus subtilis) and compared with farmer’s practices (FP). Performance indicators (PI) promoted by the Sustainable Rice Platform (SRP) were used to assess economic and environmental indicators. CROP + PGPR had significantly higher net income (79%) and nitrogen-use efficiency (57%) compared with FP. Pesticide use (28%), seed (60%), inorganic fertilizer N (41%) and total production costs (19%) were reduced in all CROP treatments compared with FP. These results demonstrate that the application of CROP, LLL, mechanical drum seeder, and biofertilizers can substantially improve the economic and environmental sustainability of rice production in the Central Plains of Thailand. Full article

The intensification of agricultural production is connected to the increased use of fertilizers, pesticides, irrigation water, and energy. Among all cropping systems, rice cultivation is considered to be one of the most significant sources of environmental harm due to the flooding conditions in which rice normally grows; at the same time, rice has important economic and social implications, especially in areas where it is a staple food. In the last 20 years, sustainable development of agricultural production has become a priority for scientific research and policy programs. Several studies proposed methodological frameworks to assess the impacts of different management practices adopted in agro-ecosystems and to identify strategies to mitigate the negative effects of agricultural intensification. Such methodologies are based on the use of particular indicators, which are increasingly seen as crucial tools in impact assessment studies and for decision making. This paper aims to review and analyze the most significant methodological frameworks developed to assess the sustainability of agricultural production systems, with a particular focus on rice cultivation. The analysis includes highlighting which dimensions of sustainability (economic, environmental, social, and governance) are covered by each method and identifying which indicators are used to describe the different dimensions. The spatial scale of the application of the indicators, their typology, the data needed for their implementation, and the criteria for formulating the overall sustainability judgment were then examined. The analysis highlighted the scarce availability of clear operational data for the calculation of the indicators and the often-limited involvement of stakeholders in the development and implementation of the methodologies. The exceptions to these limitations are represented by a few methodologies developed under the umbrella of important international organizations to promote sustainability and research efficiency in specific agricultural production systems, such as the SRP (sustainable rice platform) for rice. Finally, the analysis shows that there is a need to develop methodologies that are applicable not only to an individual farm or group of farms, but also at larger spatial scales (district, watershed, region), which are often those of greatest interest to decision makers. Full article