An Assessment of Agricultural Cooperatives: Historical Perspectives, Challenges and Opportunities For Socially and Historically Disadvantaged, Minority, And Small-Scale Farmers

A cooperative is an economically attractive model that allows its members to be owners and users who share profits equally. Thus, the cooperative is considered a successful model to use for socially and historically disadvantaged, minority, and small-scale farmers. An agricultural cooperative empowers such farmers to increase their bargaining power in the marketplace, reduce production and transaction costs, expand current marketing opportunities, and establish new markets that may not be otherwise accessible to an individual producer. The purpose of this paper, therefore, is to assess agricultural cooperatives. It discusses nine items that closely examine the appertaining issues related to agricultural cooperatives. It concludes with three key recommendations. The first is a mechanism to support newly formed agricultural cooperatives. The second is free access to agricultural education for agricultural cooperative members. The third and final is public recognition of well-performing agricultural cooperatives to encourage them to keep up the hard work

The Significance of Urban Gardening on the Household Economy: A Case of Minority Urban Gardeners

Urban gardening (UG) is an emerging approach to increase the consumption of fresh produce in the homestead. The objective of this exploratory case study was to enhance the technical and economic efficiency of small, socially disadvantaged, and minority (SSDM) urban gardeners in Maryland. Twenty-two SSDM producers engaged in UG participated in the study. The findings showed that farmers were operating rationally, and cultivating diversified specialty, medicinal, and ethnic crops, with an average of twenty specialty/ethnic crops on 1.2 acres. The farmers reported six primary reasons for sustaining urban gardening: family consumption (79%), outdoor and physical activity (79%), supplemental household income (57%), leisure (50%), experiential learning for family members (14%), and tax benefits (7%). Findings revealed that 96% of the farmers strengthened knowledge in reducing production costs, increasing farm income (86%), enhancing entrepreneurial skills (82%), improving farm management practices (73%), mitigating risk (59%), and changing UG behaviors and actions (100%)

The Impact of Training in Financial Basics on Small Farm Producers’ Knowledge in Selected Alabama Black Belt Counties

THE IMPACT OF TRAINING IN FINANCIAL BASICS ON SMALL FARM PRODUCERS’ KNOWLEDGE IN SELECTED ALABAMA BLACK BELT COUNTIES By Eunice K. Waweru The author expresses her sincere gratitude to her major advisor, Dr. David Nii. O. Tackie. His encouragement, expertise, guidance, wisdom, patience, and unwavering support has been instrumental in shaping her thesis. His feedback and constructive criticisms have been of tremendous help and has helped her refine her ideas and improve the quality of her thesis. She is forever grateful for his mentorship and the opportunities he has provided her during her academic journey. Also, she is grateful to her advisory committee members, Dr Youssouf Diabate and Dr Franklin Quarcoo for agreeing to serve on the committee and providing suggestions for improving her thesis. She recognizes Dr. Jannette R. Bartlett and Dr. Tej Gautam for serving on her examination committee. Additionally, she expresses her sincere thanks to the staff of the George Washington Carver Agricultural Experiment Station Cooperative Extension Program for their administrative support during her studies. She also thanks Dr Walter A. Hill for agreeing to provide her assistantship for her study, as well as the USDA National Institute for Food and Agriculture for providing the requisite funds for her study (Grant: Center for Innovation and Sustainability of Small Farms, Ranches, and Forest Landowners). She is grateful to Pastor Peter Kanyi and Nora Gogo for their useful advice throughout her master’s program. She would also like to acknowledge the contribution of her colleagues and fellow students who provided valuable support during her studies. She expresses her gratitude to her parents Mr. and Mrs. Waweru, and her siblings for their love and support throughout the program and for believing in her. She is grateful to her fiancé Douglas Adagala for his overwhelming and persistent support both emotionally and for his prayers. Finally, she thanks God for His Grace and Mercy throughout this journey

Supplement Type Influenced the Performance and Resiliency Against Gastrointestinal Parasites of Nursing Lambs Raised in Woodlands

Nutrition supplementation can be one of the integrated approaches to reduce gastrointestinal parasite (GIP) infestation. The study objective was to evaluate the impact of supplement type on the performance and resiliency against GIP of nursing lambs raised in woodlands. Katahdin-St. Croix cross lambs (23) with their mothers (18) were divided into two groups; they were rotationally stocked in separate sets of woodland plots and provided with ad libitum hay. Group-1 animals were supplemented with corn, and Group-2 with soybean (0.5% of live weight). Live weight, FAMACHA score, and body condition score were measured on Day 1, fortnightly, and at the end of the study. Fecal samples were analyzed for the type and quantity of GIP on Days 1, 45, and 80. Lambs supplemented with soybeans performed better than corn-supplemented lambs (

Socioeconomic and Environmental Impacts of the Fall Armyworm and The Striga Weed at Three Stages of the Maize (Corn) Value Chains in Kenya: A Review

Global food security faces increasing threats from climate change, leading to diseases, pests, drought, water salinity, and rising temperatures. The study broadly addresses global food security challenges, focusing on two pests. The purpose of the study was to assess the socioeconomic and environmental impacts of the fall armyworm and the Striga weed at three stages of maize (corn) value chains in Kenya. The methodology used encompassed a desk review of relevant research and current literature. The results indicated that the Fall Armyworm (FAW) and the Striga weed significantly impact maize (corn) production. The FAW and the Striga weed cause losses in yield, reduce the ability of agricultural lands to respond to shocks, and financially increase the cost of production resulting from the quest to deal with the pests mentioned above

An Analysis of the Status of Small Producers in Selected Alabama Black Belt and Surrounding Counties

AN ANALYSIS OF THE STATUS OF SMALL PRODUCERS IN SELECTED ALABAMA BLACK BELT AND SURROUNDING COUNTIES by Mamnenge Gbim-Gbande The purpose of this study was to analyze the status of small producers in selected Alabama Black Belt and surrounding counties. The specific objectives were to (1) describe demographic information, (2) examine farm, economic, marketing, and other information, and (3) examine relationships between specific demographic information and farm, economic, marketing, and other information. The data were obtained from a convenience sample of 24 producers, and were analyzed using frequencies, percentages, and correlation analysis. The results showed that there were more part-time producers than full-time producers (54% versus 42%); more males than females (80% versus 17%); more Blacks than other races (83% versus 16%); more producers of ages 55 years and higher compared to below 55 years of age (54% versus 42%); more producers with a four-year college degree or higher compared to a two-year/technical degree or some college education (38% versus 33%), and more producers with an annual household income of less than $40,000 (54$40,000 and above (38%). Also, 29% owned their farms, while 71% were in other arrangements; 38% had been farming for 10 years or less and 71% had been for more than 10 years; 75% owned more than 10 acres of land and 21% owned 10 acres or less land. However, 54% farmed 10 acres or less, while 46% farmed more than 10 acres. The average net income by year, for 2018, 2019, and 2020 were, respectively, -$527.05, -$1,077.05 and -$2,326.92. The correlation results showed that gender, race/ethnicity, and age each had a statistically significant relationship with one selected farm information indicator, such as years in farming. Further, annual household income had a statistically significant relationship viii with two selected farm information indicators, such as ownership status. Also, farming status and annual household income had a statistically significant relationship with, at least, one selected marketing information indicator, for instance, where livestock is normally sold. Yet, age and education had a statistically significant relationship with one other information indicator, where educational and technical assistance is received. Based on the findings, it is recommended that the producers should be encouraged and assisted, being that most of them are small and part-time producers. Additionally, special assistance should be given to them such as giving them some income support, helping them to farm more than 10 acres, assisting them to improve on their marketing strategies, and helping them to improve record keeping practices