Elm Farm Research Centre Bulletin No. 75

Bulletin 75 is a compendium of articles from all areas of EFRC activities. Issue 75 featured articles on Disease varieties and seed treatments in organic cereals, developing participation; minimal cultivation; lupins. The EFRC Bulletin is published on average 6 times per year

Research on organic agriculture in the Netherlands : organisation, methodology and results

Chapters: 1. Organic agriculture in the Netherlands; 2. Dutch research on organic agriculture: approaches and characteristics; 3. Dutch knowledge infrastructure for organic agricultur'; 4. Sustainable systems; 5. Good soil: a good start; 6. Robust varieties and vigorous propagation material; 7. Prevention and control of weeds, pests and diseases; 8. Health and welfare of organic livestock; 9. Animal production and feeding; 10. Special branches: organic greenhouse production, bulbs, ornamentals and aquaculture; 11. Healthfulness and quality of products; 12. Economy, market and chain; 13. People and society. A publication of Wageningen UR and Louis Bolk Institut

Publications in Agricultural Economics Kansas State University 1991

Teaching/Communication/Extension/Profession,

The role of trees for sustainable management of less-favored lands: the case of eucalyptus in Ethiopia

In recent years the planting of eucalyptus trees in Ethiopia has expanded from State owned plantations to community woodlots and household compounds. In an environment suffering from severe woody biomass shortages water scarcity, erosion and land degradation, fast growing and resilient eucalyptus species perform better than most indigenous woodland and forest tree species (as well as most crops). In addition to increasing biomass and providing ground cover, the sale of eucalyptus poles and products has substantial potential to raise farm incomes, reduce poverty, increase food security and diversify smallholder-farming systems in less-favored areas of northern Ethiopia. Despite the potential for eucalyptus to improve rural livelihoods in northern Ethiopia in 1997, the regional government of Tigray imposed a ban on eucalyptus tree planting on farmlands. The regional government promotes planting of eucalyptus and other species in community woodlots, and has recently begun to allow private planting of eucalyptus on community wasteland and steep hillsides. In this paper, we review the debate about the ecological impacts of eucalyptus trees, as well as the economic factors that influence whether smallholders invest in these trees. Ex ante benefit-cost analysis based on community level survey data from Tigray illustrates that under most conditions planting eucalyptus trees yields high rates of return, well above 20% under most circumstances. The effect of variable harvest rates, the costs of decreased crop production when eucalyptus trees are planted on farmlands, and differences between administrative zones are considered relative to our base case in our rate of return estimates. The importance of fast growing tree species that can accommodate the high discount rates associated with smallholders in this region is emphasized.Tree planting., Ecology., Ethiopia., Land degradation.,

Pro-poor intervention strategies in irrigated agriculture in Asia: poverty in irrigated agriculture: issues and options: China

Irrigated farming / Poverty / Households / Income / Irrigation management / Institutions / Conflict / Legal aspects / Water policy / Water allocation / Price policy / Water rights / Water market / Irrigation programs / Public ownership / Models / Regression analysis / Farm size / Labor / Productivity / China

Fuelwood stumpage : financing renewable energy for the world's other half

In many developing countries, households rely heavily on woodfuels (firewood and charcoal) as their main source of energy for cooking and heating. The internal trade in woodfuels is often sizable. African governments now collect stumpage fees of $30 million a year for fuelwood and charcoalwood, or only about 2 % of the selling price of the finished products. By charging an adequate fee for these wood resources, the authors argue woodfuels production and consumption can be made more efficient. In addition, governments would be better able to finance the investments in their forest sector that are needed to maintain a regular fuelwood supply and to prevent long term environmental damage. The authors outline the methods energy planners can use to estimate fuelwood values and discuss several problems that arise in assessing and collecting fuelwood stumpage fees.Silviculture,Environmental Economics&Policies,Forestry,Economic Theory&Research,Markets and Market Access

Proceedings of the National Conference on Managing Irrigation for Environmentally Sustainable Agriculture in Pakistan, Islamabad, November 5-7, 1996. Volume III - Papers on the theme, Water management below the Mogha

Water allocationWater distributionWatercoursesIrrigation waterIrrigation canalsWaterloggingSalinityWater useDecision makingSurface drainageIrrigation designIrrigation requirementsSprinkler irrigationWheatSurface irrigationIrrigation schedulingCottonCrop yieldSoil reclamationSodic soilsSoil salinityConjunctive useGroundwaterSurface waterFlow measurementIrrigation practicesMonitoringEvaluationFarmer participationFarmers' attitudes

Poor performance of broadleaf plantations and possible remedial silvicultural systems - a review

Peer-reviewedOver the last two decades planting of broadleaves has been part of forest policy. In addition to the provision of a range of ecosystem services, it is intended that this resource will have a direct economic stimulus through the supply of quality hardwood. A number of challenges must be met in order to achieve this objective, particularly as current observations would indicate that many first rotation broadleaf plantations comprise a relatively high proportion of poor quality stems. A literature review has been carried out on the probable causes of poor performance in broadleaf crops. Silvicultural systems to rehabilitate poor quality stands are discussed. Subsequent papers will deal with these silvicultural systems in more detail.COFOR