Organic agriculture and farmer wellbeing: A case study of Cambodian small-scale farmers

This paper investigates the impact of organic agriculture development initiatives on the wellbeing of small-scale farmers in Cambodia. Wellbeing was measured subjectively, with fifty seven organic farmers asked what is most important in their lives, and the impact of the organic initiatives assessed in these areas. Farmers in the study considered the ability to grow sufficient rice for their family as most important, followed by family health, and having enough money. The organic initiatives were found to impact positively on all these dimensions of wellbeing. Family food security increased in all cases, health increased in all but one case, and income increased in all cases

Organic agriculture: an empowering development strategy for small-scale farmers? A Cambodian case study

This study explores claims that organic agriculture may be an empowering development strategy by investigating the impacts of conversion to organic farming systems on the lives of small-scale farmers in Cambodia. The thesis interrogates the diverse uses and abuses of the term ‘empowerment’ in development rhetoric and argues for an empowerment model that is derived from farmers’ self-defined concepts of development. This model was used to conduct a qualitative case study involving semi-structured interviews and focus groups with members of organics initiatives in seven diverse Cambodian communities. Results indicate that many farmers in all communities felt that their most important objective was not only to achieve food security, but to achieve 'food sovereignty' by being able to grow sufficient rice to feed their family. Farmers joined the organics initiatives primarily to improve their health and reduce the cost of farming inputs. As a result of joining the initiatives, all farmers (including both certified and non-certified organic farmers) felt they had improved their health and food security. Most farmers also increased incomes, created stronger family and community ties and felt they had more control over their livelihoods. These benefits were not, however, distributed equally amongst individuals or communities. Very poor and isolated farmers could not generally access benefits. The three main factors that determined the impact of the organics initiatives on farmer empowerment were identified as: the individual’s level of resources, the strength of the farmer group, and the policies and values of the supporting organisation. The implications for future initiatives are, firstly, the tremendous potential for farmers and wider rural communities to benefit from organic agriculture as a development strategy. However, this study also shows that if organics is to be viable for low-resource people, it may be necessary to promote both resources and techniques in organics initiatives. Also, a focus on building strong relationships both within the farmers group and linkages with local and wider stakeholders may enhance long-term sustainability of organics initiatives

Classification of quadrics in a double isotropic space

This paper gives the classification of second order surfaces in a double isotropic space $I_{3}^{(2)}$. Although quadrics in $I_{3}^{(2)}$ have been investigated earlier [e.g. 8 or 9], this paper offers a new method based on linear algebra. The definition of invariants of a quadric with respect to the group of motions in $I_{3}^{(2)}$ makes it possible to determine the type of a quadric without reducing its equation to a canonical form. For that purpose isometric properties of conics in the isotropic plane and affine properties of quadrics are used

Aspects of the ecology of Tyria jacobaeae (L.) : a defoliator of ragwart in New Zealand : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Zoology at Massey University

Tyria jacobaeae L. (Lepidoptera: Arctiidae) was introduced to New Zealand as a biological control agent for ragwort Senecio jacobaea (L.), a poisonous pasture weed. This study investigated the diapause, pupal survival, population ecology and impact of T. jacobaeae on ragwort populations in the Wairarapa. Particular emphasis was placed on those aspects influencing the ability of T. jacobaeae to control ragwort. T. jacobaeae enters obligatory pupal diapause over the winter months. The temperature requirements of T. jacobaeae pupae were investigated under controlled and natural conditions. Diapause development was completed after approximately 105 under field conditions and 70 days at 2°C. The minimum temperature for post diapause development indicated pupae were unlikely to enter post diapause quiescence following diapause development in the Wairarapa. The production of two generations of T. jacobaeae in a single season will be of little benefit, however storage of quiescent pupae for delayed release is feasible. Pupal survival was largely determined by exposure and substrate under natural conditions. Strong density dependent mortality was detected among caged larvae, and increased larval density reduced pupal dimensions, weight and potential fecundity. No evidence of the diseases known to infect T. jacobaeae overseas was observed. Natural T. jacobaeae populations showed no controlling influence on the ragwort population studied. High larval mortality, a patchy distribution over the host population and rapid ragwort regrowth reduced the effectiveness of T. jacobaeae as a biological control agent. At the most intensively studied site the T. jacobaeae population appears to have stabilised at a level below that required for ragwort control. The presence of T. jacobaeae was well synchronised with ragwort flowering in the field, and T. jacobaeae seems to have adapted to the climatic conditions of the Wairarapa

Better butterfly theorem in the isotropic plane

A real affine plane A_2 is called an isotropic plane I_2, if in A_2 a metric is induced by an absolute {f, F}, consisting of the line at infinity f of A_2 and a point $Fin f$. Better butterfly theorem is one of the generalisations of the well-known butterfly theorem ([1], [4]). In this paper the better butterfly theorem has been adapted for the isotropic plane and its validity in I_2 has been proved

Better butterfly theorem in the isotropic plane

A real affine plane A_2 is called an isotropic plane I_2, if in A_2 a metric is induced by an absolute {f, F}, consisting of the line at infinity f of A_2 and a point $Fin f$. Better butterfly theorem is one of the generalisations of the well-known butterfly theorem ([1], [4]). In this paper the better butterfly theorem has been adapted for the isotropic plane and its validity in I_2 has been proved

Leptiri u izotropnoj ravnini

A real affine plane A2 is called an isotropic plane I2, if in A2 a metric is induced by an absolute {f, F}, consisting of the line at infinity f of A2 and a point F ∈ f. In this paper the well-known Butterfly theorem has been adapted for the isotropic plane. For the theorem that we will further-on call an Isotropic butterfly theorem, four proofs are given.Realna afina ravnina A2 se naziva izotropnom ravninom I2 ako je metrika u A2 inducirana apsolutnom figurom {f, F}, koja se sastoji od neizmjerno dalekog pravca f ravnine A2 i točke F∈ f. U ovom je radu poznati Leptirov teorem smješten u izotropnu ravninu. Za taj teorem, kojeg od sada nazivamo Izotropnim leptirovim teoremom, dana su četiri dokaza