Agricultural Administration最新文献

Chemicals to control the diseases and pests of cocoa have been used in Nigeria for over three decades. This paper examines the marketing system for these chemicals with the aim of identifying the causes of inefficiency in the system in relation to the problems of on-farm acquisition of subsidized chemicals. All channels through which the chemicals (subsidized and unsubsidized) are distributed were examined. Village markets were visited and 266 farmers from the main cocoa belt of Nigeria were interviewed as to the problems they encounter in acquiring and using chemicals. Over 72 per cent of farmers indicated that they bought their chemicals in the open market, and about 51 per cent indicated that they were not even aware of subsidized chemicals. Other findings include lack of knowledge about new chemicals, inappropriate packaging of some chemicals, late release of subsidized chemicals and release of the chemicals during the ‘lean’ season. The paper concludes with some recommendations and suggests a distribution system which could ensure more and better utilization of subsidized cocoa spraying chemicals.

Apart from the fortunate minority who take over the family farm unhindered by any problems of inheritance, entry into farming poses many difficulties for those wishing to come into the industry. Because of the activities of several agencies, in particular those of the Rural Banking and Finance Corporation, young New Zealanders have much assistance in their efforts to start farming in their own right. This paper examines the various schemes available for this purpose in New Zealand. It is a country so highly dependent on the contribution of agriculture to its national economy that it is almost incumbent on the part of the authorities to facilitate the establishment of the next generation of farmers in order to preserve the country's economic well-being. Whether New Zealand's experience in this activity has any relevance in other parts of the world is a matter for conjecture but the information in this paper should assist in that consideration.

Research indicates that farmers suffer a considerable number of economic, administrative and social difficulties during road developments. To throw light on the extent and the causes an examination was undertaken of the effects of major road developments on two Cumbrian agricultural estates in the United Kingdom. The estates differed in size, resources, and socioeconomic orientation and experience with their respective road schemes. The larger estate had more resources to plan effectively from the early stages, to enter into mutually beneficial arrangements with planners and contractors, and was able to administer the compensation negotiations effectively. The smaller, more typical, estate did not have the resources to plan effectively, and consequently suffered the usual difficulties that emerge from road developments, without reaping the benefits witnessed in the former example. The professional expertise and negotiating power available to the larger estate emerges as a crucial factor. Benefits to the National Farm would result from increasing the professional expertise available to affected farmers to provide similar negotiating capability.

Rainwater harvesting is long established in India, with three systems of particular note. Inundation is the basis of the Khadin system in Rajastan, percolation tanks and wells are the basis of water harvesting in Maharashtra, and tanks with gravity-fed channels are the main system in Tamil Nadu. There is also a recent development in the Siwalik hills to establish tanks and gravity-fed channels which attempt to achieve conservation, afforestation and farm production goals together.

Operating small schemes for rainwater harvesting requires a certain amount of village-scale organisation to carry out construction, regulate grazing and forestry, and maintain facilities. It can be costly to ensure that the poor benefit from such projects and difficult to prevent, in turn, the better off from becoming envious of the benefits obtained by the poor. Water harvesting should operate within the framework of local society and not against it.