The Evolution of Drought in China and Its Impact on Agriculture in Recent Years

[Objective] To research the evolution of drought in China and its impact on agriculture in recent years. [Method] We analyzed land area covered, area affected, and disaster rate arising from severe drought occurring in China in the period 1978-2008, in conjunction with the planting area of crops in China and forcing of drought on the planting area of crops. [Result] In recent years, a large portion of provinces and cities in China, especially the southern areas, the drought has not yet been eased, but tends to deteriorate; since 1978, the area affected in China occasioned by drought has been rapidly mounting, and total crop failure area caused by drought, on the whole, also assumes trend of rise. In the mean time, population explosion and economic development are responsible for dwindling of planting area of grain, and tardy rise in total grain yield. [Conclusion] Constructing harmonious valley and achieving concordant coexistence between human and water, is to regulate human behaviors and further strengthen related ecological protection work, on the basis of scientifically understanding and correctly harnessing natural law.

The Study on Innovation Model Characteristics and Function Enhancement of “Leading Grain Enterprises+Farmers” in New Circumstances——an Investigation and Analysis on Major Grainproducing Areas in Hubei Province

ln the context of comprehensively deepening the reform, and integration of three The first, second and third industry sectors in rural areas, the research took major grain-producing areas in Hubei as an example, analyzed dominant grain in-dustrialization models “leading grain enterprises＋farmers”, and revealed its character-istics, advantages, and approaches for function reinforcement. The research is so meaningful, practical y or in future.

Evaluation for Use Efficiency of Agricultural Resources in Grain Production:A Case Study of Changshu,Taihe and Ansai in China

This paper aims to establish an index system for evaluation of agricultural resources use efficiency(ARUE) in grain production and discuss the causes of low efficiency and high consumption of agricultural resources in Changshu of Jiangsu Province,Taihe of Jiangxi Province and Ansai of Shaanxi Province in China by analyzing the data about meteorology,soil,water consumption and grain production. Agro-ecological Zone(AEZ) method was adopted to calculate the potential productivity,and synthetically multivariate equation was used to evaluate the ARUE of study areas. This paper can be concluded as:1) the agricultural resources in grain production can be classified into five categories,i.e.,climatic resources,water resources,land resources,biological resources and assistant resources,and 15 indexes were selected to evaluate their use efficiency in grain production;2) the values of ARUE in grain production are 0.5868,0.6368 and 0.5390 respectively in Changshu,Taihe and Ansai;and 3) Changshu ranks the highest among the three study areas in terms of the use efficiency of climatic resources and biological resources(evaluation values are 0.0277 and 0.1530) ,but Taihe tops the three in terms of the use efficiency of water resources,land resources and assistant resources(evaluation values are 0.0502,0.2945 and 0.1379 respectively) . However,the ARUE remains always low in Ansai for all the resources. The inefficiencies are caused by poor grain revenue in Changshu,deficient agriculture investments in Taihe and unfavorable natural conditions in Ansai.

China’s Potential of Grain Production Due to Changes in Agricultural Land Utilization in Recent Years

The changes in utilization of agricultural land have gradually grown into one of the major factors impacting grain output in China. This study explores the various components of agricultural production in China from the land utilization perspective, involving changes in grain production per unit area, multi-cropping index, and adjustment of agricultural structure. Compared with the record values, different research methodologies are used to analyze the po- tential of above three components. The results indicate that grain production potential of 65.68×109kg was unexploited in 2006, in which 45.8×109kg came from the restructuring in agriculture. So we can infer that the reduction of grain production in China could be primarily attributed to agricultural restructuring in recent years. So the productive poten- tial can be fully restored by increasing agricultural investment, or recovering agricultural structure in favorable condi- tions. So we can say that China’s current condition of food security is good.

Women as a Key to Agriculture and Food Security in Sudan： The Case Study of Northern Kordofan State

In the rural areas where most of the world＇s hungry people live, women produce most of the locally consumed food. Their contribution could be much greater if they had equal access to essential resources and services, such as land, credit, and training. In Sudan, women have always been active in agriculture and food security, constituting 17% to agricultural labor force. However, culture coupled with imperfections of official data underestimates their contribution. Accordingly, this study was carried out in the western part of Sudan, namely, North Kordofan State in order to identify and assess the role of women in agriculture and food security and identify the main factors and constraints affecting their contribution to agricultural production in the state. The findings confirm that women contribute 74% to the monthly agricultural income, 65% to total income, 62% to the labor work, and 65% to the household activities. Their average daily working hours are 14, while, those of men are only 8. The study suggests that the removal of the obstacles those women face could increase their contribution to and enhances the livelihood of the people in the state. Hence, a review to the relevant government policies is needed, so that women are empowered by improving their access to resources and credit.

Land Suitability Assessment and Landuse Planning： A Prerequisite for Food Security and Climate Change Adaptation

Though Ghana＇s crop yield growth rate was at 17%, 5% of every 1.2 million Ghanaians have insufficient and limited access to nutritious food. Climate change and climate variability have enormously affected the state of agricultural productivity and hence could result in food insecurity. As many ongoing projects use Boolean suitability analysis, land use planning, management recommendations sores, it still remains inadequate to support rural resource poor farmers. This then, is affecting livelihood and agricultural productivity. In this paper, a geostatistical quantitative method to support a geographic information system （GIS） based on multi-criteria decision support system （GMCDSS） for an enhanced land suitability assessment （LSA） and landuse planning （LP） was devised. Project findings indicated that, recommended farm inputs could be estimated and applied accordingly at farm plot levels Soil amendment indicators （e.g., 1.0 t/ha lime ＋ 1.0 t/ha gypsum was estimated for liming） was quantified and currently, farmers can save money in soil fertility management. It has shown that, instead of applying 5.0 t/ha poultry manure （PM） or five bags of N-P-K fertilizer （rate of 15： 15： 15 N-P2O5-K2O/ha） ＋ two bags of sulphate of ammonia （SA）, a farmer may apply 2.0 t/ha PM ＋ two bags 15：15：15 N-P2O5-K2O/ha ＋ one bag of SA. GMCDSS assessment has proved to be fundamental in： （1） urban planning; （2） ensuring food security; （3） poverty reduction and interventions to the effects of climate change and climate variability.

Complex Research of Using Microwave in Processing Grains and Plants Materials for Agriculture

It is observed contamination and subsequent growth of various types of mycotoxins in the production and processing of grain and non-grain crops. The contamination of grain and non-grain cereals crops harvest was analyzed. The aim of this research is using of microwave energy to disinfect grains of harvest and giving new properties to the grains and plants materials. The author has presented researches of the grains disinfection, during seedbed preparation and post processing. Rational parameters of heating rates of different biological objects were identified, revealed their dependence and impact on infection pathogens, through using of microwave energy technology. The author found a reduction of the number of pathogenic microbes and organisms at the various stages of processing agricultural products during using of microwave energy, and found new qualitative indicators of the products properties.

Edible Wild Fruit Highly Consumed during Food Shortage Period in Togo： State of Knowledge and Conservation Status

The aim of this work is to inventory Edible Wild Fruit Species （EWFS） highly consumed by local people during food shortage periods in Togo. Ethnobotanical surveys were carried out in four ecological zones （I, II, III ＆ IV） involving a sample of 433 persons from 29 ethnic groups. Semi-structured interview, field observation, group discussions were used to collect data. Food shortage periods were defined using the agricultural calendar of main crops in three ecological zones （I, II, ＆ III）. One hundred and one EWFS belonging to 84 genera and 39 families were inventoried. The three main types of use of the EWFS were direct consumption, condiments and medicines. Twenty among the 101 EWFS recorded were highly consumed during food shortage periods with respectively 15 EWFS in ecological I, 14 in zone 1I and 12 in ecological zone III. All edible fruits consumed during food shortage periods were fresh fruits with abundant pulp. Six fruit species were sold to bring income to local households. These species were those which benefit from conservation measures through their husbandry in agroforestry systems.

Thought on the Implementation of Agricultural Standardization in the Grain Production and Modern Agriculture

The construction of Grain Production Functional Zone and Modern Agicultural Zone （Two Zones for short） plays a key role in the development of modern agriculture and solving the quantity and quality problems of agricultural products. The Two Zones serves as the important form and carrier of agricultural standardization and the agricultural standardization provides means and ways for it. The paper puts forward the suggestions and solutions for agricultural standardization in Two Zones in the aspects of boosting standards innovation projects, management and so forth.

Agricultural development and food security： The way out of crisis

The purpose of this study is to elicit how investments in agricultural development and food security would safeguard the Virgin Islands （BVI） and the Caribbean, by extension, from future global crisis. History shows that agriculture played a significant role in the rise of civilization globally and was the main contributor to the Caribbean economy before the 1950＇s. Overall, it was determined that the BVI population, in general, is desirous of more investment opportunities within the agricultural sector, to assist with the alleviation of poverty at the national level, to advance economic development and trade across the region and to make sustainable development more attainable for the Caribbean, as a whole. To do this, agricultural development and food security must become the focal point of the BVI and other Caribbean economies. Accordingly, the paper recommends that investment within the agricultural sector be undertaken more aggressively across the region. The mixed research approach method was used to validate these claims.

Challenges of Women Contributing to Food Security in Ghana： Perspectives of Women Farmers in Northern Ghana

Women contribution to all the four pillars of food security （food availability, accessibility, utilization, and sovereignty） has been well established in Ghana and many sub-Saharan African countries. However, the issue of sustainability of their contribution to the food security equation is still a dilemma. This study therefore examined the challenges and vulnerabilities associated with women farmers in accessing and controlling land for sustained agriculture in Northern Ghana. The study was mainly qualitative and utilized various participatory dialogue processes including focus group discussions and key informant interviews of selected women farmer groups, individual farmers, opinion leaders and traditional authorities in eight communities across four districts in three regions of Northern Ghana. The data was analysed thematically. Results of the study showed that women are disadvantaged in all the possible means of acquiring land for agricultural production-- inheritance, marriage, rent, shared cropping, outright purchase, and gift. It was evident that women have appreciable levels of access to land, but have low level of control of such lands for sustained food production. Several factors, such as low income, socio-cultural factors, climate change, mining, urbanization, low level of education, and low levels of awareness of property and inheritance rights, associate women＇s vulnerability to limited land in the study area. The findings of the study imply that any policy geared toward women empowerment in agriculture must not only target their access to land but also consider enhancing their control over agricultural land. The study therefore recommended that in order to increase food production and security in the study regions, there is the need to strengthen women＇s capacity to defend their land tenure rights and enhance their access and control over land within the context of natural resource management.

Impacts of Agricultural Mechanization on Agricultural Production in Guangdong Province

Agricultural machinery represents modern method and modern condition of production, and Agricultural mechanization is the key basis and symbol of modern agriculture. Based on analyses of agricultural mechanization development in Guangdong Province from 1988 to 2008, production function was developed to estimate the effects of agricultural mechanization on agricultural production. The results indicated that the contribution of agricultural mechanization to production continues to increase. The agricultural mechanization increased by 1%, and grain production by0.35%. Therefore, government should encourage development of agricultural mechanization in order to improve agricultural production in Guangdong Province.

Design of an Agricultural Production Model for the Food Demand of the Mining Complex

The work＇s main purpose was to design and implement a model of agricultural production for the attention of food demand of the coal complex in the center of the department of Cesar, Colombia, by mounting Profitable Productive Units in rural areas of the zone with mining influence. The aforementioned rural communities are at a socioeconomic disadvantage concerning to the local economic development policies. It was taken a rural society with socio-economic conditions at a disadvantage, level 1 in the classification scale of 1 to 5 of Colombia, several associations were organized in each one of the affected municipalities with strong agricultural vocation to train them in profitable production strategies, authors performed technical and technological support for 12 months. In synthesis, there were meaningful differences among gross income per month of people who worked in the projects of the Young Rural Entrepreneurs, a fact confirmed by the P-value 0.00000005 （Prob. 〉 F） and the F-value 29.3, both denote the significance statistic for this case is best gross income per month of persons covered by the program, this implies that for a person of the rural community it is more meaningful economically linked to the SENA＇s Young Rural Entrepreneurs, in contrast to search for jobs in the informal sector, there is even an average value of 530.000 COP/month （about 265 US/month） higher than the statutory minimum wage for 2009, equivalent to 497.000 COP/month （about 245 US/month）.

The Role of NGOs for Agribusiness Enterprises Development in Pakistan： Current Scenarios and Future Implications

This research ascertains the significant contribution of the Non-Government Organization （NGO） sector in Pakistan for the development of agribusiness enterprises. The NGO sector does not contemplate the emerging trends of agribusiness enterprises in terms of the current and future scenario in context of more efficient agro food systems under the network paradigm. Two of the many NGOs that are engaged in rural development launched various programs to support more efficient marketing systems as the precondition of better well-being. These two NGOs and their various development activities relevant to agribusiness enterprises have been analyzed in this study. The findings reveal that the evaluation matrix for the market activities of these two NGOs characterizes much potential. They are more efficient to strengthen the link between the farmers, market and rural development initiatives. However, in order to improve the linkages NGOs have to act for improving knowledge management in a more holistic way.

Promotion of Underutilised Crops for Income Generation and Environmental Sustainability

Over 30% rural families in India live in poverty due to small holdings and low soil productivity. As many underutilised tree species are tolerant to harsh agro-climatic conditions, BAIF promoted agri-horti-forestry on degraded lands inhabited by tribals. Traditionally dependent on non-timber forest products, they selected tamarind （Tamarindus indica）, jackfruit （Artocarpus heterophyllus）, Indian gooseberry （Emblica officinalis） and ber （Zizyphus mauritiana）, apart from mango and cashew for their livelihood. Oilseed trees like neem （Azadirachta indica）, mahua （Madhuca indica） and jatropha （Jatropha curcas） were introduced on field borders, while the interspace was utilised for cultivating food crops. To ensure higher yield and superior quality of the produce, selection of elite germplasm, domestication through standardisation of cultivation practices and facilitation for supply of planting material are essential, apart from increasing the demand by exploring their uses, creating awareness among consumers and establishing a good distribution network, Intercrops like foodgrains, vegetables and medicinal herbs generated additional income and reduced risk in case of failure of underutilised crops. Introduction of underutilised crops on a small scale with local crops and expansion of their cultivation with the demand is recommended.

（R）evolution in the Food Market-Impact of Retail Internationalization in Transition Countries

The food retail business has undergone a number of structural changes due to increasingly globalized markets and internationalization. Former nationally oriented retailers have suddenly become global. This process also affects new structures in agribusiness, most notably as general retailers export their business models. A comparison of the development and the impact of globalization in the retail sectors of different transition countries reveals varied opportunities for and threats to the participants in agribusiness.

Changes in Grain Production and the Optimal Spatial Allocation of Water Resources in China

Changes in grain production are decomposed and compared among nine major Chinese river basins for the sake of optimal water allocation. The results show that water-deficient northern China, especially the Songliao River Basin and Huai River Basin, contributed the greatest share of the total grain increment from 1995 to 2010. The Songliao River Basin achieved increased grain output largely by expanding multiple cropping, while the Huai River Basin achieved it mainly by improving the yield per unit area. With increased reliance on expanding irrigation and multi-cropping, most northern basins have high levels of agricultural water consumption, despite the rising share of corn, a lower water intensive crop. In contrast, over the same period the warm and humid south, traditionally a major rice-growing area, mostly experienced a sharp decline in rice cropping area and the Southeast Rivers Basin even reduced multiple cropping indexes, contributing to decreased agricultural water consumption. Implications of our findings and the need for tackling the imbalance of agricultural water use in grain production are discussed.

Conservation and Adaptive Management of Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS)

Worldwide specific agricultural systems and landscapes have been created, shaped and maintained by generations of farmers and herders based on diverse natural resources using locally adapted management practices. Building on local knowledge and experience these ingenious agricultural systems reflect the evolution of humankind, the diversity of its knowledge and its profound relationship with nature. These systems have resulted not only in outstanding landscapes maintenance and adaptation of globally significant agricultural biodiversity indigenous knowledge systems and resilient ecosystems, but above all, in the sustained provision of multiple goods and services, food and livelihood security and quality of life. However, many of these systems are facing severe threats from various sources including globalization. In 2002 FAO initiated an international partnership initiative： ＂conservation and adaptive management of Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems （GIAHS）＂. The global GIAHS initiative aims to establish the basis for the international recognition, dynamic conservation and sustainable management of such systems, agricultural biodiversity and their associated biodiversity knowledge systems, food and livelihood security, landscapes and cultures.