Rural settlements are the main carriers of agriculture, rural areas and farmers; thus, optimizing the production and living space of rural settlements is highly significant to rural development. Taking the effective a...Rural settlements are the main carriers of agriculture, rural areas and farmers; thus, optimizing the production and living space of rural settlements is highly significant to rural development. Taking the effective allocation of resources as the starting point, a suitability evaluation system of rural settlements, based on accessibility of production and living, was proposed in this study to provide scientific basis for the optimization of production and living space. The accessibility of production and living was measured by an im- proved two-step floating catchment area method, which considered proximity and availability based on the inclination of rural residents. The suitability evaluation system consisted of traditional suitability evaluation and newly proposed limiting factor identification based on the loss score proportion of suitability. Tingzu Town of Hubei Province, China, was chosen as the case study area. Based on the re- suits of the suitability evaluation system, corresponding suggestions on rural land consolidation, industry division, as well as the layout of health care and education facilities were proposed to optimize the production and living space of rural settlements in Tingzu Town. It is found that the suitability evaluation based on accessibility of production and living is more scientific and accurate than the traditional ones which significantly overestimate production and living convenience. Moreover, the limiting factor identification can help us put forward suggestions according to local conditions and bring about the highly targeted optimization of production and living space of rural settlements.展开更多
Bhutanese maize farmers grow different open-pollinated traditional varieties and improved high yielding varieties recommended by the national maize program. All most every maize farmer uses the recycled seeds from the...Bhutanese maize farmers grow different open-pollinated traditional varieties and improved high yielding varieties recommended by the national maize program. All most every maize farmer uses the recycled seeds from their farms for planting in the next season. Farmers traditional or informal seed system was found to be poorly organized and unscientific that has resulted in the deterioration and contamination of seed quality. Bhutanese maize farmers living in remote areas are highly constrained by the inconsistent supply and poor access to good quality maize seed. The formal public seed sectors lack adequate resources to produce and supply good quality seeds. This called for an urgency to identify and adapt an innovative and a sustainable seed production approach to service the subsistence needs of Bhutanese farmers in a cross-pollinated crop, like maize. The community based seed production （CBSP） approach was introduced and evaluated under the Bhutanese maize production system as an alternative farmer based seed production model. A total of seven farmers CBSP groups were formed and promoted as a smallholder seed enterprise. The technical skills of these CBSP group members on maize seed production were improved through practical demonstrations and trainings. The CBSP groups were supplied with high quality source seed of new maize varieties by the national maize program. For long term, the sustainability of CBSP groups were linked to the formal seed sector in the country for marketing the seeds. The CBSP approach has proven to be a successful small scale maize seed production model under highland maize production ecosystem that has improved the production and supply of good quality maize seeds. The Bhutanese experiences with CBSP in maize, its merits for small holder Bhutanese maize farmers and lessons learnt from the CBSP model are discussed in this paper.展开更多
基金Under the auspices of National Scientific and Technical Supporting Programs During 12th Five-year Plan(No.2012BAJ22B02)
文摘Rural settlements are the main carriers of agriculture, rural areas and farmers; thus, optimizing the production and living space of rural settlements is highly significant to rural development. Taking the effective allocation of resources as the starting point, a suitability evaluation system of rural settlements, based on accessibility of production and living, was proposed in this study to provide scientific basis for the optimization of production and living space. The accessibility of production and living was measured by an im- proved two-step floating catchment area method, which considered proximity and availability based on the inclination of rural residents. The suitability evaluation system consisted of traditional suitability evaluation and newly proposed limiting factor identification based on the loss score proportion of suitability. Tingzu Town of Hubei Province, China, was chosen as the case study area. Based on the re- suits of the suitability evaluation system, corresponding suggestions on rural land consolidation, industry division, as well as the layout of health care and education facilities were proposed to optimize the production and living space of rural settlements in Tingzu Town. It is found that the suitability evaluation based on accessibility of production and living is more scientific and accurate than the traditional ones which significantly overestimate production and living convenience. Moreover, the limiting factor identification can help us put forward suggestions according to local conditions and bring about the highly targeted optimization of production and living space of rural settlements.
文摘Bhutanese maize farmers grow different open-pollinated traditional varieties and improved high yielding varieties recommended by the national maize program. All most every maize farmer uses the recycled seeds from their farms for planting in the next season. Farmers traditional or informal seed system was found to be poorly organized and unscientific that has resulted in the deterioration and contamination of seed quality. Bhutanese maize farmers living in remote areas are highly constrained by the inconsistent supply and poor access to good quality maize seed. The formal public seed sectors lack adequate resources to produce and supply good quality seeds. This called for an urgency to identify and adapt an innovative and a sustainable seed production approach to service the subsistence needs of Bhutanese farmers in a cross-pollinated crop, like maize. The community based seed production （CBSP） approach was introduced and evaluated under the Bhutanese maize production system as an alternative farmer based seed production model. A total of seven farmers CBSP groups were formed and promoted as a smallholder seed enterprise. The technical skills of these CBSP group members on maize seed production were improved through practical demonstrations and trainings. The CBSP groups were supplied with high quality source seed of new maize varieties by the national maize program. For long term, the sustainability of CBSP groups were linked to the formal seed sector in the country for marketing the seeds. The CBSP approach has proven to be a successful small scale maize seed production model under highland maize production ecosystem that has improved the production and supply of good quality maize seeds. The Bhutanese experiences with CBSP in maize, its merits for small holder Bhutanese maize farmers and lessons learnt from the CBSP model are discussed in this paper.
