The study reflects on previous World Bank and FAO reports that made the general recommendation to set both research and extension investment targets in developing countries at 1% of agricultural gross domestic product...The study reflects on previous World Bank and FAO reports that made the general recommendation to set both research and extension investment targets in developing countries at 1% of agricultural gross domestic product （AgGDP）. In order to define proxies for country-specific extension investment targets, authors developed an extension investment model （EIM） based on socio-economic macro-indicators （poverty, undernourishment, access to information and population density） and a method to define estimates for cost increases related to climate change. These parameters helped estimating the demand for agricultural extension and investments required for it. Results showed that about half of the 94 developing and emerging countries should spend more than 1% of their respective share of GDP derived from agriculture and about a quarter of the countries, mostly in Africa and South East Asia, need to spend more than 2% of their AgGDP. The paper reveals significant differences in average investment requirements in different regions and shows the additional extension costs related to climate change and other areas that currently lack investment.展开更多
Saudi Arabia is rich not only in its oil, but also in its cultural heritages. With 1,500 rock arts and 4,000 archaeological sites it is the fourth largest rock art region in the world. The entire Saudi Arabia has been...Saudi Arabia is rich not only in its oil, but also in its cultural heritages. With 1,500 rock arts and 4,000 archaeological sites it is the fourth largest rock art region in the world. The entire Saudi Arabia has been comprehensively surveyed, investigated, and documented under the auspices of the Saudi Arabian Department of Antiquities （now Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities）. The archaeological and rock art investigations revealed tantalizing results providing the evidence of human presence in the Arabian Peninsula from the early Acheulean period until the present day. In addition to the ancient towns and cities like Madain Saleh （contemporary to Petra in Jordan）, Tayma, Domat al-Jandal, Thaj, and al-Fao and Ukhdoud hundreds of strange, mysterious, and mystic structures and petrolyghs are located in the deserts of Arabia. A few of such sites are discussed in this paper, highlighting the strong but still unknown to the world the cultural heritage of Saudi Arabia.展开更多
The UN Food and Agriculture Organization（FAO）awarded China on June 7,2015 for its share in reducing the global proportion of people suffering from hunger.China has witnessed remarkable achievements over the past thr...The UN Food and Agriculture Organization（FAO）awarded China on June 7,2015 for its share in reducing the global proportion of people suffering from hunger.China has witnessed remarkable achievements over the past three decades since the launch of its reform and opening-up policy.Rapid development of comprehensive national strength and a higher standard of living have laid a solid foundation for the country to assume more international responsibilities in accordance with its ability and world status.展开更多
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 t...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.展开更多
One of the legacies of the time honored agricultural development in China has been varied farming practices that adapt well to different natural conditions. These old but still functioning farming systems continue to ...One of the legacies of the time honored agricultural development in China has been varied farming practices that adapt well to different natural conditions. These old but still functioning farming systems continue to inspire us to find solutions to various environmental problems caused by so-called modern agriculture. This paper reviewed the studies on agricultural heritage in China, including two categories： document-based researches and practice-oriented researches on dynamic conservation and adaptive management of these traditional agricultural heritages. Studies on the history and archaeological findings about the Chinese traditional agricultural heritage have laid a solid foundation for any further study. Dynamic conservation and adaptive management of agricultural heritage was promoted by the Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems （GIAHS） project initiated by FAO in 2002. Until now, researches on the conservation and adaptive management of agricultural heritages have touched on many aspects of the issue, including theoretical consideration of agricultural heritage, agrobiodiversity characteristics of agricultural heritage, multi-values of agricultural heritage dynamic conservation, substitutive industries, legislation and institutionalization for the conservation of agricultural heritage. We conclude the paper with an agenda for future studies on agricultural heritages, including the broadening of the research scope, innovative research methodologies and methods and the development of strategies that combine conservation and utilization of agricultural heritages.展开更多
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. Buil...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.展开更多
文摘The study reflects on previous World Bank and FAO reports that made the general recommendation to set both research and extension investment targets in developing countries at 1% of agricultural gross domestic product （AgGDP）. In order to define proxies for country-specific extension investment targets, authors developed an extension investment model （EIM） based on socio-economic macro-indicators （poverty, undernourishment, access to information and population density） and a method to define estimates for cost increases related to climate change. These parameters helped estimating the demand for agricultural extension and investments required for it. Results showed that about half of the 94 developing and emerging countries should spend more than 1% of their respective share of GDP derived from agriculture and about a quarter of the countries, mostly in Africa and South East Asia, need to spend more than 2% of their AgGDP. The paper reveals significant differences in average investment requirements in different regions and shows the additional extension costs related to climate change and other areas that currently lack investment.
文摘Saudi Arabia is rich not only in its oil, but also in its cultural heritages. With 1,500 rock arts and 4,000 archaeological sites it is the fourth largest rock art region in the world. The entire Saudi Arabia has been comprehensively surveyed, investigated, and documented under the auspices of the Saudi Arabian Department of Antiquities （now Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities）. The archaeological and rock art investigations revealed tantalizing results providing the evidence of human presence in the Arabian Peninsula from the early Acheulean period until the present day. In addition to the ancient towns and cities like Madain Saleh （contemporary to Petra in Jordan）, Tayma, Domat al-Jandal, Thaj, and al-Fao and Ukhdoud hundreds of strange, mysterious, and mystic structures and petrolyghs are located in the deserts of Arabia. A few of such sites are discussed in this paper, highlighting the strong but still unknown to the world the cultural heritage of Saudi Arabia.
文摘The UN Food and Agriculture Organization（FAO）awarded China on June 7,2015 for its share in reducing the global proportion of people suffering from hunger.China has witnessed remarkable achievements over the past three decades since the launch of its reform and opening-up policy.Rapid development of comprehensive national strength and a higher standard of living have laid a solid foundation for the country to assume more international responsibilities in accordance with its ability and world status.
基金Under the auspices of National Key Technologies R&D Program of China (No. 2006BAB15B02)National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 40671009)
文摘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.
基金National Public Benefit (Environmental) Research Foundation of China (201009020) and FAO/GEF project (GCP/GLO/212/GEF)
文摘One of the legacies of the time honored agricultural development in China has been varied farming practices that adapt well to different natural conditions. These old but still functioning farming systems continue to inspire us to find solutions to various environmental problems caused by so-called modern agriculture. This paper reviewed the studies on agricultural heritage in China, including two categories： document-based researches and practice-oriented researches on dynamic conservation and adaptive management of these traditional agricultural heritages. Studies on the history and archaeological findings about the Chinese traditional agricultural heritage have laid a solid foundation for any further study. Dynamic conservation and adaptive management of agricultural heritage was promoted by the Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems （GIAHS） project initiated by FAO in 2002. Until now, researches on the conservation and adaptive management of agricultural heritages have touched on many aspects of the issue, including theoretical consideration of agricultural heritage, agrobiodiversity characteristics of agricultural heritage, multi-values of agricultural heritage dynamic conservation, substitutive industries, legislation and institutionalization for the conservation of agricultural heritage. We conclude the paper with an agenda for future studies on agricultural heritages, including the broadening of the research scope, innovative research methodologies and methods and the development of strategies that combine conservation and utilization of agricultural heritages.
基金Under the auspices of the GEF/FAO project "Conservation and Adaptive Management of Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GCP/GLO/212/GEF)"
文摘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.
