Application of smart farming technology in rice farming activity is relevant in facing the challenges in achieving food security and improving the wellbeing of farmers. In Malaysia, food security is synonymous with the adequacy of rice domestic supply for the Malaysian population. Therefore, to achieve the target set in Sustainable Development Goal 2 which is to achieve zero hunger, the rice sector needs to be more competitive by encouraging farmers to utilize modern technology. Smart farming is an emerging concept of farm management that combines information and communication technologies into modern machinery like IoT, drones, and Artificial Intelligence to increase the value of agricultural products as well as reduce the cost of production while improving the well-being of farmers through income increment. Therefore, this study is conducted to explore the adoption of smart farming among paddy farmers in one of the country’s granary areas which is in Barat Laut Selangor under the administration of the Integrated Agriculture Development Area. This study will employ qualitative methods and interviews will be conducted. This study is urgently needed due to the twofold agenda: Malaysia is moving towards a high-income country and the importance for food security assurance has been acknowledged.
Micronutrients, such as zinc (Zn), are essential for the growth and development of a wide range of crops. To overcome Zn deficiency in the soil, Zn-solubilizing bacteria (ZSB) have recently been employed. In the present study, samples from the rice fields in the state of Selangor, Malaysia, were collected to isolate, characterize, and identify the ZSB. A total of 88 strains were isolated, and only 9 strains were able to solubilize the insoluble Zn on zinc oxide (ZnO)-, zinc carbonate (ZnCO3)-, and zinc phosphate (Zn3(PO4)2)-amended Tris-minimal media agar and broth assays. The highest Zn solubilization (20.99%) was measured for the TM23 isolate when exposed to Zn3(PO4)2-modified media culture, whereas ZnCO3 showed the lowest (3.35%) Zn solubilization by ZSB. In addition, nine isolated ZSB also exhibited plant-growth-promoting (PGP) traits, including nitrogen fixation ability, siderophore production, indole acetic acid production (35.28–65.48 mL−1), phosphate solubilization (27.69–77.38%), enzyme hydrolysis, and production of organic acids. Most of the isolated strains (88) were Gram-negative, except for TM54, which was Gram-positive. The four potential ZSB isolates based on 16RS rDNA sequence analysis were identified as Serratia sp. and Acinetobacter sp. Hence, this study’s findings suggest that these isolates could be prospective candidates to overcome Zn deficiencies and reduce the consumption of chemical fertilizers in agricultural areas.
Pineapples are very perishable and require an immediate sale to consumers. This has triggered the local growers to market their produce and rely on the middleman. Thus, this present study was conducted to identify the challenges that affect the marketing channel selection of smallholder pineapple growers in Samarahan, Sarawak. The primary data used for this study were collected from 123 smallholder pineapple growers using simple random sampling method with a well-structured close-ended questionnaire via face-toface survey. The descriptive analysis was used to describe the socio-demographic characteristics of the pineapple growers meanwhile exploratory factor analysis (EFA) using principal component analysis approach with orthogonal rotation (varimax) was used to reduce data to a smaller set of summary variables and to identify the structure of the relationship between the variables and the respondents. The findings revealed that five main challenges have caused pineapple growers to carefully select the marketing channel in marketing their produce namely; lack of market information; inefficient transportation; price volatility; market distance; and product perishability. Inadequate marketing information about supply and demand markets, potential buyers, bargaining, and negotiation have caused concerned for the pineapple growers to take the risk in marketing their produce to various customers. Lack of transportation facility and high transportation cost has caused the pineapple growers to sell their produce at the farm gate to reduce losses during the distribution channel. Moreover, the unstable pineapple price has created a risk to the growers due to its negative effect on farm income stability. Besides, the distance between farms and marketplace has significantly affected marketable surplus of pineapple fruits thus resorts to the growers to rely on the middleman to market their produce. Conclusively, all the challenges highlighted in this study should be given adequate attention by the relevant agencies to improve and continue their effective roles in the pineapple market and to enhance farmers’ livelihoods. This can be achieved by strengthening the fruit supply chain management, adopting comprehensive approaches such as policies, programs and strategies pertaining to the marketing of pineapple fruits that require a collective effort and commitment from the public and private sectors.
Rice is a strategic commodity as it is a national staple food in Malaysia. However, Malaysia can only accommodate 70 to 80 percent of domestic needs. Strategies have been carried out by the government to boost rice production in the country include the introduction of innovation among paddy farmers. However, the innovations introduced to the target group in the paddy and rice industry, especially among rice farmers are often faced with the challenge of slow adoption rate despite the proven benefits of innovation. To ensure the innovations introduced coincide with the target group, innovation maker should identify the socioeconomic characteristics of the target group. Therefore, this study aimed to identify socio-economic characteristics of rice farmers who adopt to rice planting management innovation, Paddy Estate Project and SRI technique. Paddy Estate project management is the innovation implemented in the country’s granary areas whereas SRI technique is the paddy innovation management carried on the outside granary area especially in rural area. This study carried out in Paddy Estate Project in Muda area one of the main country’s granary area. This study was also carried out to farmers who apply SRI technique in paddy cultivation area in Peninsular Malaysia which covers the states of Kedah, Selangor, Johor and Kelantan. Based on the findings, there are differences in socio-economic characteristics between groups of farmers who adopt the SRI technique and groups of farmers adopt the Paddy Estate Project.
The study has been conducted to assess the social safety net programmes for ensuring food security and poverty reduction in char area of Jamalpur district, Bangladesh during the period of July-August in 2016. Survey method was used to collect primary data from Madargonj upazila of Jamalpur district. A total of 60 sample households were selected purposively for collecting data where 25 were under old age allowance, 15 were widow allowance and 20 were VGF/VGD card holders. Descriptive and tabular analysis was used to achieve the major objectives of the study. There are many Safety Net Programmes launched in the study area, like old age allowance, widow allowance, VGD/VGF, test relief, food for works and so on. The findings showed that after getting the allowance, the food consumption pattern, health, etc. are improving. Before joining SSNPs, about 77% people were food insecure but now the value is 68% and their calorie intake is 1834 kcal. The food security index became 0.79 and the food insecure household fall short of required calorie intake by 18 percent. It has been found that about 55% respondents are living below the poverty line but the joining to the SSNP, their situation is improving. Finally, it can be said that the SSNPs are much effective and could be a successful poverty alleviation strategy for the Government of Bangladesh. Progressive Agriculture 30 (1): 75-85, 2019
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