Title of document: Farm to Systems-Where is Our Measuring Tap? Authors: Dr. Saythong Vilayvong Journal’s name if any: Ministry/Government Agency/Organisation: GRET/ALiSEA, AFD Year of publication: 2016 Geographic focus: India, Nepal & Bangladesh Main issues / topics addressed (for example: Background; Challenge of measurement; What do we need to measure……) School of agroecology (if any): Web address to original document (if any): Summary: This presentation is adapted from the LEISA India, 2016   Read More

Title of document: Overview of the Organic Certification in the Mekong Region Authors: Journal’s name if any: Ministry/Government Agency/Organisation: GRET, ALiSEA Year of publication: Geographic focus: Mekong Region Main issues / topics addressed (for example: Overview of the Organic Agriculture in the Mekong Region, Organic Agriculture and Certification, Different trajectories in the Mekong Region……) School of agroecology (if any): Web address to original document (if any): Summary: Presentation for Overview of the Organic Certification in the Mekong Region   Read More

Title of document: ‘Hands & Minds’ Authors: Adrian Bolliger Journal’s name if any: Ministry/Government Agency/Organisation: BMZ, CIAT, CGIAR Year of publication:2016 Geographic focus: Mekong Region Main issues / topics addressed (for example: Regional agricultural sector in transition, main approaches and methodologies, Analysis of eco-efficiency of farm systems……) School of agroecology (if any): Web address to original document (if any): Summary: This presentation talking about Regional agricultural sector in transition. At ACTAE Workshop 2nd June 2016, Vientine, Laos   Read More

Title of document:  Better rice Initiative Asia Capacity Development for rice cultivation Authors: Henrik Beermann, Astari Widya Dharma Journal’s name if any:  Ministry/Government Agency/Organisation:  Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH ; On behalf of The German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) Year of publication: 2015 Geographic focus: ASIAN Main issues / topics addressed (for example: Capacity building strategy, technical processes of developing the CD strategies for sustainable rice cultivation,……) School of agroecology (if any): Web address to original document (if any):  Summary: The German Food Partnership (GFP) aims at fostering the cooperation between private and public sector institutions. Its objective is to promote sustainable growth in agricultural production and improved access to nutrition within the food sector in emerging and developing countries. Public and private actors join forces in order to implement comprehensive projects and programs for sustainable business in these countries. The contribution towards food and nutrition security as well as economic development in rural areas is to be measured by increased agricultural productivity and income, improved availability of nutritious food, and food self-sufficiency. As one of the first concrete initiatives under the GFP umbrella, the Better Rice Initiative Asia (BRIA) is a joint project planned and implemented by private partners in collaboration with GIZ, and public organizations in the respective countries. BRIA aims at improving rice value chains (which include rice based nutrition components) in Southeast Asia (SEA), namely the four SEA countries Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam. BRIA’s focus is on strengthening the nutritional and economic situation of rice smallholders, and consumers. The purpose of this document is to provide an overview of the workshop and summarize the main lessons learned and recommendations for good practices of capacity development for sustainable rice cultivation in SEA.   Read More

Title of document:  Finding alternatives to swidden agriculture: does agroforestry improve livelihood options and reduce pressure on existing forest? Authors: Syed Ajijur Rahman . Jette Bredahl Jacobsen . John Robert Healey . James M. Roshetko . Terry Sunderland Journal’s name if any:  Ministry/Government Agency/Organisation:  Forest and Nature for Society (FONASO, initiated by the Erasmus Mundus programme of the European Commission to enhance and promote European higher education throughout the world) and Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR). Bangor University, University of Copenhagen, and ICRAF Year of publication: 2016 Geographic focus: National Main issues / topics addressed (for example: Agroforestry, adoption Income, Social potential, Forest protection, Policy support ……) School of agroecology (if any): Web address to original document (if any):  Summary:  Swidden cultivation can contribute to deforestation and land degradation, which can subsequently result in a number of serious environmental problems. This paper examines the economic and social potential of agroforestry systems and the barriers to their widespread adoption, as a land use alternative to swidden cultivation, which may potentially help protect local forest. The Gunung Salak valley in West Java, Indonesia is presented as a case study. Based on farmers’ and experts’ assessment, costs and benefits have been estimated, which show that the two investigated agroforestry systems have higher net present value and benefit-cost ratio (B/C) than the two swidden cultivation systems. Tree ownership also creates more permanent rights to farmland and is prestigious in the community. Agroforestry products (fruit, vegetables etc.) have high monetary value and help strengthen social cohesion when shared with neighbors. However, farmers are reluctant to implement agroforestry. Stated reasons are related to both culture and capacity. Farmers practicing agroforestry are less involved in forest clearing and forest products collection than swidden farmers indicating that it may contribute positively to conservation of local forests. Increasing the adoption of agroforestry farming in the study area will require support to overcome capacity constraints.   Read More

Title of document:  DEMAND FOR ORGANIC AGRICULTURE PRODUCTS IN CHIANG MAI Authors: Manawin Songkroh (Ph.D.) Journal’s name if any:  Ministry/Government Agency/Organisation:  Maejo University  Chiang Mai, Thailand Year of publication: 2015 Geographic focus: National level Main issues / topics addressed (for example: Organic agriculture product, market opportunity, organic product demand …) School of agroecology (if any): Web address to original document (if any):  Summary: This study aims to confirm relationship of determinants of demand for organic agriculture products in Chiang Mai. Self-administerred questionnaires was sent out to respondents in Chiang Mai and Lampang. Data analysis was done by multiple regression analysis. The results prove demand theory of determinants but various degree of importance. For application of the results, producers should provide more information regarding consuming organic products to increase demand and to consumer with higher income as they tend to consumer more organic food than those of lower income consumers. Nowadays, demand for organic products has been increased as consumers realizes the benefits of having good health in the long run. The production of organic products experiences with higher production cost. Regular production utilizes the chemicals pesticide while organic producers choose to use other more expensive methods. Nevertheless, the growth of organic product recently has made the industry experienced with external economics of scale resulting in the lower cost of organic product industry.   The author strongly recommend that producers should increase demand by providing more information regarding benefits to consumers including benefits on protecting environment. This should stimulate demand as Taste has the highest degree of 0.28 (the second biggest). The 0.29 Income infers that marketing of organic products must be targeted at higher income level consumers to ensure the increase of demand. Determinants of price and price of complimentary products confirm demand theory; and there is no use of managerial perspective. In sum, to increase organic products demand, information about benefits of consuming it must be publicized as much as possible and to higher income consumers.   Read More

Title of document: Promotion of Climate Resilience for Food Security in ASEAN. Rice, Maize and Cassava. Authors: Dr. Men Sarom; Mr. Sothat Leng; Dr. Perdinan; Ms. Kiki Kartikasari; Ms. Marissa Malahayati; Dr. Outhai Soukkhy; Mr. Xayavong Chanthasone; Dr. Khin Lay Swe; Ms. Aye Kyawt Swe; Dr. Romeo V. Labios; Ms. Donna Bae N. Malayang; Dr. Suwit Chaikiattiyos; Dr. Margaret C. Yoovatana; Dr. Tran Cong Thang; Ms. Do Lieng Huong; Dr. Felino P. Lansigan; Ms. Imelda V. Bacudo Ministry/Government Agency/Organisation: Deutsche Gesellschaft für; Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH Year of publication: 2015 Geographic focus: ASEAN Summary: Southeast Asia is one of the regions in the world that are most vulnerable to climate change. Climate hazards, such as temperature increase, erratic rainfall patterns, and extreme climatic events, disrupt ecosystems, livelihoods, and various aspects of human systems. Climate change threatens agricultural production, consequently endangering food security, ecological stability, and sustainable development. The research composed of national studies from the participating member states focused on climate change adaptation measures employed in crop production systems of rice, maize and cassava following the Value Chain Approach. The research composed of national studies from the participating member states focused on climate change adaptation measures employed in crop production systems of rice, maize and cassava following the Value Chain Approach. It has the following objectives: (1) To identify good practices in the ASEAN region, which address climate change related vulnerabilities that could lead to food insecurity of the three critical food crops in the region: Rice, Maize and Cassava using a value chain mapping approach. (2) To identify where vulnerabilities exist or are likely to exist, in the supply of the identified food crops, with a primary focus on production and related inputs and a secondary focus on post-production activities; specifically drawing out where regional collaboration could be most valuable. (3) To identify the good practices in terms of its technical requirements for practical applications, institutional issues and implementation challenges focused on scaling up regionally.   (4) To use the learning from existing good practices to stimulate and spread meaningful action across the region.   Read More

Title of document: Farmers’ adoption of pollution-free vegetable farming in China: Economic, informational, or moral motivation? Authors: Ying Xiong,  Xiao Li , and Peng He Ministry/Government Agency/Organisation: Agricultural Information and Rural Economy Institute, Sichuan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Chengdu,P.R. Chin; Center for Rural Development Research, Sichuan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Chengdu, P.R. China Year of publication: 2016 Geographic focus: China Summary: Based on the survey data of 420 vegetable farmers in China, the logit model is used to analyze farmers’ adoption motivation of pollution-free vegetable farming and quantify the degree to which pollution-free vegetable farming is the result of economic benefits, information acquisition, moral obligation incentives or a combination of these motivations. The results reveal that besides the effects of non-farm income and vegetable acreage in farm characteristics, farmers’ adoption of pollution-free vegetable farming is mainly motivated by economic, informational and moral incentives. Specifically, pollution-free vegetable price, economic support from the governments, joining rural economic organizations and market supervision are verified to affect farmers’ adoption positively. Relative to the incentives from information acquisition and moral obligation, economic benefits play a greater role in promoting farmers’ pollution-free vegetable farming. Economic support from the governments has the biggest impact on adopting pollution-free vegetable farming. Therefore, pollution-free vegetable farming may be promoted towards a profit-driven way. Furthermore, it is necessary to explore a joint mechanism between farmers and rural economic organizations, and provide agricultural extension services with a joint goal of agri-food yield and safety. Market supervision also needs to be strengthened by improving relevant laws and rules and implementing them more strictly.   This study contributes to identify the factors affecting farmers’ PFVF adoption. The results show that farmers are mainly motivated by multiple objectives including economic benefits, information acquisition and moral obligation. The research reveals that the assumption of economic motive alone may be inadequate in the understanding of farmers’ PFVF adoption. Pollution-free vegetable price, economic support from the governments, joining rural economic organizations, market supervision and vegetable acreage have significantly positive impacts on farmers’ adoption and the effect of non-farm income is significantly negative. Moreover, relative to the motivations of information acquisition and moral obligation, the incentives from economic benefits play a greater role.   Read More

Title of document: Report of the International Symposium on Agroecology in China Authors: Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Ministry/Government Agency/Organisation: Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Date: 29-31 August 2016 Location: Kunming, Yunnan, China Geographic focus: China Summary: In September 2014 the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) convened the International Symposium on Agroecology for Food Security and Nutrition. This was followed in 2015 by three regional meetings in Brazil, Senegal and Thailand. These meetings brought together stakeholders from academia, policy and civil society to facilitate better understanding of the role of agroecology in contributing to food security and nutrition. The meetings confirmed that FAO’s approach to agroecology should be based on regional and local realities as well as economic, social and environmental conditions. In order to continue to develop this regional approach a further symposium on agroecology the International Symposium on Agroecology for Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems in China was organized by the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), FAO, and Yunnan Academy of Agricultural Sciences (YAAS), with the support of the Government of France.   Read More

Title of document: Stories From The Field - Women working toward a non-toxic environment Author:  Ilang Ilang Quijano et al. on behalf of Towards a Non-toxic Southeast Asia Date of publication: 2016 Geographical focus: Cambodge, China, Laos, Thailand, Vietnam Summary: The often unseen but disastrous consequences of chemical-intensive food and agricultural production are felt most by half of the world’s food producers and rural population: women. On the average, women make up about 43 percent of the agricultural labour force in developing countries, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). Women are involved in all stages of food production—everything from seed collection, land preparation, fertilizer and pesticides application, weeding, harvesting and storage, food processing, and livestock rearing. In addition, they are also responsible for most household and child-rearing activities. This booklet contains a collection of stories of 25 women from five countries who are involved in an inspiring, ongoing campaign to eliminate use of chemical pesticides and promote agroecology in the Mekong Region. These women are part of the programme Towards a Non-toxic SouthEast Asia, a programme aiming to reduce health and environmental risks from chemicals by monitoring, regulating and managing agricultural, industrial and consumer chemicals. Partners in this initiative are the Swedish Chemicals Agency (KemI), Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Pesticide Action Network Asia and the Pacific (PAN AP) and The Field Alliance (TFA). The stories in this booklet highlight how women were influenced by the work of these dedicated organizations and how various activities and support resulted in mobilization of communities to start working for improved livelihoods, through reduction of pesticides use and shift to agro-ecology.   Read More