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Uggayam as Indigenous Oral Heritage: Functions, Symbolism and Intergenerational Transmission in Villaviciosa, Abra
No full textUggayam, a traditional oral poetry of the Tingguian people in Villaviciosa, Abra, serves as a vital cultural practice that extends beyond artistic expression to encompass economic, political, and social functions. This study explores the role of Uggayam in contemporary society, particularly its contributions to local governance, economic development, and cultural preservation. This study utilized a qualitative research method with an ethnographic thematic approach, incorporating participant observation, structured interviews, and thematic analysis. Ten expert Uggayam practitioners from various barangays in Villaviciosa, including Poblacion, Tamac, Cal-lao, Calcalumatsi, and Ol-olingen, participated, sharing their knowledge of its significance and preservation. With the help of interviews with community members and local leaders, the study examines how Uggayam remains relevant in modern settings despite the challenges posed by globalization, digitalization, and cultural assimilation. Findings reveal that Uggayam significantly contributes to economic activities, particularly tourism and festivals, by generating income and fostering community engagement. Politically, Uggayam serves as a medium for civic participation, enabling citizens to voice concerns and communicate with local officials. However, the study also identifies key challenges in its preservation, including declining interest among the youth and the dominance of mainstream cultural influences. Moreover, indigenous knowledge systems are at risk due to modernization and shifting social preferences. To address these challenges, the research highlights the importance of integrating Uggayam into educational curricula and digital platforms to sustain its relevance. The study contributes to the growing discourse on indigenous knowledge systems and underscores the need for community-driven efforts for cultural preservation. Uggayam in itself remains a vital cultural heritage of the Tingguian people, reinforcing identity, economic growth, and political engagement in Villaviciosa. However, its sustainability requires collective efforts from local leaders, educators, and cultural practitioners. Future research could explore more extensive methods of digital preservation and policy support for Indigenous oral traditions, securing Uggayam’s place in both contemporary society and future generations
Applicability of K-Means and Genetic Algorithm in Clustering of Indian Mustard Genotypes
No full textThe purpose of the study was to check the efficacy of K-means and Genetic Algorithm methods for clustering of Indian mustard genotypes. The secondary data for the growth and yield characteristics of 80 Indian Mustard genotypes were used to identify patterns and best genotypes for plant breeders through K-means and Genetic algorithm clustering methods. The maximum RV-coefficient criterion was used to find best subset size of 3 variables. The clustering was done using K-means and Genetic Algorithm methods based on subset size of 3 variables and all 12 variables. The applicability of both methods was compared from obtained results. It was concluded that the quality of clusters based on the percentage of between sum of squares (BSS) was best in case of K-means method using a subset of the variables
Constraints Faced by NGO Workers in Agriculture & Rural Development Sector: Insights from Jaunpur District of Uttar Pradesh, India
No full textNGO workers in agriculture and rural development sectors face a wide range of constraints worldwide and India is not an exception in this case. This research study highlights the key constraints faced by NGOs as identified by 120 NGO workers in Jaunpur district of Uttar Pradesh, India and provides suggestions to deal with those intense constraints. Some descriptive statistics like frequency, percentage etc. were used to analyze the collected data. The data analysis revealed that undemocratic behavior of the boss (95.5%), lack of sound planning (95.83%), absence of united synchronized efforts (87.5%), absence of incentives for good work (79.16%) etc. are mostly faced administrative constraints by the NGO workers. Some of the most prominent infrastructural constraints faced by the NGO workers are non-availability of sufficient training facilities (97.50%), non-availability of inputs i.e. seeds/fertilizer (93.33%), lack of mobility/communication (89.16%), inadequate funds for carrying out the activities (85%) etc. For improving the situation and dealing with these constraints, NGOs should focus on fostering a democratic and inclusive organizational culture, implementing effective planning processes, encouraging collaboration and teamwork, providing incentives for performance, seeking expert guidance, conducting regular evaluations, enhancing government partnerships, investing in training and resources, improving communication infrastructure, diversifying funding sources and addressing housing needs etc. These steps should help NGOs overcome the identified constraints gradually and achieve greater effectiveness in their mission
An Analytical Study of the Relationship between Farmer Characteristics and the Use of Indigenous Technical Knowledge in Agriculture
No full textIndigenous Technical Knowledge (ITK) in Agriculture encompasses traditional practices and wisdom passed down from generation to generation, which is essential for sustainable agricultural practices in harmony with native ecosystems and cultural values. Integrating ITK with present-day agricultural practices boosts resilience and facilitates community-led innovation in agriculture. The present study examined the relationship between farmer Characteristics and the use of indigenous technical knowledge in agriculture. A total of 120 respondents were selected through multistage cum random sampling. The collected data were analyzed using the Chi-square test to determine the association between ITK and various selected independent variables. The results showed that the majority (75.00%) of the respondents were aged between 35 to 41 years, with a primary-level education. The majority (64.17%) of the respondents belonged to the Other Backwards Classes (OBC), 54.20 per cent lived in nuclear families, and 49.20 per cent were marginal farmers. Agriculture was identified as the main occupation by 65.80 per cent of the respondents, with a medium level of annual family income between Rs. 70920 to 241296. Additionally, 75 per cent of respondents had medium levels of mass media exposure. The results revealed that Age (0.0497), Sex (0.0326), Occupation (0.0158), and Mass Media Exposure (0.0142) were positively associated at the 0.05 level
Challenges and Opportunities towards Catalyzing Production and Commercialization of Tamarind Fruit in Kenya
No full textThere is limited information on how to catalyze Tamarind production and commercialization in Kenya despite the growing demand in the domestic and export markets due to its multiple uses. The objective of this study was to conduct a situational analysis on production and commercialization of Tamarind in Kenya and to identify bottlenecks and opportunities which may help catalyze the scaling up of production and commercialization of Tamarind. An exploratory study design using selected literature and interviews with farmers, transporters, traders and extension staff in the Coastal regional of Kenya were used to collect data. The results show that Tamarind fruits are underutilized, mainly collected in the wild in semi-arid areas of the country and marketed through informal channels. Mombasa is the terminal market for tamarind sourced from Kenya and Uganda, from where domestic consumers and exporters obtain their supplies. Key challenges were found to be lack of organized production, long maturity periods, lack of quality planting materials, distant markets, limited value addition and inadequate promotion by government institutions. Increasing demand in local restaurants for tamarind drinks, flavoured foods and sauces as well as the export markets provide opportunities to scale up production in Kenya. The findings suggest that catalyzing the production and commercialization of tamarind in the country requires collaboration between public and private sector actors. The structure of such a collaboration should focus on development and strengthening the following value chain links namely; research into early maturing varieties and model nurseries as source of quality planting materials; domestication and production by farmers in orchards; aggregation centres for assurance of volumes and quality; processing and value addition; and linkages to domestic and export markets
1 Interplay of environmental ambition and remuneration in CAP’s agri-environmental policies – Eliciting the perspective of experts
No full textBackground – With the new Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), EU member states (MS) gained flexibility in the design of agri-environmental measures (AEM). In particular, MS are encouraged to determine AEM payment levels based on a marginal supplier approach. Analytical determination of payment levels would require sufficient information about the distribution of cost-structures. As this data is generally lacking, calculations are typically based on assumptions. The question arises whether MS use the ensuing discretionary scope to design environmentally ambitious policies or primarily income-generating farm payments. Objective – Prioritising objectives and implementation options under budget constraints, an essential task in policy design, is particularly difficult when developing schemes to support the provision of public goods. By definition, public goods lack a market value, therefore their cost-effectiveness is difficult to assess. We examine how scientific experts assess trade-offs between the remuneration level for AEM and the achievable environmental effectiveness of a funding scheme. Method – In a discrete choice survey, experts with a track record in dealing with European agri-environmental challenges were asked to choose between different schemes and the status quo. These experts are an important group as they influence scientific and political debates on the future CAP. The attributes presented in the choice set were the environmental effectiveness of a CAP strategic plan (CSP), the share of agricultural area enrolled in agri- environmental measures (AEM), the share of ‘dark-green’ measures, and ‘payment to farmer’. Results & Discussion – The results show that higher CSP’s environmental effectiveness and a higher share of agricultural area enrolled in AEM increased the likelihood that experts selected a funding scheme. Higher levels of ’payment to farmer’ decreased the selection probability. In order to achieve more ambitious CSPs, experts regarded higher payments for AEM acceptable. A latent class analysis revealed preference heterogeneity among experts, reflecting different disciplinary and geographical perspectives
California Pork Market Responds to Proposition 12 with Higher Prices and Lower Consumption
No full textIn July 2023, California began enforcing Proposition 12, a voter-approved law that sets minimum space requirements for breeding sows and prohibits the sale of non-compliant pork within the state. The policy created new regulatory barriers for pork entering the California market, resulting in constrained supply and added compliance costs for producers. Drawing on high-frequency scanner-level data from July 2022 to June 2025, this analysis finds that Proposition 12 has led to lasting changes in California’s pork market. Retail prices for key pork cuts have increased sharply relative to national trends, while the state’s share of national pork consumption has declined. The results point to a structural shift in consumer behavior and pricing dynamics, with effects that have persisted over a two-year period
Welcome Address
No full textJohn Anderson has been a long-serving member of the Board of the Crawford Fund and has been Chair of the Board since 2017. He was appointed companion of the order of Australia (AC) in the Queen’s Birthday 2022 Honours List for eminent service to rural and regional development, to leadership in international agricultural research and food security, to social commentary, and through contributions to not-for-profit organisations. John Anderson is the former Deputy Prime Minister and Leader of the National Party of Australia (1999-2005); Minister for Primary Industries and Energy (1996-1998); Minister for Transport and Regional Development (1998-2005); served on Expenditure Review (Budget) Committee, National Security Committee and Standing Environment Committee while in Cabinet. He was the member for Gwydir, New South Wales 1989 to his retirement in 2005. John has returned to farming and is also active in the not-for-profit sector
Aka’tika Uira (Realign the Wheel): An analysis of the climate adaptation methods adopted by farmers in Rarotonga, Cook Islands
No full textClimate change is already a critical issue for Pacific nations and threatens the ability of local farmers to produce crops. Despite this issue, farmers have been historically left out when it comes to research. Understanding Pacific farmers’ experiences of climate change, the way they adapt in response, and the challenges they face in sustaining their production is essential. This study analyses the adaptation methods used by farmers in Rarotonga, Cook Islands, using data from a survey conducted by PHOAFS Regional Research Agenda partners across multiple Pacific countries. A sample of 174 farmers were surveyed across August-September 2024. Descriptive and bivariate analyses were employed. Farmers reported experiencing inconsistent rainfall (49%), rising temperatures (50%) and increasing frequency and/or severity of droughts (49%). Overall, most farmers (87.9%) had made at least one adaptation method in response to changing weather patterns and were more likely to adapt in response to increasing drought conditions. The major adaptation methods implemented by Rarotonga farmers were crop and soil management methods (52% of all adaptations), such as crop rotation, mulching, and composting. Contrary to other bits of research, there were no demographic factors influencing farmers’ likelihood of adapting. The findings from this research illustrate that farming is holistic. And point to a practical focus on increasing support from the government through improving opportunities for education and access to resources
Empowered or just a metric index? Women in Indonesia's dairy household
No full textApproximately 99% of Indonesian dairy farmers reside on Java Island, where small-scale farms (typically managing fewer than four cows and selling through local cooperatives) dominate dairy production. Despite their size, these farms play a vital role in sustaining rural economies and social structures. Women in dairy households contribute significantly to the dairy labour force, including feeding, watering, milking, managing manure, maintaining animal health, processing, and selling dairy products for income. Drawing on experiences from the Women’s Discussion Group initiatives under the IndoDairy (ACIAR-funded) and 1000 Srikandi (ADB-funded) projects, this case study illustrates how gender-sensitive technologies (i.e. mastitis testing using detergent or ‘surf’ test) and gender-inclusive extension services (i.e. hands-on training for women) enhance household resilience and foster food system sustainability. Analysis using a modified version of IFPRI’s Abbreviated Women’s Empowerment in Agriculture Index (A-WEAI) reveals that women in these households are, on average, as empowered as men. The key drivers of this parity include shared responsibilities in farm management and asset ownership, control over income, and active participation in informal groups, though interestingly, not in dairy-related groups (e.g. cooperatives). A deeper examination of the A-WEAI domains, however, reveals persistent challenges in access to credit. Additionally, women’s participation in dairy cooperatives remains limited due to structural and cultural barriers, restricting involvement in decision-making and hindering access to key services and information. While high-level metrics (like A-WEAI) provide a useful tool to measure progress over time, this case study illustrates the need for nuance in the local context as we strive for climate-resilient and inclusive food systems