Indonesia merupakan penghasil kelapa sawit terbesar di dunia, dan sekitar 40% dipasok oleh kebun sawit rakyat. Di Kabupaten Aceh Tamiang, kelapa sawit merupakan komoditas perkebunan dengan area terluas. Sama seperti dengan daerah lain di Indonesia, permasalahan umum yang dijumpai dalam kebun sawit rakyat adalah peremajaan kebun agar tingkat produktifitas tetap bisa dipertahankan, pengelolaan kebun yang sesuai dengan standar berkelanjutan an pemasokan kelapa sawit stabil sesuai permintaan pasar, baik secara kualitas maupun kuantitas.
Tag: agricultural systems
The worldwide problem of slash-and-burn agriculture
Abstract not found
Utilization of research knowledge in sustainable development pathways: Insights from a transdisciplinary research-for-development programme
This study contributes to the ongoing discussion on how to attribute and evaluate the contribution of transdisciplinary research to sustainable development. As co-created knowledge is a key product of transdisciplinary research, we tested the hypothesis that the extent to which this knowledge is utilized beyond the project consortia, in different areas – from scientific methods and insights to policy decisions – and across a continuum of geographical scales can be used to identify potential impact pathways. For this purpose, we developed an analytical framework that links the transdisciplinary process to six possible utilization stages, which we used as indicators of the usability of co-created knowledge. We gathered data from 22 research projects active in 36 countries using a survey and semi-structured interviews. Our results show that even during implementation of the projects, co-created knowledge is utilized by multiple actors at different stages, in all areas and at all scales simultaneously, suggesting multiple impact pathways. Project knowledge is predominantly utilized for national-level policymaking, and research partners named co-creation of knowledge with key stakeholders as the most frequently used mechanism for promoting knowledge utilization. Closer analysis revealed different understandings of and approaches to knowledge co-creation. These can be linked to weaker or stronger definitions of transdisciplinarity. The analysis shows that researchers using strong transdisciplinarity approaches typically face challenges in encompassing multiple epistemologies and facilitating dialogue. Some results suggest that inclusion and collaboration in co-creating knowledge can empower actors otherwise excluded. Our research shows that although transdisciplinary projects have nonlinear impact pathways, these can be partially assessed using the proposed analytical framework. Further, our results indicate a link between usability, inclusion, and collaboration in transdisciplinary research. We conclude with the observation that transdisciplinarity and its requirements still need to be better understood by actors within and beyond the research community.
Land-use analysis of highland agricultural systems using Policy Analysis Matrix (PAM): a case study from Ban Pha Phueng and Ban Mong Luang in the Mae Chaem Catchment, Northern Thailand
The study of agricultural land use system in the highland areas of the Mae Chaem catchment was conducted by using the Policy Analysis Matrix (PAM). It aims to investigate the private and social profitability from dominant crops grown in the Karen communities (Ban Pha Phueng and Ban Mong Luang), as well as to evaluate the impact of economic and social policies on different land use systems. Extensive economic field survey was conducted in order to derive the necessary data required for creating a number of tables (i.e., Input-Output, private price and social price tables). Four crops chosen for this study are: (1) Paddy rice; (2) Upland rice; (3) Rainfed soy beans and (4) Upland corn. The results of PAM analysis revealed that paddy rice was privately and socially profitable, which should be extensively promoted. Upland rice was privately and socially non-profitable and it should be discouraged to grow on the highlands, except the improvement of yield has been made. Rainfed soy beans and upland corn were not privately profitable, but socially profitable. These two crops were taxed by the government or the society as indicated by a net negative transfer. Sensitivity analysis has been conducted by applying a number of situations on price and productivity on individual crops, so that effects from market imperfections or government policy can be determined. It has been recommended that PAM would be valid if externalities have been taken into account in the analytical process.
Service provision by agri-cooperatives engaged in high value markets
Info Note: What is the evidence-base for climate-smart agriculture in Tanzania?
Increasing uptake of agricultural interventions: A case of value chain innovation platforms in Uganda and Zambia
Agroforestry delivers a win-win solution for ecosystem services in sub-Saharan Africa. A meta-analysis
Agricultural landscapes are increasingly being managed with the aim of enhancing the provisioning of multiple ecosystem services and sustainability of production systems. However, agricultural management that maximizes provisioning ecosystem services can often reduce both regulating and maintenance services. We hypothesized that agroforestry reduces trade-offs between provisioning and regulating/maintenance services. We conducted a quantitative synthesis of studies carried out in sub-Saharan Africa focusing on crop yield (as an indicator of provisioning services), soil fertility, erosion control, and water regulation (as indicators of regulating/maintenance services). A total of 1106 observations were extracted from 126 peer-reviewed publications that fulfilled the selection criteria for meta-analysis of studies comparing agroforestry and non-agroforestry practices (hereafter control) in sub-Saharan Africa. Across ecological conditions, agroforestry significantly increased crop yield, total soil nitrogen, soil organic carbon, and available phosphorus compared to the control. Agroforestry practices also reduced runoff and soil loss and improved infiltration rates and soil moisture content. No significant differences were detected between the different ecological conditions, management regimes, and types of woody perennials for any of the ecosystem services. Main trade-offs included low available phosphorus and low soil moisture against higher crop yield. This is the first meta-analysis that shows that, on average, agroforestry systems in sub-Saharan Africa increase crop yield while maintaining delivery of regulating/maintenance ecosystem services. We also demonstrate how woody perennials have been managed in agricultural landscapes to provide multiple ecosystem services without sacrificing crop productivity. This is important in rural livelihoods where the range of ecosystem services conveys benefits in terms of food security and resilience to environmental shocks.
Agroforestry in the uplands of Southeast Asia (in Burmese)
Readily available concentrations of selected micronutrients and harmful metals in soils of Sub-Saharan Africa
An adequate supply of micronutrients is essential for balanced plant growth. In Africa, micronutrient constraints are known to restrict crop productivity and impair human welfare and health. We analyzed a total of 816 topsoil and 796 subsoil samples from Sub-Saharan Africa, to provide baseline information on their readily available Al, B, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, V, and Zn concentrations. This work builds on previous global micronutrient surveys. The studied soils were low in hot water-extractable B, acid ammonium acetate-EDTA-extractable micronutrients, and potentially harmful metals. In comparison with tentative critical level values, B, Cu, Zn, Mo, and Fe in a considerable number of samples seemed to be at a low level for crop production. Apart from Al, Mo, V, Pb, and Cr, readily available element concentrations were higher in topsoil than subsoil. Concentrations of harmful metals (Cd, Ni, Pb) and of Mn and Mo were enriched in cultivated soils in comparison with semi-natural sites. Among the 11 Reference Soil Groups represented in the study, Arenosols were discernible as poor in Cr, Cu, and Fe. Other significant differences in microelement concentrations between soil groups were found only for Ni and V.