En el presente trabajo se presenta un estudio de la implementación del Fitomejoramiento Participativo en Cuba, una metodología sustentada sobre la base de la experiencia adquirida por un grupo de investigadores, agricultores y técnicos. La propuesta presenta en materiales y métodos las cuatro fases fundamentales de este proceso: 1) Diagnóstico, 2) Colección de recursos fitogenéticos, 3) Establecimientos de parcelas demostrativas y desarrollo de ferias de diversidad y 4) Experimentación campesina.
En este artículo se evaluó la biodiversidad en fincas en reconversión en dos unidades de producción agropecuaria en la agricultura suburbana de la provincia de La Habana: la Unidad Básica de Producción Cooperativa (UBPC) 26 de Julio, en Guanabacoa, y la Granja de Monumental, en el Cotorro. La biodiversidad se clasificó en cuatro componentes funcionales: productiva, auxiliar, asociada e introducida.
El presente trabajo tuvo como objetivo mostrar las experiencias en el cultivo del arroz en el mundo, así como de varias regiones de Cuba, donde las ferias de diversidad constituyeron la mejor forma de dar acceso rápido y eficiente a las variedades, con la participación de los productores de arroz no especializado. El fitomejoramiento participativo (FP) es un enfoque relativamente nuevo para el desarrollo del germoplasma, que incluye el mejoramiento de plantas y la selección varietal participativa (SVP).
El objetivo de este estudio fue identificar opciones que permitan mejorar la productividad caprina en una microcuenca con dos poblados en las regiones áridas del norte mexicano. El estudio se realizó durante los años 2004 al 2007 y se basó en el enfoque de sistemas de producción. Se evaluaron aspectos socioeconómicos y ecológicos al nivel de macrosistema para identificar diferencias socioeconómicas y con posibles opciones generadoras de ingresos, y determinar la idoneidad del área para producir cabras e identificar tierras bajo cultivo que pudieran reconvertirse en tierras de pastoreo.
Local extension agents can benefit from the simple procedures in developing irrigation calendars for other irrigated crops. This study gives important lesson for local and regional decision makers, on their endeavour to increase the productivity of small scale irrigated agriculture. This paper is organized as follows: Section 2 describes the study area, practical irrigation schedule development method, alternative irrigation schedules and data collection and analysis methods. Section 3 presents the results.
The aim of this paper is to propose an innovative operational framework that couples life cycle assessment (LCA) and a participatory approach to overcome these issues. The first step was to conduct a progressive participatory diagnosis of the socio-ecological structure of the rural territory and to characterise the main cropping systems. The results of the diagnosis and other data were progressively triangulated, validated and consolidated with the stakeholders at the territorial level. The paper discusses the quality and validity of data obtained using a participatory approach.
The purpose of this study is to develop a robust, rigorous and replicable methodology that is flexible to data limitations and spatially prioritizes the vulnerability of agriculture and rural livelihoods to climate change. The methodology was applied in Vietnam, Uganda and Nicaragua, three contrasting developing countries that are particularly threatened by climate change. We conceptualize vulnerability to climate change following the widely adopted combination of sensitivity, exposure and adaptive capacity.
The tank-based irrigated agricultural system in the Dry Zone of Sri Lanka is one of the oldest historically evolved agricultural systems in the world. The main component of the system consists of a connected series of man-made tanks constructed in shallow valleys to store, convey and utilize water for paddy cultivation. Up to 10,000 tanks originating from the heydays of ancient kingdoms are still integrated in the current agricultural landscape. During the last two millennia, this indigenous system has undergone many changes in technological, management and socio-cultural norms.
The frequency and severity of uncertain rainfall and climate extremes are projected to increase across many parts of the world. Access to rainfall forecasting information becomes an essential and critical resource that smallholder farmers should use to take advantage of good rains and avoid its adverse effects. In many smallholder farming communities, the reliability and accuracy of the scientific information is questionable and therefore not adequately used to make informed farming decisions.
European agriculture is facing increasing economic, environmental, institutional, and social challenges, from changes in demographic trends to the effects of climate change. In this context of high instability, the agricultural sector in Europe needs to improve its resilience and sustainability. Local assessments and strategies at the farming system level are needed, and this paper focuses on a hazelnut farming system in central Italy. For the assessment, a participatory approach was used, based on a stakeholder workshop.