Showing results for: agriculture engine Articles
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Local governance systems and smallholder cooperatives in Ethiopia
There is ample evidence to suggest that improving the on-farm productivity of small-scale farmers and integrating them into commercial markets is a promising strategy for alleviating poverty and leveraging agriculture as an engine of wider economic growth. Yet, persistent market failures in large parts of sub-Saharan Africa have limited the impact of this strategy. As a result, there is ...
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The need for a professional network of agricultural and biosystems engineers in Africa
Agricultural productivity in Africa remains the lowest in the world, but recent concerns about food insecurity, rising food prices and resource depletion have spurred world–wide interest about the role of African agriculture in feeding Africa and the world. Majority of world's uncultivated agricultural land is in Africa, yet the capacity to harness this resource remains limited due partly ...
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The impact of COVID-19 on the food and agriculture industry
Agriculture has been a cornerstone of civilisation since time immemorial. As man’s nomadic habits developed into a sedentary lifestyle, it has facilitated the trade and prosperity links that have enabled us to evolve. With the passage of time, globalisation and international trade meant that communities with an excess yield could export their goods to others in which there were food ...
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Governing technology and economic growth
Good governance in Africa is not possible without a sound scientific basis for decision making. African governments are in constant need of scientific and technical advice on issues such as energy policy, disease control and environmental management. Furthermore, a sound economy that supports growth and development must draw on science and technology. Africa is faced with a set of specific ...
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Performance evaluation of irrigation network using fuzzy multicriterion group decision making technique
Present paper discusses applicability of fuzzy multicriterion decision making (MCDM) technique, namely, interval valued fuzzy TOPSIS (IVFT) for selection of suitable irrigation subsystems among 30 such subsystems of Khadakwasla Irrigation Project, India. Five performance evaluations related criterion, namely, participation and cooperation, effective water availability, conjunctive use, economic ...
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The Impact of Covid-19 on the food and agriculture industry
Agriculture has been a cornerstone of civilisation since time immemorial. As man’s nomadic habits developed into a sedentary lifestyle, it has facilitated the trade and prosperity links that have enabled us to evolve. With the passage of time, globalisation and international trade meant that communities with an excess yield could export their goods to others in which there were food ...
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The socio–economic impacts of currently commercialised genetically engineered crops
A substantial and growing body of literature now exists on the socio–economic impacts of genetically engineered (GE) crops. While the bulk of literature has focused on the primary impacts of commercialised GE technology, in terms of changes in yields, costs and profitability, researchers have increasingly addressed a range of additional questions such as the distribution of impacts across groups, ...
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Agricultural Knives: Thermal Spray Case Study II
Recently, Kondex was faced with a field testing requirement that the OEM was unable to execute for cost reasons, though it was critical to our ability to supply thermal sprayed cutting components for its combine harvester. A great deal of scrutiny is placed on cutting components utilizing thermal spray hardfacing; if the hardfacing process is not carried out properly, the cutting edge will lose ...
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Model forecasts long-term impacts of forest land-use decisions
The drive to develop crops for use as biofuel, continues to raise questions about additional uses of forest land. A cutting edge computer model developed at North Carolina State University offers detailed insight to predict the environmental impact – along with understanding forest ecosystem response to global climate change. “We think the model will help policy makers and forest ...
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Top Tips to Save Money, Use Sprayer Efficiently
Using clean water when calibrating a pesticide sprayer and carrying extra nozzles for quick repair of simple problems in the field are just some of the tricks of the trade that can help growers save time, energy and money during spraying season, says a spray technology expert in the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences at The Ohio State University. Because there are so many ...
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Disc and Drum Mower Blades: Blade Safety Case Study
When in the process of operating most types of agricultural harvesting equipment, the safety of the operator, as well as bystanders, must be of utmost importance. This is especially true for disc and drum agricultural mowing equipment. Disc and drum mowers cut the crop in preparation for harvest utilizing the “blade impact” method—similar to how a lawn mower blade cuts the grass ...
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Can drip irrigation keep the Prairie Profitable?
The use of flood and center pivot irrigation of crops via the waters of the Ogallala Aquifer is as hot a discussion topic as the current drought. To many who mine the aquifer to make a living, trying to keep a profitable way of life sustainable in a time when the broader public is seeking more conservation of resources yet wanting inexpensive, plentiful and safe food is problematic. Perhaps it's ...
By Netafim USA
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A sunflower seed producer of Syngenta achieved bird damage reduction - Case Study
Location: Tunuyan, Mendoza, Argentina Application context: Sunflower, seed production Problem definition: Birds destroying the sunflowers and eating the seeds Bird species: Pigeons (Columbidae) and parrots (Psittaciformes) Time of the year with bird problems: January – February Time of the day with bird problems: From dusk till dawn Number of systems: 1 x Agrilaser Autonomic 500 ...
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How three U.S. mini-farms are sowing the seeds of global food security
Tiny, biointensive operations show smallholder farmers from around the world how they can grow far more food than conventional approaches. Her face shaded by a wide-brimmed straw hat, Olawumi Benedict is cheerfully tending to her “little babies” — kale seedlings growing in shallow wooden flats until they’re hardy enough for transplantation into soil beds. Three miles over ...
By Ensia
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9 Series PTO Shaft – Replacement of Bondioli & Pavesi PTO Shaft
A 9-Series PTO (Power Take Off) Shaft is a kind of power transmission device made of metal that transfers energy from an engine or another source of power to an implement or attachment. The typical 9 Series PTO shaft consists of a splined, splined shaft on one end, which connects to the PTO of the tractor. There is a yoke at the other end, which connects to equipment. The shaft is anchored by ...
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The Arkansas irrigation yield contest
Most farmers are familiar with contests in which participants try to achieve the maximum yield of a crop from a given field. Fewer would be familiar with a contest in which participants’ total crop yield is divided by the amount of water they use—thus measuring their water use efficiency. That’s the kind of contest that Dr. Chris Henry and his colleagues at the University of ...
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Earth Innovations: Everything You Need To Know About NRCS Programs for Growers
One of the most common ways for growers looking to increase their sustainability efforts is to access assistance, funding, and expertise through USDA’s Natural Resource Conservation Service. In this installment of Earth Innovations, we’re taking a look at what the NRCS offers growers and what to consider when deciding if an NRCS program is right for your farm. ...
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How to grow more food with less water
Scientists and farmers collaborate on a quest for more efficient irrigation This story was co-published with Civil Eats, a daily news source for critical thought about the American food system. From reading the weather to choosing a crop, farming has always been a hands-on enterprise. When a farmer wonders how much water a crop needs, a simple test has always sufficed: Grab a handful of soil ...
By Ensia
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Better photosynthesis for a better world?
There’s no question that plants are better than most other life forms at converting carbon dioxide and sunlight into the sugars that form the basis of our global food web — and eventually, humans’ entire food supply. But fact of the matter is, with conversion rates hovering around 2 percent for our best crop fields, they’re by no means great. Even a slight increase in the ...
By Ensia
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Unveiling the Future of Sustainable Agriculture: Biochar Machine
In the quest for sustainable and regenerative agricultural practices, biochar machines emerge as a beacon of innovation. These technological marvels redefine the landscape of soil enhancement by transforming biomass into biochar through pyrolysis. As we delve into the intricate world of biochar production equipment, a realm of ecological benefits, technological complexities, and agricultural ...
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