Asian Journal of Agriculture and Rural Development

Developing community-based enterprises from the selected agrarian reform communities in Quezon Province

Leomar C Miano — 2025-04-03

This research aims to develop community-based enterprises in agrarian reform communities (ARCs) anchored in urban-rural development through climate-resilient agricultural practices in Quezon Province, particularly in the municipalities of Sariaya and Dolores. Following a community-based participatory action research (CBPAR) approach, a needs assessment revealed that local farmers faced significant challenges, including overproduction, low prices, inadequate storage, and limited market access, while a few had ventured into value-added processing. Training gaps in food processing, marketing, and business skills were also identified, highlighting the need for capacity-building programs to enhance entrepreneurship and agricultural productivity. Through participatory learning trials (PLTs), a variety of value-added products, such as tomato ketchup, pork tocino, and buko pie, were developed, incorporating local agricultural produce. Training focused on food processing techniques, entrepreneurial skills, and good manufacturing practices (GMP). While feedback from participants was largely positive, challenges such as high attrition rates in certain training modules were noted. The study recommends the establishment of shared service facilities for food processing, financial assistance for capital development, and the creation of cooperatives to support sustainable entrepreneurship. Additionally, further standardization of products to meet FDA requirements, coupled with continuous monitoring and mentoring, is crucial for ensuring the long-term viability of community-based enterprises.

Management of GI-certified agricultural products and their contribution to household income in rural thailand

Daroonwan Kamthonkiat — 2025-04-21

This research looks at how Geographical Indication (GI)-certified agricultural products are managed in Thailand. It focuses on the sales and production cycles, the income they bring in, and the main problems they face. Using a mixed-methods approach, surveys and interviews were conducted with representatives of 77 GI-certified products categorized into rice (10), foods (15), and plant fruits and vegetables (52). Four management patterns emerged: one production and one selling season (25 products), one production with multiple selling seasons (15), two production and selling cycles (19), and multiple cycles (18). Contributions to household income were classified into four levels: Low (19), Medium (18), High (13), and Maximum (27). A Chi-Square test revealed no significant association between management patterns and income levels. Producers identified critical barriers, including limited market access and climate variability, which affected product quantity and quality. Many expressed low confidence in product reputation, citing the inability to secure price premiums over non-GI products. The study underscores the need for targeted policies to address market access, climate resilience, and product reputation. These findings provide valuable insights for GI authorities, policymakers, and stakeholders to sustain GI management, enhance rural incomes, and align with Sustainable Development Goals. The results are broadly applicable to other developing countries reliant on agricultural GIs.

Identifying constraints and strategies for palm oil production in Indonesia: An interpretive structure model approach

Ida Rosada — 2025-04-21

Palm oil plays an important role in the economy in Indonesia, particularly in the Waru Sub-district, Penajam Paser Utara, East Kalimantan, which is one of the main producers. However, production conditions in the region tend to fluctuate due to the limited involvement of existing institutions, challenges that weaken their role and effectiveness, and strategic programs aimed at increasing oil palm production. This study analyzes the relevant institutional structures, identifies constraints that weaken their roles, and determines strategic programs to increase oil palm production. The study used Interpretative Structural Modelling as its analysis method. The results of the analysis show that the Agricultural Extension Centre plays an important role in increasing oil palm production. The main factor contributing to the limited effectiveness of this institution is the lack of skilled human resources. The findings of this study can be used as a practical guide by the government and relevant agencies to strengthen the role of agricultural institutions, particularly the Agricultural Extension Centre, in increasing oil palm production. The implementation of strategies such as improving the human resources of extension workers and empowering farmer groups can increase the effectiveness of programs for developing oil palm in a sustainable manner.

Factors influencing rural migrant households’ participation in livelihood activities and income diversification strategies in Southwestern Nigeria

Omolehin, Ajayi Raphael Adeniyi — 2025-06-12

This study focuses on factors influencing rural migrant households’ participation in livelihood activities and income diversification strategies in southwest Nigeria. A multistage sampling technique was used for the study. This involved purposive selection of Ekiti, Osun, and Oyo states and twenty percent of the rural Local Government Areas (LGAs) in the respective states. Ten percent of wards in each LGA and 40% of migrant households were randomly selected to arrive at 413 respondents. A structured questionnaire was used to collect relevant data for the study. The collected data were analysed using descriptive statistics, estimation of SID, and multinomial logit regression. The findings showed that 72.75% of household heads were males. 76.75% of the respondents were first-generation migrants, with a mean duration of stay of 29.51 years. The SID revealed that income-generating activities among migrants are moderately (0.53) diversified. The primary factor influencing migrant households’ preference for non-farm and off-farm activities over farm activities was the size of their land holdings. The study recommends that government and other stakeholders should adopt strategy to improve access to non-farm and off-farm employment opportunities, particularly in rural areas, by encouraging corporate and private investors to invest in rural areas to solve the problem of unemployment during off-seasons.

Performance evaluation of high-quality farmer training-survey data of farmers' training in Jiangxi province, China

Cheng Sendi — 2025-06-13

This study aims to identify and evaluate key performance indicators of high-quality farmer training by employing the Analytic Hierarchy Process and factor analysis. This is crucial to serve as a reference for effective resource allocation for the training programs by the government. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews with the experts and an online questionnaire survey with participating farmers in the training. The analysis revealed five primary factors influencing the effectiveness of high-quality farmer training: training intention, overall satisfaction, professional quality, economic benefit, and social benefit. Social benefit emerged as the most significant indicator, while overall satisfaction was the least influential factor. The study comes to the conclusion that judging the effectiveness of good farmer training should include both short-term and long-term benefits. This fills in a gap in the research that has been caused by evaluating training based on quantity rather than quality. The study's results suggest that training programs should use a multi-level index system that balances short-term and long-term benefits. This would help fix the problem with the current way of judging the effectiveness of training, which is that it isn't very thorough and can lead to evaluation subjects being put in the wrong place. By emphasizing social impact and delayed benefits, training institutions can enhance the overall quality and effectiveness of their programs, ultimately leading to more sustainable agricultural development.

Impact of agricultural extension training on economic performance of rice farms: An investigation in Vietnam’s Mekong river delta

Tran Quoc Nhan — 2025-06-13

Agricultural training has been seen as an effective method to improve farmers’ knowledge of agricultural techniques and farming management skills, which may enhance farm performance. This study aimed to estimate the impact of training provided by public agricultural extension agencies on trainees’ rice farming outcomes, such as productivity, gross margin, and profitability. The household survey was conducted in the Vietnamese Mekong River Delta’s Hau Giang province. A sample size of 230 rice farmers, including 120 participants and 110 non-participants of the training, was interviewed to gather primary data with a structured questionnaire. The propensity score matching method was employed to estimate the impact of the training on the farm outcomes of trainees by controlling for biased selection. Results reveal that training in agriculture significantly increases farmers’ rice productivity, gross margin, and profitability. This may conclude that participation in agricultural extension training may help farmers adopt more knowledge of technology and farm management skills, which leads them to use inputs, manage farms more efficiently, and have better marketing strategies. The policy implication of the study is that agricultural extension agencies should expand agricultural training programs to all farmers who have not engaged in any training course regarding agricultural production and management.

Determinants of good agricultural practices intention adoption by small and micro community enterprises in thailand: crop production category

Chanoknan Srilapat — 2025-06-13

In this study, the researchers wanted to find out what makes small and micro community enterprises (SMCEs) in crop production want to adopt GAP. The research survey involved 290 SMCEs in Sakhon Nakhon, Thailand, in collection using a structured questionnaire. A total of 13 variables were used for the analysis: gender, age, education, experience in group management, the person with the most influence on the decision to enter GAP standards, attitude toward accepting GAP standards in production, attitude toward accepting GAP standards in terms of health and the environment, SMCE's income, product variety, farm size, number of agricultural knowledge trainings for group members in the past year, number of agricultural news stories received by group members from personal media in the past year, and membership in other agricultural groups. The results showed that 57% of SMCEs expressed a high intention to adopt GAP standards. The statistically significant determinants of the intention to adopt GAP standards include male group leaders, attitudes toward GAP production, decision-making influencers, product variety, and memberships in other agricultural groups. The finding provides insightful information for policymakers and government extension agents in developing agricultural production standards for SMCEs. Fostering confidence and empowering them to make decisions, along with promoting farmer group networks, enables farmers to connect, collaborate, and exchange knowledge, information, and news, ultimately elevating agricultural product standards to a competitive level and fostering sustainability in the agricultural system.

Agronomic structural transformation in Africa: The role of external finance

Gildas Dohba Dinga — 2025-06-13

This study examines the impact of diverse sources of external finance, including official development aid (ODA), foreign direct investment (FDI), external debt, and remittances, on agronomic transformation in African economies from 2000 to 2022. Data is obtained from the World Development Indicators, and a plethora of estimation approaches is used, such as the Driscoll-Kraay, the fully generalized least squares, the quantile regression, and the generalized method of moments type sequential regression techniques. The outcomes reveal ample evidence of an augmenting effect of external debt and remittances on agronomic transformation in Africa. However, sub-regional comparisons demonstrate that the influence of remittances is insignificant for East African economies, while external debt has a negative impact on North African economies. Furthermore, FDI negatively affects agronomic transformation but fails to be significant for East and Southern African economies. Finally, ODA was generally positive but insignificant. External finance sources variably influence agronomic transformation, with outcomes shaped by regional contexts. The heterogeneity underscores the need for nuanced, region-specific policy frameworks. Policymakers should prioritize remittance channels and debt management to foster agronomic transformation while tailoring strategies to sub-regional dynamics. East and Southern Africa require cautious ODA utilization, and FDI policies should be redesigned to align with agricultural development goals.

The viability of hydroponic agriculture in tropical developing regions: A case study of Nueva Ecija, Philippines

Macaso Mark Edrian P — 2025-06-13

This case study examines the viability of hydroponic agriculture as a sustainable alternative to traditional farming in Nueva Ecija, Philippines, a tropical developing region facing rising production costs and climate change. It investigates the opportunities and challenges of adopting hydroponics in San Isidro, Lupao, and Bongabon, where pioneering farmers utilize this soilless cultivation. Data from early adopters, gathered via convenience sampling, offer insights into their management, technical adaptations, market access, and financial outcomes. The study analyzes hydroponics' potential to enhance crop yields, reduce resource consumption (water, fertilizers, pesticides), and improve economic returns for smallholder farmers, aligning with Sustainable Development Goals. It also identifies barriers to wider adoption, such as initial investment and the need for specialized knowledge. Ultimately, this research aims to develop a strategic action plan to support the growth and sustainability of hydroponic agriculture in Nueva Ecija, providing a path for traditional farmers to overcome challenges and achieve greater productivity and profitability.

Tax incentives, soft credit programs, and economic welfare: Qualitative study of rural farmers in Kyrgyzstan

Ulanbek Moldokmatov — 2025-06-13

Agriculture remains central to Kyrgyzstan’s economy, yet rural farmers continue to face deep-rooted challenges that hinder their economic progress. In the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, the country’s heavy reliance on food imports—particularly from Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) partners—exposed severe food security vulnerabilities. The sudden restriction of flour imports from Russia and Kazakhstan highlighted the country’s limited domestic production capacity. In response, the Kyrgyz government introduced a tax moratorium on agricultural land (2022–2024) and launched targeted soft loan programs through state banks such as JSC Aiyl Bank and JSC RSK Bank to improve the financial stability of farmers and stimulate productivity. This study explores how these policy measures have impacted smallholder farmers by drawing on in-depth interviews with farmers across three provinces. While tax exemptions were acknowledged, they were often seen as offering only marginal benefits. In contrast, soft credit programs provided real opportunities for investment in inputs and machinery, yet access remained difficult due to complex procedures and collateral requirements. The findings suggest that although recent reforms have contributed to reducing food imports and strengthening food security, the current structure of support programs needs refinement. Expanding outreach, simplifying loan access, and better aligning policies with farmer realities are key to achieving inclusive rural development.

The model of organic fertilizer adoption in urban farming to support environmentally friendly agriculture in Pekanbaru City, Riau Province, Indonesia

Marliati — 2025-06-13

This study examines farmer characteristics, urban farming profiles, levels of organic fertilizer adoption, and the factors influencing its adoption in Pekanbaru City. The degradation of agricultural land in Indonesia, including Pekanbaru, is primarily attributed to excessive chemical fertilizers, which compromise soil fertility and endanger food security. Although interest in organic farming is growing, its adoption remains limited due to inadequate government support, market challenges, and farmers’ dependence on chemical fertilizers for immediate results. Using a survey method targeting vegetable farmers who have used organic fertilizers for at least one year, the data were analyzed with Partial Least Square (PLS) modeling. The findings indicate that farmers, predominantly male (72.09%) with low educational attainment, face challenges such as limited land availability. Although farmers hold positive perceptions of organic fertilizers, especially chicken manure, they prefer chemical fertilizers due to their immediate impact. Moreover, agricultural extension services and government support for organic fertilizer adoption are deemed insufficient. The decision to adopt organic fertilizers is significantly influenced by land size, the performance of agricultural extension workers, and marketing strategies. To improve adoption rates, it is imperative to enhance agricultural extension services, optimize government support, and establish accessible marketing strategies, thereby promoting sustainable urban agriculture in Pekanbaru.

Changing agrometeorological conditions for maize (Zea mays L.) under the subtropical climate of northern Vietnam

Anh Thi Mai Tran — 2025-06-18

Maize is affected by changing growing and crop management conditions under ongoing climate change, posing potential production risks in the future. This study analyzes maize growing conditions in Northern Vietnam by utilizing the AGRICLIM agrometeorological indicator model. The climate projections are sourced from a global circulation model, supplemented by a regional climate model for two emission pathways (RCP4.5 and RCP8.5) spanning from 1951 to 2100. The three main local maize growing seasons (winter, spring, and forage maize season) were meticulously analyzed across four distinct time slices, encompassing annual, seasonal, and monthly scales. The results reveal that future agrometeorological conditions will generally become more extreme compared to current conditions. However, the calculated increase in heat stress days, heavy precipitation events, and drought stress days for maize shows varying changes across the specific maize growing seasons. For instance, drought and heat stress conditions may occur more frequently during the spring and forage maize seasons, while the risk of soil erosion and nitrogen leaching may rise in the winter and forage maize seasons. These findings will support the development of adaptation strategies under more adverse weather conditions for maize growing systems in Northern Vietnam.

Why Indonesia's garlic self-sufficiency program failed?

Anas Zaini — 2025-06-18

This research provides insights into the ongoing failure of Indonesia’s garlic self-sufficiency program. Despite the implementation of various initiatives, the program has consistently failed to achieve its objectives. The study was conducted in East Lombok Regency, one of the main centers for garlic development in Indonesia. Using the Exit, Voice, Loyalty, and Neglect (EVLN) model, the research uncovers the root causes of the program's failure from the farmers’ perspective. A total of 45 farmers participated as respondents, including importer partner farmers, government assistance recipients, and independent farmers. The findings reveal that most farmers are dissatisfied with the program’s implementation, causing them to take passive and destructive responses. This dissatisfaction is primarily due to the inadequate provision of production facilities both in terms of quantity, quality, and delivery timing. Furthermore, ineffective import quota arrangements in terms of quantity and timing have suppressed the selling price of garlic for farmers at harvest time, while production costs are relatively high, especially for quality seeds and fertilizers. To address these issues, the program must be improved by ensuring timely, sufficient, and high-quality support for production facilities. Moreover, more effective import quota management is essential to stabilize prices and ensure fair profits for garlic farmers.

Regional and grade-based variations in rice price spreads: An analysis of wholesale and retail pricing dynamics in the Philippines

Rowell Agliones Diaz — 2025-06-18

The Philippine rice market, the pillar of Filipino food security, is vital to food safety policy and economic stability. This study investigated price integration and studied price spreads (wholesale-retail price differentials) among rice grades (Special, Premium, Well-Milled, and Regular-Milled) and regions. Based on a quantitative research design and secondary data from Philippine government sources, the research employed descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, and Analysis of Variance or ANOVA to analyze price spreads, regional differences, and wholesale price-price spread relationships. The results indicated large differences in price spreads among rice grades, with Regular Milled having the largest spreads, reflecting higher markups, and Special the smallest, reflecting its premium status. Regional differences in price spreads were large, particularly for lower grades of rice, which can be attributed to transportation costs and supply chain inefficiencies. A positive correlation between wholesale prices and price spreads for all grades was confirmed, reflecting that higher wholesale prices are associated with higher profit margins. The results highlight the need for targeted interventions, such as supply chain optimization and price management programs, to correct regional differences, improve market efficiency, and ensure consumers' equitable access to affordable rice. Practical implications highlight the need for policies that enhance market integration through infrastructure investment, improve transparency via market information systems, monitor price transmission across grades, and address regional price differences to boost efficiency and ensure equitable access to affordable rice.

Heterogeneous impacts of land quality on household income in Vietnam’s north central region

Yen Hai Thi Nguyen — 2025-06-18

This paper examines the heterogeneous effects of land quality on household income in Vietnam’s North Central region. It aims to explore how land quality influences income distribution and whether its benefits are shared equally among households. We employ an instrumental variable quantile regression to analyze the impact of land quality across different income levels while addressing potential endogeneity issues. This approach allows for a more nuanced understanding of how land quality affects households at various points in the income distribution. Our results indicate that only households above the median income level benefit from better land quality, while poorer households experience no significant gains. Land quality positively influences crop income for all groups, but its effects are stronger for those with higher crop incomes. This suggests that wealthier households benefit disproportionately from improved land quality. The findings challenge conventional methods that focus on mean effects, highlighting the importance of accounting for heterogeneity when analyzing land quality’s impact. Ignoring these differences may lead to misleading policy recommendations. The study underscores the need for targeted government policies to support poorer households in utilizing their land more effectively. Policymakers should design interventions that enhance agricultural productivity for lower-income farmers to ensure more equitable benefits from land quality improvements.

Soil EC index – based prediction of rice growing and yield in the Mekong Delta

The Anh Ho — 2025-06-18

This research explores the use of soil electrical conductivity (EC) in rice cultivation, focusing on soil EC correlation with vegetation indices (NDVI, NDRE) and soil EC impact on yield. A total of 228 soil EC, NDVI, and NDRE data points were collected from an 11,000 m² field in Hau Giang and Can Tho City. Soil EC was measured at the beginning of the season, and at 39 and 49 days after sowing. NDVI was recorded on days 39, 49, 60, and 72, with initial values set to zero due to no crop presence. Results show that soil EC decreased from the start to day 49, while NDVI and NDRE increased. Spearman correlation analysis revealed strong relationships between early soil EC and NDVI at days 39 and 49 (r = 0.82, 0.71), and between soil EC at day 49 (EC 49) and NDRE at later stages (r = 0.594, 0.565). Additionally, 150 soil EC and yield samples from five Mekong Delta regions were used in an LSTM model (70% training, 30% testing), achieving high accuracy (RMSE = 0.0919, MAE = 0.0634, R² = 0.8492). The findings suggest that soil EC is a valuable indicator for monitoring crop growth and managing rice production, particularly in areas affected by salinity due to climate change.

Assessing the adoption of specialized rice production technology in selected towns of Nueva Ecija

Thomas Jahson S Mercado — 2025-06-18

This study assesses the adoption of special rice production (SPR) technology among rice farmers in selected towns of Nueva Ecija. Specifically, it examined the influence of socio-demographic factors and extension services on the perceived attributes of the technology. Using a survey research design, interviews were guided by a semi-structured questionnaire. Farmers showed strong positive perceptions and high adoption of special rice production (SPR). Adoption was significantly influenced by age, farming experience, institutional support, and favorable technology traits. Regression analysis indicated that gross income and water source positively impacted adoption, while farm size, training services, and perceived relative advantage had negative effects. The extension services from CLSU play a significant role in facilitating the adoption of SPR technology. However, challenges related to the costs and complexities of the technology, as well as unexpected negative effects on training, highlight areas for improvement. Future efforts should focus on addressing these challenges, ensuring that economic and practical barriers do not hinder the widespread adoption and successful implementation of special purpose rice production technology. This study provides insights for policymakers and stakeholders to develop strategies for wider adoption of SPR technology.

The interplay and correlates of agricultural (Farm) and non-agricultural activities to food diversity – linkages to health expenditure

Katiso Ramalebo — 2025-06-19

Literature suggests that a varied and high-quality diet is essential for adequate nutrient intake and improved health outcomes. Despite this knowledge, and considering that agricultural participation can enhance food availability and diversity, populations continue to face challenges in achieving dietary diversity due to socioeconomic constraints among a plethora of factors. Understanding this relationship becomes particularly important for Lesotho, where such insights can inform strategies to promote dietary diversity, improve public health, and reduce healthcare costs. This study utilized data from the Household Budget Survey to examine how household food consumption patterns, socioeconomic factors, and agricultural participation influence food diversity and health-related costs. Using Partial Least Squares-Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM), we analyzed the relationships between these variables to gain a nuanced understanding of their interplay. Results reveal that food diversity is shaped by multiple factors, including agricultural participation, which directly affects health outcomes. Household characteristics, such as income, household size, and education level of the household head, significantly predict both food diversity and health expenditure. These findings underscore that supporting agricultural engagement and promoting dietary diversity can be cost-effective strategies to improve nutrition and reduce healthcare costs in Lesotho. Policymakers should focus interventions in these areas.

Measuring social return on investment of research projects on Thai functional fruits, fruit trees, and fruit products: A comprehensive study

Chaiya Kongmanee — 2025-07-30

The Thailand Research Fund (TRF) paid for a total of 12 research projects on Thai fruits and fruit products. The studies looked at and measured the social return on investment (SROI). The fruits studied included functional fruits like mango, pomelo, papaya, and banana. We collected the data through structured questionnaires and in-depth interviews with the key informants of the 12 research projects. We employed the SROI analysis tool to analyze the data. The value of the net benefit of the research projects in terms of output and outcome was estimated to be 125,389,794 THB (Thai Baht), while the Thailand Research Fund (TRF)’s research funding for these projects amounted to 11,883,370 THB. Therefore, the SROI of the projects is estimated to be 10.55. This value implies that the TRF was able to achieve an SROI of 10.55 THB for each 1.0 THB investment in the research projects. The findings suggest that TRF’s investment in the research projects on Thai functional fruits and fruit products was successful and effective as well as worth value. The study findings might be beneficial for TRF, research grant associations, and educational institutions to formulate appropriate policies for further research support.

Comparative analysis of the profitability of small-scale monoculture and diversified yellow corn farms in Cabagan, Isabela, Philippines

Angelyn A Bauita — 2025-07-30

The study aimed to compare the profitability of small-scale monoculture and diversified yellow corn production farms in Cabagan, Isabela, while also characterizing the socio-demographic profiles of farmers and determining their farming practices. Using house-to-house surveys of 30 monoculture and 30 diversified farmers, data on cultural management, income, and profitability were collected and analyzed. Findings revealed that older farmers predominantly engaged in both systems, with monoculture farming involving more male farmers (70%) and diversified farming having a higher proportion of female farmers (60%). Most were married and had educational attainment ranging from elementary to high school. Monoculture farmers were largely dependent on tractors (80%), mechanical seeders (75%), and herbicides (90%), whereas diversified farmers preferred manual planting (65%) and araro (plowing) (60%), leading to lower input costs. Profitability analysis showed that monoculture farmers had a higher gross profit margin ratio (0.82) and operating profit margin ratio (0.68) compared to diversified farmers (0.67 and 0.57, respectively). While monoculture farming offers higher immediate profit margins, it demands more inputs and poses environmental risks. Diversified farming, although yielding lower profit margins, promotes sustainability and cost-efficiency. These findings suggest that farmers and policymakers must balance short-term profitability with long-term ecological and economic sustainability when choosing farming systems.