Outlook on Agriculture

Alam, Mohammad Jahangir; Sarma, Paresh Kumar; Begum, Ismat Ara; Crase, Lin; Tama, Riffat Ara Zannat; Kader, Md. Abdul

doi: 10.1177/00307270241296884pmid: N/A

Agricultural extension services play a pivotal role in promoting sustainable agriculture, particularly in developing countries where many farmers are resource-poor. Enhancing farmers’ profitability and productivity is essential to meet the increasing demand of a growing population. This study aims to examine the impact of agricultural extension services on the profitability and productivity of rice farmers in Bangladesh. The analysis uses unbalanced panel data from the International Food Policy Research Institute’s Bangladesh Integrated Household Survey for 2015 and 2018. The Mann–Whitney U test was used to assess whether the differences between the participant and non-participant groups were statistically significant. Additionally, a probit regression model is used to identify the determinants of participation in agricultural extension services. The findings reveal that participation is positively influenced by access to subsidies, distance to market, occupation and livelihood vulnerability. The impact of agricultural extension services on farm productivity and profitability is assessed using difference-in-difference and random effect generalized least squares models. The results show that agricultural extension services significantly contribute to both farm profitability and productivity. This suggests that governments should intensify and monitor the delivery of agricultural extension services, particularly focusing on the timely provision of support resource-poor farmers.

doi: 10.1177/00307270241252219pmid: N/A

Conteh, Charles

doi: 10.1177/00307270231201871pmid: N/A

This paper seeks to advance understanding of the barriers that constrain and the drivers that promote the adoption of automation and robotics in agriculture. The paper focuses on Ontario, Canada, as the case study. The choice of the province is informed by the fact that it is generally considered one of Canada's leading agriculture powerhouses. The paper employed a mixed-methods approach consisting of survey questionnaires and in-depth focus group discussions. The article sheds light on the complex and context-specific factors determining farmers’ adoption of automation and robotics technology. Principally, adopters and non-adopters of automation robotics technology agree that government has a critical role in accelerating the adoption of automation and robotics technology. More importantly, the paper spells out the various facets of that role and the contexts within which they can be most effective and impactful. The discussion explores the significance of the results in relation to the relevant extant literature and highlights the key implications of our findings for future policy and practice. It also offers some solutions in the form of policy recommendations and suggested action steps for removing barriers and exploiting opportunities associated with adopting technology. While empirically focusing on Ontario, the findings and analysis have implications for all of Canada and other industrialized countries.