Agricultural Knowledge Systems

The aging population has brought the issue of solidarity among generations into the fore, raising the question of the responsibility of caring for individuals in need. This is a key issue for family farming, which is dependent on succession and intergenerational relationships. In this article, the authors discuss how intergenerational relationships are perceived by the beneficiaries of early retirement shemes and the sheme supporting the establishment young farmers in Slovenia. The analysis of data from a survey indicates that there are similarities in the respondents' views, esp. on gender roles in intergenerational solidarity.

Antropología(s) de la vida y etnografías errabundas: desafíos poshumanistas y poscomunales para una ciencia móvil. Anthropology(s) of life and wandering ethnographies: posthumanist and postcommunal challenges for a mobile science. 136 L a Antropología ha constituido uno de los pilares de la construcción epistémica de las Ciencias Humanas. En esta construcción, los términos "comunidad" y "vida" así como la insistencia en un "método etnográfico" para abordarlos han vertebrado los relatos antropológicos desde sus inicios. En su sentido "moderno" y "humanista" fundante, la etnografía tuvo una fuerte impronta antropocéntrica, que definió lo humano de manera excluyente por oposición al mundo natural/animal. Esta impronta se ve irrumpida por lo que vino a denominarse "posthumanismo"; una episteme que repiensa los binarismos humanistas naturaleza/cultura, vida/norma por líneas deconstructivas. En clave de dicha disrupción poshumanista proponemos una reflexión epistemológica y metodológica que nos acerca a explorar conexiones entre antropología, etnografía, comunidad y vida desde una perspectiva no antropocéntrica. Aquí la apuesta poshumana versa sobre el errabundeo y la poscomunalidad,proponiendo una antropología de la vida, la cual, entendemos, propicia pensar otras formas de subjetividad, comunidad y ciencia más hospitalarias, libres, móviles y creativas.

Resumen T his article presents a review of the values and aspirations of Venezuelan society based on researchcarried out and published by the authorsin 1992. Similarresearchcarried out subsequently in the country and abroa disreviewed. A selection of writings on the samesubject by various disciplines by renownedauthorsisalsoreviewed. Theyconcludewith new questions about wha tVenezuelans want today and in a complexcontext.

Este ensayo tiene como objetivo analizar y articular los aportes de la perspectiva histórico-cultural que proponen que el origen y la constitución de los fenómenos subjetivos provienen de los contextos sociales, históricos y culturales en los que se desenvuelve la acción humana, lo cual comprende a la subjetividad como un fenómeno sociohistórico, centro de interés de las Ciencias Sociales interpretativas. Se revisan y articulan los postulados teóricos sobre la sociogénesis de la conciencia aportados por Vigotski; la concepción de la conciencia y el lenguaje como un hecho socioideológico de Bajtin y la propuesta interpretativa de la subjetividad como un fenómeno dialéctico, procesual, y complejo, de González Rey, y su significación para la investigación en las Ciencias Sociales.

The total number of buffaloes in Egypt reached about 5.317million in 2011, of which 42 percent were dairy cows, 6 percent buffalo bulls, 32 percent heifers less than two years old and 20 percent male calves less than two years old. While the annual growth rate for the buffalo population approached 3 percent over the last two decades, it still only accounts for 1 percent of the cattle population. The aggregate share of buffalo milk, from all types of production systems is about 81 percent of total milk production in Egypt. The cost of milk production from buffaloes is also less than the cost of reconstituted imported powdered milk at the international market price. Most common name: Baladi Other local name: Beheri, Menufi, Egyptian. Livestock population is in great part located in the Nile delta and Nile valle, Total population size 5371000. The distinction between different types of Egyptian buffaloes is only environmental. It is the most important and popular livestock for milk production in Egypt. Buffalo productivity in Egypt is about 210-280 days/lactation, an average of seven lactations and a milk yielding of 1 600 kg. The age at the first calving is 34-41 months. The average animal production per year represented 30.8% of national agricultural production, the average annual red meat production reached 495,000 ton during the same period, contributing by 45% to overall meat produced. Artificial insemination is used in one percent of the medium to large herds. There are six AI stations owned by the Government and one by the University, possessing a total of 70 bulls. Artificial insemination is still performed at research level; usually only one semen dose is offered at each oestrus, conception at the first oestrus being 30 percent. Milking is done by hand, twice a day, mainly by women. Average slaughter weight is 500 kg, at the age of 18-24 months. Carcass yield is 51 percent. Overall growth rate is 700 g/day. Dairy performance: Lactation duration 210-280 days Milk yield 1 200-2 100 kg Milk fat 6.5-7.0 percent. Buffalo exceed cattle in their ability to convert poor quality and forage to meat or milk. The greatest buffalo losses are often among calves. Newborn buffalo calves, like cattle calves, can die in large numbers due to viruses, bacteria, and poor nutrition. Artificial insemination, embryo transfer, cloning. Biotechnology is important to improve feed utilization and disease control for the next generation.

The importance of horticulture sector in our economy is increasing over the years. This has necessitated the need for quality seeds and planting materials which in turn has increased the importance of horticultural nursery business. This study analyses the supply chain management of horticultural nurseries and constraints in nursery business in Thrissur district, which is considered as the hub of nursery business in Kerala. The random sample survey conducted among the nursery owners showed that nearly 3/4th of the nurseries were unregistered. Supply chain mapping identified two major categories of supply chains i.e., supply chain of plants produced in the nursery and supply chain involving plants purchased from other nurseries. Supply Chain Performance Index (SCPI) of plants produced in the nursery was 0.86 and that of plants purchased from other nurseries was 0.80. The BC ratio of large scale nurseries was 1.92, followed by medium scale nurseries 1.65 and small scale nurseries 1.56...

El estudio tuvo como objetivo precisar las relaciones de consistencia entre el conocimiento popular agrícola y el sistema de conocimiento académico, como fundamento para certificar los sistemas de conocimiento local en el marco de los procesos de desarrollo territorial. Se diseña un modelo teórico donde se establecen los mecanismos para la certificación de los sistemas de conocimiento local, a través del desarrollo integrado de las funciones de extensión, investigación y docencia universitaria, las cuales constituyen el fundamento para la implementación de un currículo universitario basado en competencias. El estudio se desarrolló considerando los lineamientos del enfoque racionalista de tipo crítico realista, ubicándose en la fase de desarrollo investigativo de carácter explicativo del modelo de Variabilidad de la Investigación Científica (VIC). Los hallazgos de la investigación dan cuenta que los sistemas de factores configurados en el modelo diseñado en la investigación presentan altos niveles de consistencia para la certificación de los sistemas de conocimiento agrícolas a través del currículo universitario.

e authors discuss the main characteristics of women as farm operators using national sample studies conducted in 1994, 1999 and 2007. A er an analysis of literature and various research results some hypotheses were formulated, i.e.: the better education of rural women than rural men, women as "unnatural" or "forced" farm operators due to various household circumstances, the "weaker" economic status of farms operated by women. Basic results of the studies carried out in 1994, 1999 and 2007 con rm the hypothesis about the weaker economic position of female operated farms. Moreover, women farm operators were slightly older and far better educated than their male counterparts. On the contrary, the males were more active o the farms in the public sphere. In addition, the circumstances of becoming farm operators did not di er signi cantly between males and females. Finally, there were no signi cant di erences between "male" and "female" styles of farming.

The aim of this paper is to establish the required skills from the point of view of a socioformative perspective such as are needed to form professionals in the field of agriculture and livestock with the aim of contributing to the rural development processes using a territorial focus. From this point of view, careers in advanced agricultural technology and advanced livestock technology are considered as given at the Rafael Rangel University Centre. Starting from conceptual arguments related to territorial development and curricular competence, at the early stage of research theoretical construts are formulated, which at a second stage are challenged in a specific empirical field. Methdologically, this study is subdivided into five sections: in the first stage the methodological structure is defended, in the second and third, the concept of territorial development is presented as also curricular competence, in the forth the results of the research are shown, and in the fifth conclus...

El estudio tuvo como objetivo precisar las relaciones de consistencia entre el conocimiento popular agrícola y el sistema de conocimiento académico, como fundamento para certificar los sistemas de conocimiento local en el marco de los procesos de desarrollo territorial. Se diseña un modelo teórico donde se establecen los mecanismos para la certificación de los sistemas de conocimiento local, a través del desarrollo integrado de las funciones de extensión, investigación y docencia universitaria, las cuales constituyen el fundamento para la implementación de un currículo universitario basado en competencias. El estudio se desarrolló considerando los lineamientos del enfoque racionalista de tipo crítico realista, ubicándose en la fase de desarrollo investigativo de carácter explicativo del modelo de Variabilidad de la Investigación Científica (VIC). Los hallazgos de la investigación dan cuenta que los sistemas de factores configurados en el modelo diseñado en la investigación presentan altos niveles de consistencia para la certificación de los sistemas de conocimiento agrícolas a través del currículo universitario.

This article aims to design a knowledge system model for certifying agricultural popular knowledge, by using a competency-based training curriculum for universities. Thus, relevant relationships between structural components of non certified knowledge systems at the farm level (popular) and certified knowledge systems (competency-based curriculum) were examined. This research is based on diachronic and synchronic structure of the Variability of Scientific Research model, proposed by Padron (2013). Main findings show that certifying non scientific knowledge systems can be reached through university curriculum, to the extent that Collectivist University Model (proposed by Padron, 2006, and that integrates extension, research and teaching functions in articulated way), is applied.

The development of Slovenian agriculture is oriented towards sustainable multifunctional farming, yet small dispersed agricultural holdings and their low economic productivity place Slovenia among the EU member states with the most unfavourable agricultural structure. The recently introduced measures of "Early Retirement of Farmers", and "Setting Up of Young Farmers" were aimed directly at improving agricultural productivity. But to whom were these two measures addressed? In this essay, the author discusses some results of the anthropological fieldwork carried out in 2009 in Prekmurje (NE Slovenia), a region with favourable conditions for farming. The research seeks to explain the divergences and correspondences of the farms with and without aid. The semi-structured interviews revolved around topics on farm history and organisation of farm work from a generation and gender perspective. The results show that the measures addressed farms that had substantially enlarged the size of their farmland, the number of livestock and the capacity of their buildings when the young operators took over the farms. These farms are also better equipped (mechanised) and more family members work full-time on them compared to the non-beneficiary farms. Both forms of aid stimulated the farm transfer from the older to the younger generations. The two types of farms observed do not differ in the organisation of farm work by gender. In general, the differences between the male and female working domain are determined by the time-period observed (political regime) and the introduction of tractors in the late 1960s. However, the care for the elderly and children is the working domain of women in all of the generations observed.

The aging population has brought the issue of solidarity among generations into the fore, raising the question of the responsibility of caring for individuals in need. This is a key issue for family farming, which is dependent on succession and intergenerational relationships. In this article, the authors discuss how intergenerational relationships are perceived by the beneficiaries of early retirement shemes and the sheme supporting the establishment young farmers in Slovenia. The analysis of data from a survey indicates that there are similarities in the respondents' views, esp. on gender roles in intergenerational solidarity.

Cuando en el año 2004, regresamos a Venezuela después de haber culminado nuestros doctorados en Psicología Social, en la Pontificia Universidad Católica de San Pablo, en Brasil, comenzamos a pensar en una forma de acercar un poco a nuestro país la producción de dos de los núcleos de investigación que vienen trabajando allí, así como agradecer toda la contribución y el aprendizaje que hemos conseguido al vincularnos con el programa de postgrado en Psicología Social, de dicha Universidad. Específicamente con los Núcleos de "Investigación en Organización y Acción Social", coordinado por el Dr.

GLOBALIZATION, STATE AND SANITARY POLICIES IN XXI CENTURY This work deals with the way in which health policies are affected by globalization. From a multidisciplinary perspective and through an analysis based on the theory of globalization from the top and globalization from the bottom, the changes in the global sanitary policies and the counter position between the Neoliberal State and the Welfare State models are reviewed. These models are considered as the two possible alternatives in a globalized world in which socialism has disappeared. The study period goes from 1990 to the beginning of this century, as it is considered the stage of acceleration and deepening of globalization.

This research work aimed to analyse the relevance of the thesis produced in doctoral programs in education in the Venezuelan universities from 1998-2005. This in order to determine the contribution of such investigations to the achievement of a transformational education process and a concept towards the collective research, networking, democratic and autonomous. The conjunction methodology was present at the inquiry, combining: sources of documentary, descriptions and characterizations of the investigative matter, analysis and quantification of the thesis and interpretation and understanding of their social nature. The data was gathered of thirty (30) theses and (10) interviews with its authors. This was discussed and I interpret according to five criteria: relevance, social, scientific, social participation, producers of theory and innovation. The study concludes by pointing out that there is a departure from research to reality and requires the search for links between the productions of the doctorates in education with the needs and requirements of the country

En la década de los setenta, como parte de una tendencia mundial, comienzan a emerger y a consolidarse, en diferentes regiones y países, movimientos religiosos de carácter fundamentalista: mundo árabe, Israel, subcontinente indio, Estados Unidos, entre otros. Una segunda ola de movimientos surgirá en las décadas de los ochenta y noventa, en estas mismas regiones, aunque con algunas características diferentes. Se trata de ejemplos emblemáticos de un proyecto fundamentalista, que percibe que el mundo exterior está caracterizado por una profunda crisis, resultado de la globalización económica y cultural, de la pérdida de valores y de la disolución de lasidentidades (sean locales, territoriales, nacionales o religiosas).

Strobilanthes kunthiana (Nees) T. Anderson ex Benth locally known as Neelakurinji is an endemic to Western Ghat, India and belongs to the Acanthaceae family. It has a unique flowering pattern to bloom every 12 years. The objective of this review is to highlight the taxonomy, distribution, ecology, biology, pharmacological properties, and conservation status of Strobilanthes kunthiana. The plant S. kunthiana is a rich source of pharmacological constituents and can act as herbal alternatives for various disorders. This review discusses the unique botany specifically the flowering pattern for in-depth study to conserve not only for tourism but also for exploring its pharmacological properties and usefulness in apiary. Finally, this review highlights the potential research areas that should be interlinked with promotion of tourism with Neelakurinji attraction as well as its potential use in apiary.

Agriculture plays a vital role in the economic growth of a country. With the evolution of internet, the agriculture sector is also becoming IT focused. In recent years, Semantic web has added altogether a new dimension to the World Wide Web. It has changed the way the internet was used by people. The Semantic web has provided solutions for intelligent services by providing machine understanding of the contents. This paper attempts to showcase the utility of semantic web in the agriculture domain by elaborating the use of ontologies for knowledge management. The Semantic web is a promising platform for knowledge management. Ontologies provide a shared and common understanding of a domain that can be communicated across people and applications.

The purpose of this essay is to analyze and articulate the contributions of the historic-cultural perspective which propose that the origin and constitution of the subjective phenomena come from the social, historical and cultural contexts in which is develop the human action, this comprise the subjectivity as sociohistorical phenomena, core of the interpretative Social Sciences. It is revised and articulated the theoretical postulates about the sociogenesis of consciousness developed by Vigotsky; the conception of the conscience and the language as a socio-ideological fact of Bajtin; and the interpretative proposal of the subjectivity as dialectic, processual, and complex phenomena by González Rey, an its significance to the research in Social Sciences.

This case study assessed local food stakeholders' use of Facebook and Twitter to support interaction and build their networks of innovation in Ontario. Data were collected using Netlytic − an online data mining tool from the social media platforms − and key informant interviews. Findings revealed that stakeholders could be more innovative in their use of social media, but they would be unlikely to do so, without tapping into beneficial interactions of weak ties, as well as fostering strong ties. They also need to utilize the high brokerage role of key facilitating organizations and develop a social media strategy by integrating both 'online' and 'offline' interactions.

ANALYSIS OF THE VENEZUELAN NEW HIGHER EDUCATION POLICIES SINCE THE «COGNITIVE DEMOCRACY» OF EDGAR MORIN Changes produced in the global world have created the need to reevaluate the knowledge and its formation process, affecting the design of educational policies. Edgar Morin proposes the Complex Thought within the framework of a paradigm of distinction/conjunction that allows distinguishing without disjointing, associating without identifying or reducing. This paper analyzes since the Complexity perspective two documents taken from Venezuela's higher education policies. The axis, criteria, principles and finalities derived from complex thought are featured in order to determine if these educational policies, as sketched in the reviewed documents, take into consideration the demands of a reality in which knowledge is an essential production's factor.

Banana peel is a major by product of banana processing industry and a throw away waste after consumtion as a table fruit. This peel is reported to be rich in fibre and various nutrients like poly unsaturated fatty acids, amino acids, micro nutrients and starch. This product is used by certain sections of our population as a vegetable. However, it has not been exploited commercially. This study utilized this raw material to standardize to a sauce with table applications. The product was evaluated for its sensory qualities, shelf life, nutrient and chemical composition. The product was rated as highly acceptable and profitable.

was affected by torrential rains and floods that caused the loss of human lives and considerable material damages. It is very well-known that the natural disasters generate in the population physical and psychological dysfunctions, as well as sociocultural effects, which should be assisted opportunely. The present work consists on a proposal of psychosocial intervention, presented by the Foundation for the Psychoneuroimmunology Development, Fundasinein-Mérida, as a contribution to the search of solutions for the population of this region.

The association between the various actors of knowledge and the generation of common knowledge is expanding in agricultural sector. Smallholder farmers engages in multiple informative networks both formal and informal knowledge systems. These heterogeneous networks exposes farmers to diverse agricultural knowledge. To assess their effect on the empowerment and food security of farmers, it is important to categorise the information and knowledge structures that are accessible to farmers. Firstly, the agricultural knowledge systems and the types of knowledge that occur in smallholder farmers. Secondly, by identifying the opinion leaders' social networks and their influence on the quality of agricultural knowledge. Thirdly, by assessing the agricultural knowledge systems in relation to farmers' empowerment

Garo is one among the foremost important indigenous groups in Bangladesh with distinct ethnic identities. This study has conducted on the ethnic community named Garo living within the Madhupur Sal (Shorearobusta) forest areas of Tangail district. This paper analyze the varied socio-economic and cultural factors and therefore the changes within the lifetime of the Garo citizenry with respects to their livelihood. It is usually recommended that existing nationwide guidelines and legal guideline that adversely have an effect on their rights and lifestyles are reviewed and re-evaluated. I even have taken the variables education, income, career, social reputation and so on to explain their present situation. The specific lifestyle of the Garo population must be preserved through proper documentation and Governmental recognition. Only this will make the particular change in their life because the entire community belonging people want to develop their socio-economic condition. KEYWORD: Ga...

In many developing countries, the livestock sector plays a vital role in the national economy, providing a source of food, income, and employment. With changes in demographical, socio-economic, and environmental status, the livestock sector in the developing world is facing challenges of low productivity and has become both a culprit and a victim of undesirable climate change impacts globally. In this paper, we will review the status of Nepalese livestock production systems and evaluate possible livestock species-specific strategies to promote a more productive and sustainable livestock sector in the future. In Nepal, the livestock sector is deemed essential to alleviate poverty and improve the nutritional status of the population, as in many other developing countries. However, there is a need for substantial improvements in livestock productivity, in particular improvement of feeding strategies to exploit the genetic potential of livestock. For ruminants, the important issue is to...

This article reports on research to track and trace the development and diffusion of a new initiative for clustering a diverse range of agro-food businesses located in the rural state of Tasmania, Australia. The initiative is termed 'FermenTasmania'. To structure our analysis, our research team leveraged the concepts of boundary objects and organisations, and the Triple Helix model of innovation; testing these sociological concepts and model as a means to explain the nature, structure and emerging trajectory of FermenTasmania. This paper aims to contribute two distinct, but related findings: first, analysis of the fit and utility of the aforementioned concepts and model to track the emergence of FermenTasmania; and, second, assessment of the dynamics of innovation regarding the formation of this new social entity bridging agriculture and tourism in a rural area, with particular attention to the role of place.

This study analysed the socio-economic constraints facing small ruminants’ production in West Bank Palestine. Therefore, it investigated the sites of Al-thaheryia and Facuoa and included. From primary data collected from different sources, 170 small ruminants’ rearers have been randomly selected. Additionally, two workshops have been implemented to gather both quantitative and qualitative data through discussion and brainstorming. Descriptive statistics; frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, Chi-square test and T-test are used to shape the socioeconomic constraints facing by small ruminants rearers. The findings revealed a need for extension system to enhance small ruminants’ productivity.

Banana peel is a major by product of banana processing industry and a throw away waste after consumtion as a table fruit. This peel is reported to be rich in fibre and various nutrients like poly unsaturated fatty acids, amino acids, micro nutrients and starch. This product is used by certain sections of our population as a vegetable. However, it has not been exploited commercially. This study utilized this raw material to standardize to a sauce with table applications. The product was evaluated for its sensory qualities, shelf life, nutrient and chemical composition. The product was rated as highly acceptable and profitable.

ANALYSIS OF THE VENEZUELAN NEW HIGHER EDUCATION POLICIES SINCE THE «COGNITIVE DEMOCRACY» OF EDGAR MORIN Changes produced in the global world have created the need to reevaluate the knowledge and its formation process, affecting the design of educational policies. Edgar Morin proposes the Complex Thought within the framework of a paradigm of distinction/conjunction that allows distinguishing without disjointing, associating without identifying or reducing. This paper analyzes since the Complexity perspective two documents taken from Venezuela's higher education policies. The axis, criteria, principles and finalities derived from complex thought are featured in order to determine if these educational policies, as sketched in the reviewed documents, take into consideration the demands of a reality in which knowledge is an essential production's factor.

A polymer is a material which consists of very large molecules, or macromolecules, composed of many repeating subunits. They are classified as synthetic and natural polymers both play essential roles in everyday life due to their broad spectrum of properties. The foremost important class of polymers is superabsorbent polymer (SAP) materials. They are hydrophilic networks which absorb and retain large amounts of water. SAPs are originally divided into two main classes. They are Synthetic (Petrochemical based) and Natural (e.g.; Polysaccharide and Polypeptide based). Most of the present superabsorbent polymers are frequently produced from acrylic acid and acrylamide solution or inverse-suspension polymerization techniques. These are not biodegradable and are harmful to the environment that causes pollution. So, we sought to make biodegradable SAP that can act as a fertilizer to improve the soil quality and water conservation in agricultural land.

Executive Summary: 1.1 Executive summary In times of changing conditions, with strong pressure from markets and citizens to adjust and innovate, European farmers like elsewhere, need timely access to knowledge and information, to training and education, and to facilitating and supporting services. A functioning Agricultural Knowledge and Information/Innovation System (AKIS) is required to tackle challenges such as: 1. giving small-scale farmers access to relevant and reliable knowledge, 2. bridging scientific research topics and farmers’ demands and 3. offering appropriate support for diverse rural actors that form networks around innovations in agriculture and rural areas. Advisory services are therefore seen as one essential means to enhance problem solving, information