• Asian Journal of Innovation and Policy
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.58-84
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• 2017

This article aims at demonstrating location specific approach for agricultural technology promotion and adoption in improving the livelihood of the small farmers in the haor basin and coastal belt of Bangladesh. Innovative technologies that have potentials are initially screened by ex-ante investigation and instrumented by the business model canvas, which is used as a bottom-up approach for sustainability of the adoption of proposed technology innovations. Village-level extension farmers, sub-district extension officers and farmers' cooperative are the unique and central features to the business models and forward linkages. Extension service, power tiller, low-lift pump, sunflower, shallow tube well, quality seed, forward linkage for farmed duck eggs, live ducks and open catch fish etc. are the suggested potential technology innovations for the small farmers. The technology adoption business model can be reinvented for different locations within or beyond the country considering the local agricultural problems and prospects for greater sustainability.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.767-777
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• 2014

Characterizing local chicken types and their mostly rural production systems is prerequisite for designing and implementing development and conservation programs. This study evaluated the management practices of small-scale chicken keepers and the phenotypic and production traits of their chickens in Oman, where conservation programs for local livestock breeds have currently started. Free-range scavenging was the dominant production system, and logistic regression analysis showed that socio-economic factors such as training in poultry keeping, household income, income from farming and gender of chicken owners influenced feeding, housing, and health care practices (p<0.05). A large variation in plumage and shank colors, comb types and other phenotypic traits within and between Omani chicken populations were observed. Male and female body weight differed (p<0.05), being $1.3{\pm}0.65$ kg and $1.1{\pm}0.86$ kg respectively. Flock size averaged $22{\pm}7.7$ birds per household with 4.8 hens per cock. Clutch size was $12.3{\pm}2.85$ and annual production $64.5{\pm}2.85$ eggs per hen. Egg hatchability averaged $88{\pm}6.0%$ and annual chicken mortality across all age and sex categories was $16{\pm}1.4%$. The strong involvement of women in chicken keeping makes them key stakeholders in future development and conservation programs, but the latter should be preceded by a comprehensive study of the genetic diversity of the Omani chicken populations.

• Journal of Agricultural Extension & Community Development
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.169-180
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• 2016

This paper assesses the role of informal institutions in determining risk preference among smallholders in Tigray, Ethiopia. We use data from a household survey conducted by the Institute of Poverty Alleviation and International Development (IPAID). We find that households which participate in Debo, an informal labor-sharing institution, or have a friend from whom they can receive help are less likely to be risk-averse. However, participation in Iddir, a traditional form of insurance, is not significantly associated with risk preference. Hence, the existence of social institutions that provide assistance and social connections through reciprocity may be affording security against risk beyond that brought by more monetary forms of insurance. Given the importance of risk attitude in mediating the adoption of improved agricultural production, a policy suggestion is to provide selected aid to households which are less risk-averse agricultural investors. Also, Debo as a labor-sharing institution may serve as a nexus for managing aid and knowledge sharing.