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Klaus Müller
Faculty of Life Sciences, Humboldt University of Berlin, 10117 Berlin, Germany

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Short Biography

- educated as economist - holding a professorship in economics and politics of rural areas at the Humboldt-University zu Berlin and a position as Deputy Scientific Director of the Leibniz-Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) in Muencheberg - research work covers sustainable agricultural production, land use conflicts, development of rural areas and policy advice, with a focus on a transdisciplinary research approach - research work is related to a better understanding of transition processes in rural areas and in instruments that can enhance land use change via solution of land use conflicts.

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Journal article
Published: 18 September 2020 in Sustainability
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Miscanthus × giganteus (hereafter Miscanthus) is a perennial crop characterized by its high biomass production, low nutrient requirements, its ability for soil restoration, and its cultivation potential on marginal land. The development of the bioenergy sector in the state of Brandenburg (Germany), with maize as the dominant crop, has recently drawn attention to its negative environmental impacts, competition with food production, and uncertainties regarding its further development toward the state’s bioenergy targets. This study aimed to estimate the potential bioenergy production in Brandenburg by cultivating Miscanthus only on marginal land, thereby avoiding competition with food production in the Berlin-Brandenburg city-region (i.e., foodshed), after using the Metropolitan Foodshed and Self-sufficiency Scenario (MFSS) model. We estimated that by 2030, the Berlin-Brandenburg foodshed would require around 1.13 million hectares to achieve 100% food self-sufficiency under the business as usual (BAU) scenario, and hence there would be around 390,000 ha land left for bioenergy production. Our results suggest that the region would require about 569,000 ha of land of maize to generate 58 PJ—the bioenergy target of the state of Brandenburg for 2030—which is almost 179,000 ha more than the available area for bioenergy production. However, under Miscanthus plantation, the required area would be reduced by 2.5 times to 232,000 ha. Therefore, Miscanthus could enable Brandenburg to meet its bioenergy target by 2030, while at the same time avoiding the trade-offs with food production, and also providing a potential for soil organic carbon (SOC) sequestration of around 255,200 t C yr-1, leading to an improvement in the soil fertility and other ecosystem services (e.g., biodiversity), compared with bioenergy generated from maize.

ACS Style

Ehsan Tavakoli-Hashjini; Annette Piorr; Klaus Müller; José Vicente-Vicente. Potential Bioenergy Production from Miscanthus × giganteus in Brandenburg: Producing Bioenergy and Fostering Other Ecosystem Services while Ensuring Food Self-Sufficiency in the Berlin-Brandenburg Region. Sustainability 2020, 12, 7731 .

AMA Style

Ehsan Tavakoli-Hashjini, Annette Piorr, Klaus Müller, José Vicente-Vicente. Potential Bioenergy Production from Miscanthus × giganteus in Brandenburg: Producing Bioenergy and Fostering Other Ecosystem Services while Ensuring Food Self-Sufficiency in the Berlin-Brandenburg Region. Sustainability. 2020; 12 (18):7731.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Ehsan Tavakoli-Hashjini; Annette Piorr; Klaus Müller; José Vicente-Vicente. 2020. "Potential Bioenergy Production from Miscanthus × giganteus in Brandenburg: Producing Bioenergy and Fostering Other Ecosystem Services while Ensuring Food Self-Sufficiency in the Berlin-Brandenburg Region." Sustainability 12, no. 18: 7731.

Journal article
Published: 22 February 2020 in Sustainability
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Climate change is a severe threat to the agricultural sector in general and to rainfed farming in particular. The aim of this study was to investigate the factors that can potentially affect the adaptation process against climate change. This study focused on wheat farmers and farming systems in the rainfed agroecological zone of Pakistan. Farmers’ data related to climate change fatalism, the availability of climate-specific extension services, socioeconomic and institutional variables, and farm characteristics were collected. A logit model to assess farmers’ decisions to adopt an adaptation measure and a multinomial logit model to assess their choice of various adaptation measures were used. The results showed that fatalistic farmers were unlikely to implement climate change adaptation measures. The variables related to the climate-specific extension services, including farmers’ participation in training on climate-resilient crop farming and the availability of mobile communication-based advisory services, had highly significant and positive impacts on farmers’ decisions and their choice of adaptation measures. Input market access and tractor ownership also had positive and significant impacts on farmers’ decisions to adapt and their choice of adaptation measures. This study highlights the need to improve rainfed-wheat farmers’ education levels to change their fatalistic attitudes towards climate change. Furthermore, government action is needed to provide climate-specific extension services to ensure sustainable production levels that will ultimately lead to food and livelihood security under a changing climate.

ACS Style

Nasir Mahmood; Muhammad Arshad; Harald Kaechele; Muhammad Faisal Shahzad; Ayat Ullah; Klaus Mueller. Fatalism, Climate Resiliency Training and Farmers’ Adaptation Responses: Implications for Sustainable Rainfed-Wheat Production in Pakistan. Sustainability 2020, 12, 1650 .

AMA Style

Nasir Mahmood, Muhammad Arshad, Harald Kaechele, Muhammad Faisal Shahzad, Ayat Ullah, Klaus Mueller. Fatalism, Climate Resiliency Training and Farmers’ Adaptation Responses: Implications for Sustainable Rainfed-Wheat Production in Pakistan. Sustainability. 2020; 12 (4):1650.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Nasir Mahmood; Muhammad Arshad; Harald Kaechele; Muhammad Faisal Shahzad; Ayat Ullah; Klaus Mueller. 2020. "Fatalism, Climate Resiliency Training and Farmers’ Adaptation Responses: Implications for Sustainable Rainfed-Wheat Production in Pakistan." Sustainability 12, no. 4: 1650.

Journal article
Published: 12 November 2019 in Land Use Policy
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This paper presents empirical evidence on the effects of information asymmetry in input markets on the adoption of innovations and agricultural land use in rainfed districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. Farmers’ input market integration may contribute to innovation and adoption among farmers, which may in turn positively influence the sustainable use of agricultural land. To examine this hypothesis, we conducted a study of farmers and input providers to assess the potential constraints on quality inputs, prices, and extension information. We used a multistage random sampling technique to collect data from 395 respondents. We then compared differences among adopters and non-adopters using the Mann-Whitney U test and Mood’s median test. Our results indicate that there is a significant difference between the adopters and non-adopters when considering their perceptions of asymmetric market information. Non-adopters are suspicious of exaggerated prices, the non-availability of price lists, adulteration of agricultural inputs, unbalanced input weight and the supply of low-quality alternate commodities (e.g., fertilizers and pesticides) in place of the recommended commodities in the markets. Our results call for the reformulation and implementation of appropriate policies to ensure transparent and equal information sharing among farmers engaged in input markets and for the provision of timely and quality inputs assured by regulatory checks and price checks. Free availability of information on innovations and appropriate oversight over markets appear not only to motivate farmers to adopt agricultural technologies but also to influence more sustainable land use practices.

ACS Style

Ayat Ullah; Muhammad Arshad; Harald Kächele; Ayesha Khan; Nasir Mahmood; Klaus Müller. Information asymmetry, input markets, adoption of innovations and agricultural land use in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. Land Use Policy 2019, 90, 104261 .

AMA Style

Ayat Ullah, Muhammad Arshad, Harald Kächele, Ayesha Khan, Nasir Mahmood, Klaus Müller. Information asymmetry, input markets, adoption of innovations and agricultural land use in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. Land Use Policy. 2019; 90 ():104261.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Ayat Ullah; Muhammad Arshad; Harald Kächele; Ayesha Khan; Nasir Mahmood; Klaus Müller. 2019. "Information asymmetry, input markets, adoption of innovations and agricultural land use in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan." Land Use Policy 90, no. : 104261.

Journal article
Published: 19 August 2019 in Sustainability
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Reducing food imports and promoting domestically produced food commodities are long-standing goals for policymakers and other stakeholders in sub-Saharan African countries. For instance, Tanzania, after a long period of dependency on imported food commodities, such as sugar and edible oils, intends to meet its demand for these commodities through domestic production by transforming its agriculture sector to achieve this goal. Applying a general computable equilibrium (CGE) model, this study determines the multiplier effects of technological progress that is assumed to foster domestic edible oilseed crop production, other crops, and Tanzania’s economy in general. Findings from the model establish an increase in domestic production not only for the edible oilseed crops but also for other commodities from other sectors of the economy. In addition, there is a decrease in prices on domestically produced commodities sold in the domestic market, and an increase in disposable income is predicted for all rural and urban households, as well as government revenues. Based on model results, we recommend that the Tanzanian government invests in technological progress and interventions that increase production in sectors such as agriculture, where it has a comparative advantage. Interventions that increase smallholder farmer’s production, such as the use of improved seed and other modern technologies that reduce costs of production, are critical for reducing food imports and improving food security.

ACS Style

Charles Peter Mgeni; Klaus Müller; Stefan Sieber. Reducing Edible Oil Import Dependency in Tanzania: A Computable General Equilibrium CGE Approach. Sustainability 2019, 11, 4480 .

AMA Style

Charles Peter Mgeni, Klaus Müller, Stefan Sieber. Reducing Edible Oil Import Dependency in Tanzania: A Computable General Equilibrium CGE Approach. Sustainability. 2019; 11 (16):4480.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Charles Peter Mgeni; Klaus Müller; Stefan Sieber. 2019. "Reducing Edible Oil Import Dependency in Tanzania: A Computable General Equilibrium CGE Approach." Sustainability 11, no. 16: 4480.

Journal article
Published: 23 December 2018 in Sustainability
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Poverty is prevalent and widespread in rural Tanzania, where agriculture is the main activity. The government is making significant public investments intended to speed the growth of agriculture as a means to accelerate inclusive economic growth. In line with public investments, the government is promoting public–private partnerships by encouraging the use of improved agricultural innovations and linking farmers to markets, seeking to increase their yields and income. However, there is a paucity of empirical evidence using multipliers analysis about the extent of how gains in agricultural productivity and market linkages for farmers in rural areas help improve the economy at the household level. This paper assesses the welfare effects of the sunflower value chain for a rural economy in Tanzania using a computable general equilibrium (CGE) model for the selected village, which has a high potential for sunflower. Findings highlight the use of the CGE model, first, for analyzing and understanding the economic sectors at a village level. Second, the effects of various upgrading strategies promoted for improving rural farming communities by the government and non-governmental development partners at the micro-scale are analyzed and potential agricultural commodity value chains identified. The multiplier analysis provided insights regarding the potential of sunflower crops for the village economy.

ACS Style

Charles Peter Mgeni; Klaus Müller; Stefan Sieber. Sunflower Value Chain Enhancements for the Rural Economy in Tanzania: A Village Computable General Equilibrium-CGE Approach. Sustainability 2018, 11, 75 .

AMA Style

Charles Peter Mgeni, Klaus Müller, Stefan Sieber. Sunflower Value Chain Enhancements for the Rural Economy in Tanzania: A Village Computable General Equilibrium-CGE Approach. Sustainability. 2018; 11 (1):75.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Charles Peter Mgeni; Klaus Müller; Stefan Sieber. 2018. "Sunflower Value Chain Enhancements for the Rural Economy in Tanzania: A Village Computable General Equilibrium-CGE Approach." Sustainability 11, no. 1: 75.

Journal article
Published: 18 October 2018 in Sustainability
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Landscape services are inevitably interlinked with human wellbeing. It is essential to assess landscape services and multifunctionality from both supply and demand points of view toward sustainable landscape management. This study focused on the spatiotemporal variations of the supply, demand, and budget of landscape services in suburban Shanghai, China, including crop production, nutrient regulation, air-quality regulation, soil-erosion regulation, water purification, and recreation and aesthetical value. A new index landscape multifunctionality budget (BMFI) was developed, integrating the budget status of surplus and deficit with landscape management. Spatial autocorrelation analysis and regression analysis were conducted to identify spatial agglomeration and influencing factors of BMFI. Pronounced spatiotemporal heterogeneity of landscape services was observed. BMFI was in surplus status in 2005 and 2010, but turned to deficit in 2015. Landscape service budgets generally followed the spatial pattern of positive in the west and negative in the east. Budget deficits covered half of the villages in 2015, which were mainly situated near central Shanghai with high population density, high average income, and a fragmented and less diverse landscape pattern. Rapid urban sprawl and the following land-cover changes are the main drivers for the spatiotemporal variations. Landscape function zoning with effective economic development and ecological conservation policies can comprehensively improve the competitiveness achieving sustainable future.

ACS Style

Jin Sun; Liming Liu; Klaus Müller; Peter Zander; Guoping Ren; Guanyi Yin; Yingjie Hu. Surplus or Deficit? Spatiotemporal Variations of the Supply, Demand, and Budget of Landscape Services and Landscape Multifunctionality in Suburban Shanghai, China. Sustainability 2018, 10, 3752 .

AMA Style

Jin Sun, Liming Liu, Klaus Müller, Peter Zander, Guoping Ren, Guanyi Yin, Yingjie Hu. Surplus or Deficit? Spatiotemporal Variations of the Supply, Demand, and Budget of Landscape Services and Landscape Multifunctionality in Suburban Shanghai, China. Sustainability. 2018; 10 (10):3752.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Jin Sun; Liming Liu; Klaus Müller; Peter Zander; Guoping Ren; Guanyi Yin; Yingjie Hu. 2018. "Surplus or Deficit? Spatiotemporal Variations of the Supply, Demand, and Budget of Landscape Services and Landscape Multifunctionality in Suburban Shanghai, China." Sustainability 10, no. 10: 3752.

Review article
Published: 17 July 2018 in Journal of Rural Studies
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After years of decline, hunger is again growing. In seeking ways to combat it, Brazil offers not just a relevant context for public policy and programming, but also an important conceptual framework for food and nutritional security. Socially and politically organized peasants deal directly with the concepts and practices of food security. Crucially, they are active in pursuing a food security definition that benefits them. One fundamental civil organization representing peasants in Brazil is the Landless Workers Movement - MST. Another, working closely with the MST, is the Borborema Trade Union Pole, which works according to the regional culture of its territory. Those civil organizations have agroecology as their farming methodology. Many theatrical practices use narrative as a tool to discuss or promote issues in communities. In general, these practices are diverse and fall under the concept of Theatre for Development – TFD. The article reviews TFD and proposes celebratory community-based theatre as a method for narratives motivating improvements for food insecurity situations. The Borborema Trade Union Pole formed a community theatre group and created a play entitled Pamonhada in the House of Dona Nene. The play presents a community-based construction of the concept of food security based on the relationships between the concrete experience of the farming families and the local reality of family farming.

ACS Style

Juliano Borba; Michelle Bonatti; Stefan Sieber; Klaus Müller. Theatre methods for food security and sovereignty: A Brazilian scenario. Journal of Rural Studies 2018, 62, 29 -39.

AMA Style

Juliano Borba, Michelle Bonatti, Stefan Sieber, Klaus Müller. Theatre methods for food security and sovereignty: A Brazilian scenario. Journal of Rural Studies. 2018; 62 ():29-39.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Juliano Borba; Michelle Bonatti; Stefan Sieber; Klaus Müller. 2018. "Theatre methods for food security and sovereignty: A Brazilian scenario." Journal of Rural Studies 62, no. : 29-39.

Journal article
Published: 01 February 2018 in Land Use Policy
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ACS Style

Stefan Sieber; T.S. Amjath-Babu; Pytrik Reidsma; Hannes Koenig; Annette Piorr; Irina Bezlepkina; Klaus Mueller. Sustainability impact assessment tools for land use policy advice: A comparative analysis of five research approaches. Land Use Policy 2018, 71, 75 -85.

AMA Style

Stefan Sieber, T.S. Amjath-Babu, Pytrik Reidsma, Hannes Koenig, Annette Piorr, Irina Bezlepkina, Klaus Mueller. Sustainability impact assessment tools for land use policy advice: A comparative analysis of five research approaches. Land Use Policy. 2018; 71 ():75-85.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Stefan Sieber; T.S. Amjath-Babu; Pytrik Reidsma; Hannes Koenig; Annette Piorr; Irina Bezlepkina; Klaus Mueller. 2018. "Sustainability impact assessment tools for land use policy advice: A comparative analysis of five research approaches." Land Use Policy 71, no. : 75-85.

Original paper
Published: 10 May 2017 in Natural Hazards
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Flooding constitutes the most predominant natural disaster in India. The degree and causes of vulnerability to flood risk vary by society, geographical region and over time. The rural people of India are highly vulnerable to flood hazards due to high dependence on natural resources for livelihood and poor socio-economic situations. The information regarding the degree of vulnerability of these people is limited. In order to formulate improved adaption policies and effective programmes to reduce vulnerability, it is crucial to quantify the vulnerability of rural households affected by floods at a regional level. Our study provides insight into the vulnerability of rural households affected by floods in India. We use primary data of 220 flood-prone rural households of Odisha state in India for analysis. The vulnerability is analysed using the Livelihood Vulnerability Index and the Socio-economic Vulnerability Index. Our results show that these households are vulnerable to flood in more than one dimension. Sociodemographic characteristics such as a low literacy rate, a high dependency ratio and a weak housing structure increase these residents’ vulnerability. Access to social networks and social institutions plays a significant role in uplifting poor rural households. Our study concludes that the vulnerability of a household is governed by both non-climatic factors and the incidence of floods. The findings of our study may be considered in developing policies and programmes that will reduce the flood risk. The recommendations we suggested in this study can be applied in other south Asian counties with similar socio-economic profiles.

ACS Style

Anu Susan Sam; Ranjit Kumar; Harald Kächele; Klaus Mueller. Vulnerabilities to flood hazards among rural households in India. Natural Hazards 2017, 88, 1133 -1153.

AMA Style

Anu Susan Sam, Ranjit Kumar, Harald Kächele, Klaus Mueller. Vulnerabilities to flood hazards among rural households in India. Natural Hazards. 2017; 88 (2):1133-1153.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Anu Susan Sam; Ranjit Kumar; Harald Kächele; Klaus Mueller. 2017. "Vulnerabilities to flood hazards among rural households in India." Natural Hazards 88, no. 2: 1133-1153.

Journal article
Published: 03 August 2016 in Paddy and Water Environment
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Rice and wheat are the principal calorie sources for over a billion people in South Asia, although each crop is particularly sensitive to the climatic and agronomic management conditions under which they are grown. Season-long heat stress can reduce photosynthesis and accelerate senescence; if extreme heat stress is experienced during flowering, both rice and wheat may also experience decreased pollen viability and stigma deposition, leading to increased grain sterility. Where farmers are unable to implement within-season management adaptations, significant deviations from expected climatic conditions would affect crop growth, yield, and therefore have important implications for food security. The influence of climatic conditions on crop growth have been widely studied in growth chamber, greenhouse, and research station trials, although empirical evidence of the link between climatic variability and yield risk in farmers’ fields is comparatively scarce. Using data from 240 farm households, this paper responds to this gap and isolates the effects of agronomic management from climatic variability on rice and wheat yield risks in eight of Pakistan’s twelve agroecological zones. Using Just and Pope production functions, we tested for the effects of crop management practices and climatic conditions on yield and yield variability for each crop. Our results highlight important risks to farmers’ ability to obtain reliable yield levels for both crops. Despite variability in input use and crop management, we found evidence for the negative effect of both season-long and terminal heat stress, measured as the cumulative number of days during which crop growth occurred above critical thresholds, though wheat was considerably more sensitive than rice. Comparing variation in observed climatic parameters in the year of study to medium-term patterns, rice, and wheat yields were both negatively affected, indicative of production risk and of farmers’ limited capacity for within-season adaptation. Our findings suggest the importance of reviewing existing climate change adaptation policies that aim to increase cereal farmers’ resilience in Pakistan, and more broadly in South Asia. Potential agronomic and extension strategies are proposed for further investigation.

ACS Style

Muhammad Arshad; T. S. Amjath-Babu; Timothy J. Krupnik; Sreejith Aravindakshan; Azhar Abbas; Harald Kächele; Klaus Mueller. Climate variability and yield risk in South Asia’s rice–wheat systems: emerging evidence from Pakistan. Paddy and Water Environment 2016, 15, 249 -261.

AMA Style

Muhammad Arshad, T. S. Amjath-Babu, Timothy J. Krupnik, Sreejith Aravindakshan, Azhar Abbas, Harald Kächele, Klaus Mueller. Climate variability and yield risk in South Asia’s rice–wheat systems: emerging evidence from Pakistan. Paddy and Water Environment. 2016; 15 (2):249-261.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Muhammad Arshad; T. S. Amjath-Babu; Timothy J. Krupnik; Sreejith Aravindakshan; Azhar Abbas; Harald Kächele; Klaus Mueller. 2016. "Climate variability and yield risk in South Asia’s rice–wheat systems: emerging evidence from Pakistan." Paddy and Water Environment 15, no. 2: 249-261.

Journal article
Published: 22 April 2016 in Sustainability
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This article analyzes agricultural sustainability in the context of land degradation, rural poverty and social inequality, taking China’s Loess Hills as an example. The analysis attempts to understand the multi-dimensionality of sustainability at the farm level and its relationship with physical-socio-economic-infrastructural-technological framework conditions in the context of the land set-aside program viz. the Grain for Green Project (GGP). We developed composite indices of sustainability and its environmental, economic and social dimensions using a principal component analysis (PCA)-based weighting scheme. Regression analyses were conducted to examine the relationship between the estimated sustainability indicators and the variables representing framework conditions of knowledge, demographics, resource endowment and production techniques. The stated analysis was conducted on a dataset collected by means of household surveys in 2014 in valleys and flood plain areas in Yanhe Township. Findings reveal hidden correlations among the indicators of environmental, economic, and social pillars of sustainability. The ratio of land under the conservation program to actual farmland emerged as a key determinant of overall agricultural sustainability and its social dimension, which reaches the maximum when the ratio is around 0.56 and 0.64, respectively. The results also show that there is need to balance off-farm and on-farm income diversification as well as highlight the role of women in ensuring the sustainability of farming households. The core achievement of the article is the definition of the thresholds for the land set-aside program and the identification of major determinants of agricultural sustainability in the rural Chinese context in particular and in rural farming communities in general.

ACS Style

Qirui Li; T. S. Amjath-Babu; Peter Zander; Zhen Liu; Klaus Müller. Sustainability of Smallholder Agriculture in Semi-Arid Areas under Land Set-aside Programs: A Case Study from China’s Loess Plateau. Sustainability 2016, 8, 395 .

AMA Style

Qirui Li, T. S. Amjath-Babu, Peter Zander, Zhen Liu, Klaus Müller. Sustainability of Smallholder Agriculture in Semi-Arid Areas under Land Set-aside Programs: A Case Study from China’s Loess Plateau. Sustainability. 2016; 8 (4):395.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Qirui Li; T. S. Amjath-Babu; Peter Zander; Zhen Liu; Klaus Müller. 2016. "Sustainability of Smallholder Agriculture in Semi-Arid Areas under Land Set-aside Programs: A Case Study from China’s Loess Plateau." Sustainability 8, no. 4: 395.

Journal article
Published: 10 March 2016 in Journal of Water and Climate Change
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The predicted increase in frequency and severity of flooding events poses substantial challenges for the farming communities of developing countries. Given the financial limitations of governments in these countries, the concept of participatory flood management is of high relevance. This article studies how communities can participate in structural measures such as embankments/dikes. Given that surplus rural labor is available due to the seasonal nature of agricultural operations, this paper utilizes a field survey for exploring the willingness to contribute (WTC) labor by rural households in Pakistan towards a hypothetical flood-protection scheme. Results show a potential labor contribution of 11.07 man-days per year per household (equivalent to Rs. 4,084 or 39 USD). The WTC decision is positively influenced by the number of adult family members, livestock damage, compensation received and expected effectiveness of the intervention, but is negatively influenced by age and education of the household head, farm income and the distance of the farm from the river. The study concludes that community resources (e.g., manual labor) can be utilized for flood mitigation, which may reduce the costs of building and maintaining the infrastructure while increasing the sense of security and ownership. This would also ensure the sustainability of flood protection interventions to a considerable extent.

ACS Style

Azhar Abbas; T. S. Amjath-Babu; Harald Kächele; Klaus Mueller. Participatory adaptation to climate extremes: an assessment of households’ willingness to contribute labor for flood risk mitigation in Pakistan. Journal of Water and Climate Change 2016, 7, 621 -636.

AMA Style

Azhar Abbas, T. S. Amjath-Babu, Harald Kächele, Klaus Mueller. Participatory adaptation to climate extremes: an assessment of households’ willingness to contribute labor for flood risk mitigation in Pakistan. Journal of Water and Climate Change. 2016; 7 (3):621-636.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Azhar Abbas; T. S. Amjath-Babu; Harald Kächele; Klaus Mueller. 2016. "Participatory adaptation to climate extremes: an assessment of households’ willingness to contribute labor for flood risk mitigation in Pakistan." Journal of Water and Climate Change 7, no. 3: 621-636.

Research article
Published: 01 December 2015 in Outlook on Agriculture
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Small spatial differences in field conditions can strongly influence plant growth and create difficulties in terms of defining optimal crop management practices. Precision agriculture (PA) is considered to offer an optimal solution since it can adapt cultivation measures to small-scale in-field heterogeneity. Furthermore, it can potentially create environmental benefits through more efficient use of inputs. Since research on decision support is lacking with regard to the economic consequences of PA implementation, the authors use this heterogeneity as an indicator for an assessment of the benefits of PA. A new approach for using a site-specific heterogeneity indicator (HEI) that is linked to economics is presented. The HEI is defined as the coefficient of variation in annual field yield. Based on a study in East Germany between 2005 and 2007, an HEI threshold value of 17% for profitable PA was identified based on individual and external benefits. Grounded in more detailed data, the HEI could serve as a useful decision-support tool for farmers in deciding whether or not to implement PA.

ACS Style

Isabella Karpinski; Johannes Schuler; Klaus Mueller. A New Approach to Support Site-Specific Farming and Economic Decision Making for Precision Agriculture in East Germany: The Heterogeneity Indicator. Outlook on Agriculture 2015, 44, 283 -289.

AMA Style

Isabella Karpinski, Johannes Schuler, Klaus Mueller. A New Approach to Support Site-Specific Farming and Economic Decision Making for Precision Agriculture in East Germany: The Heterogeneity Indicator. Outlook on Agriculture. 2015; 44 (4):283-289.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Isabella Karpinski; Johannes Schuler; Klaus Mueller. 2015. "A New Approach to Support Site-Specific Farming and Economic Decision Making for Precision Agriculture in East Germany: The Heterogeneity Indicator." Outlook on Agriculture 44, no. 4: 283-289.

Original articles
Published: 24 November 2015 in International Journal of Sustainable Development & World Ecology
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South Asia faces increasing flooding risks due to climatic and socio-economic changes. Various measures have been adopted by the governments of the countries in this region. However, these measures are not adequate to protect the vulnerable communities from ever-increasing flood losses. This study assesses the policy and planning processes and flood-related scientific research in India, Pakistan and Bangladesh. Based on a systematic review, a comparison of the existing flood management systems of the three countries is undertaken, and a framework for sustainable flood management in the region is suggested. Insights from the literature show that Bangladesh has been able to develop an effective governance structure to address flood hazards, while Pakistan’s approach to flood management planning is found to be largely inadequate. This inadequacy is mainly attributed to missing links in policy formulation and planning processes, along with a lack of institutional coordination. The results of the literature analysis reveal poor support from scientific research focusing on flooding issues in the case of Pakistan, while Bangladesh and India seem to have benefited from research support in formulating their flood management strategies. Based on these findings, an alternative framework is suggested, emphasizing the need to enhance institutional linkages, community participation and evidence-based research.

ACS Style

Azhar Abbas; T.S. Amjath-Babu; Harald Kächele; Muhammad Usman; Klaus Müller; Klaus Mueller. An overview of flood mitigation strategy and research support in South Asia: implications for sustainable flood risk management. International Journal of Sustainable Development & World Ecology 2015, 23, 98 -111.

AMA Style

Azhar Abbas, T.S. Amjath-Babu, Harald Kächele, Muhammad Usman, Klaus Müller, Klaus Mueller. An overview of flood mitigation strategy and research support in South Asia: implications for sustainable flood risk management. International Journal of Sustainable Development & World Ecology. 2015; 23 (1):98-111.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Azhar Abbas; T.S. Amjath-Babu; Harald Kächele; Muhammad Usman; Klaus Müller; Klaus Mueller. 2015. "An overview of flood mitigation strategy and research support in South Asia: implications for sustainable flood risk management." International Journal of Sustainable Development & World Ecology 23, no. 1: 98-111.

Research articles
Published: 26 May 2015 in Climate and Development
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Pakistan has become a poster child for extreme weather events such as floods and droughts in recent years. The frequency and severity of these events are expected to increase in the future due to predicted climatic changes. This scenario suggests the likelihood of increased crop damage in flood- or drought-prone areas, and hence the need for risk-reducing mechanisms. This paper attempts to determine whether crop insurance is an acceptable tool against flood and drought events in rural Pakistan. It also analyses the factors influencing a farmer's willingness to pay insurance premiums. In a rural farm-household survey, farmers were asked about their willingness to pay for a hypothetical crop insurance programme employing a “double-bounded dichotomous contingent valuation method”. The results revealed that around 30% of the respondents accepted the idea of crop insurance as a tool to reduce and mitigate the financial risks associated with floods and droughts. Our findings suggest that the frequency and severity of the previous weather-related extremes, socio-economic settings, farm typology and the farming communities’ ability to pay need to be taken into consideration when introducing crop insurance programmes against flood or drought in Pakistan. Furthermore, disseminating awareness among farming communities about the future climatic changes and the associated risks of the occurrence of extreme weather events is imperative. The government's willingness to share/subsidize insurance premiums may increase the demand for crop insurance among smallholders in Pakistan and protect them from the negative repercussions of these extreme weather events in order to sustain their livelihoods.

ACS Style

Muhammad Arshad; T.S Amjath-Babu; Harald Kächele; Klaus Mueller. What drives the willingness to pay for crop insurance against extreme weather events (flood and drought) in Pakistan? A hypothetical market approach. Climate and Development 2015, 8, 234 -244.

AMA Style

Muhammad Arshad, T.S Amjath-Babu, Harald Kächele, Klaus Mueller. What drives the willingness to pay for crop insurance against extreme weather events (flood and drought) in Pakistan? A hypothetical market approach. Climate and Development. 2015; 8 (3):234-244.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Muhammad Arshad; T.S Amjath-Babu; Harald Kächele; Klaus Mueller. 2015. "What drives the willingness to pay for crop insurance against extreme weather events (flood and drought) in Pakistan? A hypothetical market approach." Climate and Development 8, no. 3: 234-244.

Journal article
Published: 19 May 2015 in Regional Environmental Change
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Climate change is an unprecedented global threat to fundamental life-supporting systems and people’s livelihoods and is expected to aggravate development challenges. Subsistence-oriented smallholder farmers of developing regions, such as those in sub-Saharan Africa, are highly vulnerable to these changes given their lower adaptive capacity. In this context, building a climate-resilient agricultural society is an essential requirement to protect livelihoods. Hence, there is a need for spreading the climate-resilient sustainable agricultural (CRSA) practices by replicating the proven ones to larger areas (scaling-up). Fostering widespread adoption of such practices needs consideration of their social, ecological, economic, and institutional appropriateness in target areas. This article reports the application of a tool “ScalA” that generates information on a multitude of aspects and assesses the local suitability of CRSA practices among sub-Saharan smallholders. It also briefly presents other state-of-the-art tools that can be used for similar purposes. In the first case study, the tool is used to assess appropriateness of agroforestry, biochar application, and rainwater harvesting in Fulwe village of Morogoro, Tanzania, for enhancing resilience capacity. In another case study, the potential of fertilizer management is assessed for two different villages, i.e., Fulwe and Mlali. Analytically, appropriateness of interventions is assessed by the deviation of the actual factor constellation of the scaling-up process with an optimal constellation that will foster the wider adoption of the given practice.

ACS Style

Stefan Sieber; Srijna Jha; Amjath-Babu Tharayil Shereef; Franziska Bringe; Wibke Crewett; Goetz Uckert; Severin Polreich; Tim Hycenth Ndah; Frieder Graef; Klaus Mueller. Integrated assessment of sustainable agricultural practices to enhance climate resilience in Morogoro, Tanzania. Regional Environmental Change 2015, 15, 1281 -1292.

AMA Style

Stefan Sieber, Srijna Jha, Amjath-Babu Tharayil Shereef, Franziska Bringe, Wibke Crewett, Goetz Uckert, Severin Polreich, Tim Hycenth Ndah, Frieder Graef, Klaus Mueller. Integrated assessment of sustainable agricultural practices to enhance climate resilience in Morogoro, Tanzania. Regional Environmental Change. 2015; 15 (7):1281-1292.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Stefan Sieber; Srijna Jha; Amjath-Babu Tharayil Shereef; Franziska Bringe; Wibke Crewett; Goetz Uckert; Severin Polreich; Tim Hycenth Ndah; Frieder Graef; Klaus Mueller. 2015. "Integrated assessment of sustainable agricultural practices to enhance climate resilience in Morogoro, Tanzania." Regional Environmental Change 15, no. 7: 1281-1292.

Journal article
Published: 24 January 2015 in Regional Environmental Change
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Having access to firewood and charcoal for cooking purposes is essential for the world’s poor. In this paper, we outline the consumption patterns of firewood and charcoal energy recorded at a specific south-western Tanzanian village (Laela) based on a household survey carried out in late 2010 (n = 160). We identify varying consumption rates among four relative income classes (rich, above average, self-sufficiency, below self-sufficiency). We furthermore simulate the effects of different dissemination levels (10, 25, 50, 100 %) for a specific type of efficient wood stove over the years 2010, 2015 and 2030, with a predicted increase in future energy consumption rates that correspond with population growth. Our findings suggest that energy consumption will increase until 2030. We also foresee excellent energy-saving potentials in different diffusion and adaptation scenarios. The limitations of the study as well as its developmental potentials are also addressed with one focus on the possible effects on local forests. The factors utilised and the results obtained are discussed and compared with other values drawn from the current literature. Furthermore, the pro-poor development potential is examined by using the energy-saving capacity of different dissemination/adaptation scenarios. Additionally, hurdles and hypothetical setbacks that may occur during the process of efficient stove dissemination are described. In sum, our findings highlight the need for efficient stove diffusion programmes to carefully incorporate weaker income classes within rural communities.

ACS Style

Harry Hoffmann; Götz Uckert; Constance Reif; Klaus Müller; Stefan Sieber; Klaus Mueller. Traditional biomass energy consumption and the potential introduction of firewood efficient stoves: insights from western Tanzania. Regional Environmental Change 2015, 15, 1191 -1201.

AMA Style

Harry Hoffmann, Götz Uckert, Constance Reif, Klaus Müller, Stefan Sieber, Klaus Mueller. Traditional biomass energy consumption and the potential introduction of firewood efficient stoves: insights from western Tanzania. Regional Environmental Change. 2015; 15 (7):1191-1201.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Harry Hoffmann; Götz Uckert; Constance Reif; Klaus Müller; Stefan Sieber; Klaus Mueller. 2015. "Traditional biomass energy consumption and the potential introduction of firewood efficient stoves: insights from western Tanzania." Regional Environmental Change 15, no. 7: 1191-1201.

Journal article
Published: 01 November 2014 in Ecological Economics
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Claas Meyer; Bettina Matzdorf; Klaus Mueller; Christian Schleyer. Cross Compliance as payment for public goods? Understanding EU and US agricultural policies. Ecological Economics 2014, 107, 185 -194.

AMA Style

Claas Meyer, Bettina Matzdorf, Klaus Mueller, Christian Schleyer. Cross Compliance as payment for public goods? Understanding EU and US agricultural policies. Ecological Economics. 2014; 107 ():185-194.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Claas Meyer; Bettina Matzdorf; Klaus Mueller; Christian Schleyer. 2014. "Cross Compliance as payment for public goods? Understanding EU and US agricultural policies." Ecological Economics 107, no. : 185-194.

Journal article
Published: 11 September 2014 in Natural Hazards
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The present study aims at unraveling the acceptability and potential of flood insurance as a viable mechanism to cope the financial risk associated with flood events in rural Pakistan. Moreover, the factors influencing rural households’ willingness to pay for flood insurance are also analyzed. Currently, the country faces an increasing rate of flooding due to climate change phenomenon resulting in abnormal monsoonal cycles and the melting of Himalayan glaciers in the region. The current flood management strategy of the country mainly involves ex-post relief and rehabilitation programs along with financial transfers to the flood victims from public funds without the involvement of private insurance companies. This puts enormous pressure on the public exchequer, leading to budgetary adjustments and tax escalation. Under such a scenario, flood insurance is thought to be a viable alternative to mitigate the financial risk associated with the catastrophic events like the flood that occurred in 2010. The study utilized primary level data from five districts in Pakistan to evaluate the willingness to pay for flood insurance as well as the factors affecting that willingness by using contingent valuation methodology. The results show that the acceptability of this intervention among flood victims depends on a multitude of factors such as the age of the household head, landownership, off-farm income sources and a preconception concerning the effectiveness of flood insurance. Moreover, rural families’ readiness to pay an insurance premium is not significantly influenced by perceived risk of flooding but by their financial position.

ACS Style

Azhar Abbas; T.S Amjath-Babu; Harald Kächele; Klaus Mueller. Non-structural flood risk mitigation under developing country conditions: an analysis on the determinants of willingness to pay for flood insurance in rural Pakistan. Natural Hazards 2014, 75, 2119 -2135.

AMA Style

Azhar Abbas, T.S Amjath-Babu, Harald Kächele, Klaus Mueller. Non-structural flood risk mitigation under developing country conditions: an analysis on the determinants of willingness to pay for flood insurance in rural Pakistan. Natural Hazards. 2014; 75 (3):2119-2135.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Azhar Abbas; T.S Amjath-Babu; Harald Kächele; Klaus Mueller. 2014. "Non-structural flood risk mitigation under developing country conditions: an analysis on the determinants of willingness to pay for flood insurance in rural Pakistan." Natural Hazards 75, no. 3: 2119-2135.

Review article
Published: 31 January 2014 in Global Food Security
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Enhancing food security for poor and vulnerable people requires adapting rural food systems to various driving factors. Food security-related research should apply participatory action research that considers the entire food value chain to ensure sustained success. This article presents a research framework that focusses on determining, prioritising, testing, adapting and disseminating food securing upgrading strategies across the multiple components of rural food value chains. These include natural resources, food production, processing, markets, consumption and waste management. Scientists and policy makers jointly use tools developed for assessing potentials for enhancing regional food security at multiple spatial and temporal scales. The research is being conducted in Tanzania as a case study for Sub-Saharan countries and is done in close collaboration with local, regional and national stakeholders, encompassing all activities across all different food sectors.

ACS Style

F. Graef; S. Sieber; K. Mutabazi; Folkard Asch; H.K. Biesalski; J. Bitegeko; W. Bokelmann; M. Bruentrup; O. Dietrich; N. Elly; A. Fasse; J.U. Germer; U. Grote; L. Herrmann; Harry Hoffmann; F.C. Kahimba; B. Kaufmann; Kurt Christian Kersebaum; C. Kilembe; A. Kimaro; J. Kinabo; B. König; Hannes J. König; M. Lana; C. Levy; J. Lyimo-Macha; B. Makoko; G. Mazoko; S.H. Mbaga; W. Mbogoro; H. Milling; K. Mtambo; Klaus Mueller; E. Nkonja; C. Reif; C. Ringler; S. Ruvuga; M. Schaefer; A. Sikira; V. Silayo; K. Stahr; E. Swai; S. Tumbo; Götz Bernhard Uckert. Framework for participatory food security research in rural food value chains. Global Food Security 2014, 3, 8 -15.

AMA Style

F. Graef, S. Sieber, K. Mutabazi, Folkard Asch, H.K. Biesalski, J. Bitegeko, W. Bokelmann, M. Bruentrup, O. Dietrich, N. Elly, A. Fasse, J.U. Germer, U. Grote, L. Herrmann, Harry Hoffmann, F.C. Kahimba, B. Kaufmann, Kurt Christian Kersebaum, C. Kilembe, A. Kimaro, J. Kinabo, B. König, Hannes J. König, M. Lana, C. Levy, J. Lyimo-Macha, B. Makoko, G. Mazoko, S.H. Mbaga, W. Mbogoro, H. Milling, K. Mtambo, Klaus Mueller, E. Nkonja, C. Reif, C. Ringler, S. Ruvuga, M. Schaefer, A. Sikira, V. Silayo, K. Stahr, E. Swai, S. Tumbo, Götz Bernhard Uckert. Framework for participatory food security research in rural food value chains. Global Food Security. 2014; 3 (1):8-15.

Chicago/Turabian Style

F. Graef; S. Sieber; K. Mutabazi; Folkard Asch; H.K. Biesalski; J. Bitegeko; W. Bokelmann; M. Bruentrup; O. Dietrich; N. Elly; A. Fasse; J.U. Germer; U. Grote; L. Herrmann; Harry Hoffmann; F.C. Kahimba; B. Kaufmann; Kurt Christian Kersebaum; C. Kilembe; A. Kimaro; J. Kinabo; B. König; Hannes J. König; M. Lana; C. Levy; J. Lyimo-Macha; B. Makoko; G. Mazoko; S.H. Mbaga; W. Mbogoro; H. Milling; K. Mtambo; Klaus Mueller; E. Nkonja; C. Reif; C. Ringler; S. Ruvuga; M. Schaefer; A. Sikira; V. Silayo; K. Stahr; E. Swai; S. Tumbo; Götz Bernhard Uckert. 2014. "Framework for participatory food security research in rural food value chains." Global Food Security 3, no. 1: 8-15.