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Stefan Sieber
Department of Agricultural Economics, Humboldt University of Berlin, 10099 Berlin, Germany

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Journal article
Published: 17 May 2021 in International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
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The impact of COVID-19 on farmers’ livelihoods and food security is a key concern in rural communities. This study investigates the impacts of the livelihood assets on the food security of rural households during the COVID-19 pandemic and determines those factors related to food security. The population of this study includes rural households in Dashtestan county, Bushehr province, in southern Iran. Based on the Krejcie and Morgan sampling table, 293 households were selected using the convenience sampling method. To measure food security, the American standard index and ordinal regression are used to analyze the factors. The results of the food security situation show highly precarious and food insecure situations among the studied rural households. The regression analysis shows that the most important assets affecting the food security of rural households under COVID-19 are financial, psychological, physical, and human assets, respectively. The results can help rural development planners and policymakers to improve both livelihoods and food security in rural communities, not just during the COVID-19 pandemic, but also in its aftermath.

ACS Style

Masoud Yazdanpanah; Maryam Tajeri Moghadam; Moslem Savari; Tahereh Zobeidi; Stefan Sieber; Katharina Löhr. The Impact of Livelihood Assets on the Food Security of Farmers in Southern Iran during the COVID-19 Pandemic. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 2021, 18, 5310 .

AMA Style

Masoud Yazdanpanah, Maryam Tajeri Moghadam, Moslem Savari, Tahereh Zobeidi, Stefan Sieber, Katharina Löhr. The Impact of Livelihood Assets on the Food Security of Farmers in Southern Iran during the COVID-19 Pandemic. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2021; 18 (10):5310.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Masoud Yazdanpanah; Maryam Tajeri Moghadam; Moslem Savari; Tahereh Zobeidi; Stefan Sieber; Katharina Löhr. 2021. "The Impact of Livelihood Assets on the Food Security of Farmers in Southern Iran during the COVID-19 Pandemic." International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 18, no. 10: 5310.

Journal article
Published: 10 May 2021 in Land Use Policy
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This paper provides an analysis of the land use dynamics observed in the Brazilian part of La Plata Basin (BR-LPB) from 1988 to 2018, including major crops such as maize, soybean, wheat, and sugarcane. It also assesses the perception of farmers and other stakeholders on climate change effects and the design of adaptation strategies. Two case studies were carried out and the DPSIR (Driver-Pressure-State-Impact-Response) conceptual framework was used to structure the complex relationships driving current land use dynamics in BR-LPB. The first case was an assessment of land use change based on the cultivated area of annual and semi-perennial crops over the whole BR-LPB, using macro-spatial data from 1988 to 2018. The second case consisted of a survey carried out in the municipality of Anchieta to assess at local level if land use change has been driven by the perception of farmers on climate change and its effects. When contrasted with changes on average annual temperature and precipitation for the same time period, the results show that land use dynamics in the BR-LPB as a whole was mostly driven by an increased global demand for food commodities rather than by climate effects, whereas at local level the perception of farmers on climate change effects has already influenced the adoption of adaptation strategies. No evidences were found that climate dynamics has significantly influenced the geography of agricultural land use in the BR-LPB in this period. While using the DPSIR framework, the results of both case studies highlight important inter-relationships allowing a comprehensive overview on how land use change in the BR-LPB is related to some major drivers (e.g. population growth, growing demand of agricultural products, and droughts) and how they might influence the design of purposeful adaptation responses and policy making.

ACS Style

Sandro Luis Schlindwein; Ana Carolina Feitosa de Vasconcelos; Michelle Bonatti; Stefan Sieber; Alexandre Strapasson; Marcos Lana. Agricultural land use dynamics in the Brazilian part of La Plata Basin: From driving forces to societal responses. Land Use Policy 2021, 107, 105519 .

AMA Style

Sandro Luis Schlindwein, Ana Carolina Feitosa de Vasconcelos, Michelle Bonatti, Stefan Sieber, Alexandre Strapasson, Marcos Lana. Agricultural land use dynamics in the Brazilian part of La Plata Basin: From driving forces to societal responses. Land Use Policy. 2021; 107 ():105519.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Sandro Luis Schlindwein; Ana Carolina Feitosa de Vasconcelos; Michelle Bonatti; Stefan Sieber; Alexandre Strapasson; Marcos Lana. 2021. "Agricultural land use dynamics in the Brazilian part of La Plata Basin: From driving forces to societal responses." Land Use Policy 107, no. : 105519.

Journal article
Published: 10 April 2021 in Sustainability
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By developing meta-frontier efficiency and structural equation models, the paper examines whether farm economic viability is positively associated with technical efficiency in a highly food insecure context, such as that of rural Sierra Leone. The findings show that technical efficiency can be a sufficient but not necessary condition in determining economic viability of smallholder farming. It is possible to breach reproductive thresholds at the cost of reduced technical efficiency, when the crop diversification strategy of smallholders includes market-oriented high-value crops. This calls for a dual policy approach that addresses farmers’ internal needs for self-consumption (increasing efficiency of food crop production) while encouraging market-oriented cash crop production (diversification assisted through the reduction of associated transaction costs and the establishment of accessible commercialization channels of export related crops and/or high-value crops). The work also calls out for a move-up or move-out strategy for small holders to create viable farming systems in developing world.

ACS Style

Silvia Saravia-Matus; T. Amjath-Babu; Sreejith Aravindakshan; Stefan Sieber; Jimmy Saravia; Sergio Gomez Y Paloma. Can Enhancing Efficiency Promote the Economic Viability of Smallholder Farmers? A Case of Sierra Leone. Sustainability 2021, 13, 4235 .

AMA Style

Silvia Saravia-Matus, T. Amjath-Babu, Sreejith Aravindakshan, Stefan Sieber, Jimmy Saravia, Sergio Gomez Y Paloma. Can Enhancing Efficiency Promote the Economic Viability of Smallholder Farmers? A Case of Sierra Leone. Sustainability. 2021; 13 (8):4235.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Silvia Saravia-Matus; T. Amjath-Babu; Sreejith Aravindakshan; Stefan Sieber; Jimmy Saravia; Sergio Gomez Y Paloma. 2021. "Can Enhancing Efficiency Promote the Economic Viability of Smallholder Farmers? A Case of Sierra Leone." Sustainability 13, no. 8: 4235.

Communication
Published: 02 March 2021 in Foods
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The COVID-19 pandemic has brought on a global crisis, with impacts an ongoing food security and nutrition, exposing the vulnerabilities of our society. However, it can be a time for reflection and an opportunity to propose and stimulate initiatives that are ready to facilitate resilience within the food system. The food to fork must be shortened and diversified where it is viable and feasible, while made affordable for all societal levels. To face these challengers, the community food systems (CFS) approach has a crucial role, since it copes with relevant principles, including the necessities of low-income societies from areas particularly marginalized from mainstream food systems, of which those land areas also can pose as additional insurance just in case of occurrence of whatever crises. Systematizing the components and contributions of CFS can facilitate the advance of strategies to better deal with crises and increase resilience. Therefore, in this paper, through key elements of CFS, we propose a theoretical framework that can be applied by decision makers as a conceptual guide for combating threats to food systems in neglected territories.

ACS Style

Ana Turetta; Michelle Bonatti; Stefan Sieber. Resilience of Community Food Systems (CFS): Co-Design as a Long-Term Viable Pathway to Face Crises in Neglected Territories? Foods 2021, 10, 521 .

AMA Style

Ana Turetta, Michelle Bonatti, Stefan Sieber. Resilience of Community Food Systems (CFS): Co-Design as a Long-Term Viable Pathway to Face Crises in Neglected Territories? Foods. 2021; 10 (3):521.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Ana Turetta; Michelle Bonatti; Stefan Sieber. 2021. "Resilience of Community Food Systems (CFS): Co-Design as a Long-Term Viable Pathway to Face Crises in Neglected Territories?" Foods 10, no. 3: 521.

Journal article
Published: 02 February 2021 in Land Use Policy
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The adoption of agricultural innovations is a critical adaptation mechanism for smallholder farmers to prepare and deal with potential shocks and uncertainty. Agroforestry is proven to be highly impactful at improving the adaptive capacity of farmers, the resilience of local farming systems and in providing diversified livelihood benefits. The adoption of agroforestry in Tanzania is generally uneven, with some successes and some failures and could be better supported. To do so, understanding the most significant factors influencing the adoption of agroforestry is key. Logistic regression (logit model) is used to analyse household survey data collected from 697 smallholder farmers. Results indicate that only 71 farmers (10.19 %) report planting new trees and actively practicing agroforestry. Farmers who are part of a project, are able to rent land and have a source of seedlings are more likely to adopt agroforestry. When farmers perceive rainfall to be changing, their land rights to be only moderately secure and their right to plant trees to be dependent on obtaining permission from the land owner or family members, they are less likely to adopt agroforestry. If the farmer perceives the land to be relatively fertile and has the intention to improve or maintain the fertility of his plot in the future then the likelihood of adopting agroforestry increases. Policy interventions ought to promote the participation of farmers in agroforestry projects to facilitate knowledge and experience building. Policy interventions should provide a reliable source of agroforestry inputs, such as seedlings to ensure that the resource requirements for agroforestry are well fulfilled. Farmer perceptions of land and agroforestry rights must be emphasized, clarified and streamlined to facilitate better policies. Farmer perceptions related to rainfall and soil fertility highlight a lack of awareness concerning the soil and water conservation benefits of agroforestry. Therefore, these must be better addressed through improved education and extension services. Consideration of farmer perceptions is crucial for the adoption of agroforestry.

ACS Style

Srijna Jha; Harald Kaechele; Stefan Sieber. Factors influencing the adoption of agroforestry by smallholder farmer households in Tanzania: Case studies from Morogoro and Dodoma. Land Use Policy 2021, 103, 105308 .

AMA Style

Srijna Jha, Harald Kaechele, Stefan Sieber. Factors influencing the adoption of agroforestry by smallholder farmer households in Tanzania: Case studies from Morogoro and Dodoma. Land Use Policy. 2021; 103 ():105308.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Srijna Jha; Harald Kaechele; Stefan Sieber. 2021. "Factors influencing the adoption of agroforestry by smallholder farmer households in Tanzania: Case studies from Morogoro and Dodoma." Land Use Policy 103, no. : 105308.

Journal article
Published: 03 September 2020 in Sustainability
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Weak governance is a major threat to sustainable development, especially in rural contexts and within ecosystems of great social and economic value. To understand and compare its arrangement in the grasslands and wetlands of the Colombian Llanos and the Paraguayan Pantanal, we build upon the Institutional and Development Framework (IAD) as we explore the role of political, economic, and social institutions and combine components of the theory of common-pool resources (CPR) and new institutional economics (NIE). This hybrid conceptualization provides a synthesis of how top-down hierarchical and market-based systems of community-based and natural resource management negatively affect sustainable development in both study areas. Our findings suggest three underlying mechanisms causing a situation of weak governance: centralized (economic and political) power, the role of central and local governments, and social exclusion. Understanding these multidimensional contextual mechanisms improves the understanding that institutional structures supporting arrangements that handle grasslands and wetlands in a sustainable way are needed to protect the ecosystem’s social and economic values, especially in rural and marginalized contexts.

ACS Style

Luca Eufemia; Michelle Bonatti; Stefan Sieber; Barbara Schröter; Marcos Lana. Mechanisms of Weak Governance in Grasslands and Wetlands of South America. Sustainability 2020, 12, 7214 .

AMA Style

Luca Eufemia, Michelle Bonatti, Stefan Sieber, Barbara Schröter, Marcos Lana. Mechanisms of Weak Governance in Grasslands and Wetlands of South America. Sustainability. 2020; 12 (17):7214.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Luca Eufemia; Michelle Bonatti; Stefan Sieber; Barbara Schröter; Marcos Lana. 2020. "Mechanisms of Weak Governance in Grasslands and Wetlands of South America." Sustainability 12, no. 17: 7214.

Journal article
Published: 12 August 2020 in Sustainability
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Tanzania is the second-largest producer of rice (Oryza sativa) in Eastern, Central, and Southern Africa after Madagascar. Unfortunately, the sector has been performing poorly due to many constraints, including poor agricultural practices and climate variability. In addressing the challenge, the government is making substantial investments to speed the agriculture transformation into a more modernized, commercial, and highly productive and profitable sector. Our objective was to apply a Monte Carlo simulation approach to assess the economic feasibility of alternative rice farming systems operating in Tanzania while considering risk analysis for decision-makers with different risk preferences to make better management decisions. The rice farming systems in this study comprise rice farms using traditional practices and those using some or all of the recommended system of rice intensification (SRI) practices. The overall results show 2% and zero probability of net cash income (NCI) being negative for partial and full SRI adopters, respectively. Meanwhile, farmers using local and improved seeds have 66% and 60% probability of NCI being negative, correspondingly. Rice farms which applied fertilizers in addition to improved seeds have a 21% probability of negative returns. Additionally, net income for rice farms using local seeds was slightly worthwhile when the transaction made during the harvesting period compared to farms applied improved varieties due to a relatively high price for local seeds. These results help to inform policymakers and agencies promoting food security and eradication of poverty on the benefits of encouraging improved rice farming practices in the country. Despite climate variability, in Tanzania, it is still possible for rice farmers to increase food production and income through the application of improved technologies, particularly SRI management practices, which have shown a promising future.

ACS Style

Ibrahim L. Kadigi; Khamaldin D. Mutabazi; Damas Philip; James W. Richardson; Jean-Claude Bizimana; Winfred Mbungu; Henry F. Mahoo; Stefan Sieber. An Economic Comparison between Alternative Rice Farming Systems in Tanzania Using a Monte Carlo Simulation Approach. Sustainability 2020, 12, 6528 .

AMA Style

Ibrahim L. Kadigi, Khamaldin D. Mutabazi, Damas Philip, James W. Richardson, Jean-Claude Bizimana, Winfred Mbungu, Henry F. Mahoo, Stefan Sieber. An Economic Comparison between Alternative Rice Farming Systems in Tanzania Using a Monte Carlo Simulation Approach. Sustainability. 2020; 12 (16):6528.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Ibrahim L. Kadigi; Khamaldin D. Mutabazi; Damas Philip; James W. Richardson; Jean-Claude Bizimana; Winfred Mbungu; Henry F. Mahoo; Stefan Sieber. 2020. "An Economic Comparison between Alternative Rice Farming Systems in Tanzania Using a Monte Carlo Simulation Approach." Sustainability 12, no. 16: 6528.

Journal article
Published: 30 July 2020 in Sustainability
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Pigeon peas are legumes with a high nutritional value. Existing studies of pigeon peas in Tanzania mainly examine production and marketing, but little has been documented with respect to consumer preferences and the consumption of pigeon peas. This study assesses the preferences surrounding pigeon peas and their consumption as bases for the development of diversified and shelf-stable products for nutrition and income improvement. This study comprised 303 randomly selected farming households. Furthermore, 60 farmers participated in six focus group discussions in the Lindi region. A structured questionnaire and a checklist with guided questions were provided for data collection. The analysis uses SPSS (V.21), with differences between groups established using Kruskal–Wallis and Mann–Whitney tests. The associations were tested using Spearman’s ρ at p < 0.05. The mean pigeon peas consumption during the harvesting and lean seasons was 80 g/person/day and 18 g/person/day, respectively. The frequency of consumption was higher during the harvesting season (92%) than the lean (29%) season. The majority of farmers (91%) preferred to consume the local variety, with 84% of them consuming pigeon peas as stew. Five pigeon pea recipes exist in the area. The farmers identified availability, taste, source of income, and familiarity as the factors determining pigeon pea consumption and preferences. With limited recipes and other barriers limiting consumption, the creation of innovative ideas for the development of diversified and shelf-stable products fitting their consumption preferences is needed.

ACS Style

Zahra Majili; Cornelio Nyaruhucha; Kissa Kulwa; Khamaldin Mutabazi; Constance Rybak; Stefan Sieber. Preferences and Consumption of Pigeon Peas among Rural Households as Determinants for Developing Diversified Products for Sustainable Health. Sustainability 2020, 12, 6130 .

AMA Style

Zahra Majili, Cornelio Nyaruhucha, Kissa Kulwa, Khamaldin Mutabazi, Constance Rybak, Stefan Sieber. Preferences and Consumption of Pigeon Peas among Rural Households as Determinants for Developing Diversified Products for Sustainable Health. Sustainability. 2020; 12 (15):6130.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Zahra Majili; Cornelio Nyaruhucha; Kissa Kulwa; Khamaldin Mutabazi; Constance Rybak; Stefan Sieber. 2020. "Preferences and Consumption of Pigeon Peas among Rural Households as Determinants for Developing Diversified Products for Sustainable Health." Sustainability 12, no. 15: 6130.

Journal article
Published: 20 July 2020 in Agriculture
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Declining soil fertility is one of the major problems facing producers of field crops in most dryland areas of Sub-Saharan Africa. In response to the declining soil fertility, extensive participatory research has been undertaken by the World Agroforestry (ICRAF) and smallholder farmers in Dodoma region, Tanzania. The research has, amongst others, led to the development of Gliricidia agroforestry technology. The positive impact of Gliricidia intercropping on crop yields has been established. However, information on farmers’ willingness and ability to adopt the Gliricidia agroforestry technology on their farms is limited. This study predicts the adoption of Gliricidia agroforestry and conventional mineral fertilizer use technology. Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) were conducted with groups of farmers, purposively selected based on five sets of criteria: (i) at least 2 years of experience in either trying or using Gliricidia agroforestry technology, (ii) at least 1 year of experience in either trying or using the mineral fertilizer technology (iii) at least 10 years of living in the study villages, (iv) the age of 18 years and above, and (v) sex. The Adoption and Diffusion Outcome Prediction Tool (ADOPT) was used to predict the peak adoption levels and the respective time in years. A sensitivity analysis was conducted to assess the effect of change in adoption variables on predicted peak adoption levels and time to peak adoption. The results revealed variations in peak adoption levels with Gliricidia agroforestry technology exhibiting the highest peak of 67.6% in 12 years, and that the most influential variable to the peak adoption is the upfront cost of investing in Gliricidia agroforestry and fertilizer technologies. However, in Gliricidia agroforestry technology most production costs are incurred in the first year of project establishment but impact the long term biophysical and economic benefits. Moreover, farmers practicing agroforestry technology accrue environmental benefits, such as soil erosion control. Based on the results, it is plausible to argue that Gliricidia agroforestry technology has a high adoption potential and its adoption is influenced by investment costs. We recommend two actions to attract smallholder farmers investing in agroforestry technologies. First, enhancing farmers’ access to inputs at affordable prices. Second, raising farmers’ awareness of the long-term environmental benefits of Gliricidia agroforestry technology.

ACS Style

Martha Swamila; Damas Philip; Adam Akyoo; Stefan Sieber; Mateete Bekunda; Anthony Kimaro. Gliricidia Agroforestry Technology Adoption Potential in Selected Dryland Areas of Dodoma Region, Tanzania. Agriculture 2020, 10, 306 .

AMA Style

Martha Swamila, Damas Philip, Adam Akyoo, Stefan Sieber, Mateete Bekunda, Anthony Kimaro. Gliricidia Agroforestry Technology Adoption Potential in Selected Dryland Areas of Dodoma Region, Tanzania. Agriculture. 2020; 10 (7):306.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Martha Swamila; Damas Philip; Adam Akyoo; Stefan Sieber; Mateete Bekunda; Anthony Kimaro. 2020. "Gliricidia Agroforestry Technology Adoption Potential in Selected Dryland Areas of Dodoma Region, Tanzania." Agriculture 10, no. 7: 306.

Review
Published: 15 July 2020 in Sustainability
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Migration, whether triggered by single events, such as violent conflict, or by long term pressures related to environmental change or food insecurity is altering sustainable development in societies. Although there is a large amount of literature, there is a gap for consolidating frameworks of migration-related to the interaction and correlation between drivers. We review scientific papers and research reports about three categories of drivers: Environmental Change (EC), Food Security (FS), and Violent Conflict (VC). First, we organize the literature to understand the explanations of the three drivers on migration individually, as well as the interactions among each other. Secondly, we analyse the literature produced regarding Colombia, Myanmar, and Tanzania; countries with different combinations of the driving factors for migration. Although we find that many correlations are explained in the literature, migration is mostly driven by structural vulnerabilities and unsustainable development paths in places that have a low resilience capacity to cope with risk. For example, food insecurity, as a product of environmental changes (droughts and floods), is seen as a mediating factor detonating violent conflict and migration in vulnerable populations. The paper contributes to the literature about multi-driven migration, presenting an overview of the way in which different driver combinations trigger migration. This is important for determining the best governance mechanisms and policy responses that tackle forced migration and improve the resilience of vulnerable communities as well as sustainable development.

ACS Style

Héctor Morales-Muñoz; Srijna Jha; Michelle Bonatti; Henryk Alff; Sabine Kurtenbach; Stefan Sieber. Exploring Connections—Environmental Change, Food Security and Violence as Drivers of Migration—A Critical Review of Research. Sustainability 2020, 12, 5702 .

AMA Style

Héctor Morales-Muñoz, Srijna Jha, Michelle Bonatti, Henryk Alff, Sabine Kurtenbach, Stefan Sieber. Exploring Connections—Environmental Change, Food Security and Violence as Drivers of Migration—A Critical Review of Research. Sustainability. 2020; 12 (14):5702.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Héctor Morales-Muñoz; Srijna Jha; Michelle Bonatti; Henryk Alff; Sabine Kurtenbach; Stefan Sieber. 2020. "Exploring Connections—Environmental Change, Food Security and Violence as Drivers of Migration—A Critical Review of Research." Sustainability 12, no. 14: 5702.

Journal article
Published: 13 July 2020 in Water
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A water-energy-food (WEF) nexus assessment supports natural resource management by providing an integrated framework for evaluation and decision-making. The participation of a wide range of stakeholders is essential for achieving environmental, economic, and social sustainability in this framework. This analysis supports the decision-making process of the nexus assessment by facilitating dialogue between stakeholders in order to achieve long term efficiencies, especially in rural landscapes where most of the services connected to WEF securities are provided. We identify the most relevant stakeholders operating in the connection between agricultural practices and the WEF nexus to stimulate their engagement in the nexus governance. The study area was the Atlantic Forest Reserve of Ribeirão das Lajes, Brazil. A stakeholder analysis, generating qualitative data using snowball sampling interviews was applied and, after the identification of stakeholders, an analytical categorization disclosing potential conflicts among them was performed. We obtained a pool of stakeholders from different organizational types, including a large number of public entities at local and state levels. The main threat to the development of the project is considered to be the lack of communication between the parties. We note that the prior identification of this group of stakeholders facilitates this communication, enhancing social representation in the area. Outcomes of this study demonstrate the relevance of stakeholder analysis in nexus governance for integrated natural resource management.

ACS Style

Giacomo Melloni; Ana Paula Dias Turetta; Michelle Bonatti; Stefan Sieber. A Stakeholder Analysis for a Water-Energy-Food Nexus Evaluation in an Atlantic Forest Area: Implications for an Integrated Assessment and a Participatory Approach. Water 2020, 12, 1977 .

AMA Style

Giacomo Melloni, Ana Paula Dias Turetta, Michelle Bonatti, Stefan Sieber. A Stakeholder Analysis for a Water-Energy-Food Nexus Evaluation in an Atlantic Forest Area: Implications for an Integrated Assessment and a Participatory Approach. Water. 2020; 12 (7):1977.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Giacomo Melloni; Ana Paula Dias Turetta; Michelle Bonatti; Stefan Sieber. 2020. "A Stakeholder Analysis for a Water-Energy-Food Nexus Evaluation in an Atlantic Forest Area: Implications for an Integrated Assessment and a Participatory Approach." Water 12, no. 7: 1977.

Journal article
Published: 30 April 2020 in Agriculture
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Institutional and policy-induced factors affect farmers’ decisions on the choice of the market to sell their staple foods. This results in low motivation to participate in the production and agricultural commodities’ commercialization. This study determines specific institutional and policy-induced factors affecting the farmers’ decisions regarding the staple food market choice in Tanzania. The study uses household survey data collected from 820 farmers raising staple food crops (maize, rice, sorghum, and millet) randomly selected from the Dodoma and Morogoro regions, Tanzania. The index method, descriptive statistics, and choice model (multinomial logit model) are used for data analysis. Qualitative policy analysis is used for analyzing policy-induced factors. Findings show a low level of integration of farmers into staple food markets, with female-headed households facing more hurdles in accessing markets than male-headed households. Age, formal training, the value of agricultural production, membership in organizations, access to credit, contractual arrangements, and distance to markets are significant factors driving farmers to choose a particular market to sell their produces. Restriction of selling and use of staple food commodities, instability of food policy administration, and procedural operation obstacles are found to be key policy-induced factors affecting the marketing of staple food commodities in Tanzania. The scale of production, as depicted by the value of production, and supply contract arrangement with buyers are important factors to ensure that farming households excel in lucrative markets through increased economies of scale and the ability to reach critical volumes for supplying to various markets. Supporting market linkage and infrastructure, as well as enforcing transparent and non-restrictive food marketing policies, would help many farmers enter into contractual arrangements that increase market access and improve market choices.

ACS Style

Rajabu Joseph Kangile; Charles Peter Mgeni; Zena Theopist Mpenda; Stefan Sieber. The Determinants of Farmers’ Choice of Markets for Staple Food Commodities in Dodoma and Morogoro, Tanzania. Agriculture 2020, 10, 142 .

AMA Style

Rajabu Joseph Kangile, Charles Peter Mgeni, Zena Theopist Mpenda, Stefan Sieber. The Determinants of Farmers’ Choice of Markets for Staple Food Commodities in Dodoma and Morogoro, Tanzania. Agriculture. 2020; 10 (5):142.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Rajabu Joseph Kangile; Charles Peter Mgeni; Zena Theopist Mpenda; Stefan Sieber. 2020. "The Determinants of Farmers’ Choice of Markets for Staple Food Commodities in Dodoma and Morogoro, Tanzania." Agriculture 10, no. 5: 142.

Journal article
Published: 13 March 2020 in Sustainability
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A series of factors affect the social perception of hazards in a rural context. This article analyzes how weather conditions influence farmers’ perceptions of natural hazards. In order to understand the relationship between time of year/season and farmers’ concerns about hazards, this study was undertaken. The methodology was based on surveys done to obtain a base-collection of primary data, as well as a meteorological and production analysis using secondary data. A case study of small coffee farms was carried out in a Brazilian municipality with questionnaires applied during the dry season in 2016 and the rainy season in 2017. The results indicate that drought is the main hazard identified by farmers in both weather seasons. Although there were some changes in perceptions observed, the ranking order of the main hazards did not change over the dry and rainy weather seasons.

ACS Style

Rodrigo Rudge Ramos Ribeiro; Samia Sulaiman; Michelle Bonatti; Stefan Sieber; Marcos Alberto Lana. Perception of Natural Hazards in Rural Areas: A Case Study Examination of the Influence of Seasonal Weather. Sustainability 2020, 12, 2251 .

AMA Style

Rodrigo Rudge Ramos Ribeiro, Samia Sulaiman, Michelle Bonatti, Stefan Sieber, Marcos Alberto Lana. Perception of Natural Hazards in Rural Areas: A Case Study Examination of the Influence of Seasonal Weather. Sustainability. 2020; 12 (6):2251.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Rodrigo Rudge Ramos Ribeiro; Samia Sulaiman; Michelle Bonatti; Stefan Sieber; Marcos Alberto Lana. 2020. "Perception of Natural Hazards in Rural Areas: A Case Study Examination of the Influence of Seasonal Weather." Sustainability 12, no. 6: 2251.

Journal article
Published: 30 January 2020 in Sustainability
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The low agricultural productivity of key crops and food insecurity continue to be key issues in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) and Tanzania. The growing population, depleting resources, and changing climate further amplify these issues. Globally, many agricultural technologies (AgTs) are available as pathways for improved agricultural productivity and food security, however, they have had relatively little success in SSA and Tanzania. This is because the uptake of AgTs is a complex process, which is highly localized, involving multiple actors, stages, and spatial and time dimensions. Smallholder farmers often experience issues of sustainability, constraints for adoption, and scaling-up throughout the uptake process of AgTs, all of which vary by region. This indicates a need for a systematic and simultaneous understanding of sustainability, constraints for adoption, and scaling-up of AgTs to better guide agricultural strategy and policy interventions in SSA and Tanzania. Moreover, in order to understand the local settings better, a consideration of the perceptions of the farmers themselves, who are the primary actors in the uptake process of AgTs, is key. Acknowledging this, the study takes on a case study approach, using the scaling-up assessment (ScalA) method and three focus group discussions with a total of 44 smallholder farmers to systematically and simultaneously assess the sustainability, constraints for adoption, and scaling-up of three AgTs (use of fertilizers, improved seeds, and small-scale irrigation) in Tanzania. The study finds that the farmers perceive all three AgTs to be sustainable for the study region. Adoption rates are perceived to be medium for use of fertilizers, high for improved seeds, and low for small-scale irrigation. The most significant constraints for adoption experienced by the farmers are lack of technical physical inputs, marketing facilities, and know-how. Scaling-up is perceived to be well fulfilled for use of fertilizers and improved seeds, but only partially fulfilled for small-scale irrigation, which is the most limited of the three AgTs. The most significant constraints for scaling-up experienced by farmers are a lack of confidence in the added value of the AgTs beyond project activities, marketing facilities, and technical physical inputs. The overall success potential is high for the use of fertilizers and improved seeds, and the average for small-scale irrigation. The farmers’ perceptions partially indicate why the bundle of AgTs is lacking in the study region and provide a basis for discussing targeted agricultural and policy interventions in Tanzania.

ACS Style

Srijna Jha; Harald Kaechele; Marcos Lana; T.S Amjath-Babu; Stefan Sieber. Exploring Farmers’ Perceptions of Agricultural Technologies: A Case Study from Tanzania. Sustainability 2020, 12, 998 .

AMA Style

Srijna Jha, Harald Kaechele, Marcos Lana, T.S Amjath-Babu, Stefan Sieber. Exploring Farmers’ Perceptions of Agricultural Technologies: A Case Study from Tanzania. Sustainability. 2020; 12 (3):998.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Srijna Jha; Harald Kaechele; Marcos Lana; T.S Amjath-Babu; Stefan Sieber. 2020. "Exploring Farmers’ Perceptions of Agricultural Technologies: A Case Study from Tanzania." Sustainability 12, no. 3: 998.

Journal article
Published: 25 January 2020 in Land
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The 2016 peace agreement between the Government of Colombia and the FARC-EP created institutional space for an effective implementation of needed rural reforms. However, the change of power structures also contains risks, like the deterioration of natural resources and the strengthening of other armed groups. By addressing collective perceptions regarding the Integrated Rural Reform (IRR), this paper shows the consequences of the peace agreement for the rural population in the department of Caquetá. Additionally, it presents the main challenges for further departmental development. The case study approach uses both semi-structured expert interviews of rural development stakeholders in different sectors based on three sampling strands, as well as participatory observation in the field. The main findings show an increase of general physical security and (economic) interest in the department since the signing of the agreement, while the deforestation rate, homicides, and threats against social-environmental leaders were all highly increased. The study also derives recommendations of departmental actors in rural development for a more effective peace implementation process, like the change from cattle driven to a more conservational economy with agri-silviculture and ecotourism, led by local civil society. To create a stable peace, it is crucial that the current government effectively implements the IRR, while also considering departmental perceptions of sustainable development. If the implementation process and departmental recognition is not enforced sufficiently, then peace might only be possible at the cost of the Amazon and its nature.

ACS Style

Maximilian Graser; Michelle Bonatti; Luca Eufemia; Héctor Morales; Marcos Lana; Katharina Löhr; Stefan Sieber. Peacebuilding in Rural Colombia—A Collective Perception of the Integrated Rural Reform (IRR) in the Department of Caquetá (Amazon). Land 2020, 9, 36 .

AMA Style

Maximilian Graser, Michelle Bonatti, Luca Eufemia, Héctor Morales, Marcos Lana, Katharina Löhr, Stefan Sieber. Peacebuilding in Rural Colombia—A Collective Perception of the Integrated Rural Reform (IRR) in the Department of Caquetá (Amazon). Land. 2020; 9 (2):36.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Maximilian Graser; Michelle Bonatti; Luca Eufemia; Héctor Morales; Marcos Lana; Katharina Löhr; Stefan Sieber. 2020. "Peacebuilding in Rural Colombia—A Collective Perception of the Integrated Rural Reform (IRR) in the Department of Caquetá (Amazon)." Land 9, no. 2: 36.

Journal article
Published: 13 December 2019 in Water
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In Tanzania, the increasing population coupled with climate change amplifies issues of food insecurity and negatively impacts the livelihoods of smallholder farmer households. To address these issues a range of water conservation techniques (WCTs) have been useful. However, the adoption of these WCTs in Tanzania has been limited due to many reasons. With the objective to better understand and identify the factors that significantly influence the adoption of WCTs in Tanzania, the study uses survey data from 701 smallholder farmer households and a bivariate logistic regression, to provide, for the first time, a comprehensive model for the adoption of WCTs in Tanzania that includes a range of individual, household, socio-economic, and farmer perception related variables (factors). The evaluation shows that 120 farmers (17.12%) adopted WCTs and finds the farmer perceptions of rainfall instability, household wealth, and food security to be crucial. The results suggest that policy interventions should encourage conservation behavior (especially when the rainfall is perceived to be uncertain), emphasize the economic and food security-related benefits of adopting WCTs, include strategies that make adoption of WCTs attractive to female-led households, attempt to reach greater number of farmers via social networks and provide better access to public funds for farmers.

ACS Style

Srijna Jha; Harald Kaechele; Stefan Sieber. Factors Influencing the Adoption of Water Conservation Technologies by Smallholder Farmer Households in Tanzania. Water 2019, 11, 2640 .

AMA Style

Srijna Jha, Harald Kaechele, Stefan Sieber. Factors Influencing the Adoption of Water Conservation Technologies by Smallholder Farmer Households in Tanzania. Water. 2019; 11 (12):2640.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Srijna Jha; Harald Kaechele; Stefan Sieber. 2019. "Factors Influencing the Adoption of Water Conservation Technologies by Smallholder Farmer Households in Tanzania." Water 11, no. 12: 2640.

Journal article
Published: 07 November 2019 in Sustainability
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Collaboration between researchers and society is essential when addressing challenging 21st Century questions. Such collaboration often comprises international, inter- and trans-disciplinary teams, as well as temporal constraints, resulting in inherently complex research projects. Although practitioners increasingly appreciate the value of bottom-up approaches, operational details are often overlooked. Further knowledge is necessary, especially about what might endanger project success. Using a food security project, this paper analyzes conflict experiences and prevention strategies between project members and local stakeholders through personal interviews and focus group discussions. Data for this case study was collected in four Tanzanian villages. This paper identifies multiple conflict drivers, including missing information transfers; diverging expectations; overlaps of field activities with seasonal farming activities; and obscure participant selection. Identified conflict prevention strategies include developing trust, reducing language barriers, and involving locals. Research practitioners, institutes, and hegemonic actors are responsible for ensuring that projects will not worsen the entered situation and negatively affect the community, adhering to the “do no harm” principle; therefore, it is vital to be aware and seek to improve international and collaborative research projects that actively involve local stakeholders. This paper supports the understanding of interacting with local communities in a food security context to support the development of innovative collaboration approaches and methods. Through collaboration, it is possible to find sustainable solutions to pressing issues.

ACS Style

Juliane Schütt; Katharina Löhr; Michelle Bonatti; Stefan Sieber. Conflict Causes and Prevention Strategies at the Society-Science Nexus in Transdisciplinary Collaborative Research Settings: A Case Study of a Food Security Project in Tanzania. Sustainability 2019, 11, 6239 .

AMA Style

Juliane Schütt, Katharina Löhr, Michelle Bonatti, Stefan Sieber. Conflict Causes and Prevention Strategies at the Society-Science Nexus in Transdisciplinary Collaborative Research Settings: A Case Study of a Food Security Project in Tanzania. Sustainability. 2019; 11 (22):6239.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Juliane Schütt; Katharina Löhr; Michelle Bonatti; Stefan Sieber. 2019. "Conflict Causes and Prevention Strategies at the Society-Science Nexus in Transdisciplinary Collaborative Research Settings: A Case Study of a Food Security Project in Tanzania." Sustainability 11, no. 22: 6239.

Journal article
Published: 21 October 2019 in Environmental Impact Assessment Review
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Development projects and innovations are often implemented based on scientific recommendations and do not incorporate local knowledge and demand for interventions. In this paper, we demonstrate the successful engagement of local stakeholders in the implementation and evaluation process of improved cooking stoves; a technology that improves food security in two climatically contrasting regions in Tanzania. The Framework for Participatory Impact Assessment tool was used to conduct impact assessments on firewood-based improved cooking stoves to evaluate their contribution to food security at local stakeholder level. Between 2014 and 2017, four annual impact assessments were conducted with local stakeholders in four villages in the semi-arid Dodoma and the sub-humid Morogoro regions to assess the impact of improved cooking stoves on locally defined nine food security criteria. The Framework for Participatory Impact Assessment was used to (i) ex-ante identify the expected impact, and (ii) to ex-post assess the experienced impact of improved cooking stoves on the nine food security criteria. The impact assessments showed that the perceived contribution of improved cooking stoves towards the food security criteria was positive throughout all assessments. In particular, improved cooking stoves addressed relevant food security criteria such as social relations, food availability, and market participation. The Framework for Participatory Impact Assessment tool supported continuous knowledge exchange between scientists and local stakeholders, thus improving communication and co-learning; while identifying merits and demerits of the improved cooking stoves that could be addressed during the project lifetime.

ACS Style

Johannes Michael Hafner; Elena Magenau; Götz Uckert; Stefan Sieber; Frieder Graef; Hannes Jochen König. Four years of sustainability impact assessments accompanying the implementation of improved cooking stoves in Tanzania. Environmental Impact Assessment Review 2019, 80, 106307 .

AMA Style

Johannes Michael Hafner, Elena Magenau, Götz Uckert, Stefan Sieber, Frieder Graef, Hannes Jochen König. Four years of sustainability impact assessments accompanying the implementation of improved cooking stoves in Tanzania. Environmental Impact Assessment Review. 2019; 80 ():106307.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Johannes Michael Hafner; Elena Magenau; Götz Uckert; Stefan Sieber; Frieder Graef; Hannes Jochen König. 2019. "Four years of sustainability impact assessments accompanying the implementation of improved cooking stoves in Tanzania." Environmental Impact Assessment Review 80, no. : 106307.

Journal article
Published: 20 September 2019 in Sustainability
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The megadiverse biome of the Paraguayan Pantanal is in danger due to the expansion of cattle ranching and agricultural frontiers that threaten not only the fragile equilibrium of natural resources, but also that of local governance and cultural identities. As a consequence, weak governance stresses the relations between natural resource-dependent communities, generating socio-environmental conflicts. This perception study seeks to find community-based governance models for sustainability in the context of Paraguayan wetlands. According to the organizational principles of community-based natural resource management (CBNRM), we applied qualitative approaches with the use of the Governance Analytical Framework (GAF) to identify problems and social norms. Our findings suggest that the Yshiro indigenous self-organized group (Unión de las Comunidades Indígenas de la Nación Yshiro (UCINY)) can be considered as a model for community-based governance. Besides, we discovered that this specific governance model is highly threatened by the impact of the national neo-extractive economy.

ACS Style

Luca Eufemia; Izabela Schlindwein; Michelle Bonatti; Sabeth Tara Bayer; Stefan Sieber. Community-Based Governance and Sustainability in the Paraguayan Pantanal. Sustainability 2019, 11, 5158 .

AMA Style

Luca Eufemia, Izabela Schlindwein, Michelle Bonatti, Sabeth Tara Bayer, Stefan Sieber. Community-Based Governance and Sustainability in the Paraguayan Pantanal. Sustainability. 2019; 11 (19):5158.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Luca Eufemia; Izabela Schlindwein; Michelle Bonatti; Sabeth Tara Bayer; Stefan Sieber. 2019. "Community-Based Governance and Sustainability in the Paraguayan Pantanal." Sustainability 11, no. 19: 5158.

Journal article
Published: 09 September 2019 in Social Sciences
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Increasingly, the developmental model of anthropic and extractive interventions is a global concern. Its impacts are challenging not only the precarious equilibrium of natural resources but also the one of local communities and identities. The case of the Colombian Llanos shows how the local culture of the Cultura Llanera (CL) is deep-rooted with natural resources, their use and their management. Throughout the use of a survey based on the Governance Analytical Framework (GAF), this paper presents and discusses shared problems and social norms. The collective perception of local groups shows that the CL, in particular traditional livestock practices in flooded savannahs, is a key element for the sustainable development of the region. Furthermore, it reveals that agricultural and extractive activities, primarily rice and oil, are considered the main threats to both the ecosystem and the protection of the CL.

ACS Style

Luca Eufemia; Hector Morales; Michelle Bonatti; Maximilian Graser; Marcos Lana; Stefan Sieber. Collective Perception of Anthropic and Extractive Interventions in the Colombian Llanos. Social Sciences 2019, 8, 259 .

AMA Style

Luca Eufemia, Hector Morales, Michelle Bonatti, Maximilian Graser, Marcos Lana, Stefan Sieber. Collective Perception of Anthropic and Extractive Interventions in the Colombian Llanos. Social Sciences. 2019; 8 (9):259.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Luca Eufemia; Hector Morales; Michelle Bonatti; Maximilian Graser; Marcos Lana; Stefan Sieber. 2019. "Collective Perception of Anthropic and Extractive Interventions in the Colombian Llanos." Social Sciences 8, no. 9: 259.