Suchergebnisse

Since the 1979 World Conference on Agrarian Reform and Rural Development (WCARRD) and the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment Development, international agricultural development organizations have been urged to strengthen their focus toward the sustainable development of the small-scale, resource poor farmer. A recent report from the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations (FAO, 1996) indicated that many small-scale farmers were not being reached by agricultural extension, although approximately 75% of the worlds' farmers are small-scale, resource poor farmers. The report suggested that in some instances agricultural extension services reported reaching one out of three farmers in Africa. In other areas such as the Near East, the report stated that one out of seven farmers had been reached by the extension services. This study investigated the small-scale, resource poor farmer's ongoing level of participation, rate of adoption of agricultural technology, and the sustainable benefits of the implemented projects within the documents of several international agricultural development organizations to determine if the farmers can positively impact the forecasted food shortage expected during the early part of the 21st Century. To accomplish this, the methodology utilized the Light and Pillemer (1984) method of exploratory literature review. The Light and Pillemer method provided the foundation for data collection as well as numerical and narrative document analysis. Data collection: Eleven key governmental and non-governmental international agricultural development organizations were contacted by the researcher and supplied the following types of documents: (1) unpublished completed projects reports, (2) unpublished annual reports, and (3) published news reports. A planned systematic investigation of the documents was carried out (Girden, 1996). Numerical and Narrative Document Analysis: Both numerical and narrative data were collected from the documents. The Light and Pillemer (1984) method was used to determine the level of overall project change in those documents which provided numerical or quantitative data. Meta ethnography and the QSR NUD.ist computer software (Qualitative Solutions and Research Pty. Ltd., 1996) were used to investigate themes and characteristics of the narrative data within the documents. The findings of the study were placed in matrices which provided a systematic examination of the characteristics of the implemented projects of 51 international agricultural development organizations located within 38 developing countries. The narrative document analysis indicated the participation of the smal-lscale, resource poor farmers. The characteristic indicators of farmer participation were farmer participation in: farmers groups, select groups, community development, and in capacity building methods such as training, leadership development, and planning and decision making. The findings of the study suggest that though many international agricultural development organizations claim that they are making some progress there remains a grave need for international agricultural research and extension to provide more documentation of project outcomes especially those outcome which are concerned with more than 75% of the worlds' farmers, the small-scale, resource poor farmer. For example, of the studys 51 projects, only six reported small-scale, resource poor farmers participation percentage. Seven projects reported numerical data on before and after rate of adoption of the technology. Sixteen of the 51 projects reported numerical data on sustainable benefits of the project to the small-scale, resource poor farmer. Only one document reported data on both the adoption of technology and sustainable benefits to the small-scale, resource poor farmer. However, in light of the world impacting Plan of Actions (i.e. 1979 World Conference on Agrarian Reform and Rural Development held in Rome, Italy; 1991 Plan of Action for Peoples Participation report of the Twenty-sixth Session held in Rome, Italy; 1992 Agenda 21 document a product of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development held in Brazil; and the 1996 Plan of Action for Global Partnership in Agricultural Research held in Washington, D.C.) all of the documents should have indicated this type of essential data, and should be striving for a development which would be both productive and sustainable to the farmer. The results of this study suggested that the impending need for improved global food production as we move into the 21st century through the more than one million small-scale, resource poor farmer participants within the projects of this study may not be met due to the low amount of evidence in the implemented project reports of adoption of the technology, and the inadequate reporting of benefits essential to the small-scale, resource poor farmer. ; Ph. D.

Objectives. We sought to gauge the relative attention that tobacco control receives in military newspapers by comparing coverage of tobacco use with that of other health topics of importance to the military.

Abstract Background Cigarette prices at military exchanges historically have been discounted. DoD Instruction 1330.9 has mandated that prices be within 5% of the price offered in the local community since 2001. Because minorities are highly represented in the military, we determined whether menthol cigarette prices, the leading choice of African Americans, were compliant with the instruction. Methods We collected, via telephone, menthol cigarette price data from 48 randomly selected US military installation exchanges and matched local area Walmarts. We collected prices after taxes to determine the cost to consumer. Newport was selected as the index brand for menthol cigarettes because it is the leading and second leading brand smoked by African Americans and by Hispanics, respectively and has the second overall highest market share in the US. Results Smokers purchasing menthols at exchanges would realize average savings of 22.78%. There were no significant differences in savings based on military service (F = 1.850, p = 0.152) or US Census Division (F = 1.226, p = 0.311: data not shown). In addition, not a single exchange price was compliant with the DoD instruction. Conclusions Newport menthol cigarettes at military exchanges cost substantially less than the nearest Walmart, with an average savings of 23%. Our findings demonstrate that menthol cigarettes are substantially discounted on military installations, in a manner similar to other cigarette prices, and that DoD Instruction 1330.09 is not enforced.

Background. Despite the implementation of a host of tobacco control initiatives, tobacco use among active duty members of the U.S. Military remains high. It has been suggested that a positive culture of tobacco, which drives consumption, exists in the military. However, little is know about factors that impact tobacco use among military personnel. Objective. This study provides the first formative data on the culture of tobacco in the U.S. Military. Methods. A total of 15 focus groups on six military installations were conducted (n = 189). These military installations were located throughout the continental United States and were of average size for each service. Results. Participants suggested that the primary method the military uses to discourage use is tobacco bans. Unfortunately, they also believed that the military accommodates tobacco use so that smoking remains convenient despite the bans on tobacco use. Smoking was believed to be encouraged through liberal smoking breaks, social interaction within designated smoking areas, and cheap and convenient tobacco products sold on military installations. Additionally, smoking was seen as an effective method to combat the stress and boredom of military life and to avoid weight gain. Conclusions. Suggestions for addressing the culture of tobacco are suggested.