Sustainable Agricultural Development : Recent Approaches in Resources Management and Environmentally -Balanced Production Enhancement

Due to many challenges (i.e. climate change, energy, water and land shortage, high demands on food, land grabbing, etc.), agriculture production potential is expected to be seriously affected; thus, increasing food insecurity and hunger in many already affected regions (especially in Africa). In this context, sustainable agriculture is highly recommended as an eco-system approach where soil, water, plants, environment and living organisms live in harmony. Innovative technologies and research should be developed to ensure sustainable agriculture and productivity using modern irrigation systems, improved varieties, improved soil quality, etc. In the meantime, the preservation of natural environment should be based on resource conservation technologies and best management practices. __Sustainable Agricultural Development__, not only raises the serious ethical and social issues underlying these huge environmental problems, but also aims at presenting successful experiences from all over the world in relation with sustainable farming, sustainable management of water and land resources, and innovative processes in livestock production. It also aims at providing inputs to decision making processes and encouraging the transfer of relevant know-how, technologies and expertise to different countries where similar agro-climatic conditions may exist; thus saving precious resources and promoting sustainable agricultural development as a relevant approach to tackle the food security challenge. Finally, this book focuses on the paradigmatic and policy dimensions and call for an innovative approach by analyzing the key themes in a complex and interrelated manner. Front Matter....Pages 1-1 Front Matter....Pages 1-1 Land Resource Governance from a Sustainability and Rural Development Perspective....Pages 3-23 Land Grabbing and Potential Implications for World Food Security....Pages 25-42 Turning Adversity into an Advantage for Food Security Through Improving Soil Quality and Providing Production Systems for Marginal Saline Lands: ICBA Perspectives and Approach....Pages 43-67 Development of New Technological Approach to Mitigate Salinization....Pages 69-80 Reforestation—Quality Improvement of Contaminated Mining Soil....Pages 81-97 A Policy Framework for Sustainable Utilisation of Farmland for the Waterberg District Municipality in South Africa....Pages 99-114 The Zooecological Remediation of Technogen Faulted Soil in the Industrial Region of the Ukraine Steppe Zone....Pages 115-123 Transcultural Gardens—A Proposal for Exploitation of Urban Voids as Intensively Productive Land and as a Method of Urbanization of Minorities: Case Studies Demonstrating Design Tools and Managing Methodology....Pages 125-136 Front Matter....Pages 137-137 Sustainable Rural Development and Participatory Approach by On-Farm Water Management Techniques....Pages 139-146 Sustainable Water Management for Irrigated Rice Production....Pages 147-155 Reduction of Water Losses by Use of Alternative Irrigation Techniques in the Aral Sea Drainage Basin....Pages 157-168 Front Matter....Pages 169-169 Use of Surface Modified Inorganic Nano Materials as Slow Release Nitrogen Fertilizer....Pages 171-184 Organic Fertilizer Use in Northeastern Thailand: An Analysis of Some Factors Affecting Farmers’ Attitudes....Pages 185-196 Imitating Nature to Enrich Waste with New Values and Use It as a New Resource....Pages 197-211 Front Matter....Pages 213-213 Farm Animal Breeding—The Implications of Existing and New Technologies....Pages 215-223 Animal Husbandry in Focus of Sustainability....Pages 225-233 Effect of Urea-Treated Sorghum Stover Supplemented with Local Protein Sources on the Performance of Sheep....Pages 235-243 Evaluation of Spineless Cactus ( Opuntia ficus-indicus ) as an Alternative Feed and Water Source for Animals During Dry Season in Eritrea....Pages 245-252 Comparative Feeding Value of Halophyte as Alternative Animal Feed for Small Ruminants in Eritrea....Pages 253-260 The Effect of Feeding Ensilages of Poultry Litter with Leftover Bread on the Body Weight of Barka Cattle....Pages 261-268 Back Matter....Pages 257-257 Annotation. Due to many challenges (i.e. climate change, energy, water and land shortage, high demands on food, land grabbing, etc.), agriculture production potential is expected to be seriously affected; thus, increasing food insecurity and hunger in many already affected regions (especially in Africa). & Acirc; & nbsp; In this context, sustainable agriculture is highly recommended as an eco-system approach where soil, water, plants, environment and living organisms live in harmony. & Acirc; & nbsp; Innovative technologies and research should be developed to ensure sustainable agriculture and productivity using modern irrigation systems, improved varieties, improved soil quality, etc. & Acirc; & nbsp; & Acirc; & nbsp; In the meantime, the preservation of natural environment should be based on resource conservation technologies and best management practices. & Acirc; & nbsp;Sustainable Agricultural Development, not only raises the serious ethical and social issues underlying these huge environmental problems, but also aims at presenting successful experiences from all over the world in relation with sustainable farming, sustainable management of water and land resources, and innovative processes in livestock production. & Acirc; & nbsp; It also aims at providing inputs to decision making processes and encouraging the transfer of relevant know-how, technologies and expertise to different countries where similar agro-climatic conditions may exist; thus saving precious resources and promoting sustainable agricultural development as a relevant approach to tackle the food security challenge. & Acirc; & nbsp;Finally, this book focuses on the paradigmatic and policy dimensions and call for an innovative approach by analyzing the key themes in a complex and interrelated manner This book examines ethical and social issues of agriculture in a changing world, describes successful sustainable farming, water and land resource management and innovative livestock production from around the world, and discusses new paradigms and policies.