Sustainable agriculture 1
Executive Summary: 3
Introduction 4
Goals and Objectives 5
Method Used 6
Key Trends: 6
Economic Trend 6
Culture and Social Trend 7
General Trends 8
Ecological Trend: 8
Agriculture 9
Data Analysis 9
Questionnaire Analysis: 10
Interview: 11
Focus Group Interview: 12
Data on Birds: 13
Recommendations 14
Limitations 15
References 16
Appendix: 17
Redberry Lake Biosphere Region has a historical background in terms of providing a place to live for migrating birds as well as offering the people of the area with preservation, facility building and sustainable growth. The RLBR is profiting from ventures related to economic development, preservation and facility building achieved local, district, provincial, country wide and global recognition via these projects and sharing of information. This lures common people, business developers and investigators to this area. There has been decreasing trend in the agricultural sector of the industry that is alarming. There has been a change in the technology and methods of farming with people utilizing technology to harvest crops. However, after analyzing these trends, it can be said that the ongoing trends are moving away from goals of creating an ecologically, economically and social sustainable agricultural system. After the analysis of primary and secondary data, some suggestions have been recommended in order to achieve the goal. There has been movements in and out of the vicinity. These outgoing people should be given inspiration to stay and work in the area. The evolution of agricultural production on larger industrial scale has caused problems for small family farmers of RLBR. There should be legislation done by the government to protect small farmers through subsidies and other grants so that they can fight against larger farms. People working in the agriculture industry should be motivated to work jointly so that they can pool together the resources of all to produce goods for themselves. By acting of these recommendations, the goal of creating an ecologically, economically and social sustainable agricultural system can be achieved.
Introduction:
Redberry Lake is the main area present in the heart of Redberry Lake Biosphere reserve. The lake has been given this name due to red berries growing there. The history of the lake as a protected area dates back to 1915 when it was regarded on the federal level as a place where migratory birds can take refuge (RLBR, 2014). This natural reserve offers a place to live for more than 180 bird’s species containing species like Whooping crane (Prairie, 2010). This place gained worldwide repute and because of its association with birds and nature, Redberry Lake became a significant birds’ area. Legislatures from the native municipal and others established Redberry Pelican Project foundation for Canada. In the early 2000, eleven years after its foundation the whole Redberry Lake acknowledged title of World Biosphere reserve (RLBR, 2014).
Figure 1: White American Pelican Source :( RLBR, 2014)
The focus of different activities going on in Redberry Lake Biosphere Reserve remains on preservation, facility building and sustainable growth. In a more precise manner, these events fall into jurisdiction of regional and local planning and expansion, economic development, expansion of native nature, heritage, district distinctiveness, culture transformation, research and development, transfer of information, allocation besides networking. All of this undertakings are carried out by the cooperation and partnerships of local, district, provincial, state and global partners. The RLBR (Redberry Lake Biosphere Reserve) and region profiting from ventures related to economic development, preservation and facility building achieved local, district, provincial, country wide and global recognition via these projects and sharing of information. This lures common people, business developers and investigators to this area. The services are provided on the basis of the fee associated with costs for equipment, materials and other assistance (RLBR, 2014).
Goals and Objectives:
- Current trends being followed in the Redberry Lake Biosphere Region.
- Overall purpose of creating an ecologically, economically and social sustainable agricultural system.
Method Used:
Mixed research methods used in this study as it integrates both qualitative and quantitative research methods. It integrates the techniques crossed among both strategies. The results from the both qualitative and quantitative data should be jointly enlightening the conclusion (Bryman, 2006). In management amalgamation of methods and data is known as triangulation, used in order to validate the opinion that come up after study (Olsen, 2004). Triangulation approach was used in the research because it permitted to boast confidence on the finding using multiple techniques (Webb et al., 1966). Researchers were unable to formulate a more conclusive and validated conclusion without using triangulate approach (Scandura & Williams, 2000). Logical reasoning in the wake of triangulation research methodology used in the study was to provide more realistic conclusion for the agricultural system of RLBR. It will also remove the limitation of dependence only on qualitative methods. Storey et al. (2002) conducted study on impact of flexible employment contracts on innovations via triangulation methodology (surveys and case studies). Truss (2001) adopted triangulation methodology to overcome the limitation of reliance on quantitative methods and hence unable to surface the organizational insights that were in contrast with company public information.
Key Trends:
Some of the key trends in Redberry Lake Biosphere are as follows:
Economic Trend:
The residents living in Redberry Lake region constitutes of total 3,495 people (Prairie, 2010). Among them, about 67% constitutes the labor force (Prairie, 2010). More than 90% of the people in the labor force are on jobs (Prairie, 2010). The unemployment rate in the vicinity is very much similar to that of Saskatchewan and is about 5.1% (Prairie, 2010). About 47% of the people in labor force employed at homes whereas 48.8% of them employed at permanent sites (Prairie, 2010). Very small of the labor force worked in another province which depicts that people prefer to work near to their houses (Prairie, 2010). The table below depicts the number of workforces employed in different industry sector. It can be seen that agriculture sector is the most preferred destination for people to work (Prairie, 2010).
The evacuation of people from the area has impacted all the communities’ part of Redberry Lake Biosphere Reserve. One the main reason for this depopulation is the growth of the agricultural sector in Saskatchewan because of larger farms which rely more on technology and other inputs to labor that land. This show a change in trend more small family farms to larger industrial level farms that endures more financial threat and need more rigorous utilization of land to generate higher productions. This trend has made it difficult for small family farmers to survive unless the time when small family farmers would be so much undone by the debt taken to carry out agricultural operation in their farms and subsequently sold their agricultural land. This has also contributed towards the evacuation of people from RLBR (IEG, 2002).
General Trends
It has been observed that in the last few years there has been a decline in the population within the Redberry Lake Biosphere vicinity. Though, with the expansion in province and development of communities in the nearby cities the area of RBLR has begun to experience development again both in its commercial and residential areas. Although, there has been a decline in the percentage of people associated with agriculture, still a huge part of residents contribute in agriculture sector for its living. There has been a change in the technology and methods of farming with people utilizing technology to harvest those crops which can generate more outcome. There has been a shift in way people see food and production. With the change in environment, there has been a shift in inhabitants approach. Now, residents try to fully utilize the available limited resources for development purposes. Tourism is thought to a new increasing trend in the economy of the area. Hence, after analyzing these trends, it can be said that the ongoing trends are moving away from goals of creating an ecologically, economically and social sustainable agricultural system. (Prairie, 2010).
Ecological Trend:
The major ecosystem in Redberry Lake Biosphere Reserve is comprised of saline lake and moderate grassland. It is located on 520 42/: 1070 10/W from center of earth (UNESCO, 2014). RBLR is located on about 533 meters from sea level (UNESCO, 2014). The central area of the region is comprised on many islands with dissolved salt of about 2.5% (UNESCO, 2014). Apart from that, there exists rare minor patches of natural savannah in this extremely cultivated part of grassland. Some of most important habitats of this area include grasses like wheat, fescue, oat, sedges, whereas aspen-shrub jungle contains aspen along with numerous shrubs. Redberry Lake Biosphere Reserve offers habitat for nine rare and endangered and 180 other species (UNESCO, 2014).
Agriculture:
It is the most important industry in terms of employment in the Redberry Lake region. There has been some shifts in the practices being followed in the agricultural industry. The table below shows the communities present in Redberry Lake region with respect to different types of crops grown in them (Prairie, 2010).
The data has been gathered both through quantitative and qualitative methods. The questionnaire was designed in to gather the quantitative data whereas focus group interviews and random interviews were conducted to collect qualitative data. The detail analysis of data is given below:
Questionnaire Analysis:
A questionnaire was designed in which different kinds of questions were asked from the community members. Here is the analysis of the questionnaire. About 60% of the respondents informed that they were the residents of that community whereas rest of the respondents were from outside. About 35% of the respondents did not answer the question regarding their activity in labor force which is not a good sign. 100% of the respondents were happy with the community life which depict that they are getting every essential facility of life in the community. 30% of the respondents belonged to the each age group of 15-34 and 55-74, whereas 20% were in the range of 35-54. When asked about the labor market activity, the responses were not encouraging. 40% of the respondents did not answer this questions, whereas the rest of the answers were very scattered along different sectors of the industry. May be with large sample size, the exact trend of the market with respect to labor could be evaluated correctly. The responses for question about main source of income collected a well spread graph as shown in the Appendix. There was no single sector of industry whom respondents had favored. 20% of the respondents were earning from pension where as 10% each from bar, farming and trade.60% of the respondents did not grow GMO or organic crops in their farms, whereas only 10% informed that they had experienced with these crops. 30% did not answer the question. However, as revealed that most the respondents were not directly involved in farming activities, it can be said that there exist a reporting bias. Therefore, sample size would have to increase in order to represent true picture of agriculture sector in Redberry Lake Region.
After analyzing the questionnaire, it can be seen that the trends are not encouraging for a sustainable agricultural system. The participation of people in other sectors equally highlights the fact that agriculture and farming are no longer considered as the community’s favorite job sector. The changes in social trend from small family farms to large industrialized farms has made it difficult for small farmers to survive and compete. This has also contributed its part in these changing behaviors. People are not even aware of GMO and organic crops that shows that a lot of awareness and training is required for educating small farmers about the latest trends in farming.
Interview:
In order to cover the issues highlighted in the questionnaire analysis, interviews are conducted in order to have exact picture of the agriculture trends and practices being followed by the farmers. Here is the analysis of those interviews. All of the interviewee are living in the area for quite some time and has been working in farms to earn their living. However, none of them can ensure that they would pass their farm to next generation which depict that the trend towards agriculture is changing in the area. Farming is not the only source of income for the people as they are involved in other businesses too and none of them own big area of land for farming. They prefer to work on their own in the farms to reduce cost. None of them are either growing GMO crops or practicing organic farming which depict that they are not aware of latest practices in farming. They do not like to use chemicals on their crops and hardly spend on crops protection. Another astonishing fact revealed by them is that they are farming in the same style in which they did the very first time, nothing has changed unless required because of debt. Weather and high inputs are considered to be their only challenges while farming crops and do not expect them to be solved in years ahead. Lastly, every one of them are happy with their lifestyle and hope that they will be able to live with the same lifestyle even with the changing trends going on in the surroundings.
The results obtained from the interviews show that people who are involved in farming for long time do not think it as a viable option in future. There are a lot factors responsible for that like the rising costs, decreasing income and water supply. People are harvesting crops with old methods and try to do most of the work by themselves to control costs of hiring people. None of them are either growing GMO crops or practicing organic farming which depict that they are not aware of latest practices in farming. Still, they are all happy with the current lifestyle. The social, economic and agricultural and ecological trends do not favor ecologically, economically and social sustainable agricultural system in RLBR.
Focus Group Interview:
A focus group interview was conducted from the community of Hafford for the research purpose. According to members, farming has become more risky in the area because of high operational and land costs, low prices for produced goods in the market. However, risks can be reduced by better management of agricultural land during the farming season. On recent trend of agriculture becoming industrialized, the members has a view that it is not good for small family farmers and because of it many farmers have lost their lands. There has not been enough support for small family farmers from the municipal or state level. There should be fair treatment with small farmers and they should be supported to stand on their own feet. In order to managing debt, farmers are working on other jobs too because in order to get loan they need to have sound balance of payment. The community wants a separate reservoir of water for farming and drinking purpose because at present it is using a same water for both purposes which is not good for health purposes. The system needs to be changed in line with the latest trends and technologies. Overall, farmers believe that it has become very difficult ethically to farm industrially.
Focus group interview has further explained the underline reasons for decreasing in agricultural activities in RLBR. Small farmers cannot afford to take financial risks associated with farming activities. The unequal treatment with small farmers, industrialization, weather and water supply issues have make it impossible to create an ecologically, economically and social sustainable agricultural system. The changes in social, economic and ecological trends has forced small farmers to invest in agriculture. Even the younger generation do not want to involve in this business sector. Quick actions are required in this regard from the municipal and state authorities, otherwise the future of agriculture in RLBR is in danger.
Data on Birds:
In order to determine what kind of species lived in the area of Redberry Lake Range, three areas and in those respected areas three different points were selected. The first one was Cultural Meadow. After observations, it was found that clay-colored sparrow (also present in Grassland), savannah sparrow, snow geese (also present in Grassland), snow geese (juvenile) and Canadian geese (also present in Grassland) were present in that area. In case of Aspen Woodland, it was observed that Grey-cheeked thrush, Chickadee (also present in Grassland), Whip-poo will, Whooping crane, Boreal chickadee, American while pelican and Raven (also present in Grassland) present in that area. In the Grassland area, it was observed that northern harrier and falcon lived in that habitat apart from some others which were also found in other two areas of Redberry Lake Region. In data collected from non-agricultural wet land, it has been observed that the non-agricultural wet land can be used for the agricultural purposes after some work been done of the land. The farmers however, do not have enough funds to do that. The government has to help the farmers by offering funds so that non used land can also be used for agriculture purpose.
Recommendations:
After the complete analysis of the information gathered through primary and secondary data, it can be said that the current available information gives a picture of Redberry Lake Biosphere Reserve’s agricultural system. It can be said that RLBR, at the moment, is moving away from the sustainability target because of the underlying issues highlighted in the report above. Therefore, in order for RLBR to move towards creation of ecologically, economically and social sustainable agricultural system following recommendations are given. By acting upon them would help to transform the current agricultural system present in the RLBR.
- There has been movements in and out of the vicinity. Most of the new born children are moving out of the area which has been one of the reason for decrease in population. These outgoing people should be given inspiration to stay and work in the area.
- There has been more discussion about the development of the big cities but nobody is talking about the need to develop areas like Redberry Lake region. The people in that vicinity has a lot to offer to the province and to the state. Therefore, there should be proper funds allocated for the development of areas like this so that people do not think about leaving such areas.
- The evolution of agricultural production on larger industrial scale has caused problems for small family farmers of RLBR. There should be legislation done by the government to protect small farmers through subsidies and other grants so that they can fight against larger farms.
- People working in the agriculture industry should be motivated to work jointly so that they can pool together the resources of all to produce goods for themselves. Healthy competition should be encouraged.
- There has been a need to upgrade the transportation facilities in the area so that people can transport agricultural goods to sell in other areas more quickly. For that purpose, rail and road channels should be developed
- There has been a lot of people in the Redberry Lake region who have vast experience in the agricultural sector. There should be some channel through which they have the money to develop those lands for agriculture which are not in use at the moment.
- There exist a strong prospect for profitable business linked with agriculture sector for which credit should be given to the hard working farmers of the area who have preserved that habitat.
Limitations:
- Reporting bias on part of respondents.
- Another limitation is of time due to which large sample size could not be collected.
- Study only depicted the majority of the responses were from a certain age bracket consumers which might not represent a complete picture of whole community.
- More information on agriculture latest trends can help in better understanding of the training methods required for small farm farmers.
References:
Bryman, A., 2006. Integrating quantitative and qualitative research: how is it done? Qualitative research, pp.97-113
IEG. (2002). Redberry Lake Biosphere Reserve Cooperation Plan. Northwest Territories: Inuvialuit Environmental & Geotechnical Inc.
Olsen, W., 2004. Triangulation in social research: qualitative and quantitative methods can really be mixed. Developments in Sociology, pp.103-18
Prairie, W. (2010). Draft Community Mapping Report. North-West Region: Prairie Wild Consulting Co.
Scandura, T.A. & Williams, E.A., 2000. Research methodology in management: Current practices, trends, and implications for future research. Academy of Management journal, pp.1248-64
Storey, J., Quintas, P., Taylor, P. & Fowle, W., 2002. Flexible employment contracts and their implications for product and process innovation. International Journal of Human Resource Management, pp.1-18
Truss, C., 2001. Complexities and controversies in linking HRM with organizational outcomes. Journal of Management Studies, pp.1121-49
UNESCO. (2014, October 15). Ecological Sciences for Sustainable Development. Retrieved from UNESCO http<://www.unesco.org/new/en/natural-sciences/environment/ecological-sciences/biosphere-reserves/europe-north-america/canada/redberry-lake/
Webb, E.J., Campbell, D.T., Schwartz, R.D. & Sechrest, L., 1966. Unobtrusive Measures: Nonreactive Research in the Social Science. The Public Opinion Quarterly. Oxford University Press
RLBR. (2014, October 14). Who we are? Retrieved from Redberry Lake Biosphere Reserve<: http://redberrylake.ca/whoweare/index.php>
Appendix:
