Management of Agricultural, Forestry, Fisheries and Rural Enterprise - Volume I

Book excerpt: Management of Agricultural, Forestry and Fisheries Enterprises theme is a component of Encyclopedia of Food and Agricultural Sciences, Engineering and Technology Resources in the global Encyclopedia of Life Support Systems (EOLSS), which is an integrated compendium of twenty one Encyclopedias. Growing populations and expectations have placed extreme pressure on agricultural, forestry and fisheries resources. Sustainability of resources and resource industries will be achieved only with commitment, ingenuity and cooperation at unprecedented scale. The theme on Management of Agricultural, Forestry and Fisheries Enterprises begins with an assessment of the organization of agricultural, forestry, fisheries and rural enterprises introducing community-based management, traditional small farms, cooperatives and marketing boards, collective and state enterprises, and integrated global corporate systems. This is followed by thorough assessments of management systems for plants, livestock, forests and fisheries. Plant management systems are based on genetic resources, water management, nutrient management and agronomic systems. Livestock production systems are considered from the standpoints of genetic resources, range and pasture-based systems, landless systems, and options for diversification. Trends in the forest industry are revealed in terms of demand for a variety of products from forests, evolving policy regimens and sylvicultural developments. The final topic addresses the complex issues surrounding sustainability of the world's fisheries. This theme assess the evolving state of the main resource industries interpreting trends and identifying challenges and opportunities. Contributors have attempted to project these developments and raise questions about their impact and role in a changing world. Clearly, they are part of an unfolding story of adaptation of the resource industries in an increasingly global society. These two volumes are aimed at the following five major target audiences: University and College Students Educators, Professional Practitioners, Research Personnel and Policy Analysts, Managers, and Decision Makers, NGOs and GOs.