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on Agricultural Economics |
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Issue of 2016‒10‒30
fifty-four papers chosen by |
| By: | Zander, Peter; Uthes, Sandra; Schläfke, Nicole; Neubert, Josephine; Hufnagel, Johannes; Berger, Gert |
| Abstract: | With the motivation to reduce pressures on natural resources, and biodiversity, in particular, the 2013 Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) reform introduced ‘Greening rules’, which farmers have to meet to receive a greening payment as part of their total CAP payment. Concerns have been raised by practitioners and scientists since, questioning the effectiveness and fairness of Greening. Yet empirical evidence for the effects of Greening is still insufficient. This paper examines how Greening and an alternative biodiversity oriented scenario affect the land use pattern and income of different farm types in three northern German regions (Diepholz, Uelzen, Oder-Spree). A bio-economic modelling framework is used to implement the scenario. The results show that Greening has only moderate impact on land use patterns and at the same time causes only low compliance costs. Our alternative scenario could deliver a higher biodiversity impact in terms of area with goal oriented measures but also leads to higher on-farm costs. Nevertheless, compliance costs are also in this scenario far below the current payment Level. |
| Keywords: | Greening, biodiversity decline, bio-economic modelling, Community/Rural/Urban Development, Land Economics/Use, |
| Date: | 2016 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:gewi16:244861&r=agr |
| By: | Benjamin, Emmanuel Olatunbosun; Sauer, Johannes |
| Abstract: | Smallholder farmers in sub-Saharan Africa that sequestrate carbon through agroforestry provide ecosystem services that generate payment for ecosystem services (PES). When these farmers are inadequately compensated for the provision of additional ecosystem services they have no incentive to participate while over-compensation may lead to inefficient schemes. Stakeholders must consider farm-level interactions between agricultural production and ecosystem services’ provision when evaluating the adequate level of compensation and efficiency of PES scheme. We address this by measuring the marginal cost of ecosystem services based on farm level bio-economic interactions. A classification of the relationship between marketed agricultural output and non-marketed ecosystem services into complementary, supplementary or competitive is conducted. We use the flexible transformation function for our theoretical analysis and surveyed 120 smallholder farmers receiving PES for agroforestry carbon sequestration in Kenya. The results suggest that the joint production for a number of smallholder farms in Kenya may not be of a complementary nature. PES schemes could be designed in a more efficient manner if they would target smallholder farms based on the aforementioned classification by offering a range of contracts to encourage competitive bidding. |
| Keywords: | Cost-efficiency, PES, agroforestry, smallholders, Kenya, Environmental Economics and Policy, Farm Management, Land Economics/Use, |
| Date: | 2016 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:gewi16:244865&r=agr |
| By: | Sahrbacher, Amanda; Hristov, Jordan; Brady, Mark; Sahrbacher, Christoph; Günther, Josef |
| Abstract: | This paper aims to investigate how the implementation of Ecological Focus Areas (EFA) measures of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) will affect regional agricultural development, the economic performance of farms and land use changes in two case study areas in Sweden and Germany. The research approach combines agent-based modelling (ABM) with stakeholder interactions to evaluate how different policy scenarios involving a portfolio of selected measures will affect farm sizes, profits and incomes as well as farms’ choices of EFA measures. Results show that structural impacts of EFA measures are minor in both regions compared with general impacts of external and internal convergence of Pillar 1 payments. Most preferred alternatives (fallow land in Sweden and catch crops in Germany) are rather cost and income preserving than decisive for the conservation of biodiversity. However general concern regarding the future of biodiversity and potential benefits for a sustainable agriculture was revealed during stakeholder workshops. This should further encourage initiatives towards future exchanges in order to better spatially target ecosystem services and reward efforts and outcomes accordingly. |
| Keywords: | Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), EFA measures, biodiversity, ecosystem services, stakeholder interactions, agent-based modelling (ABM), Environmental Economics and Policy, |
| Date: | 2016 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:eaa149:244958&r=agr |
| By: | Burke, William J.; Frossard, Emmanuel; Kabwe, Stephen; Jayne, Thomas S. |
| Abstract: | As populations continue to rise and land becomes scarcer in Africa’s rural areas, there is increasing urgency for farmers to adopt land management practices that sustainably raise land and labor productivity. Considerable effort has focused on promoting inorganic fertilizers, but it is increasingly recognized that smallholder farmers’ demand for fertilizer can be depressed by soil conditions that reduce crop response to and the profitability of fertilizer use. This article quantifies the impacts of soil characteristics on maize response to fertilizer in Zambia using a nationally representative sample of 1,453 fields. In addition to economic and farm management surveys, composite soil samples were collected and analyzed for several characteristics at the Zambia Agricultural Research Institute. |
| Keywords: | Farm Management, Productivity Analysis, |
| Date: | 2016–10 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:midiwp:246955&r=agr |
| By: | Ayenew, Habtamu Yesigat; Sauer, Johannes; Abate-Kassa, Getachew |
| Abstract: | This paper explores the implication of the rural non-farm employment and waged agricultural employment for income and risk mitigation of agricultural households in Ethiopia. We use a nationally representative panel dataset, and employ endogenous switching mixed multinomial logit model. After we control the selection bias that can arise from employment selection in rural households stemming both from observed and unobserved characteristics, we do find an evidence that the non-farm sector improves the income of the agricultural households, and serve as risk mitigation tool in rural Ethiopia. Combining the non-farm sector with hiring labor for agricultural activities at times of labor shortage increases the variance and contributes to positive skewness of income. Finally, we suggest that the rural non-farm sector could serve as a key development pathway for improving livelihood in the predominantly smallholder production system in Ethiopia. |
| Keywords: | Ethiopia, non-farm sector, self-employment, risk, wage, Food Security and Poverty, Labor and Human Capital, Risk and Uncertainty, |
| Date: | 2016 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:gewi16:244809&r=agr |
| By: | Kožar, Maja; Pintar, Marjeta; Volk, Tina; Rednak, Miro; Rac, Ilona; Erjavec, Emil |
| Abstract: | The paper presents the agriculture and agricultural policies of eight countries emerging from the former Soviet Union: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Moldova, Ukraine, Russia, Georgia, Belarus and Kazakhstan. These countries hold a great agricultural production potential; nevertheless, some of them are still relatively unanalysed from the point of view of agricultural policy. One of the aims was to find out whether and how policies are converging, considering recent geopolitical developments. Policy analysis was conducted qualitatively (document analysis and literature review) and quantitatively by applying the OECD PSE approach to analyse sector policy support. The quantitative analysis of the agri-food sector was based on the data collected in the framework of the AGRICISTRADE project. The key issues in the region are food security and competitiveness; policy approaches range from strong interventionism to almost complete liberalisation. Budgetary support is relatively low compared to averages for EU and OECD countries. Transfers to producers dominate in all countries, especially input subsidies and on-farm investment support, whereas the support to rural development and for general services is weak. While the prices for crops are near world prices, prices for animal products are fairly high in some countries, indicating high developmental needs. Based on the results of the analysis, it is possible to discern four rough political/economic clusters of countries: Transcaucasia countries, Russia and Kazakhstan,Ukraine and Moldova and Belarus. |
| Keywords: | Eastern European Neighbourhood, CIS, agriculture, agricultural policy, producer support, PSE, AGRICISTRADE, Agricultural and Food Policy, |
| Date: | 2016–09–20 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:eaa155:245877&r=agr |
| By: | Bareille, François; Dupraz, Pierre |
| Abstract: | It is widely recognized that human activities and especially agriculture have negative impacts on biodiversiy. However, biodiversity can also benefit to farmers through its positive effects on production. This two-way causality relationship between biodiversity and agriculture has raised numerous authors to examine the behaviour of farmers regarding environment. However, only few empirical studies have analysed biodiversity management considering previous results in production economics. Indeed, they usually do not take into account farmers’ strategic choices. These studies did notably not correct for the endogenous bias linked to simultaneity of choices between input and output levels and did not take into account market evolution. On the other hand, production economic studies have rarely introduced ecological feedbacks in the production function and prefer to analyse environmental effects in an ex-post way. On this paper, we estimate crop and milk primal production functions of a sample of mixed farms of western France. Our sample is composed of 5654 FADN observations from 2002 to 2014 in French regions of Bretagne, Basse-Normandie and Pays-de-la-Loire. We estimate the productive effect of biodiversity taking into account for the variable input endogenous biases and joint technology specificity. Using Three Stage Least Square method, we estimate linear and quadratic of both production functions with ad-hoc addition of variable input demand functions. We measure biodiversity through the utilization of landscape metric indicators. For the first time in this literature, we examine the effect of two kind of biodiversity: arable land biodiversity and permanent grassland biodiversity. Our preliminary results seem to confirm previous results of the literature on the productive effect of arable land biodiversity on crop production. For the first time in empirical economics analysis, we find that permanent grasslands enhance crop production. On the other side, milk production is less sensible to biodiversity but it seems that permanent grasslands decrease milk production. The effect of arable land biodiversity on milk production is not robust for the moment. Our results can be useful for policymakers as they bring new insights on the management of biodiversity by farmers. |
| Keywords: | Agricultural and Food Policy, Environmental Economics and Policy, Farm Management, |
| Date: | 2016 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:eaa149:244774&r=agr |
| By: | Saint-Cyr, Legrand D. F. |
| Abstract: | This study aims at investigating the impact of agricultural policies on structural change in farming. As not all farms may behave alike, a mixed Markov chain modelling approach is applied to capture for unobserved heterogeneity transition process of farms. A multinomial logit specification is used for transition probabilities and the parameters are estimated by maximum likelihood method and the expectation maximization (EM) algorithm. An empirical application to an unbalanced panel from 2000 to 2013 shows that the French farms mainly consists of a mixture two farm types characterized by specific transition processes. The main result of this paper is that the impact of farm subsidies from both the two pillars of the Common Agricultural policy (CAP) highly depends on the type membership of farms. From this result it is argued that more attention should be paid to both observed and unobserved farm heterogeneity in assessing agricultural policy impact on structural change in farming. |
| Keywords: | Agricultural and Food Policy, Farm Management, |
| Date: | 2016 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:eaa149:244789&r=agr |
| By: | Suzi Kerr (Motu Economic and Public Policy Research) |
| Abstract: | This paper explores how New Zealand should address agricultural greenhouse gas emissions: methane and nitrous oxide. The starting point is the internationally agreed-upon goal of limiting global warming to below two degrees, and New Zealand’s commitment to contribute its ‘fair share’ to the international climate-change mitigation effort. The report focuses on the role of mitigating biological agricultural emissions within that, and how New Zealand could most cost-effectively mitigate its own emissions and contribute to the mitigation of agricultural emissions abroad. This paper complements a partner paper (Hollis et al 2015) that discusses the science relating to agricultural greenhouse gases. |
| Keywords: | Climate change, mitigation, agriculture, New Zealand, methane, nitrous oxide, livestock, metrics, policy |
| JEL: | Q18 Q54 Q58 |
| Date: | 2016–10 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:mtu:wpaper:16_16&r=agr |
| By: | Michele Hollis (Freelance); Cecile de Klein (AgResearch); Dave Frame (Victoria University of Wellington); Mike Harvey (National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research); Martin Manning (Victoria University of Wellington); Andy Reisinger (New Zealand Agricultural Greenhouse Gas Research Centre); Suzi Kerr (Motu Economic and Public Policy Research); Anna Robinson (Motu Economic and Public Policy Research) |
| Abstract: | Biological emissions from agriculture (methane and nitrous oxide) make up almost half New Zealand’s total greenhouse gas emissions, so their importance relative to carbon dioxide is of particular policy interest. Motu Economic and Public Policy Research brought together a group of New Zealand climate change and agriculture specialists to respond to questions posed by the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment on the science. The paper finds that the overriding need to reduce carbon dioxide emissions is scientifically uncontentious. For the climate to stabilise, net carbon dioxide emissions must ultimately be cut to zero. There is debate about whether, when and how much action to take on other gases. Some scientists advocate a comprehensive multi-gas approach, arguing that will be more cost-effective. It may already be too late to limit warming to two degrees without mitigating agricultural greenhouse gases. Others advocate a focus on carbon dioxide or on all long-lived gases (including nitrous oxide), with concerted mitigation of methane (a short-lived gas) only once carbon dioxide emissions are falling sustainably towards zero. There is support for ‘easy wins’ on all gases, but it is unclear how easy it is for New Zealand to reduce total nitrous oxide and methane emissions while maintaining production. The report summarises current and emerging options, and discusses methods to calculate methane and nitrous oxide emissions at the paddock, farm, regional and national scale. Finally, the report considers metrics used for comparison between gases, focusing on Global Warming Potential (GWP) and Global Temperture change Potential (GTP). The authors reached a consensus that the ‘right’ value depends on the policy goal and could change substantially over time; and if the main policy goal is to cost-effectively limit global average warming to two degrees above pre-industrial levels, then the value of methane should be less than the GWP100 value of 28 until global carbon dioxide emissions have begun to decline steadily towards zero. There is no agreement beyond this on the best value to use; the arguments reflect judgments about politics, economics, and the intersection of policy and science. |
| Keywords: | Agriculture, emissions, science |
| JEL: | Q52 Q54 Q58 R14 |
| Date: | 2016–10 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:mtu:wpaper:16_17&r=agr |
| By: | Mitra, Susmita |
| Abstract: | Paddy/Rice cultivation in West Bengal became the research focus in the late eighties when the state moved to a high-agricultural-growth-path from a less than all-India average. However, currently there exist so many climatic-socio-economic constraints which are hardly addressed in the recent literature. Poor farmers are the hardest hit and understanding their perceptions as well as abysmal socio-economic conditions is important to identify areas where intervention is needed. The objective of this paper is twofold, first, to explore qualitative and quantitative information about farmers’ perceptions on climatic-socio-economic constraints, and second, to suggest an agricultural management way out to deal with those. Apart from field survey and focused group discussions, Mann-Kendall test and Coefficients of Variation have been calculated on observed meteorological parameters to substantiate whether farmers’ perceptions match with reality. Although exact negative impact of climate change on yield is difficult to capture because of high yield variety (HYV) seeds, however, farmers revealed about direct and indirect climatic effects on quantity and quality of rice. Primary survey also exposed socio economic challenges like increase in yield (with HYV seeds) at the cost of variety loss; decline in soil fertility due to excessive use of chemical fertilizer; increase in input costs more than output price; declining profitability; seasonal unemployment; lack of employment opportunity and institutional credit; all of which cumulatively resulting in farmers’ withdrawal and crop shifting from paddy. Based on the farmers’ suggestions, the paper perceives a framework of organic fertilizer production to solve many of these contemporary problems simultaneously. |
| Keywords: | Farmers’ Perceptions, Climatic-Socio-Economic, West Bengal, Paddy/Rice |
| JEL: | Q12 Q18 |
| Date: | 2016–10–17 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pra:mprapa:74684&r=agr |
| By: | Huber, Robert |
| Abstract: | Farm structural change increases the productivity and efficiency of farming. In the policy debate, however, there is still a strong attachment to a highly fragmented structure of family farms, especially in countries with high support for the agricultural sector. In these regions, the somewhat “romantic” attachment to small family farms in the policy debate may also be interpreted as a public preference for concomitant non-use values of agricultural production. As a consequence, a cost-benefit analysis including the economic gains from farm structural change as well as the non-use values of small-scale, traditional agriculture may give a new perspective on this policy debate. We here combine results from a discrete choice experiment in a Swiss mountain region with simulation results from an agent-based farm model in the same case study region. We compare the willingness to pay of local people for farm survival with the reduced average income that results from impeded structural change. Results imply that on average WTP is higher than the opportunity costs. However, the differentiation into farm types shows that productive full-time farmers would have to bear the highest opportunity costs that exceed the average WTP by far. We discuss this result with respect to the policy debate and further research. |
| Keywords: | Agricultural and Food Policy, Farm Management, |
| Date: | 2016 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:eaa149:244785&r=agr |
| By: | Soullier, Guillaume; Moustier, Paule |
| Abstract: | The Quiet Revolution in Asia’s domestic food supply chains (Reardon et al., 2012) seems to be on-going in Africa, with more integrated chains and new investments in food processing. In the Senegalese rice value chain, millers are implementing production and marketing contracts with small-scale producers. Numerous studies find that contracts increase incomes, but there is a need for further research, especially in the case of domestic grain chains. The purpose of this paper is to assess the impact of contracts implemented in the Senegalese rice value chain on farmer incomes and food security. We conducted a cross-sectional survey and obtained 550 valid questionnaires. We use propensity score matching and instrumental variables to correct for selection bias and to compare contracts and spot transactions. We find (1) no impact from marketing contracts on farmer incomes since there is no upgrading compared to the traditional value chain; (2) a significant negative impact from production contracts on farmer incomes due to an implicit insurance cost of credit; (3) contracted farmers engaging in spot transactions, which increase their profit; (4) marketing contracts having a positive impact on food security since they mitigate price seasonality. |
| Keywords: | Contract farming, vertical coordination, value chain, small-holder farmers, Africa, Senegal, Agricultural and Food Policy, Farm Management, Food Security and Poverty, |
| Date: | 2016 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:eaa149:244790&r=agr |
| By: | Chang, Chiao-Ya; Zimmermann, Andrea; Heckelei, Thomas |
| Abstract: | Being the fastest growing food producing sector, aquaculture has the potential to provide high quality protein sources and meet increasing future food demand. However, the raising concerns over competition for land - direct and through feed competition – and sustainability as well as restrictive regulations may limit the expansion of aquaculture. We provide a thorough literature review of the complex interlinkages across aquaculture, land use and sustainability. As these relationships have, to our knowledge, not systematically been analyzed before, the literature review is of an explorative character and touches and combines various topics in and around aquaculture (e.g. environmental sustainability, political regulation). However, it is always centered on global aquaculture and land use. In order to answer key questions as: (1) how aquaculture contributes to food security?, (2) how sustainable is aquaculture?, and (3) how aquaculture connects with agriculture?, we combine existing literature from various disciplines (e.g. aquaculture, agricultural economics, land use) for a thorough description of the relationships and give an overview of quantitative models for economic and environmental impact assessment. Additionally, this study provides a conceptual idea for the construction of a fisheries module in the CAPRI model (Britz, 2005) including a suitable classification of fish species for policy advice in the EU. Based on the understanding and concept developed in this paper, the fisheries module will be implemented and refined in the CAPRI model in a later step. It will be used for analyzing the impacts of the expansion of aquaculture on land use and simulating policies to enhance aquaculture sustainability. |
| Keywords: | Aquaculture, Sustainability, Land use, Modelling, Aquafeed, CAPRI model, Land Economics/Use, Livestock Production/Industries, |
| Date: | 2016 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:gewi16:244765&r=agr |
| By: | Freyens, Ben; Mann, Stefan |
| Abstract: | The literature on part-time farming suggests that off-farm income reduces risk and improves resilience. Our paper challenges this popular view. Our hypothesis is that the pursuit of off-farm activities may have negative effects on farm productivity by reducing scale and dissipating the gains from labour specialization. These productivity losses may more than offset the benefits derived from risk diversification. If this hypothesis is correct, we should observe that farmers who rely more intensely on off-farm income are also the ones least likely to adopt scale-expanding production strategies when faced with unexpected challenges. Using recent survey data from Australia, we examine the strategic reaction of farmers affected by major challenges such as drought and price volatility, distinguishing between adoption of defensive and offensive adjustment strategies. We find that off-farm income significantly reduces the likelihood of adopting offensive adaptation strategies, which supports our working hypothesis. |
| Keywords: | part-time farming, off-farm income, risk, Farm Management, Productivity Analysis, Risk and Uncertainty, |
| Date: | 2016 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:gewi16:244863&r=agr |
| By: | Unay-Gailhard, Ilkay; Bojnec, Štefan |
| Abstract: | This study aims to contribute to the better understanding of how voluntary-based policy intervention has affected the farm structure, especially the evolution of on-farm labour. The analysis on the relationship between farms that participated in agri-environmental measures (AEMs) and evolution of their on-farm labour is investigated during the period 2004–2014 with using Slovenian Farm Accountancy Data Network (FADN). More specially, the relationship between AEMs and hired labour use is explained by farm size and farm type divisions. The results of statistical analysis give evidence that hired labour use is positively correlated by AEMs in all farm size classes. Regardless of farm size, increase in the demand for hired labour use in AEM adopted farms could be explained by the requirements of environmental farming practices that are often more labour intensive than the traditional farming practices. Farm type division analysis reveals that the correlation between AEMs and hired labour use is significantly positive, depending on the farm type. For field crop farms, we observe a weak correlation between AEM payments and total labour use. This could explain with the application of AEM practices do not necessary perceived the hired labour use as a complementary to family labour by filed crop farm managers. |
| Keywords: | Environmental Economics and Policy, Farm Management, |
| Date: | 2016 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:eaa149:245070&r=agr |
| By: | Galluzzo, Nicola |
| Abstract: | As a consequence of communism regime collapse, Romania has changed in a quickly and intense way the transformation of its socio-economic and productive fabric in order to become a new member of the European Union. The growth of Romanian Gross Domestic Product has acted on the increase of food consumption, on the implementation of agri-food sector and on the level of farmer's income even if one of the main negative bottleneck is the out migration from the countryside. Our research focuses on the evolution since 2000 to 2014 in Romanian territorial specialization aimed at estimating by a quantitative approach main nexus between growth of Gross Domestic Product and increase of agricultural production, in terms of agricultural GDP, with positive impacts on the agri-food chain. The Moran’s index has been a pivotal quantitative approach in order to estimate the spatial autocorrelation in all Romanian administrative provinces or counties between the variable Gross Domestic Product and the level of agrarian GDP and rural out migration. Findings have pointed out a dichotomy between the north and south Romanian regions as a consequence of the productive specialization, in general characterised by a high level of cropping specialization and by a poor farm size which is not able to create a consolidated agri-food supply chain. |
| Keywords: | Gross Domestic Product, territorial specialization, farmer income, farm size, Gross Domestic Product, Agricultural and Food Policy, Farm Management, |
| Date: | 2016 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:eaa149:244784&r=agr |
| By: | Corsi, Alessandro; Novelli, Silvia |
| Abstract: | Solidarity purchasing groups (SPGs) are common Alternative Food Networks in many towns in Italy. They are set up by groups of citizens who cooperate in order to buy food and other commonly used goods collectively and directly from producers, at a price that is fair to both parties. Within the group, the choice of the products and the farmers usually follow some guidelines related to the respect for the environment and the solidarity between the members of the group and the producers. Though still a small niche, SPGs are quite numerous and represent an interesting alternative to traditional setting of the food chain. The main motivation of members for participating in SPGs is arguably not a monetary one, i.e., it is not lower prices. Ethical motivations and environmental concerns are typically proposed among the goals of the groups. Nevertheless, the budget constraint is always operating, and it is of interest to measure how much the ethical and environmental motivations are able to overcome the budget constraint. This is tantamount to measure the value members attach to their participation to the SPG. Hence, the aim of this study was to estimate the value that group members attach to their participation. A stated preferences methodology was employed on a first sample of members of SPGs in Torino (Italy) and other neighbouring towns to estimate the value consumers buying in such groups attach to this particular channel, relative to the conventional supermarkets. Preliminary results show that SPG members do state a preference for buying with their organization rather than at a supermarket’s even when the prospected prices are substantially higher when purchasing through the SPG. |
| Keywords: | Agricultural and Food Policy, Farm Management, |
| Date: | 2016 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:eaa149:244776&r=agr |
| By: | Aubert, Magali; Enjolras, Geoffroy |
| Abstract: | Short food supply chains are now recognized marketing channels in French agriculture and are adopted widely by some sectors. This article is part of the growing body of studies on short food supply chains by proposing a study of the dynamics of the adoption of retail selling. The analysis relies on the FADN database for the years 2006 to 2012 and considers farms continuously operating over this period. Descriptive statistics are complemented by a two-step Heckman selection model that considers the duration of retail selling adoption, conditioned by the fact that farmers decide at first to adopt or not such marketing strategy. The analysis identifies that the adoption of such strategy is quite stable over the years. The econometric results confirm the link between the farmer's level of education, the use of workforce, phytosanitary products and the adoption of short marketing channels. They highlight the relationship between the reduction of workforce and phytosanitary products, the implementation of a sound financial situation, as well as sectorial peculiarities in the duration of adoption of retail selling. By contributing to a deeper understanding of short marketing modes, these results reflect the emergence of a specific model of farms centered on the use of short food supply chains. |
| Keywords: | Retail selling, FADN, wine-growing, market gardening, fruit production, Heckman, Agricultural and Food Policy, Farm Management, |
| Date: | 2016 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:eaa149:244895&r=agr |
| By: | Frick, Fabian; Sauer, Johannes |
| Abstract: | We investigate development of productivity and its relation to resource reallocation effects in the dairy sector in South-East Germany during the phase-out of the EU milk quota. We use a dataset containing dairy farm accounting data of 15 years. Farm-level productivity is estimated by applying a proxy approach recently discussed in the literature and compared to other estimation approaches and an index analysis. After aggregation we decompose sector productivity into unweighted mean productivity and a covariance term quantifying the allocation of production resources towards more productive farms. We observe an increase in the covariance term coinciding with a period of rather volatile milk prices. Therefore, we hypothesize that reallocation of production resources are triggered by extreme prices possibly powered by market deregulation. We seek to find support for this hypothesis in a regression analysis linking the covariance term and price variability. However, we find only little support for our hypothesis in this analysis. |
| Keywords: | Productivity, EU Milk Quota, Agricultural and Food Policy, Production Economics, Productivity Analysis, |
| Date: | 2016 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:gewi16:244884&r=agr |
| By: | Hannus, Veronika; Sauer, Johannes |
| Abstract: | Existing agricultural sustainability standards are rarely applied in Germany despite persistent public attention being paid to sustainable farming and growth in markets for sustainable food. Beside the effects of sustainability requirements, important effects of organizational elements in standard design are expected to influence farmers’ standard acceptance. Therefore the development of a utility model is the behavioural economic basis for further research on farmers’ preferences in sustainability standard design. In this preliminary study, organizational standard elements are identified from the literature within the following categories: transactional and direct costs; market effects; risk of application; and farmers’ identification and social gains. |
| Keywords: | sustainability, assessment systems, standards, farm-level decision-making, farm management, Environmental Economics and Policy, Farm Management, Institutional and Behavioral Economics, |
| Date: | 2016 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:gewi16:244894&r=agr |
| By: | Tsechalicha, Xiong; Pangxang, Yiakhang; Phoyduangsy, Saysamone; Kyophilavong, Phouphet |
| Abstract: | This Research Report presents baseline information for the development of a Payments for Environmental Services scheme based on the situation of the Green Peafowl Protection Zone within the Phou Khao Khouay National Protected Area in central Lao PDR. It identifies threats to wildlife arising from current management practices and suggests possible management actions to achieve improvements in the protection of the Green Peafowl. |
| Keywords: | resource use, wildlife management, habitat protection, biodiversity conservation practices, payments for environmental services, Environmental Economics and Policy, |
| Date: | 2014–12 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:anueir:244018&r=agr |
| By: | Bittmann, Thomas; Holzer, Patrick; Loy, Jens-Peter |
| Abstract: | The objective of this paper is to analyze the extent of seasonality in wholesale cost pass-through between wholesale and retail prices for differentiated milk products in the German dairy market from 2005 to 2011 on a weekly basis. The non-linear nature of the price relationship is modelled by a panel four-regime error correction model. The analysis provides new evidence of significant time-variant wholesale to retail cost pass-through, which also might be interpreted as seasonal changing degrees of competition, pointing to seasonal fluctuations in cost pass-through as a common feature of commodity markets. In particular, costs are passed on to consumers more quickly during fall and winter and the effect of seasonally varying costs is dampened in higher markups. |
| Keywords: | Non-linear cost pass-through, seasonality, panel error correction model, milk, Demand and Price Analysis, Research Methods/ Statistical Methods, |
| Date: | 2016 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:gewi16:244779&r=agr |
| By: | Herbert Ntuli; Edwin Muchapndwa |
| Abstract: | This paper demonstrates the importance of wildlife in the portfolio of environmental income in the livelihoods of poor rural communities living adjacent to a national park. The results show that wealthier households consumed more wildlife products in total than relatively poor households. However, poorer households derive greater benefit from the consumption of wildlife resources than wealthier households. Excluding wildlife compromised the relative contribution of environmental resources while at the same time increasing the relative contribution of farm and wage income. Environmental income had more impact in terms of poverty reduction in the lower income quintiles than in the upper quintiles. Wildlife income alone accounted for about 5.5% reduction in the proportion of people living below the poverty line. Furthermore, wildlife income had an equalizing effect bringing about a 5.4% reduction in measured inequality. Regression analysis suggests that the likelihood of belonging to a wealthier category of income increased with an increase in environmental income. As expected, household wealth significantly and positively affect environmental income generated by households. This seems to suggest that wildlife-based land reform also needs to empower poor households in the area of capital accumulation while imposing restraint on capital investments by well-off households. |
| Keywords: | wildlife, environmental income, poverty, inequality, dependence, Zimbabwe |
| JEL: | D63 I32 I38 Q22 |
| Date: | 2015–10 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:rza:wpaper:636&r=agr |
| By: | Sylvaine Lemeilleur; Julie Subervie; Anderson Edilson Presoto; Roberta de Castro Souza; Maria Sylvia Macchione Saes |
| Abstract: | We survey Brazilian coffee farmers’ preferences for attributes of voluntary sustainability standards using a choice experiment. We collected original data from 250 coffee farmers who live in the state of Minas Gerais who were asked to choose from several hypothetical buying contracts for eco-certified coffee. Our results suggest that both cash and non-cash payments may motivate farmers to participate in sustainability standard certification schemes that require improved agricultural practices. Preferences for non-cash rewards such as long-term formal contracts or technical assistance, however, appear highly heterogeneous. Results moreover show that the minimum willingness-to-accept for the adoption of composting is twice as high as the average price premium for certified coffee in the current context, which may partly explain why most coffee farmers continue to be reluctant to enter the most stringent eco-certification schemes such as the organic standard |
| Date: | 2016–09 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:lam:wpaper:16-09&r=agr |
| By: | Balmann, Alfons; Chatalova, Lioudmila; Valentinov, Vladislav; Gagalyuk, Taras |
| Abstract: | The agricultural sector in Germany, in the EU, and other industrialised countries remains in the spotlight of controversial societal debates that testify to an advancing alienation between modern agriculture and society. Key issues include animal welfare, environmental externalities, industrialisation of agricultural production, and extinction of family farms. As higher animal welfare or environmental standards are requested by society, the respective agricultural debates take on ideological tenors. The present paper addresses of the legitimacy of and the need for supporting the agricultural sector. We ask to what extent the existing economic conditions allow the agricultural sector on the one hand to benefit from agricultural innovations and on the other hand to meet societal expectations. The analysis builds on two concepts: the agricultural treadmill theory, which assumes the agricultural sector to be under a permanent economic pressure, and the concept of corporate social responsibility, which presumes that firms have an interest to comply with societal expectations. We describe and analyse the internal mechanisms of these concepts theoretically and conceptually. We then discuss opportunities which may help to overcome the increasing alienation of agriculture and society. |
| Keywords: | Environmental Economics and Policy, Livestock Production/Industries, |
| Date: | 2016 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:eaa149:245072&r=agr |
| By: | Heather Congdon Fors (School of Business, Economics and Law - Gothenburg University); Kenneth Houngbedji (PSE - Paris School of Economics, PSE - Paris-Jourdan Sciences Economiques - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique - INRA - Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique - EHESS - École des hautes études en sciences sociales - ENS Paris - École normale supérieure - Paris - École des Ponts ParisTech (ENPC)); Annika Lindskog (School of Business, Economics and Law - Gothenburg University) |
| Abstract: | This paper investigates the impact of a rural Ethiopian land certification program on schooling. Our hypothesis is that formal property rights facilitate land inheritance, reducing the net benefit of schooling for children who will inherit the land. Formal rights also decrease the need for activities to secure continued access to the land, reducing the cost of schooling for all children. The results suggest a positive overall effect on school enrollment. However, grade progress of oldest sons, who are most likely to inherit the land, worsens. Our complementary analysis on child labor suggests a differential impact in the two zones studied. |
| Keywords: | Ethiopia,Property rights,Schooling,Child labor,Land administration |
| Date: | 2015–09 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hal:wpaper:halshs-01202695&r=agr |
| By: | Fałkowski, Jan |
| Abstract: | Though there is a vibrant debate about the determinants of structural change in agricultural sector, the broad consensus is that it is mainly driven by economic environment and farmers' characteristics. In this paper, we try to complement this view and study whether the pattern of farm exits is shaped by rural politics. Using local-level data for Poland, and accounting for variables commonly used in other studies, we show that in the period 1996-2010, the scope and speed of structural change in agricultural sector were heavily influenced by the extent to which municipality councils were captured by agricultural interests. More specifically, we find that in regions with higher political representation of farmers there were less exits from farming and land consolidation process was slower. Thus, our findings suggest that investigating the distribution of political resources at the local level might be as important for our understanding of structural change as studying the impact of farm size or the development of non-agricultural job opportunities. |
| Keywords: | special-interest benefits, rural politics, structural change, Poland, Agricultural and Food Policy, |
| Date: | 2016 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:eaa149:245115&r=agr |
| By: | Kenneth Houngbedji (PSE - Paris-Jourdan Sciences Economiques - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique - INRA - Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique - EHESS - École des hautes études en sciences sociales - ENS Paris - École normale supérieure - Paris - École des Ponts ParisTech (ENPC), PSE - Paris School of Economics) |
| Abstract: | This paper investigates the change in labour supply patterns by agricultural households as a result of formalization of their land-use rights. The findings are based on panel data collected before and after a land registration programme which demarcated and provided legal recognition of the landholdings of households in the Amhara region in Ethiopia. Using a semi-parametric difference-in-difference strategy, we find that the provision of documentary evidence of land rights freed household time otherwise allocated to safeguard their landholdings from encroachment. The reduction in labour supply is driven by a decrease of time allocated to pre-planting activities requiring households to leave their land vacant until the most suitable time for planting. Indeed disputes over land boundaries are associated with neighbouring landholders pushing the boundaries of their holdings during ploughing. |
| Keywords: | Land administration,Time allocation,Agricultural investment,Ethiopia,Property rights |
| Date: | 2015–04 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hal:wpaper:halshs-01145827&r=agr |
| By: | Vibhuti Mendiratta (PSE - Paris-Jourdan Sciences Economiques - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique - INRA - Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique - EHESS - École des hautes études en sciences sociales - ENS Paris - École normale supérieure - Paris - École des Ponts ParisTech (ENPC), PSE - Paris School of Economics) |
| Abstract: | While there is evidence of discrimination against girls in the allocation of resources within a household under normal circumstances, it would be worthwhile to explore the effect of extreme conditions such as rainfall shocks on the outcomes of surviving girls and boys. In this paper, I estimate the impact of rainfall shocks in early childhood on the anthropometric outcomes of girls and boys aged 13-36 months in rural India. I find that adverse negative rainfall shocks (in utero and first year after birth) negatively impact height for age and weight for age for both girls and boys. Further, I explore two channels through which rainfall affects child health: by affecting the relative price of parent's time in childcare and through income (as rainfall generates variation in income through its effect on agricultural output). I find that positive rainfall has a positive effect on agricultural yield and arguably income in India. This is further supported by the finding that negative shocks are harder to insure in poorer states and poorer households as reflected by the poor anthropometric outcomes of children. |
| Keywords: | Anthropometric outcomes,Rainfall,India |
| Date: | 2015–10 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hal:wpaper:halshs-01211575&r=agr |
| By: | Anne-Célia Disdier (PSE - Paris School of Economics, PSE - Paris-Jourdan Sciences Economiques - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique - INRA - Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique - EHESS - École des hautes études en sciences sociales - ENS Paris - École normale supérieure - Paris - École des Ponts ParisTech (ENPC)); Charlotte Emlinger (Centre d'Etudes Prospectives et d'Informations Internationales); Jean Fouré (Centre d'Etudes Prospectives et d'Informations Internationales) |
| Abstract: | Trade liberalization of the agri-food sector is a sensitive topic in both Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) and Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) discussions. This paper provides an overview of current trade ows and trade barriers. Then, using a general equilibrium model of international trade (the MIRAGE model), it assesses the potential impact of these two agreements on agri-food trade and value added. The results suggest that the US agri-food sectors would gain from both agreements while almost all their partners and third countries would benefit less, and might register losses in some sectors. However, the two agreements are not competing, since all the contracting parties' defensive and offensive interests are complementary. Finally, we show that the Atlantic trade may be impacted by the inclusion of harmonized standards within the Pacific agreement but not by its extension to additional members (e.g. China or India). |
| Keywords: | Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership,Trans-Pacific Partnership,Mega-trade deals,agri-food,CGE model |
| Date: | 2015–09 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hal:wpaper:halshs-01190840&r=agr |
| By: | Niedermayr, Andreas; Kapfer, Martin; Kantelhardt, Jochen |
| Abstract: | The liberalisation and globalisation of agricultural markets, has led to a shift of the EU common agricultural policy from quantity based to quality based policies and is accompanied by diversification of agricultural production in the European Union. For policy makers it is therefore relevant to better understand the drivers that influence the adoption and spatial distribution of emerging alternative practices and commodities in agriculture. Taking the Styrian Oil Pumpkin as an example, the aim of this study is to quantify the drivers of spatial variations in the cultivation of an emerging alternative crop. We estimate different econometric models, drawing on cross sectional data of the year 2010 of 549 municipalities in the Styrian Oil Pumpkin PGI area. Our findings indicate that (i) crop specific factors, (ii) region specific factors and (iii) spatial interdependencies influence spatial variations in oil pumpkin cultivated area and conclude that these factors also need to be considered for the promotion of other emerging alternative practices and commodities in agriculture. |
| Keywords: | Styrian Pumpkin Seed Oil, PGI, Austria, spatial econometrics, SLX model, Agricultural and Food Policy, Land Economics/Use, |
| Date: | 2016 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:gewi16:244886&r=agr |
| By: | Raimondi, Valentina; Falco, Chiara; Curzi, Daniele; Olper, Alessandro |
| Abstract: | We investigate the relationship between international trade and product quality using the EU food policy on Geographical Indications (GIs). Building on the quality sorting model proposed by Crozet et al. (2012), we derive three predictions about the relationship between the EU quality policy and different trade margins (extensive and intensive) as well as firms export prices. To test these predictions, we create a new dataset that collects country information on GIs and bilateral trade flows during the period 1996-2014, at HS 6-digit level. We empirically test the theoretical model through Poisson Pseudo Maximum Likelihood (PPML) estimation procedure on panel data. The main results show that GIs affect trade but differently, depending on whether GIs are produced in the exporter or importer country. In particular, the presence of GIs in the exporter country seems to exert a pro-competitive effect, while when registered only in the importer country, GIs act as an anti-competitive measure. |
| Keywords: | Geographical indicators, EU trade, Extensive-intensive margins, Export prices, Agricultural and Food Policy, International Relations/Trade, |
| Date: | 2016 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:eaa149:244795&r=agr |
| By: | Bartolini, Fabio; Brunori, Gianluca; Galli, Francesca |
| Abstract: | The paper investigates the determinants of a direct selling strategy as a two steps process. The model firstly identifies barriers or enabling factors that affects the decision to entry in the direct market (both though on-farm selling or through farmers’ markets), and then the share of production value sold directly to consumers within this channel. Data used belongs to Tuscany Agricultural Census (2010). Explanatory variables includes the following dimensions: farmers’ location, household composition, farms and farmers features and policy as payment received. Preliminary results confirm literature findings which identify in localisation, motivation and skills the main determinants of marketing strategies based on direct sale. |
| Keywords: | direct sale strategy, Tuscany, double-Hurdle model, Agricultural and Food Policy, Farm Management, |
| Date: | 2016 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:eaa149:244896&r=agr |
| By: | Uehleke, Reinhard; Hüttel, Silke |
| Abstract: | This contingent valuation survey examines the stated demand for a farm animal welfare label in Germany. Demand is assessed in an individual and a collective decision framing. The collective decision framing has significant influence on stated demand and the probability to choose labelled meat products, indicating the possibility of free rider behavior by meat consumers. Furthermore, the study reveals that determinants for the choice of labelled meat vary across decision situation. For example, while normative demeanor is important in both frames, expected better taste is important in the individual purchase situation and income is important in the collective decision situation also after controlling for normative attitudes. |
| Keywords: | Animal Welfare, Food Labeling, Public Goods, Customer Behavior., Agricultural and Food Policy, Demand and Price Analysis, Marketing, |
| Date: | 2016 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:gewi16:244866&r=agr |
| By: | Franck Galtier (UMR MOISA - Marchés, Organisations, Institutions et Stratégies d'Acteurs - CIRAD - Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement - Montpellier SupAgro - Centre international d'études supérieures en sciences agronomiques - INRA Montpellier - Institut national de la recherche agronomique [Montpellier] - CIHEAM - Centre International des Hautes Études Agronomiques Méditerranéennes, Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement) |
| Abstract: | In this paper, we analyze the WTO rules that specify how to estimate the subsidy provided to farmers by public stocks. We identify three biases in these rules: - Bias B1, resulting from using a fixed past unit value of import or export as external reference price, instead of the current price cost of imports or exports. - Bias B2, resulting from using the procurement price of the public stock instead of the price prevailing on the domestic market to estimate the price support received by the farmers who sell their production on the domestic market. - Bias B3, resulting from using the national production instead of the marketed share of national production, by this way ignoring farmer self-consumption. The effect of these three biases on the estimated subsidy varies with the country but, on average, WTO rules lead to overestimate the subsidy by a factor 2 to more than 300, depending on the modalities of public stock interventions and other parameters. This means that in the most favorable scenarios, the estimated subsidy is (on average) twice the real subsidy. The effect of these biases on country compliance proves to be huge: many countries have an estimated subsidy above their maximum allowed level (even with very light public stock interventions), just because the subsidy provided by public stocks is overestimated by WTO rules. This result challenges the widespread idea that almost all countries comply with WTO rules on public stocks. We also test the effect of correcting only some of the biases. It appears that doing this would not allow eliminating the biases in country compliance. An implication of this is that expressing the fixed external reference price (FERP) in US dollar, correcting it with the country inflation rate or replacing it by the average unit value of imports or exports over the last five years (as proposed by several experts and WTO Members) would not be enough to remove the bias on country compliance. There is therefore a need to correct all the three biases, what can be done in a rather simple way, as is shown at the end of the paper. |
| Abstract: | Dans cet article, nous analysons les règles de l’OMC qui définissent comment estimer la subvention procurée par les stocks publics aux producteurs agricoles. Nous identifions trois biais dans ces règles : - le biais B1, qui résulte du fait d’utiliser comme prix extérieur de référence la valeur unitaire des importations ou des exportations au cours d’une période fixe passée, au lieu d’utiliser le coût de revient actuel des importations ou des exportations. - le biais B2, qui résulte du fait d’utiliser le prix d’achat du stock public (au lieu du prix en vigueur sur le marché domestique) pour estimer la subvention reçue par les agriculteurs qui vendent leur production sur le marché domestique. - le biais B3, qui résulte du fait d’utiliser la production nationale au lieu de la part commercialisée de cette production (ignorant par la même l’autoconsommation des producteurs). L’effet de ces trois biais sur la subvention estimée diffère selon les pays mais, en moyenne, les règles de l’OMC conduisent à surestimer la subvention d’un facteur 2 à plus de 300, selon les modalités d’intervention des stocks publics et d’autres paramètres. Cela signifie que, dans les scénarios les plus favorables, la subvention estimée représente le double de la subvention réelle. L’effet de ces biais sur la conformité des pays avec leurs engagements à l’OMC se révèle être très important: beaucoup de pays ont une subvention estimée au-dessus du plafond autorisé (même avec des interventions de faible ampleur), simplement parce que la subvention est surestimée par les règles de l’OMC. Ceci remet en cause l’idée très répandue selon laquelle presque tous les pays seraient en règles vis-à-vis de leurs engagements sur les stocks publics et le soutien interne. Nous avons également testé les effets d’une correction partielle des biais B1, B2 et B3. Il s’avère que cette correction partielle ne permet pas d’éliminer le biais sur la conformité des pays avec leurs engagements à l’OMC. Ceci implique notamment qu’exprimer le prix fixe extérieur de référence (FERP) en dollar US, que le corriger par le taux d’inflation du pays ou que le remplacer par la moyenne de la valeur unitaire des importations ou des exportations au cours des cinq années précédentes (comme proposé par différents experts et pays Membres) ne serait pas suffisant pour corriger le bais sur la conformité des pays avec leurs engagements. Il est donc nécessaire de corriger les trois biais, ce qui peut être fait d’une manière assez simple, comme nous le montrons à la fin de l’article. |
| Keywords: | subsidy,domestic support,organisation mondiale du commerce,world trade organization,Doha round,Bali agreement,public stock,cycle de Doha,accord de Bali,stock public,subvention,soutien interne |
| Date: | 2015 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hal:wpaper:hal-01295403&r=agr |
| By: | Resnick, Danielle; Mason, Nicole |
| Abstract: | When and why do sub-optimal agricultural policies persist despite technical evidence highlighting alternatives? And what explains episodes of reform after prolonged periods of policy inertia? This paper addresses these questions by applying the Kaleidoscope Model for agricultural and food security policy change to the specific case of agricultural input policy in Zambia. Since 2002, the Farmer Input Support Program (FISP) (formerly the Fertilizer Support Program, FSP) has been a major cornerstone of Zambia’s agricultural policy. Over the years, however, many researchers have highlighted weaknesses with the program and proposed other options. |
| Keywords: | Agricultural and Food Policy, Food Security and Poverty, |
| Date: | 2016–10 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:midamp:246951&r=agr |
| By: | Theesfeld, Insa; Rogge, Nicole |
| Abstract: | Urban agriculture has become a rapidly growing international movement. Most urban gardens are established, organized and managed collectively as commons. When applying collective action theory to urban gardens, it becomes evident that they are special in the motivation why people get organized to produce food. Particularly in developed countries, urban gardens emerge in response to a lack of participation in city development, democratic use of public spaces or opportunities and time for socializing instead of economic competitiveness or the desire for regional food. Therefore communities emerge which design, change and manage their urban landscape and rise up new urban social-ecological systems. Yet, urban agriculture, or urban gardens, lack closer scientific examination in this respect. Therefore, the paper presents elements which are characteristic to describe this recent development. Likewise, we present criteria to explore the differences between the gardens. With three pilot case studies we demonstrate the applicability of these criteria in urban gardens to differentiate between different degrees of collectively used resources and therefore diverse levels of collective action in urban garden projects. We can show that many urban agriculture movements offer the possibility to build new regional identities through the option of sharing time, sharing knowledge and participation in public decisions. |
| Keywords: | urban agriculture, classification, collective action, social needs, social identity, collective and individual use, Community/Rural/Urban Development, |
| Date: | 2016 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:gewi16:244892&r=agr |
| By: | Weaver, Robert D.; Rosa, Franco |
| Abstract: | This research is an application of the econometric price series to the analysis of dairy chain efficiency in Italy. At a theoretic level, the price transmission and asymmetry in the speed of adjustment to positive and negative price changes is supported by the Industrial Organization, multi market equilibrium, food chain theories. However this does not provide a clear signal of competitiveness as many conditions may induce stickiness (curvature of demand, local cost and externalities, long term contracts. While evidences from past EU studies about the dairy sector are mixed, several studies have demonstrated the evidence of price asymmetries in different market contests. The aim of this research is to examine the price dynamics along the dairy chain and offer some empirical evidences about the cointegration and asymmetric price transmission at different market levels. The parametric test of asymmetry in a multivariate VECM (vector error correction term), suggests symmetry in co-movement. To explore in deeper whether these results are robust with respect to nonlinearity it is estimated the threshold VECM model; the results suggest to reject the hypothesis of asymmetry with exception for the raw milk and wholesale butter. While market competitiveness can not be inferred only from evidence of asymmetry, these findings support the hypothesis that the market structure and policy in the Italian dairy chain didn’t affect greatly the price asymmetry. However, for the butter market, the public intervention seems to have generated speculative behavior among the operators and generated asymmetric price responses to positive/negative price changes. |
| Keywords: | dairy sector, CMO, time series analysis, asymmetric price transmission, TVECM, Agricultural and Food Policy, |
| Date: | 2016 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:eaa149:245113&r=agr |
| By: | Yu, Jianyu; Bouamra-Mechemache, Zohra; Zago, Angelo |
| Abstract: | Collective labels are widespread in food markets, either separated or nested with private brands, in this latter case then known as nested names. We propose a model to explain the rationale of nested names, with collective labels being effective in reaching unaware consumers, while individual brands helping firms in reaching expert consumers. We also incorporate the decision-making process within the group of producers joining collective labels, taking into account their heterogeneity in providing quality. Results show that nested names emerge when consumers become more aware about the label's quality information and when producers become more heterogeneous. Welfare tough may decrease when the group switches to nested names, as they reduce incentives to provide quality for less efficient producers. The results provide insights also to the historical and recent trends in food industries, such as within-label differentiation and label fragmentation, and their welfare implications. |
| Keywords: | individual brands, collective labels, nested names, consumers' awareness, firms' heterogeneity in quality provision, Agricultural and Food Policy, |
| Date: | 2016 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:eaa149:244897&r=agr |
| By: | Tesema, M.; Schmitter, Petra; Nakawuka, Prossie; Tilahun, S. A.; Steenhuis, T.; Langan, Simon |
| Abstract: | Paper presented at the International Conference of the Advancement of Science and Technology, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia, 17-18 July 2016 |
| Keywords: | Crop production, Crop management, Water productivity, Water use efficiency, Water conservation, Water management, Onions, Monsoon climate, Dry season, Watershed services, Wet cultivation, Soil moisture, Soil water balance, Rhizosphere, Rain, Agriculture, Fertilizer application, Ethiopia, Dangishta Watershed, Agribusiness, Environmental Economics and Policy, International Development, Productivity Analysis, Research and Development/Tech Change/Emerging Technologies, Research Methods/ Statistical Methods, |
| Date: | 2016 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:iwmicp:246414&r=agr |
| By: | Celine Bignebat (UMR MOISA - Marchés, Organisations, Institutions et Stratégies d'Acteurs - CIRAD - Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement - Montpellier SupAgro - Centre international d'études supérieures en sciences agronomiques - INRA Montpellier - Institut national de la recherche agronomique [Montpellier] - CIHEAM - Centre International des Hautes Études Agronomiques Méditerranéennes, DIAL - Développement Institutions & Analyses de Long terme); Pierre-Marie Bosc (UMR MOISA - Marchés, Organisations, Institutions et Stratégies d'Acteurs - CIRAD - Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement - Montpellier SupAgro - Centre international d'études supérieures en sciences agronomiques - INRA Montpellier - Institut national de la recherche agronomique [Montpellier] - CIHEAM - Centre International des Hautes Études Agronomiques Méditerranéennes, Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement); Philippe Perrier-Cornet (UMR MOISA - Marchés, Organisations, Institutions et Stratégies d'Acteurs - CIRAD - Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement - Montpellier SupAgro - Centre international d'études supérieures en sciences agronomiques - INRA Montpellier - Institut national de la recherche agronomique [Montpellier] - CIHEAM - Centre International des Hautes Études Agronomiques Méditerranéennes) |
| Abstract: | The question of farm size has long been a concern in the agricultural economics literature. The observation of a long-lasting persistence of so-called small farms drew the attention of numerous researchers. The size of farms is often approximated by the farm area in hectares or the added value and gross margin. We propose to investigate the opportunity to use labour (family labour and hired, permanent and seasonal, wage labour) as an entry point for a typology of agricultural holdings, with an application on French data from the Census collected in 2000. Then, we characterize the holdings belonging to the groups defined by the typology based on the type of labour. |
| Abstract: | La question de la taille des exploitations agricoles, en relation avec leurs performances, a été largement abordée par la littérature dédiée à l’économie agricole. En particulier, la persistance de l’existence de petites exploitations a attiré l’attention. La taille des exploitations est le plus souvent estimée en hectares, en valeur ajoutée ou en chiffre d’affaires. Cet article propose une entrée par le travail (familial ou salarié, saisonnier ou permanent) pour construire une typologie des exploitations françaises sur la base du Recensement Agricole 2000. Il caractérise ensuite les différents types d’exploitations identifiées. |
| Keywords: | farm size,agricultural labour |
| Date: | 2015 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hal:wpaper:hal-01294793&r=agr |
| By: | Fedoseeva, Svetlana |
| Abstract: | This paper is a back-of-the-envelope attempt to assess the losses that German agri-food exporters encountered due to the Russian import ban that was introduced in August 2014 and recently has been extended for at least one more year. Looking at exports in a time-series perspective it is shown that exporters’ losses due to the boycott itself are not that severe if two earlier episodes of rather drastic export reductions are taken into account: first, due to Russian import restrictions of meat and milk products in 2013 and second, due to an increased uncertainty in European-Russian trade relations as the Ukrainian conflict escalated and sides exchanged the very first sanctions. The results suggest that although the import ban had a negative impact on German agri-food exports to Russia, its extent was not as large as one may guesstimate without considering a broader picture of trade barriers imposed by Russia on German exporters in the recent years. |
| Keywords: | Sanctions, import ban, Russia, Germany, agri-food exports, International Relations/Trade, |
| Date: | 2016 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:gewi16:244867&r=agr |
| By: | Eggert, Håkan (Department of Economics, School of Business, Economics and Law, Göteborg University); Kataria, Mitesh (Department of Economics, School of Business, Economics and Law, Göteborg University); Lampi, Elina (Department of Economics, School of Business, Economics and Law, Göteborg University) |
| Abstract: | This paper investigates trust among stakeholders in fisheries management. We asked the general public, environmental bureaucrats, and recreational and commercial fishers whether they believed various stakeholders have sufficient knowledge to take a stance regarding fisheries management issues in a choice experiment they themselves had just been exposed to. We found that the general public and recreational fishers tend to trust bureaucrats to have sufficient knowledge, while bureaucrats distrust the general public. The commercial fishers in our sample deviate from the other respondents with high self-trust and low trust in both the general public and bureaucrats. In addition, bureaucrats tend to think that their colleagues are more knowledgeable than them. When looking at observable characteristics, we find that, regardless of comparison group, males show higher trust in their own knowledge than do females, and those with higher education believe they are more knowledgeable than people in general. |
| Keywords: | Trust; Fisheries Management; Overconfidence; Choice experiment |
| JEL: | Q22 |
| Date: | 2016–10 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hhs:gunwpe:0675&r=agr |
| By: | Ryzhenkov, Mykola |
| Abstract: | The paper studies resource misallocation in Ukraine’s food industry and its impact on industry’s total factor productivity during the period of 2002-2010. Applying Hsieh and Klenow (2009) framework to the dataset of 8,410 Ukrainian food producers, I found that optimal allocation of resources can potentially increase the productivity of this sector by 166-400%. The extent of misallocation in the manufacturing of food and beverages is not uniform across industries, as well as across regions of Ukraine. Results also show that in the case of optimal allocation of resources, small and medium enterprises should have a higher role in food production sector. |
| Keywords: | resource misallocation, food industry, total factor productivity, output distortions, capital distortions, Productivity Analysis, D24, D61, L66, O12, Q18, |
| Date: | 2016–09–20 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:eaa155:245173&r=agr |
| By: | Epstein, David; Curtiss, Jarmila |
| Abstract: | The great diversity of farms with regard to production, ownership and/or corporate structure and significant initial undercapitalization characteristic for post-socialist countries can be assumed to form conditions that allowed for diverse farm development strategies. The aim of this paper is to identify significantly different farm capital growth trajectories that characterize structural development of Russian agriculture. Special attention is paid to financial performance and strategies of agriholding farms. We apply a semi-parametric group-based trajectory modelling approach on the financial statement data of agricultural enterprises from northwest Russia from 2001 to 2012. We identified five groups of farms with significantly different growth trajectories. Most representative for the analyzed region are farms with continuous close to zero capital growth, while other (smaller) groups of farms display high fixed capital growth of various levels. Most farms incorporated into holding structures, predominantly very large farms, are found to display high financial performance and secure gradual growth. |
| Keywords: | Financial performance, capital growth, group-based trajectory modelling, Russia, agroholdings, Agricultural and Food Policy, |
| Date: | 2016 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:eaa149:245112&r=agr |
| By: | Ghoshray, Atanu (Newcastle University Business School, Newcastle-upon-Tyne); Pundit, Madhavi (Asian Development Bank) |
| Abstract: | The recent slowdown of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) has led to question to what extent the PRC demand of commodities can have an impact on commodity prices. We take into account the fact that commodity prices are characterized by structural breaks, and to this end we make use of novel econometric procedures incorporating the Flexible Fourier Form when testing for causal relations between the PRC slowdown and commodity prices. We find varying degrees of response of the PRC slowdown on different commodity prices. Further, this study determines whether the economic growth in selected developing and emerging Asian countries that are heavily dependent on commodities respond in an asymmetric manner to positive commodity price shocks as opposed to negative price shocks. Adopting a structural dynamic regression and censoring positive and negative shocks, we find limited evidence of any asymmetric response of economic activity to positive and negative commodity price shocks. |
| Keywords: | commodity prices; economic growth; Flexible Fourier Form; impulse response analysis; PRC slowdown |
| JEL: | C22 C32 F43 O47 Q31 |
| Date: | 2016–07–27 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ris:adbewp:0493&r=agr |
| By: | Katchova, Ani L.; Ahearn, Mary Clare |
| Abstract: | This study uses a linked-farm approach (linking farms over time) and a cohort approach (farms that started operating in the same year) to determine exit rates conditional on the number of years a farm has been operating. Linear forecasting, moving-average forecasting, and using data from a later Census are used to re-estimate the number of new farms in their first year of operating. Using the linked-farm approach, an average annual entry rate of 7.5% and exit rate of 8.5% is estimated for 2007 to 2012, which vary based on the farmer’s lifecycle. The cohort approach shows that exit rates are lower than 4% for the first 40 years of operating a farm business and then exit rates gradually increase. Revised estimates of approximately 70-80,000 new farms entering each year are calculated, which are considerably higher numbers than the 30-40,000 new farm entrants participating in the Census of Agriculture. The linked-farm and cohort approaches are used to provide updated estimates for farm entry and exit using new Census data and to make comparisons with previous years. To our knowledge, this is the first study to provide revised estimates for new farm entrants into U.S. agriculture. |
| Keywords: | farm exits, farm entry, beginning farmers, Agricultural and Food Policy, Farm Management, |
| Date: | 2016 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:eaa149:244950&r=agr |
| By: | David-Benz, Hélène; Andriandralambo, Norontsoa; Soanjara, Helgina; Chimirri, Chiara; Rahelizatovo, Noro; Rivolala, Bezaka |
| Abstract: | The circulation of information has been pointed out by the economic literature as a main factor of market performance. In developing countries, information asymmetries are frequently mentioned as limiting the effectiveness of agricultural markets. Rice market in Madagascar, characterized by a great instability and a poor spatial integration, is an illustration of such situation. Market Information Systems (MIS) aim at improving market performance, through the dissemination of information to producers and other market players. However, their effectiveness often remains limited, hampered by the lack of consideration of the market players’ behavior and constraints, especially those of smallholder farmers. Livelihoods, commercialization practices and access to market information are analyzed on a sample of 582 farm households in two main rice production areas in Madagascar. Different ways to disseminate market information and knowledge are tested on a subsample of farmers and extension staff: SMS, radio programs, and educational modules. A light survey on the recipient provides early feed-backs on their appraisal of each communication media. To have a better access to market information is perceived as necessary by the majority of producers. Expectations in term of information are differentiated according to producers’ types and their degree of remoteness. The more the actors are involved in market (more marketable surplus or paddy collection), the more they demand for precise and personalized communication means (ie. mobile phone) and the more they are willing to pay the information. Yet, the capacities of the majority of producers hamper the adoption of systems based only on mobile phone. Furthermore a large share of farmer households still doesn’t have a mobile phone. Among those that do, there is rapid turn-over of phone numbers, which cannot allow maintaining sustainably recipients. To alleviate the risk of increasing inequalities while developing MIS entirely based on mobile phones, it seems critical to include them within extension or other farmer support programs, and to diversify communication means (including radio, bulletin board) along with marketing capacity building. |
| Keywords: | market access, market information systems, smallholder farmer, price, rice, Agricultural and Food Policy, |
| Date: | 2016 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:eaa149:245073&r=agr |
| By: | Scheufele, Gabriela; Smith, Hilary; Tsechalicha, Xiong |
| Abstract: | This report analyses the legal foundations for the design and implementation of PES schemes in the Lao PDR and provides recommendations to address potential legal barriers. Key challenges that may limit the supply effectiveness and efficiency of PES schemes in the Lao context include investment risks to buyers and sellers; liability risks to agents; potentially high transaction costs due to administrative requirements; and restrictions in the range of legally eligible ES supply actions. Drivers of these challenges include aspects of the land tenure system; land use restrictions (including access) that may limit the range of eligible supply actions; approval and registration requirements that may apply to some supply actions; requirements of business registration and the payment of taxes that may apply to ES sellers; feasibility of PES contracting and enforcement; and potential challenges in establishing an impartial, accessible and fair mechanism for grievance, conflict resolution and redress. |
| Keywords: | business registration, land categories, land tenure, PES schemes, PES contracting, Environmental Economics and Policy, |
| Date: | 2015–02 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:anueir:244014&r=agr |
| By: | Matteo Bonato |
| Abstract: | This papers adopts the recently proposed realized Beta GARCH model of Hansen et al. (J. Appl. Econ. (2014)) to examine the changes in price and return dynamics that affected the commodity market during the 2007-2008 boom and bust. We provide evidence that, starting from2006, realized correlations between agricultural commodities within the same group significantly increased. Moreover, the observed increase in correlations between agriculturals and oil was greater still. The dynamics of the volatility spillover across commodities are also investigated. It is found that spillover effects became more evident prior to the commodity price crash. However, this increase in volatility transmission tended to anticipate the increase in correlations. To conclude, it is shown that the size of a short position in oil required to hedge a long agricultural commodity position , given by the realized beta, therefore increased significantly. |
| Keywords: | Commodities, Correlation, Beta, Volatility Spillover, Realized Measures |
| Date: | 2016–10 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:rza:wpaper:639&r=agr |
| By: | Böcker, Thomas Gerd; Finger, Robert |
| Abstract: | We present a meta-analysis based on all studies that have estimated pesticide demand elasticities in Europe and North-America. Our meta-analysis allows identifying demand elasticity estimates across various categories, ranging from the type of pesticide or agricultural systems considered to the methodology employed and the publication channel. We find that the demand for pesticides in special crops is less elastic compared to arable and grassland farming. Moreover, the results indicate that herbicides have a more elastic demand compared to other pesticides. Studies that consider short-term horizons and little flexibility for farmers to adjust indicate significantly less elastic pesticide demands. |
| Keywords: | Own-price elasticity of demand, pesticides, meta-analysis, robust regression, Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney test, Demand and Price Analysis, Environmental Economics and Policy, |
| Date: | 2016 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:gewi16:244871&r=agr |
| By: | Mukherjee, Sacchidananda; Chakraborty, Debashis |
| Abstract: | With advent of economic growth, rapid urbanization has led to a consequent rise in demand for water supply and sanitation (WSS) services. The growth rate of urban population is quite high in regions characterized by low and middle-income, namely, Sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, Middle East and North Africa, East Asia and the Pacific, Latin America and the Caribbean. Given the poor access to WSS across several regions, the present analysis attempts to estimate the demand for investment in this sector. The empirical estimates reveals that to achieve universal access to improved WSS by 2019, the stock of investment in water services should reach US $2,240 billion at 2005 prices in 2019. At the given stock of investment in 2012, an additional investment of US$ 590 billion (US$ 134 billion in water supply and US$ 456 billion in sanitation) would be required in new water services infrastructure to reach the desired stock of investment by 2019. Given the high investment requirements in lower-income countries, and the potential shortfall in required capacity creation through government budgetary devolutions, the analysis recommends move towards several reforms, including, liberalization of investment regimes, implementation of water-saving innovations, integration of stormwater and rainwater management practices with the wider urban planning. |
| Keywords: | water and sanitation service, infrastructure investment, MDG, urbanization |
| JEL: | H4 H41 I15 I18 |
| Date: | 2016–10–27 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pra:mprapa:74767&r=agr |
| By: | Dakpo, K Hervé; Desjeux, Yann; Jeanneaux, Philippe; Latruffe, Laure |
| Abstract: | The objective of the article is to assess productivity change in French agriculture during 2002-2014, namely total factor productivity (TFP) change and its components technological change and efficiency change. For this, we use the economically-ideal Färe-Primont index which verifies the multiplicatively completeness property and is also transitive, allowing for multi-temporal/lateral comparisons. To compare the technology gap change between the six types of farming considered, we extend the Färe-Primont to the meta-frontier framework. Results indicated that during 2002-2014, all farms had a TFP progress. Pig/poultry farms had the lowest TFP increase while beef farms had the highest (19.1%). The latter had the strongest increase in efficiency change, while technological progress was the highest for mixed farms. The meta-frontier analysis indicates that field crop farms’ technology is the most productive of all types of farming. |
| Keywords: | total factor productivity, Färe-Primont index, meta-frontier, French farms, Agricultural and Food Policy, Farm Management, |
| Date: | 2016 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:eaa149:244793&r=agr |