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on Agricultural Economics |
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Issue of 2016‒11‒20
74 papers chosen by |
| By: | Tesfaye, Wondimagegn (UNU-MERIT); Tirivayi, Nyasha (UNU-MERIT) |
| Abstract: | Postharvest loss exacerbates the food insecurity and welfare loss of farming households in developing countries. This paper analyses the effect of improved storage, a climate-smart crop management technology, on household food and nutrition security, market participation and welfare using nationally representative data from Ethiopia. Endogenous switching regression models are employed to control for selection bias and unobserved heterogeneity. The results show that improved storage use is mainly associated with climatic factors, access to extension service, liquidity constraints, infrastructure and market access. Improved storage significantly increases the dietary diversity, reduces child malnutrition and negative changes in diet. In addition, use of improved storage technologies increases farmers' participation in output markets as sellers, the proportion of harvest sold and their marketing flexibility by altering the choice of market outlets. Further, the paper provides evidence that households that did not use improved storage would have benefited significantly had they decided to adopt. Overall, the study suggests that improved storage technologies are effective tools for risk coping and enhancing food security and would play a key role in the current debate of feeding a growing population in the face of climate change. |
| Keywords: | storage, innovations, economics of innovation, postharvest loss, food security, climate-smart technology, endogenous switching regression, Ethiopia |
| JEL: | Q12 Q16 Q18 O33 D13 |
| Date: | 2016–11–14 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:unm:unumer:2016063&r=agr |
| By: | Mark Paul (Samuel DuBois Cook Center on Social Equity, Duke University) |
| Abstract: | In the United States there is a tremendous amount of interest in Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) among farmers, consumers, activists, and policymakers. Despite the attention garnered by CSA farms and the resurgence of local agriculture, relatively few studies have examined the livelihood opportunities for farmers within local agriculture. This paper takes a step in this direction, evaluating livelihoods for CSA farmers through in-depth interviews conducted in the Pioneer Valley of Massachusetts. Based on the principles early advocates set forth as goals of the CSA movement, the paper evaluates how CSA farmers are doing from the farmers’ perspective. The paper finds that while CSA farmers are faring better than other farms across the United States and in the study region in terms of earned farm income, they still earn far less than the median national income of all households. Despite these income challenges, CSA provides broader social, ecological, and economic benefits to farming communities as a whole, with its focus on providing food for the community rather than producing mass commodities for the market. These non-market benefits are a significant source of well-being from the CSA farmers’ perspective. |
| Keywords: | Community Supported Agriculture, Local Food, Sustainability, Economic Inequality, Ecological Economics |
| Date: | 2016–10–16 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ums:papers:2016-13&r=agr |
| By: | Asfaw, Solomon; Carraro, Alessandro |
| Abstract: | The Farm Input Subsidy Program (FISP) in Malawi was introduced in 2005/06 season against the background of bad weather affecting production, prolonged food shortages and high input prices in the absence of soft farm input loans for smallholder farmers. The primary purpose of the program was to increase resource-poor smallholder farmers’ access to improved agricultural farm inputs to achieve food self-sufficiency and increased income through increased maize and legume production. This paper uses a recently released panel data of nationally representative sample households combined with geo-referenced climate and administrative data to analyze FISP targeting effectiveness and the program’s impact on a broad set of welfare outcome variables including consumption, caloric intake, marketed surplus and crop productivity, within a context of climate variability. Our study finds that Malawi’s FISP targeting needs to improve if the primary target is to reach resource-poor and climate-constrained households. Moreover, results show that the program is positively associated with household welfare, food security and productivity. Heterogeneity analysis also suggests that the program benefits households residing in areas characterized by higher climate variability, with a stronger impact for a larger level of treatment. |
| Keywords: | Farm Input Subsidy Program, program evaluation, targeting, climate change, Malawi, Africa, Agricultural Finance, Environmental Economics and Policy, Research and Development/Tech Change/Emerging Technologies, O13, O22, Q18, Q54, |
| Date: | 2016–09 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:aaae16:246281&r=agr |
| By: | Kirui, Oliver K. |
| Abstract: | The debate on the land degradation – poverty linkages is inconclusive. However, the inter-linkages between land degradation and poverty are thought to be strong in the rural areas of low income countries where livelihoods predominantly depend on agriculture. This study seeks to contribute to the existing literature by establishing the causal relationships between poverty and land degradation and examines its magnitude using nationally representative panel data in Malawi and Tanzania. While using a simultaneous equation model and controlling for unobserved heterogeneity, the findings suggest that poverty contributes to land degradation as a result of poor households’ inability to invest in natural resource conservation and improvement. Land degradation in turn contributes to low and declining agricultural productivity, which in turn contributes to worsening poverty. Specifically, land degradation significantly increases the probability of household poverty by 35% in Malawi and 48% in Tanzania. Poor households have 69% and 67% more likelihood to experience land degradation in Malawi and Tanzania respectively. These findings suggest the importance of including land degradation perspective in poverty analysis among the rural households who heavily depend on land resources for their livelihoods. The pathways through which land degradation influence poverty should be explored so as to improving household welfare. |
| Keywords: | Land degradation, poverty, panel data, simultaneous equation model, eastern Africa, Food Security and Poverty, Land Economics/Use, Research Methods/ Statistical Methods, |
| Date: | 2016–09 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:aaae16:246396&r=agr |
| By: | Mtimet, Nadhem; Pica-Ciamarra, Ugo |
| Abstract: | Enhancing access to output markets for smallholder farmers is recognized as an effective tool for poverty reduction: the more smallholders produce and sell to the market, the higher their income and overall livelihoods. The underlying assumption, which is rarely spelled-out, is that market access represents a major incentive for smallholders to shift their production objective from subsistence to commercial, i.e. to set up sustainable businesses, be they either small or large, around their agricultural assets. This paper relies on the Uganda 2011/12 National Panel Survey (NPS) to investigate the linkages between access to market and dairy farmers’ self-reported subsistence and commercial production objectives. Market access, including both market participation and intensity of participation, is found to depend on a variety of observable farmers’ characteristics. Market participation, however, does also depend on whether the farmer considers himself or herself as commercially-oriented. There are thus some unobservable characteristics, such as smallholder’s risk attitude and willingness to invest in dairy, that influence farmer’s decision to participate in markets, and that are difficult to capture using traditional household and farm level data. This makes it challenging for decision-makers to design and implement policies that utilize markets as a tool out of poverty. |
| Keywords: | Smallholders, Dairy, Uganda, Market Access, Household Surveys, Heckman model, Consumer/Household Economics, Livestock Production/Industries, Marketing, |
| Date: | 2016–09 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:aaae16:249282&r=agr |
| By: | Wabwile, Victor K.; Ingasia, Oscar A.; Langat, Jackson K. |
| Abstract: | This study evaluates the effect of improved sweet potato varieties on household food security. Data was collected from cross sectional survey of 164 sweet potato farmers in Kenya. Food security was measured using the Household Dietary diversity Score (HDDS) and endogenous switching probit model used to assess the effect of improved sweet potato varieties on household food security. Off-farm income, output of sweet potato, farm size, land tenure and government extension were the main drivers of food security. Findings were that adopters of improved varieties were likely to be food secure compared to their counterfactual case of not adopting the improved varieties. Additionally, non adopters would do no better or worse than a random individual if they adopt the improved sweet potato varieties. Policies that increase improved sweet potato variety productivity and ease farmers’ adoption constraints can ensure that farmers diversify farm income to enhance the food security of households |
| Keywords: | Improved Variety, Food security, endogenous switching probit model, adoption, Kenya, Food Security and Poverty, Research and Development/Tech Change/Emerging Technologies, |
| Date: | 2016–09 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:aaae16:246916&r=agr |
| By: | Njuki, Eric; Bravo-Ureta, Boris E. |
| Abstract: | Water and agriculture are inextricably linked. Within Africa, several water-related challenges exist that present numerous obstacles and have the potential to impede Africa’s continued economic growth. These include: the threat of climate change, as characterized by extreme weather events such as floods, and frequent and intense droughts; a multiplicity of trans-boundary water resources without a coherent arrangement on riparian rights; lack of sufficient water infrastructure for supply and delivery of the water resource; and lack of official data on water use that can be used to formulate good public policy. All these factors have served to increase water scarcity and to raise the competition for scarce water resources between the agricultural sector and other sectors of the economy, such as industry and urban households. A prerequisite to mitigating these challenges is the establishment of an integrated water management system that promotes water productivity and efficiency. Thus, the primary objective of this study is to highlight methods and techniques for evaluating agricultural water productivity and water use efficiency that are replicable, globally. For this purpose we construct a total factor productivity index using the General index proposed in O’Donnell (2016), thereafter we demonstrate how to decompose the partial productivity of water using U.S. agricultural data for the period 1960-2004. |
| Keywords: | Environmental Economics and Policy, Resource /Energy Economics and Policy, |
| Date: | 2016–09 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:aaae16:246948&r=agr |
| By: | Boulanger, Pierre; Dudu, Hasan; Ferrari, Emanuele; Mainar, Alfredo; Proietti, Ilaria |
| Abstract: | Food security remains a key challenge in many Sub-Saharan African countries and in Kenya in particular. Despite the astonishing improvement achieved in the last decades, still a relevant share of the population lives below the minimum level of dietary energy consumption. Kenya addresses this concern with a noteworthy policy mix, aiming at giving to the agricultural sector a leading task in improving food security. In this paper, through a Computable General Equilibrium (CGE) model specifically modified for the context of developing country analyses, we address the impacts of three input policy options with reference to increases in fertiliser use, seed quality and irrigation investment. For the purpose of the study, a desegregated version of a 2014 Social Accounting Matrix (SAM) has been developed for Kenya. First results of simulated policy changes present overall positive effects on key food security aggregates related to food availability and access. Nevertheless a more careful analysis at regional and household type levels is required in order to draw wide-ranging policy recommendations. |
| Keywords: | Food Security and Poverty, Research and Development/Tech Change/Emerging Technologies, |
| Date: | 2016–09 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:aaae16:246954&r=agr |
| By: | Gitonga, Zachary M.; De Groote, Hugo |
| Abstract: | Kenya has made significant strides in developing hybrid maize varieties and is considered a success story in the region. The number of hybrid varieties released per year has been increasing but average maize yields and consumption have been declining resulting to food insecurity in both urban and rural areas. Past studies evaluated the impact of hybrid maize on income inequality and poverty but none on food security impact in Kenya. This paper used representative data from 1344 households to answer this question. Three food security indicators are considered: Months of adequate household food provisioning (MAHFP), household food insecurity access scale (HFIAS) scores and household food insecurity access prevalence (HFIAP). The paper applies two step gmm2s specification and corresponding tests for relevance and validity of the instruments. Household food insecurity prevalence is assessed using generalized ordered logit model. Food security increase with hybrid maize adoption, maize sales, wealth, education, access to financial services and irrigation water but decline with household size. Food security also vary with agro ecological zones. Hybrid maize adoption reduces the risk of being moderately and severely food insecure by 5% and 13% respectively. Results suggest the need for policies that enhance hybrid seed adoption, surplus production, education, improve welfare and promote family planning. |
| Keywords: | Kenya. HFIAS, Food insecurity prevalence. Ivreg2. gmm2s, Consumer/Household Economics, Food Security and Poverty, |
| Date: | 2016–09 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:aaae16:246315&r=agr |
| By: | Palazzo, Amanda; Vervoort, Joost M.; Mason- D'Croz, Daniel; Rutting, Lucas; Havlik, Petr; Islam, Shahnila; Bayala, Jules; Kadi, Hame Kadi; Thornton, Philip; Zougmore, Robert |
| Abstract: | The IPCC community’s Shared Socio-economic Pathways (SSPs) are a set of alternative global development futures focused on drivers of challenges to mitigation of and adaptation to climate change. However, the impacts and drivers of plausible future development at any national or regional level have yet to be examined for consistency within the global narrative. In this paper, we present four globally-consistent regional scenarios on Western Africa’s development that have been used to test and develop a range of national and regional policies. The regional scenarios were outlined independently by regional stakeholders but built around the context of the SSPs. The scenarios were quantified using two agricultural models, GLOBIOM and IMPACT, in interaction with drivers outlined by the SSPs and guided by semi-quantitative information from the stakeholders. Our paper 1) demonstrates how linkages of global SSPs and regional multi-stakeholder scenarios can be achieved through a process of critical comparison, starting from regional priorities, to produce consistent scenarios for future regional development; 2) provides insights for Western Africa on the future of development, agriculture, food security and climate impacts in both qualitative and quantitative scenarios; 3) reports on a set of scalable scenarios for regional decision makers and the scientific community to use to build and test robust agriculture and climate policies. |
| Keywords: | Environmental Economics and Policy, Resource /Energy Economics and Policy, |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:aaae16:246970&r=agr |
| By: | Peter B. Dixon; Maureen T. Rimmer; Rajesh Chadha; Devender Pratap; Anjali Tandon |
| Abstract: | Because of its flexibility and realism, CGE has gradually become the dominant form of economy-wide modelling (modelling that provides industry disaggregation in a quantitative description of the whole economy). Over the last 50 years, CGE models have been used in the analysis of an enormous variety of policy-relevant questions. This paper describes the construction and initial application of the first version of the NCAER-VU CGE model of India. We describe in detail our process of transforming input-output data published by India Statistics into a form suitable for CGE modelling. We have also expended considerable effort in processing data on agricultural land use with the aim of facilitating applications concerned with agricultural policy. As an illustrative simulation, we investigate the effects of removing or modifying agricultural subsidies (which account for about 2.5 per cent of Indian GDP). We find that these subsidies inflict a GDP dead-weight loss of about 0.20%, but do not contribute to the objective of supporting farm income. However, if subsidies to Fertilizer and Electricity used by agriculture were phased out and replaced with additional production and sales subsidies, then real farm income would be increased by about 4% with no deterioration in the public sector budget, almost no effect on food security, and small increases in GDP and overall welfare. |
| Keywords: | fertilizer subsidies, electricity subsidies, India, CGE model |
| JEL: | C68 Q18 H25 |
| Date: | 2016–11 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:cop:wpaper:g-265&r=agr |
| By: | Dhavu, K.; Modiselle, S.; Seopa, J.; Manyako, E. |
| Abstract: | Rural Development has emerged as a national priority and access to water a key ingredient to unlock possibilities for satisfying livelihoods strategies for the rural communities and Historical Disadvantaged Individual (HDI) farmers who do not have enough resource. Without access to sufficient water for both domestic and productive uses in and around the household, the rural poor and most vulnerable are excluded from options that would allow them to diversify and secure their sources of livelihoods and thus reduce their poverty level. The policy and practice of agriculture in South Africa has changed over the past two decades to accommodate these resource poor farmers but the assistance is often not well-coordinated.. Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) has been implementing Resource Poor Farmer (RFP) policy that aimed at assisting resource poor farmers with funds to purchase water infrastructure. DWS requested Agricultural Resource Council to undertake a study to review the RFP policy with intention to enhance accessibility of funds and relaxing some requirements needed during application process. The study results suggested improvement in the application process and alignment of support towards resource poor farmers. |
| Keywords: | Rural development, livelihoods, Resource Poor Farmer, policy review, Agricultural and Food Policy, Community/Rural/Urban Development, |
| Date: | 2016–09 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:aaae16:249332&r=agr |
| By: | Kirui, Oliver K.; Mirzabaev, Alisher |
| Abstract: | Land degradation – defined by the Economics of Land Degradation (ELD) initiative as a “reduction in the economic value of ecosystem services and goods derived from land” – is a serious impediment to improving rural livelihoods and food security of millions of people in the Eastern Africa region. The objectives of this paper are three fold; to identify the state, extent and patterns of land degradation, to estimate the costs of land degradation, and to compares the costs of action against inaction against land degradation using the Total Economic Value approach in four countries – Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi and Tanzania. Results show that land degradation hotspots cover about 51%, 41%, 23% and 22% of the terrestrial areas in Tanzania, Malawi, Ethiopia and Kenya respectively. Following the Total Economic Value (TEV) framework, the cost of land degradation between 2001-2009 periods is about 2 billion USD in Malawi, 11 billion USD in Kenya, 18 billion USD in Tanzania and 35 billion USD in Ethiopia. These represents about 5%, 7%, 14% and 23%, of GDP in Kenya, Malawi, Tanzania and Ethiopia respectively. Taking action against land degradation is more favorable than inaction in both short-term (6 year) and a long-term (30 year) periods. During the 30-year period, for every dollar spent on taking action against land degradation users will expect a return of about $ 4.2 in Ethiopia, $ 4.1 in Kenya, $ 3.8 in Tanzania, and $ 3.7 in Malawi. |
| Keywords: | Environmental Economics and Policy, Land Economics/Use, |
| Date: | 2016–09 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:aaae16:249321&r=agr |
| By: | Muatha, Irene Teresia; Otieno, David Jakinda; Nyikal, Rose Adhiambo |
| Abstract: | The devolved governance structure in Kenya places the provision of agricultural sector services such as extension at the local units. However, farmers’ awareness on this aspect and where services are available remains limited and often there is confusion. In order to provide clarity and enhance the understanding of extension service delivery, this study sought to characterize farmers’ awareness of agricultural extension devolution and analyze factors that influence their awareness. Data was collected in Meru County using semi-structured questionnaires through face-to-face interviews on a representative multi-stage sample of 288 farmers. A binary logit model was applied to analyze the determinants of farmers’ awareness. Slightly less than half of the respondents indicated that they were aware of agricultural extension devolution. The factors that were found to significantly enhance awareness are attendance to farmer field days, land tenure security, income and education. |
| Keywords: | Extension-devolution, farmers, awareness, Kenya, Farm Management, Research and Development/Tech Change/Emerging Technologies, Teaching/Communication/Extension/Profession, |
| Date: | 2016–09 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:aaae16:246283&r=agr |
| By: | Khadjavi, Menusch; Sipangule, Kacana; Thiele, Rainer |
| Abstract: | Large-scale agricultural investments (LSAIs) typically depend on strong formal institutions and market-oriented intensive farming, whereas informal institutions tend to characterize the traditional villages located around them. We investigate changes to social capital in such villages when LSAIs materialize in their vicinity. Specifically, we employ a lab-in-the-field and a natural field experiment to elicit cooperation levels in villages that lie in the direct proximity of two LSAIs and compare them to villages further away. Our results reveal more cooperative outcomes for villages around the LSAIs. Smallholders who have worked on large-scale farms also show greater levels of cooperation than those who have no such work experience. Moreover, villages closer to the LSAIs demonstrate a higher propensity to share the public good provided in the natural field experiment. Taken together, these results suggest that beyond direct effects on employment, LSAIs yield positive externalities on cooperation, which are likely to be driven by increased exposure to more market-oriented forms of agriculture. |
| Keywords: | social capital,market exposure,cooperation,large-scale agricultural investments,field experiment,smallholders,Zambia |
| JEL: | C93 O10 O13 P14 Q12 Q15 |
| Date: | 2016 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:zbw:ifwkwp:2056&r=agr |
| By: | Moss, Charles B.; Schmitz, Andrew |
| Abstract: | This paper proposes a methodology to weight benefit/cost analysis in a way that increases the policy focus on food insecure households. Such a weighting may be important to policy makers such as the Consulting Group for International Agricultural Research who must choose between research and development alternatives in developing countries. Specifically, the weights can be set to emphasize the needs of low-resource households and smallholder agriculture. |
| Keywords: | welfare weights, food security, research and development choice, Financial Economics, Food Security and Poverty, Research and Development/Tech Change/Emerging Technologies, O11, Q16, D61, |
| Date: | 2016–09 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:aaae16:246905&r=agr |
| By: | Linderhof, Vincent; Powell, Jeffrey; Vignes, Romain; Ruben, Ruerd |
| Abstract: | The relationship between farm production diversity at the plot level and diversity of household consumption and caloric intake are econometrically estimated. Our results confirm previous findings that an increase in production diversity increases consumption diversity and thereby, presumably, household nutritional levels. In addition, we find a positive relationship between diversity of farm production and caloric intake. Three waves of the World Bank LSMS-ISA database for Uganda were used to create a panel data set. Fixed effects models were estimated. Preliminary results indicate that households that produce a greater diversity of crops, have higher food expenditures, have larger farms, and consume more from their own production have higher nutrition diversity and caloric intake. Policy implications are that strategies aimed at increasing household production diversity may have positive effects on household nutritional levels and caloric intake. |
| Keywords: | dietary diversity, panel data, farm production diversity, caloric intakes, Uganda, Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety, Production Economics, |
| Date: | 2016–09 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:aaae16:246444&r=agr |
| By: | Jingzhong Ye (IPC-IG); Lu Pan (IPC-IG) |
| Abstract: | "The Asia and the Pacific region has the largest number of family farms in the world. It is home to 60 per cent of the worlds population and to 74 per cent of the world's family farmers, with China alone representing 35 per cent and India 24 per cent of the estimated 570 million farms worldwide (Lowder et al. 2014). Though generally working in small plots of less than 2 hectares on average, family farmers in Asia and the Pacific produce 80 per cent of the total food needed to ensure food security in the region (AFA 2014). It is undeniable that family farming has played a central role in the socio-economic development and well-being of the entire population of Asia and the Pacific. As the reports for the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Regional Conference for Asia and the Pacific stated, 'family farming is essential for the sustainability of agricultural, forestry and fishery production systems... [family farms] are the context in which important decisions on natural resource management are made. They hold the key to achieving food security not only for themselves, but also for the increasingly large number of families that have left the farm sector for employment in other occupations'". (?) |
| Keywords: | Concepts, realities, family farming, Asia, Pacific |
| Date: | 2016–11 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ipc:wpaper:139&r=agr |
| By: | Bello, Muhammad; Abdulai, Awudu |
| Abstract: | Given the growing interest in the potential of organic agriculture to correct environmental externalities in sub-Saharan Africa, we use data from a hypothetical stated preference survey conducted in Nigeria to determine the market potentials of organic products as well as show how the relative importance that consumers attach to organic attributes varies strongly as a function of underlying attitudes. We specify a latent class structure that allows us to jointly analyze responses to stated choice and assignment to latent classes, while avoiding measurement error problems. Our results reveal that consumers are willing to pay premium for both environmental and health gains achieved through organic production systems, although their quantitative valuation is higher for the health concerns. Furthermore, we note that individuals with stronger preferences for organic products tend to attach a global value to the third party organic certification program attributes, whereas the valuation tends to be more restrictive among respondents that prioritize the status quo option (conventional alternative). We also observe that differences in respondents’ geographic location and level of awareness of organic food production characteristics (prior to the survey) have significant impact on consumers’ choices. |
| Keywords: | organic products, consumer segments, environmental and health attitudes, hybrid latent class, Consumer/Household Economics, Environmental Economics and Policy, Teaching/Communication/Extension/Profession, D12, Q13, Q18, Q56, |
| Date: | 2016–09 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:aaae16:246965&r=agr |
| By: | Riesgo, Laura; Louhichi, Kamel; Paloma, Sergio Gomez y |
| Abstract: | Fertilizer subsidy program is one of the most well-known and politically sensitive policies in Sub-Saharan countries. Countries such as Malawi, Nigeria, Ghana and Ethiopia are characterized by large funded fertilizer subsidy programs in recent years. Malawi, Ghana and Nigeria administer a targeted input subsidy program (e.g. fertiliser voucher program), while Ethiopia uses a universal subsidy program where the government imports fertilizer and distributes it among farmers at below-market price through the network of cooperative unions. These two programs, highly discussed in the literature, often raise a debate. This paper aims at contributing to this discussion by assessing the likely impacts of these two fertilizer subsidy programs (flexible and targeted programs) on the productivity and food security of Ethiopian smallholder farmers. A novel farm-household model, FSSIM-Dev (Farm System Simulator for Developing Countries), is used to test both programs as well as to assess their production, consumption and welfare effects on a nationally representative sample of farm households in Ethiopia. |
| Keywords: | Consumer/Household Economics, Food Security and Poverty, |
| Date: | 2016–09 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:aaae16:249265&r=agr |
| By: | Luca Di Corato (Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences); Michele Moretto (University of Padova, Fondazione Eni Enrico Mattei and Centro Studi Levi-Cases); Sergio Vergalli (University of Brescia and Fondazione Eni Enrico Mattei) |
| Abstract: | In this article we study the long-run average rate of forest conversion in Brazil. Deforestation results from the following trade-off: on the one hand, the uncertain value of benefits associated with forest conservation (biodiversity, carbon sequestration and other ecosystem services), on the other hand, the economic profits associated with land development (agriculture, ranching, etc.). We adopt the model by Bulte et al. (2002) as theoretical frame for studying land conversion and then derive, following Di Corato et al. (2013), the associated long-run average rate of forest conversion. We then identify the parameters to be used in our model. The object of our simulation is Brazil and 27 states. Our aim is to compute under several scenarios the time required to develop the remaining forested land in these states. We provide potential future scenarios, in terms of forest coverage, for the next 20, 100 and 200 years. Our results suggest that the uncertainty characterizing forest benefits plays a relevant role in deterring deforestation. We find that these benefits, if growing at a sufficiently high rate, may significantly slow down the conversion process. In contrast, a higher volatility accelerates the process of deforestation. We indicate the Brazilian states where forests are expected to be saturated earlier. In this respect, we find that forestland currently available may be expected to be fully converted within a 200-year horizon. |
| Keywords: | Deforestation, Long-run, Natural Resources Management, Optimal Stopping |
| JEL: | C61 D81 Q24 Q58 |
| Date: | 2016–09 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:fem:femwpa:2016.56&r=agr |
| By: | Kiplimo, L.B.; Ngeno, V. |
| Abstract: | Amidst declining agricultural productivity, farm level efficiency and persistent food security problems in Africa, land fragmentation is emerging as a key empirical and policy question in the region. In this paper, a novel approach is used to estimate the effects of land fragmentation. Quantile Regression-Based Thick Frontier (TFA) is applied to show how the overall change in landholding affects production efficiency in production. Applying cross-sectional survey data from Kenya, the results showed that the least efficient group of maize farmers in Kenya were those with the small average land holding attaining a maximum output of 70% of the actual attainable output. In terms of scale of production, the least efficient group fall short by 58% compared to their large scale peers. This approach is semi-parametric requiring few assumptions with simplified figures easy for policy communication. |
| Keywords: | Land fragmentation, Quantile Regression-Based Thick Frontier Approach, Farm Level Eciency, Kenya, Crop Production/Industries, Land Economics/Use, |
| Date: | 2016–09 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:aaae16:249280&r=agr |
| By: | Omiat, George; Shively, Gerald |
| Abstract: | Malnutrition rates have been on the decline in Uganda over the past two decades but remain above targets set as part of the Millennium Development Goal (MDG). Challenges to achieving nutritional improvements result, in part, from high staple foods prices, which raise the cost of the food basket and increase the risk of food and nutrition insecurity, especially for poor households who are net buyers of staple foods. In this paper we measure the cost of a nutritionally-adequate diet in Uganda across locations and over time. We use a linear programming model and observed prices to compute the lowest-cost diet in five markets, subject to a range of nutrient-specific constraints. We compare this cost to the Ugandan poverty line over the same period. We show that the real cost of obtaining a nutritionally-adequate diet grew at a rate of 3 to 9 percent per year over the period 2000 to 2011. Diet costs have exceeded the poverty line for most years since 2000, with the gap widening in the period 2007-2008. Our results highlight the importance of food prices to overall nutrition, and document spatial heterogeneity in diet costs in Uganda. Findings underscore the importance of developing and supporting interventions that raise the purchasing power of the poor and increase nutrition education and outreach aimed at cost-effectively achieving dietary diversity. |
| Keywords: | food prices, malnutrition, markets, Uganda, Financial Economics, Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety, Food Security and Poverty, |
| Date: | 2016–09 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:aaae16:246378&r=agr |
| By: | David, T.; Gitau, R.; Meyer, F.H.; Chisanga, B.; Jayne, T.S. |
| Abstract: | Food price volatility, particularly in key food staple markets, has been a long standing challenge in Sub-Saharan Africa, where prices are already some of the highest in the world. In many cases, governments have acted to curb volatility, though several researchers have shown that actions aimed at reducing volatility in the short run have often been counterproductive for long term aims of market led productivity growth that would be able to reduce high prices in the region. With increased intra-regional trade having been proposed as a solution to volatile prices in the region, this study finds that across a sample of 36 maize markets in Eastern and Southern Africa between 2008 and 2014, volatility is significantly lower in markets with higher trade volumes. Thus it postulates that policies aimed at increasing the efficiency and reducing the cost of intra-regional trade will be efficient in curbing volatility in the region, thus improving food security. |
| Keywords: | Demand and Price Analysis, International Relations/Trade, Marketing, |
| Date: | 2016–09 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:aaae16:249291&r=agr |
| By: | Amwata, D.A.; Nyariki, D.M.; Musimba, N.R.K |
| Abstract: | Food security in the arid and semi-arid areas (ASALs) of Kenya is linked to climate and socio-economic factors. This study was conducted in two ASAL counties of Kenya, Kajiado and Makueni, inhabited by pastoral communities. Both primary and secondary data were collected on climate and socio-economic aspects from published and unpublished documents. Time series data covering a 31 year period were collected on rainfall amounts, rain days, temperature, beef and maize prices, stocking, livestock sales and land under cultivation to generate descriptive statistics and regression results based on the OLS, GLS and AR models. Livestock contributed 78.2% and 38.3% of total income in Kajiado and Makueni Counties respectively. Crops contributed more to the total income in Makueni County at 52.7% compared to Kajiado County at 6.9%. Of the three models tested, the GLS was found to be the most appropriate based on the number of significant variables and the estimated R2 value. The model showed that rainfall, temperature, rain days, and beef and maize prices influence income in Kajiado and Makueni Counties. Therefore, creation of micro-climates through agroforestry moderates temperatures, attracts rainfall, sequesters carbon and provides services such as food, timber, raw materials and employment. Moreover, initiatives that regulate beef and maize prices ensure predictable markets and income in both counties. |
| Keywords: | Environmental Economics and Policy, Food Security and Poverty, |
| Date: | 2016–09 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:aaae16:249315&r=agr |
| By: | Kimenju, Simon C.; Qaim, Matin |
| Abstract: | We analyze how the nutrition transition, which involves a westernization of diets and increased consumption of calorie-dense, processed foods, affects child malnutrition in developing countries. It is often assumed that the nutrition transition affects child weight but not child growth, which could be one reason why child underweight decreases faster than child stunting. But these effects have hardly been analyzed empirically. Our cross-country panel regressions show that the nutrition transition reduces child underweight, while no consistent effect on child overweight is found. Against common views, our results also suggest that the nutrition transition reduces child stunting. Further research is required to confirm these findings. |
| Keywords: | Nutrition transition, malnutrition, stunting, underweight, obesity, Consumer/Household Economics, Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety, Health Economics and Policy, |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:aaae16:246385&r=agr |
| By: | Aboua, Christian |
| Abstract: | Using DEA model and cost-benefit analysis, this study analyzes resource efficiency and economic efficiency of 32 fish farms in the South-eastern Côte d'Ivoire. Results showed that the mean scores of technical and economic efficiency are respectively 0.575 and 0.553. There is a positive relationship between technical efficiency and economic efficiency, indicating that the farms that produce efficiently are likely to generate maximum revenue. Trained fish farmers using industrial food are the most technically and economically efficient, followed by untrained fish farmers with high level of experience who reformulate themselves their fish feed. The results of resource efficiency indicated that fish farms generate waste in the use of resources (feed, fingerling, water and land).On the other hand, the optimal management simultaneously to a minimization in the use of resources and maximization of production could help to increase production level of 16.18%. Finally, the cost-benefit analysis showed that, on average, fish farms achieve a positive gross and net margin. The results show the important role of governments in fish farmer’s access to feed and fingerlings. Promote and support research in the formulation of local feed available at lower costs; strengthen cooperation with private sector partners to enable extension and support services, to appropriate new production techniques and disseminated to farmers, are the main recommendations of the study. |
| Keywords: | Economic Efficiency, Resource Efficiency, Profitability, Fish farming, Côte d’Ivoire, Livestock Production/Industries, Resource /Energy Economics and Policy, |
| Date: | 2016–09 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:aaae16:249307&r=agr |
| By: | Van Campenhout, Bjorn |
| Abstract: | To feed a growing and increasingly urbanized population, Uganda needs to increase crop production without further exhausting available resources. Therefore, smallholders farmers are encouraged to adopt sustainable crop intensification methods such as inorganic fertilizer or hybrid seeds. However, these farmers perceive these new technologies as risky, hence adoption will depend on how well they can manage this additional risk. This article documents patterns observed in socio-economic data that suggest risk is an important barrier to sustainable crop intensification practices among Ugandan small-holder rice and potato farmers. |
| Keywords: | Crop Production/Industries, Environmental Economics and Policy, Risk and Uncertainty, |
| Date: | 2016–09 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:aaae16:246917&r=agr |
| By: | Seck, Abdoulaye |
| Abstract: | In a consistent effort to raise productivity and unlock the unrivaled economic and social potentials of the agricultural sector, the Senegalese government, as many of its African counterparts, has designed and implemented heavy subsidy programs, some of which targeting the use of inputs. This paper assesses the potential impact of fertilizer subsidy on farmers' productivity. Using a farm-level survey data from the Senegal River Valley, the paper develops a two-part methodology: first the data envelopment analysis is used to generate efficiency scores, and then the latter is related to the subsidy program using an endogenous treatment-regression model that accounts for potential endogeneity and self-selectivity issues. The results indicate that the subsidy programs seem to be working, as they appear to be associated with increased efficiency. The results also suggest ways to improve the effectiveness of the subsidy program as well as additional policy options to further unlock the agricultural potentials. |
| Keywords: | Fertilizer subsidy, efficiency, Senegal, Agricultural Finance, Land Economics/Use, Research and Development/Tech Change/Emerging Technologies, Q12, Q18, |
| Date: | 2016–09 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:aaae16:246276&r=agr |
| By: | Jayne, T. S.; Holtzman, John S.; Yeboah, Felix Kwame; Anderson, Jock R.; Oehmke, James F. |
| Abstract: | As part of broader efforts to address major global challenges―such as climate change, urbanization, gender equality, and nutrition―USAID’s Feed the Future Program hosted a series of Roundtable Discussions in early 2016. These meetings brought together a diverse set of specialists to identify new emerging issues and strategies for effectively achieving the new Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Toward this end, Feed the Future assembled 44 academics and representatives of African governments, field-based youth programs and development organizations on May 17, 2016 in Washington, DC for the Youth & Employment Roundtable Symposium. |
| Keywords: | Agricultural and Food Policy, Food Security and Poverty, |
| Date: | 2016–10 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:midiwp:249276&r=agr |
| By: | Carmona, Natalia Estrada; Michler, Jeffrey D. |
| Abstract: | Much of the population in rural sub-Saharan African relies of firewood or charcoal to prepare food. Population pressure is speeding the rate of deforestation, raising the monetary and opportunity costs of cooking meals. We use a field experiment in Zambia to investigate the impact of solar cook on the money households spend on charcoal and the time allocated to collecting firewood. Additionally, we examine changes in diet that result from the reduction in the cost of meal preparation. Preliminary results indicate that the provisioning of solar cookers is cost effective (household savings on charcoal over a 12 month period exceed the cost of the stove) and increases dietary diversity by reducing the cost of preparing grain legumes. |
| Keywords: | Deforestation, Dietary Diversity, Field Experiment, Zambia, Environmental Economics and Policy, Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety, C93, D12, O13, Q10, |
| Date: | 2016–09 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:aaae16:249342&r=agr |
| By: | Abebe, Lemlem; Kifle, Dereje; De Groote, Hugo |
| Abstract: | This paper analyzes intra-household gender difference and women empowerment in agricultural index. A combination of multistage and random sampling technique was used. A total of 60 husbands and 60 wives were included in this study, selected from four kebeles proportional to the number of beneficiaries in the kebele. Descriptive statistics, t-test, and women empowerment in agricultural index were used for analysis. There was disparity between women and men; women were less empowered than men. Women’s empowerment index in agriculture was 73%. Meanwhile, the overall gender parity index was 68% and the empowerment gap was 32%. Based on results obtained; the study suggests different areas of intervention that could bridge the gap and help for future improvement in reducing major contributors to the disempowerment of women in agricultural extension service and the level of women’s empowerment in agriculture. |
| Keywords: | Gender Parity, Men, Participation, Women Empowerment in Agricultural Index, Women, Consumer/Household Economics, Public Economics, Teaching/Communication/Extension/Profession, |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:aaae16:246398&r=agr |
| By: | Tran, Anh N. |
| Abstract: | Sharecropping is commonly practised in developing countries but the debate over the existence and magnitude of its disincentive effects on productivity remains controversial under competing contracting models. We address the two issues by analysing the effects of sharecropping contracts on tenant's performance in two environments: selection bias into share tenancy due to cultivator heterogeneity and adverse selection from landowner side on land characteristics. Using longitudinal data collected for owner-cum-sharecroppers in Amhara, Ethiopia, controlling for the selection biases, we found significantly negative effects of sharecropping contracts on production outcomes and input provision. However, sharecropping inefficiency can be mitigated by cultivator-specific characteristics as household size, gender and productive assets, making policy suggestions on reducing market imperfections more relevant. |
| Keywords: | Crop Production/Industries, Farm Management, Risk and Uncertainty, |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:aaae16:246972&r=agr |
| By: | Ansah, Isaac Gershon K.; Gardebroek, Cornelis; Ihle, Rico; Jaleta, Moti |
| Abstract: | Recent global food price developments have spurred renewed interest in analyzing integration of local markets to global markets. A popular approach to quantify market integration is cointegration analysis. However, local market price data often has missing values, outliers, or short and incomplete series, making cointegration analysis impossible. Instead of imputing missing data, this paper proposes cluster analysis as an alternative methodological approach for analyzing market integration. In particular, we perform cluster analyses on a set of statistical indicators of eight Ethiopian local price series to analyze how they relate to world market prices. Moreover, recognizing several policy regimes in the period 2007-2010 we investigate how market clusters change over time. Results show that in periods with wheat imports via the private sector, several local markets form a common cluster with the world market. In periods with government controlled imports and exchange rate collapse, domestic prices measured by a comprehensive set of characteristics were strongly dissimilar from those of world market prices. |
| Keywords: | Cluster analysis, Sub-Saharan Africa, market integration, missing data, wheat markets, Crop Production/Industries, Marketing, C22, Q11, Q13, |
| Date: | 2016–09 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:aaae16:246442&r=agr |
| By: | Sahoo, Amarendra; Shiferaw, Bekele; Gbegbelegbe, Sika |
| Keywords: | Food Security and Poverty, Research and Development/Tech Change/Emerging Technologies, |
| Date: | 2016–09 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:aaae16:246960&r=agr |
| By: | Mekonnen, Daniel Ayalew; Gerber, Nicolas |
| Abstract: | Despite some improvements in recent years, poverty and food insecurity remain widespread and the main challenges in Ethiopia. Using individual and household level data collected in rural Ethiopia, we examine if aspirations are strongly associated with well-being outcomes, as posited in the aspirations failure framework articulated by Ray (2006) and others. We employ both bivariate and multivariate analyses. We find that aspirations (particularly that of the household head) are indeed strongly associated with various triangulating measures of household food (in)security including per-capita calorie consumption, the food consumption score (FCS), the household dietary diversity score (HDDS), and the household food insecurity access scale (HFIAS). We discuss the channels through which aspirations might affect food security. Findings in this study provide suggestive evidence that policies aimed at improving food security might benefit from multiple effects (both direct and indirect) if they incorporate aspirations raising strategies. |
| Keywords: | Aspirations, farm households, food security, Ethiopia, Consumer/Household Economics, Food Security and Poverty, |
| Date: | 2016–09 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:aaae16:249324&r=agr |
| By: | Asante-Addo, Collins; Mockshell, Jonathan; Siddig, Khalid; Zeller, Manfred |
| Abstract: | This paper analyzes determinants of farmers’ participation and credit rationing using survey data from Ghana. The Garrett Ranking Technique is used to analyze farmers’ reasons for participation or non-participation in credit programs. A probit regression model is also applied to estimate factors influencing farm households’ participation in credit programs. Farm households participate in credit programs because of improved loan access for farming purposes and savings mobilization. Fear of loan default and lack of savings are reasons for non-participation in credit programs. Furthermore, membership in farmer based organizations and the household head’s formal education are positively associated with farmers’ participation in credit programs. The likelihood of farmers being credit rationed (i.e., they were rejected or the amount of credit they applied for was reduced) is less likely among higher income farmers and members of organizations. Policy strategies aiming to improve credit access should educate farmers and strengthen farmer based organizations that could serve as entry points for credit providers. Such market smart strategies have the potential to improve farmers’ access to timely credit and to reduce rural poverty. |
| Keywords: | Agricultural credit, Credit rationing, Participation, Farmer cooperatives, Ghana, Agribusiness, Agricultural Finance, |
| Date: | 2016–09 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:aaae16:249283&r=agr |
| By: | Cherono, Irine; Otieno, David Jakinda |
| Abstract: | Open-air markets are a popular market channel for most agri-food products in developing countries. In the peri-urban areas of Kenya, these are the most convenient sources of fresh fruits and vegetables for many households. However, the haphazard organization and management of these markets often results in insecurity and other economic losses. Yet, no empirical study has delved in the analysis of the extent of these challenges and remedial measures. In order to address this critical policy issue and advance knowledge in this area, the present study analyzed peri-urban food traders’ preferences for the design and management attributes of open-air markets in Nairobi, Kenya. A total of 120 agri-food traders were randomly selected and interviewed from open-air markets. The results of a choice experiment survey showed that traders prefer the management of these markets through clearly structured county government procedures, allocation of market space on monthly rotational basis and restriction of space to each user. Further, the study observed that traders prefer comprehensive services provision based on competitive tendering processes. These findings call for reforms in the management and design of open-air markets in order to improve service delivery and security of all participants. |
| Keywords: | Open-air markets, design – and management – attributes, trader preferences, Kenya, Consumer/Household Economics, Demand and Price Analysis, International Relations/Trade, |
| Date: | 2016–09 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:aaae16:246920&r=agr |
| By: | Dieter von Fintel; Louw Pienaar |
| Abstract: | Cash transfers successfully alleviate poverty in many developing countries. South Africa is a case in point, implementing one of the largest unconditional cash transfer programmes internationally, and with substantial benefits to household well-being along multiple dimensions. Yet, grants discourage formal labour market attachment, creating dependencies on the fiscus. This study uses a fuzzy regression discontinuity design to establish that state-funded Old Age Pensions encourage non-market economic activity (in the form of small-scale farming), and improve the self-reported food security of rural households that farm, vis-Ã -vis those that do not. However, only non-farming households increase market food expenditure and consume more diverse diets from market-sourced foods: diet quality improves with greater spending, while food sufficiency remains unaffected. Farmers, on the other hand, do not change food spending patterns, but self-rated food sufficiency improves due to greater levels and diversity in home production. The role of small-scale farming is of broader interest in rural development, given the context of the 1913 and 1936 Land Acts that constrained this form of livelihood in former apartheid homelands. This paper’s contribution is two-fold: grants are an effective channel to actively promote rural development through small-scale farming, and they improve food security by non-market mechanisms. |
| Keywords: | Cash transfers; Small-scale farming; Food Security; South Africa; Apartheid homelands; Regression Discontinuity Design |
| JEL: | Q12 Q18 Q15 D13 C26 |
| Date: | 2016–11 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:rza:wpaper:647&r=agr |
| By: | Gollisch, Simon; Hedderich, Barbara; Theuvsen, Ludwig |
| Abstract: | Due to the increased uncertainty within the whole agribusiness industry, managerial decision-making has become a critical success factor during the last decades. Since agricultural trade firms are faced with multiple existence-threatening risks today, the present paper analyzes decision-making processes under dramatically tightened external conditions, using the exam-ple of Germany's agricultural trade industry. By employing a qualitative research design, the empirical study examines two questions: Which determinants do impact the farm dealers' risky decision-making, and how are these factors interacting? For clarifying these issues, guideline-based in-depth interviews with industry experts are conducted on the basis of a thorough literature review. The results, gained from a qualitative content analysis, help us to better understand how decisions in farm dealing firms are made and which forces are driving them. As especially a decision maker's reference point plays a prominent role, the present study examines its configuration under different situational and dispositive conditions. The resulting implications provide a useful basis for further research and to a lesser extent some insights for decision makers themselves. |
| Keywords: | agricultural trade,reference points,risky decision-making,qualitative case study design |
| Date: | 2016 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:zbw:daredp:1609&r=agr |
| By: | Anonymous |
| Abstract: | The main objective of this study is to decrypt Africa Rice Center (AfricaRice) research for development strategies implemented to respond to consumers preferences for rice in sub-Sahara Africa. To achieve this, the study adopted case studies evidences and experimental approaches 1) to provide insight on urban consumers’ preferences for rice (local and imported rice) in relation to their willingness to pay and 2) to illustrate with the key value addition strategies implemented by AfricaRice to response to consumers demand in term of quality and attractiveness of rice products in Africa. The results of the decryption show that rice varieties grown locally in many African countries have good organoleptic and nutritional attributes that meet urban consumers’ preference if properly processed and branded. The out-scaling of the improved GEM rice processing plants developed by AfricaRice is not only playing a significant role in the upgrading of the quality of locally produced rice, but it is also beginning to improve the urban consumers’ acceptability of locally produced rice. |
| Keywords: | Consumers’ preference, women-friendly parboiling technologies, branding and packaging, local rice, sub-Saharan Africa, Consumer/Household Economics, Marketing, Research and Development/Tech Change/Emerging Technologies, |
| Date: | 2016–09 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:aaae16:249322&r=agr |
| By: | Kadjo, Didier; Ricker-Gilbert, Jacob; Tahirou, Abdoulaye; Shively, Gerald; Baco, Nasser |
| Abstract: | We use panel data from Benin to investigate potential adverse selection in informal maize markets by matching farmers’ maize sales with their knowledge, practices and perception of maize quality. Evidence suggests that rural households market a lower share of their grain stocks when they have better knowledge about quality issues and also invest in improving quality. This is most likely because there is no quality control and the price premium received for higher quality maize is not sufficient to incentivize improvements or investments in storage. We also find that farmers who sell a larger share of their maize stocks into markets might perceive that their storage practices impair quality. This behaviour is observed in the use of chemical protectant for which knowledge and information are limited in rural areas. Our findings highlight the need to develop long term grades and standards in African grain markets to ensure product differentiation and therefore develop rural markets through improved sale transactions. There is also need to provide rural sellers with better access to information about quality issues along with appropriate storage practices and technologies. |
| Keywords: | adverse selection, maize quality, storage practices, information, Crop Production/Industries, Marketing, Production Economics, C13, D13, O12, O33, O39, |
| Date: | 2016–09 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:aaae16:249289&r=agr |
| By: | Bocher, Temesgen; Simtowe, Franklin |
| Abstract: | Groundnut growing is one of the major farming activities in Malawi, however, the extent of efficiency among the farming community has not been fully explored. This study analyzes the direct production efficiency by considering profit efficiency associated with groundnut production using stochastic profit frontier function and the inefficiency effect model specification. The results indicate that the profit efficiency in groundnut production ranges from 1% to 89% (mean of 45%). The relationship between efficiency and both farm and institutional characteristics was found to be significant. Efficiency appeared to be positively associated with farmer’s access to extension services (t=2.10), household size (t=1.78) and soil fertility (t=3.56), but associated negatively with distance to market (t=6.30) and size of land allocated to groundnut production (t=5.33). The implication of the results is that there is scope for increasing the production of groundnuts by about 50% by improving the access to extension, market and improving farm management. |
| Keywords: | Profit, efficiency, stochastic frontier, groundnuts, Malawi, Crop Production/Industries, Farm Management, |
| Date: | 2016–09 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:aaae16:249328&r=agr |
| By: | Fiamohe, Rose E.; Kinkpé, A. Thierry |
| Abstract: | This paper analysed the potential demand for local rice in West Africa (WA) in order to generate key information which can support the self-sufficiency strategies on-going in the region. Data were collected using experimental approach based on second price of Vikrey and Endow-and-Upgrade methods in Benin, Côte-d’Ivoire, Niger and Nigeria from 693 consumers (with 68% female) representing theirs households. The analysis based on the framework of the new approach of consumer theory and used a Linear Expenditure System model. Results showed that WA consumers were willing to demand local rice. The probability to demand local rice was about 75%. Probability to demand local rice in the coastal countries was less than the one in landlocked country. The potential demand for local rice was about 44kg/capita/year in average over 57kg/capita/year for all types of rice including imported rice. The ranking of preference criteria showed that the most important rice preference criteria in the region were good taste, whiteness, absence of foreign matters, aroma and shape of grains. Moreover, the possibility to easily import rice affected negatively consumers’ potential demand for local rice in WA. These results suggest that the policy enabling the production of good quality local rice meeting consumers’ preferences and needs will strongly improve the self-sufficiency ratio and then reduce rice imports into the region. |
| Keywords: | Local rice Self-sufficiency, Consumers preferences, Experimental approach, Consumer/Household Economics, Demand and Price Analysis, Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety, |
| Date: | 2016–09 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:aaae16:249281&r=agr |
| By: | Ngare, Lucy W.; Wambugu, Stephen K.; Nzuma, Jonathon M.; Shisanya, Chris |
| Abstract: | Following extensive market liberalisation efforts in many developing countries, interest in food markets has grown tremendously. With the increase in participation of small traders to replace government controlled parastatals, it is important to assess whether liberalization policies have enhanced the efficiency of food markets. Maize is the main staple food in Kenya while beans are the most important pulse. An error correction model was used to test for bivariate causality between markets and examine the occurrence of central markets. The study used monthly retail prices of maize and beans in nine markets for a period of 15 years. The data was compiled from the sub counties ministry of agriculture annual reports. The results reveal the existence of central markets in the highlands of central Kenya. This shows a tendency of a more organised marketing system which is an indicator of market efficiency. The prices are determined in the low production zones meaning that demand markets are important in price formation. The central markets can be used by the government to effect desired policy changes especially price stabilization. |
| Keywords: | Price stabilization, Food market analysis, Cointegration, Central markets, Demand and Price Analysis, Marketing, |
| Date: | 2016–09 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:aaae16:246957&r=agr |
| By: | Sekabira, Haruna; Qaim, Matin |
| Abstract: | Through various applications, the importance of mobile technologies has been more evident in developing economies since the late 1990s. One such application has been mobile money services, where mobile network subscribers transfer money electronically via a mobile phone, thus eliminating some of the developing countries’ persistent barriers to financial services for instance financial market exclusion and remoteness. Despite mobile technologies’ anticipated potential towards rural socio-economic development, there is however yet a very limited empirical focus on their welfare impacts. Using regression models and a panel data of 874 observations collected from predominantly coffee farmers in central Uganda, we argue that mobile money use has a positive impact on several income-enhancing mechanisms along the income pathway to smallholder household welfare. Compared to non-users, rural households using mobile money sell more of their coffee produce in a high-value form as shelled beans, receive higher prices for these shelled beans, and earn more off-farm income, with or without remittances. All these mechanisms enhance incomes, thus welfare. |
| Keywords: | Marketing, Production Economics, Research and Development/Tech Change/Emerging Technologies, |
| Date: | 2016–09 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:aaae16:246310&r=agr |
| By: | Mohamed Arouri (Faculté des Sciences Economiques et de Gestion); Adel Ben Youssef (Economic Research Forum); Cuong Nguyen-Viet (Mekong Development Research Institute and National Economics University, Hanoi, Vietnam) |
| Abstract: | Urbanization and poverty have a two-way relationship. Using fixed-effects regression and panel data from household surveys, we estimate the effect of urbanization on welfare and poverty of rural households in Vietnam. We find that urbanization tends to increase landlessness of rural households and to reduce their farm income. However, urbanization helps rural households increase their wages and non-farm incomes. As a result, total income and consumption expenditure of rural households tend to be increased with urbanization. Then we find that urbanization also helps rural households decrease the expenditure poverty rate, albeit at a small magnitude. JEL Codes: O18, I30, R11 |
| Keywords: | urbanization, household welfare, rural poverty, impact evaluation, household surveys, Vietnam, Asia |
| Date: | 2016–10 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:gdm:wpaper:11514&r=agr |
| By: | Musabanganji, Edouard; Karangwa, Antoine; Lebailly, Philippe |
| Abstract: | This paper clarifies the path that Rwanda took in the quest for a modern, intensive, productive and market-oriented agriculture. The facts presented here have been collected by means of documentation that led to the review of different publications including published papers and government and development partners’ reports. The paper shows that an adequate policy and institutional environment has been created by various socio-economic, institutional and agriculture-led reforms launched since the early 2000s. The literature review reveals that impressive results have been recorded in regard to smallholder agriculture intensification. In addition, the theoretical model for progressive smallholder agriculture transformation helped to show that most of the smallholders grouped in cooperatives are at the 'semi-commercial smallholders' stage while only a few are at the 'commercial smallholders' and 'advanced farmers' stages. This study also examines various challenges that hamper the sustainable intensification of smallholder agriculture at both institutional, community and smallholder level. It suggests some policy actions to be put forward by the government and other agriculture sector development partners to address those challenges. |
| Keywords: | smallholder agriculture, sustainable intensification, policy, institution, Rwanda, Agricultural and Food Policy, Consumer/Household Economics, |
| Date: | 2016–09 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:aaae16:246384&r=agr |
| By: | Douglas Gollin; Casper Worm Hansen; Asger Wingender |
| Abstract: | We examine the impact of the Green Revolution, defined as the discusion of high-yielding crop varieties (HYVs), on aggregate economic outcomes in developing countries during the second half of the 20th century. We use time variation in the development and discusion of HYVs of 10 major crops, and the spatial variation in agro-climatically suitability for growing them, to identify the causal effects of adoption. In a sample of 84 counties, we estimate that a 10 percentage points increase in HYV adoption increases GDP per capita by about 15 percent. This effect is fully accounted for by a combination of the direct effect on crop yields, factor adjustment in agriculture, and structural transformation. Our analysis also reveals that the Green Revolution reduced fertility and that the reduction was only partly ofset by decreasing mortality rates. The net effect on population growth was therefore negative. |
| Keywords: | Green Revolution; High Yielding Variety Crops; Productivity Shock; Macroeconomic Development |
| JEL: | N50 O11 O13 O50 Q16 |
| Date: | 2016 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:csa:wpaper:2016-30&r=agr |
| By: | Eckhard Platen (Finance Discipline Group, UTS Business School, University of Technology, Sydney); David Taylor (Department of Actuarial Science and the African Collaboration for Quantitative Finance and Risk Research, University of Cape Town) |
| Abstract: | Catastrophe risk is a major threat faced by individuals, companies, and entire economies. Catastrophe (CAT) bonds have emerged as a method to offset this risk and a corresponding literature has developed that attempts to provide a market-consistent pricing methodology for these and other long-dated, insurance-type contracts. This paper aims to unify and generalize several of the widely-used pricing approaches for long-dated contracts with a focus on stylized CAT bonds and market-consistent valuation. It proposes a loading pricing concept that combines the theoretically possible minimal price of a contract with its formally obtained risk neutral price, without creating economically meaningful arbitrage. A loading degree controls how much influence the formally obtained risk neutral price has on the market price. A key finding is that this loading degree has to be constant for a minimally fluctuating contract, and is an important, measurable characteristic for prices of long-dated contracts. Loading pricing allows long-dated, insurance-type contracts to be priced less expensively and with higher return on investment than under classical pricing approaches. Loading pricing enables insurance companies to accumulate systematically reserves needed to manage its risk of ruin in a market consistent manner. |
| Keywords: | long-dated contracts; CAT bonds; real world pricing; risk neutral pricing; loading pricing; benchmark approach; market-consistent valuation |
| JEL: | G10 G13 |
| Date: | 2016–10–01 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:uts:rpaper:379&r=agr |
| By: | Kariuki, Sarah W.; De Groote, Hugo; Ndegwa, Michael K. |
| Abstract: | Rural households in developing countries face yield risks and seasonal production amidst the desire for stable household consumption. While storage has been cited as one of the ways of smoothing consumption during the lean periods, there is little empirical evidence on the subject. The current study used a generalized propensity score approach to examine the impact of storage on maize consumption smoothing. Maize was found to be the main crop, mostly grown for home consumption. The amount bought increased during the leaner periods when the prices were higher. In addition, the coefficient of variation for total maize consumption for decreased with increase in the length of storage, indicating that indeed storage helps to smoothen consumption across the year and consequently improve household food security. |
| Keywords: | Coefficient of variation, length of storage, generalized propensity score matching, Crop Production/Industries, Farm Management, |
| Date: | 2016–09 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:aaae16:246977&r=agr |
| By: | Ayoola, Gbolagade; Ayoola, Josephine Bosede |
| Abstract: | This paper seeks to analyse the evidence from policy experimentation in Nigerian agriculture, and to draw the lessons experience therefrom. This was based on participant observation techniques in collecting data and information on the agricultural transformation programme recently implemented, with particular reference to the delivery of price subsidy on fertilizer and seed to small-scale farmers nationwide, using mobile phone technology. Results indicated that the programme failed to improve upon the inherited poor structure, conduct and performance of the farm input market. While the quantity of fertilizer supplied increased by a paltry 27% during the period under study, the volume of subsidy paid increased by a whooping 785%. Thus, the use of mobile phone was not accompanied by any perceptible saving in in public fund deployed for subsidy provision on fertilizer and seed. Like the previous programmes, the use of mobile phone to deliver subsidy to farmers was not corruption free after all. Thus, in the light of the high opportunity costs involved, weighed against the political cost of its removal over the years, it appears that there is no end to corruption in the agricultural sector unless and until the fertilizer subsidy is removed entirely and alternative modes of supporting small-scale farmers is found in Nigeria. |
| Keywords: | Agricultural and Food Policy, Marketing, |
| Date: | 2016–09 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:aaae16:249290&r=agr |
| By: | Ouma, Emily; Ochieng, Justus; Dione, Michel; Pezo, Danilo |
| Abstract: | Despite the numerous constraints facing the smallholder pig value chain in Uganda, it has been identified as one of the subsectors with high prospects for pro-poor growth due to the rising demand for pork and pork products. This paper focusses on the smallholder pig value chain governance structures and describes the constraints along the value chain. Awareness of the governance structure of the value chain is important in providing information on the types of interventions that can be targeted to the smallholder actors to upgrade their position in the chain. The findings show that the Uganda pig value chain is characterised by spot market transactions with limited contractual or hierarchical arrangements. Traders participate in horizontal collaboration to improve their competitive position in the value chain. The constraints affecting pig producers comprise pig diseases, low market prices for pig products, lack of reliable market and inaccurate estimation of pig weight at the point of sale. The live pig traders were the most powerful actors in the value chain but still faced challenges such as bad debts, high market prices and lack of enough capital while livestock feed traders predominantly mentioned presence of poor quality feeds in the market. Development of contractual relationships would help to tap domestic and export markets for pork products and reduce uncertainties. Besides, establishing proper breeding program and periodic training of farmers and drug stockists about new drugs in the market and animal husbandry practices would contribute to increased performance of pig industry. |
| Keywords: | Smallholder, governance structure, transaction costs, transaction value analysis, Agricultural and Food Policy, Livestock Production/Industries, |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:aaae16:246976&r=agr |
| By: | Mensah, Amos; Brummer, Bernhard |
| Abstract: | Mango production and exports in Ghana have been increasingly volatile over the past years. After a successful take-off of the sector in the early 2000s, output and international market share decreased. In this study, the reasons for the lacklustre performance on the production side are considered using survey data from Ghana. Technical inefficiencies and technology gaps of smallholder mango producers are analysed. A metafrontier framework allows for separating production inefficiencies caused by bad agronomic and management practices from technology gaps. The results show that each production zone requires specifically targeted programs in order to improve technical efficiency. |
| Keywords: | Productivity, Technology Gaps, Ghana Mango Sector, Productivity Analysis, Research and Development/Tech Change/Emerging Technologies, |
| Date: | 2016–09 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:aaae16:246269&r=agr |
| By: | Ihle, Rico; von Cramon-Taubadel, Stephan |
| Abstract: | Maize is a major staple food in Sub-Saharan Africa. Monthly maize prices in Tanzania are analyzed since the country is an important maize producer and exporter in East Africa. We analyze price transmission between the five most important urban regions of Tanzania between 2000 and 2008 which correspond to major maize production or consumption areas. We propose a novel method for the analysis. The semiparametric vector error-correction model allows the partial impact of the past deviations from price equilibria on current price changes to be potentially nonlinear. The nonparametric estimates of these partial influences suggest that they can be adequately modeled by linear functions. |
| Keywords: | cointegration, maize, nonlinear time series model, price transmission, semiparametric model, Tanzania, Crop Production/Industries, Demand and Price Analysis, C32, Q11, Q13, |
| Date: | 2016–09 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:aaae16:249329&r=agr |
| By: | Curtis, John; Breen, Benjamin; O'Reilly, Paul |
| Abstract: | Fishing tournaments are a common feature in recreational angling across a wide range of target species both in fresh and salt waters. Tournaments are organised for a number of purposes, including as commercial enterprises; as fund-raising initiatives for angling clubs; for economic development purposes (e.g. tourism); as well as improve participants’ skill levels. Most tournaments are confined to geographically small areas and usually occur over a small number of days, which can mean a pulse of economically significant activity in the local area. This paper analyses the nature of expenditure associated with angling tournaments, including travel, food and accommodation, and angling-related expenditures as a function of socio-economic and angler characteristics. Analysis based on 106 tournaments across Ireland during 2013 finds a clear 80/20 segmentation between `high’ and `low’ spend anglers and that the segmentation occurs across all fish target species considered. The analysis also finds that British coarse anglers participating at Irish angling tournaments spend considerably more than other anglers irrespective of target species or angler country of origin. |
| Date: | 2016–11 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:esr:wpaper:wp546&r=agr |
| By: | Ayinde, O.E. |
| Abstract: | Every innovation is targeted towards adoption; a process which involves several levels of risks. Bio-fortified Vitamin A cassava variety is an innovation targeted not only to solve the yield of farmers but to increase the nutritional intake of Nigerian household. The research specifically seeks to investigate; the risks involved in the adoption of vitamin A cassava variety; the risk attitude of cassava farmers; and the factors that affect farmers risk attitude to the production of vitamin A cassava. 4-stage random sampling procedure was used to primarily select 240 farmers; descriptive statistics, Likert scale, Safety first utility approach and ordinary least square regression model were the tool of analysis. The study revealed that risks involved in adoption of the cassava variety include animal invasion, price fluctuation, and poor storage facilities. Majority of the farmers 88.3% are risk neutral, only 16% are risk takers; it also revealed that age, income from other activities and estimated annual income are the determinants of risk attitude. It is therefore recommended that; effort should be geared toward making adequate vitamin A bio-fortified cassava varieties available to young farmers; grazing reserved should be provided to reduce the risk and effort should be intensified to reduce price volatility for improved products |
| Keywords: | Innovation, Nigeria Risk, Vitamin ‘A’ Cassava, Crop Production/Industries, Research and Development/Tech Change/Emerging Technologies, |
| Date: | 2016–09 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:aaae16:249326&r=agr |
| By: | Desiere, Sam |
| Abstract: | This paper revisits the decades-old puzzle of the inverse productivity plot-size relationship (IR), which states that land productivity decrease with increasing plot size in developing countries. While most empirical studies about the IR define yields as self-reported production divided by plot size, this paper complements this approach with an alternative, objective method to estimate yields: crop cuts. Using crop cuts as proxy for yields, the IR in Ethiopia disappears, while the relationship is strong when yields are based on self-reported production. The inverse relationship is even reversed as there exists a weak, positive correlation between plot size and crop cuts. This implies that farmers systematically over report production on small plots and underreport it on larger ones. Our findings suggest that the IR is an artifact of systematic measurement error in self-reported production. |
| Keywords: | Consumer/Household Economics, Farm Management, Production Economics, |
| Date: | 2016–09 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:aaae16:246971&r=agr |
| By: | Kiratu, Nixon Murathi; Mshenga, Patience M.; Ngigi, Margaret |
| Abstract: | The behaviour of farmers towards an intervention largely depends upon their perception. Consequentially, their perception will further influence their participation in such interventions. This study used data collected from four hundred smallholder farmers using a structured questionnaire to examine their perception and the determinants of perception towards a smart subsidy program. The Ordered Probit model was used in analysing the determinants of perception. Results showed that the farmers had a positive perception towards the program and that their perception was influenced by factors such as the gender of the household head, farm size, participation in the program, being the household head, education level, training and source of information. |
| Keywords: | Perception, Smallholder farmers, Smart subsidy, ordered Probit, Kenya, Consumer/Household Economics, Political Economy, |
| Date: | 2016–09 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:aaae16:249316&r=agr |
| By: | Yami, Mesay; Meyer, Ferdi; Hassan, Rashid |
| Abstract: | In response to the sharp rise in domestic grain prices of 2008, the Ethiopian government introduced a wide range of policy instruments to tame the soaring domestic food prices. It is generally argued that before embarking on any intervention in domestic grain market, better understanding of price formation and possible scenarios of the dynamic grain market environment is crucial for policymakers to make informed decisions. This study aimed at examining the price formation and dynamics in the Ethiopian maize market. Furthermore, this article empirically investigate spatial maize market linkages and test maize price leadership role in order to understand as to whether or not there is a central maize market that dictate and lead price information flow over regional maize markets in Ethiopia. |
| Keywords: | Grain market, price shocks, maize, market integration, price formation, Crop Production/Industries, Demand and Price Analysis, Marketing, |
| Date: | 2016–09 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:aaae16:249346&r=agr |
| By: | Günther Fink (Department of Global Health and Population, Harvard T.H. School of Public Health); Evan Peet (RAND Corporation) |
| Abstract: | While a large literature has investigated the returns to education in high-income countries, evidence on returns in less developed countries is relatively scarce. We pool 61 nationally representative household surveys conducted between 1985 and 2012 in order to address this evidence gap and to estimate average national and regional returns to education. We find a return of 6.5% in the pooled data, with lower returns in rural areas, higher returns for females, higher returns in the years prior to 2000, and lower rates of return in Asian countries compared to Africa, Latin America, and Eastern Europe. With respect to schooling levels, we find lowest returns for primary education, and highest returns to tertiary education, consistent with recent evidence from developed countries. Overall, returns to education in developing countries seem to be similar or lower than those in high-income countries with remarkably large amounts of heterogeneity across countries, time, and regions.While a large literature has investigated the returns to education in high-income countries, evidence on returns in less developed countries is relatively scarce. We pool 61 nationally representative household surveys conducted between 1985 and 2012 in order to address this evidence gap and to estimate average national and regional returns to education. We find a return of 6.5% in the pooled data, with lower returns in rural areas, higher returns for females, higher returns in the years prior to 2000, and lower rates of return in Asian countries compared to Africa, Latin America, and Eastern Europe. With respect to schooling levels, we find lowest returns for primary education, and highest returns to tertiary education, consistent with recent evidence from developed countries. Overall, returns to education in developing countries seem to be similar or lower than those in high-income countries with remarkably large amounts of heterogeneity across countries, time, and regions. JEL Codes: |
| Date: | 2016–10 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:gdm:wpaper:12014&r=agr |
| By: | Okello, Julius |
| Abstract: | IN: Research on Humanities and Social Sciences (2016), 6(20), p.126-137. |
| Keywords: | Agricultural and Food Policy, Consumer/Household Economics, Food Security and Poverty, Social protection, household poverty, household vulnerability to poverty, shocks, risks, Katakwi, |
| Date: | 2016 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:miscpa:249337&r=agr |
| By: | Grimm, Michael (University of Passau) |
| Abstract: | Fertility is a main driver and outcome of long-term growth. Yet, fertility may not only interact with the level of income but also with its volatility. In pre-modern economies where formal social security was largely absent, fertility decisions may also have been made in view of insuring income shocks which were hard to predict such as an income shock due to crop disease, a shortage in rainfall, a case of serious illness or a job loss. In this paper, I focus on the demographic transition in the United States covering the period 1870 to 1930 and explore whether variation in fertility among American settlers can be explained by variations in exposure to rainfall risks. Identification relies on fertility differences between farm and non-farm households within counties and over time. The results suggest that increased rainfall risk does indeed increase fertility among farming households but not among households with other occupations that are less dependent on rainfall. The channel is robust to other relevant forces such as returns to education and children's survival. The analysis also shows that this effect is reduced if risk management devices such as irrigation systems, formal financial institutions or machinery emerge. The findings contribute to the understanding of the demographic transition in the US and in risk-prone areas more generally. |
| Keywords: | demographic transition, rainfall risk, income shocks, insurance, historical data |
| JEL: | J13 N31 N32 O12 Q12 |
| Date: | 2016–11 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:iza:izadps:dp10351&r=agr |
| By: | De Groote, Hugo; Kariuki, Sarah; Traore, Djibril; Taylor, John R.N.; Mario, Ferruzi; Hamaker, Bruce |
| Abstract: | Cereals are the major staples in most African countries, where food processing industries are emerging fast. New low-cost extruders allow small enterprises to enter the market for processed cereal products, including instant, fortified and flavored mixes. Before engaging in the marketing of these products, consumers’ interest needs to be assessed. This study used a combination of affective tests and experimental auctions with 200 consumers in Touba, Senegal, to evaluate four new products with conventional millet four as control: instant millet flour, instant millet flour with added mango and carrot extract, and the previous product with added micronutrients from either synthetic or natural origin. During affective tests, consumers made little distinction between the five products for appearance, aroma, taste and overall appreciation. The experimental auctions showed that, without providing additional information on the products, there is no difference in WTP between them. However, after that information is provided, consumers are willing to pay a modest premium for instant flour, and a large premium for added mango and carrot extract and for added micronutrients, but not for micronutrients from natural sources. Income increases overall WTP, while education increases WTP for instant flour. We conclude that there is a potential market for instant and fortified millet flour in Touba, but likely in the higher income and education groups. The increased cost needs to be compared to the premiums consumers are willing to pay. In the next step, the new and promising products could be tested in pilot markets, with target consumers. |
| Keywords: | Consumer/Household Economics, Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety, |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:aaae16:246973&r=agr |
| By: | Center for Economic and Social; International Food Policy Research Institute; Michigan State University |
| Abstract: | The purpose of this report is to provide national- and state-level policymakers, private-sector investors, civil society, and donors with an analysis of the rural economy of Mon State and pathways to improved prosperity for its population. The analysis is based on a representative survey of rural households, which make up 73% of Mon State’s 2 million residents, and extensive interviews with farmers, traders, processors, local leaders, and government officials. Whereas some parts of the Mon State economy are quite dynamic, such as construction, others are stagnant and far from reaching their full potential. Furthermore, the dynamic sectors are heavily dependent on remittances from migrants to neighboring countries. |
| Keywords: | Agricultural and Food Policy, |
| Date: | 2016–09 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:midiwp:249278&r=agr |
| By: | Debela, Bethelhem Legesse |
| Abstract: | Empirical studies that analyze the gender gap in livestock ownership are scarce. This paper investigates gender differences in livestock holding using five waves of survey data (1998-2010) from Northern Ethiopia. By employing decomposition analysis, we find that female-headed households (FHHs) own significantly fewer livestock compared to male-headed households (MHHs). Differences in observed characteristics and returns to characteristics account for 29 and 51 percent of the gender difference, respectively. Lower endowment of land area, male labor and children (aged 6 to 14) in FHHs are the observed factors causing the disparity. Gender difference is more pronounced in the ownership of large animals than in the ownership of small animals. Findings are relevant for gender-sensitive public interventions that aim to promote livestock accumulation. |
| Keywords: | Ethiopia, female-headed household, livestock, accumulation, gender, Consumer/Household Economics, Livestock Production/Industries, I21, I32, J16, |
| Date: | 2016–09 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:aaae16:246906&r=agr |
| By: | Ajetomobi, Joshua Olusegun |
| Abstract: | This study analyzed how extreme weather conditions affect the mean and variability of the yields of 11 staple crops in Nigeria. The research involved the use of a pooled panel data of 36 states and the federal capital territory over the period of 1991-2012. The framework for analysis consisted of the production risk model developed by Just and Pope for yield estimation. Unit root tests and Maximum Likelihood Estimation techniques were used to obtain reliable estimates of the model’s parameters. The results showed that the mean and variance of the yield of all the staple crops were diversely influenced by extreme weather events. |
| Keywords: | Extreme Weather, Yield Response, Climate, Unit Roots, Pope and Just Model, Nigeria, Environmental Economics and Policy, Production Economics, Productivity Analysis, D24, C23, |
| Date: | 2016–09 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:aaae16:246919&r=agr |
| By: | Kehinde, A.L.; Aboaba, K.O. |
| Abstract: | The agricultural economy in Nigeria is still largely rudimentary and its wealth creation potentials have been hampered by inability of cottage level processors to add value to their produce among others. The study investigated value addition to processed cassava tubers among cottage level processors in Ogun state, Southwestern, Nigeria. Owode Local Government Area was purposively selected and interview schedule was administered on one hundred and twenty five (125) randomly selected processors. Data was analyzed using the descriptive statistics and the multiple regression analysis. The study revealed that the most important constraints faced by cassava processors are high perishability of cassava tubers, high transportation cost, and inadequate capital among others. Also, the multiple linear regression analysis revealed that cost of labour, cost on machine, and quantity of raw materials processed positively and statistically influenced value added to cassava tuber at 1% significant level. It is recommended that processor should organize themselves into cooperatives or associations that will help them mobilize funds to take advantage of improved welfare that will result from increasing their scale of operation. |
| Keywords: | Value addition, cottage industry, cassava processors, Crop Production/Industries, Health Economics and Policy, Research and Development/Tech Change/Emerging Technologies, |
| Date: | 2016–09 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:aaae16:249323&r=agr |
| By: | Omotola, Aderonke M.; Okoruwa, Victor O. |
| Abstract: | African countries both individually and collectively are still searching for ways to sustain the growth momentum and to ensure that growth translates to poverty reduction, employment opportunities and more inclusive society. To address this issue, this paper looked at the pattern of growth and also argues that there are challenges and opportunities for promoting growth in Nigeria. Inclusive growth encompasses equity, equality of opportunity and protection in market and employment transitions. Using the social concentration curve, the study assesses the pattern of growth across the dimensions of education, water and energy. The study made use of the national household survey data sets collected by the National Bureau of Statistics at two time periods, NLSS 2004 and HNLSS 2009. These data were collected through a multistage sampling technique; data extracted included socio-economic characteristics, human capital, physical capital, social and financial capital variables. The concentration curve suggests that opportunities were distributed equally in terms of access to firewood and land with a downward shift in both years indicating growth inclusive. |
| Keywords: | Inclusive growth, Equity, Southwest Nigeria, Concentration curves, Community/Rural/Urban Development, Consumer/Household Economics, |
| Date: | 2016–09 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:aaae16:249313&r=agr |
| By: | Jalang'o, Dorcas Anyango; Otieno, David Jakinda; Kosura, Willis-Oluoch |
| Abstract: | Participation in high value markets holds potential for raising smallholder farmers’ income and reducing poverty in the rural areas. Despite a growing literature on farmers’ participation in supermarkets, there is no documented analysis of smallholder African Indigenous Vegetables (AIVs) farmers’ involvement in other emerging high value domestic markets such as hospitals, schools and hotels. In order to address this critical knowledge gap, this study examined the factors that influence smallholder AIV farmers’ participation in such markets in rural Kenya. Results showed that the traditional marketing system is still dominated by less than 13% of farmers selling their vegetables in high value markets. The results of the logit model show that the years of formal education, household income, price, quantity of output and access to credit had significant positive influence on smallholder farmers’ participation in high value markets particularly hotels, hospitals and schools. These findings necessitate urgent policy interventions targeting investments on; access to quality farm information and skills, non-restricted credit especially from group-based informal member schemes, production methods and inputs and timely price information. |
| Keywords: | AIVs, smallholder farmers, high value markets, Kenya, Community/Rural/Urban Development, Marketing, |
| Date: | 2016–09 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:aaae16:246390&r=agr |
| By: | Tamru, Seneshaw; Minten, Bart |
| Abstract: | Washed coffee is being sold in international markets with a premium of more than 20%. However, only about 30% of Ethiopia’s coffee export is washed and the small-scale coffee farmers, processors, exporters, and the country are missing out on sizable opportunity of commanding higher rewards. Relying on unique datasets and using a double hurdle technique, we examined factors affecting the decision and amount of selling coffee in red berries -the primary input for washing coffee- instead of the dried type. Results show that lack of access to wet mills, lack of enough red berry buyers, and bad quality coffee harvest reduce the likelihood of coffee sales in red berries form and hence a subsequent lower level of washed coffee. On the other hand, government’s action of deciding designated selling dates, membership to a cooperative, and access to advances and loans increase the likelihood of selling coffee in red berries form. |
| Keywords: | Value addition, Coffee, Ethiopia, Demand and Price Analysis, Research and Development/Tech Change/Emerging Technologies, |
| Date: | 2016–09 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:aaae16:249341&r=agr |
| By: | Katungi, Enid; Larochelle, Catherine; Mugaboo, Josephat; Buruchara, Robin |
| Abstract: | This paper investigates the determinants of the decision to switch from cultivating bush to high yielding climbing beans and estimates the causal impact of adoption of climbing beans on productivity based a nationally representative sample of bean producing households. An endogenous switching regression model is used to account for the endogenous nature of adoption and accurately quantify the differences in productivity between climbing and bush bean technologies. Adoption of climbing bean varieties substantially increased over the past 15 years. Elevation, rainfall, and cropping systems are important determinants of adoption of climbing beans. Adoption of climbing beans increases productivity by 21 percent among adopters compared to 48 percent for non-adopters. |
| Keywords: | Rwanda, climbing bean, adoption, and productivity effects, Crop Production/Industries, Productivity Analysis, |
| Date: | 2016–09 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:aaae16:246456&r=agr |
| By: | Zhang, Fan; Polyakov, Maksym; Fogarty, James; Pannell, David |
| Abstract: | This work has been published in the Journal of Hydrology. A pre-print version is available at http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2014.12.048 Please cite the article version of this work as: Zhang, F., Polyakov, M., Fogarty, J. and Pannell, D.J. (2015) The capitalized value of rainwater tanks in the property market of Perth, Australia. Journal of Hydrology, 522:317-325. |
| Keywords: | economic valuation, urban rainwater collection, spatial hedonic model, misclassification error, Environmental Economics and Policy, Q25, Q51, R30, |
| Date: | 2016–10–26 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:uwauwp:246968&r=agr |
| By: | Sang-Hyun Kim (Yonsei University); Hao Lan (University of East Anglia) |
| Abstract: | From 2010 to 2012, Oceana, an international non-profit organization conducted one of the largest investigations into seafood fraud in U.S. history, which revealed that less desirable or cheaper fish are frequently mislabeled as more desirable or expensive fish in grocery stores and restaurants. This paper theoretically and empirically investigates how economic factors such as the number of competitors in the region and the income level of the consumers can be related to the misdeeds of seafood merchants. Our theoretical model predicts that mislabeling is less likely in regions where (i) more sellers are in business and (ii) the average income level is higher. The empirical patterns found in the DNA test data of Oceana are in line with the predictions. Our results can inform regulators of which regions and fish species to focus on when auditing. |
| Keywords: | Seafood fraud, Forensic economics, Regional competition, Experience goods, Unequal learning |
| Date: | 2016–11 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:yon:wpaper:2016rwp-101&r=agr |