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on Agricultural Economics |
| By: | Bello, Lateef Olalekan; Awotide, Bola Amoke; Abbeam, GideonDanso; Sakurai, Takeshi |
| Abstract: | Climate change remains a major impediment to food security in majority of developing countries, such as the West Africa Sahel (WASR), due to the rudimentary and rain-fed production system practiced by most farmers. The adoption of climate-smart agricultural technologies (CSAT), which aim to increase resilience and adaptation to changing climatic conditions, is crucial for boosting crop productivity and increasing food sufficiency. This study examined the food security impact of smallholder farmers adopting CSAT in WASR (Mali and Niger). We control for potential endogeneity bias that could occur in this study by employing the extended ordered probit and multinomial endogenous treatment effect model to analyze food security impact using the two most common approaches, which are the Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS) and Food Consumption Scores (FCS). The impact results from the HFIAS estimation indicate that CSAT adopters are more food insecure than non-adopters in WASR. Subsequently, the FCS estimation results show that smallholder farmers adopting CSAT are less food secure than non- adopters. Further analysis of mechanisms and pathways to food security revealed that CSAT 2 Copyright 2024 by Lateef Olalekan Bello, Bola Amoke Awotide, Gideon-Danso-Abbeam, and Takeshi Sakurai. All rights reserved. Readers may make verbatim copies of this document for non-commercial purposes by any means, provided that this copyright notice appears on all such copies. adopters significantly reduced the share of crop production they retained for household consumption compared to non-adopters. Subsequent findings revealed that adopters of CSAT generate significantly higher crop revenues than non-adopters. This implies that CSAT adopters sell the majority of their marketable surplus and retain a minor share for household consumption. These findings suggest that farm-level sensitization programs could emphasize the need for farmers to strike a balance between agricultural investment and food security. |
| Keywords: | Environmental Economics and Policy, Food Security and Poverty, Research and Development/Tech Change/Emerging Technologies |
| Date: | 2024–08–07 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:cfcp15:344323 |
| By: | Chandio, Rabail |
| Keywords: | Land Economics/Use, Agricultural And Food Policy, Agricultural Finance |
| Date: | 2024 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:aaea22:343968 |
| By: | Lambarraa-Lehnhardt, Fatima |
| Abstract: | Climate change poses a threat to agricultural production in the Mediterranean region. Therefore, it is essential to build resilient and efficient farms to ensure food security and sustainable Mediterranean agriculture. Improved resilience of farms against climate shocks can enhance farm efficiency, depending on the farming system. Within the framework of the BIODIVER-SIFY project, the aim is to compare the resilience of different farming systems in the Mediterranean basin based on their diversification. To achieve this objective, a survey data is used from various case studies across the Mediterranean. The methodological approach is based on the impact of resilience capacity indicators on the technical efficiency of farms using the stochastic frontier model. The results show that the intensive farming system is more efficient, whereas the diversified farming system is more robust. Higher farm adaptability has a positive impact on the technical efficiency of diversified farming systems but a negative impact on the intensive ones. The results suggest trade-offs between resilience and farm efficiency that de-pend on the sustainability of the farming system. This study provides useful insights for farmers, policymakers, and researchers regarding the development of sustainable agricultural practices in the Mediterranean region. |
| Keywords: | Agricultural and Food Policy, Climate Change |
| Date: | 2023–09–01 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:gewi23:344247 |
| By: | Ayoola, Josephine Bosede; Sani, Mohammadou; Ayoola, Gbolagade |
| Abstract: | This paper analysed the effects of land administration on allocative efficiency of rice farmers in Dadinkowa Irrigation Scheme area, North-Eastern Nigeria. Primary data from a sample of 400 rice farmers were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Results showed that land administration authorities in the area performed above average (0.67), with Large-scale PuBlic Authority (LPBA) significantly higher (0.74) than Large-scale PriVate Authority (LPVA), Small-scale PuBlic Authority (SPBA) and Local Authority (LA), being 0.67, 0.64, 0.6 respectively. Allocative efficiency of farmers ranged between 0.24 and 0.97 in LPBA, 0.39 and 0.98 in LPVA, 0.73 and 0.94 in SPBA and between 0.84 and 0.97 in LA; mean values being 0.86, 0.94, 0.85 and 0.93 respectively. Thus, large scale private authority achieved significantly higher allocative efficiency (F-cal 26.02) at 1% level. Farmers’ perception of land administration service, land value, land use, non-farm income, household size and hired labor significantly influenced their allocative efficiency at 1% level. Public-private land administration reform that emphasize land tenure security, irrigation development and access to farm inputs would likely encourage long-term investment and efficient resource allocation; thereby promoting sustainable agricultural and food production, and contributing to national food security. |
| Keywords: | Agricultural and Food Policy, Land Economics/Use |
| Date: | 2024–07–26 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:cfcp15:344390 |
| By: | Bhangaonkar, Rekha; Ranganathan, Thiagu |
| Abstract: | This study analyses differential resilience among horticultural farmers in Maharashtra, India. Based on a primary survey of 290 farmers across four villages in Jalna district, we find that farmers in the region shifted to grape cultivation over the past two decades as it provided a higher and more stable income compared to cotton. The recent years has seen depletion of groundwater table, a common pool resource and the primary source of irrigation for the farmers. In building resilience against groundwater risks, farmers resorted to water imports to satisfy irrigation requirements. With this background, we analyze the factors that affect tanker water use and the returns thereof. Our paper finds that intensity of tanker water use is inversely related to farm size indicating higher intensification of water imports among smallholding farmers. Our production function analysis indicates that both tanker use and expenditure on tanker water has no relation to horticultural production. Given the higher dependence on horticulture among the small and marginal farmers and that these farmers use tanker water extensively with no significant returns to production, our paper posits a case of differential resilience among farmers in the region. |
| Keywords: | Agricultural and Food Policy, Crop Production/Industries, Farm Management |
| Date: | 2024–07–26 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:cfcp15:344391 |
| By: | McDonald, Tia M. |
| Keywords: | Agribusiness, Farm Management, Agricultural Finance |
| Date: | 2024 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:aaea22:343871 |
| By: | Wollni, Meike; Bohn, Sophia; Ocampo Ariza, Carolina; Paz, Bruno; Santalucia, Simone; Squarcina, Margherita; Wätzold, Marlene |
| Abstract: | The global agri-food system faces major challenges of meeting growing food demand in an equitable way, while mitigating environmental impacts such as deforestation, soil degradation and climate change. Voluntary sustainability standards (VSS) have surged in recent decades as a potential instrument to foster more sustainable global value chains and sourcing practices. While the number of VSS impact evaluations is growing, most studies focus on a single outcome dimension. In this paper, we propose a conceptual framework to assess the effects of VSS interventions on sustainable food system outcomes in three dimensions, considering potential trade-offs between them. To illustrate key trade-offs identified in our conceptual framework, we present empirical data from three case studies in Ghana, Rwanda, and Peru. Our empirical results shed light on associations between certification and various outcomes, including agricultural yields and income, biodiversity at farm and landscape scales, female empowerment, and food security. We highlight the importance of balancing trade-offs in multiple sustainability dimensions and assessing VSS performance within the broader policy and landscape context. Our study contributes to ongoing discussions on the effectiveness of VSS in promoting sustainability while highlighting potential trade-offs that must be addressed to achieve more sustainable food systems. |
| Keywords: | Supply Chain, Sustainability |
| Date: | 2024–07–26 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:cfcp15:344358 |
| By: | Gelan, Ayele U.; Atkinson, Giles |
| Abstract: | This study is concerned with food security effects of global warming in Kuwait. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) approach to monitor impacts of human activities on climate change has essentially remained top-down. Hence, it fallen out of favour among end user communities. In this procedure, the needs of policymakers at national scale have been peripheral. Kuwait's food security is a good illustration of this. The study is implemented by applying a recursive dynamic computable general equilibrium model for Kuwait. The model was calibrated on Kuwaiti data to examine food security impacts of the five Shared Socio-economic Pathways. The simulation results indicate asymmetrical impacts on Kuwait's agriculture and food processing industries. Arid countries would benefit by enhancing national capacities to assess food security implications of global warming scenarios. |
| Keywords: | arid agriculture; food prices; food security; global warming scenarios; integrated assessment models |
| JEL: | R14 J01 |
| Date: | 2022–09–25 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ehl:lserod:124122 |
| By: | Anggraeni, L.; Amalia, S.; Perdinan; Adi, R.F. |
| Abstract: | Rice and coffee are strategic agricultural commodities in Indonesia. Rice is Indonesian main staple food and coffee is globally traded commodity that grown by Indonesian smallholders. There is growing concern regarding its production that sensitive to the change of temperature, rainfall and humidity. Therefore, it is important to conduct a study on the impact of climate change on rice and coffee production in Indonesia. The objective of the study is to assess the impacts of climate change on Indonesian macroeconomic performance and sectoral output. This paper using Computable General Equilibrium model with three simulations of productivity change under two climate scenarios of RCP 4.5 and RCP 8.5. Climate change that reduces rice and coffee productivity affects Indonesia's macroeconomic performance. Climate change will reduce real GDP, real household consumption and exports. On the other hand, climate change will increase Indonesia's imports. Changes in macroeconomic performance in all scenarios of RCP 8.5 are worse than scenario 4.5. It is identified that climate change poses a negative risk to the quantity and quality of rice and coffee output and has a spiraling impact on increasing domestic prices, hence decrease the competitiveness. Climate change also contributed to reducing real income of households particularly for agricultural workers, agricultural entrepreneurs and low-income households in urban areas. Government climate change adaptation policies for rice and coffee are very important to overcome the decline in productivity and production. In addition, government should develop financial support and risk management system targeted towards vunerable groups affected by climate change. |
| Keywords: | Climate Change, Crop Production/Industries, Production Economics, Productivity Analysis |
| Date: | 2024–04–28 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:asea24:344444 |
| By: | Mantey, Vida; Bosch, Christine; Missiame, Arnold; Birner, Regina; Birkenberg, Athena; Yameogo, Viviane Guesbeogo; Mburu, John |
| Abstract: | Dairy production is an important contributor to food security and poverty reduction, but it is also a major source of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The development of smallholder agricultural carbon projects, such as the Mt. Elgon project, provides an opportunity for farmers to receive benefits for adopting sustainable practices that not only potentially increase farm productivity but also reduce GHG emissions. While there is growing evidence that agricultural cooperatives in conventional development projects improve the adoption of agricultural technologies and the economic performance of smallholder farms, there is a research gap on the role that dairy cooperatives can play in smallholder agricultural carbon projects. This study examines the role of dairy cooperatives in smallholder agricultural carbon projects and assesses the impact of cooperative membership on the technical efficiency of smallholder dairy carbon farmers in Western Kenya. The study used a mixed methods approach. A participatory and visual mapping tool, Net-Map, was used to identify key actors and their linkages. Stochastic frontier and endogenous switching regression models were used to estimate technical efficiency and assess the impact of cooperative membership on the technical efficiency of smallholder dairy carbon farmers, respectively. The results show that dairy cooperatives in carbon projects play an important role in project design and implementation, as well as in carbon monitoring and reporting. On average, smallholder farmers are 35.3 percent technically efficient, and cooperative members have lower technical efficiency than non-members. This finding can be attributed to the way these dairy cooperatives were set up and the fact that some farmers joined the cooperatives to participate in the project. Furthermore, an average treatment effect on the treated (ATT) and an average treatment effect on the untreated (ATU) of 0.311 and 0.251 respectively was observed. In general, the study concludes that without critical sources of heterogeneity, dairy cooperatives can support smallholder carbon farmers not only to improve their efficiency but also to promote sustainable dairy farming. |
| Keywords: | Livestock Production/Industries |
| Date: | 2024–08–07 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:cfcp15:344343 |
| By: | Hansen, Rebecca; Hess, Sebastian |
| Abstract: | Cooperatives have long been criticised for their inefficiency due to high internal coordination costs and inefficient decision-making. This is a particular disadvantage in the production and marketing of agri-food products that have heterogeneous (hedonic) quality attributes. However, cooperatives continue to be widespread in agriculture, notably in the wine sector, because they can achieve scale economies and reduce transaction cost for their members. This paper compares the efficiency of cooperatives and non-cooperatives in the German wine sector with respect to their ability to place wines on the market at prices above their measurable quality attributes. The results from a stochastic metafrontier panel of 1, 223 wine prices from two wine guides suggest that consumers should purchase wine from cooperatives if they are seeking market prices that correspond closely with a wine’s quality. In turn, members of wine cooperatives should ask themselves why non-cooperatives are typically better at attracting an even greater willingness to pay for the respective quality of their wines. |
| Keywords: | Agribusiness |
| Date: | 2023–09–01 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:gewi23:344240 |
| By: | Wongpit, P.; Sisengnam, K. |
| Abstract: | This study focuses on addressing the innovation gap in the agricultural sector of Lao PDR, a critical component of the population's primary livelihood. Emphasizing the 9th National Socio-Economic Development Plan for 2021-2025 and the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry Strategy 2025 and Vision 2030, the research examines recent innovation models in agriculture and rural development in the country. Out of the 30 models interviewed, 10 are highlighted for their significant impact on the development of agriculture, rural areas, and smallholder farmers, demonstrating the applicability of these innovations. The study explores potential innovations, such as the role of the Lao Farmer Network as a national platform for information sharing, the Coffee Production Cooperative in connecting domestic producers with foreign consumers, and the creative use of saffron to reduce waste from coffee processing. Despite their potential, certain innovations, including Beef Research and Development Farm cost-effective animal feed formulas and specific rice-growing techniques, encounter limited adoption among farmers or production groups. Challenges impeding widespread implementation encompass insufficient investment, an unsuitable environment, and limited markets. Notably, hydroponics vegetable farming poses challenges due to its requirement for significant investment and specialized knowledge, potentially excluding smallholder farmers. To foster agricultural innovation, the study proposes several policy implications: collaboration between governments and the private sector in R&D investment, improving access and adopt innovations through tax incentives and financial support, establishing a platform for technology sharing, allocating resources to education and training programs, prioritizing environmental sustainability in agricultural innovation to prevent harm to the environment. |
| Keywords: | Environmental Economics and Policy, Production Economics, Research and Development/Tech Change/Emerging Technologies, Sustainability |
| Date: | 2024–04–28 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:asea24:344455 |
| By: | Liu, Xiaolu; Zhang, Yumei; Lan, Xiangmin; Si, Wei |
| Abstract: | This study employs national Computable General Equilibrium (CGE) model to simulate the impacts of reducing domestic agricultural trade costs on agricultural production, household income, food prices, macroeconomic conditions, as well as food consumption and dietary quality of urban and rural residents. We find that in comparison to trade costs associated with agricultural imports and exports, the reduction of domestic agricultural trade costs is more conducive to expanding food production and cultivation areas, reducing food prices, and improving the dietary conditions of both urban and rural residents in China. Moreover, it stimulates the growth of agricultural, agro-processing, and agrifood system GDP. In terms of specific foods, the reduction in domestic agricultural product trade costs will lower the prices of various food items, decrease the consumption of rice and wheat, and increase the consumption of other types of food. This study provides theoretical and empirical foundations for achieving the dual objectives of revitalizing the national unified market and promoting the transformation of the agrifood system to enhance nutritional welfare within the framework of the new development paradigm, thereby Copyright 2024 by Xiaolu Liu, Yumei Zhang, Xiangmin Lan, and Wei Si. All rights reserved. Readers may make verbatim copies of this document for non-commercial purposes by any means, provided that this copyright notice appears on all such copies. offering valuable insights for informing governmental trade policy decisions. In the future, efforts should focus on intensifying the construction of infrastructure for perishable fresh agricultural products, reducing transportation distances, lowering transport costs, and establishing a "unified national market" in the agricultural sector to enhance the sustainability and resilience of China's agrifood system. |
| Keywords: | Agricultural and Food Policy, Consumer/Household Economics, Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety |
| Date: | 2024–08–07 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:cfcp15:344315 |
| By: | Durian, Q.A.B.; Atienza, L.M.; Esguerra, G.A. |
| Abstract: | Food insecurity, linked to poor diet quality and diversity, heightens vulnerability to malnutrition, particularly in fishing households due to poverty, income seasonality, and environmental shifts. This study investigates food security, dietary diversity, and nutritional status of children (36 to 59 months) from fishing households in San Pablo City, Laguna, Philippines. Purposive sampling yielded eighty-six (86) households with a 100% participation rate. Food security and dietary diversity were assessed using Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS) and Food Consumption Score (FCS) while the nutritional status of the children was derived from the Oplan Timbang Plus (OPT+) data in March 2023. Mean, frequency, percentage calculations, and Kendall’s rank correlation test (α=0.05) were used for data analysis. Results indicated that majority of the household heads earn less than Php 10, 000 (44.2%) and spend less than Php 7, 000 (75.6%) on food every month. Only (5.8%) were food-secure while the rest were food insecure, classified as moderate (45.3%), mild (39.5%), and severe (9.3%). Most households have acceptable food consumption (70.9%) with a mean FCS of 55.6 ± 20.6. Stunting (45.3%), underweight (36.1%), and wasting (19.8%) were observed among the preschool children. Kendall’s rank tau tests demonstrated a positive moderate correlation between household food security status and dietary diversity (CI:95%, p=0.0040, τ=0.2902) and monthly income (CI:95%, p=0.0141, τ=0.2332). Stunting and underweight were also strongly and moderately correlated to household food insecurity (CI:95%, p=2.11e-05, τ=0.4152; CI:95%, p=0.0027, τ=0.2969) and poor dietary diversity (CI:95%, p=0.0474, τ=0.2004). The persistence of food insecurity and malnutrition necessitates effective interventions and policies targeting children and vulnerable groups in fishing communities. |
| Keywords: | Consumer/Household Economics, Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety, Food Security and Poverty |
| Date: | 2024–04–28 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:asea24:344453 |
| By: | Galina Hale; Vlad Onescu; Ritesh Bhangale |
| Abstract: | The global food system is an important contributor to greenhouse gas emissions that lead to climate change. Animal agriculture is responsible for a large share of the food-system emissions, both directly and through the production of animal feed. Limiting global warming to the goals set forth by the international community will not be possible without rapid phasing out of a substantial share of animal-source food. We show that the rapid adoption of alternatives to animal-source foods, such as plant-only diet, or plant-based, cultured, or fermentation-derived analogs to animal products, can be consistent with climate goals. Importantly, the longer the delay in the adoption of alternatives, the larger the share of diet they will have to represent in 2050 for the food system to stay within its carbon budget. |
| JEL: | L66 Q11 Q18 Q54 |
| Date: | 2024–07 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:nbr:nberwo:32736 |
| By: | Myeki, LW; Nyhodo, B,; Mpyana, BM; Nakana, E; Yeki, N; Makhele, B; Smith, R; Chokoe, C; Ntombela, S; Mazibuko, N; Ngqangweni, S |
| Abstract: | Transformation towards sustainable agri-food systems remains a hot topic due to the pressing need to attain sustainable development-related goals. The paper was designed to uncover the impact of statutory incentives on sustainable transformation of agri-food system in South Africa. We apply behavioural economic method, comprising of psychological attributes and economic- related measures on cross-sectional data obtained from farmers supported through statutory levies and trust funds collected and administered by 14 agricultural industries. The results show that participants are appreciative, socially pressured, and possess high perception of their ability to perform sustainable transformation. Hence, we found a positive endorsement for the impact of statutory incentives on sustainable transformation in agri-food system, regardless of gender distinction. This endorsement is high among older farmers compared to their younger counterparts, and also high in horticulture and field crops compared to livestock sector. Finally, results reveal that sustainable transformation is consistently determined by attitudes, present time, and agreeableness. We conclude that multidisciplinary approach avails more insights on the research agenda for transformation of agri-food systems and tends to yield to better policy options for selection of beneficiaries towards driving sustainable transformation of agri-food system within agricultural industries in South Africa. |
| Keywords: | Dairy Production/Industries, Institutional and Behavioral Economics |
| Date: | 2024–08–07 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:cfcp15:344253 |
| By: | Sahoo, Dukhabandhu; Behera, Jayanti; Biswas, Chandrima |
| Abstract: | The objective of this paper is to explore the determinants of the use of climate smart agriculture technology (CSAT) among agrarian households of Odisha, India. The effect of climate change and the consequent unpredictability of weather patterns make agricultural production vulnerable. It calls for a solution wherein it is required to transform the existing agricultural practices to make it more efficient, more productive and less prone to climate change. So, the farm inputs should be more adaptive that can be ushered in by adopting CSAT by the practitioners. It is a smart agriculture process that minimizes the negative effect of climate change on agricultural production and contributes towards sustainable agricultural system. The result of the Fractional and Beta regression reveals that higher the level of social capital, higher is the intensity of the use of CSAT by the households. The use of CSAT is less in households that are female headed and belong to the scheduled tribes in comparison to the households that are male headed and belong to the scheduled castes. However, the households having knowledge about the technology use it more than the households with no knowledge of CSAT. The households who think that CSAT is not women-friendly use the technology more in comparison to households that think that women do not have the skills to use the technology. The intensity of the use of CSAT is higher for households where the female takes agricultural decisions. Further, the use of CSAT is less in families where land is owned by the male members only. This calls for institutional arrangements to ensure wider usage of social capital, land ownership by the female members and their economic empowerment by providing them better wages and livelihood so that agrarian households will be interested to use CSAT in agriculture that can ultimately cater to the growing demand of food. |
| Keywords: | Climate Change, Research and Development/Tech Change/Emerging Technologies, Sustainability |
| Date: | 2023–09–19 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:haaepa:344215 |
| By: | Akoko, Peter Obuon; Gathungu, Edith; De Groote, Hugo |
| Abstract: | Maize is most common staple food in Sub-Saharan Africa but in most cases, preserved using the traditional drying method which expose maize to severe losses and quality deterioration. Improved maize drying methods are therefore considered an alternative technique to dry maize. Studies from developed countries have found improved dryers to be more efficient and sustainable, however, developing countries like Kenya are still yet to adopt these technologies. Evaluating smallholder maize farmers’ willingness to pay for improved maize dryers in Njoro Sub-County explains this slow adoption rate. This paper sampled 306 small-scale maize farmers and characterized them based on their willingness to use the dryers. Double bounded choice model was then used to determine farmers’ willingness to pay. The results show that commercial maize production (P- value =0.078, β=13.92958), cooperative membership (P-value=0.053, β=24.40269), higher maize prices (P-value =0.022, β=0.0276285) and subjective norms (P-value=0.005, β=23.75356) positively influenced willingness to pay, while factors like familiarity (P-value=0.044, β=- 34.41718) and liking of the maize dryer (P-value=0.051, β=-16.46909) had a negative impact. The findings emphasize the importance of considering education, farming experience, land size, cooperative membership, access to extension services, and commercial market channels when marketing improved maize dryers. The ideal adopters are farmers with advanced education, years of farming experience, larger land size, cooperative membership, and access to relevant services. To enhance the adoption of improved maize dryers, stakeholders should support farmers in expanding production land, joining cooperatives, accessing extension services, and connecting with commercial maize markets. Additionally, awareness programs targeting older farmers with large households and those lacking post-harvest training may help address factors associated with unwillingness to use improved maize dryers. |
| Keywords: | Farm Management, Research and Development/Tech Change/Emerging Technologies, Teaching/Communication/Extension/Profession |
| Date: | 2024–08–07 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:cfcp15:344279 |
| By: | Natural Resources Conservation Service |
| Abstract: | Mitigation Categories: Soil Health --- Nitrogen Management --- Livestock Partnership --- Grazing and Pasture ---Agroforestry, Forestry and Wildlife Habitat --- Restoration of Disturbed Lands --- Energy, Combustion, & Electricity Efficiency --- Wetlands --- Rice |
| Keywords: | Agricultural and Food Policy, Climate Change, Crop Production/Industries, Environmental Economics and Policy, Land Economics/Use, Livestock Production/Industries, Resource /Energy Economics and Policy |
| Date: | 2023–11 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:usdami:344545 |
| By: | Fernández, Violeta; Pietrelli, Rebecca; Torero, Maximo |
| Abstract: | Digital agriculture offers promising solutions to meet growing food demands. Investigating whether targeting youth in digital agriculture affects the adoption of good practices is a topic that has been overlooked but holds critical implications for policymakers. This study explores whether providing agricultural information via digital technologies to adolescents can influence household adoption of improved agricultural practices. Leveraging a Randomized Control Trial (RCT) conducted in collaboration with a secondary school in rural Uganda, we examined the transmission of knowledge from students to household members and assessed adoption rates and food loss reductions. To the best of our knowledge, our research is the first to focus on the effectiveness of digital technologies aimed at youth in promoting agricultural practices in Africa, particularly affordable basic farming techniques essential for vulnerable and poorer farmers. Our most conservative estimates indicate that households exposed to agricultural videos through computer classes showed substantial gains in knowledge (with a 16% increase). We find a modest effect on adoption rates, with households whose students were exposed to agricultural videos in the classroom showing twice as much adoption rates than those who were not. We speculate that the joint decision-making process could be a constraint on adoption. Interestingly, the intervention had a greater effect on poorer households and those with more traditional values, indicating that strong family ties may be a pathway for the impact. The insights contribute to bridging the gap between behavioral economics and agricultural adoption, offering practical implications for sustainable agricultural development strategies. |
| Keywords: | Institutional and Behavioral Economics, Research and Development/Tech Change/Emerging Technologies, Research Methods/ Statistical Methods |
| Date: | 2024–07–26 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:cfcp15:344380 |
| By: | Das, Nandini; Gupta, Anubhab; Majumder, Binoy; Das, Mahamitra; Muniappan, Rangaswamy |
| Abstract: | Farmers in low-income countries suffer from several challenges that prevent them from achieving higher yields and generating economic gains. Improved agricultural technology can help remove some of the existing obstacles to high agricultural productivity. This paper evaluates an agricultural intervention that provided groundnut farmers in rural Bangladesh with comprehensive recommendations on Integrated Pest Management (IPM), Good Agricultural Practices (GAP), and agronomical suggestions. Using reduced form econometric analyses, we assess the impact of the training program on input usage and yield. Our findings indicate that when farmers receive training on several technologies together, they tend to adopt only the lowcost ones, making such a training program less effective due to the non-adoption of the potentially more beneficial higher-cost technologies. We find significant changes (based on recommendations) in the usage of traditional inputs, but not in new ones. The adjustments in traditional inputs are easier to remember and cheaper to implement. We construct a simple model to show that the learning costs are high for new inputs, leading to selective adoption. Policy recommendations include simplifying complex training into manageable components and implementing strategies to reduce the learning costs associated with new inputs. |
| Keywords: | Farm Management, Research and Development/Tech Change/Emerging Technologies |
| Date: | 2024–07–28 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:aaea22:344219 |
| By: | Degen, Antonia; Moyo, Boineelo; Laggner, Birgit; Behle, Heinz; Niemann, Christoph; Halle, Ofelia; Ackermann, Andrea |
| Keywords: | Agricultural and Food Policy, Community/Rural/Urban Development |
| Date: | 2023–09–01 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:gewi23:344248 |
| By: | Cabrini, Silvina; Olemberg, Demián; Cristeche, Estela; Pace, Ignacio; Amaro, Ignacio Benito |
| Abstract: | Climate change poses a challenge to agri-food systems. Recognizing the need for emission reduction, the European Union (EU) is contemplating the integration of the agricultural sector into formal carbon pricing mechanisms. This study employs the CLIMTRADE model to assess the potential consequences of a EU's carbon border adjustment mechanism (CBAM) on beef trade for Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay. The model considers a baseline bilateral trade matrix, emission intensities, international transport emissions, and potential carbon prices, resulting in the corresponding impacts on imports and exports, depending on the scenario considered. The results indicate that imposing a carbon tax within the EU leads to reduced beef imports, increased domestic prices, and potential carbon leakage. However, deploying a CBAM could mitigate carbon leakage and further reduce emissions. This study contributes to the discussion on the consequences for livestock production in South America of the advancement of emission reduction policies in agriculture driven by developed countries and their implications for the configuration of international trade. |
| Keywords: | Environmental Economics and Policy, International Relations/Trade |
| Date: | 2024–07–26 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:cfcp15:344399 |
| By: | Narmandakh, Davaatseren; Marenya, Paswel; Opie, Hellen; Bett, Charles |
| Abstract: | In market-constrained environments such as those found in dryland agroecologies, farm families face the decision to self-provision for diet diversity through crop diversification or to specialize in a few crop (non-agriculture) enterprises based on market exchange. However, the latter strategy is constrained by the usual market access problems prevalent in rural Africa (especially in dryland geolocations). This study contributes to the ongoing development discourse and research by examining the welfare effects of greater market access and participation compared to farm production diversity in rural Kenya and Uganda. Using cross sectional data from 2, 398 households and three novel instrumental variables to isolate empirical correlates between market access and production diversity (as LHS variables) and diet diversity and food security, we find that both market participation and production diversity positively impact food security and welfare. One unit increase in farm production diversity is associated with a 20.8% increase in the value of food consumed from farm. In contrast, in villages with stronger market links, farm diversity significantly affects the value of food purchases. A 10% increase in sorghum market participation is associated with a small increase in household diet diversity (2.02%), the value of food purchases only in villages where there are limited grain market opportunities. A 10% market participation of sorghum is though associated with a 15% increases farm expenditure in villages with weak market links. However, in villages with stronger market links, market participation negatively affects food purchases. Promoting market participation alone may heighten inequality if market infrastructure is weak. |
| Keywords: | Food Security and Poverty, International Development |
| Date: | 2024–07–26 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:cfcp15:344362 |
| By: | Victoria Junquera; Daniel I. Rubenstein; Florian Knaus |
| Abstract: | Loneliness and social isolation among farmers are growing public health concerns. The contributing factors are manifold, and some of them are linked to structural change in agriculture, for instance because of higher workloads, rural depopulation, or reduced opportunities for collaboration. Our work explores the interconnections between loneliness, social contacts, and structural factors in agriculture based on a survey of 110 farm managers in the mountain region of Entlebuch, Switzerland combined with agricultural census data. We use path analysis, in which loneliness is the main outcome, and social contacts are an explanatory and explained variable. We find that 3% of respondents report that they feel lonely frequently or very frequently, and the rest sometimes (20%), rarely (40%) or never (38%). Managers with higher workloads report feeling lonely more frequently, and this relationship is direct, as well as indirect because of less frequent social contacts. However, physical isolation is not a significant predictor of loneliness. Moreover, short food supply chains correlate with less frequent loneliness feelings. Our study sheds light on the effects that structural change can have on the social fabric of rural areas. |
| Date: | 2024–07 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:arx:papers:2407.20136 |
| By: | Khera, Kartik; Büchele, Manfred; Büchele, Felix; Neuwald, Daniel Alexandre |
| Abstract: | With the increasing global demand for renewable energy, the challenge is identifying sustainable solutions´ avoiding land use conflicts. This study explores the potential of agrophotovoltaic (APV) systems, integrating photovoltaics with fruit production to simultaneously address energy generation and food production challenges. Focusing on the fruit orchards in Himachal Pradesh, India, a modelling study demonstrates the economic viability of APV systems, with relatively fast Return on Investment (ROI) of 5.3 and 5.9 years for cherry and apple production, respectively. The APV model, combining solar PV and fruit farms, is designed for a 1-hectare area. The dual use structure optimizes sunlight exposure while facilitating traditional agricultural practices. The financial analysis reveals substantial profits from fruit production and energy sales, contributing to the economic sustainability of APV. The study emphasizes the potential for increased farmer income, enhanced grid reliability, and rural electrification. Considering the unique challenges Himachal Pradesh faces, including cultivating apples and cherries of inferior quality, the paper recommends adopting innovative approaches. By harnessing solar power through APV, farmers can improve fruit quality, increase revenue, and contribute to a more sustainable and widespread energy distribution. This study is a foundation for future experimental verification and broader implementation of APV systems in diverse agricultural landscapes. |
| Keywords: | Community/Rural/Urban Development, Farm Management |
| Date: | 2024–07–26 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:cfcp15:344374 |
| By: | Michelson, Hope |
| Abstract: | Measurement is not only a way of describing complex realities; it can also transform them by influencing policies and interventions. We are privileged to live in a thrilling era of measurement innovation: new and better methods to deploy, and new ways of adapting familiar and proven apparatus to new problems and contexts. This paper explores how new measurement strategies are providing fresh insights into the circumstances of small-farm household worldwide and describes challenges that these techniques have yet to overcome. Because the small farm sector plays a crucial role in global food security, global value chains and rural livelihoods, understanding its conditions and dynamics is a persistent focus of policymakers and researchers. I discuss how satellite-based assessments of crop yields, tree cover, temperature, and rainfall, laboratory measures of soil and agricultural input quality, GPS-based plot area calculations, labor activity trackers, and high- frequency household surveys conducted via cellular phones are providing improved understanding of fundamental dimensions of small farms and agrarian households. I identify important gaps in what is currently measured, discuss challenges related to implementing and interpreting new measures, and argue that new measurement strategies can be combined effectively with continued sustained investment for traditional “analog measures” – the household and farm surveys that remain fundamental for data collection in low-income countries. |
| Keywords: | Agricultural and Food Policy, Research Methods/ Statistical Methods |
| Date: | 2024–07–26 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:cfcp15:344354 |
| By: | Bekele, Rahel Deribe; Jeuland, Marc; Munson, Dylan |
| Abstract: | Rural households in Ethiopia mainly depend on agriculture for their livelihood and most commonly use traditional biomass as their primary domestic energy source. Using data collected from 925 rural households and 3, 241 plots in four regions of Ethiopia, this study examines the determinants of fuel choice in rural Ethiopia, and the impact of biomass fuel scarcity on agricultural labor supply, yields, and returns, across the irrigation/dry, Meher, and Belg cropping seasons. We show that the shadow price of biomass energy sources, which are largely collected from the environment, and the market prices of charcoal and kerosene as well as indicators of wealth, are important determinants of households’ fuel choices. Our findings further indicate that the scarcity of biomass fuel, proxied by shadow price, has a negative and significant effect on agricultural labor supply in the irrigation and Belg seasons, which in turn affects yields and returns from agriculture. This suggests the importance of addressing domestic fuel scarcity alongside efforts to enhance agricultural productivity in rural areas, particularly when introducing interventions such as irrigation. |
| Keywords: | Consumer/Household Economics, Farm Management, Resource /Energy Economics and Policy |
| Date: | 2024–07–26 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:cfcp15:344395 |
| By: | Yismaw, Habtamu; Troost, Christian; Berger, Thomas |
| Abstract: | This study simulates the economic effects of acacia diseases on smallholder farmers in the Upper Nile basin of the Ethiopian highlands, utilizing agent-based simulation analysis. Acacia, introduced in the 1990s, has become integral to the local agroforestry, enhancing soil fertility and providing significant economic benefits. However, recent outbreaks of acacia diseases threaten these gains. Our simulations suggest that income effects will be severe if the diseases make acacia production completely unprofitable. If interventions like fungicide applications and genetically robust seedlings are able to effectively counteract the diseases, acacia production will remain profitable even with the increased costs to apply these measures. However, they will most likely only partly compensate for the income losses, especially because of an expected delay until they can be introduced. The remaining income loss will still be substantial within the first 4-8 years after the disease outbreak. Our findings emphasize the necessity of timely and strategic management practices to support agricultural resilience. The study underscores the importance of innovative agricultural practices and targeted interventions to enhance the financial sustainability of smallholder farmers facing environmental challenges. Further research is needed to explore the role of acacia in soil fertility improvement, its impact on subsequent crop yields, potentially exacerbating interaction effects with interannual crop yield and price variability, and a detailed representation of livestock production activities. Additionally, the potential of off-farm work as an adaptation strategy warrants deeper investigation. |
| Keywords: | Farm Management, Land Economics/Use, Research Methods/ Statistical Methods |
| Date: | 2024–07–26 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:cfcp15:344393 |
| By: | Akter, Sonia |
| Abstract: | This study introduces a new concept and framework called Climate Resilient Development for Agriculture (CRDA). Unlike Climate Resilient Agriculture (CRA), which focuses solely on adjusting farming practices to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and maintain agricultural production in the face of climate change, CRDA takes a more comprehensive approach by integrating a development perspective. Its goal is to leverage synergies among actions, programs, and policies to achieve climate change mitigation, adaptation, and sustainable development goals while also addressing climate change-induced loss and damage. The CRDA framework outlines potential pathways leading to either high or low CRDA futures and emphasizes the importance of gender equality in its structure. Additionally, the study highlights the potential for actions under the CRDA framework to either exacerbate or mitigate gender disparities and proposes five crucial actions that can contribute to a gender-inclusive and climate-resilient future for the agriculture sector. |
| Keywords: | Climate Change |
| Date: | 2024–07–25 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:cfcp15:344227 |
| By: | Pardeshi, Shefali; Loughrey, Dr. Jason; O’Connor, Dr. Declan |
| Keywords: | Agribusiness |
| Date: | 2023–09–01 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:gewi23:344245 |
| By: | Beniwal, Ezaboo; Kishore, Avinash |
| Abstract: | Over the past few decades Agricultural irrigation in South Asia has emerged to be dominantly groundwater sourced. The size and structure of a region’s groundwater economy is closely intertwined with its energy economy. Until only a few years ago, diesel was the main source of energy for groundwater irrigation in the region while farmers in the rest of South Asia had access to subsidized or free electricity to operate their pumps. With rapid improvements in rural energy supply, this energy-divide is now disappearing. This has potential to change the area’s groundwater energy nexus. Farmers in Bihar, a populous state of India, have installed more than 200 thousand electric pumps for irrigation since 2015. We use data from a representative sample of 1440 farmers from the state to assess the pattern of electrification of groundwater irrigation and its impact on pump ownership, water markets, and water use in agriculture. Electrification of irrigation is skewed towards west and south Bihar. On average, electric pump owners have smaller landholdings than diesel pump owners and they charge significantly lower irrigation fees from water buyers. However, three out of four pump owners report not selling water from their pumps. Farmers using electric pumps—owned or rented—irrigate their crops more intensively and have higher cropping intensity. Near free electricity for irrigation may undermine the fiscal and environmental sustainability of the irrigation led agricultural growth in Bihar. |
| Keywords: | Agricultural and Food Policy, Resource /Energy Economics and Policy |
| Date: | 2024–07–26 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:cfcp15:344383 |
| By: | Mittag, Franziska; Hess, Sebastian |
| Abstract: | The availability of sustainable and high-quality protein for animal feed in regions of intensive animal production is one of the challenges currently facing Europe’s agri-food system. The production of home-grown grain legumes would increase the availability of protein and reduce soy imports, but in Germany, for example, acreage and production volumes remain limited and volatile. One reason for this might be the potentially non-competitive structure of grain legume traders. To test this empirically, a spatial stochastic frontier analysis was applied to district data from Germany. Results show that the number of agricultural traders has a statistically significant positive effect on utilisation of the agricultural area suitable for grain legumes in a district. Therefore, the hypothesis of market power as a possible reason behind the low acreage cannot be rejected. Improvements to the marketing structure may be one way to support grain legume production. |
| Keywords: | Agricultural Finance, Crop Production/Industries, International Relations/Trade |
| Date: | 2023–09–01 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:gewi23:344237 |
| By: | Santiago Izquierdo-Tort; Seema Jayachandran; Santiago Saavedra |
| Abstract: | Payments for Ecosystem Services (PES) are a widely used approach for forest conservation through which people are paid to avoid deforesting land they enroll in the program. We present findings from a randomized trial in Mexico that tested whether a PES contract that requires enrollees to enroll all of their forest is more effective than the traditional PES contract that allows them to exercise choice. The modification's aim is to prevent landowners from enrolling only parcels they planned to conserve anyway while leaving aside other parcels to deforest. We find that the full-enrollment treatment reduces deforestation by 41% compared to the traditional contract. This extra conservation occurs despite the full-enrollment provision reducing the compliance rate due to its more stringent requirements. The full-enrollment treatment more than quadrupled cost-effectiveness, highlighting the potential to substantially improve the efficacy of conservation payments through simple contract modifications. |
| JEL: | O13 Q23 Q56 Q57 |
| Date: | 2024–07 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:nbr:nberwo:32689 |
| By: | Barrett, Christopher B.; Gόmez, Miguel I. |
| Abstract: | The need for agrifood systems transformation to improve economic, environmental, equity and health outcomes is widely recognized. Attention typically focuses on changing farming practices, consumers’ dietary choices, or both. Midstream agrifood value chain actors, who intermediate between primary producers and food consumers, too often get overlooked. This paper explains the importance of inducing midstream agrifood value chain actors to become active agents of agrifood systems transformation, discusses policy tools that can accelerate needed changes, and highlights key topics for future research. |
| Keywords: | Supply Chain |
| Date: | 2024–07–26 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:cfcp15:344330 |
| By: | Randriamarolo-Malavaux, Marie Rose |
| Abstract: | In a context of increased milk price volatility and dairy farm modernization, our study aims to shed light on whether the costs associated with the financial investments made when acquiring technologies and their maintenance costs exacerbate the damage suffered when the price becomes volatile, or whether the expected productivity gains actually help to cope with this market hazard. To do this, we distinguish three farm categories according to three separate variables that approximate the level of technological tools used. Then, we estimate the variation in the level of viability of each group when price volatility changes. We apply fixed effect ordered logistic regression on data gathered from the French farm accountancy data network from 2002 to 2020. Sample is divided into three categories according to their levels of intensification and use of technological tools. We estimated separately the viability models of each category to check for heterogeneity. Our results show positive roles of low intensification and moderate use of technological equipment in mitigating the impact of an increase of milk price volatility on dairy farm viability. These contribute to provide insights on farmers’ coping strategies effectiveness and the extent to which modernization is advantageous. |
| Keywords: | Agribusiness, Dairy Production/Industries, Financial Economics, Productivity Analysis, Research and Development/Tech Change/Emerging Technologies |
| Date: | 2023–09–19 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:haaepa:344217 |
| By: | Sebaq, Mohamed |
| Keywords: | Production Economics, Productivity Analysis, Agribusiness |
| Date: | 2024 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:aaea22:343680 |
| By: | Hellstern, Laura; Gebhardt, Beate; Hess, Sebastian |
| Abstract: | European agriculture is being confronted with the need to transform towards more sustainable practices. However, development paths towards sustainability differ greatly depending on the farms’ operating characteristics, management systems and starting positions, and farmers’ individual decisions play an important role in this process. A survey was conducted of conventional and organic German farmers about what they perceive to be the most outstanding, above-standard sustainability activities undertaken on their farms – their sustainability excellence. Results from a mixed methods approach show that organic farms primarily view their organic farming practices as sustainability excellence, while conventional farms mostly contribute to diverse cultural landscapes and optimise nutrient management. In future, both farming types should strengthen efforts to learn from one other. |
| Keywords: | Sustainability |
| Date: | 2023–09–01 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:gewi23:344234 |
| By: | Quinterosa, Gabriela Herrera; von Plettenberga, Louisa; Otterb, Verena; Uehlekea, Reinhard; Hüttel, Silke |
| Keywords: | Climate Change, Environmental Economics and Policy, Food Security and Poverty |
| Date: | 2023–09–01 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:gewi23:344242 |
| By: | Goeb, Joseph; San, Cho Cho; Belton, Ben; Synt, Nang Lun Kham; Aung, Nilar; Maredia, Mywish; Minten, Bart |
| Abstract: | Myanmar has experienced a sequence of dire crises beginning in 2019 including the unexpected closure of a principal trade route, COVID-19 lockdowns and travel restrictions, and a military coup leading to years of disruptions in the banking and transport sectors, inflation, and conflict. Yet, through these cascading shocks Myanmar’s maize sector experienced robust growth in production and exports. This paper examines the reasons underlying this apparent paradox and our findings contribute to the small but growing literatures on agri-food value chain (AVC) resilience and adaptation by traders. Strengthening the resilience of AVCs to shocks has important implications for welfare in developing countries and is increasingly drawing attention from policymakers and development partners. Using data from several sources including rare panel data sets of traders and farmers, and key informant interviews, we show that crop traders have been critical to the resilience of the maize value chain in Myanmar during this turbulent period. Maize traders performed three key functions contributing to resilience: (i) market discovery when primary trade routes were closed; (ii) overcoming transportation disruptions and bank closures to move maize from the farmgate to local and export markets; (iii) maintaining flows of credit to farmers throughout the crises in the form of selling inputs on credit and lending cash, thereby injecting much needed liquidity at times of incredible uncertainty, disruptions in the banking sector, and rising input prices. |
| Keywords: | Agribusiness, Agricultural and Food Policy |
| Date: | 2024–08–07 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:cfcp15:344306 |
| By: | Zhen, Shihang; Xia, Xianli; Huang, Luchen; Cao, Yihan; Fu, Hanliang; Ren, Yanjun |
| Abstract: | With the prominence of nutrition-related health issues worldwide, functional food is supposed to be an efficient way to address this challenge by achieving its nutrition and health benefits. However, whether consumers are willing to pay (WTP) for high-nutritional value foods of this kind and what is the role of consumers’ risk preferences in their WTPs are unclear. This study employs a discrete choice experiment (DCE) to investigate the effect of risk preferences on consumers’ preferences and WTPs for functional food, focusing on four attributes of dairy products: origin, organic label, functionality and price. We also seek to understand the physiological mechanisms underlying this effect by a lab experiment using eye-tracking technology. The results show that consumers have various preferences and WTPs for different attributes of milk, but they are reluctant to pay for functional milk. Compared to consumers with low-risk preferences, consumers with high-risk preferences are more willing to purchase functional milk. The evidence from eye-tracking experiments indicates that visual attention to the attributes considered positively correlates with their consumption preference. Consumers with high-risk preferences tend to pay more attention to the functional attribute and therefore have a higher prob- ability of purchasing functional milk. This study implies that consumers’ risk preferences should be considered when promoting consumers to purchase functional food, as different consumers have significantly distinct preferences. |
| Keywords: | Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety, Institutional and Behavioral Economics |
| Date: | 2024–08–07 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:cfcp15:344293 |
| By: | Benami, Elinor; Bell, Anne; Messer, Kent D.; Zhang, Wei; Cecil, Michael |
| Abstract: | In 2022, the U.S. authorized one of the single largest investments in the history of agri- environmental programs worldwide. Among its provisions, the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 directed $3billion (bn) in funding for the new Partnership for Climate-Smart Commodities (PCSC) to promote climate-smart agricultural practices and markets across the country. Additionally, the IRA directed another $11bn to the historically oversubscribed Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) and the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP), and nearly $5bn to the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP). This manuscript evaluates the PCSC’s added value compared to these existing programs and extracts lessons from their implementation. Using administrative data and program design documents, we assess and compare the structures and investments of each program, focusing on support for Historically Underserved Producers (HUPs). We find that past funding through EQIP, CSP, and RCPP primarily benefited states with more producers, and nearly 40% of the funds obligated in existing conservation programs supported practices that USDA already classified as climate- smart. Despite progress in enrolling more HUPs, retaining them requires addressing the disproportionate share of canceled and terminated contracts occurring among these groups. Furthermore, the shift towards partnership-style initiatives across conservation programs could enhance the impact and cost-effectiveness of funding, as well as it may unlock opportunities for Copyright 2024 by Elinor Benami, Anne Bell, Kent D. Messer, Wei Zhang, and Michael Cecil. All rights reserved. Readers may make verbatim copies of this document for non-commercial purposes by any means, provided that this copyright notice appears on all such copies. more tailored agreements, particularly for tribal communities. Prior monitoring, reporting, and evaluation methods used in these programs often focus on the numbers of producers served, dollars obligated, contracts issued, or acreage covered paired with physical models used to estimate program impact. To make effective use of this unprecedented infusion of funding into conservation agriculture, however, we suggest novel, state-of-the-art evaluation techniques. Such techniques include deploying randomized experiments and leveraging project-relevant geospatial data merged with program administrative information to generate rigorous impact evaluation on producer behaviors within these programs as well as their corresponding economic and environmental impacts In so doing, this funding offers the chance to help build the evidence-base for strategic use of future conservation funding as well as help de-risk future investments for other types of financial services—thereby accelerating the transformation to sustainable agri- food systems in the US and beyond. |
| Keywords: | Climate Change, Public Economics, Sustainability |
| Date: | 2024–07–26 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:cfcp15:344333 |
| By: | Gulati, Kajal; Saha, Koustuv; Lybbert, Travis J. |
| Abstract: | Most studies on gender gaps in agricultural productivity leverage within-household differences between plots managed by women and men. Such a gender-based division of plot management simplifies empirical tests for productivity differences, but it is not a common arrangement for agricultural households outside some locations in sub-Saharan Africa. In most rural households, women and men jointly participate in production, which complicates identification of gender- based productivity differences. This study proposes a broader empirical test of productivity gaps that applies to such systems, and that is rooted not explicitly in gender but in gender-based inequities. Specifically, we explore productivity gaps in rice-cultivating Indian households, where women and men perform specific and distinct cultivation tasks. We measure productivity gaps based on the differential use of family and hired female labor across households, then compare them with gaps based on the differential use of family and hired male labor. Using plot-level data, we identify significant gender-based productivity gaps after controlling for input use, plot- and household-level characteristics, and using village fixed effects and machine learning estimators to address selection and model misspecification concerns. Based on this identification strategy, households using family female labor have lower agricultural productivity, on average, than those also hiring female workers, such that foregone production value is greater than the cost of hiring women. We find suggestive evidence that this gap stems from skill differences between hired and family female workers. In contrast, we find no evidence of a similar gap based on the differential use of family and hired male labor. Overall, household welfare is lower because of gender inequities that shape women's work opportunities. These findings highlight the potential productivity implications of expanding women's labor choices, including both on- and off-farm job opportunities. |
| Keywords: | Consumer/Household Economics, Farm Management, International Development |
| Date: | 2024–08–07 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:cfcp15:344301 |
| By: | Zhang, Yumei; Wang, Jingjing; Fan, Shenggen |
| Abstract: | Transforming diets is critical for sustainable food systems. While there have been increasing global discourses on healthy and sustainable diets, national and local actions often remain limited. This paper addresses this gap by focusing on China, the world’s largest developing country. We examine the specific challenges of defining healthy and sustainable diets for the Chinese population by considering regional dietary cultures, affordability, and environmental impact. We analyze how policy interventions, including both supply and consumer-side strategies, can promote the transition towards such diets. The findings can offer valuable lessons for other developing countries facing similar challenges. |
| Keywords: | Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety, Sustainability |
| Date: | 2024–07–26 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:cfcp15:344342 |
| By: | Kitchaicharoen, J.; Suebpongsang, P.; Singvejsakul, J.; Pradit, O. |
| Abstract: | The Center for Agricultural Resource Systems Research at the Faculty of Agriculture, Chiang Mai University initiated a project for producing pesticide-free vegetable in the urban agro-ecosystem of Chiang Mai, aiming to serve as a model for promoting pesticide-free vegetable production in urban areas, aligned with Sustainable Development Goals 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production). The project funded by the Program Management Unit on Area Based Development (PMU A) for a one-year duration starting from May 2021 and ended in April 2022. This study investigates the Social Return on Investment (SROI) of the project. The analysis aims to elucidates the project’s multifaceted outcomes and offer valuable insights for policymakers to encourage investments in safe vegetable production within urban domains. The SROI evaluation demonstrated the project’s success in achieving economic, social, and environmental objectives, particularly in establishing a sustainable source of safe food through a community of pesticide-free vegetable producers in urban areas. This initiative fostered community interaction, economic development, and improved health through pesticide-free vegetable consumption, showcasing a potential model for green urban communities. Despite challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the project yielded significant benefits over ten years period, with a net present value of $66, 831 and an SROI of 2.99, indicating that every $1 invested generated a social return of $2.99 – a favorable rate for agricultural projects. The project’s success underscores the importance of continued support from the Faculty of Agriculture, Chiang Mai University, or relevant research funding agencies to sustain such impactful endeavors. |
| Keywords: | Community/Rural/Urban Development, Crop Production/Industries, Production Economics, Sustainability |
| Date: | 2024–04–28 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:asea24:344451 |
| By: | Islam, Didarul; Davis, George; Gupta, Anubhab; Okrent, Abigail |
| Abstract: | This study finds that even though people spend a larger share of their food budget on food away from home (FAFH), it does not necessarily mean they gain higher welfare from FAFH relative to its budget. By investigating the impact of price changes of food at home (FAH) and FAFH on consumer welfare over time, we find that FAH price increases lead to more significant and volatile welfare losses compared to changes in FAFH prices, especially during economic crises like COVID-19. Using the Linear Approximate Almost Ideal Demand System (LA/AIDS) model within an aggregate demand system consisting of nine categories, we show that price changes in FAH and FAFH primarily affect their own categories, with minimal cross-category impacts. Despite the trend towards higher FAFH spending share, loss in total consumer welfare is more sensitive to FAH price change. The findings from our paper have implications for policymakers aiming to mitigate the adverse effects of price instability in various food categories. |
| Keywords: | Agribusiness, Agricultural Finance, Consumer/Household Economics |
| Date: | 2024–07–28 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:aaea22:344220 |
| By: | Adeyanju, Dolapo; Ejima, Joseph; Balana, Bedru; Mburu, John |
| Abstract: | This study addresses the gap in understanding the impact of agribusiness empowerment programmes on youth business performance in developing countries, taking the case of the ENABLE-TAAT programme in Kenya and Uganda. A multistage sampling technique was used in obtaining primary agribusiness-level data from a sample of 1003 young agripreneurs from the study countries. An Endogenous Treatment Effect Regression (ETER) model was used to identify factors influencing programme participation and impact on youth agribusiness performance. Results show that marital status, agribusiness experience, asset value, credit access, residence, prior programme awareness, and perception were the key determinants of participation. The ETER results chow that participation in the programme significantly increased youth’s agribusiness income by 7 percent and food security by 76 percent, with participants having higher asset value than non-participants. Based on these findings, we suggest policy interventions or programmes focusing on youth agribusiness empowerment, particularly those that target young actors along different agricultural value chains. We also suggest interventions geared towards mitigating constraints to credit access by young agripreneurs to ease barriers to working capital and business innovation. To increase access and participation, we recommend strategies to improve youth perception and raise awareness of these programmes. |
| Keywords: | Agribusiness |
| Date: | 2024–07–26 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:cfcp15:344394 |
| By: | Areef, Mulla; Radha, Yanamadala; Rajeswari, Seelam |
| Abstract: | This study investigates the welfare implications of traditional versus modern value chains on agricultural households in India, used a national representative farm-level dataset (NSSO-SAS) with 44, 770 agricultural households. Employing a multinomial endogenous switching regression (MESR) approach, our findings underscore the pivotal role of cultivation income, constituting 56.23% in adult equivalent terms, surpassing wages income (22.46%) among households engaged in both traditional and modern marketing channels. Moreover, households engaging in both traditional and modern marketing channels exhibit a remarkable 80 percent increase in overall household income compared to non-participating counterparts. Intriguingly, a noteworthy 19.57% savings from monthly income per adult is observed after fulfilling consumption expenditure needs. Those adopting a synergistic blend of traditional and modern channels experience a commendable 13 percent surge in monthly consumption expenditure compared to non-participating peers. These results underscore the significant benefits of diversifying marketing channels within the agricultural sector. Given these trends, advocating for policies promoting such diversification becomes imperative to enhance the well-being of agricultural households in India. |
| Keywords: | Agricultural and Food Policy |
| Date: | 2024–07–26 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:cfcp15:344385 |
| By: | Spykman, Olivia; Gabriel, Andreas |
| Abstract: | Technology plays an important role in the transition towards more sustainable agriculture. The associated costs for farmers may be lowered through government investment support programmes. The German federal state of Bavaria runs such a programme for various technologies, including crop robots that help to reduce chemical plant protection input. Based on official funding application data, an economic model relying on field trial data, and results from an early adopter focus group discussion, the case of the crop robot FD20 (FarmDroid ApS) in sugar beet is evaluated in detail. The funding application data indicates that applicants manage larger farms and work according to organic standards more often than the Bavarian population of farmers. The applicants’ counties of residence match areas of sugar beet production, suggesting a use of the robot mainly in sugar beets. The economic evaluation indicates a shift in minimum area of sugar beet production necessary for economical use of the robot caused by the government investment support. The minimum necessary area varies by field size and number and points to the importance of setup times and agricultural structures for robot profitability. The focus group discussion highlights the relevance of the government investment support scheme for farmers’ investment into a new type of technology shortly after its market entry. This multi-method approach has provided complementing conclusions from its three components that would not have been possible from each piece of research individually. Overall, the government investment support appears to have been integral to the success of crop robots in Bavaria and may thus serve as an example for other policymakers looking to create similar technology investment support schemes to move forward the digital transition in agriculture. |
| Keywords: | Crop Production/Industries, Public Economics, Research and Development/Tech Change/Emerging Technologies |
| Date: | 2023–09–19 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:haaepa:344216 |
| By: | Baumüller, Heike; Kornher, Lukas |
| Abstract: | SMS-enabled surveys are gaining traction as a rapid, low-cost means of monitoring food security situations as part of early warning systems. However, such surveys run the risk of yielding biased results, given that mobile phones are more prevalent among young, urban and wealthier populations. To assess the suitability of SMS-enabled surveys for food security monitoring, we conducted monthly surveys of 2000 respondents across Uganda over the course of one year. A filtering approach was used to ensure a representative sample. We evaluate the validity of the data by triangulating the responses with high-frequency data from our own face to-face household surveys as well as externally collected phone survey data. The analysis suggests that SMS-based surveys can be a promising tool to measure changes in food security status over time, but they perform less well with regard to measuring the actual food security status. Responses related to the general food situation (rather than dietary diversity, food consumption or market prices) emerged as the most reliable indicator. Using different scenarios, we assess implications of changes in the sample composition and size for the results. Even biased samples, e.g. in terms of gender, location or age, show comparable trends, but a minimum sample size is required to obtain valid results. |
| Keywords: | Food Security and Poverty, Research Methods/ Statistical Methods |
| Date: | 2024–07–26 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:cfcp15:344389 |
| By: | Aline Fugeray-Scarbel (GAEL - Laboratoire d'Economie Appliquée de Grenoble - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique - INRAE - Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement - UGA - Université Grenoble Alpes - Grenoble INP - Institut polytechnique de Grenoble - Grenoble Institute of Technology - UGA - Université Grenoble Alpes); Stéphane Lemarié (GAEL - Laboratoire d'Economie Appliquée de Grenoble - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique - INRAE - Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement - UGA - Université Grenoble Alpes - Grenoble INP - Institut polytechnique de Grenoble - Grenoble Institute of Technology - UGA - Université Grenoble Alpes) |
| Abstract: | CONTEXT Despite their interest for agro-ecological transition, grain legumes remain poorly cultivated in France. One reason is the low availability of seed innovations for farmers which, to a large extend, is related to the low incentives to innovate for these crops which represent a small acreage. OBJECTIVE In this article, we analyze the link between market size and the efforts made to create, diffuse and value innovation. We compare two value chains related to two field crops in France that mainly differ in terms of market size, namely, pea and wheat. Our analysis focuses more specifically on the seed-related innovations created in the upstream part of these value chains. In both of these cases, innovation relies on multiple complementary activities carried out by different actors, including the creation of the innovation, the production and diffusion of technical knowledge, the production and distribution of the innovation, and its valorization by downstream users. METHODS The two case studies on the pea and wheat sectors were conducted using a qualitative approach based on public documentation, 16 semistructured interviews with various actors in the innovation system of the two value chains and data on commercialized pea and wheat varieties. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION We show that the level of investment in each of these activities is highly related to market size. This result is first explained by the fact that part (if not all) of the cost of these activities is fixed; that is, these activity costs do not depend on the diffusion of innovation. This result is also explained by the complementarity of these activities, which makes the investment in one activity less beneficial if the investment in complementary activities is low. As a consequence, the effect of market size on innovation is self-reinforcing in those cases where innovation relies on different activities managed by different actors. SIGNIFICANCE In agricultural sectors, where there is a need for innovations in both large and small markets, this result calls for an evolution of innovation funding mechanisms to attenuate the impact of market size. |
| Keywords: | Market size, Innovation, Agriculture, Seed, Value chain, Lock-in |
| Date: | 2024–08 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hal:journl:hal-04631965 |
| By: | Estelle Fourat (IRD - Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, UMR MoISA - Montpellier Interdisciplinary center on Sustainable Agri-food systems (Social and nutritional sciences) - Cirad - Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement - IRD - Institut de Recherche pour le Développement - CIHEAM-IAMM - Centre International de Hautes Etudes Agronomiques Méditerranéennes - Institut Agronomique Méditerranéen de Montpellier - CIHEAM - Centre International de Hautes Études Agronomiques Méditerranéennes - INRAE - Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement - Institut Agro Montpellier - Institut Agro - Institut national d'enseignement supérieur pour l'agriculture, l'alimentation et l'environnement); Eric Blanchart (IRD - Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, UMR Eco&Sols - Ecologie fonctionnelle et biogéochimie des sols et des agro-écosystèmes - Cirad - Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement - IRD - Institut de Recherche pour le Développement - INRAE - Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement - Institut Agro Montpellier - Institut Agro - Institut national d'enseignement supérieur pour l'agriculture, l'alimentation et l'environnement); Miriam Cué Rio (IRD - Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, SENS - Savoirs, ENvironnement et Sociétés - Cirad - Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement - UPVM - Université Paul-Valéry - Montpellier 3 - IRD - Institut de Recherche pour le Développement); Maria J Darias (UMR MARBEC - MARine Biodiversity Exploitation and Conservation - MARBEC - IRD - Institut de Recherche pour le Développement - IFREMER - Institut Français de Recherche pour l'Exploitation de la Mer - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique - UM - Université de Montpellier, IRD - Institut de Recherche pour le Développement); Arona Diedhiou (IRD - Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, UGA - Université Grenoble Alpes); Isabelle Droy (IRD - Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, SOURCE - SOUtenabilité et RésilienCE - UVSQ - Université de Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines - IRD [France-Nord] - Institut de Recherche pour le Développement); Frédéric Jacob (IRD - Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, UMR LISAH - Laboratoire d'étude des Interactions Sol - Agrosystème - Hydrosystème - IRD - Institut de Recherche pour le Développement - AgroParisTech - INRAE - Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement - Institut Agro Montpellier - Institut Agro - Institut national d'enseignement supérieur pour l'agriculture, l'alimentation et l'environnement); Pierre Janin (IRD - Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, DEVSOC - UMR Développement et Sociétés - UP1 - Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne - IRD - Institut de Recherche pour le Développement); Marjorie Le Bars (IRD - Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, SENS - Savoirs, ENvironnement et Sociétés - Cirad - Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement - UPVM - Université Paul-Valéry - Montpellier 3 - IRD - Institut de Recherche pour le Développement); Alissia Lourme-Ruiz (Cirad - Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement, UMR MoISA - Montpellier Interdisciplinary center on Sustainable Agri-food systems (Social and nutritional sciences) - Cirad - Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement - IRD - Institut de Recherche pour le Développement - CIHEAM-IAMM - Centre International de Hautes Etudes Agronomiques Méditerranéennes - Institut Agronomique Méditerranéen de Montpellier - CIHEAM - Centre International de Hautes Études Agronomiques Méditerranéennes - INRAE - Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement - Institut Agro Montpellier - Institut Agro - Institut national d'enseignement supérieur pour l'agriculture, l'alimentation et l'environnement); Insaf Mekki (INRGREF - Institut National de Recherche en Génie Rural Eaux et Forêts - ENGREF - Ecole Nationale du Génie Rural, des Eaux et des Forêts - IRESA - Institution de la Recherche et de l'Enseignement Supérieur Agricoles [Tunis], UCAR - Université de Carthage (Tunisie)); Philippe Méral (IRD - Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, SENS - Savoirs, ENvironnement et Sociétés - Cirad - Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement - UPVM - Université Paul-Valéry - Montpellier 3 - IRD - Institut de Recherche pour le Développement); Pascale Moiti-Maizi (Institut Agro Montpellier - Institut Agro - Institut national d'enseignement supérieur pour l'agriculture, l'alimentation et l'environnement, SENS - Savoirs, ENvironnement et Sociétés - Cirad - Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement - UPVM - Université Paul-Valéry - Montpellier 3 - IRD - Institut de Recherche pour le Développement); Josiane Seghieri (IRD - Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, UMR Eco&Sols - Ecologie fonctionnelle et biogéochimie des sols et des agro-écosystèmes - Cirad - Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement - IRD - Institut de Recherche pour le Développement - INRAE - Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement - Institut Agro Montpellier - Institut Agro - Institut national d'enseignement supérieur pour l'agriculture, l'alimentation et l'environnement); Eric O Verger (UMR MoISA - Montpellier Interdisciplinary center on Sustainable Agri-food systems (Social and nutritional sciences) - Cirad - Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement - IRD - Institut de Recherche pour le Développement - CIHEAM-IAMM - Centre International de Hautes Etudes Agronomiques Méditerranéennes - Institut Agronomique Méditerranéen de Montpellier - CIHEAM - Centre International de Hautes Études Agronomiques Méditerranéennes - INRAE - Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement - Institut Agro Montpellier - Institut Agro - Institut national d'enseignement supérieur pour l'agriculture, l'alimentation et l'environnement) |
| Abstract: | Food systems and their sustainability have been extensively studied in high-income countries (HICs), yet less so in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), despite their importance for global food security. In this study, we conducted a systematic scoping review to describe the extent, range, and nature of peer-reviewed literature assessing the sustainability performance of food systems in LMICs. The review revealed a recent and heterogeneous literature. From this diversity, 3 archetypes of epistemological approaches emerged, classified by their purpose: observational , modeling , and transformative . All 3 approaches apply existing or tailored methods to specifically study food systems, and their objectives are to observe, model, or transform different parts of the food systems towards sustainability. Gaps in the literature include inconsistent definitions of food systems and frameworks and understudied drivers of food systems sustainability. Therefore, the development of a comprehensive and systematic inventory of frameworks and their sustainability is crucial to determine the most suitable interdisciplinary methodologies for specific contexts and generate actionable knowledge for food systems transformation. |
| Date: | 2024–07–25 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hal:journl:hal-04662942 |
| By: | Mieno, Taro |
| Keywords: | Production Economics |
| Date: | 2024 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:aaea22:343697 |
| By: | Balasubramanya, Soumya |
| Abstract: | In recent years, policy discourse in South Asia has increasingly focused on reducing pressure on groundwater use in irrigated agriculture and reducing irrigation energy subsidies, while also not making farmers worse off. In an environment where pricing water and energy is administratively and politically challenging, much hope is placed on the widespread adoption of irrigation technologies that improve irrigation efficiency. This paper highlights knowledge gaps in this discourse, to identify avenues where research could inform evidence-based decision-making. |
| Keywords: | Environmental Economics and Policy, Research and Development/Tech Change/Emerging Technologies, Sustainability |
| Date: | 2024–07–26 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:cfcp15:344327 |
| By: | Goeb, Joseph; Minten, Bart; Aung, Nilar; Aung, Zin Wai; Zu, A Myint; Htar, May Thet |
| Abstract: | In numerous low- and middle-income countries, agricultural value chains (AVC) are undergoing rapid transformation, yet scant evidence exists regarding such changes in fragile and conflict- affected settings, and little is known about inclusivity in this transformation. This study focuses on changes in Myanmar's rice value chain - using unique large-scale primary data - from 2013 to 2022, during an economic boom and subsequent political upheaval and conflict. We document remarkable shifts, including a fourfold increase in rice exports, propelling Myanmar to the world's fifth-largest rice exporter. Concurrently, domestic market conditions improved, and there was modernization in the ‘hidden middle’ of the value chain including increased investments in modern milling equipment and drying methods. At the farm level we note greater adoption of modern inputs (e.g., improved seed) and harvest/post-harvest technologies and increased reliance on modern specialized service providers. The transformation was not everywhere inclusive, and modernization in some areas decelerated due to conflict. Mills and farms in insecure and conflict-affected areas, as well as remote millers and smallholders, participated to a lesser extent, and the gaps widened during the crisis years. The rapid modernization in Myanmar’s rice value chain from 2013 to 2019 highlights the positive impacts of stable governance, infrastructure investment, and liberalization on AVC transformation while the observed variations in modernization inclusivity across different segments of the value chain underscore the complex interplay between governance, conflict, and AVC transformation. |
| Keywords: | Agribusiness, Agricultural and Food Policy |
| Date: | 2024–08–07 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:cfcp15:344305 |
| By: | Bartkowski, Bartosz |
| Abstract: | Agri-environmental policy in the European Union and elsewhere is increasingly oriented to-wards multifunctionality, i.e. the provision of public goods and/or reduction of environmental externalities next to the production of food and materials. Agricultural and agri-environmental policy approaches vary substantially across countries. However, they have two things in common: first, their limited success in improving the environmental quality of agricultural landscapes; and second, their reliance on voluntary payment schemes as the primary agri- environmental policy instrument. In this paper, I explore the full spectrum of theoretically available agri-environmental policy instruments for multifunctionality in a systematic way to demonstrate which options could be available and under what conditions. For this purpose, I combine concepts from ecosystem service research, property rights economics and public good economics. I use a list of ecosystem services provided in agricultural landscapes as a starting point. I characterize the individual ecosystem services by means of policy-relevant properties: the balance between public and private benefits, scale of provision, scale of benefits, degree of diffusion and attributability, spatial heterogeneity of benefit potential, spatial heterogeneity of management requirements, reversibility and permanence. I then leverage these properties to assess how well different policy instruments are likely to work for addressing the identified list of ecosystem services. For that, I consider policy instruments belonging to two property rights logics – “beneficiary pays” and “polluter pays”. The result of the analysis is a conceptual overview of a potential policy mix to address multifunctionality in agricultural landscapes. |
| Keywords: | Agricultural and Food Policy |
| Date: | 2023–09–01 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:gewi23:344238 |
| By: | Nor, N.A.A.M.; Buda, M.; Nor, N.M.; Seng, K.W.K.; Sharifuddin, J. |
| Abstract: | The broiler industry in Peninsular Malaysia faces significant challenges, including escalating production costs influenced by volatile feed prices, supply dependencies, and disruptions such as the COVID-19 pandemic. A comprehensive investigation was undertaken on 105 small and semi-commercial broiler farms in Peninsular Malaysia, employing structured questionnaires and a stratified random sampling approach. The study aimed to estimate the cost-efficiency of broiler farming and determine the factors affecting farm-level cost inefficiency. The findings confirm the presence of cost inefficiencies in small and semi-commercial broiler production in the area studied. Specifically, the research identified an operational inefficiency of approximately 7.1% above optimal costs among surveyed farms, suggesting a potential 7.1% reduction in production costs through enhanced management strategies. The findings indicate day-old chicks, feed, medicine, miscellaneous inputs, output, and capital significantly influenced cost function. Additionally, the study explored the significant role of extension services in reducing cost inefficiencies, with farms benefiting from such services exhibiting lower inefficiencies. In conclusion, this research provides critical insights into the complex relationships between efficiency drivers and inefficiencies within the broiler farming sector in Peninsular Malaysia. These identified factors offer valuable information for stakeholders to formulate effective strategies, optimize production processes, and enhance the competitiveness and sustainability of the industry. |
| Keywords: | Livestock Production/Industries, Production Economics, Sustainability |
| Date: | 2024–04–28 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:asea24:344456 |
| By: | Paulus, Michael; Pfaff, Sara Anna |
| Keywords: | Farm Management, Research and Development/Tech Change/Emerging Technologies |
| Date: | 2023–09–01 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:gewi23:344246 |
| By: | Fernández, Francisco J.; Vásquez-Lavín, Felipe; Rivera, Diego; Hernández, Francisco; Bopp, Carlos; Campos-Requena, Nélyda; Ponce, Roberto D. |
| Abstract: | A tariff is a crucial tool for managing rural water supply services. It helps cover the costs of operation, maintenance, and repair, ensuring the sustainability of these services. Unfortunately, due to suboptimal tariff structures, rural water systems lack the financial liquidity to handle unforeseen events. This puts them in a difficult position, especially with the increasing water demand and resource scarcity driven by climate change. Therefore, adjusting the current tariff settings is necessary to achieve financial and operational sustainability, balancing cost recovery with other social, economic, and environmental objectives. This study aims to determine how pricing components, such as fixed charges and variable costs, influence consumer acceptability of different tariff systems. Using a choice experiment, we evaluated Chilean rural water consumers' preferences for different tariff schemes. The results show that individuals are highly conservative regarding the price structure. Participants preferred maintaining existing tariffs, consistently favoring the status quo over alternative tariff structures. Significantly, the likelihood of selecting a new tariff structure is influenced more by alterations in the variable component than by changes in the fixed price of water. These findings provide valuable insights for achieving a balanced and sustainable approach to rural water management and help policy designs. |
| Keywords: | Community/Rural/Urban Development, Consumer/Household Economics, Demand and Price Analysis |
| Date: | 2024–07–26 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:cfcp15:344377 |
| By: | Seifert, Stefan; Wolff, Saskia; Hüttel, Silke |
| Abstract: | We analyze ecological improvement potentials of agricultural landscapes in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. Using an eco-efficiency approach, we model agricultural landscapes at a 20km² hexagonal grid. Ecological output is captured by indicators based on agricultural land cover data from the Integrated Administration and Control System. We derive measures for landscape configuration and composition including a Shannon crop diversity index, edge density, grassland shares, ecological focus areas, and landscape elements. We approximate economic output potential using local standard farmland values. Ecological improvement potentials are measured against a non-convex frontier estimated with the non-parametric, robust order-m estimator. We find overall high eco-efficiency of the agricultural landscapes; yet for the given economic output potential, landscapes could improve in the ecological direction. We detect spatially concentrated improvement potentials for single ecological indicators. Our results underline that eco-efficiency requires coordination at the landscape scale where directional improvement potentials can help designing locally adapted strategies. |
| Keywords: | Agribusiness |
| Date: | 2023–09–01 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:gewi23:344236 |
| By: | Inoue, Yutaro; Saito, Katsuhiro; Kawasaki, Kentaro |
| Abstract: | This study examines the effects of Non-Tariff Measures (NTMs) on global agro-food trade by analyzing seven different NTMs and their interactions. We estimated structural gravity models with the Poisson Pseudo Maximum Likelihood estimator. The results indicate that NTMs generally restrict agro-food trade, reducing it by approximately 28.6% compared to a no-NTM scenario. Two NTMs show larger negative trade effects than SPS and TBT, the commonest measures in agro-food trade. Additionally, the negative impacts of NTMs vary by sector; animal-based product trade may be restricted due to food safety concerns, whereas plant-based product trade seems to be reduced by protectionist measures. On the contrary, NTMs may have positive effects in some sectors by correcting market failures, reducing transaction costs, and aligning with the importing countries’ economic or industrial strategies. Policymakers should balance the benefits of NTMs against the potential loss of food access and ensure inter- ministerial coordination when setting NTMs. |
| Keywords: | International Relations/Trade |
| Date: | 2024–07–26 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:cfcp15:344387 |
| By: | Sarker, Rakhal |
| Abstract: | Canada has developed a multi-layered whole farm-based support program in the new Millennium. Support payments received by farmers, however, can alter their investment portfolio and contribute to risk-balancing behaviour. Does risk-balancing exist in Ontario agriculture? This question is addressed in this paper using microdata data for the grain and oilseed sector in Ontario. Our empirical results revealed that support payments received during the study period reduced business risk for small and medium farms, but not for large grain and oilseed farms in Ontario. While the results from correlation analysis revealed that all grain and oilseed farms in Ontario are significant risk-balancers, the results from the fixed effect panel regression analysis demonstrate that there is evidence of risk-balancing for the medium grain and oilseed farms in Ontario during the study period. The results also reveal that the presence of risk-balancing does not pose any problem for future growth of this sector or the long-term sustainability of farm support programs. |
| Keywords: | Agricultural and Food Policy, Agricultural Finance, Risk and Uncertainty |
| Date: | 2024–07–26 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:cfcp15:344398 |
| By: | Hertel, Thomas W. |
| Abstract: | In a series of highly cited papers over the period 2009 – 2023, earth system scientists have identified a set of nine planetary boundaries that must not be breached if we wish to avoid catastrophic consequences for nature and humanity. These range from well-mixed, global boundaries, such as climate-altering greenhouse gas emissions, to localized limits on freshwater availability and reactive nitrogen entering the environment. Recent estimates by Richardson et al. (2023), suggest that four of the nine planetary boundaries have already been breached. The food system is a key driver of all four exceedances and therefore must play a key role in any solutions. However, the establishment of these boundaries and the analysis of potential solutions has often been devoid of economic considerations. Furthermore, in the case of several of these planetary boundaries, limited attention has been given to the economic policies that might allow society to address them, as well as the likely synergies and tradeoffs across economic policies targeted to individual objectives. This paper seeks to bring further economic analysis to bear on the quantitative assessment of global and local economic policies aimed at respecting these planetary boundaries, concluding with six lessons to inform future research on this topic. |
| Keywords: | Agricultural and Food Policy, International Development, International Relations/Trade, Sustainability |
| Date: | 2024–07–26 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:cfcp15:344346 |
| By: | Adu-Baffour, F.; Daum, T.; Obeng, A. E.; Birner, R.; Bosch, C. |
| Abstract: | Illegal small-scale mining and processing activities (ASM) have led to vast areas of degraded, contaminated, and abandoned local-community lands, posing a major environmental concern in many developing countries. In the absence of effective state mechanisms to enforce more sustainable mining and post-mining practices, there are increasing discussions on whether community-based solutions could be a second-best solution to restore such lands. This paper analyzes a unique case of an NGO-initiated, community-based ASM land restoration project in Ghana, examining the conditions under which communities could ensure sustainable land rehabilitation outcomes. Qualitative methods are used to map out key actors and relationships to make community-based rehabilitation projects work, followed by the stated preferences method to estimate factors influencing the local communities’ decision to contribute to mined land restoration, including phytoremediation, a technique to reduce contamination. Our findings reveal that there is community support for reclaiming and remediating former ASM lands using communal labor. However, support depends on land tenure arrangements, among other factors. Chiefs, as community overlords, were perceived among the most influential actors as they have the power to enact and enforce local laws and sanction noncompliance with regards to customary land management. Local community members and landowners, however, were seen to be largely not organized, with different land use priorities and unregulated and insecure land tenure structures. Overall, this study shows that community-based solutions could be a second-best option for mined-land rehabilitation, however, such efforts need to pay close attention to social networks, norms, rules, and practices, to be successful and ensure that community members really benefit. |
| Keywords: | Agribusiness, Environmental Economics and Policy |
| Date: | 2023–09–01 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:gewi23:344243 |
| By: | Stefano Giglio; Theresa Kuchler; Johannes Stroebel; Olivier Wang |
| Abstract: | We explore the economic effects of biodiversity loss by developing an ecologically-founded model that captures how different species interact to deliver the ecosystem services that complement other factors of economic production. Aggregate ecosystem services are produced by combining several non-substitutable ecosystem functions such as pollination and water filtration, which are each provided by many substitutable species playing similar roles. As a result, economic output is an increasing but highly concave function of species richness. The marginal economic value of a species depends on three factors: (i) the number of similar species within its ecosystem function, (ii) the marginal importance of the affected function for overall ecosystem productivity, and (iii) the extent to which ecosystem services constrain economic output in each country. Using our framework, we derive expressions for the fragility of ecosystem service provision and its evolution over time, which depends, among other things, on the distribution of biodiversity losses across ecosystem functions. We discuss how these fragility measures can help policymakers assess the risks induced by biodiversity loss and prioritize conservation efforts. We also embed our model of ecosystem service production in a standard economic model to study optimal land use when land use raises output at the cost of reducing biodiversity. We find that even in settings where species loss does not reduce output substantially today, it lowers growth opportunities and reduces resilience to future species loss, especially when past species loss has been asymmetric across functions. Consistent with these predictions of our model, we show empirically that news about biodiversity loss increases spreads on credit default swaps (CDS) more for countries with more depleted ecosystems. |
| JEL: | E0 E30 E60 Q0 Q01 Q30 Q32 Q38 Q51 Q54 Q56 Q57 |
| Date: | 2024–07 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:nbr:nberwo:32678 |
| By: | Aung, Y.L.; Myint, T.; Aung, Y.M.; Oo, S.P.; Lay, K.K. |
| Abstract: | Myanmar Indigenous Chicken (MIC) production is a one of the rural household income sources, food security and poverty alleviation for the resource-poor rural households and also contributes their job opportunities. Preference for MIC products becomes higher as well as its demands are increasing due to changes in consumer’s perception of health and nutritional preferences. However, potential of the MIC enterprises in Myanmar is constrained by low productivity and marketing bottlenecks. Hence, comprehensive research on Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats (SWOT) analysis of MIC enterprises is critically important to identify the real situation of MIC enterprises. Main objective of the study was to determine SWOT elements of MIC enterprises in Lewe, Pyinmana, Tatkon, Pobbathiri Townships in Nay Pyi Taw. The study areas were purposively selected because most of the MIC enterprises are located. Stratified random sampling was used to collect SWOT elements data from a total of 105 MIC enterprises using structured questionnaire through personal interview during May-June 2023. The collected data were analysed by using SWOT matrix to identify and suggest possible intervention areas. The results show that easiness to raise, income generation, self-employment, potential of market demand and price were contribution factors. Meanwhile, limited access to veterinary services, technical training, financial support, seasonal diseases and low productivity were affecting negatively. Suggestions for intervention areas from that study were technical training, livestock loan, vaccine and veterinary services, hatcheries and pure breed, and entrepreneurial transition which could improve for future development of MIC enterprises in Nay Pyi Taw. |
| Keywords: | Consumer/Household Economics, Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety, Food Security and Poverty, Livestock Production/Industries |
| Date: | 2024–04–28 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:asea24:344448 |
| By: | Chand, Ramesh |
| Abstract: | Since the seminal work of Arthur Lewis (1954) on Dual Sector Economy, development economics literature has emphasised structural transformation of economy marked by decline in share of agriculture in economy’s output and employment as an economy grows from low income towards middle and higher income. Based on this literature, policy emphasis for growth and development tilted towards non agriculture sectors especially manufacturing. In some cases this even led to overlooking the role of agriculture in development, which is qualitatively different than role of non agriculture in growth and development. Of late, there is a realization that the importance of agriculture for economy and society is much larger than what is revealed by its share in GDP. This implies that changes in share of agriculture in GDP is not a best guide for policies on growth and development. Everywhere, changes in occupation structure followed changes in structure of output with a long time gap. In some of the emerging economies the two shares i.e. share of agriculture in GDP and workforce are moving parallel instead of showing convergence. This has serious implications for employment and disparities in per worker income in agriculture and non agriculture, which is further related to poverty. Hunger at global level and in a large number of countries is showing increase after 2015 despite increase in per capita food output. More than 3 billion people are reported to be unable to afford healthy diets in 2020. Agriculture is also significant contributor to climate change and unsustainable use of natural resources. Such trends are threatening life of people and planet. There is a pressing need to reimagine agriculture and its role in nutrition and health and for inclusive and sustainable development. |
| Keywords: | Food Security and Poverty, International Development |
| Date: | 2024–07–26 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:cfcp15:344336 |
| By: | Bhagyashree, Katare; Yenerall, Jacqueline; Zhao, Shuoli; Wang, Xuejian |
| Abstract: | Technological advancements, such as online grocery shopping, have significantly transformed consumer retail environments and experiences. Effectively studying consumer behavior in these new environments requires the use of novel methodological approaches, which will also aid in the development of interventions to encourage healthy and sustainable consumption. This paper begins by providing an overview of the current literature on novel approaches to analyzing consumer behavior. To contribute to this literature, the paper also examines consumer decision-making pathways within online grocery shopping platforms. Specifically, the paper focuses on exploring the consumers' digital footprints, such as page visits, product additions and removals, and interactions with information labels to identify patterns and interests in consumer responses to healthy and sustainable consumption. The study investigates potential heterogeneities in consumers’ socio-demographics and attitudes, aiming to provide insights for shaping online shopping environments to promote healthy and sustainable food choices. Findings highlight the potential benefits of integrating consumer search tracking data with environment design to facilitate informed and conscious food choices. |
| Keywords: | Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety |
| Date: | 2024–07–26 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:cfcp15:344348 |
| By: | Shitab Ishmam; Heidi Heinrichs; Christoph Winkler; Bagher Bayat; Amin Lahnaoui; Solomon Agbo; Edgar Ubaldo Pena Sanchez; David Franzmann; Nathan Ojieabu; Celine Koerner; Youpele Micheal; Bamidele Oloruntoba; Carsten Montzka; Harry Vereecken; Harrie-Jan Hendricks-Franssen; Jeerawan Brendt; Simon Brauner; Wilhelm Kuckshinrichs; Sandra Venghaus; Daouda Kone; Bruno Korgo; Kehinde Ogunjobi; Vasco Chiteculo; Jane Olwoch; Zachary Getenga; Jochen Lin{\ss}en; Detlef Stolten |
| Abstract: | For fast-tracking climate change response, green hydrogen is key for achieving greenhouse gas neutral energy systems. Especially Sub-Saharan Africa can benefit from it enabling an increased access to clean energy through utilizing its beneficial conditions for renewable energies. However, developing green hydrogen strategies for Sub-Saharan Africa requires highly detailed and consistent information ranging from technical, environmental, economic, and social dimensions, which is currently lacking in literature. Therefore, this paper provides a comprehensive novel approach embedding the required range of disciplines to analyze green hydrogen cost-potentials in Sub-Saharan Africa. This approach stretches from a dedicated land eligibility based on local preferences, a location specific renewable energy simulation, locally derived sustainable groundwater limitations under climate change, an optimization of local hydrogen energy systems, and a socio-economic indicator-based impact analysis. The capability of the approach is shown for case study regions in Sub-Saharan Africa highlighting the need for a unified, interdisciplinary approach. |
| Date: | 2024–07 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:arx:papers:2407.07573 |
| By: | Barissoul, Ayoub; Feuerbacher, Arndt; Tshotsho, Tshotsho; Wieck, Christine |
| Abstract: | The aim of this study is to determine maize and paddy yield difference under organic and conventional farming in Bhutan, and subsequently determine factors influencing this difference. Results from arithmetic mean comparison show that maize organic yield is on average 40.9% lower compared to conventional, and 36.9% lower for paddy. Simple linear regression is used to determine factors influencing the yield. Findings indicate that, in contrast to other studies, female-headed households are much more productive than male-headed households. Temperature plays a significant role in determining yield of both crops, so does the use of machinery. Surprisingly, education, labor, and precipitation showed no significant impact on the level of output. Alongside gender, proximity to markets and use of agrochemicals had a major influence on the yield of both crops. Analysis also showed that elevation and climate characteristics heavily influence the yield, this is depicted by yield comparisons across different agro-ecological zones. |
| Keywords: | Crop Production/Industries |
| Date: | 2023–09–01 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:gewi23:344239 |
| By: | Laurent, Rémi; Milhorance, Carolina; Le Coq, Jean-François; Soullier, Guillaume |
| Abstract: | Agricultural value chains (AVC) are undergoing stages of transformation from traditional to transitional and to modern as a response to economic, demographic and consumption changes. One characteristic of the transitional stage is the growth and importance of SME midstream actors who respond to demand-side as well supply-side factors by means of upgrading. While this stream of research acknowledges the role of policies in conducing those transformations, it still lacks evidence as to what constitute the context-specific policy conditions. This study therefore explores the way policy instruments target midstream segment actors to address upgrading challenges in the context of AVC transformations, exploring the case of the processing segment of the rice value chains in Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire. We adopt a policy tools approach and undertake a content analysis of 138 policy documents related to the implementation of the National Rice Development Strategies since 2010 coupled with 43 interviews with rice stakeholders. Our results demonstrate that the types of policy instruments deployed and the specific actors targeted determine the capacity and capability of processing segment enterprises to undergo upgrading. |
| Keywords: | Agricultural and Food Policy |
| Date: | 2024–07–26 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:cfcp15:344392 |
| By: | El Weriemmi, Malek; Bakari, Sayef |
| Abstract: | This study rigorously investigates the effect of agricultural exports on economic growth across 12 low-income countries—Burkina Faso, Burundi, Central African Republic, Ethiopia, Gambia, Madagascar, Mali, Niger, Rwanda, Sudan, Togo, and Uganda—during the period from 2004 to 2023. Employing an advanced gravity model with both fixed and random effects, the analysis aims to discern the nuanced impact of agricultural exports on economic growth. The model is designed to account for various control variables, including capital, labor, other exports, and imports, to ensure a precise measurement of the agricultural export variable's influence. By integrating these controls, the study seeks to provide a comprehensive understanding of how agricultural exports contribute to economic development in these countries, highlighting both direct and indirect effects within the broader economic context. |
| Keywords: | Agricultural Exports, Economic Growth, Static Gravity Model, Low-Income-Countries. |
| JEL: | F11 F13 F14 F43 O47 Q17 Q18 |
| Date: | 2024 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pra:mprapa:121631 |
| By: | Ajewole, Kayode; Johnson, Michael |
| Abstract: | This study deals specifically with the international transmission of wheat prices wherein the effect of prices in one market impacts the prices of another. Specifically, it shows that import prices in some countries respond in an asymmetric fashion to changes in the export prices of U.S. wheat. Our results indicate that market concentration in the importing country influences price asymmetry and amount of price variability sends a sufficient clear signal to market participants. We also find that the 2008 financial and food price crisis changed the degree of asymmetry in most of the countries studied in this paper. |
| Keywords: | Demand and Price Analysis, International Relations/Trade |
| Date: | 2024–07–26 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:cfcp15:344396 |
| By: | Frances C. Moore |
| Abstract: | Key methodologies used for managing weather risks have relied on the assumption that climate is not changing and that the historic weather record is therefore representative of current risks. Anthropogenic climate change upends this assumption, effectively reducing the information available to actors and increasing ambiguity in the estimated climate distribution, with associated costs for weather risk management and risk-averse decision-makers. These costs result purely from the knowledge that the climate could be changing, may arise abruptly, are additional to any direct costs or benefits from actual climate change, and are, to date, entirely unquantified. Using a case study of extreme rainfall-related flood damages in New York City, this paper illustrates how these ambiguity-related costs arise. Greater uncertainty over the current climate distribution interacts with a steeply non-linear damage function to greatly increase the mean and variance of the posterior loss distribution. This is a systemic information shock that cannot be diversified within the insurance sector, producing higher and more volatile premiums and higher reinsurance costs. These effects are consistent with recent developments in US property insurance markets, where premium increases, bankruptcies, and insurer withdrawals have been linked to the growing costs of natural disasters. |
| JEL: | G52 Q54 |
| Date: | 2024–07 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:nbr:nberwo:32684 |
| By: | Paudel, Ujjwol |
| Keywords: | Industrial Organization, Production Economics, Labor And Human Capital |
| Date: | 2024 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:aaea22:343821 |
| By: | Mungase, Sachin; Kothe, Satyanarayan |
| Abstract: | The study explores the application of demand theory in studying consumer spending behaviour and policy analysis, with a focus on food demand and consumption patterns. It reviews various demand function systems and introduces the differential approach as a superior method for modelling demand. The study uses recent phases of the International Comparison Program (ICP) to analyse consumption patterns in Brazil, China, India, Russia, and South Africa. The methodology involves a two-step budgeting process, and the data are collected from three ICP phases for BRICS countries. In the second stage of budgeting, food subcategories and broad categories are analysed using a new version of the CBS level demand system models, originally developed by Keller and Van Driel in 1985 and later modified by Tayebi in 2019. These models, known as differential systems of consumer demand, are based on differential equations of consumer goods’ budget shares. The study presents empirical findings for broad consumption and food subcategories using pooled data from BRICS countries. It uses Tayebi's CBS-PI levels and CBS levels models to estimate results for nine broad consumption groups and food subgroups. The study finds that lower income countries are more responsive to income and price changes. The results show that both the CBS-PI levels and CBS levels models work well for BRICS countries. Spending on necessities like food and non-alcoholic drinks is significant in BRICS countries, while countries with a high real per capita income spend more on alcoholic beverages, tobacco, and narcotics. As income increases, so does demand for services. The study highlights the application of the differential approach to the analysis of consumption patterns between nations. It emphasizes the significance of demand-side influences on the long-term economic structure. The findings could be beneficial for future research and policy-making, particularly in developing countries as they balance economic growth with food security. |
| Keywords: | Demand theory, Differential approach, CBS level demand system models, BRICS countries |
| JEL: | D11 D12 E21 |
| Date: | 2024–07–12 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pra:mprapa:121431 |
| By: | Quisumbing, Agnes R. |
| Abstract: | Measuring power is central to empirical work on intrahousehold and gender relations. Early efforts to test household models focused on measuring spousal bargaining power, usually in models featuring two decisionmakers within the household. Proxy measures for bargaining power included age, education, assets, and “outside options” that could affect spouses’ threat points within marriage. Evidence rejecting the collective model of the household has influenced the design of policies and programs, notably conditional cash transfer programs. Efforts have since shifted to measuring empowerment, drawing on theories of agency and power. Since 2010, several measures of women’s empowerment have been developed, including the Women’s Empowerment in Agriculture Index (WEAI) and its variants. A distinct feature of the WEAI, like other counting-based measures, is its decomposability into its component indicators, which makes identifying sources of disempowerment possible. The WEAI indicators also embody jointness of decision-making or ownership, which better reflects actual decision-making within households compared to 2-person bargaining models. This paper reviews how progress in the measurement of power within households has facilitated our understanding of household decision-making and creates new opportunities for programs and policy. |
| Keywords: | Agricultural and Food Policy, Consumer/Household Economics, Research Methods/ Statistical Methods |
| Date: | 2024–07–26 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:cfcp15:344356 |
| By: | Nandy, Avisweta; Mishra, Sarba Narayan; Haldar, Surajit; Barik, Nagesh Kumar; Suresh, Bhokre |
| Abstract: | The study illustrates using the Combined IAD-SES (CIS) framework in the context of artisanal fisheries in Chilika Lagoon of Odisha, India. Major breakpoints that changed the Lagoon system's overall setting are the introduction of shrimp culture in the 1990s, the opening of a new artificial mouth on 23rd September 2000, and the Post-Fani period (2019- onwards). The CIS Framework encapsulates the area's major ecological, social, economic, and biological dynamics effectively, providing a blueprint for future interdisciplinary research. Further, it can serve as a tool for policymakers to integrate fish and food resources in an agri-food system that can make it more inclusive and robust. |
| Keywords: | Environmental Economics and Policy |
| Date: | 2024–07–26 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:cfcp15:344384 |
| By: | Höschle, Lisa; Yu, Xiaohua |
| Keywords: | Agribusiness |
| Date: | 2023–09–01 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:gewi23:344249 |
| By: | Lwin, C.M.; Napasintuwong, O.; Praneetvatakul, S. |
| Abstract: | Myanmar is still facing challenges related to nutrition, including prevalent health issues like anemia, stunting, and wasting. Anemia, specifically, is acknowledged as a public health concern in the country. Simultaneously, the incidence of non-communicable diseases such as obesity, hypertension, and diabetes is on the rise, contributing to increased morbidity and mortality. Myanmar exhibits a high per capita consumption of rice, making healthy rice a culturally adaptable solution to address its nutrition-related health challenges. Therefore, this study seeks to investigate the factors influencing the choice of healthy rice among Myanmar rice consumers. Data for this study were collected from 481 rice consumers in Nay Pyi Taw, the capital of Myanmar, between September and October 2023. Descriptive statistics, t-test, chi-square test, and binomial logit model were employed to achieve the study objectives. Only 18% of rice consumers reported choosing healthy rice. Several factors drive rice consumers to choose healthy rice, including the education level of the respondent, the presence of children or elderly household members, household monthly income, knowledge score, and habitual health-related behaviour score. While knowledge significantly influences consumption, its impact is mediated by factors such as income. Therefore, targeted knowledge-sharing programs should prioritize medium-income group consumers with vulnerable households for optimal effectiveness. The habitual health-related behaviour score showed a highly significant association with healthy rice consumption, emphasizing the need to promote good health habits, such as exercise routines, by providing facilities and creating environments conducive to physical activities, given the currently limited access in Myanmar. |
| Keywords: | Consumer/Household Economics, Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety, Food Security and Poverty |
| Date: | 2024–04–28 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:asea24:344447 |
| By: | Philip E Hulme; Danish A Ahmed; Phillip J Haubrock; Brooks A Kaiser; Melina Kourantidou; Boris Leroy (BOREA - Biologie des Organismes et Ecosystèmes Aquatiques - UNICAEN - Université de Caen Normandie - NU - Normandie Université - MNHN - Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle - IRD - Institut de Recherche pour le Développement - SU - Sorbonne Université - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique - UA - Université des Antilles); Shana M Mcdermott |
| Date: | 2024–01 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hal:journl:hal-04633043 |
| By: | Midingoyi, Soul-Kifouly; Houedjofonon, Elysée; Sossou, Hervé; Codjo, Victor |
| Abstract: | The purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of the improved varieties of oil palm on farm-level performance and aggregate welfare. The study employs primary data collected from a sample of 1142 oil palm plantation-owning households. Endogenous switching regression treatment model was first used to account for self-selectivity and endogeneity in adoption decision to estimate yield and cost impacts that were subsequently inserted into the economic surplus modelling for accurate measurement of the supply-shift parameter used to compute the welfare effect. Findings show signifcant impacts of adopting improved oil palm varieties on yield and production cost. Farmers who used improved varieties enjoy 38% increase in yield that requires 45% increase in cost of production. These changes in yield and cost led to a research induced shift in palm oil supply of 82%, resulting in an increase in total economic surplus of US$ 56 millions per annum with 59% accrued to consumers. This gain from adoption could lift nearly 47 thousand people (1% of total poor) out of poverty per annum. These findings underscore the need of more investments in oil palm research and diffusion of research products which could be seen as effective tools to tackle poverty. |
| Keywords: | Research Methods/ Statistical Methods |
| Date: | 2024–07–26 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:cfcp15:344388 |
| By: | Domptail, Stéphanie Eileen; Mörsdorf, Jessica |
| Abstract: | The science of agricultural and natural resource use economics tends to be developed and applied within a post-positivist epistemological standpoint. Researchers, objective and exter-nal, investigate a state of being on the ground and interpret their results in the context of theo-ries of agricultural and natural resources, which we assume as close to the truth as humanity can be on a given day. This epistemological positioning follows from the scientific method developed within the Western Cartesian worldview in the 17th century. Our current knowledge relies on ecological social and economic theories that were largely developed in Europe since then - in such, they pertain to a European Cartesian ontology. Yet, the paper’s premise is that knowledge is a social construction and is contextual to specif-ic ontologies. Following the pluriverse idea, we point to limits of a single world perspective, also in science and research when attempting to address creatively the multiple environmental crises the current civilisation generated. Our paper aims to make the point that a decolonized teaching and research curricula is needed to support a deeper change in humans’ relation to nature towards sustainability. We use the decolonization concept to highlight power relations between scientists and researches as well as between different forms of knowledge. This will lead us to reflect on the tangible implications for decolonization of research in agricultural economics and natural resource use. Especially, we suggest developing awareness on the po-sitionality of researchers and on structural power relations transported by research and data collection methods. These are first steps towards the possible development of a more inclu-sive epistemology. |
| Keywords: | Agribusiness, Research and Development/Tech Change/Emerging Technologies |
| Date: | 2023–09–01 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:gewi23:344244 |
| By: | Wüpper, David; Oluoch, Wyclife Agumba; Hadi |
| Abstract: | Agricultural and environmental economists are in the fortunate position that a lot of what is happening on the ground is observable from space. Most agricultural production happens in the open and one can see from space when and where innovations are adopted, crop yields change, or forests are converted to pastures, to name just a few examples. However, converting images into measurements of a particular variable is not trivial, as there are more pitfalls and nuances than “meet the eye”. Overall, however, research benefits tremendously from advances in available satellite data as well as complementary tools, such as cloud-based platforms for data processing, and machine learning algorithms to detect phenomena and mapping variables. The focus of this keynote is to provide agricultural and environmental economists with an accessible introduction to working with satellite data, show-case applications, discuss advantages and weaknesses of satellite data, and emphasize best practices. This is supported by extensive Supplementary Materials, explaining the technical foundations, describing in detail how to create different variables, sketch out work flows, and a discussion of required resources and skills. Last but not least, example data and reproducible codes are available online. |
| Keywords: | Environmental Economics and Policy, Research Methods/ Statistical Methods |
| Date: | 2024–07–26 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:cfcp15:344359 |
| By: | Witte, Felix; Sponagel, Christian; Bahrs, Enno |
| Abstract: | In 2021 and 2022, the German economy saw substantial price increases for inputs and products. This paper uses tractor auctions (n=753) from 2018 to 2022 to analyze price developments in the German used tractor market. In addition to determining mean price increases over time, the focus of this paper is on identifying possible influences of manufacturer and engine power on this development, using multiple linear regressions and quantile regressions. To the best of our knowledge, these have not yet been used for hedonic price models of agricultural machinery. The analysis is complemented by considering the start of the construction of the tractor series to identify technical progress as a possible cause of price increases. Our results, taking into account this series information, show an overall price increase of 29% in 2022 compared to 2018, with no de facto price increases in 2019 and 2020. This increase is independent of the manufacturer. Motorization, on the other hand, has a statistically and economically significant effect. More powerfully motorized tractors have experienced a stronger price increase than less powerfully motorized ones. The price trends shown are consistent with producer prices for new tractors. This speaks for the validity of our approach. No differences in price increases over time were found for the different quantiles of the auction result. However, statistically significant quantile-dependent differences in tractor devaluation do occur, providing a case for further research. Technical progress has a positive and statistically significant impact on the development of nominal prices of used tractors. Overall, our results are relevant for every domain with a need for current evaluations of agricultural machinery, such as in the field of insurance. Especially farmers can gain insights about investment decisions for example the choice between buying a new or used tractor. The insights of the technical progress can be further used for investment calculations and considerations of optimal replacement. |
| Keywords: | Research and Development/Tech Change/Emerging Technologies |
| Date: | 2023–09–01 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:gewi23:344232 |
| By: | Dang, Hai-Anh (World Bank); Do, Minh N.N. (National Economics University Vietnam); Nguyen, Cuong Viet (National Economics University Vietnam) |
| Abstract: | Very few studies have examined the impacts of both climate change and air pollution on student education outcomes, particularly in a developing country setting. Analyzing a rich database consisting of household and school surveys, test scores, and temperature and air pollution data over the past decade for Viet Nam, we find that a 1 µg/m3 increase in PM2.5 concentration in the month preceding exams leads to 0.015 and 0.010 standard deviation decreases in math and reading scores, respectively. We also find some indicative evidence of stronger impacts of air pollution for younger, primary school students who reside in urban areas and in districts with higher temperatures. While we find some mixed effects of temperature, we do not find significant effects on students' test scores for temperature extremes and air pollution over the past 12 months. Our findings offer policy-relevant inputs for the country's ongoing efforts to fight air pollution. |
| Keywords: | air pollution, climate change, weather extremes, education, Viet Nam |
| JEL: | O12 I10 Q53 Q54 |
| Date: | 2024–07 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:iza:izadps:dp17160 |
| By: | Goodwin, Barry K. |
| Keywords: | Demand And Price Analysis |
| Date: | 2024 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:aaea22:343712 |
| By: | Doss, Cheryl |
| Abstract: | As countries experience structural and rural transformations, people move out of agriculture into manufacturing and services. Some places report a “feminization of agriculture” where men disproportionately move out of agriculture, increasing the share of farmers who are women. In other areas, women are moving out of agriculture at a faster rate than men. These changes in labor patterns have implications both for the individuals who move out of agriculture as well as those who remain. Drawing on high quality harmonized data that includes countries across the income distribution, we analyze the changes in the gendered patterns of labor both on the extensive and intensive margins. |
| Keywords: | Labor and Human Capital |
| Date: | 2024–07–26 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:cfcp15:344339 |
| By: | Bertolozzi-Caredio, Daniele; Soriano, Barbara; Urquhart, Julie; Vigani, Mauro |
| Abstract: | Understanding how farmers learn and how this influences their decisions is still a key question in research, especially in the context of increasing challenges and uncertainties. We explore whether and how different learning preferences, notably learning by doing, from other farmers and through social media, influence farmers’ risk management (RM) choices. Based on a survey of farmers in Spain and the UK, we employed multivariate probit regressions and Poisson models with instrument variables. We found that all learning preferences are significantly correlated to RM choice, with learning through social media and from peers leading to more strategies adopted by the farmer, and learning by doing leading to fewer strategies. The results, however, show that each learning preference affects different specific RM strategies. Our findings suggest that policymakers should consider leveraging informal learning networks to improve farmers’ RM, whereas policy incentives might be designed to formalize and promote social media use (also by existing extension services) to boost the adoption of RM strategies. |
| Keywords: | Farm Management, Risk and Uncertainty |
| Date: | 2024–07–26 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:cfcp15:344372 |
| By: | Graf, Sarah; Bosch, Christine; Codjoe, Emmanuel; Ojo, Christianah; Ojo, Temitope; Oyinbo, Oyakhilomen |
| Abstract: | Rural classes tend to be defined at household level and along a single dimension: labour. This neglects class relations in land and capital markets. Also, it falsely assumes a unitary household defined by a supposed male breadwinner, disregarding differing economic activities and class relations of women and youth. Our contribution will propose a new analytical framework and illustrate its application using data from two mixed-methods village studies based on nine months of fieldwork in the forest zones of Ghana and Nigeria. The framework combines three innovative approaches: (1) using Social Network Analysis to research class structures; (2) quantifying surplus extractions through class relations; and (3) systematically analysing the coexistence of class relations in land, labour, and capital markets. This approach has the following advantages: Conceptually, it allows us to differentiate various forms of class relations (e.g. renting, pledging, or wage labour) and disentangle a person’s various roles in the three markets. Methodologically, we rely on empirically observable arrangements, whereas categories of classes are always ideal types. Empirically, such an analysis provides new insights: We find substantial variation of class position within the household; we document how surplus labour is passed on through land and capital markets and we compare the overall surplus transferred in each market. This deepens our understanding of rural power dynamics and drivers of agrarian change. |
| Keywords: | Labor and Human Capital |
| Date: | 2023–09–01 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:gewi23:344250 |
| By: | Lu, Pei Jyun |
| Keywords: | Risk And Uncertainty, Environmental Economics And Policy |
| Date: | 2024 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:aaea22:343980 |
| By: | Gafarova, Gulmira; Perekhozhuk, Oleksandr; Glauben, Thomas |
| Abstract: | This study looks at whether Kazakh and Russian wheat exporters leverage their dominant share of the wheat markets in the South Caucasus to exercise market power. We apply a three-stage estimation for systems of simultaneous equations and Zellner’s seemingly unrelated regression to analyse residual demand elasticity. The results of both estimations provide empirical evi-dence of Russian market power in the wheat markets of the South Caucasus but no evidence of a Kazakh oligopoly. Russian exporters possess greater market power in Armenia than in Geor-gia. Market power depends on the presence of competitors in the destination market. The results show that Kazakh exporters restrict the market powers of Russian exporters in the Azerbaijani wheat market, while Russian exporters constrain the market power of Kazakh exporters in the Azerbaijani and Georgian wheat markets. Ukrainian wheat exporters are able to intervene in the market powers of Russian exporters in Azerbaijan and Georgia, while they restrict Kazakh oligopoly in the Georgian market. Some export restrictions imposed by wheat exporting coun-tries significantly affected competition in wheat importing countries. |
| Keywords: | International Relations/Trade |
| Date: | 2023–09–01 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:gewi23:344230 |
| By: | Antman, Francisca M. (University of Colorado, Boulder); Flynn, James (Miami University) |
| Abstract: | We investigate the impact of beer on mortality during the Industrial Revolution in 18th century England. Due to the brewing process, beer represented an improvement over available water sources during this period prior to the widespread understanding of the link between water quality and human health. Using a wide range of identification strategies to derive measures of beer scarcity driven by tax increases, weather events, and soil quality, we show that beer scarcity was associated with higher mortality, especially in the summer months when mortality was more likely to be driven by waterborne illnesses related to contaminated drinking water. We also leverage variation in inherent water quality across parishes using two proxies for water quality to show that beer scarcity resulted in greater deaths in areas with worse water quality. Together, the evidence indicates that beer had a major impact on human health during this important period in economic development. |
| Keywords: | beer, water quality, mortality, industrial revolution |
| JEL: | N33 I15 Q25 |
| Date: | 2024–07 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:iza:izadps:dp17164 |
| By: | Jaghdani, Tinoush Jamali; Glauben, Thomas; Prehn, Sören; Götz, Linde; Svanidze, Miranda |
| Abstract: | The international wheat market has entered into a new era since 2000 as the structural changes in post-Soviet Union states had impacts. Kazakhstan, the Russian Federation, and Ukraine (KRU) have started to utilize their vast resources and rapidly became major actors in international grain markets. Romania in East Europe is another emerging grain exporter upon the collapse of the Iron Wall. Upon the Russia invasion of Ukraine and short-run disruptions in global wheat, corn and oilseed supply chains, it becomes a question how different is the sta-bility of grain trade relation between these new actors and old actors. We have tried to respond to this question by using the annual trade data during 2001-2021 and applying the discrete time hazard model to estimate the baseline hazard and the survival ratio for 11 major wheat exporters. The results of these estimations show that we can’t recognize separate clusters for old and new actors, and the probability of trade survival over a longer period is very diverse between old actors and new actors. |
| Keywords: | International Relations/Trade, Supply Chain |
| Date: | 2023–09–01 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:gewi23:344241 |
| By: | Ngozi, Semeni; Wineman, Ayala; Maredia, Mywish K.; Tschirley, David; Fisher, Ian; Khaled, Nahian Bin |
| Abstract: | This study focuses on tackling micronutrient deficiencies, a significant public health issue in Kenya, by examining the purchase rates of industrially processed and packaged maize flour, which is required by law to be fortified with micronutrients. The research was conducted among households in Kisumu and Nairobi to explore how factors such as the food environment, household characteristics, and perceptions of shoppers affect the consumption of this fortified product, with the goal of enhancing public health outcomes. We find that across Kisumu and Nairobi, two-thirds of households purchase packaged maize flour, with higher rates seen in urban Nairobi. While almost all households have some access to packaged maize flour in their home food environment, the intensity of access varies. Moreover, households that purchase packaged maize flour reside in neighborhoods with a higher density of outlets selling this product. The local price of packaged maize flour is a particularly strong and statistically significant driver of the purchase decision. This study offers insights for policymakers focused on increasing the consumption of fortified maize flour among the Kenyan population, a critical measure for enhancing public health. |
| Keywords: | Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety |
| Date: | 2024–07–26 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:cfcp15:344386 |
| By: | Huang, Junhua; Valizadeh, Pourya; Bryant, Henry; Priestley, Samuel |
| Abstract: | During the COVID-19 pandemic, the United States government introduced various pandemic-related relief measures to support low-income households participating in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Among these changes was the emergency allotment (EA), which provided additional benefits to help SNAP beneficiaries maintain access to essential food items during these challenging times. However, beginning in 2021, the expiration of EA, a temporary increase, led to a minimum reduction of $95 per month in benefits for program participants. This study estimates the impact of EA expiration on monthly fresh fruit and vegetable (FV) spending of SNAP households. Drawing on novel transaction-level food purchase data, we identify SNAP households based on method of payments, specifically Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card usage, which is derived from uploaded food purchase receipts rather than self-reporting. Our general research design leverages variation across states and over time due to the staggered expiration of EA payments via difference-in-differences estimators. Our findings indicate a robust negative impact on fresh FV spending following the termination of EA, with a reduction of approximately 4%, translating into a decrease of roughly $8 per month for the average SNAP household, or $2.20 per person per month. This reduction suggests that, although statistically significant, the decrease is not substantial in terms of its impact on health. Indeed, we find that fresh FV spending is highly inelastic with respect to the SNAP benefit level, and simple changes to that level are unlikely to improve diet quality among poor households, if that is a policy goal. |
| Keywords: | Agribusiness, Consumer/Household Economics, Food Security and Poverty |
| Date: | 2024–07–23 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:aaea22:344186 |
| By: | Paudel, Ujjwol |
| Keywords: | Industrial Organization, Labor And Human Capital, Research Methods/Statistical Methods |
| Date: | 2024 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:aaea22:343822 |
| By: | Peltier, Estelle; Amichi, Hichem; Gafsi, Mohamed; Henninger, Marie-Christine |
| Abstract: | Agriculture is facing to various challenges which push the stakeholders to review their organization. This reorganization occurs particularly through the creation of new form of collectives considered as privileged cooperation space. This article presents an exploratory research work to study the importance of these collectives in the adaptation of the agrifood systems facing to these challenges. It mobilizes an original framework combining two approaches rarely mobilized together (i) the collective action framework, and (ii) the institutional change. This combination allows (i) to characterize the collective action (group characteristics, products, …), and (ii) to determine the level of institutionalization of the collectives studied. We apply it to three French local biosourced sectors: hemp, wool, and leather. They have known a period of deindustrialization in the seventies before reemerging on the territory around three new collective actions. This exploratory study reveals two main research tracks: (i) the membership heterogeneity impact negatively the collective efficacity, and (ii) collective action plays a significant role in the redeployment of the biosourced sectors, although it remains fragile because it is not sufficiently institutionalized. The relevance of this analytical framework will be assessed and strengthened through further field investigations. |
| Keywords: | Institutional and Behavioral Economics |
| Date: | 2024–07–26 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:cfcp15:344375 |
| By: | Fukang Chen; Minhao Chen; Lin William Cong; Haoyu Gao; Jacopo Ponticelli |
| Abstract: | The pace of biodiversity loss requires drastic shifts in conservation efforts that carry substantial costs. We investigate how the financial market prices such conservation costs exploiting the "Green Shield Action, " a major regulatory initiative launched by the Chinese central government in 2017 to enforce biodiversity preservation rules in national nature reserves. We document that, while improving local biodiversity, the initiative led to a significant increase in bond yields for Chinese municipalities with national nature reserves. Evidence suggests that these effects are driven by expected increases in transition costs resulting from shutting down illegal economic activities within reserves and local public spending on biodiversity following the initiative. Overall, our results indicate that investors show little consideration beyond financial payoffs towards endeavors counteracting biodiversity loss. |
| JEL: | G12 Q57 Q58 |
| Date: | 2024–07 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:nbr:nberwo:32743 |