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on Central and Western Asia |
| By: | Bobojonov, Ihtiyor; Djanibekov, Nodir; Voigt, Peter |
| Abstract: | Following the 1991 independence, Uzbekistan launched a program of national grain self-sufficiency supplemented by state subsidies and production targets. This policy measure also turned Uzbekistan from a wheat importer into an exporting country. Grounded on a throughout analysis of the post-1991 data and literature, we reconstruct the development trends in wheat sector of Uzbekistan and analyze whether it can emerge as a new player in food security in the Eurasian wheat belt region. The analysis and the discussions in the study suggest that the country has a potential to become an important supplier of wheat to neighboring countries. Although high-quality rainfed wheat is available from Kazakhstan, the central location and good road connections to the neighboring countries as well as less volatile wheat production under irrigation can provide some comparative advantages to Uzbek wheat producers. However, it is difficult to foreseen the further increase in wheat exports without the state procurement mechanism and interventions in the supply chains. Further improvement of the current procurement mechanism with introduction of market-based intensives to wheat producers is required to increase the production quality and efficiencies and the sustainability of wheat supply chain. |
| Keywords: | Wheat production, Central Asia, Caucasus, wheat quality, climate change., Agribusiness, Agricultural and Food Policy, Crop Production/Industries, |
| Date: | 2015 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:gewi15:209217&r=all |
| By: | Tilekeyev, Kanat |
| Abstract: | This paper presents the results of a study of the micro-, small and medium enterprise (MSME) sector in Tajikistan, with a focus on its role in the economic growth of the country. Tajikistan has experienced a significant improvement in economic performance during the last decade. This growth is evident in sectors in which MSMEs operate, suggesting the need to better understand the sector and its role in national economic growth. The paper describes the results of a survey of 325 randomly selected, cluster-based enterprises in three key economic sectors in urban and rural areas across Tajikistan: retail trade and services, transportation and agriculture. The dataset provides detailed information on the personal characteristics of entrepreneurs, as well as specific factors influencing the growth of MSMEs, including labour, capital, information and barriers to growth. Analysis of the determinants of making investments, as well as the success of investment decisions of urban entrepreneurs, provides insight into the necessity of developing education opportunities on business and financial planning for MSME owners. Conclusions are presented to help guide policy and programmes that impact the MSME sector and the broader environment in which it functions. |
| Keywords: | Micro-, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME), Tajikistan, Business Development, Urban Business Development, Rural Business Development, Economic Growth, Business Environment |
| JEL: | D22 L21 L26 L53 M21 Q13 |
| Date: | 2014–11–01 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pra:mprapa:66719&r=all |
| By: | Grigoreva, Diana; Bobojonov, Ihtiyor; Aw-Hassan, Aden; Biradar, Chandrashekar; Nurbekov, Aziz |
| Abstract: | This study investigates suitable several indexes, as well as risk coping potential of index-based insurance in Central Asia. This study discusses the challenges of index selection for irrigated systems and compares the results with rainfed systems. For this purpose, suitability and impact of area-yield, irrigation water intake at regional level, as well as remote sensing based indexes are analyzed. The results of the study show that selection of index for the irrigated systems is more complex than rainfed systems and more caution is required in order to minimize the basis risk. |
| Keywords: | Risk management, crop insurance, weather Index-based insurance, climate risk, irrigation water, NDVI, crop yield, Central Asia, Agribusiness, |
| Date: | 2015 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:gewi15:209228&r=all |
| By: | Heiny, Jennifer; Schmidt, Peter; Leonhäuser, Ingrid-Ute |
| Abstract: | Especially rural areas in Post-Soviet countries are struggling at the poverty line. Additional income sources are essential. In the case of two remote rural regions in the Greater and Lesser Caucasus, one such source is the tourism sector. A structural equation model is applied to assess which influential factors determine the intention of private households to enhance activities in the tourism sector. The Theory of Planned Behavior (AJZEN, 1991) serves as the framework for the analysis. The strongest influence is exerted by subjective norm, followed by perceived behavioral control while attitude fails to have a significant effect on intention. An analysis of the underlying beliefs that guide the formation of the constructs shows that the family has the strongest influence on subjective norm, suggesting the importance of interventions that target not only the individual, but also the social aggregate. Furthermore the model indicates that bank loans can foster the perceived ability of enhancing touristic activities while personal illness is perceived as a significant threat to the behavior. |
| Keywords: | Theory of Planned Behavior, structural equation modeling, Georgia, tourism, private household, Community/Rural/Urban Development, Labor and Human Capital, Research Methods/ Statistical Methods, |
| Date: | 2015 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:gewi15:209216&r=all |