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on Agricultural Economics |
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Issue of 2018‒09‒10
88 papers chosen by |
| By: | Wu, Ziping; Pei, Pei |
| Abstract: | Agricultural support in particularly single farm payment (SFP) in the Common Agricultural Policy has encountered more and more challenges. In this study, we have used two hypothetical policy impact scenarios, a SAM multiplier analysis and a static CGE model to mimic the knock-on impacts in the short term, and equilibrium impacts in the long term, of removing the single farm payment on the agri-food sector, rural and overall economy in NI. In the two policy impact scenarios, the production effects of the single farm payment is assumed to be under two extreme cases: either a pure government income transfer to rural households (Income Transfer Scenario) or SFP is still fully coupled to agricultural production (Fully Coupled Scenario), respectively. Counterfactual analysis suggests that In NI removing SFP is likely to have limited impact on overall economy but it will improve the overall economic efficiency due to resource reallocation and savings from the exit of marginal agricultural production / farmers. For agri-food sector and rural economy, a strong effect will be felt in the short term and the effect will be diminishing via supply chain and in the long term the impact will be modest. |
| Keywords: | Agricultural and Food Policy |
| Date: | 2018–04–26 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:eaa162:272089&r=agr |
| By: | Ogutu, Sylvester Ochieng; Goedecke, Theda; Qaim, Matin |
| Abstract: | Commercialization of smallholder agriculture is widely seen as an essential pathway towards rural economic growth. While previous studies have analyzed effects of commercialization on productivity and income, implications for farm household nutrition have received much less attention. We evaluate the impact of commercialization on household food security and dietary quality, with a special focus on calorie and micronutrient consumption. We also examine transmission channels by looking at the role of income, gender, and possible substitution between the consumption of own-produced and purchased foods. The analysis builds on survey data from 805 farm households in Western Kenya. A control function approach is used to address issues of endogeneity. Generalized propensity scores are employed to estimate continuous treatment effects. Commercialization significantly improves food security and dietary quality in terms of calorie, zinc, and iron consumption. For vitamin A, effects are positive but statistically insignificant. Commercialization contributes to higher incomes and added nutrients from purchased foods. It does not reduce the consumption of nutrients from own-produced foods, even after controlling for farm size, which can be explained by higher productivity on more commercialized farms. Enhancing market access is important not only for rural economic growth, but also for making smallholder agriculture more nutrition-sensitive. |
| Keywords: | Agricultural and Food Policy, Community/Rural/Urban Development, Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety, Food Security and Poverty, Institutional and Behavioral Economics, Marketing |
| Date: | 2017–05–15 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:gagfdp:257242&r=agr |
| By: | Andrea Pronti (CNR-IRCRES, National Research Council, Research Institute on Sustainable Economic Growth, via Real Collegio 30, Moncalieri (TO) – Italy); Flavio Bertinaria |
| Abstract: | In the last century the agricultural sector grown exponentially with outstanding increase in food productions that released poverty and malnutrition in many parts of the world. These important results have been achieved to the detriment of the environment and equity caused by massive externalities that the new productive paradigm had generated. Since 1992 sustainability in agriculture is one of the main cornerstone of the international agenda for reaching global sustainable development and reducing poverty. One of the main challenge in designing sustainable agricultural policies is the use of effective measurement of sustainability that would encompass the intrinsic multidimensionality of small farming agriculture that is characterized to be a complex socio-ecological system in which social, economic and environmental aspects strictly interacts. This paper examines the application of an experimental method of sustainability assessment using HESOFI, a measurement framework developed in Central America for small scale agriculture. The paper analyzes by the use of several indicators of sustainability thirty mixed small farms located in Peruvian Amazon. In addition, the assessment has been developed with different categories of agricultural units divided by ethnic origin (Andean or Indigenous) and by certification (Fair Trade and Organic) in order to compare the different levels of sustainability reached by each category. |
| Keywords: | Sustainable agriculture, HESOFI, Sustainability assessment, Small Farming, Amazon |
| JEL: | Q01 Q12 Q29 |
| Date: | 2017–12 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:csc:ircrwp:201711&r=agr |
| By: | Mohamed Haris, Nur Bahiah; Garrod, Guy; Gkartzios, Menelaos; Proctor, Amy |
| Abstract: | Organic agriculture is being promoted globally and is considered to have beneficial impacts on sustainable development. Aside from the importance of organic agriculture for human health and the environment, organic farming also indirectly contributes to income generation, development of new technologies and indigenous knowledge, as well as supporting rural development (Darnhofer, 2005; Scialabba, 2000). In Malaysia, people have recently become more aware of the potential advantages of organic food; however, the adoption rate among farmers is still very low and the number of certified farmers remains small. In fact, the demand from consumers for organic products continues to increase and cannot be met by local producers, hence relying on imports from other countries. In this context, this paper aims to investigate the factors that influence the farmer’s decision to adopt organic farming practices. This study was carried out in all four regions of Peninsular Malaysia (Northern, Central, Southern, and East Coast) which also represent the four highest number of organic farmers that have been listed by the Department of Agriculture (DoA) Malaysia. Logistic regression analysis was estimated to ascertain the factors. The paper intends to explain the decision to adopt or not adopt organic farming with respect to a variety of socio-economic, social and attitudinal factors. The analysis was done using both qualitative and quantitative methods, towards a more comprehensive understanding of the overall situation of organic farming practices in Malaysia. The results indicate that environmental attitudes is the most influential factor, followed by information sharing attitudes, as well as land ownership. These observations can contribute to national policy development in the context of future sustainable development. |
| Keywords: | Agricultural and Food Policy, Farm Management, International Development |
| Date: | 2018–04–16 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:aesc18:273485&r=agr |
| By: | Himics, Mihaly; Fellmann, Thomas; Barreiro-Hurle, Jesus |
| Abstract: | In this paper we conduct a simulation experiment to quantitatively assess the impacts of reallocating budgetary resources within Pillar 1 of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) from direct income support to a direct greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction subsidy for EU farmers. Although such a budgetary shift is not foreseen in the current political discussions on the future CAP post 2020, the analysis is motivated by calls for both an increased contribution from the agricultural sector to combat global warming, and a more incentive-based delivery system for direct payments. For the analysis, we apply a partial equilibrium model for the agricultural sector (CAPRI) covering both the EU farming sector with high geographical detail as well as global food commodity markets. An integrated emission accounting for EU agriculture and global agri-food products, as well as optional technological GHG mitigation options for EU farmers make CAPRI specifically suitable for the impact assessment. For the scenario we assess a policy that removes the basic direct payments under Pillar 1 of the current CAP and provides farmers a GHG-saving subsidy instead, without increasing the total budget for direct payments. A major empirical contribution of the paper is the calculation of budget-neutral subsidy rates for the hypothetical GHG-reduction subsidy, factoring in farmers' supply and technology-adjusting responses to the policy change. The subsidy rates are derived by combining the regional representative farm models of CAPRI with a Newton-Raphson numerical approximation method that guarantees budget-neutrality. We find that a budget-neutral re-allocation of financial resources towards subsidized emission savings can reduce agricultural non-CO2 emissions by 21% in the EU by 2030, compared to a business-as-usual baseline. Almost two-thirds of the EU emission savings are due to production decreases, and, therefore, part of this GHG reduction is threaten to be offset globally by emission leakage effects. At the aggregated level, the emission-saving subsidy and increased producer prices compensate farmers for the foregone direct income support, but the significant regional differences indicate both an accelerated structural change and heterogeneous income effects in the farm population. We conclude that the assumed regional budget-neutrality condition introduces inefficiencies in the incentive system, and the full potential of the EU farming sector for GHG emissions reduction is not reached in the scenario; leaving ample room for the design of more efficient agricultural policies to combat global warming. |
| Keywords: | Agricultural and Food Policy |
| Date: | 2018–04–26 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:eaa162:271966&r=agr |
| By: | Sibiko, Kenneth W.; Qaim, Matin |
| Abstract: | Weather risk is a serious issue in the African small farm sector, which will further aggravate due to climate change. Farmers typically react by using low amounts of agricultural inputs. Low input use can help to minimize financial loss in bad years, but is also associated with low average yield and income. Increasing small farm productivity and income is an important prerequisite for rural poverty reduction and food security. Crop insurance could incentivize farmers to increase their input use, but indemnity-based crop insurance programs are plagued by market failures. This paper contributes to the emerging literature on the role of weather index insurance (WII). While a few studies have used experimental approaches to analyze WII impacts, research with observational data is scant. We use data from a survey of farmers in Kenya, where a commercial WII scheme has been operating for several years. Regression models with instrumental variables are used to analyze WII uptake and effects on input use and crop productivity. Results show that WII uptake contributes to higher use of chemical fertilizer and improved seeds, and thus also to higher yields. We conclude that upscaling WII programs may help to spur agricultural development in the small farm sector. |
| Keywords: | Community/Rural/Urban Development, Farm Management, Risk and Uncertainty |
| Date: | 2017–04–01 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:gagfdp:256214&r=agr |
| By: | Andrea Pronti (CNR-IRCRES, National Research Council, Research Institute on Sustainable Economic Growth, via Real Collegio 30, Moncalieri (TO) – Italy) |
| Abstract: | This paper aim at comparing agroecological and conventional practices for small coffee producers in Leste Region of Minas Gerais state (Brazil). Six production units have been deeply analyzed and compared in: income generation with price volatility, productivity, working conditions, product diversification, agrobiodiversity, cost composition, environmental impacts and forest conservation. The results show that agroecology practices help local small farmers in stabilizing and diversifying incomes, reducing production risks and improve working conditions. Furthermore agroecological practices both reduce the use of chemical inputs and improve forest conservation. According with the results of this study agroecology is a cost-effective and sustainable alternative of conventional monoculture agriculture for smallholder farmers of the examined region. |
| Keywords: | Agroecology, Smallholder agriculture, Sustainability appraisal, Cost Benefit Analysis, Coffee, Minas Gerais, Brazil, socio-economic comparison |
| JEL: | Q12 Q15 Q57 |
| Date: | 2017–12 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:csc:ircrwp:201707&r=agr |
| By: | Sinabell, Franz; Url, Thomas; Heinschink, Karin |
| Abstract: | To stabilise agricultural markets is one of the central objectives of the Common Agricultural Policies (CAP). After two decades of agricultural policy reforms markets are now only minimally influenced by direct policy interventions. However, prices of many farm commodities have become more volatile. A consequence is that farm incomes have become more volatile, as well. Direct payments are an effective instrument to stabilise incomes by offering a certain minimum level of liquidity. However, such premiums are low for many farmers and therefore a set of income stabilisation instruments was introduced during the Health Check Reform on an optional basis for Member States and certain groups of producers. In order to overcome some of the shortcomings of such approaches, we propose a margin insurance. We present such an insurance programme for EU agriculture and exemplify it using Austrian wheat and hog production as case studies. By referring to existing income insurance systems we identify necessary conditions for such a scheme to work. In order to address adverse selection, a micro simulation approach is proposed that makes granular premium discrimination feasible. Such an approach seems to be better suited for the heterogeneous structural conditions in the EU than a similar scheme for milk producers in the US that is based on a composite index. |
| Keywords: | Agricultural and Food Policy, Risk and Uncertainty |
| Date: | 2017–08–15 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:gewi17:262154&r=agr |
| By: | Parvathi, Priyanka |
| Abstract: | Under-nutrition and lack of micro-nutrients continues to remain a challenge in developing countries. As the undernourished are largely smallholder farmers, it is predominantly perceived that farm diversification and mixed crop-livestock agricultural systems can help alleviate this problem. But empirical evidence in this context is limited. Hence, this work examines whether farm production diversity as well as mixed crop-livestock farming lead to dietary diversity among smallholder farmers in Laos, using a two year panel data. Results from the fixed effects regression indicate that although farm production diversity does lead to a higher dietary diversity; the effect diminishes with continued diversification. The counterfactual analysis from the endogenous switching regression shows that following mixed crop-livestock farming system reduces household dietary diversity. We further find that markets play a significant role in enhancing the dietary diversity of the specialized farmers. |
| Keywords: | Agricultural and Food Policy, Farm Management, Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety |
| Date: | 2017–08–15 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:gewi17:261995&r=agr |
| By: | Dennis O. Ochieng |
| Abstract: | In many developing countries, supermarkets are increasingly replacing traditional markets as preferred points of food purchases in urban areas. This has welfare implications on smallholder farmers that supply supermarkets. While previous studies have analyzed the welfare effects of smallholder participation in supermarket channels, many have focused on economic effects alone. Very little is known about the effects on farm household diets. Besides, most existing studies that have looked at economic effects used cross-sectional data that are limited in controlling for time-invariant differences between supermarket and traditional channel farmers. This study uses panel data from vegetable farmers in Kenya to examine the effects of supermarket contracting on farm household income and diets. Supplying supermarkets has increased household income by 66%, and is associated with 8% higher consumption of calories, as well as better dietary diversity, and higher levels of zinc consumption. Using these results for simple simulations suggests that wider participation of smallholders in supermarket channels could reduce the prevalence of undernourishment by 8% and the prevalence of zinc deficiency by 12%. Hence, enhancing smallholder market access could significantly contribute to reduction of undernourishment and micronutrient malnutrition and increased income of farm households. |
| Keywords: | Agricultural and Food Policy, Community/Rural/Urban Development, Food Security and Poverty, Marketing |
| Date: | 2017–07–21 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:gagfdp:260397&r=agr |
| By: | Ayenew, Habtamu Yesigat; Biadgilign, Sibhatu; Schickramm, Lena; Sauer, Johannes; Abate Kassa, Getachew |
| Abstract: | This paper investigates the role of farm diversification for dietary diversity of households in smallholder agriculture. We use the Living Standards Measurement Study – Integrated Surveys on Agriculture (LSMS-ISA) dataset of the World Bank from Ethiopia and Tanzania. The results of the study show that farm diversification contributes to dietary diversity of farm households. Furthermore, we show that the effects of farm diversification and proportion of purchased food on the dietary diversity of the household significantly varies across families who are in food poverty, and the food secure families. Rural development efforts towards diversified farming systems can contribute to improve the food security and dietary diversity of farm households, especially if targeted towards nutritionally rich food production schemes. |
| Keywords: | Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety, Food Security and Poverty |
| Date: | 2017–08–15 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:gewi17:262007&r=agr |
| By: | Belton, Ben; Filipski, Mateusz; Hu, Chaoran |
| Abstract: | Fish farming (aquaculture) has grown rapidly in Myanmar over the last two decades and plays an increasingly important role in national fish supply, but its technical and economic characteristics have been little studied. Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Food Security Policy (FSP) has conducted the first statistically representative survey of fish farms conducted in Myanmar: the Myanmar AquacultureAgriculture Survey (MAAS). Features analyzed include: farm productivity and profitability; farm size; production cycle duration; use of feed, seed and other production inputs; demand for labor; harvesting and marketing behaviors; technological change; the economic and social characteristics of fish farming households; and land access and tenure. |
| Keywords: | Agricultural and Food Policy, Food Security and Poverty, International Development |
| Date: | 2017–05–05 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:miffpb:260428&r=agr |
| By: | Nyangau, Paul; Muriithi, Beatrice; Irungu, Patrick; Nzuma, Jonathan; Diiro, Glacious |
| Abstract: | Adoption and extensive use of agricultural innovations is seen as a key avenue for poverty reduction and improved food and nutritional security in developing countries. This paper evaluated the impact of IPM strategy for mango fruit flies suppression on food security with the help of a two-wave panel household survey data collected in Machakos County in Kenya. Using a randomly selected sample of 600, a difference in difference was fitted to the data in order to assess the impact of IPM on food security. The results showed that on average, both IPM participants and non-participants were food secure as measured by per capita calorie intake and Household Dietary Diversity Index (HDDI). The difference in difference estimates indicated that fruit fly IPM had a positive impact on per capita calorie intake but no significant effect on HDDI. Other factors that had an effect on per capita calorie include level of farm income, access to extension services, wealth category and distance to agricultural input market and household size. Our study recommends wider dissemination and upscaling of the fruit fly IPM strategy to facilitate broader impacts on household-level food security. |
| Keywords: | Crop Production/Industries, Food Security and Poverty, Research and Development/Tech Change/Emerging Technologies |
| Date: | 2017–04–25 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:aesc17:258650&r=agr |
| By: | Midmore, Peter |
| Abstract: | Research impact and its measurement are of increasing importance. This is particularly significant for agricultural science, which is expected to produce solutions to future challenges that will arise from population growth, climate change and ecosystem degradation. Much econometric effort has been devoted to analysis of investment in agricultural research and its effects on farm productivity. This analysis, reviewed here, has produced a consensus suggesting that returns are high, although they are achieved only after long lags. However, policymakers perceive the occurrence of impacts as too few, and poorly targeted with respect to their needs. An attribution gap between the outcomes of agricultural research and how they reach farmers has motivated evaluation of the process of transmission and translation of agricultural research outputs into ultimate impacts. This gap can be narrowed by Participatory Impact Pathway Analysis, implemented mostly so far in low income countries. However, it is a costly and cognitively complex approach. Content analysis of the UK’s 2014 REF Impact Case Studies uncovers the mind set of researchers and their managers regarding the description of impact and how it is supposed to occur. This reveals a nascent conservatism that focuses on research that can be shown to have impact, rather than research impact itself. From the overall discussion it can be concluded that the impact evaluation of agricultural science raises more profound issues than either efficiency or transparency. Confirmation bias threatens impact evaluation, principally by distracting from other important stories about how and why the ultimate effects occur, but also by transforming the nature of the process itself. Methodological pluralism, with greater integration and triangulation between different evaluation approaches, is a promising means of resolving these problems. |
| Keywords: | Agricultural and Food Policy, Research Methods/ Statistical Methods |
| Date: | 2017–04–24 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:aesc17:258614&r=agr |
| By: | Garbero, Alessandra; Songsermsawas, Tisorn |
| Abstract: | Irrigation systems have been shown to substantially improve farmers' productivity, and thus help alleviate poverty. Our study provides an example of such investment, the Participatory Small-Scale Irrigation Development Programme in Ethiopia. Com- bining a primary household survey with geographical data, we estimate the impact of the project on agricultural production and households expenditures using a novel iden- tication strategy. Beneciaries gain from the project through improved crop yields, which raise revenues, and allow switching from relying mainly consuming their own pro- duce to purchasing greater amount of food from the market. Though we rule out that the project may have targeted farmers based on their agricultural performance, sum- mary statistics indicate notable dierences between beneciaries and non-beneciaries, an indication that the project might have systematically targeted farmers with certain attributes. Systematic targeting is often favored either to ensure the highest rate of success, or to deliver the project to those who may need it the most, but may limit the generalizability of the project in relation to any eorts to scaling up. |
| Keywords: | Agricultural and Food Policy, Community/Rural/Urban Development, Land Economics/Use |
| Date: | 2017–04–25 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:aesc17:258641&r=agr |
| By: | Sanou, Awa; Osuntade, Bukola; Liverpool-Tasie,Saweda; Reardon,Thomas |
| Abstract: | The Nigerian poultry value chain is growing fast and transforming. This is linked to Nigerian diets including more eggs and poultry meat as incomes rise and urbanization occurs. Poultry are important for nutrition as well as incomes in Nigeria. But the poultry value chain is complex – varying over parts of the country in how modern or traditional it is. Really very little has been known about that value chain, as its rapid emergence as an important domestic commercial supply chain is recent. Climate change is also a recently emerging problem and little is known about how it will affect Nigeria’s food economy. These two gaps make it especially unknown what is occurring from the combination of climate change and poultry value chain growth and transformation. How will climate change affect feed supply chains? Poultry farming and supply chains? How will poultry farming itself perhaps affect climate change? We explore these questions in a preliminary way in this brief. |
| Keywords: | Agricultural and Food Policy, Food Security and Poverty, International Development |
| Date: | 2017–07–07 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:miffpb:261677&r=agr |
| By: | Shittu, A.; Kehinde, M. |
| Abstract: | Abstract Shifting to agricultural practices with Climate –smart Agriculture (CSA) potential is crucial in mitigating greenhouse gas emissions. This study applied choice experiment data collected from 548 farm households across two geopolitical zones in Nigeria to assess the preferences for shifting to CSA among smallholders’ farmers using Best Worst Scaling (BWS) technique. Data analysis within ranked –ordered logit regression framework revealed that stronger preference was given to GAPs with manure followed by GAPs without manure and agroforestry across the three models. However, the farmers show strong preference for status quo as against agroforestry in the less restrictive model. Also, farming households’ attribute stronger preference to cultivating agroforestry on freehold and communal lands followed by strong preference for cultivating agroforestry and GAPs with manure on lease and communal land respectively. This shows that tenure type was only important for a shift to agroforestry and GAPs with manure. Willingness to accept (WTA) results suggested that farming households were willing to accept $237/ha & $137/ha to embrace GAPs with and without manure respectively while they were willing to pay $204/ha to avoid shifting to agroforestry in the study area. |
| Keywords: | Environmental Economics and Policy, Farm Management, International Relations/Trade |
| Date: | 2018–07 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:iaae18:275983&r=agr |
| By: | Dillon, Emma Jane; Moran, Brian |
| Abstract: | The continued sustainable growth of Irish agriculture is dependent on further productivity and efficiency gains. The adoption of output enhancing technologies is critical in this regard. Additional labour input will also be required, particularly in the dairy sector where milk output has increased on 80% of farms since 2014. The considerable structural change experienced in Irish dairy farming over the past decade is reflected in Teagasc National Farm Survey (NFS) data indicating that a growing percentage of farms now have a herd size of greater than 100 cows. Further expansion in the dairy sector will result in an increased demand for hired labour, particularly at peak times of the year e.g. calving. Innovations like contract rearing and collaborative farming as well as labour saving technologies such as automatic milking are also becoming more commonplace. Despite this, the role of owned family labour remains critical and the management component of this labour is of growing importance. In line with EU Farm Accounts Data Network (FADN) methodology, the Teagasc NFS currently captures the unpaid family component of farm labour through self-reported hours worked on an annual basis. Drawing on productivity studies undertaken elsewhere this scoping study aims to further investigate the contribution of labour in a more disaggregated fashion, an important exercise given seasonal differences in labour demand. One component of this proposed work is to undertake a “Time Use Study” across a sub-sample of TNFS farms. This will serve to both validate and improve upon data already collected within the survey and will prove useful for stakeholders in understanding the extent to which labour input (owned and hired) has the potential to represent a constraint on production growth. This would be the first time Teagasc NFS data would be utilised in conjunction with such data and would prove a useful benchmarking exercise. Insights into the extrinsic and intrinsic factors influencing farmer uptake of technologies (some of which may be labour saving) will also be investigated using econometric methods. From a sustainability perspective this study will provide a better understanding of Irish farm labour demand and the implications for current/future work-life balance of on-going sectoral growth. Existing farm-level sustainability indicators find a correlation between economic performance and technology adoption but questions remain as to the key drivers of innovation across systems. This study aims to explore this further building on previous work which confirmed the important role of extension and education in this regard. |
| Keywords: | Agricultural and Food Policy, Labor and Human Capital, Livestock Production/Industries |
| Date: | 2018–04–16 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:aesc18:273480&r=agr |
| By: | Hooks, T.; Macken-Walsh, Á.; McCarthy, O.; Power, C.; Henchion, M. |
| Abstract: | Irish beef farms have experienced poor viability longitudinally, reaching crisis levels in 2013. In response to this, beef Producer Organisation (PO) legislation was introduced in 2016 to allow Irish beef farmers to negotiate collectively for the first time and to allow for a greater integration of beef farmers to the supply chain. Given this new enabling environment for collective action among beef farmers and current policy objectives to add value to Irish beef, this research focuses on a US based development paradigm Middle’(AotM) which simultaneously fulfils these objectives. AotM posits that family farms the ‘Agriculture of the must transition from a supply chain to a values-based supply chain (VBSC) approach, involving amendments to both product type and actor dynamics within the chain, to ensure future sustainability. This paper presents a qualitative case study of a US based beef co-operative integrated to a VBSC. We use an analytical framework of viability, sustainability and resilience to analyse impacts at farm-level. Our analysis highlights a number of positive effects on farm-level viability, sustainability and resilience including improvements to market orientation and price stability, among others which provide crucial insights for beef PO development in Ireland. Furthermore, this paper outlines current Irish stakeholder views towards beef POs and highlights some potential caveats of such an approach in the Irish context. |
| Keywords: | Agricultural and Food Policy, Environmental Economics and Policy |
| Date: | 2018–09–03 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:eaa166:276209&r=agr |
| By: | Schaffer, Axel; Duvelmeyer, Claudia |
| Abstract: | In 2002 the German federal government within its strategy for sustainable development set the aim to increase the share of organically farmed land to 20% of total agricultural land by 2010. Though shares have increased continuously, the target has not been reached yet. In order to fine-tune corresponding policy measures the current study identifies major regionspecific drivers of organic farming in Germany by applying a spatial regression analysis to Germany’s almost 300 rural counties. Due to the different agricultural structure in Northern, Southern and Eastern Germany, particularly concerning farm size and land use type, the analysis is conducted separately for each of those larger areas. Preliminary results confirm the findings of earlier studies, according to which the share of organically farmed land positively and significantly relates to the regional share of grassland and the price of agricultural land. Both findings hold for Northern, Southern and Eastern Germany. In the North and the South, organic farming is further driven by the counties’ topography (hilly regions are more likely to adopt organic farming practices) and the regional consumers’ attitude towards organic products (measured by the votes for the green party in the last states elections). Findings for the South further indicate that organic farming is in conflict with onfarm energy production. Findings on drivers aside material production conditions are rather heterogeneous. Assured farm succession seems to have no effect, the share of part-time farmers correlates negatively with organic farming in the South but is not significant for the other regions and regions orientation towards tourism is complementary with organic farming in the East but conflicting in the South. Finally, we identify spatial autocorrelation in the South. In contrast no neighborhood effects can be observed for North- and East-Germany. |
| Keywords: | Agricultural and Food Policy, Farm Management |
| Date: | 2018–04–16 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:aesc18:273482&r=agr |
| By: | Tesfay, M. |
| Abstract: | Technological change in agriculture in climate risk exposed developing countries requires for three major reasons: First, the increased climate risk and increase the need for new agricultural technologies that are more robust to such variability. Second, a need for land use intensification to feed the growing populations and third, economic transformation that creates an opportunity for market-oriented production that is more focused on the production of crops for market. This study emphasizes to assess factors associated with the extent of and intensity of adoption of three farm technologies (high yield wheat, drought tolerant teff, and cash crops) in the semi-arid of northern Ethiopia. We estimate determinants of adoption of the three technologies using double hurdle models. We apply correlated random effects with control function approach to control for possible endogeneity associated with access to the technologies. Results show that high population density has a positive and significant effect on the adoption decision of improved wheat and, irrigation has positive and significant effect on adoption of cash crops. Adoption of drought-tolerant teff is access constrained. Hence, increasing access to drought-tolerant teff and promoting irrigation appears to be adoption stimulants of drought-resistant teff and cash crops in a climate risk environment. |
| Keywords: | Agricultural and Food Policy, International Development, Research and Development/Tech Change/Emerging Technologies |
| Date: | 2018–07 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:iaae18:276008&r=agr |
| By: | Parlasca, Martin C.; Mußhoff, Oliver; Qaim, Matin |
| Abstract: | The digital revolution and the ongoing dissemination of mobile phones carry several prospects for smallholder farmers in Sub-Saharan Africa. Food insecurity remains a major issue among African smallholders. Mobile phones could potentially facilitate access to food markets and thus improve food security and nutrition, but research on such types of effects remains scarce. In this study we analyze whether mobile phones improve dietary quality of pastoralists in Northern Kenya. We use six rounds of household panel data covering the period between 2009 and 2015. During this period, mobile phone ownership in the sample increased from less than 30% to more than 70%. Regression models with household fixed effects allow robust estimation while reducing potential issues of unobserved heterogeneity. The estimates show that mobile phone adoption has increased dietary diversity. The effect size increases with the frequency of mobile phone use. We also examine the underlying mechanisms. Mobile phones improve dietary diversity mainly through better access to purchased foods. These results encourage the promotion of mobile phone technologies as a valuable tool for nutritional improvements, especially in rural settings with poor access to food markets. |
| Keywords: | Agricultural and Food Policy, Community/Rural/Urban Development, Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety, Food Security and Poverty, Institutional and Behavioral Economics, Research and Development/Tech Change/Emerging Technologies |
| Date: | 2018–06–29 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:gagfdp:274651&r=agr |
| By: | Abdul-Salam, Yakubu; Roberts, Deborah |
| Abstract: | Off-farm work is a common phenomenon among farm household members in industrialised nations. In Scotland, it is expected to grow partly due to Brexit induced uncertainty in agricultural policy and markets. Previous research has linked the phenomenon to farmers’ production choices with some research findings suggesting that it increases the uptake of low input intensity pro-environmental farming methods but the overall evidence is mixed. An understanding of the influence of the expected growth in off-farm work on farmer production choices and its impact on the intensity of input use is of interest given the increasing policy emphasis being given to supporting sustainable agricultural production methods. Using Scotland’s Farm Accounts Survey data, we examine the determinants of off-farm work and investigate its effects on two measures of agricultural intensity namely fertiliser and crop protection expenditures per hectare. We find that tenanted farmers managing relatively small farms are more likely to be involved in off-farm work. We also find that farmers with very high levels of off-farm work are significantly less intensive in the use of fertilisers but there is no evidence of any impact of off-farm work on their intensity of use of crop protection products. It follows that an increase in the proportion of farmers with off-farm work brought about by Brexit may have the unintended (positive) consequence of reducing the intensity of inorganic fertiliser use in agriculture, thereby making the sector more environmentally sustainable. |
| Keywords: | Agricultural and Food Policy, Farm Management |
| Date: | 2018–04–16 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:aesc18:273486&r=agr |
| By: | Muricho, Geoffrey; Manda, Damiano; Sule, Fredrick; Kassie, Menale |
| Abstract: | Despite inconclusive evidence of the impact of agricultural commercialization on smallholder welfare, many developing countries with majority of their population engaged in smallholder agriculture continue to pursue this agricultural transformation process. Past empirical studies have been criticized for methodological flaws and where real negative evidence existed, then this has been attributed to policy failures rather than commercialization process per se. Using panel data collected from Kenya, this study fits an endogenous switching regression model in a correlated random effects framework to analyze impacts of agricultural commercialization on household poverty proxied by annual household per capita expenditure on food and non-food items including own produced and consumed crops and livestock products. The results show that agricultural commercialization significantly increases annual per capita household expenditure among commercialized and non-commercialized had they commercialized. The annual per capita expenditure gap existing between commercialized and non-commercialized households emanates from their differences in amounts of resources owned (57%) and efficiency of using these resources (43%). Closing this expenditure gap (poverty gap) require improving the amount of resources owned and resource use efficiency among non-commercialized households. Therefore, policy options geared toward stimulating and/or enhancing smallholder agricultural commercialization are encourages as a poverty reduction strategy. |
| Keywords: | Agribusiness, Agricultural and Food Policy, Community/Rural/Urban Development |
| Date: | 2017–04–24 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:aesc17:258618&r=agr |
| By: | Ekerebi, Epiyaigha; Adeola, Oluwafunmiso Olajide O. |
| Abstract: | Nigeria has abundant land and water resources and her agricultural sector has high growth potentials, but due to various factors like increasing climatic conditions, land fragmentation and years of gender blind policies, the sector has not performed as expected. Farming is mostly done on a small scale and it is mostly rain-fed thereby making the production system weather sensitive. Large scale farming and irrigation practices are still underutilized in several parts of the country. |
| Keywords: | Agricultural and Food Policy, Food Security and Poverty, International Development |
| Date: | 2017–03–03 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:miffpb:260420&r=agr |
| By: | Haggblade, Steven; Babu, Suresh; Hendriks, Sheryl; Mather, David; Resnick, Danielle |
| Abstract: | Interest in policy reform has grown recently in developing countries. Since policy environments shape the incentives, decisions and actions of key consumer and industry groups, policies become central determinants of economic performance as well as progress towards key agricultural, nutrition and food security goals. As a result, achievement of sustainable development goals will depend heavily on good understanding of developing country policy processes and outcomes. Yet, most past efforts to study policy processes have focused on developed country settings. |
| Keywords: | Agricultural and Food Policy, Food Security and Poverty, International Development, Political Economy |
| Date: | 2017–03–03 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:miffpb:260423&r=agr |
| By: | Niemi, Jyrki; Kettunen, Lauri |
| Abstract: | The objective of this paper is to assess the impacts of further reform of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) on the agri-food sector in Finland. An econometric model for Finnish agriculture - built as a part of the AGMEMOD project - was utilised. The simulations presented in the paper demonstrate that the model provides the basis for agricultural policy analysis. The impacts of the CAP reform experiments in Finland analysed can be summarised as follows: A small projected reduction in the production level, but a large decrease in farm income as a result of cuts in CAP support payments. |
| Keywords: | Agricultural and Food Policy |
| Date: | 2018–04–26 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:eaa162:271972&r=agr |
| By: | Ibrahim, Aisha Lawal |
| Abstract: | In many developing countries, the greatest potential for sustainable growth lies in the agricultural sector. Yet ironically, poverty is most widespread and often evident in its worst forms in this sector. Many small-scale farmers, and the rural communities in which they live, are trapped in a “cycle” of low margins, resulting in low risk-taking ability and low investment, which in turn leads to low productivity, low market orientation and low value addition which, in turn, nets low margins (ITC, 2006a). The nature and extent of the changing structure of agrifood demand offer unprecedented opportunities for diversification and value addition in agriculture, particularly in developing countries. (FAO, 2007). |
| Keywords: | Agricultural and Food Policy, Food Security and Poverty, International Development |
| Date: | 2017–07–07 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:miffpb:261676&r=agr |
| By: | Szerletics, Akos |
| Abstract: | The debate on reforming the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) after 2020 has already started by when the European Commission published its own vision on the future of agriculture and food production in the European Union (European Commission, 2017). This Communication paper set the political arena. One of the key aspects of this debate relates to the revision of the system of EU direct payments to farmers. These payments which supplement incomes from farming have an overwhelming share in the budget assigned to Pillar I of the CAP. The fine tuning of the degressieve reduction and the capping of direct payments is to be part of the new reform package. Although it has, for a long time, been a popular idea to limit payments to larger farms in one way or another, and subsidise smaller agricultural holdings instead, new evidence from Hungary suggests that placing a cap on direct payments may cause more harm than good in terms of land use change. |
| Keywords: | Agricultural and Food Policy |
| Date: | 2018–04–26 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:eaa162:271977&r=agr |
| By: | Bethelhem Legesse Debela; Kathrin M. Demmler; Stephan Klasen; Matin Qaim |
| Abstract: | In many developing countries, supermarkets are spreading rapidly at the expense of traditional food markets and shops. Changing retail environments and food choices may affect consumer diets and nutritional outcomes. Previous research suggested that supermarkets may contribute to rising rates of obesity. However, most existing research looked at adult populations. Here, we analyze effects of supermarkets on child nutrition with panel data from medium-sized towns in Kenya. Instrumental variable regressions show that supermarket food purchases significantly increase child height-for-age and weight-for age Z-scores. The effects on height are larger than the effects on weight. These are welcome findings, because child stunting continues to be a major nutrition problem in developing countries that is declining more slowly than child underweight. Supermarkets do not seem to be a driver of childhood obesity in Kenya. The positive effects of supermarkets on child nutrition are channeled through improvements in food variety and dietary quality. |
| Keywords: | Agricultural and Food Policy, Community/Rural/Urban Development, Consumer/Household Economics, Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety, Food Security and Poverty, Health Economics and Policy |
| Date: | 2018–05–31 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:gagfdp:273227&r=agr |
| By: | Neubauer, F.; Ndegwa, M.; De Groote, H.; Munyua, B.; Njeru, J. |
| Abstract: | Climate change is a threat to food security in Africa. Maize is the most important staple crop in Kenya, but production per capita has decreased in recent decades. Climate smart agriculture technologies become more important, but it is important to evaluate them with farmers to learn about their needs. Therefore, we conducted participatory evaluations of five miaze varieties both on-farm and on-station. We found that farmers’ perception of varieties are complex, with yield, drought tolerance, and early maturing valued the most. Men value characteristics related to size higher than women (cob size, stalk thickness). On average, men give higher scores than women, and women score more nuanced. On-station, DH02 was liked the best, and Tego the least. On-farm, DH02 was liked the least, while Duma43 was liked the most. Further, onfarm, DH02 was liked less in the wet year than in the dry year. Farmers’ scores did not reflect yield data well, indicating their complex perceptions of varieties. Further, farmers in Makueni could increase their annual income by 51.500 KSh by adopting the improved maize varieties from this study. Maize companies could benefit from an increase in sales, with a potential demand in Makueni of 3.500 metric tons per season. |
| Keywords: | Environmental Economics and Policy, International Development |
| Date: | 2018–07 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:iaae18:276023&r=agr |
| By: | Korir, Lilian; Rizov, Marian; Ruto, Eric |
| Abstract: | This paper evaluates household food security situation in Kenya in terms of access to food, using cross sectional data from the Kenya Integrated Household Budget Surveys (KIHBS). By estimating price and income elasticities, which provides an indication of the sensitivity of households to market shocks and thus the degree of household’s constraint to access food. The empirical approach involve estimation of demand system analysis the QUAIDS model. Existing research focuses on disaggregate food items and other developing countries, but none has specifically used the QUAIDS model for the aggregated food groups to analyse food consumption patterns nationally for the Kenyan context. The empirical results show positive expenditure elasticities while all compensated and uncompensated price elasticities show negative results. While their magnitudes vary; expenditure elasticities for meat and fish, and essential condiments are elastic (sensitive to changes) and are considered as luxuries as their elasticities are greater than one. Whereas cereal and bread, dairy products, fruit and vegetables and other condiments, have both inelastic price and expenditure elasticities; they are considered to be normal goods with values less than one. With respect to low income households, rural households and those highly dependent on the consumption of own produced food (“auto-consumption”), a reverse relationship is exhibited where meat and fish expenditure are inelastic hence perceived as normal foods, which is somewhat unexpected. However, in Kenya this finding may be attributed to the fact that a majority of the households in the survey depend on their own domesticated animals for meat and fish consumption. Hence they are not largely involved in the formal market services and prices. Further analysis shows that household size, regional differences, the ratio of food expenditure to total income and the ratio of auto-consumption are statistically significant, and hence have a great impact on food consumption expenditure. The results are broadly consistent with microeconomic theory, however exceptions indicate an unusual pattern (less sensitivity to income changes) for the rural and low income households’ meat and fish consumption. Interestingly, the low income households in our sample show that the food income elasticity for meat and fish to be less than one. These results should inform the design of policies aimed at improving the nutritional status of the poor, children and other vulnerable individuals. |
| Keywords: | Agricultural and Food Policy, Food Security and Poverty |
| Date: | 2018–04–18 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:aesc18:273474&r=agr |
| By: | Feuerbacher, A.; Grethe, H. |
| Abstract: | Agriculture is unique from most other sectors, because of its strong reliance on weather inputs and seasonal requirement for production factors. The seasonality of labour markets is a well-known issue and is particularly relevant for rural livelihoods in developing countries, where a large share of the population relies on labour intensive agriculture. All the more astonishing is the fact, that seasonality of labour markets has hardly been incorporated in economy-wide models such as computable general equilibrium (CGE) models. This study develops the first national CGE model framework with an explicit depiction of seasonal labour markets. In order to demonstrate the relevance of seasonality for model outcomes the model is applied to a case study of Bhutan being affected by an increase in cereal prices. If the seasonality of labour markets is accounted for we find that the price shock results in a substantially lower supply response of the agriculture sector and that ignoring the seasonality of labour markets results in an overestimation of positive welfare effects for farm households. Furthermore, we find that incorporating seasonal labour results in a more accurate understanding of resource constraints, which can benefit the application of models for policy analysis. |
| Keywords: | Agricultural and Food Policy, Community/Rural/Urban Development |
| Date: | 2018–07 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:iaae18:276009&r=agr |
| By: | McCormack, Michele; Buckley, Cathal |
| Abstract: | The Agricultural sector will play a key role in reaching the goals set out in The Water Framework Directive 2000/60/EC (WFD). Although some progress has been made the 2015 deadline for reaching the goals of maintaining “high” status waterbodies and increasing the status of all other water bodies to at least “good” water status has passed without success and the timeline for these objectives moved forward to the next two cycles 2021/2027. Now more than ever policymakers need to understand the motivations of key participants of which farmers play an important role. This study investigates whether the use of a Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) can be useful in predicting farmer acceptance of two nutrient management practices, soil testing and nutrient management planning which have the potential to contribute to water quality improvements. Factor analysis on a survey of farmers involved in Teagasc Agricultural Catchments Programme (ACP) reveals two specific variables which are hypothesised to be fundamental determinants of user acceptance, Perceived Usefulness (PU) and Perceived Ease of Use (PEOU). Both variables are found to be significant in predicting farmer intention to use and are subsequently included in a model to investigate key drivers of convergence to optimal soil phosphorus levels. The research suggests that farmers who converge to optimal P levels (soil P index 3) from soil P index 4 perceive soil testing and nutrient management planning “useful” and “easy to use” but there is no significant relationship on farms operating below optimal levels of soil P index 1 and 2. |
| Keywords: | Agricultural and Food Policy |
| Date: | 2018–04–17 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:aesc18:273489&r=agr |
| By: | Mason, Nicole M.; Wineman, Ayala; Kirimi, Lilian; Mather, David |
| Abstract: | Kenya joined the ranks of sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries implementing a targeted input subsidy program for inorganic fertilizer and improved seed in 2007 with the establishment of the National Accelerated Agricultural Inputs Access Program’s “Kilimo Plus” initiative. Implemented from 2007/08, Kilimo Plus aimed to provide 50 kg each of basal and top dressing fertiliser, and 10 kg of improved maize seed to resource poor smallholder farmers with the goals of increasing access to inputs, raising yields and incomes, improving food security, and reducing poverty. But did the program achieve its goals, and what are the lessons learned from Kilimo Plus and other targeted input subsidy programs (ISPs) in SSA for the design and implementation of future countylevel input policies and programs in Kenya? Results suggest that, despite replacing what would have been commercial fertilizer purchases by farmers, Kilimo Plus did substantially increase maize production and reduce poverty depth and severity of recipient households. Moreover, the program’s positive effects are somewhat larger than those of targeted ISPs in Malawi and Zambia. Much of Kilimo Plus’s relative success vis-àvis the Malawi and Zambia programs is likely due to its effective targeting of relatively resource-poor farmers and its implementation through vouchers redeemable at private agro-dealer shops. Kenyan counties considering implementing ISPs should bear in mind these findings, but also carefully weigh the cost effectiveness of ISPs relative to other much-needed investments, including rural roads and agricultural research, development, and extension. Indeed, since Kilimo Plus alone is not sufficient to bring households out of poverty, a more holistic approach to improving production and sustainable intensification is required. |
| Keywords: | Agricultural and Food Policy, Food Security and Poverty, International Development |
| Date: | 2017–02–02 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:miffpb:260418&r=agr |
| By: | Aghabeygi, M.; Donati, M.; Arfini, F.; Salami, H.A. |
| Abstract: | Supplying food to a growing population has always been a concern for authorities in Iran. In this regard, agricultural sector plays an important role in food supply and food’s security by increasing agricultural production. But the most important concern in Iranian agricultural sector are the scarcity and resource constraints. Therefore, it seems that only way to increase food supply along with food security purpose is to increase productivity. One of the policy used to increase productivity is the output price policy, in particular for those strategic products that provided Iran's political security. The aim of this paper is to assess the effect of output price policy for Iranian agriculture. This latter is represented by a regional agricultural model, based on PMP, that groups the agriculture supply of 30 Iranian regions. The assessment of IAP presented in this paper confirms the biggest effects regions. It means that the effect of new IAP scenario is different in each region and each region has special cropping pattern. In this regard, policy makers should implement different sustaining policies at regional level. Also, if Iran wants to join WTO, it should be reduced or removed the amount of payments for inefficient crops. |
| Keywords: | Agricultural and Food Policy, International Development |
| Date: | 2018–07 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:iaae18:275999&r=agr |
| By: | Revoredo-Giha, Cesar; Chalmers, Neil; Akaichi, Faical |
| Abstract: | Reducing greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) associated with food consumption is a particularly important issue given the recent concerns regarding climate change and diet. This paper modelled the effects of ad-valorem and carbon consumption taxes on different food products and found that taxing high carbon food products will likely result in a decrease in carbon emissions and intake of less beneficial nutrients (such as saturated fats and sugars). However, the taxes will also likely result in small reductions of beneficial nutrients which are currently under consumed in the UK. This may cause concern to policymakers and suggests the importance of monitoring nutrient intakes with regards to a potential introduction of carbon taxes. |
| Keywords: | Environmental Economics and Policy |
| Date: | 2018–04–16 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:aesc18:273481&r=agr |
| By: | Braha, Kushtrim; Cupak, Andrej; Qineti, Artan; Pokrivcak, Jan |
| Abstract: | Study performs food demand analysis in the case of Kosovo. Paper models food consumption behaviour using the HBS data for the period 2005-2012. Along with assessment of the non-parametric Engel curves, here we estimate complete demand system by using Quadratic Almost Ideal Demand System (QUAIDS). Elasticity estimates for five food bundles were amplified with demographic and expenditure controlling variables. Main results reveal that cereals and dairy products are perceived as inferior goods, while the meat, fruits and vegetables are regarded as normal goods. Consistency with the demand theory is affirmed when estimating price and expenditure elasticities. Exception is noticed in the case of cereals, depicting significantly higher own-price elasticity as well as negative expenditure elasticity. Such price sensitivity signals that Kosovo is undergoing transition of the food pattern from the traditional cereal-based diet towards the consumption of the high-value food such as meat and fish. Rising disposable income is found to play prominent role in fostering nutrition transition of the food pattern in Kosovo. |
| Keywords: | Demand and Price Analysis |
| Date: | 2018–04–26 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:eaa162:272050&r=agr |
| By: | Sekabira, Haruna; Qaim, Matin |
| Abstract: | During the last 10-15 years, mobile phone technologies have been widely adopted in most developing countries, including adoption by rural households that never had access to landline phones before. Existing research shows that use of mobile phones has improved market access for smallholder farmers and thus household income. Beyond income, mobile phones can possibly also affect other dimensions of social welfare, such as gender equality and nutrition. Such broader social welfare effects have hardly been analyzed up till now. Here, we address this research gap, using panel data from smallholder farm households in Uganda. Regression results show that mobile phones have significantly contributed to household income gains and women empowerment. Mobile phone use has also improved household food security and dietary quality. Simultaneous equation models are estimated to show that the positive nutrition effects are primarily channeled through the influence of mobile phones on household income and gender equality. Gender disaggregation reveals that female mobile phone use has stronger positive welfare effects than if males alone use mobile phones. We conclude that equal access to mobile phones cannot only foster economic development, but can also contribute to gender equality, food security, and broader social development. |
| Keywords: | Community/Rural/Urban Development, Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety, Food Security and Poverty |
| Date: | 2017–04–01 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:gagfdp:256215&r=agr |
| By: | Lanz, Bruno; Dietz, Simon; Swanson, Tim |
| Abstract: | The world is banking on a major increase in food production, if the dietary needs and food preferences of an increasing, and increasingly rich, population are to be met. This requires the further expansion of modern agriculture, but modern agriculture rests on a small number of highly productive crops and its expansion has led to a significant loss of global biodiversity. Ecologists have shown that biodiversity loss results in lower plant productivity, while agricultural economists have linked biodiversity loss on farms with increasing variability of crop yields, and sometimes lower mean yields. In this paper we consider the macro-economic consequences of the continued expansion of particular forms of intensive, modern agriculture, with a focus on how the loss of biodiversity affects food production. We employ a quantitative, structurally estimated model of the global economy, which jointly determines economic growth, population and food demand, agricultural innovations and land conversion. We show that even small effects of agricultural expansion on productivity via biodiversity loss might be sufficient to warrant a moratorium on further land conversion. |
| Keywords: | agricultural productivity; biodiversity; endogenous growth; food security; land conversion; population |
| JEL: | N0 |
| Date: | 2018–02 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ehl:lserod:84194&r=agr |
| By: | McCormack, Michele; Thorne, Fiona; Hanrahan, Kevin |
| Abstract: | This paper presents a Fisher index measure of the total factor productivity (TFP) performance of Irish dairy farms over the period 2006-2016 using Teagasc National Farm Survey (NFS) data. The removal of milk quotas in 2015 has led to an increase of over 30% in dairy cow numbers since 2010, and although Suckler cow numbers have dropped slightly, the total number of cows in Ireland has reached an all-time high of 2.5 million head. This large increase adds to the environmental pressures attributed to agricultural output, and puts the focus firmly on how efficiently the additional agricultural output associated with higher cow numbers is produced. The primary purpose of this paper is to identify a standardised measure of the TFP performance of Irish dairy farms that can be routinely updated using Teagasc NFS data. We find that relative to 2010 the TFP of Irish dairy farms has increased by 17%, however in one production year, 2014-2015, when milk quota was removed, the TFP measure increased by 10%. TFP grew by 3% in the production year 2015-2016, it would seem therefore that the removal of the European dairy quota system has resulted in a windfall gain for Irish Dairy farmers but that productivity gains are continuing. Future data will be required to investigate the longer term TFP performance of Irish dairy farms in the post milk-quota era. |
| Keywords: | Agricultural and Food Policy, Livestock Production/Industries |
| Date: | 2018–04–16 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:aesc18:273479&r=agr |
| By: | Nankhuni, Flora Janet; Mabiso, Athur |
| Abstract: | The Second Malawi Land Symposium was organized by the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development (MoLHUD) in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development (MoAWD) with support from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) through the New Alliance Policy Acceleration Support (NAPAS: Malawi) Project and the European Union (EU)-funded Land Governance Project. The symposium brought together 106 participants (22 female) from: government ministries and departments; the private sector; Civil Society Organizations; Farmer Organizations; Development Partners; research and the academia; the media; and others. The aim of the symposium was to provide a venue for dialogue on the newly adopted land laws and explain what they entail for agricultural development in Malawi. The symposium also aimed at providing information on the status of land-related policy reform commitments, under the New Alliance for Food Security and Nutrition, which include: 1) Identify land in phases, suitable for large-scale commercial agriculture (10,000 ha/year from 2013) every year; 2) Enactment of the new Land Bill into law1; 3) Introduction of agricultural zoning based on priority crops and growth. |
| Keywords: | Agricultural and Food Policy, Food Security and Poverty, International Development |
| Date: | 2017–08–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:miffpb:264399&r=agr |
| By: | Mann, Stefan |
| Abstract: | The socioeconomic discourse on varieties of capitalism has revealed remarkable insights into prevailing macroeconomic patterns. This paper transforms this macro approach and uses the agricultural sector to test its applicability for the sectoral (meso) level. Agricultural policy indicators, environmental variables, average farm size, self-sufficiency and per capita food expenditures are used to cluster developed countries. Three groups emerge: one group consists of active exporters with large farms and low, if any, subsidies and a high level of emissions per output, while another group combines a high level of public support and high food expenditure with low self-sufficiency and good environmental performance. As the third group is mostly situated in between the other two, we conclude that the varieties of capitalist agriculture are largely placed on a one-dimensional scale. |
| Keywords: | Agricultural and Food Policy, International Development |
| Date: | 2017–08–15 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:gewi17:261983&r=agr |
| By: | Tschirley, D.; Reardon, T.; Minten, B.; Liverpool-Tasie, S. |
| Abstract: | Research by Michigan State University and the International Food Policy Research Institute under the Food Security Policy Innovation lab has documented profound changes taking place in African agrifood systems, driven by rapid urbanization, growth in per capita incomes, and the increasing reach of globalized markets over the past fifteen- to twenty years. Based on detailed analysis of household expenditure data sets across East and Southern Africa, processed food inventories in eight cities of three countries, and ongoing survey research on rapidly growing and transforming value chains (teff in Ethiopia, poultry in Nigeria, and grain milling in Tanzania), this Policy Research Brief does three things: (1) summarizes the key research findings; (2) identifies the risks that these patterns of change imply for sustained and inclusive growth; and (3) highlights implications of the patterns and the implied risks for the design of policies and value chain programs in this dynamic environment. |
| Keywords: | Agricultural and Food Policy, Food Security and Poverty, International Development |
| Date: | 2017–04–04 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:miffpb:260427&r=agr |
| By: | Julien Hardelin (OECD); Jussi Lankoski (OECD) |
| Abstract: | This report assesses the crucial drivers of ecosystem services and proposes actions to develop a more effective policy mix. Several elements form the basis of this report. First, a literature review provides an overview of the state and trends of ecosystem services linked to agriculture, including issues related to land use. Secondly, results are presented from a quantitative model developed to illustrate the potential benefits of improving policy design as well as to investigate synergies and trade-offs among ecosystem services. This report also includes a review of experiences in an inventory of ecosystems in selected countries and policy initiatives that address ecosystem services linked to agriculture. |
| Keywords: | Biodiversity, conservation auction, environmental tax, payment for ecosystem services, spatial targeting, water quality |
| JEL: | Q15 Q18 Q57 Q58 |
| Date: | 2018–09–07 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:oec:agraaa:114-en&r=agr |
| By: | Buckley, Cathal; Daatselaar, C.H.G; Hennessy, Thia; Vrolijk, Hans |
| Abstract: | Policymakers are increasingly interested in the sustainability of milk production due to the intensive nature of the production system and the associated risk to the environment. This study uses national extensions of the EU Farm Accountancy Data Network to derive nationally representative farm gate level nitrogen use efficiency indicators for specialist dairy farms in the Republic of Ireland and the Netherlands between 2006 and 2014. The Republic of Ireland and the Netherlands are of particular interest as dairy production is an important sector in both countries and milk production has grown in these two Member States following the removal of the EU milk quota regime in 2015. Results indicate relatively similar N balances per hectare across both countries with the Netherlands returning significantly higher N use efficiency and lower N surplus per kg of milk solids produced. Results generally show improvements in nutrient use over the study period across both countries, due to efficiency gains, but highlight differences between a grazed grass system and a more concentrate feed high input orientated system and illustrate the need for the development of a life-cycle analysis approach to fully capture the full scale environmental efficiency of differing systems of milk production. |
| Keywords: | Agricultural and Food Policy, Environmental Economics and Policy, Livestock Production/Industries |
| Date: | 2017–04–24 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:aesc17:258616&r=agr |
| By: | Edeh, Hyacinth; Mavrotas, George |
| Abstract: | We analyse the effects of adoption of urea deep placement (UDP) technology on household welfare using household data collected through a randomized control trial experiment conducted among rice farming households in Kwara State, Nigeria. In order to adjust for unequal sampling fractions and correct for possible misspecification and selection bias in the effects model, we estimate a treatment effect model using the doubly robust inverse probability weighted regression adjustments. The results show that variable that enhances intra-household joint decision-making on farm input use and wealth indicators encourage UDP adoption while physiological risks tend to discourage adoption. Differential use of food consumption coping strategies exists between adopters and non-adopters along less severe but not severe strategies. We find that UDP technology can significantly increase food security, measured as food consumption coping strategy index, among adopting households. This implies that the technology is welfare increasing, and its adoption could be discouraged by health and production – related risks interventions. |
| Keywords: | Agricultural and Food Policy, International Development |
| Date: | 2018–04–17 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:aesc18:273493&r=agr |
| By: | Toland, Gerald D.; Onyeaghala, Raphael O. |
| Abstract: | Our global agricultural economy is challenged with serving the nutritional needs of nine billion people by the year 2050. An estimated seventy-percent increase in agricultural production capacity is needed over the next thirty-five years to balance the growth trends of worldwide food supply and demand. To investigate fundamental aspects of this challenge, we utilize a USDA-ERS production model (2003)i and an OECD model of sustainable growth to examine the economic factors required for sustainable Total Factor Productivity (TFP) growth.ii We also review the effects of alternative institutional approaches, research funding policies, new technologies and climate change effects as critical determinants of global TFP growth rates required to meet growing worldwide food demands. |
| Keywords: | Environmental Economics and Policy |
| Date: | 2018–04–16 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:aesc18:273476&r=agr |
| By: | O’Callaghan, Daniel; Hennessy, Thia; Breen, James |
| Abstract: | Financially rewarding farmers is an unconventional approach to agricultural extension. We evaluate an extension program, primarily delivered through farmer discussion groups, which rewarded farmers with conditional payments. Combining a matching model with a difference-in-difference estimator to data from the Irish National Farm Survey, we found that there was no significant impact on farm performance from the extension program over a four year period. The results align with previous research and would suggest that financial incentives in the form of conditional payments are not an ideal strategy for agricultural extension or technology adoption. |
| Keywords: | Agricultural and Food Policy, Farm Management |
| Date: | 2017–04–26 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:aesc17:258651&r=agr |
| By: | O’Shea, Robert; O’Donoghue, Cathal; Ryan, Mary; Breen, James |
| Abstract: | Agriculture contributes significantly to global Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions, but there are many technologies and practices that have the potential to significantly mitigate these GHG emissions. Technology adoption research, through a better understanding of the individual adoption decision can help policymakers realise this potential via better policy design and targeting. The attitude of potential adopters is one important aspect influencing this decision. Identifying groups or typologies of farmers with similar attitudes and their associated farm/farmer characteristics can inform policy to encourage adoption of GHG mitigation practices. Using new data from a face-to-face nationally representative survey, this paper identifies five farmer typologies based on attitudes towards a range of farming/non-farming issues. It considers their impact on the adoption decision, before identifying underlying farm/farmer characteristics to such farmer typologies to allow for a number of recommendations to help policy design. |
| Keywords: | Agricultural and Food Policy, Environmental Economics and Policy |
| Date: | 2018–09–03 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:eaa166:276203&r=agr |
| By: | Belton, Ben |
| Abstract: | This note seeks to contribute to the ongoing debates around the revision of Myanmar’s 2012 Farmland Law. It summarizes key findings of research conducted in the main fish farming areas of Myanmar on the relationship between aquaculture (fish farming) and land use. It makes recommendations for the revision of land use regulations that would allow aquaculture to develop in a manner that benefits small producers and yields more equitable outcomes. |
| Keywords: | Agricultural and Food Policy, Food Security and Poverty, International Development |
| Date: | 2017–04–04 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:miffpb:261291&r=agr |
| By: | Olabisi, Laura Schmitt; Liverpool-Tasie, Saweda; Olajide, Adeola |
| Abstract: | Climate change and the negative consequences it has on agriculture is already evident in Nigeria and other Sub-Saharan African countries. Mean annual rainfall in the Sahel region is declining and becoming more erratic while the growing season s. The impacts of climate change on the agricultural sector in Nigeria going forward are expected to be severe, but so far there is a dearth of systemic analysis of how these impacts would develop over time, or how they would interact with other drivers impacting Nigerian agriculture. Such a systemic analysis could contribute to adaptation efforts by identifying policy mechanisms that serve as system ‘levers’ to effect change given the considerable uncertainty associated with both the socio-economic and ecological aspects of climate change. This study begins to provide a systematic analysis of the impact of climate change on agricultural production in Nigeria using a participatory research method. We convened a workshop of key stakeholders with diverse and in-depth knowledge of Nigerian agriculture in Ibadan, Nigeria, in June, 2016. Using a causal loop diagramming (CLD) technique, we grouped these stakeholders by region and led them through an exercise in which they drew diagrams depicting the barriers to, and opportunities for, Nigerian agricultural development. CLD is a method used in system dynamics modeling, and it is effective for identifying causal relationships between variables as well as feedback mechanisms. |
| Keywords: | Agricultural and Food Policy, Food Security and Poverty, International Development |
| Date: | 2017–03–03 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:miffpb:260421&r=agr |
| By: | Cillero, Maria Martinez; Breen, James; Thorne, Fiona; Wallace, Michael |
| Abstract: | The 2003 Mid-Term Review introduced decoupled payments as part of the Common Agricultural Policy; however it allowed the maintenance of limited coupled support. As a result, there are significant differences in subsidies granted in each Member State. We aim to explore the effects on technical efficiency of the different implementations of support payments in the beef sector in selected countries. This analysis contributes to the literature by exploring the effects of both coupled and decoupled support payments on farm level economic performance. For this purpose, country specific output distance functions are estimated together with the effects of a series of technical efficiency drivers, including subsidies, implementing stochastic frontier analysis. Unbalanced panel datasets for France, Ireland, Germany, Scotland and England and Wales are built using Farm Accountancy Data Network information, for the years 2005 to 2012. Our estimates show that decoupled payments had a positive effect on efficiency in all countries, while the retention of coupled support had a significant negative impact on technical efficiency on French beef farms. This suggests that the maintenance of coupled support might compromise farm economic performance in the sector. |
| Keywords: | Agricultural and Food Policy, Farm Management, Livestock Production/Industries |
| Date: | 2017–04–24 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:aesc17:258617&r=agr |
| By: | Andras Tothmihaly,; Stephan von Cramon-Taubadel,; Verina Ingram. |
| Abstract: | We look at the trade-off between smallholder cocoa intensification and the ecosystem in Indonesia and investigate the determinants of environmental efficiency in cocoa production. In our analysis, we apply a distance output function that includes cocoa production and the abundance of native rainforest plants as outputs. Our data set, based on a household and environment survey conducted in 2015, allows us to analyze 208 cocoa producers with both measured and self-reported data. We find that the intensification of cocoa farms results in higher ecosystem degradation. Additionally, the estimations show substantial mean inefficiencies (50 percent). On average, the efficiency scores point to a possible production expansion of 367 kg of cocoa per farm and year, to a possible increase of 43680 rainforest plants per farm, or to a possible acreage reduction of 0.52 hectares per farm. Finally, our results show that agricultural extension services have a substantial role in increasing efficiency. |
| Keywords: | Environmental Economics and Policy |
| Date: | 2017–07–05 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:gagfdp:258586&r=agr |
| By: | Stephen Ayerst; Loren Brandt; Diego Restuccia |
| Abstract: | We examine important changes in agriculture in Vietnam in the context of ongoing structural changes in the economy. We use a household-level panel dataset and a quantitative framework to document the extent and consequences of factor misallocation in agriculture during the period between 2006 and 2016. Despite rapid growth in agricultural productivity and a reallocation of factor inputs to more productive farmers, we find that misallocation across farmers remains high and increased during the period. Reallocation of factor inputs has not been strong enough to accommodate substantial changes in farm productivity over time. Our analysis also reveals important differences between the north and south regions. |
| Keywords: | agriculture, misallocation, Vietnam, productivity, regions. |
| JEL: | O11 O14 O4 E02 Q1 |
| Date: | 2018–08–22 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:tor:tecipa:tecipa-615&r=agr |
| By: | Sidibe, Y.; Williams, T.O. |
| Abstract: | Large-scale irrigation schemes producing food and commercial crops in West Africa typically charge a flat rate per hectare for water use. Economic theory suggests that this pricing system is ineffective in promoting efficient water use practices that value water as an economic good. With looming water scarcity partly due to climate change and partly because of growing demands for water due to population, urbanization and industrial-sector growth, there is mounting pressure for implementation of pricing systems that would promote efficiency and cost recovery on irrigation schemes. This paper evaluates the merits of volumetric water pricing system, as an alternative, to the flat rate area-based pricing system currently in use in Office du Niger (ON) irrigation scheme in Mali and Bagré irrigation scheme in Burkina Faso. Results showed that, in contrast to the current situation, adoption of a uniform volumetric water pricing system will enable both schemes to cover the cost of water supply but impact on total water consumption and farmers’ profit will differ by scheme, with Bagre scheme adversely affected. Adoption of an increasing block tariff volumetric system in Bagre will ameliorate the negative effects, suggesting the need for context-specific rather than blanket prescription of a water pricing system. |
| Keywords: | International Development, Land Economics/Use |
| Date: | 2018–07 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:iaae18:276017&r=agr |
| By: | Jayne, T.S.; Mason, N.M.; Burke, W.J.; Ariga, J. |
| Abstract: | Input subsidy programs (ISPs) remain one of the most contentiously debated development issues in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). These government programs, through which farmers receive fertilizer (and in some cases seed) at below-market prices, were largely phased out during the 1980s and 1990s as evidence accumulated that they did little to contribute to agricultural productivity growth, food security and poverty reduction goals, imposed major burdens on national treasuries, and hindered the development of commercial input distribution systems. |
| Keywords: | Agricultural and Food Policy, Food Security and Poverty, International Development |
| Date: | 2017–04–04 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:miffpb:260425&r=agr |
| By: | Leonhardt, Heidi |
| Abstract: | Tenancy shares in agriculture are increasing - in Europe as a whole as well as in Austria. At the same time, soil degradation and erosion have increasingly become a concern. Since the early days of the science of economics, researchers have speculated that tenancy discourages farmers from making investments into productivity and soil conservation measures. Empirical evidence for this hypothesis has so far been mixed and is scarce for European countries. This paper investigates the impact of tenure on soil conservation behaviour of Austrian farmers by examining their crop choices. A regression analysis with farm-fixed effects shows that the effect of tenancy status for soil conservation behaviour is very weak or insignificant. However, differences at the level of the farm(er) exist. We speculate that the strong institutions surrounding the rental of agricultural land foster soil conserving behaviour of tenants. |
| Keywords: | Land Economics/Use |
| Date: | 2017–08–15 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:gewi17:262006&r=agr |
| By: | Theriault, Veronique; Smale, Melinda; Assima, Amidou |
| Abstract: | Agricultural intensification is one of the top priorities of the Malian government. Following the food and oil price crisis in 2007-08, the Malian government have since launched a fertilizer subsidy program. The main objectives of the program are to boost national agricultural productivity through increased use of fertilizer and thereby, improve food and nutrition security. The program specifically targets cotton, maize, millet, sorghum, wheat and rice crops. Fertilizer subsidies are the largest expense items, accounting for about 25% of the total rural and agricultural budget (Theriault, Smale, and Assima, Forthcoming). Yet, there is little empirical evidence of the impact of the fertilizer subsidy program on any outcomes, including fertilizer use and productivity. |
| Keywords: | Agricultural and Food Policy, Food Security and Poverty, International Development |
| Date: | 2017–11–11 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:miffpb:265604&r=agr |
| By: | Samuel Asante Gyamerah; Philip Ngare; Dennis Ikpe |
| Abstract: | Weather is a key production factor in agricultural crop production and at the same time the most significant and least controllable source of peril in agriculture. These effects of weather on agricultural crop production have triggered a widespread support for weather derivatives as a means of mitigating the risk associated with climate change on agriculture. However, these products are faced with basis risk as a result of poor design and modelling of the underlying weather variable (temperature). In order to circumvent these problems, a novel time-varying mean-reversion L\'evy regime-switching model is used to model the dynamics of the deseasonalized temperature dynamics. Using plots and test statistics, it is observed that the residuals of the deseasonalized temperature data are not normally distributed. To model the non-normality in the residuals, we propose using the hyperbolic distribution to capture the semi-heavy tails and skewness in the empirical distributions of the residuals for the shifted regime. The proposed regime-switching model has a mean-reverting heteroskedastic process in the base regime and a L\'evy process in the shifted regime. By using the Expectation-Maximization algorithm, the parameters of the proposed model are estimated. The proposed model is flexible as it modelled the deseasonalized temperature data accurately. |
| Date: | 2018–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:arx:papers:1808.04710&r=agr |
| By: | Fradj, Nosra Ben; Rozakis, Stelios; Jayet, Pierre-Alain |
| Abstract: | This paper aims to assess the future of CAP reforms after 2020 in Poland. We provide a comparative analysis in which the impact of uniform and coupled support scenarios are assessed and compared against alternative environmental regulation measures. An agricultural supply model AROPAj is used to highlight the difference between scenarios. Coupled support for protein and legume crops reduces inequality between farm groups. Although crop diversification increases, no drastic land use change has been noticed, thereby reducing N-fertiliser use and GHG emissions. Results vary according to regions and the type of farming and economic size. |
| Keywords: | Agricultural and Food Policy |
| Date: | 2018–04–26 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:eaa162:273108&r=agr |
| By: | Ogutu, Sylvester; Fongar, Andrea; Gödecke, Theda; Jäckering, Lisa; Mwololo, Henry; Njuguna, Michael; Wollni, Meike; Qaim, Matin |
| Abstract: | We analyze how agricultural extension can be made more effective in terms of increasing smallholder farmers’ adoption of pro-nutrition technologies, such as biofortified crops. In a randomized controlled trial with farmers in Western Kenya, we implemented several extension treatments and evaluated their effects on the adoption of beans that were biofortified with iron and zinc. Difference-in-difference estimates show that intensive agricultural training tailored to local conditions can increase technology adoption considerably. Within less than one year, adoption of biofortified beans increased from almost zero to more than 20%. Providing additional nutrition training further increased adoption by another 10-12 percentage points, as this has helped farmers to better appreciate the technology’s nutritional benefits. These results suggest that effective nutrition training through agricultural extension services is possible. Providing marketing training did not lead to additional adoption effects, although the study period may have been too short to measure these effects properly. This study is a first attempt to analyze how improved designs of agricultural extension can help to make smallholder farming more nutrition-sensitive. More research in this direction is needed. |
| Keywords: | Community/Rural/Urban Development, Food Security and Poverty, Institutional and Behavioral Economics, Research and Development/Tech Change/Emerging Technologies |
| Date: | 2018–01–01 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:gagfdp:266309&r=agr |
| By: | Mausch, Kai; Woldeyohanes, Tesfaye; Heckelei, Thomas; Tabe-Ojong, Martin Paul |
| Abstract: | Enhancing agricultural productivity through the adoption of proven technologies presents a credible pathway to economic development and poverty reduction. The adoption of improved chickpea varieties in Ethiopia has the potential to contribute not only to food security but also to economic development as well as poverty reduction among the poor. We analyze the impacts of improved chickpea adoption on smallholder production and commercialization employing a triple hurdle (TH) model on a panel data of three rounds (2008, 2010, 2014), drawn from 614 households in potential chickpea areas in Ethiopia. The correlated random effect model coupled with the control function approach for non-linear panel models was employed to address heterogeneity and endogeneity. The adoption of improved chickpea varieties shows a significant positive effect on the commercialization of chickpea. This study therefore affirms the importance of improved chickpea varieties for commercialization and additionally provides support for policies targeting poverty alleviation in rural areas through targeting more novel farm technologies, improving extension services and increasing access to land especially by the young. |
| Keywords: | Agricultural and Food Policy, International Development |
| Date: | 2018–04–16 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:aesc18:273473&r=agr |
| By: | Ghazaryan, Armen |
| Abstract: | Nutrition-related health problems, such as obesity, stunting, anemia, and high blood pressure are common in Armenia. A large portion of the population lives below the national poverty line, and consumes less than the necessary energy intake per day. Linear programming is used in this study of diet optimization to create a healthy diet model for children and adults of different ages at the minimum cost. The model is based on culturally appropriate food products. The study finds that, while average Armenians can afford a healthy diet, their current dietary choices do not meet the requirements of Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs). Moreover, people earning minimum salary need to spend more than half of their monthly income on food to afford a healthy diet. Based on the study’s findings, several policy recommendations are made. |
| Keywords: | Diet optimization, linear programming, healthy eating, diet affordability, Armenia, Caucasus, Eastern Europe |
| JEL: | C61 Q0 Q11 Q18 |
| Date: | 2018–08–28 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pra:mprapa:88712&r=agr |
| By: | Pham, Thai Thuy Pham; Dao, The Anh; Theuvsen, Ludwig |
| Abstract: | This study addresses factors influencing the adoption of specialty rice variety among smallholder farmers in Vietnam. We used a sample of 336 farmers from the Red River Delta who were interviewed between October and December 2014. We follow the adoption behavior model based on the utility maximization criterion and adopt a two-step approach, starting with a Probit model for determinants of specialty rice adoption before analyzing the intensity of adoption using a Tobit model. Overall, 50% of the probability of specialty rice adoption is explained by the selected independent variables such as: cultivated land, experience in growing rice, and network size. Tobit model estimates show that group membership (such as in agricultural cooperatives, farmer’s union, etc.) and possession of a two-wheel-tractor increase the share of land allocation to specialty rice production by 3.4% and 7.8% respectively. Based on the findings manifold social and political implications will be derived. |
| Keywords: | Community/Rural/Urban Development, Production Economics |
| Date: | 2017–08–29 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:gagfdp:262581&r=agr |
| By: | Saweda Liverpool-Tasie, Thomas Reardon, Awa Sanou, Wale Ogunleye, Iredele Ogunbayo, Bolarin T. Omonona |
| Abstract: | • The urban food security of Nigeria (and of million rural maize farmers and consumers) is conditioned, mediated, determined by traders. • The north-south long supply chain of maize is crucial to the country’s food security and its performance is in the hands of traders and conditioned by the quality of infrastructure and services. • Contrary to traditional views, traders rely on a well-developed third party logistics service sector market, and a warehouse rental market. • Extremely little (less than 1%) waste/loss of maize in the supply chain which mainly consists of handling of bags of maize. • Trader credit (advances) to farmers is near absent. • Traders and the trade and logistic segments of the maize value chain warrant more attention by researchers and policy makers. |
| Keywords: | Agricultural and Food Policy, Food Security and Poverty, International Development |
| Date: | 2018–01–16 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:miffpb:270650&r=agr |
| By: | Opondo, F.; Owuor, G. |
| Abstract: | Agriculture is the main economic activities in Africa. In Kenya, about 75% of the population comprise of smallholder farmers. Transforming smallholder farmers from subsistence farming to a commercial oriented farming has been at the centre of discussion. One of the pathways of this transformation is through commercialization. Most studies have addressed commercialization with respect to market participation with limited studies on value addition concept which is a strategy for enhancing commercialization. Various interventions from development bodies have been targeted towards promoting marketing of value added products in Kilifi County to enhance commercialization, hence improve household income. However, little information exists with regards to the effect of commercialization on household income. This study developed commercialization index which integrated both value addition and market participation. An endogenous switching regression model was fitted to determine the effect of commercialization on household income. Significant factors influencing cassava commercialization for Kilifi County were farm size (p<0.05), off-farm income (p<0.10), age (p<0.05) and distance to market (p<0.01). Similarly, off-farm income and remittances had significant impact on household income (p<0.01). Generally, farmers who undertook cassava commercialization enjoyed more income relative to those who did not |
| Keywords: | Agricultural and Food Policy, Farm Management, Land Economics/Use |
| Date: | 2018–07 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:iaae18:276040&r=agr |
| By: | Cullen, Paula; O’Donoghue, Cathal; Ryan, Mary; Kilgarriff, Paul; Hynes, Stephen |
| Abstract: | Designing agri-environment schemes (AESs), the European Union’s main policy tool to improve the environmental performance of farms, that result in participation in the areas of most need is a challenge faced by policymakers. A number of high level options are available to policy makers including the use of voluntary and mandatory measures, top-down versus participatory approaches, collaborative versus coordinated participation, and whether to target the schemes or apply them horizontally. Using Ireland as a case study, this paper assesses the evolving structure of AES design in the context of changing environmental targets, by creating an institutional framework to analyse past and current AESs and other measures. This information is then used in a spatial analysis comparing the location of important environmental public goods to participation in agri-environment schemes. The analysis shows that although higher uptake in extensive farming areas may not result in additionality, due to their extensive nature, these areas may contain high concentrations of areas of environmental concern. However, the optimal design of an AES depends on whether the specific public good targeted is global or localised as the distribution of areas of environmental concern does not always follow strong spatial patterns. |
| Keywords: | Agricultural and Food Policy, Environmental Economics and Policy |
| Date: | 2018–09–03 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:eaa166:276201&r=agr |
| By: | Ferguson, Shon (Research Institute of Industrial Economics (IFN)); Gars, Johan (GEDB) |
| Abstract: | The purpose of this study is to measure the sensitivity of traded quantities and trade unit values to agricultural production shocks. We develop a general equilibrium model of trade in which production shocks in exporting countries affect both traded quantities and trade unit values. The model includes per-unit trade costs and develops a methodology to quantify their size exploiting the trade unit value data. Using bilateral trade flow data for a large sample of countries and agricultural commodities we find that the intensive margin of trade is relatively inelastic to production shocks, with a 1 percent increase in production leading to a 0.5 percent increase in exports. We also find that per-unit trade costs are large, comprising 15 to 20 percent of import unit values on average. Overall, our results suggest that there is room for improving trade as a mechanism for coping with food production volatility. |
| Keywords: | Food production volatility; Trade costs; Agricultural trade; Gravity model |
| JEL: | F14 F18 Q11 Q17 Q18 |
| Date: | 2018–08–28 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hhs:iuiwop:1227&r=agr |
| By: | Chege, C.; Sibiko, K.; Birachi, E.; Jager, M. |
| Abstract: | The Base of the Pyramid (BoP) consumers living in the urban informal settlement of developing countries spend over 60% of their income on food, yet malnutrition and micronutrient deficiency remains widespread among this population, pointing to the inadequacy of the foods they consume in terms of quality and quantity. In this paper we examine BoP consumer willingness to pay (WTP) for safe and nutritious multicomposite porridge flour (improved flour) in the informal settlements of Nairobi, Kenya and Kampala, Uganda. In 2016, we collected primary data from 600 consumers in the informal settlements of Kampala, Uganda and Nairobi, Kenya (300 in Kenya and 300 in Uganda). We use Tobit regression models to analyse determinants of WTP for the improved flour. Results show that both Kenyan and Ugandan consumers are willing to pay a premium for the improved flour. In addition, providing nutrition information of the flour, characteristics of household head, economic status of the household, and presence of young children between 6 and 59 months in the household influence WTP for the safe and nutritious porridge flour. The paper concludes by providing recommendations for enhancing nutrition among poor consumers in the informal settlements of developing countries. |
| Keywords: | Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety, Food Security and Poverty, International Development |
| Date: | 2018–07 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:iaae18:276021&r=agr |
| By: | Meemken, Eva-Marie; Qaim, Matin |
| Abstract: | Agricultural commercialization can help to lift subsistence farmers out of poverty, but can also have adverse effects on gender equality. We explore whether private food standards – with their particular elements to regulate production and trade – could serve as a vehicle to promote gender equality in the small farm sector. We use gender-disaggregated data from coffee producers in Uganda and focus on two sustainability standards that explicitly address gender issues, namely Fairtrade and UTZ. Entropy balancing techniques, combined with estimates of farmers’ willingness to accept standards, are used to control for possible selection bias when comparing certified and non-certified households. We find that standards and their certification programs increase wealth in male-headed and female-headed households. In male-headed households, standards also change the intra-household distribution of asset ownership: while in non-certified households, assets are predominantly owned by the male household head alone, in certified households most assets are jointly owned by the male head and his female spouse. Standards also improve access to agricultural extension for both male and female farmers. Effects on women’s access to financial services are statistically insignificant. Private standards cannot completely eliminate gender disparities, but the findings suggest that they can contribute towards this goal. |
| Keywords: | Agricultural and Food Policy, Consumer/Household Economics, International Development |
| Date: | 2017–08–15 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:gewi17:261999&r=agr |
| By: | Liebenehm, Sabine; Waibel, Hermann |
| Abstract: | In this paper, we analyze risk and time preferences as factors related to technology adoption. In the context of West African small-scale cattle farm households, we examine why the adoption of prophylactic drugs as an ex-ante risk management strategy to protect cattle from tsetse-transmitted African Animal Trypanosomosis (AAT) despite experts’ recommendation is low. To do so, we conducted two types of economic field experiments: (i) to elicit farmers’ risk and time preferences, considering additional behavioral information beyond standard economic theory and (ii) to observe farmers’ adoption decision of alternative drug treatments to manage the risk of AAT. Results show that loss aversion and high discount rates are associated with low prophylaxis take-up. More specifically, farmers value losses of animals that are infected with AAT larger than gains from healthy animals and short-term benefits from therapeutic treatment over long-term benefits from prophylactic treatment. As a consequence, a loss averse and impatient farmer that is less likely to apply AAT prophylaxis forgives chances of higher and sustainable returns, thereby deteriorates risk management abilities and likely perpetuates poverty. We suggest that the consideration of farmers’ risk and time preferences can help improving the effectiveness of livestock extension and veterinary services in West Africa. |
| Keywords: | Livestock Production/Industries, Research and Development/Tech Change/Emerging Technologies, Risk and Uncertainty |
| Date: | 2017–08–15 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:gewi17:261993&r=agr |
| By: | Fraser, Robert |
| Abstract: | This paper explores the consequences of removing the assumption in Fraser (2017) of no spatial spillovers of biosecurity investment impacts between farmers in the context of animal disease outbreaks. It modifies the methodological framework of Fraser (2017) to introduce such spatial spillovers and undertakes a numerical analysis of this modified framework. This analysis evaluates the impact of allowing for biosecurity investment spillovers between farmers on the scope for using compensation payments to incentivise both disease reporting and on-farm biosecurity investment by farmers, as well as suggesting several low cost policy implications of the analysis which support the successful use of compensation payments to incentivise farmers. |
| Keywords: | Agricultural and Food Policy, Farm Management |
| Date: | 2018–04–17 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:aesc18:273495&r=agr |
| By: | Meyer, Ferdi; Davids, Tracy; Mpenda, Zena; Popat, Meizal; Vilanculos, Orcidia; Chisanga, Brian; Gitau, Raphael |
| Abstract: | The Southern African region experienced the worst drought in more than a century in the 2015/16 production season, which had a severe impact on staple maize markets. Public and private sector response varied across the region and the level of accuracy on information with respect to crop estimates and the anticipated impact on stock levels, trade flow and prices became critical. To this end, the Regional Network of Agricultural Policy Research Institutes (ReNAPRI) has in recent years developed a multi-faceted approach to policy research that includes farm-level, sector-level and value chain analysis within a Strategic Foresighting frame-work. This initiative is supported by the capacity building and training in partial equilibrium modelling under the Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Food Security Policy (FSP). |
| Keywords: | Agricultural and Food Policy, Food Security and Poverty, International Development |
| Date: | 2017–05–05 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:miffpb:260429&r=agr |
| By: | Shee, A.; Turvey, C.; You, L. |
| Abstract: | Weather related agricultural risks and limited access to credit are serious impediments to agricultural productivity and growth in developing countries. This paper describes a novel insurance linked credit model piloted in Kenya, where insurance markets are effectively absent and farmers do not borrow because of the risk of losing their collateral. One of the challenges in deigning bundled credit products, in the absence of traded securities, is the actuarial pricing and risk rating of the insurance and the loan product. We develop a rainfall linked risk-contingent credit that transfers drought risk related perils from borrower to lender via insurance mechanism that provide a balance between business and credit risks for smallholder farmers. We describe the methodology used to design and rating of a risk-contingent structured operating agricultural credit instrument using CHIRPS rainfall data from 1981-2016 in Kenya. We illustrate the use of Monte Carlo methods to risk modelling that can be integrated within general insurance and credit rating framework. The innovative design and methodology presented in this paper are as important as the product delivery mechanism and will be of interest to specialists in development economics and agricultural finance. |
| Keywords: | Agricultural Finance, International Development, Risk and Uncertainty |
| Date: | 2018–07 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:iaae18:276005&r=agr |
| By: | Legg, Wilfred |
| Keywords: | Agricultural and Food Policy, Environmental Economics and Policy, Food Security and Poverty |
| Date: | 2017–04–26 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:aesc17:258657&r=agr |
| By: | Ferto, Imre |
| Abstract: | We use 6-digit bilateral trade data to document the evolution on the extensive and intensive product margins of agri-food trade in the EU over the period 2000 and 2015. In line with previous research our results confirm the importance of extensive margin in the EU’s agri-food trade. We show that importance of margins may vary according to product differentiations. Econometric analysis reveals that drivers are similar for extensive and intensive margins. In addition, the impacts of trade cost variables differs between extensive and intensive margins according to product differentiations. Our results are relatively robust to alternative definitions of trade margins and product classifications. |
| Keywords: | Agricultural and Food Policy, International Relations/Trade |
| Date: | 2018–04–17 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:aesc18:273496&r=agr |
| By: | Twine, Edgar E.; Omore, Amos; Githinji, Julius |
| Abstract: | The study evaluates the impact of risk on enterprises of smallholder male, female and young milk producers in Tanzania’s formal and informal dairy value chains. It also examines the effect of uncertainty on the decision to invest in milk production in both value chains. Results indicate that youths in the informal value chain face the greatest level of risk followed by men in the formal value chain, and then men in the informal value chain. Women in both value chains and youths in the formal value chain face relatively low risk. Overall, milk production in the informal chain is found to be substantially riskier than production in the formal chain. Optimal investment triggers are found to be much larger than the conventional triggers and are sensitive to volatility of returns. The results’ policy and practical implications for inclusive dairy industry development in Tanzania are highlighted. |
| Keywords: | Agricultural Finance, Farm Management, Livestock Production/Industries, Risk and Uncertainty |
| Date: | 2017–04–24 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:aesc17:258619&r=agr |
| By: | Medonos, Tomas; Ratinger, Tomas; Curtiss, Jarmila; Agyemang, Sylvester Amoako; Hruška, Martin |
| Abstract: | This paper responds to the ongoing debate on the improvement of the investment support in the CAP after 2020. First, the analysis of the sector performance of the past investment supports is presented, followed by the farm level dynamic counterfactual analysis of policy results. Baseline and three alternative scenarios of distributions between income and investment support are presented as they were agreed and assessed by experts and stakeholders in two focus groups. Apart from the significant effect on the expansion of livestock production, the impacts of the modernization support (M121) on farm performance are ambiguous. Participants of the focus groups will prefer maintaining the income support at the current level while reducing the intervention stimulating farms investment activity arguing by easier adjustment of activities to the actual needs of the business. |
| Keywords: | Agricultural and Food Policy |
| Date: | 2018–04–26 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:eaa162:272184&r=agr |
| By: | Doms, Juliane |
| Abstract: | Due to an expected increase of extreme weather events caused by climate change, weather index insurances (WII), which can be used to hedge weather-related income fluctuations, are shifting into the spotlight. Most previous studies focus on the index design as it is an important part of a weather index insurance. Nevertheless, also of main importance is the general contract structure. This holds especially true for farms in regions, which are not characterized by extreme climatic conditions. In the present study, it is investigated whether precipitation and soil moisture index based put- and call-options as well as strangles reduce the volatility of total gross margins (hedging efficiency) of 20 German farms in regions with moderate natural conditions. In particular, the hedging efficiency of standardized and customized WII are analyzed. It could be found that customized contracts are better suitable to reduce performance risk than standardized contracts. Further, although the hedging efficiency varies considerably from farm to farm and depends highly on the contract type, the analyzed customized call-options and strangles clearly outperform the customized put-options. |
| Keywords: | Agribusiness, Farm Management, Risk and Uncertainty |
| Date: | 2017–08–15 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:gewi17:261990&r=agr |
| By: | Arfini, Filippo; Aghabeygi, Mona |
| Abstract: | In Italy as one of the developed countries, the agricultural sector is reason to supplying food, food security and food safety. In this study, the amount and value of imports for various foodstuffs in Italy has been used. At first, compensatory price elasticities were calculated by using the Almost Ideal Demand System (AIDS) and the effect of increasing the global price of food on welfare was studied. The results show that the welfare index of compensatory changes calculated for the entire food groups is 1061.48 billion USD. Meat and fruit groups have the most and the least compensatory changes respectively. |
| Keywords: | Agricultural and Food Policy |
| Date: | 2018–04–26 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:eaa162:271953&r=agr |
| By: | Hill, Berkeley |
| Abstract: | More than twenty studies have been identified that are directly relevant to assessing the impact of Brexit on UK agriculture, almost all of which have appeared in the last two years. They differ in many respects, including: how many of the four major change elements (domestic policy, UK/EU trade arrangements, restrictions on migrant labour, and the regulatory burden) are considered and how they are specified; the data sources drawn upon and periods to which they relate; which UK countries are covered; the sophistication of the models used to assess changes in commodity prices; how the impacts at farm level are estimated (though some do not involve this stage and stop at aggregate level); the time horizon used, and so on. However, the three chosen for detailed presentation in this symposium share the following characteristics: • they use closely-specified scenarios to explore the possible post-Brexit UK situations • they produce independent and original results, and • they assess the impacts at farm level, with a breakdown at least by farming types Presenters will focus on the scenarios employed and the results generated. There will be opportunity in discussions to compare and contrast the approaches and their results. |
| Keywords: | Agricultural and Food Policy, International Development |
| Date: | 2018–04–17 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:aesc18:273502&r=agr |
| By: | Serences, Roman; Kutisova, Jana |
| Abstract: | The article judges the efficiency and the competitiveness of selected commodities of animal production, plant production and food-processing industry. Competitiveness and efficiency of the commodities was measured Revealed Comparative Advantage Index and Grubel-Lloyd Index. In the conclusion, there is a summary of values of Comparative Advantage Index of selected commodities in chosen years. |
| Keywords: | International Relations/Trade |
| Date: | 2018–04–26 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:eaa162:271975&r=agr |
| By: | Andras Tothmihaly,; Verina Ingram. |
| Abstract: | This study investigates the Indonesian cocoa production to reveal the possibilities for poverty alleviation while considering the threats to environmental sustainability. We estimate, based on a large household panel data set and stochastic frontier analysis, the technical efficiency of cocoa production and decompose productivity growth. According to our results, the productivity of Indonesian cocoa farming increased by 75 percent between 2001 and 2013. Technical efficiency growth and the increased chemicals use supported by government subsidies were responsible for the majority of this gain. Furthermore, we find large distortions in the input allocations. Hence, policies that encourage the adjustment of the cocoa farms’ input use would be highly beneficial. Moreover, because of the weather-induced volatility in cocoa production, policy makers should also promote investment in agricultural research and transfer of drought-resistant cocoa varieties to farmers. Additionally, the average efficiency of cocoa farmers is estimated to be around 50 percent. We find that farmers’ educational attainment and their experience in cocoa farming are significant factors that can increase the efficiency levels. |
| Keywords: | Community/Rural/Urban Development, Crop Production/Industries, Food Security and Poverty, Land Economics/Use |
| Date: | 2017–07–05 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:gagfdp:258588&r=agr |
| By: | Joshi, N.P. |
| Abstract: | In the context of low vegetable commercialization rate, it is crucial to understand the role of the important factors in adoption of commercial vegetable farming. This will be critical in achieving the overall development goal of poverty reduction. Hence, this paper analyzed the personal, technical, and business factors important for the adoption based on the Nepal Vegetable Crop Survey 2009-10. A probit analysis is carried out. A caste/ethnicity is the critical factor hindering the adoption in Nepal. An awareness program to facilitate marketing of the vegetable produces produced by the socially disadvantaged caste/ethnic groups and targeting them in the intervention would be helpful in widening the rate of vegetable commercialization. Similarly, facilitation in the accessibility of technical factors, mainly technical assistance, chemical fertilizers, pesticides and improved seeds will be crucial in promoting the commercial vegetable farming. Such interventions can be introduced in the potential areas of the Hills and Tarai. Land consolidation might not be important. Rather, any program or policies to facilitate secure land-tenure would be crucial in promoting vegetable commercialization. Similarly, provision of the irrigation in the parcels where vegetable farming is taking place will be crucial. Hence, the identification of such areas will be very important. |
| Keywords: | Crop Production/Industries, Farm Management, International Development |
| Date: | 2018–07 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:iaae18:276041&r=agr |
| By: | Takeshima, Hiroyuki; Nasir, Abdullahi Mohammed |
| Abstract: | Despite the importance of location-specific adaptive crop breeding research, past reforms of breeding systems in Nigeria have focused on centralizing breeding activities into fewer locations. This has been based partly on the premise that such research systems can still effectively meet the need for a diverse set of crop varieties suited for different agroecological conditions by using numerous outstations and multilocational trials. However, little empirical evidence exists to support this premise. Using panel data from farm households in northern Nigeria and spatial data on agroecological factors, this study shows that crop productivity and technical efficiency at farm household level is positively affected by the degree of similarity between the agroecological conditions of the locations of these households and where major crop breeding institutes are headquartered. Where improved varieties are developed affects crop productivity in different locations. |
| Keywords: | Agricultural and Food Policy, Food Security and Poverty, International Development |
| Date: | 2017–10–10 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:miffpb:264400&r=agr |
| By: | Benali, Marwan; Brümmer, Bernhard; Afari-Sefa, Victor |
| Abstract: | High-value agricultural supply chains have been playing an increasingly important role in developing countries and have had significant effects on the rural labour markets. This paper analyses the simultaneous effects of small producer participation in the latter on both household hired labour demand and off-farm labour supply, using an age-disaggregated approach. Failing to reject the separability hypothesis as well as the exogeneity of small producer participation in export supply chains, we apply lognormal double-hurdle models and find that participation in vegetable export supply chains in Tanzania affects positively a household’s decision to hire labour from all age groups. We also find that it increases the unconditional overall level of hired labour demand, while the age-disaggregated analysis shows that these effects benefit mostly rural youth. However, no evidence of an effect on household off-farm labour supply is found. |
| Keywords: | Agribusiness, Community/Rural/Urban Development, Consumer/Household Economics, International Relations/Trade |
| Date: | 2017–05–17 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:gagfdp:257513&r=agr |
| By: | Jong, Winand de; Ihle, Rico; Jongeneel, Roel |
| Abstract: | Cohesion is one of the core goals of European integration. In 2004 and 2007, the EU welcomed twelve new members which added their agricultural sectors to the EU’s single market. Especially their dairy sectors showed substantial competitive disparities to old Member states. We therefore examine structural convergence in farm-gate milk prices, productivity and farm income across EU’s regional dairy sectors since 2004. We find that price dispersion decreased from 2004-2007. Kernel density plots and Markov chain estimates show that there was a high probability for regions to stay in the lower income- and productivity classes. |
| Keywords: | Agricultural and Food Policy |
| Date: | 2018–04–26 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:eaa162:271959&r=agr |