Gender differences in agricultural productivity: the case of Tanzania

The article examines gender differences in agricultural productivity using panel data for Tanzania. At the national level, there is weak evidence of mean differences in productivity between male and female plots, but conditional on manager characteristics, plot characteristics, inputs, and crop choice, plots managed solely by a woman are consistently found less productive than all other plots. An Oaxaca‐Blinder‐type decomposition reveals that important factors explaining the gender differential are plot area and family labor. Women are able to obtain higher yields on smaller plots farmed with less male labor and more female labor and thus cover the gender gap in productivity at the aggregate level, but there are still significant unobservable factors which contribute to widening the gap.     

The role of temperature for seasonal market integration: a case study of poultry in Iran*

Understanding market integration has greatly benefited from analysing and comparing variations in price transmissions. An important source of variation in agricultural markets is seasonal changes in production, consumption and transaction costs. A key factor driving seasonality in agricultural price is temperature, as supply and demand changes are triggered by seasonal temperature differences. In this paper, we study the seasonal variations in vertical price transmission focusing on the asymmetric price adjustment to analyse changes in the market interactions between the stages of the value chain. Our data reveal significant transitory effects of temperature on the price transmission process. Results of a panel threshold model suggest that the farm–wholesale price adjustments to deviations from the market equilibrium are more symmetric at higher temperatures. However, we do not find an effect of temperature on the wholesale–retail price relationship. Our findings can be rationalised with wholesalers making use of their market power to extend their margins in the upstream chain. Wholesaler market power is lower during warm periods, and price adjustment is more symmetric. Concerning the Iranian poultry value chain, our findings imply that temperature-related differences in market interactions should be considered in formulating policy interventions.     

Explaining gender differentials in agricultural production in Nigeria

This article uses data from the General Household Survey Panel 2010–2011 to analyze differences in agricultural productivity across male and female plot managers in Nigeria. The analysis utilizes the Oaxaca‐Blinder decomposition method, which allows for decomposing the unconditional gender gap into: (i) the portion caused by observable differences in the factors of production (endowment effect) and (ii) the unexplained portion caused by differences in returns to the same observed factors of production (structural effect). The analysis is conducted separately for the North and South regions, excluding the west of the country. The findings show that in the North, women produce 28% less than men after controlling for observed factors of production, while there are no significant gender differences in the South. In the decomposition results, the structural effect in the North is larger than the endowment at the mean. Although women in the North have access to less productive resources than men, the results indicate that even if given the same level of inputs, significant differences still emerge. However, for the South, the decomposition results show that the endowment effect is more important than the structural effect. Access to resources explains most of the gender gap in the South and if women are given the same level of inputs as men, the gap will be minimal. The difference in the results for the North and South suggests that policy should vary by region.     

农户禀赋对农户融入农产品供应链意愿及方式的影响基于西南地区的农户调查

目的 通过对微观农户调查数据的分析,探究人力资本禀赋、社会资本禀赋、经济资本禀赋和自然资本禀赋对农户融入农产品供应链意愿及方式的影响。方法 文章运用二元Logit模型分析农户禀赋各变量对农户融入农产品供应链意愿的影响,运用多项Logit模型分析农户禀赋各变量对“农户+合作社”“农户+公司”和“农户+合作社+公司”3种融入方式影响。结果 缺乏经营经验、农业收入高、不能筹资、耕地面积小的农户融入农产品供应链的意愿较低。户主受教育程度高、学习能力强、耕地面积大的农户更倾向以“农户+合作社”方式融入供应链。学习能力差、家庭人口少、家里有村干的农户选择以“农户+公司”方式融入供应链的可能性较大。有经营经验、培训经历、亲戚数量少、家庭收入高、农业收入低、能筹资的农户更倾向以“农户+合作社+公司”方式融入供应链。交通便利及靠近乡村旅游地区的农户对所有融入农产品供应链的方式均不感兴趣。结论 要破除农户融入农产品供应链的禀赋障碍,科学引导农户以合适的方式融入农产品供应链,重视条件适宜地区农户进行农产品直销的优势和意愿。     

Farmers’ Preferences for Production Practices: A Choice Experiment Study in the Rhone River Delta

This article examines farmers' preferences for both cropping and management practices, which are of policy interest because of their environmental impact. We present the results of a choice experiment survey of all agricultural decision makers in the Camargue region. A latent class model identified three classes. The main class encompasses farmers complying with the norms of the Protected Geographical Indication (PGI): Riz de Camargue. We estimated the monetary value of each of the relevant agricultural practices. Our results make a strong case for differentiating incentives to encourage environmentally friendly practices and identify the diversity of values attached to the main components of rice cropping technology in the area. Estimates of the implicit prices indicate that most rice growers can be persuaded to adopt environmentally friendly practices. These findings could help in designing targeted contracts according to farmers' preferences, in line with conservation or environmental objectives.     

全产业链视角下徐州国家农业科技园产业融合研究

基于全产业链的视角,研究分析徐州国家农业科技园产业融合现存的问题。针对该园区缺少组织链、供给链不完善、销售链纵深不足的问题,提出如何从深挖农民增收潜力和增加价值链链条环扣方面发展价值链、如何塑造并完善组织链、如何利用互联网完善信息链以及如何延长和拓宽销售链的发展建议。即从价值链、组织链、信息链、销售链四个链条入手,促进徐州国家农业科技园产业融合发展,得出要让产业链条形成圈式结构,使生产要素在链条上流动增长、互相返哺的结论。     

Agriculture and economic growth in Ethiopia: growth multipliers from a four-sector simulation model

Agriculture accounts for over half of Ethiopian GDP, yet 'he case for agriculture as a focus of economic growth strategies must rely on identifying a set of intersectoral linkages through which agricultural growth contributes to the growth of nonagriculture in the Ethiopian economy. This article develops a four-sector numerical simulation model of economic growth in Ethiopia which permits the calculation of macroeconomic growth multipliers resulting from income shocks to agriculture, services, modern industry, and traditional industry. The resulting growth multipliers are 1.54 for agriculture. 1.80 for services, 1.34 for modern industry, and 1.22 for traditional industry. These results depict an economy in which intersectoral linkages operate on a highly uneven basis. These limits are reflected in the wide disparity between sectoral growth multipliers and by substantial differences in the patterns ol their decomposition. The policy relevance of these findings relate, in part, to the distributional implications of growth in particular sectors. Poverty in Ethiopia is disproportionately rural. An income shock to agriculture is clearly the most progressive choice, indicating the need to highlight agricultural development in growth strategies for Ethiopia. Yet, the simulation results further indicate that doing so imposes relatively little trade off against total benefit. While a $1 service sector income shock generates $0.80 in indirect benefits, a $1 agricultural income shock still generates $0.54 in indirect gains-a somewhat smaller benelit, but one likely to make the greatest possible impact on poverty reduction.     

Structural transformation away from agriculture in growing open economies

Understanding how and why economies structurally transform away from agriculture as they grow is crucial for developing sensible growth strategies and farm and food policies. Typically, analysts who study this and related structural change issues focus on sectoral shares of gross domestic product (GDP) and employment. This article draws on trade theory to focus as well on exports. It also notes that the trade costs of some products are too high at early stages of development to make international trade profitable, so a nontradables sector is recognized. The general equilibrium model presented in the theory section provides hypotheses about structural transformation in differently endowed open economies as they grow. Those hypotheses are tested econometrically with a new annual endowments dataset covering 1995–2018 for more than 130 countries. The results are consistent with long run de-agriculturalization in the course of national economic growth in terms not only of sectoral shares of GDP and employment but also of exports. We find those shares are not significantly affected by either differences across countries in relative factor endowments or relative rates of sectoral assistance from government; but the agricultural GDP and employment shares are higher the higher is the share of agriculture in national exports.     

Valuing groundwater recharge through agricultural production in the Hadejia-Nguru wetlands in northern Nigeria

This study applies a production function approach to value the groundwater recharge function of the Hadejia‐Nguru wetlands in northern Nigeria. The groundwater recharge function supports dry season agricultural production which is dependent on groundwater abstraction for irrigation. Using survey data this paper first carries out an economic valuation of agricultural production, per hectare of irrigated land. We then value the recharge function as an environmental input into the dry season agricultural production and derive appropriate welfare change measures. Welfare change is calculated using the estimated production functions and hypothetical changes in groundwater recharge and hence, groundwater levels. By focusing on agricultural production dependent solely on groundwater resources from the shallow aquifer, this study establishes that the groundwater recharge function of the wetlands is of significant importance for the floodplain.     

畜禽养殖废弃物市场化困境及破解对策*——基于四川邛崃的实践

[目的]畜禽养殖废弃物已成为我国农村环境的首要污染源,但其本身是一项较好的农业资源,环境污染与资源浪费并存,政府和学者们皆提出"市场运作"思想,而当前畜禽养殖废弃物市场化利用水平低、市场化进程慢。通过选取我国畜禽养殖废弃物市场化作为研究对象,探究畜禽养殖废弃物市场化困境,结合四川邛崃的成功实践,提出推进畜禽养殖废弃物市场化的政策建议,实现资源化利用,减少农业面源污染。[方法]文章主要采用规范与实证相结合的方法,以市场经济学理论内容为研究框架,剖析当前畜禽养殖废弃物市场化困境,结合四川邛崃的实证分析提供经验借鉴,并提出政策建议。[结果]畜禽养殖废弃物市场运作面临较大困境:市场主体缺位;相关产品的市场价值低、供求脱节、价格扭曲、市场制度匮乏等,严重制约畜禽养殖废弃物的市场化利用。[结论]面对环境污染与资源浪费的矛盾,畜禽养殖废弃物的市场化是行之有效的途径,但目前其市场化还处于萌芽、摸索阶段,应加强政府引导,科学界定相关环境产权,明确责权利;培育多元化市场参与主体,建立与完善畜禽养殖废弃物市场体系;积极探索多种市场运作模式等,实现畜禽废弃物资源化利用,加快推进面源污染的防治。     

The Current State of the Russian Agricultural Sector

Russia's agriculture produces around 3.7 per cent of the country's GDP, employs 9.2 per cent of the national workforce and contributes around 6 per cent of the country's exports. The sector has shown remarkable resilience in the face of wider economic turbulence. Self‐sufficiency rates for the main agricultural commodities are relatively high. Agricultural exports have grown very significantly since 2000 especially for wheat and meslin (wheat and rye mixture). Meat production has been growing steadily, particularly in the poultry and pork sectors. Whilst the agri‐food sector has great potential to play an even more prominent role in Russia's economy, it suffers from relatively low productivity and an outdated technological base. The main drive for efficiency has come mainly from the relatively large‐scale agricultural firms, who generated more than half of the total value of agricultural output in 2016. Foreign policy instability, including economic sanctions, the devaluation of the national currency and declining economic growth have weakened the sector and caused an increase in the prices of imported goods and equipment. At the same time Russian products have replaced high value‐added imports and Russia's agricultural producers are expanding into new markets.     

小农户参与农业全产业链的选择偏好及其异质性来源——基于选择实验法的分析

小农户参与农业全产业链是"实现小农户和现代农业发展有机衔接"的有效途径。本文基于山东省339户小农户的入户调查数据,采用选择实验法,建立混合Logit模型分析了小农户参与农业全产业链的选择偏好和偏好异质性来源。研究结果表明:相对于与龙头企业合作,小农户更愿意通过加入农民专业合作社参与农业全产业链,而且稳定紧密的利益联结机制、提供生产技术和市场信息服务及补贴政策会显著提高小农户的参与效用。研究也表明:小农户参与农业全产业链的选择偏好存在异质性,异质性偏好主要来源于小农户的兼业程度、家庭年纯收入和收入在村中所处水平三个因素。小农户兼业程度越低、年纯收入越低、收入在村中所处水平越低,越偏好参与农业全产业链经营。     

Revisiting constraints to smallholder participation in high-value markets: A best-worst scaling approach

We show how policymakers in developing regions can generate richer insights from using the choice experiment method best-worst scaling (BWS) method when ranking policy priorities on an importance scale. More specifically, we adopt BWS to provide an update on constraints that limit the participation of Kenyan horticultural smallholder farmers in modern agricultural value chains. In addition to traditional constraints posed by input market failures and missing institutions, we considered constraints such as trust and familiarity with buyers shown by recent empirical studies to inform smallholders’ market choices. Ascertaining the relevance of these constraints highlights our contribution to the existing literature. We find that farmers consistently rate access to high-quality inputs as their main constraint followed by concerns about access to credit, the high cost of meeting food standards, missing cooperatives, and exploitative intermediaries. Respondents considered insufficient labor, small farmlands, and weak tenure rights as the least important constraints. Age, location, gender, household income, and education influence the relative importance various segments of smallholders place on these constraints. For example, constraints are economic rather than personal for low-income farmers. Counterintuitively, rural smallholders are less likely to perceive poor transportation network as a constraint. Smallholders’ distrust of buyers they interact with is informed by their location and income. In designing intervention initiatives, policies that focus on segments of smallholders are needed for improving smallholder participation in modern agricultural value chains.     

农业废弃物循环价值核算方法与案例研究

[目的]以畜禽粪尿、农作物秸秆等可循环利用的农业废弃物为研究对象,以石家庄市为例,测算其农业废弃物循环价值。[方法]文章将畜禽粪尿排放和农作物秸秆均折算成养分,使两种不同类型的农业废弃物以同一量纲进行核算,并运用替代市场法,根据化肥的市场价格,确定养分的折纯价格,进而测算石家庄市农业废弃物循环价值。[结果](1)在时间维度上,可将石家庄市农业废弃物循环价值分为3个时期:2002—2006年为快速增长期,2007—2009年为低谷期,2010—2016年为回升—稳定—下降期,其中2016年全市农业废弃物循环价值量约为21.25亿元,占全市农业GDP的4.42%,占总GDP的0.36%,农业废弃物循环价值潜力巨大。(2)在县域尺度的空间差异上,农业废弃物循环价值与区域农业生产规模密切相关,整体上从西部山区向东部平原地带递增,在农业优势区,如藁城区和辛集市,2个区县农业废弃物循环价值均超过了2亿元,约占全市农业废弃物循环价值量的22.15%,循环价值较小的区县主要分布在不具农业发展优势的市内4区、西部山区和工业区共9个区县,这些地区农业废弃物循环价值约占全市农业废弃物循环价值量的7.86%。[结论]农业废弃物具有大量循环利用价值,这成为实行农业废弃物处理和利用补贴的一大理由,也可成为计算补贴量、相关政策制定的一种依据。     

The restructuring of Italian agriculture and its impact upon capital–labour relations: Labour contracting and exploitation in the fresh fruit and vegetable supply chain of the Lazio Region,Central Italy

Labour contracting is anywhere on the rise globally, even in fully developed capitalist countries. Far from being an anomaly in the smooth everyday functioning of the economy, contractors are a crucial node in facilitating and ensuring global capital's control over local labour regimes. This article uses a global value chain perspective to investigate the re‐emergence of gangmasters and gang labour in the agricultural sector of Lazio, Central Italy. It analyses the fruit and vegetable supply chain formation and configuration in the Lazio Region with the aim of identifying the underlying processes leading to the creation of gangmasters by capital to have a cheap and disposable, especially migrant, labour force. It also intends to give a more nuanced understanding of labour contracting in this context.     

Gender and agricultural productivity: implications of the Farm Input Subsidy Program in Malawi

Alleviating gender differences in agricultural productivity is vital for poverty reduction. While numerous studies suggest that gender differences in agricultural productivity are a result of female farmers having limited access to resources, few studies investigate the role of agricultural interventions in alleviating the constraints to input use and subsequently the gender gap in productivity. This study investigates whether there are gendered gains in agricultural productivity from participating in an input subsidy program and if these gains help reduce the gender gap. Using nationally representative data that is disaggregated at the plot level, this study analyzes the large‐scale voucher‐based Farm Input Subsidy Program in Malawi. Focusing on the total value of output per hectare, relationships are identified using weighted estimators, where the weights are constructed from propensity scores, and spatial fixed effects, to address the unobservable factors that may confound the relationship between program participation and productivity. The findings suggest that participation in the program improves agricultural productivity for both male and female farmers but it does not provide disproportionate help to female famers to overcome gender disparities in agricultural productivity. This suggests that female farmers face additional constraints to productivity apart from nonlabor input use.     

Climate Risk and Technology Adoption in the Midstream of Crop Value Chains: Evidence from Nigerian Maize Traders

Climate induced events exacerbate food production and distribution risks, posing a threat to global food security. Though many studies focus on farmer adaptation to climate change, there are few studies of actors in the middle of agricultural value chains such as traders, logistics providers, and processors. The activities of these actors, referred to as the ‘hidden middle’, are key determinants of the prices received by farmers and the price and quality of food products for consumers. We explore how climate events and risk perceptions affect the adoption of value‐adding and damage control strategies among maize traders in Nigeria, Africa’s largest economy and most populous country. We find consistent evidence that climate events and climate risk perception discourage the adoption of value‐adding practices including storage. This potentially affects the availability and price of maize for consumers (household and industry) in the lean season. However, once traders store maize, climate risk does not affect the adoption of damage control, but training and social networks do. These findings suggest that actors in the midstream of food value chains are responding to climate change and more attention needs to be paid to these actors to maintain the availability of affordable and safe maize products throughout the year. There is also a need for strategies to reduce the risks of trading activities due to climate change.     

Rural nonfarm employment and farming: household-level linkages

This article introduces the articles in Agricultural Economics , vol. 40 no. 2 (March 2009). First, we introduce their objectives in a brief review of existing literature on developing country trends in rural income diversification, in particular rural nonfarm employment (RNFE) and its impact on farm technology choice in crops and livestock, and thus on agricultural modernization and diversification. Then we preview the key points of the articles, which use distinctive primary datasets from Albania, Bulgaria, China, India, Mexico, Nigeria, the Philippines, Senegal, and Vietnam to document the impacts of RNFE and their implications for farm technology and farm activity.     

How does gender affect the adoption of agricultural innovations?

Why do men and women adopt agricultural technologies at different rates? Evidence from Ghana suggests that gender‐linked differences in the adoption of modern maize varieties and chemical fertilizer result from gender‐linked differences in access to complementary inputs. This finding has important policy implications, because it suggests that ensuring more widespread and equitable adoption of improved technologies may not require changes in the research system, but rather introduction of measures that ensure better access for women to complementary inputs, especially land, labor, and extension services.     

基于信息生态理论的农业产业链优化路径研究

[目的]当农业信息生态处于失衡状态时,农业产业的价值增值效率就会受损,文章应用信息生态理论研究农业产业链的延伸、整合与提升,由此探索现代农业产业链的优化路径,以期更好地促进我国农业的现代化、信息化和产业的可持续发展。[方法]该文以点、线、面的逻辑递进思路,从信息生态位视角研究了农业产业链中信息的功能生态位、资源生态位和时空生态位;从信息生态链视角分析了农业产业链中信息流转映射出的物和资金的运转问题;从信息生态系统视角剖析了农业产业链中信息资源、信息主体和信息环境3个系统构成要素的相互关系。[结果](1)农业产业链的横向与纵向延伸是实现其优化的基本路径,合理布局和增加其中的信息生态位,可有效提升产业链的优化效率;(2)农业产业链中各环节的有机整合是提升其价值增值的关键举措,而基于信息生态链监控下的人、财、物等资源的合理配置和有效协同则成为必然选择;(3)实现农业产业链整体素质的提升是其优化的终极目标,从信息生态系统的高度统筹规划产业链发展是农业信息化和现代化的现实需求。[结论]对柑橘产业链的实证研究表明,国家现代农业产业技术体系的发展为运用信息生态理论优化农业产业链提供了良好的契机,构建相应的产业信息生态系统理论框架对提升产业竞争协作力和可持续发展能力意义重大,无论在宏观政策制订和微观产业指导中都应予以足够重视。