To Mix or Specialise? A Coordination Productivity Indicator for English and Welsh farms

This paper introduces a nonparametric measure of coordination productivity growth where the subprocesses are explicitly modelled in the production technology. The coordination productivity indicator is decomposed into a coordination technical inefficiency change component and a coordination technical change component. This decomposition allows assessment of reallocation impacts on the different sources of productivity growth. The empirical application focuses on a large panel of English and Welsh farms over the period 2007–2013. The results show that coordination inefficiency significantly increases with the proportion of resources allocated to livestock production in economic and statistical terms. Coordination inefficient farms should generally allocate more land to crop production. Depending on the region, the average coordination productivity growth ranges from ?9.7% to 15.9% per year. It is driven by coordination technical change rather than coordination inefficiency change.     

Improving China’s food and environmental security with conservation agriculture†

China has achieved impressive increases in agricultural output in recent decades. Yet, past approaches centred on a growing use of fertilizers, pesticides, fuel and water are not likely to achieve the required 30–50% additional increases in food production by mid-century. We show that efficiencies of production are falling and the costs of environmental harm are increasing. Agricultural innovations that improve natural capital are urgently needed. Conservation agriculture (CA) is now practised on >8?Mha in China and is offering promising prospects of both enhanced yields and environmental services. Our meta-analysis of 60 papers with 395 observations in China shows notable benefits from CA. Mean yield increase was 4.5% or 263?kg?ha^?1 for wheat, 8.3% or 424?kg?ha^?1 for maize, and 1.65% or 250?kg?ha^?1 for rice. In 34 datasets from 22 published papers (experimental duration: 2–17 years), 26 datasets (76.5%) show that CA increased yield and soil organic carbon (mean SOC increase of >3?g.kg^?1 in 0–10?cm soil depth) when compared with traditional tillage. Key priorities for the spread of more sustainable forms of agriculture in China are national policy and financial support, better coordination across agencies, and better extension for farmers.     

面源污染视角下江西省耕地利用效率研究

[目的]在面源污染视角下考察耕地利用效率,可以为推动耕地可持续利用提供理论和参考依据。[方法]文章基于2000—2014年我国13个粮食主产省(区)耕地投入产出的面板数据,运用SBM方向性距离函数将耕地面源污染因素纳入到传统的效率分析框架,从省际比较的维度对江西省耕地利用效率进行了测度与分析。[结果]考虑面源污染因素对耕地利用效率测算产生了一定的影响;江西省耕地利用效率值呈现阶段性特征,耕地利用效率排名比较稳定,近年来排名有上升趋势;江西省耕地利用绩效一般,且与最佳实践者存在较大的差距。[结论]忽视面源污染因素的耕地利用效率评估是失真和不符合实际的,宜将面源污染因素纳入到耕地利用效率的测度框架,以此来更科学地量化评估耕地利用绩效;设计和完善相关政策,以有效控制耕地面源污染;加强与先进省(区)的交流与合作,学习其农业可持续耕作技术与管理经验,进一步推动江西省耕地产出与资源、环境协调发展。     

近10年广西农业生产效率与全要素生产率时空演变与驱动因素分析

目的 在全球努力实现联合国可持续发展目标背景下,综合评价近10年广西农业生产效率、农业全要素生产率及其时空演化特征,解析其驱动因子,为提高广西农业生产效率提供支持,为广西可持续发展目标评价提供依据。方法 文章基于2008—2017年广西14个地级市农业生产投入与产出数据,运用数据包络分析（DEA）、Malmquist指数和Tobit模型,评价广西农业生产效率与农业全要素生产率及其时空演变特征,解析其驱动因素。结果 （1）近10年广西农业生产效率水平较低,研究期间总体表现为DEA无效且规模收益递减;空间差异大,各市农业生产效率呈现不同的时间变化特征,仅梧州市、北海市和钦州市一直处于农业生产效率DEA有效。（2）广西农业全要素生产率（TFP）呈波动增长态势,技术进步是农业全要素生产率增长的主要驱动力;桂东北（桂林市、梧州市、贵港市）、桂南（北海市、防城港市、钦州市）是广西农业全要素生产率较高的地区。（3）农业生产效率影响因素中,耕地有效灌溉率、农业科技是促进因素,与农业生产效率呈显著正相关;单位面积化肥施用强度、政府投入、单位耕地农机动力是限制因素,与农业生产效率呈显著负相关;技术进步、纯技术效率和规模效率是农业全要素生产率提升的促进因素。结论 近10年,广西农业生产效率与全要素生产率整体较低,时空差异大;应增加农业科技投入,增强农业基础设施建设,提高规模化水平,以提升广西农业生产效率。     

Land Distribution and International Agricultural Productivity

The unequal distribution of agricultural land is often cited as a source of inefficiency in agriculture. Previous cross-country studies of agricultural productivity differences, though, have not considered land inequality. This article addresses this issue by using cross-country data on inequality in operational holdings of agricultural land from Deininger and Squire (1998) . In an estimation of an agricultural production function, the Gini coefficient for land holdings is found to have a significant negative relationship with productivity. This is consistent with the existence of heterogeneity in productivity by farm size within countries. A one standard deviation drop in the Gini coefficient implies an increase in productivity of 8.5%.     

甘肃省农业环境效率及碳排放约束下农业全要素生产率测算研究

[目的]考虑碳排放约束,分析甘肃省农业全要素生产率整体特征和区域特征,以期为提升甘肃省农业可持续发展能力提供参考。[方法]文章基于2005—2016年甘肃省14市州面板数据,以农业碳排放作为非期望产出指标,运用非径向、非角度的SBM模型和Malmquist—Luenberger生产率指数法,对甘肃省农业环境效率和碳排放约束下农业全要素生产率指数进行测算。[结果](1) 2005—2016年甘肃省农业环境效率值总体呈现下降—上升—趋于平缓的变化趋势,且均小于1;(2)碳排放约束下甘肃省农业全要素生产率总体呈现波动增长的趋势,年均值为1.010,年均增长率为1%,且主要来源于技术进步;(3)甘肃省农业全要素生产率增长存在显著区域差异,其中中部地区增长最快,陇东南地区次之,河西地区增长最慢。[结论]忽视碳排放将不利于农业可持续发展,建议各区域依据自身资源禀赋,采取差异化的发展思路,提高农业技术成果转化率是提升甘肃省农业全要素生产率的关键。     

Does sustainable agricultural growth require a system of innovation? Evidence from Ghana and Burkina Faso

This paper tests the ‘systems of innovation’ hypothesis for a selection of crops in Ghana and Burkina Faso that have shown significant growth in production over an approximately 20-year period. The question is whether such growth can only occur if supported by a system of innovation. Using two indicators (a common understanding on objectives and priorities, and a high level of interactivity), we find little evidence for the existence of anything that might be considered a high functioning system of innovation.     

Decomposition of Productivity Growth Using Distance Functions: The Case of Dairy Farms in Three European Countries

Within an output distance function framework, the Total Factor Productivity growth index is decomposed into four components (technical change, technical and allocative efficiency, and scale component). We estimate stochastic translog output distance functions using panel data from dairy farms over the period 1991–94 for three European countries (Germany, the Netherlands, and Poland). Results indicate that the change in the productivity growth index in Germany (+6%) and Poland (−5%) are mainly dictated by the technical change component. In contrast, the productivity growth index in the Netherlands (+3%) is influenced by allocative efficiency components.     

Harnessing sustainability,resilience and productivity through conservation agriculture: the case of likoti in Lesotho

Subsistence farmers in Lesotho have been able to boost agricultural yields and increase food production by adopting conservation agriculture. The practice, locally known as likoti, also contributes to combating soil erosion and to enhancing fertility. The socio-economic and environmental benefits help poor households to rehabilitate and strengthen their livelihood capital base and ultimately help rural communities to build system resilience in the face of widespread poverty and increasing vulnerability that affect the country. This paper discusses the major advantages associated with the spread of likoti. By drawing on primary data collected by FAO-Lesotho, it enquires into the determinants of adoption, thereby highlighting constraints and options for future up-scaling. The results show that attending appropriate training is a crucial prerequisite for the correct adoption of likoti. However, training is more effective when trainers pursue true participation and when social capital among farmers is stronger. Further important determinants of adoption are the level of education and the economic incentives provided to vulnerable households. Stronger policy and institutional support in all these areas would thus help address the cultural and resource constraints that limit the full potential of likoti to be harnessed and ultimately hinder its further spread throughout the country.     

Bridging the Gap between Partial and Total Factor Productivity Measures Using Directional Distance Functions

Technical dependencies as well as data constraints limit our ability to allocate inputs across sectors and hence our ability to measure sectoral productivity. We adapt a directional measure of efficiency to the measurement of sector-specific productivity that does not require allocating all inputs across sectors. Applied to the agricultural sector of a group of countries, the results show important differences in livestock and crops productivity growth. Commonly used partial factor productivity measures for livestock and crops tend to overestimate productivity growth in most developing countries while underestimating it in European countries.     

Understanding the adoption of a portfolio of sustainable intensification practices in eastern and southern Africa

This paper explores smallholder farmers’ adoption decisions of multiple sustainable intensification practices (SIPs) in eastern and southern Africa. We develop a multivariate probit model using plot-level data gathered from maize–legume farming systems in Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, and Tanzania. We find that some practices used in maize production are complementary while others are substitutable. The adoption of SIPs is influenced by social capital and networks, quality of extension services, reliance on government support during crop failure, incidence of pests and diseases, resource constraints, tenure security, education, and market access. The results provide insight into the further efforts needed to encourage greater adoption of SIPs.     

中国污水处理中碳排放的影子价格研究

采用参数化方向距离函数方法,以拥有超过170家污水处理厂的10家上市公司为研究对象,基于2016年的相关数据,估算污水处理过程中碳排放的影子价格,并将市场化方法引入碳排放相关政策的制定中,拟为碳交易市场的建立与碳排放权的分配提供一个方法支撑,从而提高污水处理行业的碳减排效率,充分控制碳排放量。     

基于欧式距离法的成都农业可持续发展评价

[目的]农业可持续发展是整个人类社会和经济可持续发展的基础,其评价研究对推动农业可持续发展有重要意义。成都作为实施乡村振兴战略的典型,研究该地区农业可持续发展状况非常必要,然而诸多传统的评价方法存在评价指标过多、指标权重可信度不高、评价结果多变等缺陷。文章引用一种新的评价方法,对成都农业可持续发展进行综合评价分析。[方法]该文引用欧氏距离法构建农业可持续发展评价理论体系,以成都为实证研究案例,对2000年—2016年农业可持续发展状况进行评价分析。[结果]成都农业可持续发展指数(ASDI)范围在0.53-0.72,整体处于持续增长的趋势,在2000—2009年处于低持续发展状态;2010—2016年处于中持续发展状态,并且很多评价指标已经达到目标系统参考值。[结论]利用欧氏距离法评价农业可持续发展在理论是科学的,在实践上是可行的,并通过该方法提出了成都农业可持续未来的发展方向,为其农业可持续发展提供参考依据。