Availability Of Family Labour Research Articles

An analysis of factors affecting access to credit in the smallholder agricultural sector in T/A Mpinganjira – Mangochi district

The underperformance of Malawi's agricultural sector, particularly in the T/A Mpinganjira – Mangochi area, can be attributed mostly to smallholders' resistance to transitioning from traditional agriculture to a more scientific and technology-driven approach. Access to financial services, particularly finance, is one of the obstacles preventing smallholders from rising to the occasion. Using a logistic regression model inside the principle component regression framework, the aim of this study is to investigate the factors that might affect smallholders' capacity to obtain financing. The results demonstrated the influence of various factors on smallholder farmers' access to financing and their capacity to transition to a more scientific and technologically oriented agriculture sector. These factors included the amount of income from both farms and non-farm sources, pensions and remittances, farm size, availability of family labor, land ownership, savings, and repayment capacity. The results offer vital direction for the institutional setup needed to improve credit availability in Malawi.

Labor Use Dynamics from Family Coffee Farms of Zona Da Mata–Region of Minas Gerais State, Brazil

Labour is an important factor for the viability of coffee farming and other family-owned agricultural activities in the Zona da Mata of Minas Gerais, Brazil. Labour shortages reflect on decision-making and the logic of agricultural management, which influences regional agricultural diversity. The objective of this work was to identify the dynamics of the labour adopted by family farmers, as well as to analyze the panorama of labour use of pluriactivity that favours agrobiodiversity. For data collection, it was applied a semi-structured interview script and visited all properties studied. The methodologies of the activity matrix and labour allocation in 25 properties were applied. The labour allocation matrices provided information and structural scenario of labour distribution for the main activities (coffee, maize, livestock, and horticulture) that occur in the properties throughout the year. The results indicate that coffee crops demand more labour from April to July, according to the harvesting and drying of fruits. Maize cultivation requires more labour from October to December, time of tillage, planting, and initial crop treatment. Activities such as livestock and vegetable production tend to require less labour; however, such demands are more constant throughout the year. Assuming that the dynamics of labour allocation follow a seasonal pattern of activities and tasks, farmers can maintain high diversification through the availability of family labour across different agricultural systems.

Does Tibetan Household Livelihood Capital Enhance Tourism Participation Sustainability? Evidence from China's Jiaju Tibetan Village.

Identifying effective transformations to reduce poverty and approach rural sustainability is at the core of the first sustainable development goal of the United Nations. This article offers scientific support for continued efforts in sustaining rural development and livelihood resilience. Many studies have examined drivers of livelihood transition from farming to non-farm activities, especially participation in tourism against the backdrop of rural tourism development. However, few studies have identified ways to measure the level of tourism participation or have discussed how household-level capital influences decisions regarding tourism participation made by Tibetan ethnic households. This article assesses the role of livelihood capital in the adoption of tourism activities at the household level in Jiaju Tibetan Village, an ethnic region that is experiencing struggling agricultural business and developing tourism sector. Using household survey data, this study presents an ordinal logistic regression model to identify the determinants of the household tourism participation level. The results showed that households’ tourism participation was influenced by physical capital (e.g., proximity to major roads, odds ratio = 2.83 at p = 0.024; fixed capitals, odds ratio = 101.19 at p = 0.039), human capital (e.g., availability of family labor, odds ratio = 0.25 at p = 0.004; availability of skilled member, odds ratio = 2.91 at p = 0.002), and social capital (e.g., relatives in governmental sectors, odds ratio = 5.22 at p = 0.044; government payments, odds ratio = 8.78 at p = 0.04), while the influence of financial capital was not significant. The proximity to major roads, availability of skilled members, fixed assets, and direct and indirect support from the government to households were significantly and positively associated with tourism participation level. The effects of household labor availability and annual family income remain unclear. Overall, household livelihood capital plays a critical role in the enhancement of tourism participation in Jiaju Tibetan Village. Our findings have implications for understanding the shift of on-farm occupation to off-farm activities in tourism and for the pursuit of policies contributing to poverty reduction and rural revitalization in China as well as to the Sustainable Development Goals.

The Hiring of Labour for Field Cultivation: A Study in the Brahmaputra Valley of Northeast India

On the basis of household-level data, the present study examines the hiring of farm labour in the Brahmaputra Valley of Assam in the north-eastern part of India. By adopting a multi-stage sampling technique, the primary data were collected from 237 randomly selected field crop cultivating households located in the lower, upper and central parts of the Brahmaputra Valley. The hiring of labour for field cultivation is extensive among the sample farm households of all size groups, but it varies across locations and activities. There are three forms of farm labour hiring, among which the hiring of labour on daily basis is common and pre-dominant. The wage of farm labourers is not same across activities, sex and locations. The estimation of independent double hurdle model depicts the farm size, type of cultivator and age of head of the household as the common factors that affect both the adoption and the extent of hiring of farm labour. The availability of family labour is another factor that affects the extent of hiring of farm labour.

Factors Affecting Adoption Decision of Wheat Row Planting Technology: The Case of Agarfa District, Bale Zone of Oromia National Regional State, Ethiopia

Ethiopian economy is highly dependent on agriculture, especially crop production takes the major share in economic growth. Hence, supporting the sector through introducing new agricultural technologies, like row planting technology is crucial. However, application of better technologies remained low in Ethiopia and also in the study area due to several factors. Therefore, study was to assess the status of adoption decision of wheat row planting technology and identify factors affecting it in Agarfa district. Two stage sampling procedure was used to collect data. In the first stage, three major wheat producing kebeles were selected purposively from twenty kebeles of the district. In the second stage, 165 household heads were selected randomly from three kebles based on probability proportional to population size. Data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics methods and binary logistic regression model was used. The result from binary logistic regression model shows that education level of household head, farming experience, availability of family labor, mass media exposure, and perception towards wheat row planting positively and significantly affected adoption decision of wheat row planting technology in the study area. Therefore, Based on the findings of this study it can be concluded that policy and development interventions should give emphasis towards improvement of such economical and institutional support system so as to achieve wider adoption decision of wheat row plating technology, increased production and productivity of smallholder farmer. Keywords: Adoption, Binary Logistic model, Technology, Wheat row planting, Agarfa. DOI: 10.7176/FSQM/115-03 Publication date: May 31 st 2022

The Energy Potential of Harvested Wood Fuel by Refugees in Northern Uganda.

For the last three decades, Uganda has lost considerable natural vegetation cover in the refugee settlements and buffer zones due to the high demand for wood fuel and timber. It is worthy to note that the supplies of wood fuel are more likely to dwindle in the near future. This study explored the determinants of harvested wood-fuel choices and their energy potential. It also examined the implemented energy conservation measures and constraints faced by the refugees both in Palorinya and Imvepi refugee settlements in Northern Uganda. The data were collected by conducting household interviews and collection of wood species samples for energy potential laboratory analysis. Findings indicate that the major sources of wood fuel were firewood, charcoal, briquettes, and biomass fuels. The major refugee choices that determined wood-fuel collection included the family size of the house hold, culture, method of cooking, type of food cooked, high poverty levels, and availability of family labour (P ≤ 0.05). The sampled wood tree species had the highest energy potential were Celtis durandii (5,837 kcal/kg), Parkinsonia aculeata (5,771 kcal/kg), Delonix regia (5,153 kcal/kg), and Bligihia unijugata (5,034 kcal/kg). Access to wood fuel by the households was mainly constrained by limited household income levels, long distances trekked, and inadequate awareness about wood fuel sources and availability. To conserve wood fuel, the refugees deploy several measures including the use of mobile solar gadgets for cooking and lighting, taking up agroforestry, use of briquettes, adoption of energy-saving cooking stoves, and establishment of new woodlots. Therefore, to reverse this trend, the Ugandan government and development partners should prioritise energy investments by supporting cheaper energy alternatives such as mobile solar gadgets and energy-saving cooking technologies, and establishment of woodlots.

Organic Farming Increases the Technical Efficiency of Olive Farms in Italy

While there is growing recognition of the positive role played by organic farming in the reduction of the negative externalities due to conventional agriculture, there is uncertainty about the effect of the latter on the economic performance of the farms. In this scenario, the present paper aims at investigating the effect of organic farming on technical efficiency in Italian olive farms. A cross-section dataset was analyzed through the stochastic frontier function, where the adoption of organic farming was explicitly modeled. Then, to obtain an unbiased estimate of the impact of organic farming on technical efficiency, a propensity score matching method was implemented. The findings reveal that organic farming increases technical efficiency in Italian olive farms by approximately 10%. The highest impact of organic farming is observed in small farms. As for the propensity to become organic, we found that the production and the direct sales of a higher quality of gross marketable output, as well as the intensity of labor and machines, increase the probability to adopt organic farming. Conversely, farm localization, the availability of family labor, and financial capital discourage conversion to the organic farming system.

Impact of Diverse Technical and Economic Factors on Sustainable Farmer Market Choices: The Case of Cyprus Sheep and Goat Milk Channel Choice

This study investigated the impact of diverse technical and economic factors on sustainable dairy small ruminant farmer market choices in Cyprus. It determined the factors that affect farmer choice between selling milk to a large dairy processor or a traditional small dairy. Detailed interviews with farmers based on a structured questionnaire were conducted in the frame of the DoMEsTIc research project. We used a Probit model to relate adoption behavior to farmer, farm, and market characteristics. Both technico-economic and market aspects contributed to farmer decisions on sustainable milk market channels. Important technico-economic factors were flock size, existence of successor, availability of family labour, computer use, and breeding experience. Market factors that affected farmer decision for a suitable milk market channel were the sheep milk price, the type of contract with buyers (formal or informal), the payment method and the price differentiation according to specific milk quality specifications.JEL Codes: Q01, Q12, Q13

Factors Affecting Adoption of Improved Sesame Technologies in Some Selected Areas in Bangladesh: An Empirical Study

This study was undertaken to assess the adoption level as well as farmers’ attitude towards cultivating Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI) developed improved sesame varieties and its technology management as well. Keeping this view in mind, primary data were collected from major three sesame growing areas of Bangladesh namely, Comilla, Jessore, and Faridpur districts. A total of 540 samples, selected using stratified random sampling method, were interviewed using pre-tested and structured questionnaires. Results reveal that the improved sesame seed adoption level is around one fifth of the total sesame cultivation. The adoption of relating technologies regarding input usage and agronomic practices also depicted similar characteristics due to not taking up recommended improved seed package. Analysis also showed that availability of family labor, application of improved seeds and monitoring and supervision of extension personnel’s have significant contribution on improved seed adoption levels. Although farmers opined that they would be adopting the improved sesame seeds in the upcoming fostering season in view of expanding yields, profits, labor productivity and efficient cultivation. However, many farmers have articulated their concern about unavailability of improved sesame seeds at the farm levels is a major barrier about adopting improved sesame technology.The Agriculturists 2015; 13(1) 140-151

Adoption of modern weaving technology in the handloom micro-enterprises in Assam: A Double Hurdle approach

Technological uplift is imperative for enterprises to achieve and sustain competitiveness in terms of both cost and quality of products. While the literature on technology adoption is voluminous, studies focused on adoption related issues concerning rural, nonfarm, and informal micro-entrepreneurs in developing economies are few and far between. In view of significance of these enterprises in employment and income generation at the lower end of income distribution in developing countries, a study of factors influencing adoption of modern technology in such enterprises assumes importance. Using firm-level data collected through a primary survey, the present paper analyses the determinants of adoption and extent of deployment of weaving technologies in the handloom micro-enterprises in rural areas of Assam. The results of the Cragg's Double Hurdle model reveal the significance of financial inclusion, availability of family labor, and social network on adoption and extent of deployment of weaving technologies. The presence of proper market linkages also appears to be crucial for adoption and use of such technologies in the rural areas. The study urges for a comprehensive policy framework to tackle the existing bottlenecks related to access to credit/capital, market linkages, and extension services to promote the technology adoption among the rural micro-entrepreneurs.

An analysis of factors affecting access to credit in Lesotho's smallholder agricultural sector

The agricultural sector in Lesotho is underperforming mainly due to the inability of smallholders to move from traditional agriculture to a more scientific and technology-based one. Among the challenges inhibiting the ability of smallholders to make the step up is access to financial services, especially credit. The purpose of this study was to examine the factors that may influence the ability of smallholders to access finance by making use of a logistic regression model within the principle component regression framework. The results revealed that the ability of smallholders to access finance, and the potential to make the transition towards a more scientific and technology-based agriculture sector, is influenced by the level of farm and non-farm income, remittances and pension, farm size, availability of family labour, land ownership, savings and repayment ability. The results present important information in terms of guiding institutional arrangements needed to improve credit availability in Lesotho.

Empty pockets, empty ponds? Disadoption of water harvesting technologies in Ethiopia

This study analyses disadoption of water harvesting technologies in Ethiopia where the average disadoption rate in the sample areas is as high as 42%. Given that Ethiopia is a drought-prone country with 95% of its crop production being rain-fed, such a high disadoption rate for irrigation technologies is surprising and urges investigation. Using panel data on 332 Ethiopian farm households collected in 2005 and 2010 we estimate a logit model to identify factors underlying disadoption. We find farm-household, economic, technology-specific, and natural condition variables that relate to disadoption. Mainly, shortage of plastic-sheets, altitude, and distance to market increase disadoption whereas education, experience with water harvesting (learning-by-doing), farm profit, availability of family labour, access to credit, ease of selling output, growing perennial crops, and distance from natural water sources decrease the probability of disadoption. There is no evidence that malaria has a significant effect on disadoption. Based on these findings, improved supply of plastic sheets and motor pumps, and advise to farmers on appropriate crops, credit and improved market accesses could contribute to decreasing disadoption of water harvesting technologies.

Understanding biophysical and socio-economic determinants of maize (Zea mays L.) yield variability in eastern India

The aim of this paper was to investigate the key factors limiting maize (Zea mays L.) productivity in eastern India to develop effective crop and nutrient management strategies to reduce yield gap. A series of farm surveys was conducted in two distinct agro-ecological zones of eastern India to evaluate the importance of crop management and structural constraints for maize productivity in a range of socio-economic settings prevalent in smallholder farms. Surveys revealed yield gap and yield variations among farms across growing seasons. Lower yields of farmers were mainly associated with farmer's ethnic origin, availability of family labor, land ownership, legumes in cropping sequence, irrigation constraints, seed type, optimal plant population, labor and capital investment, and use of organic manure. These constraints varied strongly between sites as well as growing seasons. Stochastic Frontier Analysis suggested intensification of farm input use and removal of socio-economic and structural constraints for increasing efficiency in maize production. The use of multivariate classification and regression tree analysis revealed that maize yield was affected by multiple and interacting production constraints, differentiating the surveyed farms in six distinct resource groups. These farm types lend scope for introducing typology-specific crop management practices through appropriate participatory on-farm evaluation/trials. Summarily, this research indicated that interacting production constraints should be addressed simultaneously, considering the need of different farm types, if significant productivity improvements are to be achieved. This will be, however, more challenging for less endowed farms due to lack of social and financial capital to improve management intensity.A typology-specific farm support strategy may be formulated to offset this lack of entitlement among resource-poor farmers.

Farm Size, Cropping Pattern and Productivity Variation in Punjab: The Analysis of Mansa and Jalandhar Districts

The present paper analyzes the trend and patterns of farm size, productivity and cropping pattern in districts of Mansa and Jalandhar. The results show that medium and large holdings are increasing in number over the time in both the districts. Increase in size of holdings coupled with other factors like increase in productivity in limited number of crops, minimum support price for wheat and rice as well as higher possibility of use of modern technology in wheat and rice cultivation has lead to wheat rice cycle. The other crops like cotton, maize, potato etc. are more popular among marginal and small farmers. It may be due to easy availability of family labour. Overall, the study points towards specialization in the cropping pattern, stagnation in productivity growth and increasing size of operational holdings.

Exploring determinants of farmers' investments in land management in the Central Rift Valley of Ethiopia

Land degradation, especially water erosion and nutrient depletion, seriously affects agricultural production in the Central Rift Valley of Ethiopia. Farmers' investments to conserve their land are until now however quite limited. The objective of this study is to identify the major factors that determine farmers' decisions how much and where to invest in land management. Exploratory factor analysis and Pearson correlation were used to analyse the data from 240 households operating 738 plots in three different production domains. The study identified five major factors that influence farmers' decisions how much to invest in land management: (1) households' resource endowments, (2) farming experience and knowledge, (3) access to information, (4) social capital and (5) availability of family labour. This result implies that extension strategies aiming at sustainable land management should try to enhance households' resources endowments and improve their access to information. Moreover, the influence of social capital and availability of family labour indicates the crucial importance of collective action in land management. Similarly, the study revealed that farmers are more willing to invest in plots that (1) are vulnerable to water erosion, (2) have better soil fertility and (3) are larger. However, the influence of these factors on farmers' investments in land management was highly variable across the considered production domains. Hence, the diversity in social, economic, cultural and biophysical conditions must be taken into account by rural extension programmes. This calls for site-specific land management strategies that can be planned and implemented at micro-level with active participation of farmers.

Cultivation arrangements and the cost efficiency of rice farming in Taiwan

In this paper, a switching regression model is developed to analyze farmers' choice behavior and cost efficiency in field plowing arrangement in Taiwan. We find that the decision on the choice of plowing arrangement is determined by a cost comparison between self-plowing and hired-service, and other non-cost considerations, such as the availability of family labor and machinery, education level, non-farm income, age, and regional effects. Across a spectrum of farmer characteristics, empirical results indicate a potentially substantial cost-savings by hiring service for field plowing than by self-plowing. Self-plowing farmers also subject to a significant level of cost inefficiency.

Adoption of intercropping in rubber smallholdings in Kerala, India: a tobit analysis

Natural rubber (Hevea brasiliensis) is one of the major plantation crops of the state of Kerala in India and intercropping is practised during the initial gestation period of the crop. In this paper a to bit model was used to study the decision making behaviour of farmers in adoption and extent of adoption of intercropping in three regions of Kerala. The availability of family labour and the type of intercrops were found significant in explaining the adoption behaviour in all three regions. The perception of profitability of intercropping was also found to influence decision on adoption. The probability of adoption of intercropping was highest for three intercrops, banana (Musa spp.), cassava (Manihot esculenta) and pineapple (Ananas comosus). Targeting extension efforts to groups of farmers with available family labour and popularising selected intercrops may result in higher rates of adoption of intercropping in all three regions of the state.

The administrative procedures and decisions required when planning a small land settlement scheme in the Seychelles in 1975/1976

The paper outlines the administrative procedures followed and the decisions required when, in 1975/1976, a small land settlement scheme was proposed at the Anse Etoile Estate, North Mahe, Seychelles. After a preliminary survey, detailed data were assembled on specific issues. These included assessment of the future potential market for farm produce, collection of meteorological data for the locality, production of a detailed map of the land suitable for agricultural development, appraisal of necessary land development works, incidence of the crazy ant ( Anoplolepis longipes), farm types and sizes, minimum acceptable level of planned net family income, rent per unit farm, the supply of water and electricity, the provision of an access road to each farm, the design of farm buildings, the provision of a farmer advisory services unit and of training courses for prospective tenants, availability of family labour and the planning of farm enterprises. Areas were then identified where, for planning purposes, either more information is needed or more thought and discussion are required.