Farm-gate Prices Research Articles

Issues in rice marketing system: a case of central terai

This study was conducted to understand the challenges and prospects of ricemarketing by taking case of central Nepal. Two focus group discussionsalong with eight key informants’ interviewswere conductedinBara and Parsa districts of Nepal.Also, secondary information was collected by reviewing the related literatures.The study revealed that the consumer price of rice is almost double than the farm gate price, possibly due to the presence of several intermediaries in different nodes of the supply chain.Key market actors like large collectors, millers and wholesalers have a dominating role in price negotiation and supply of rice in the market. The rice value chain is not strong enough, which might be due to poor vertical and horizontal as well as backward and forward linkages among the key players. The demand of fine and aromatic rice is gradually increasing due to changing food habits of the consumers and their access to purchasing capacity as well.The high yielding short duration varieties of fine and aromatic rice need to be identified and developed to meet the growing demand of consumers.In addition, to boost productivity and profitability of rice, a better investment climate, risk sharing mechanism and strengthened value chain with efficient research and extension services are required.

Government Interventions, Market Integration, and Price Risk in Pakistan’s Punjab

This paper empirically examines the spatial and intertemporal price relations of grains in Pakistan’s Punjab. The salient feature of the paper is that quantity variables such as market surplus and government release are incorporated in the price arbitrage model to quantify the effects of government interventions. Regression analysis using three-year crosssection data shows that the farm-gate prices of wheat after harvest are mostly explained by the government support price while those of Basmati paddy have more unexplained variation. This difference could be due to a difference in the price support mechanism. Investigation on intertemporal price relations shows that wholesale wheat prices regularly increase at the rate of storage costs in the first half of a food year, and that the price rise is repressed by the government release in the second half only in a normal year.

The role of shade tree pruning in cocoa agroforestry systems: agronomic and economic benefits

Cocoa-based agroforests are promoted to replace monocultures for the provision of ecosystem services. However, shade tree pruning, an important tool to sustain cocoa yields, is not commonly implemented. This study investigates the effect of pruning on both agronomic and economic performance. In Bolivia, four famers’ sites were divided in half, and shade trees pruned in one of the two plots. Pruning resulted in a significant increase in cocoa yield, from an average of 430 to 710 kg ha−1 by boosting flowering and pod production, but not reducing the proportion of damaged pods, and of those lost to cherelle wilt. Additionally, scenario calculations using international and organic premium cocoa prices were conducted to evaluate the economic feasibility of pruning. The minimum, mean and maximum yield of 22 local cocoa-based agroforestry farms were used as reference for 25, 50 and 75% yield increase scenarios. Offsetting the pruning costs highly depended on the initial yield levels. Using the minimum yield, all scenarios led to a lower net income compared with no pruning. For the mean yield level, the net income was equal to that obtained without pruning when the yield increase was above 51%. At the maximum yield level, all increase scenarios resulted in a higher net income. Our results prove the importance of pruning agroforestry trees to increase cocoa yields. However, with current farm-gate prices for cocoa, farmers alone cannot cover the extra management costs. The cocoa sector should discuss different strategies to support pruning for a broader adoption of agroforests.

The impact of phosphorus on projected Sub-Saharan Africa food security futures

Sub-Saharan Africa must urgently improve food security. Phosphorus availability is one of the major barriers to this due to low historical agricultural use. Shared socioeconomic pathways (SSPs) indicate that only a sustainable (SSP1) or a fossil fuelled future (SSP5) can improve food security (in terms of price, availability, and risk of hunger) whilst nationalistic (SSP3) and unequal (SSP4) pathways worsen food security. Furthermore, sustainable SSP1 requires limited cropland expansion and low phosphorus use whilst the nationalistic SSP3 is as environmentally damaging as the fossil fuelled pathway. The middle of the road future (SSP2) maintains today’s inadequate food security levels only by using approximately 440 million tonnes of phosphate rock. Whilst this is within the current global reserve estimates the market price alone for a commonly used fertiliser (DAP) would cost US$ 130 ± 25 billion for agriculture over the period 2020 to 2050 and the farmgate price could be two to five times higher due to additional costs (e.g. transport, taxation etc.). Thus, to improve food security, economic growth within a sustainability context (SSP1) and the avoidance of nationalist ideology (SSP3) should be prioritised.

Yield of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) increased by more than two-folds through nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers in the highlands of North-Western Ethiopia

Ethiopia has a huge potential to increase the production and productivity of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) mainly in north-western regions where current potato yields are less than 10 t ha−1. Soil fertility and disease are the major yield-limiting factors of potato in this part of the country. Three-year’s on-farm research was conducted to get the optimum economic levels of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) nutrients for the major potato-growing areas of north-western Ethiopia. A factorial experiment with four levels of N (46, 92, 138, and 194 kg ha−1), three levels of P2O5 (46, 69, and 92 kg ha−1), and one pilot treatment with no NP nutrient inputs was used. A randomised complete block design with three replications was used. The findings of the research showed that more than 40 t ha−1of potato could be attained (about four times the current productivity) in the study areas through NP nutrient management. The yield was increased significantly with an increased rate of N at all sites (p < 0.01). The yield difference was nonsignificant (p > 0.05) between P levels for most of the sites and years. The financial analysis of the findings for Yilmana Densa district indicated that applying 138 N and 46 P2O5 kg ha−1, together, gave a marginal return of (Birr/Birr) 70.9, whereas 138 N and 69 P2O5 kg ha−1 resulted in 10.7. For the South Gondar, 138 N and 46 P2O5 kg ha−1 gave a marginal return of 24.3 (Birr/Birr). Therefore, based on the farm gate price of potato and the cost of fertilizer, 138 N, combined with 69 P2O5 kg ha−1, is recommended for the Yilmana Densa. For the South Gondar, 138 N, combined with 46 P2O5 kg ha−1, is recommended.

On-farm performance of genetically improved scampi (CIFA-GI scampi TM) in carp-scampi polyculture system in Odisha, India

On-farm performance evaluation of the genetically improved variety of freshwater prawn, Macrobrachium rosenbergii christened as CIFA-GI scampiTM was carried out in 14 districts of Odisha State, India during April 2019 to March 2020. Data were collected through personal interview of 46 farmers (28 CIFA-GI scampiTM and 18 non-GI scampi farmers) using a structured questionnaire. Socio-economic profile of two groups of respondents were found to be identical for all the selected variables except education, primary occupation and pond size. Harvest size, absolute growth rate, yield, sale price and gross profit were significantly higher in CIFA-GI scampiTM farmers compared to non-GI scampi farmers though size at stocking, stocking density and survival did not vary between these two groups. It was found that CIFA-GI scampiTM showed 53% higher growth rate, 68% higher yield, fetched 13% higher farm gate price with `0.62 lakh ha-1 crop-1 additional profit compared to non-GI scampi in carp-scampi polyculture system. The input and output parameters of carp component were not significantly different between the groups. The findings of this study highlighted the superiority of the CIFA-GI scampiTM. Thus, the adoption of culture of this improved strain will not only bridge the yield gap but also help in realisation of higher economic benefit to the farmers. Keywords: CIFA-GI scampiTM, Genetically improved prawn, Macrobrachium rosenbergii, Polyculture, Performance assessment, , Socio-economic profile

Estimating production costs and retail prices in different poultry housing systems: conventional, enriched cage, aviary, and barn in Japan

For many producers, introduction of improved animal welfare systems is a turning point in their future production strategies as it increases production costs. The increase in egg retail prices is of growing concern not only for producers, but also for retailers and consumers. However, no report has calculated the estimated production costs or retail prices associated with introducing practices that support improved animal welfare in poultry farms in Japan. Therefore, this study aimed to estimate the production costs and table egg prices of 6 types of laying hen systems: conventional cage (CC): 8- and 12-tiers (CC8, CC12), enriched cage (EC): 8- and 12-tiers (EC8, EC12), aviary (AV), and barn systems (BR). Production costs include land purchases, construction costs of facilities, equipment and machinery, quantity of feed provided, farming materials invested, and wages.As a result, farm gate prices were estimated as CC8 = 12.19, CC12 = 12.19, EC8 = 14.52, EC12 = 14.52, AV = 21.14, and BR = 28.74 [yen/egg], and the production cost, including building the new farm, increased by EC8 = 19.1%, EC12 = 19.1%, AV = 73.4%, and BR = 135.7%, respectively, referring to the value of CC. The results show that the prices increase in systems between CC and BN. The retail price or table egg price was estimated to be CC8 = 24.68, CC12 = 24.68, EC8 = 28.07, EC12 = 28.07, AV = 37.27, and BR = 48.53 [yen/egg]. The retail price of BR is approximately twice that of CC. In addition, assuming that all of Japan's eggs were produced in the BR system, the soaring cost of eggs would likely affect the prices of factory eggs, such as liquid eggs and other products, thus affecting the prices of various food products.Understanding the significant management costs that affect the retail price of eggs would facilitate improved policies and practical approaches to support poultry farms and sustainable farming activities while addressing public concerns.

Estimation of Farmgate Rice Price Using Temporal Causal Modeling and Kalman Filtering

Objectives: To develop a forecasting model for the farmgate prices of rice crop in the Philippines and to improve the derived model forecasts by applying Kalman filters. Methods: The researcher’s utilized monthly rice farmgate price and inflation rate from 1990 to 2015 as training information in building the temporal-causal model. On the other hand, the dataset for rice farmgate price from 2016 to 2020 acted as the testing set, allowing the researchers to determine model accuracy using mean square error, mean absolute error, and mean absolute percentage error. Findings: Results indicate that applying Kalman filters to the derived temporal-causal model indeed improves prediction performance, as evidenced by the lower MSE values. In particular, applying Kalman filter to the derived Temporal-Causal model 15% (without inflation as control input) and 3% (with inflation as control input) decrease in the MSE. In terms of the Temporal-Causal-Kalman filter with no control input, a decrease of 1.8% is observed for the MAE as well as a decrease of 3% in the MAPE, indicating a substantial improvement in the accuracy of the base model. Interestingly though, adding a control-input variable in the Kalman filter generated gave an increase of 4.4% and 3.8% in the MAE and MAPE respectively. This might be due to the not-so-strong correlation between the farmgate price and control input (inflation). Seeking conditions when will external inputs be helpful in enhancing Kalman filters as well as combining the models with other data analytics techniques may be valuable in future research. As for the comparison with nonlinear setups, results for unscaled, partially scaled, and fully scaled artificial neural networks show that Kalman filtering can attain almost on-par prediction performance with such methods. Novelty: This research presented a new scheme of predicting farmgate price. Compared to typical time series models, the derived Temporal-Causal model included inflation as a factor. Moreover, the combination of Temporal-Causal and Kalman filter is a new method for improving forecasts. Keywords: Kalman Filter; Temporal Causal Model Modeling; Price Estimation; Rice Price

The role of smallholder bean farmers in determining farm gate prices for beans in Uganda

BackgroundLike for other agricultural commodities, the bean value chain involves a series of actors including; farmers as producers, middlemen, retailers, wholesalers and exporters. The study explains the common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) marketing constraints faced by smallholder bean farmers and other actors in the bean value market chain that need redress for efficient and effective bean marketing in Uganda. Specifically, the effect of farmer bean production and marketing modes, and limited knowledge about bean market requirements on the final prices received for their beans and their limited ability to demand better prices is explained by the study. A descriptive cross-sectional design was used to collect data from 127 farmers (in strata of trained and non-trained farmers), 34 traders, five input dealers and 40 consumers, using semi structured questionnaires, and interview guides. Quantitative and qualitative data were analysed using SPSS and content analysis, respectively.ResultsTrained farmers produced more beans in the two seasons though the mean difference was not statistically significant from the non-trained farmers. Farmers determine the quantity of beans sold and not the prices. Both trained and non-trained farmers consider the price offered by traders through consultations. Most farmers individually sold their beans with little role in determining prices. Farmers formed groups to better access inputs and improve their bargaining power. Variety, price and quality influenced consumer purchase decisions. NABE 15 K132, NABE4, Yellow and white beans were preferred varieties. Trained farmers sold beans at a higher price of USD 0.505 per kilo gram, while non-trained farmers sold at USD 0.369 per kilo gram. The records kept by majority of the farmers pertain either to dates particular activities were executed or when they received visitors, and could neither be used in determining the bean prices nor costing production.ConclusionsThe constraints faced by the different bean actors provide a basis for developing bean marketing models. Addressing smallholders’ marketing challenges will increase their incomes and boost production. Increase in income through increased prices for farmers will improve farmer living standards as they will be able to meet basic needs. The quantity increase in production will partly address the food insecurity problems through direct consumption and selling the excess to buy other desired foods.

Technical efficiency of onion production in Kebbi State: A Stochastic frontier production function approach

This study investigates onion producers’ technical efficiency level in Kebbi State. Purposive and simple random sampling procedures were adopted in selecting 210 onion producers using structured questionnaire from seven local government areas in the state. Descriptive statistics, gross margin and stochastic frontier production models were employed in describing and analyzing the data. The results showed that producers generated an average gross revenue and gross margin of ₦1,085,692.51 and ₦700,388.33 at farm-gate price, respectively. The coefficients of farm size (0.6779), labour (0.1700) and seed (0.01011) were significantly positive in influencing the onion output, while level of education and household size significantly increased technical efficiency of producers. The technical efficiency of the pooled sample ranges from 0.13 to 0.95 and the mean technical efficiency was 0.78. Production constraints recorded were; high cost of input, pest and disease attack, poor pricing and inadequate government support. In conclusion, onion is a viable agribusiness enterprise for wealth generation and reliable means of small producers’ livelihood and lucrative business for large scale producers. The study recommends the need to identify sustainable interventions through government/nongovernmental support policies to improve input supply system, encourage adult education vide extension service and strengthening linkages among onion producers.

Partnership for Sustainable Coffee Certification: Linking Up Smallholder Farmers to Global Coffee Market

This study examines the impacts of partnerships for sustainability certifications in coffee value chains on farm income in Lampung Province, Sumatra-Indonesia. We conducted farm-household surveys, interviewing 171 samples in West Lampung and Tanggamus Districts, consisting of 98 farmers joining partnership and 73 farmers not joining. A probit model is used to determine decisions to join the partnership; ordinary least square (OLS) is used to analyze the determinants of farm income; and Heckman selection-correction model is used to reduce the selection bias in partnership participation. We find some selection in partnerships for sustainability certifications, driven by the age and education of household head, land holding size of coffee farm and the proximity to rural cooperatives-KUBE. The partnership farmers earn higher farm income than those not joining, due to a higher proportion of productive family members. After employing the treatment-effect model, we find that the partnership for sustainability certifications raises farm income, mostly due to higher coffee yield and farm-gate prices. These results reveal the need for policies to support the establishment and encouragement of partnerships for sustainability certifications. The internal control system (ICS) initiated by coffee corporations in implementing the sustainability certifications have improved the trust level between smallholders and global corporations.

Negotiating politics and power: Perspectives on environmental justice from Jamaica's specialty coffee industry

AbstractThe Jamaican specialty coffee industry operates in an ecologically sensitive landscape that is institutionally, politically and socio‐economically complex. Birthed under colonial rule, the industry has undergone a confluence of events that have shaped its contemporary organisation and exacerbated deeply rooted institutional and structural conditions. Through the lens of environmental justice, the paper sheds light on the plural claims to justice under changing climatic conditions and reveals the politics of adaptation within the context of market capitalism. Using stakeholder interviews, the paper captures the articulations and manifestations of injustice by exploring the local perceptions of procedural justice and justice as recognition. Through an examination of power and politics, the paper begins by contextualising the pre‐existing conditions that shape the disabling environment in which smallholders operate. This includes the neoliberal restructuring of the industry, smallholders' access to low farm gate prices, expensive farm inputs, low‐value chain participation, and limited support services. As these conditions are exacerbated by climate change impacts, the paper then discusses the disparity in justice claims between farmers and industry stakeholders surrounding the deployment of suitable climate change adaptation response. This is an area of contestation, as even though smallholders face multiple stressors, industry leaders have continued to operate the island's major coffee‐producing spaces as areas where profits can be mined and privileges reinforced. Effectively, the smallholder livelihoods embedded within Jamaica's coffee‐producing landscapes have been subjected to asymmetrical structures of power which legitimise whose voices are heard and which adaptation pathway takes precedence, thus generating injustices, nurturing vulnerabilities and stifling agency.

How profitable is switchgrass in Illinois, USA? An economic definition of marginal land

AbstractBackgroundDecisions regarding the conversion of land from an existing crop to bioenergy crops are critical for the sustainable production of both food and fuels. This study seeks to establish criteria for delineating land as “economically marginal”, and thus suited for growing switchgrass.MethodsIn this case study of an Illinois agricultural field, the profitability of switchgrass, with farmgate prices of $44 Mg−1, $66 Mg−1, or $88 Mg−1, was compared to corn and soybean crop prices. Further, the study also evaluates the profitability of switchgrass when replacing corn‐based yield estimates from the Soil Productivity Index (SPI) of Illinois.ResultsBased on a dry‐matter yield of 10.45 Mg ha−1, switchgrass can compete with soybeans only at the high price of $88 Mg−1, but depending on location, can compete with corn at $66 Mg−1. Across Illinois, at $88 ha−1, all Illinois land with SPI &lt; 100% and 95% of land under SPI class C (SPI 100–116) is profitable under switchgrass. Switchgrass may not be profitable relative to corn grown in the SPI class A (SPI &gt; 133) and only 7% of class B (SPI 117–132).ConclusionsOur results show that land with drainage and erosion limitations is economically marginal when corn and soybean yields are low, and the farmgate price for switchgrass is greater than $66 Mg−1. However, this may not be possible on land where switchgrass is replacing frequent soybean rotations (corn–soybean ratio ≤ 1). Land used to produce only soybeans may only be marginal at the farmgate price of $88 Mg−1. Further studies need to be conducted to identify how much land can be converted to switchgrass without harming corn production.

Problem Tree Analysis for Farm Communities along Bicol River Basin, Camarines Sur, Philippines

In the past decades, climate change has become a disruptive issue in agriculture. This paper provides a brief problem analysis of the current status of selected agricultural farmlands along Bicol River basin (BRB) in the province of Camarines Sur. Six barangays from initially identified vulnerable municipalities were assessed on their respective community’s agricultural problems. Two barangays from each from the municipality in Baao, Canaman and Minalabac, were targeted as participating sites in the Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA). The paper aimed to survey insights into the dynamics of problems in agriculture-based problems of these communities and to identify priorities needed for the improvement of farm productivity. A problem tree analysis revealed that sixty-seven percent (67%) of the sites claimed that problem’s root cause was the absence of water source for efficient farming irrigation. Oppositely, thirty-three percent (33%) of the participating communities pinpointed the base problems to prolonged flooding that hampers the ideal farm yield. Other problems mentioned included unavailability of advanced farming technologies, low harvest rates due to climate shift, high cost of farming inputs such as fertilizers and labor, access to farm to market roads, low farm gate price of harvested products and lack of trees to aide in flood prevention. The study further revealed that either water scarcity or effects of rainfall intensities are the key problems faced by agricultural communities in the selected areas.

The UK’s Agri‐food Trade Policies One Year On From Brexit

SummaryIn January 2021 the UK left the EU. Brexit was ‘done’. One year later the shape of Global Britain’s agri‐food trade policies is somewhat clearer. The core EU agreements are a Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA), and a Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland. The protocol meant that Northern Ireland remained in the EU’s Customs Union and Single Market, and in the UK’s Customs Union. It has caused considerable political controversy within Northern Ireland. Implementing these agreements – particularly sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) controls – has proved problematic for traders, and politically controversial. The UK’s new Global Tariff, for products that do not enter on a preferential basis, largely replicates the prohibitively high tariffs on meat, dairy and sugar, the UK inherited from membership of the EU. It has successfully ‘rolled‐over’ FTA agreements the EU had negotiated with over 70 trading partners. New FTAs have been negotiated with Australia and New Zealand. These open‐up the UK’s market to imports of beef, dairy products and sugar, to the chagrin of UK farmers, but the potential benefit of consumers. Existing EU suppliers to the UK face increased competition, and loss of market share. Further trade liberalisation is likely to increase the downward pressure on UK farmgate prices, feeding through to lower consumer prices.

Zinc application rate for optimal profitability of maize production systems in the savanna agroecological zones of Northern Ghana

Although the critical role of zinc (Zn) in maize nutrition and productivity is well documented, there is still a need to determine the most economically justifiable Zn application rate for maize production, particularly in the savanna agroecological zones (AEZs) of northern Ghana where such study is lacking. In a three-year study at six locations across the AEZs, we compared seven Zn application rates, ranging from 0 to 15 kg ha−1 in 2.5 kg intervals, to quantify maize yield responses and determine the economically optimal Zn rate for maize production. Across all experimental sites and for the three growing seasons, maize grain yield with each treatment followed the order 15 kg Zn ha−1 = 12.5 kg Zn ha−1 = 10 kg Zn ha−1 = 7.5 kg Zn ha−1 > 5 kg Zn ha−1 > 2.5 kg Zn ha−1 > control, suggesting that 7.5 kg Zn ha−1 is the optimal Zn application rate. However, based on agro-input prices at the local level and the farm-gate prices of maize, the potential gross profit resulting from Zn application was maximized at 5 kg Zn ha−1. From the combined results, we conclude that, when the production objective is for yield optimization only, an application rate of 7.5 kg Zn ha−1 provides the best results. However, unless premium prices are paid for Zn-enriched maize grains, then Zn application rate of 5 kg ha−1 is economically justified for sustainable and profitable maize production in the Zn-deficient soils of the savanna AEZs of northern Ghana.

Optimizing sulfur fertilizer application rate for profitable maize production in the savanna agroecological zones of Northern Ghana

Although several studies have established the importance of sulfur (S) in increasing maize productivity in the savanna agroecological zones (AEZs) of northern Ghana, the economically optimum S application rate is still unknown. In a two-year study at eight locations across the AEZs, we determined the economically optimum S application rate for S-deficient soils. We compared eight S application rates, ranging from 0 to 70 kg ha−1 at 10 kg intervals, for optimal maize productivity and profitability. The study identified 30 kg S ha−1 as the minimum rate that resulted in a plant tissue S concentration above the critical level of 0.15%. Although increasing the S application rate resulted in increases in maize grain yield, application of S beyond a rate of 30 kg ha−1 resulted in increases in maize grain yield that were not statistically significant and leveled off at 50 kg S ha−1. Application rates ≥50 kg ha−1 resulted in a high proportion of the applied S not taken up by the plant and, thus, subject to losses from the soil. Based on agro-input prices at the local level and the farm-gate prices of maize, the greatest potential profit resulting from S application was observed at 30 kg S ha−1, with a projected average maize yield of between ∼4.2 and 5.3 Mg ha−1, representing >90% of the observed yield with the highest S application rate of 70 kg ha−1. Thus, we conclude that, for sustainable and profitable maize production in S-deficient soils of the savanna AEZs of northern Ghana, an S applications rate of 30 kg ha−1 is economically justified.

Market Integration Analysis of Cayenne Pepper in East Java Province

Market integration research has often been used to evaluate agricultural products' marketing performance. However, the involvement of marketing agencies in chili marketing resulted in a relatively high price difference and impacted market integration. So it is essential to understand how the chili market integration as an effort to improve marketing efficiency and price control policies. The study analyzed the causality and market integration of cayenne pepper prices at the farmers' and retailers' levels in East Java Province. The study used weekly cayenne pepper price data at the farmers' and retailers' levels from 2016 - 2020. The secondary data was obtained from the Department of Industry and Trade of East Java Province. The analytical methods used in this study were Engle-Granger Causality analysis and Error Correction Model (ECM). The findings showed that retail prices caused the farmgate prices, but not the other way. However, the price of cayenne pepper at the farmer and retail level in East Java Province has been integrated. Therefore, this study showed that there needs to be an improvement in the farmers' institutional system to improve the farmers' bargaining position to reduce the power of the selling price control at the farmers' level by traders.

Changing Scenario of Rural Economy in Telangana State: Insights from the Selected Villages of Mahabubnagar District

This study assess and document the changes in the rural economy with special focus on agrarian indicators and modernization of rural economy between 2009 and 2019 through focused-group discussions in ten randomly selected villages in Mahabubnagar district of Telangana State. The data were analyzed by simple statistical tools like averages, percentages to quantify the changes in key indicators. Findings indicated that number of actual cultivators declined by about 30% while, number of tenant farmers has been significantly increased by about 80% between 2009 and 2019 in the selected villages. About three-fourths of farmers and agriculture labourers owned mobile phone and motor-bikes. On an average, 3% of agricultural land every year has been diverted into non-farm uses over the past ten years. There was not much increase in the yield of many crops except paddy over the past ten years. The increase in farm gate prices of major crops are not in par with the increased input prices leading to decline in real profitability in farming. This is the key source of rural crisis in rural Telangana rural distress. Therefore, rural people are facing the problems of poverty and exploitation which is impacting the rural economy.

Impact of COVID 19 on the Production of Sardines in Bulan, Sorsogon, Southern Luzon, Philippines

Sardine fishery is a multimillion industry in Bulan, Sorsogon. It provides opportunity of the smallholders catching fish but also through various interventions across supply chain that include boat and net repairman, traders, brokers, wholesalers, retailers and labors, transportation, processing and canning. The study recorded that sardine’s production in Bulan, Sorsogon was not significantly affected by COVID 19 pandemics with a monthly average production of 16mt and an estimated annual production of 1,887mt but this had reduced income of small-scale sardine fishermen and operators around 40%. Income reduction was attributed mostly to strict implementation of movement and mass gatherings. The research team also identified that limited transport mechanism to local markets and Metro Manila and suburbs along with the social distancing contributed much to the drop of farm gate price of sardine. It was estimated that PhP 11M lost occurred to the total annual income of sardine fishers and operators due to the pandemic.