High Input Prices Research Articles

Estimating the Supply Response of Cured Tobacco at Barn Level in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

Various aspects of tobacco have been examined through different studies. However, input demand and supply response of tobacco at the barn level remains unknown. This study examines profitability, input demand, and supply response of tobacco in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa by employing a normalized restricted trans log profit function. The findings indicate that tobacco production is profitable, and barn owners in the province are responsive to changes in output and input market prices. The use of labor and fuel wood in the processing of green leaves is very important in resource allocation decisions. The demand for labor and fuel wood increases as the price of tobacco output rises at the barn level. Furthermore, higher input prices have anegative effect on the province's tobacco supply. This study suggests that the government should seek an alternative to fuel wood that wouldn't only help in reducing costs but also be beneficial to the environment and prevent deforestation.

Assessment of crop farmers' attitude to risk and management methods in Oyo State, Nigeria

Agricultural sector faces series of risks which befall at different frequencies. This study examined the crop farmers' attitude to risks and their management methods in Ogbomoso, Oyo State, Nigeria. Specifically, the study examined the risk attitude of farming households, and analyzed the risk management strategies adopted by farming households in the study area. A four-stage sampling method was adopted to elicit response from selected 150 farming households for this study. The dataset was analyzed with the use of descriptive and inferential statistics. Safety-First-Model (SFM) was employed to analyze the risk attitude among crop farmers. The result revealed that majority of the farming households head was male and married with the mean age of 42 years and a moderately large household size of five persons and inheritance was the prominent means of farmland acquisition. Descriptive statistics showed that high cost of labor input topped the ranking of the risk source in the study followed by high input prices. Lacks of extension advice, low crop prices, were also common. Risk management methods employed to mitigate risk by majority of the farm families was sale of assets followed by income diversification. The SFM result revealed that all the food crop farmers were intermediate risk averse.

Pricing Above Value: Selling to an Adverse Selection Market

This paper shows that it is possible for intermediate goods to be priced above the value that the good has for final consumers. This happens in sectors selling to adverse selection markets where the cost difference between consumer types is dominated by their elasticity difference. High input prices then help to separate consumer types. An increase in competition can raise prices further. We use the example of pharmaceutical companies selling drugs to a health insurance market at prices exceeding value. Another feature of the model is an excessive private incentive to reduce market size, e.g. in the form of personalized medicine.

Substrato de bagana de carnaúba e aplicação de substâncias húmicas na produção de mudas de maracujazeiro amarelo

ABSTRACT Owing to the high prices of agricultural inputs, it is necessary to seek alternatives that minimize costs during the seedling production stage, such as the use of agro-industrial residues to formulate substrates and the application of humic substances to increase the availability of nutrients. This study aimed to evaluate the production of yellow passion fruit seedlings in substrates based on carnauba bagana under increasing doses of humic substances. The design was completely randomized, in a 3 x 4 factorial scheme, referring to three substrates formulated with carnauba bagana (0, 50 and 100 %) plus soil and four doses of humic substances (0, 12.5, 25 and 50 g L-1). The use of carnauba bagana in the substrate increased the leaf area, plant height, stem diameter, root length, root volume, shoot and root dry mass, and improved the seedlings quality. The application of humic substances to the substrate did not stimulate the seedlings development.

Study of The Behavioral Aspects Related to The Production and Marketing of Balady Lime Among Farmers at some Villages of El-Tahrier District at El-Beheira Governorate

This research is mainly aimed to study the behavioral aspects related to the production and marketing of Balady Lime among farmers at some villages of El-Tahrier District, El-Beheira Governorate, The data were collected using a questionnaire with a personal interview, of 158 respondents' farmers which were randomly selected from the farmers growing Balady Lime at the village of Al-Maraka, El-Tahrier District, and represent about 14% of total holders, during the months of November and December 2020. The data were downloaded and scheduled, using statistical methods such as percentages, means, standard deviation, Pearson's simple correlation coefficient and frequency distribution tables were used to explain and interpret the results. The most important findings of the research showed that: - (32.2%) of the respondents had a lack of knowledge level ranging between low and medium according to the technical recommendations concerned with the production and marketing of the Balady Lime, while (54.4%) of them had a low and moderate level of total implementation of the technical recommendations concerned with the production and marketing of the Balady Lime. - A progressive and significant correlation between the respondents' knowledge level as a first dependent variable and (Age, area of ​​agricultural land, Balady Lime grown area, years of experience in Balady Lime farming), and the degree of the respondents' implementation to the technical recommendations concerned with the production and marketing of the Balady Lime as a second dependent variable and (Age, area of ​​agricultural land, Balady Lime grown area, years of experience in Balady Lime farming). - The most important problems facing the Balady Lime respondents farmers was the high prices of agricultural inputs, the spread of Gummosis disease, the dangerous and rapid spread of various insect, fungal and viral pests, the high costs of treatment disease and insect injuries, the low price of the crop, the control by traders of supply prices, the high cost of harvesting and the lack of availability of manufacturing.

Dynamic pathways of barriers and opportunities for food security and climate adaptation in Southern Mali

Barriers to food security and climate adaptation operate in complex and dynamic ways but are often perceived as static impediments to be overcome. In this study, we apply systems thinking for the assessment of barriers in agricultural decision-making for food security and climate adaptation. Using a mixed-method approach of participatory simulation game design and causal loop diagrams, we explore the dynamic pathways through which barriers inhibit farmers from achieving food security and climate adaptation in Southern Mali. Results show that the key barriers in the region are financial, land, and climate-related barriers including unavailability of formal credit sources, high input prices, inadequate land access and ownership rights, time and labor constraints in collective vs individual plots, and climate risks such as early and late season droughts, high temperature, excessive rainfall, water scarcity, and pest incidences. These barriers operate in complex, interdependent, and dynamic ways where factors that act as enablers in one context can also function as barriers in another context. We see such interdependencies in three cases: i) access to interlocked credit and loans for cotton cultivation acts as enablers of income generation for male farmers but become barriers to female farmers who do not cultivate cotton ii) land ownership and land use rights for male farmers act as enablers for cultivation of income-generating cash and food crops but acts as a barrier for female farmers by way of intra-household labor dynamics within collective plots iii) increase in land allocation to cotton and maize cultivation acts as enablers for increased household income but becomes a barrier to food security due to higher vulnerability to climate risks. Assessment of causal loop diagrams identified deep and shallow leverage points. Policies and interventions that focused on input subsidies and credit facilities are shallow leverage points where incremental changes will only lead to small improvements in farmers’ livelihoods. Policies that support improved access and ownership of land to female farmers are deep leverage points that can potentially shift the dominant cropping pattern to more diversified and climate-resilient production.

Economic Efficiency of Fish Hatcheries in Fayoum Governorate: Data Envelopment Analysis Model (DEA) الکفاءة الاقتصادية للمفرخات السمکية في محافظة الفيوم: نموذج تحليل مغلف البيانات

This research aims at measuring the economic efficiency of fish hatcheries in Fayoum governorate, where a primary data of five licensed operating fish hatcheries was used to achieve this aim. Results revealed that economic efficiency in case of a constant return to scale was totally achieved in the first hatchery, while it was also high in both the second and fifth hatcheries by about 95% and 99%, respectively. The least efficient hatcheries were the third and the fourth hatcheries with an efficiency of about 89% and 82% respectively. Therefore there is a need to increase production in both hatcheries by 11% and 18% respectively to reach the optimum size. The economic efficiency in the case of a variable return to scale was estimated too, where efficiency index was one in the first, fourth, and fifth hatcheries, while the economic efficiency was also high in both the second and the third hatcheries by about 95% and 90% respectively. Fish hatcheries in Fayoum governorate suffer from various problems such as, decreased quantities of agricultural drainage water received, marketing inabilities of fish hatcheries’ owners, weak financing capacity of fish hatcheries’ holders, difficult licensing procedures, and high prices of production inputs used in fish hatching process. The study recommends expanding the establishment of fish hatcheries in the Fayoum governorate, as they produce the basic core of fish farming, which is the fry, with an emphasize on the need to overcome the problems and obstacles it faces.

Potato Production and Marketing by Small Holder Farmers in Ethiopia፡ A Review Study

Potato (Solanum Tuberosum L.) was originated in the central high lands of the Andes in South America and was brought to Europe in the 16th century. It is the world’s fourth most widely cultivated food crop after wheat, rice and maize. Ethiopia has considerable potential for potato cultivation, as 70 percent of its arable land is suitable mainly highland areas above 1500 meters of altitude. Also, the country is one of the major producers in Eastern Africa because of its suitable agro-ecology and its domestic consumption levels. The main objective of the review was to know potato production and marketing status by small holder farmers in Ethiopia. The data were collected from secondary sources mainly from FAOSTAT, CSA and different published materials on production and marketing chain in Ethiopia. The general idea of the review shows that Ethiopia has potential for potato production but lack of certified improved seed for potato producers, local seed multipliers have limited access to information and depend on low-quality local potato varieties selected and multiplied according to individual knowledge, the high cost of agro-chemicals either refuse to purchase fertilizer or apply inadequate amounts per hectare. In addition, the use of the same type of chemicals repeatedly allows pests and diseases to develop resistance. The major constraints of potato marketing involve poor storage and handling and low upgrading strategies to the commodity. Lack of market information providing institutions, higher input price, multiple taxes, and chemical herbicides, adulteration, absence of road service, poor product quality and high cost of input, weak market linkages among market. Therefore, the government and other concerned bodies should focus on increasing production and productivity of potato which in turn focused for establishing well potato market development for mutual benefits of all actors. Keywords: Potato, Production, Marketing, Ethiopia DOI: 10.7176/JNSR/12-16-02 Publication date: August 31 st 2021

La agricultura de los Andes venezolanos: De la intensificación a la crisis, 1960-2019

The Venezuelan Andes constituted one of the poorest regions of the country during the 1950s-1960s. This region was affected by oil exploitation and rapid urbanization. However, with the introduction of irrigated horticulture at that time, the Andean production systems were radically changed with the development of crops of high commercial value. For several decades, the Venezuelan Andes were an important source of enrichment and a new growth pole for the country. From the 1990s, however, with the intensification of horticultural activities, problems began to manifest themselves in both socio-economic and environmental terms. This process was accentuated from 2013 with the economic, political and social crisis that continues to affect Venezuela. Today the country's Andean farmers face several obstacles (fuel shortages, dollarization of the economy, loss of consumer purchasing power, high input prices) that make agricultural investment particularly risky. In a context of food shortages and hyperinflation, subsistence farming is returning to the Venezuelan Andes, allowing farmers to produce enough food for themselves and their families.

Impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic response on aquaculture farmers in five countries in the Mekong Region

Public health measures aimed at reducing the spread of COVID-19 can have significant, unintended impacts on livelihoods. In this paper, we assess the impacts of responses to the COVID-19 pandemic on aquaculture farmers in five countries in the Mekong Region. A total of 1,019 farmers were surveyed (June–August 2020). The COVID-19 pandemic reduced farmer mobility, disrupted input and produce logistics, and reduced consumer demand, which in turn, reduced net income relative to expectations and increased the likelihood of making a net loss in the first half of 2020. Large aquaculture farms were more likely to experience adverse impacts from higher input prices and lower fish market prices than small farms. Intensive and commercial farms were more likely to be affected by supplier and buyer logistic disruptions. Coping responses included adjustments to stocking practices, reducing labor inputs, finding new markets, drawing on savings, and borrowing money. Large farms were more likely to seek new markets and borrow money. Easier loan conditions and direct cash handouts by governments helped in some locations and were desired in others. Significant differences among countries in impacts and responses reflect market and trade dependencies, as well as government capacity and willingness to support the aquaculture industry.

Input price discrimination with passive partial ownership

ABSTRACT Passive partial ownership (PPO) is commonly practised in many industries. When operating profits of stock-owned firms decrease, stock-holding firms will increase output to reduce capital gain through owned firms’ stocks. In a vertically related market with downstream PPO, consumer and total surpluses when input price discrimination is allowed may be larger than when it is banned because PPO mitigates effects of reduction in output caused by higher input price.

PERSEPSI PETANI KENTANG TERHADAP AKSES LEMBAGA KEUANGAN SYARIAH DI KECAMATAN PASIRWANGI, KABUPATEN GARUT

Pasirwangi Subdistrict is one of potato production centers in West Java. The need of financ e from sharia financial institutions because their lack of capital, uncertain product availability and high production input prices. Sharia finance institution put less interest in financing agricultural business because agricultural sector have a high risk. This research aims to analyze potato farmers' perceptions of access sharia financ e institutions. This research applied descriptive analysis in particular cross tabulation. The results showed that there we re convenience, continuity, and flexibility access sharia financ e institution, but there we re not availability access sharia financ e institution

Small Farm Households’ Vulnerabilities in South Cotabato, Philippines

Low-productivity subsistence agriculture still prevails in many areas in the Philippines such as in the Municipality of Lake Sebu in the Province of South Cotabato in Mindanao. This study employs primary data collection methods, namely key informant interview (KII), focus group discussion (FGD) and a household survey to assess the conditions and problems constraining farming households in Lake Sebu. The study finds that constraints on sourcing and financing of farm inputs and on marketing of produce have perpetuated the dominating role of middlemen in agricultural financing and marketing that result in high input prices and low farm-gate output prices, and hence minimal net income for the farmers. The paper concludes with specific policy and program recommendations to achieve maximum and sustainable farming benefits, namely, an expansive farm-to-market infrastructure program, an institution and business support intervention program to link farmers and markets, conditional cash farming subsidies in lieu of direct provision of farm inputs, and crop diversification promotion and support programs.

Farmers’ Points of Views of Rural Issues and Their Recommendations for Solutions

The primary purpose of this study was to investigate the major problems encountered by farmers operated in Carsamba District of Samsun Province, and also possible solution recommendations proposed by the participants. A stratified sample of 350 farmers was contacted through face to face interviews in the Summar of 2016. Respondents were qualitatively asked to list the most important problems they faced in their agricultural activities as well as non-agricultural occupations in rural areas. A questionnaire was developed to collect data on farmers’ socioeconomic characteristics and problems encountered during their production process, and their stay in the rurality. Farmers’ recommendations for the solutions of their problems to the problems they identified were also asked in open-ended questions. Both quantitative and qualitative methods were used for data analysis. Descriptive statistics included frequencies, standard deviations, means, and percentages were used to analyze the socio-economic characteristics of farmers. Since this study was focused on the farmers' points of views of their problems and solutions, their comments on the open-ended questions were noted by the researchers during the data collection process. Farmers’ responses on the main problems they faced were categorized considering the most frequently mentioned and stressed issues relating to farming and rural livelihoods. Research results showed that the major problems faced by farmers were lack of marketing opportunities for the farm commodities they produced, high input prices, improper shape and low- level production capacity of the lands owned by farmers, problems with plant protection, and lack of extension and training activities. Farmers suggest that the government should take more initiative to solve these problems. The results of this study are expected to provide useful information for farmers farmers’ organizations, the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, and non- governmental agencies in the region.

دراسة تحليلية لسلسلة القيمة لمحصول البطاطس بمحافظة المنوفية

دراسة تحليلية لسلسلة القيمة لمحصول البطاطس بمحافظة المنوفية

Environmental risks among rice farmers and factors influencing their risk perceptions and attitudes in Punjab, Pakistan.

Farming community confronted with sundry type of risks while production and environmental risks are more significant. Farms management decisions and operations are considerably influenced by farmers' perceptions and attitude to risks. Risk management issues specific to cereals crops not properly focused in developing countries specifically to Pakistan, so this gap tried to address in this study. This research work was spotlighted to quantify farmers' perception and attitude of diverse form of risks toward rice crop in Pakistan. The present study used cross-sectional data of 450 rice farmers categorized as low, medium, and high production base six rice districts of Punjab, Pakistan. In attempting to identify farmers attitude to risk, the study used Equally Likely Certainty Equivalent approach, as farmers' perception were ranked in four catastrophic risk basis, rice diseases, high input prices, drought, and heavy rainfall and hail, by risk matrix. In estimating the factors influencing farmers' attitude and perceptions to risk, the study used Probit model. Farmers believe heavy rainfall and hails, high input prices, drought, and rice disease major threats for rice crop while mostly farmer is risk-averse behavior as indicated in the results of the study. Estimates of the study signified as education, gender, size of farm, religious, age, credit, off-farm income, farmer livestock, and experience of farming significantly influences farmer risk perception and risk attitude. This research provided applied and suitable investigation for farming community, extension services, researchers, agricultural policymakers, and insurance institutions. Farmers confronting risk and their attitude need to understand by researcher and policymakers' access them accurate information regarding sophisticated tools of risk management and risks to make sure the provision of advance extension services and agricultural finance. In formulating applied policy measures, it is prerequisite for researchers and policymakers to accurate understanding of local environmental conditions, crop-related threats, and farmers' perceptions and attitude.

English

This study was conducted with the aim of finding how rumen contents are used in livestock diets, problems encountered and areas that needs improvement to enhance livestock production. One hundred livestock farmers from Kampala, Wakiso and Mukono districts were interviewed using a structured questionnaire. The results showed that majority of the work force involved in livestock farming were middle aged adults between 30 and 45 years contributing 37% of total work force; this was followed by young adults between 20 and 30 years contributing 26% of the work force. The highest household (HH) size was (1-5) people contributing 68% of the total HH structure. Poultry farming, indigenous birds in particular were the most practiced enterprise among the respondents. High feed input prices (67%) were reported as the biggest problem faced by livestock farmers, followed by feed adulteration (44%). The use of peels and industrial by-products was reported as the most commonly used alternative feeding strategies to increasing feed prices. The use of rumen contents was still low and limited to pigs and layers. Inadequate knowledge in relation to rumen content inclusion rates in livestock diets was reported as the major hindrance to utilization of rumen contents in livestock. In general, farmers need sensitization from extension staff and research scientists with regard to efficient use of rumen contents in livestock diets. Key words: Feed scarcity, inclusion levels, rumen content processing.

Assessing Farmer’s Perception Towards Improved Quncho Teff Variety in Gindeberet District, West Showa Zone, Oromia Region Ethiopia

Tef is among the major cereal crops in the Horn of Africa particularly in Ethiopia where it is number one in terms of land allocated to its cultivation. This crop is the major staple food crop to most of the Ethiopian people living in the highlands which comprise more than 65% of the population. This study was aimed at analyzing farmers’ perception towards improved Quncho teff varieties and constraints faced in producing improved teff variety in Gindeberet district. A descriptive survey design was adopted in which 150 respondents were randomly selected from six Peasant association of the district to collect the required data. The study result revealed that depending on the items developed for this study among the given agreements perception on high yield potential of the variety, increase production and yield, availability of the technology on production and agro-ecological suitability of the variety had showed relatively best performance of the varieties, whereas availability of the improved seed at the right time with its quality and disease resistance of the crop indicates relatively poorest agreement compared to all other characteristics of level of agreements considered. The overall finding revealed that, the government and other stakeholders should invest in farmer training since it enables farmers to understand well technologies and perceive their benefits increasing their probability to adopt agricultural technologies and provide adequate extension services and solve un availability of improved seed at the right time, high prices of inputs particularly improved seeds, pesticides and fertilizers in the district.

Review on Production and Marketing of Wheat in Ethiopia

Among the most important crops grown in Ethiopia wheat is one, both as a source of food and income generating venture for farmers in the country. Wheat and wheat products represent 14% of the total caloric intake in Ethiopia. Wheat is a cereal crop, which is produced in most parts of Ethiopia. Ethiopia is the second next to Egypt in Africa in wheat production which is 4.54 million tons. This study was aimed at reviewing wheat production and marketing in Ethiopia, with specific objectives of reviewing the wheat Production, supply and its Constraints in Ethiopia, major Marketing actors and function of wheat in Ethiopia, marketing structure, conduct and performance of wheat in Ethiopia as well as constraints and opportunities of wheat marketing in Ethiopia. The data were collected from secondary sources mainly from FAOSTAT, CSA and different published materials on wheat market chain in Ethiopia. The general idea of the review shows that Ethiopia has potential for wheat production but the two sides of agricultural constraints are production and marketing from the producer side faced with Rain failure, higher fertilizer price and delayed delivery, Soil erosion, Labor shortage, Lack of credit access, Lack of Draft power and Prevalence of crop diseases. On marketing side, lack of market information providing institutions, higher input price, multiple taxes, chemical herbicides adulteration, absence of road service, poor product quality and high cost of input, weak market linkages among market. In wheat marketing, the major actors identified during the review were; producers, farmer traders, urban assemblers, wholesalers, retailers, processors (millers, flour mill), consumers and commission agent. The market actors involved in different activities (wholesaling, retailing, assembly). Therefore, the government and other concerned bodies should focus on increasing production and productivity of wheat which in turn focused for establishing well wheat market development for mutual benefits of all actors.

Plant Density Influences Reproductive Growth, Lint Yield and Boll Spatial Distribution of Cotton

The number of cotton plants grown per unit of ground area has gained attention due to the high prices of inputs and lower production. Cotton yield per unit of area in Henan province has been stagnant in the last few years. The objectives of this study were to investigate cotton growth, yield, boll spatial distribution and biomass accumulation using different plant densities at cultivation and to find out the optimal plant density. A 2-year field experiment was conducted in a randomized complete block design under six plant densities (D1, 15,000; D2, 33,000; D3, 51,000; D4, 69,000; D5, 87,000 and D6, 105,000 ha−1). Cotton grown at lower plant density produced taller plants and high number of leaves per plant while greater number of branches, fruiting nodes and high number of bolls per unit of ground area were produced under high plant density. Boll retention rate decreased as plant population increased and at nodes 1–8 the rate decreased slowly and then increased dramatically. The highest seed cotton yield (4546 kg ha−1) and lint yield (1682 kg ha−1) was produced by D5. The seed cotton and lint yield produced by D5 were 51–55%, 40–37%, 22–26%, 11–15%, 12–15%, 28–30%, 21–24%, 15–20%, 7–13% and 13–17% higher than D1, D2, D3, D4 and D6 during both years of experimentation, respectively. The increase in seed yield was due to higher biomass accumulation in reproductive organs under D5 plant density. The highest average (110.4 VA kg ha−1 d−1) and maximum (126 VM kg ha−1 d−1) rate of reproductive organs biomass was also accumulated by D5 as compared to other plant densities. The results suggest that D5 is the optimal plant density for high reproductive biomass accumulation and high yield for the area of Henan province.