Rural Household Production Research Articles

A Stochastic Frontier Analysis of the Performance of Livestock in the North-Eastern Cape Communal Rangelands, South Africa

This paper examined the technical efficiency of livestock in Eastern Cape Province, South Africa, to improve the understanding of the performance of livestock production of rural households in the communal rangelands. Surveys from 120 households were used to estimate a stochastic frontier model to assess livestock production's technical efficiency (TE) amongst households in a communal production environment where rangelands are the primary source of fodder. The estimated coefficients of the stochastic frontier model indicated that livestock units (LSU) and costs of additional feed supplements positively influenced livestock output per household. Management practices such as livestock kraaling and livestock herding influenced TE positively. An average technical efficiency score of 0.79 was estimated among households, suggesting that an improvement in efficiency could be achieved if proper interventions were employed. These interventions may include programmes such as the Extended Public Work Programmes to provide livestock herding support, gender-sensitive strategies that support the inclusion of women in livestock production, and other labour inputs related to animal husbandry. Lastly, this study provided essential information in understanding livestock production and informed policy about possible interventions that could potentially improve livestock production in rangelands.

Impact of relaxing internal-migration restrictions on agricultural TFP of rural households: evidence from China

ABSTRACT In this paper, we study how a significant relaxation of internal migration restrictions affects the agricultural total factor productivity of rural households, taking advantage of the 2014 Hukou reform in China. This reform completely removed the migration restrictions for cities with an urban population of less than 0.5 million (towns and small cities) but left the migration restrictions in megacities unchanged. We find that the reform has significantly contributed to the off-farm transfer of rural labour and increased the agricultural TFP of rural households. Further mechanistic analysis shows that the reform increased the level of agricultural mechanization of rural households and facilitated the subcontracting of land by low productivity farmers.

Transfer of farmland operation rights and improvement of productivity of farmers: theory and empirical evidence

PurposeThe results of this study have significant policy implications for charting a new course toward enhancing agricultural productivity among Chinese farmers.Design/methodology/approachBy establishing a rural household decision-making model based on the transfer market of farmland operation rights, this paper systematically analyzes the effects of land transfer-in and land transfer-out on the productivity (per labor income) of rural households. The authors conducted basic regression analysis and robustness tests using propensity score-matching and proxy variable approaches based on the micro survey data from rural households in 30 counties in 21 provinces/municipalities/autonomous regions in 2013.FindingsAfter the completion of land transfer, the total productivity of rural households transferring in lands will increase with an increase in the agricultural productivity; the total productivity of rural households transferring out land will increase due to a rise in non-agricultural productivity and the absolute total productivity of rural households not involved in land transfer will remain unchanged.Originality/valueUnlike previous literature, this paper discusses the impacts of land transfer-in and transfer-out on total productivity, agricultural productivity and non-agricultural productivity among various rural households (i.e. those transferring in land, transferring out land or which are self-sufficient).

Is increasing income the only reason for rural labor mobility?—A case study of Heilongjiang, China

IntroductionIt is widely known that rural labor mobility is of the utmost importance for the livelihoods of families in rural areas of developing countries. While it increases the income and overall labor productivity of rural households, it also creates many inevitable rural recessions. Existing studies have different views on whether increasing income is the only reason for rural labor mobility.MethodsThis paper discusses the influencing factors of rural labor mobility and investigates research on the causes of rural labor mobility. To do so, the study analyzes micro-survey data of 47 villages in 13 cities in Heilongjiang province, China, from 2014 to 2019. Considering the basic situation of rural families and labor mobility, the actual demand for rural laborers in Heilongjiang province is also analyzed.ResultsThe research results show that increasing income is not the only reason for the flow of rural labor, and that rural labor mobility requires more than just rising incomes.DiscussionThis study's main contribution is identifying that increased income does have a positive and significant impact on rural labor mobility, but seeking job opportunities, pursuing better-quality education for children, and developing prospects are significant factors in the current rural labor mobility.

Impact of social capital on agricultural productivity of rural households in Burkina Faso: propensity score matching approaches

Impact of social capital on agricultural productivity of rural households in Burkina Faso: propensity score matching approaches

Impact of social capital on agricultural productivity of rural households in Burkina Faso: propensity score matching approaches

Impact of social capital on agricultural productivity of rural households in Burkina Faso: propensity score matching approaches

Evidence-Based Design Process for Nutrition-Sensitive Agriculture Interventions: A Case Study of the Advancing Local Dairy Development Programme in Nigeria.

Nigeria is a significant contributor to the global burden of chronic undernutrition in children under 5 years of age. The undernutrition challenge constrains the productivity of rural households. This study was carried out among beneficiaries of the productivity-enhancing Nigerian Dairy Development Programme (NDDP) to guide incorporation of nutrition into the successor program-Advancing Local Dairy Development in Nigeria (ALDDN). Therefore, this study contributes to the literature about operationalizing nutrition-sensitive agricultural frameworks. The study sought to determine potential entry points for improving the nutrition of smallholder dairy farmers (≤ 5 milk cows) with a focus on food system entry points. Primary data were collected from 514 smallholder dairy households in Oyo and Kano states of Nigeria. Both quantitative and qualitative data were collected. Quantitative data collected included minimum dietary diversity for women, nutrition status, and socioeconomic characteristics of households. Qualitative data included information about sources of food, markets, and other food system characteristics. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistical tools and correlation analysis, while common themes were identified from qualitative data. The study showcased men's important role in food purchase and consumption, particularly in Kano. Increasing opportunities and the ability of women to use nutrition education appeared necessary for translating knowledge into improved practices. The own consumption (i.e., the portion of the milk kept for households' consumption as well as diversification of foods produced for consumption); income; women's empowerment; and environmental sanitation pathways seemed to be the most feasible pathways for improving nutrition within the context of the study population.

The Rural Household Production of Health Approach: Applying Lessons from Zambia to Rural Cancer Disparities in the U.S.

The recent focus on rural–urban cancer disparities in the United States (U.S.) requires a comprehensive understanding of the processes and relations that influence cancer care seeking and decision making. This is of particular importance for Black, Latino, and Native populations living in rural areas in the U.S., who remain marginalized in health care spaces. In this article, we describe the household production of health approach (HHPH) as a contextually-sensitive approach to examining health care seeking and treatment decisions and actions. The HHPH approach is based on several decades of research and grounded in anthropological theory on the household, gender, and therapy management. This approach directs analytical attention to how time, money, and social resources are secured and allocated within the household, sometimes in highly unequal ways that reflect and refract broader social structures. To demonstrate the benefits of such an approach to the study of cancer in rural populations in the U.S., we take lessons from our extensive HHPH research in Zambia. Using a case study of a rural household, in which household members had to seek care in a distant urban hospital, we map out what we call a rural HHPH approach to bring into focus the relations, negotiations, and interactions that are central to individual and familial health care seeking behaviors and clinical treatment particular to rural regions. Our aim is to show how such an approach might offer alternative interpretations of existing rural cancer research in the U.S. and also present new avenues for questions and for developing interventions that are more sensitive to people’s realities.

Northern Thai Homegardens: Towards a Comprehensive Analysis of Rural Household Production Systems

Northern Thai Homegardens: Towards a Comprehensive Analysis of Rural Household Production Systems

Impacts of Health Services on Agricultural Labor Productivity of Rural Households in Burkina Faso

AbstractThis article has used the method of instrumental variables to evaluate the impact of health services on the productivity of rural households’ farming labor in Burkina Faso. The distance from the household's homestead to the Health and Social Promotion Center (HSPC) was considered as an instrumental variable. The results revealed that resorting to a HSPC in case of an unexpected illness in the rainy season significantly improves the farm labor productivity by FCFA 3170.5880 per person-day. For improving agricultural productivity, we suggest that public decision-makers should focus on the availability and the quality of HSPC services in rural areas.

Improving Technical Support to Enhance Productivity of Rural Community in Boloso Sore and Boloso Bombe Woredas, Wolaita Zone, SNNPR, Ethiopia

The study aimed at how to improve the technical support to enhance productivity of rural community in Boloso Sore and Boloso Bombe Woredas/Districts of Ethiopia. It employed both quantitative and qualitative study design. The study used questionnaire, KII and FGD guides to gather primary data and the secondary data were collected via desk review. The results of this study affirmed that serious efforts have been made and large amount of resources have been invested by Wonta Rural Development Association to improve the livelihood situation of the rural household. The viability and scope of supports made by the Wonta Rural Development Association to improve household productivity and intend to create rural employment worked out good in the areas of dairy goat and community based organizations like self help groups for savings. The productivity of horticulture, poultry and other activities were found inferior during the study period. Engagement of key stakeholders, continuous monitoring and evaluation schemes, feedback from end users among others to enhance technical support were slim. The study has suggested a conceptual model to improve rural household production and productivity to enhance household food security, to promote rural job opportunity and to introduce and apply value chain in rural context.

How to improve the welfare of smallholders through agricultural production outsourcing: Evidence from cotton farmers in Xinjiang, Northwest China

Using a sample of cotton farmers in Xinjiang, China, this study analyses the impact of outsourcing agricultural services on three aspects of household welfare: family income, consumption expenditure and ease of labour. It separately examines the impact of outsourcing each stage of agricultural production. The three main results are as follows. (1) Overall, the outsourcing of agricultural production improves the welfare of small farmers by increasing family income, increasing consumer spending and improving ease of labour. (2) There are differences in the welfare effects of outsourcing in different production links of farmers. The outsourcing of field management link and field preparation link has a significant impact on improving the welfare of farmers. Their average treatment effects on household income, consumption expenditure and ease of labour are [1.60, 1.75], [0.39, 0.28] and [1.20, 1.02], respectively. The outsourcing of harvesting only has a significant impact on household income, the average treatment effect is 2.09, but it has no significant effect on consumer spending and ease of labour. (3) The differences in the resource endowments of peasant households means that there are differences in the scale and nature of the welfare benefits of outsourcing different stages of production. Furthermore, the differences in the resource endowments of southern and northern Xinjiang result in significant regional differences in the welfare effects of outsourcing rural household production.

Socio-Economic Factors for Anthill Soil Utilization by Smallholder Farmers in Zambia

In this study, we surveyed two districts of Zambia—Choma and Pemba. The aim of this study was to obtain the perspective of farmers on anthill soil utilization practices for key information that could contribute towards the development of an anthill soil based research agenda. The study employed both a qualitative and quantitative method approach to gather data from the respondents, which included farmers and key informants. Qualitative data was analyzed using the triangulation method and Computer Assisted Qualitative Data Analysis Software (CAQDAS), Nvivo version 10, while data generated from quantitative interviews with a smart phone Application (Open Data Kit) were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). Results revealed that the key hurdles to the utilization of anthill soil lay in agro-climatic, biophysical, technological, land and institutional constraints. Broadly, farmers reported poor rainfall patterns (95%), decreasing soil fertility (70%), limited farm products (69%), finance (66%), limited access to research and extension services (55%) and security of land tenure (48%) as major constraints. We therefore advocate for strengthenedinstitutional linkages between research and extension for information dissemination, which would aid in decision-making used to promote integrated soil fertility management for improved agriculture production and productivity of rural households.

Credit Constraints and Agricultural Productivity of Rural Households in Nigeria

This study, employing descriptive statistics and the Endogenous Switching Model, examined the link between credit constrained condition and agricultural productivity of rural households in Nigeria. Findings show that under credit constrained condition, education, labour, technology and other production inputs were not optimally utilized by the households. Credit constrained households had lower productivity than a random household from the sample would have had. However, in credit constrained households, being a male-headed household implied higher productivity. On the other hand, high value of assets and cost of hired labour had negative effects on productivity, while level of education and access to information had no significant effects. The study thus recommended intensification of efforts at ensuring the formulation of rural credit policies that will provide access to a reasonable amount of credit to rural households to secure required farm inputs, while formal credit institutions should diversify their loan scheme to incorporate different financial needs of the households.

Drivers of rural-urban migration and impact on food security in rural Tanzania

This paper contributes to (1) the Valletta action plan by identifying root causes of migration in Africa, and (2) the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda reflecting the close links between migration and development. Our objectives are to identify drivers of rural-urban migration in Tanzania and to examine its impact on food security. The analyses are based on survey data of 900 rural households in the Dodoma and Morogoro districts of Tanzania from 2013. The logistic regression revealed that several household characteristics such as age of the household head, household size, and dependency ratio, but also employment and welfare status determine whether any household member migrates from the rural area to an urban area. Households from the more remote and food insecure Dodoma district were more likely to have migrants looking for jobs than households from Morogoro district. The Propensity Score Matching approach revealed that migration significantly worsens the food security status of rural migrant households in terms of access, availability and stability. This outcome is explained by the loss in labor input, leading to lower agricultural productivity of rural households, which cannot be compensated by the transfer of remittances from their respective migrants. Thus, migration does not always function as a pathway out of food insecurity in developing countries.

The effects of labour migration on rural household production in inland China: Do landform conditions matter?

AbstractThe large‐scale rural to urban migration, generating sizable remittances, is often considered as an important means to help reduce poverty in rural China. However, penury is still stubbornly haunting the mountainous rural areas of inland China where numerous rural–urban migrants originate. Neglected in the current literature, the landform conditions are vital to explain the diverse effects of labour migration on rural household production in China. By adopting a revised simultaneous equation model, this study explores empirically how variations in regional landform conditions configure the effect of labour migration on rural household production using the data from our 2013 survey of migration intentions among rural labourers in China. The results show that remittances exert a substitution effect on agricultural production of rural households in the mountainous areas but have a promotive effect in the plain and hilly areas. Labour cutback imposes a less negative influence on agricultural production of rural households residing in the plain and hilly areas than in the mountainous areas. The effects of remittances and labour cutback on nonagricultural production of rural households are positive and negative, respectively, although these effects are insensitive to the variation in landform conditions. As a consequence, local wage level of rural households is more difficult to be improved by labour migration in the mountainous areas. Therefore, it is likely to lead to excessive labour migration and poverty trap.

Productivity Implications of Participation in Export Activities: The Case of Farmers in Talas Oblast of Kyrgyzstan

A regional shift in haricot bean production occurred in Talas Oblast in Kyrgyzstan during the last decade. Almost half of the agricultural land in the region is now dedicated to bean cultivation, primarily for export outside the Central Asian region. This paper includes an overview of the region, agricultural production and trade statistics, and an empirical analysis of rural household production, with a focus on the land productivity of bean farmers and other micro scale producers. The analysis is based on the cross-section survey of 297 rural households and analyze agricultural production in Talas Oblast during the 2010-2011 season. A positive correlation exists between the choice to produce beans and higher agricultural output among the sampled households. The location of the land and the altitude zone are important conditions for land productivity and bean productivity in Talas

Analisa Permintaan Pangan: Bukti Empiris Teori Rumah Tangga Pertanian

Most of demand parameters of rural households in Indonesia estimated by applying conventional neo-classical demand model. This model is not appropriate to predict the complex nature of rural household consumption decisions. The complex nature of rural household's production and consumption decisions was approached in this study by applying the farm household model. In this study two hundred and forty-one households in six villages of the Cimanuk River Basin of West Java were analysed. Results from the conventional model and new model were compared and discussed.

Where is the future of China’s biogas? Review, forecast, and policy implications

This paper discusses the history and present status of different categories of biogas production in China, most of which are classified into rural household production, agriculture-based engineering production, and industry-based engineering production. To evaluate the future biogas production of China, five models including the Hubbert model, the Weibull model, the generalized Weng model, the H–C–Z model, and the Grey model are applied to analyze and forecast the biogas production of each province and the entire country. It is proved that those models which originated from oil research can also be applied to other energy sources. The simulation results reveal that China’s total biogas production is unlikely to keep on a fast-growing trend in the next few years, mainly due to a recent decrease in rural household production, and this greatly differs from the previous goal set by the official department. In addition, China’s biogas production will present a more uneven pattern among regions in the future. This paper will give preliminary explanation for the regional difference of the three biogas sectors and propose some recommendations for instituting corresponding policies and strategies to promote the development of the biogas industry in China.

Household level spillover effects from biofuels: Evidence from castor in Ethiopia

The indirect effects of biofuels are mostly considered negative. In this paper, we argue that there may be a positive indirect effect of biofuels on food security and poverty. Using micro-level evidence and a matched plot pair design through which we control for plot and farmer characteristics, we show that the introduction of castor production for biofuel in a poor country as Ethiopia can significantly improve food productivity of rural households who produce raw material for biofuel production. This spillover seems particularly linked to enhanced access to inputs and technical assistance which were provided as part of biofuel feedstock production contracts. Our results thus document another mechanism through which biofuels may influence smallholders’ food security, a mechanism that did not receive attention so far.