Ready Market Research Articles

Exploitation of potential of industrial tourism by metallurgical enterprises of contemporary Russia

During the transition to the postindustrial knowledge economy the world witnesses people’s increasing desire to spend their spare time in an interesting and quality way, to live an active lifestyle, to develop themselves and get new impressions. Consequently, there is an intense growth of new forms and types of economic, social and cultural activity aimed at satisfying the existing demand. One of the most impressive phenomena of the presentday economy is industrial tourism. It provides new visual impressions and satisfies people’s interest to complicated industrial process, to the evolution of technological development of modern civilization and also to the history of their families. For manufacturing companies industrial tourism means more intense exploitation of their facilities, additional income from tours, excursions and souvenirs. In terms of providing industrial touristic services Russia’s most attractive sites include metallurgical enterprises. Their peculiar features such as large scale of constructions and technological process, bright visual effects related to the transformations of metal find a ready market in the experience economy. Moreover, by means of industrial tourism metallurgical enterprises will be able to solve the important tasks of attracting new qualified employees, creating a positive corporate image and business reputation in the society and maintaining prestige and respect for workers and engineers.

Spatial associations of dockless shared e-scooter usage

In this study, we explore the usage of e-scooter sharing services in Austin, Texas over about a six-month period. The study is based on trip records of all the shared e-scooter operators in Austin and includes trip start and end locations. We use both analysis of trip patterns and spatial regression techniques to examine how the built environment, land use, and demographics affect e-scooter trip generation. Our findings show that people use e-scooters almost exclusively in central Austin. Commuting does not seem to be the main trip purpose, and usage of e-scooters is associated with areas with high employment rates, and in areas with bicycle infrastructure. People use e-scooter sharing regardless of the affluence of the neighborhood, although less affluent areas with high usage rates have large student populations, suggesting that students use this mode of travel. Implications for planners suggest that better bicycle infrastructure will facilitate e-scooter usage, college towns are a ready market for e-scooter sharing services, and e-scooters may be a substitute for some short non-work trips, reducing car usage, and benefiting the environment.

Soil Properties and Fertility Management within Ruiru Peri-Urban Area in Kiambu County, Kenya

Peri-urban agriculture is a common practice around many towns and cities in Africa because of the ready urban market for farm commodities. However, it is constrained by a myriad of factors like lack of land tenure and poor soil fertility management strategies. This study focussed on soil physicochemical properties and fertility management in Ruiru Sub County, which is a peri-urban area, in Kiambu County of Kenya. Data was obtained from soil samples that were collected from ten small contact farms identified by the Sub-County Ministry of Agriculture and analysed for selected physicochemical parameters critical in soil fertility management. The results from this study indicated that most farmers were tenants growing leafy vegetables on small farms ~0.1 ha. Soil fertility was mainly maintained using organic manures, while tillage was done by hand. Both practices signal the limitations imposed by the small farm size and lack of land ownership. The soil pH was 6.3 ±0.87, which was ideal for protontransfer reactions in the soil and availability of nutrients for plant uptake. Soil fertility was mostly limited by the interaction of soil pH, K and Ca (30%), total N, OC and Zn (27%) and Cu (15%), Mg (10%) and P (9%). Therefore, the management of Ca fertilisation in this area is key because it is the Ca concentration of the soil solution that influences K and pH through ion exchange and K release. 
 Key words: Organic manures, Inorganic fertilizers, Crop farming, Principle component analysis

Archaeology in the home: neoclassical ceramics for new audiences in mid-nineteenth-century Britain

Abstract For audiences not familiar with antiquity, the shattering of the Portland Vase at the British Museum in 1845 raised awareness of a classical past which was claimed by many European nations as their cultural heritage. This article explores how the British ceramics industry quickly exploited a ready market, prompted by such interest. A new genre of wares was produced industrially, mainly in Stoke-on-Trent until the 1870s, although manufacture continued sporadically until 1900. Modern techniques, including moulding and transfer-printing, allowed the creation of versions of black- and red-figure ancient Greek ceramics, sometimes in vivid polychrome. Hitherto largely overlooked by museums and standard histories of ceramics, the material evidence of this fashion endures. Although the resulting artefacts were often marketed without reference to their origins in antiquity, an argument is presented here for their having more than merely decorative significance.

Introduction: German trade in the North Atlantic

Trade from 1400 onwards had an impact upon the North Atlantic region quite out of proportion to its volume. The opening of a ready market for dried fish, in particular, but also cloth, train oil and sulphur encouraged the production for export on a much larger scale than before. In return, a greater range of finished goods and raw materials was supplied by German merchants. Initially, trade was channelled through Bergen, but this system broke down, largely because English merchants sailed to Iceland. From the 1470s onwards, the number of German ships travelling to Iceland and Shetland increased. The Danish government struggled to control the trade in their North Atlantic territories, but first in the Faroes and later in Iceland, they sought to impose greater restrictions on foreign merchants. The Danes licensed ships to trade at certain ports and from 1601 attempted to restrict the trade to their own merchants. The introduction summarizes the history of German trade in the North Atlantic, and outlines its economic and cultural impacts.

Explaining Why Farmers Grow Tobacco: Evidence From Malawi, Kenya, and Zambia.

Tobacco production continues to increase in low- and middle-income countries creating complications for tobacco control efforts. There is the need to understand and address the global tobacco leaf supply as a means of decreasing tobacco consumption and improving farmers livelihoods in line with Article 17 of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. This study aims to understand the reasons why farmers grow tobacco and identify factors that influence these reasons. Primary survey data (N = 1770) collected in Kenya, Malawi, and Zambia in the 2013-2014 farming season. Data analysis uses both descriptive and multinomial logistical regression methods. Majority of farmers started and are currently growing tobacco because they believed it was the only economically viable crop. Compared with Malawi, farmers in Kenya and Zambia have a 0.2 and 0.4 lower probability of growing tobacco, respectively because they perceive it as the only economically viable crop, but a 0.04 and 0.2 higher probability of growing tobacco, respectively because they believe it is highly lucrative. There are district/county differences in the reasons provided with some districts having a majority of the farmers citing the existence of a ready market or incentives from the tobacco industry. Statistically significant factors influencing these reasons are the educational level and age of the household head, land allocated to tobacco and debts. There is the need to address the unique features of each district to increase successful uptake of alternative livelihoods. One consistent finding is that farmers' perceived economic viability contributes to tobacco growing. This study finds that perceived economic viability of tobacco is the dominant factor in the decisions to grow tobacco by smallholder farmers in Malawi, Kenya, and Zambia. There is the need to more deeply understand what contributes to farmers' perceived viability of a crop. Understanding and addressing these factors may increase the successful uptake of alternative livelihoods to tobacco. Furthermore, this study demonstrates that a one-size fits all alternative livelihood intervention is less likely to be effective as each district has unique features affecting farmers' decisions on growing tobacco.

Analyzing the Arbitrage Opportunities and their Determinants in Deliverable Future Contracts: Evidence from Pakistan

This study explores the arbitrage opportunities in Deliverable Future Contracts (DFC) due to mispricing and the factors affecting it. We use the cost of carry model to calculate the fair prices of futures. We use mispricing as a direct measure of arbitrage opportunities. With one-year daily data collected from the data portal of Pakistan Stock Exchange, we calculate mispricing for twenty-two stock futures. Summary statistics of mispricing confirm the presence of arbitrage opportunities in this market. We also examine the relationship of mispricing with the time to contract expiry, stock return volatility, the trading volume of ready and future market, and open interest. Tobit regression results indicate that apart from open interest, all other factors possess significant explanatory power for mispricing.

Why Do Farmers Grow Tobacco? A Qualitative Exploration of Farmers Perspectives in Indonesia and Philippines.

Tobacco supply remains a pressing challenge to tobacco control. Tobacco remains a dominant cash crop in many low- and middle-income countries, despite the evidence suggesting that it is not as profitable as industry claims and is harmful to health and the environment. In order to implement successful and sustainable alternative livelihood interventions, it is important to understand why farmers continue to grow tobacco. This study explores this question from the perspective of farmers in Indonesia and Philippines. This study was informed by interpretive description methodology. Data was collected through focus group discussions (FGDs) (n = 7) with farmers (n = ~60). The FGDs were audio recorded, transcribed verbatim, and then translated into English. An inductive thematic analysis of the data was conducted to identify and categorize the reason provided by participants. We identified two overarching themes: (1) perceived viability (profitability, ready market, and environmental factors) and (2) financial context. Financial context included lumpsum payments and access to financial loans and credit facilities in light of their lack of capital. These results highlight that, in addition to identifying viable alternatives to tobacco, institutional factors such as improved access to credit and well-developed supply chains are key to the successful uptake of alternative livelihoods.

Analysis of Post-harvest Losses of Yam in North-East Zone of Benue State, Nigeria

The study analyzed the post-harvest losses of yam in North-East Zone of Benue state, Nigeria. It ascertained the level of postharvest losses of yam, identified the factors precipitating postharvest losses of yam identified the strategies adopted by yam farmers for reduction of postharvest losses of yam in North-East Zone of Benue State, Nigeria. The study consisted of a total sample size of two hundred and four (204) yam farmers drawn from three local government areas of North-East Zone of Benue state. The result identified pest attack, storage method, temperature, disease and infection, poor transportation, theft, underdeveloped market and exposure of yam to sunlight as factors precipitating post-harvest losses in the area. It also shows the result of the assessment of yam farmers in the study area regarding the level of losses they experience at various stages of yam postharvest activities. The value of the coefficient of multiple determinants (R2), is 0808, which implies that about 80.8% of the postharvest losses of yam in the study area is explained by the explanatory variables included in the model. The F-statistic of the lead equation is significant at 1% (28.122). Coefficients of pest attack disease and infections of yam, poor transportation facility, poor handling method used, excessive exposure of yam to sunlight, were positively related to postharvest losses of yam in the study area at 1% level of significant. Coefficient of storage method, temperature of the area and theft of yam in the study area were positive and significant to postharvest losses of yam at 5% level of significant. Given that, the computed F- value (28.122), was significantly higher than the tabulated F-value (9.33), at 1% level of significance, and (3.11) at 5% level of significance; the null hypothesis was therefore rejected and the alternative hypothesis was accepted. The study recommends provision of yam flour processing factory, which will provide a ready yam market that will reduce postharvest losses of yams and also increase the economic value of yams in the area.

Upgrading Africa’s Agricultural Value Chains-Catalyzing Business Model Innovations

Agriculture plays a crucial role in Africa. Agriculture is the base of many economies and a significant sector of employment. However, the agricultural sector underperforms and as a result Africa is food insecure and economies that are largely powered by agriculture remain weak. Indeed, a huge and growing food import bill is a testimony to the underperformance of Africa’s agricultural sector. The potential of agriculture remains untapped and indeed the significant opportunity for an agricultural driven African industry has yet to be exploited, though urbanisation has created demand for processed and convenient foods and thus a ready market for food processing sectors. Developing a dynamic agro-processing sector will require the development of well-functioning agricultural value chains. However, agricultural value chains are plagued by many challenges that make it hard for them to deliver this. These challenges will need to be addressed. Much of this will call for many innovations along the agricultural value chains. Studies done by ACET and others have revealed emerging innovations that are addressing many of the challenges and that have potential for being scaled and replicated. Agricultural policy makers need to understand the role of innovations across the value chain and in particular business model innovations . Policy should then seek to cataly se and scale innovation. This paper looks at a number of business model innovations that have the potential to upgrade agricultural value chains and support the emergence of a strong food processing sector and gives policy recommendations.

Socio-economic and technical characteristics of pig (<i>Sus scrofa domesticus</i>) production system in the humid forest with monomodal rainfall agroecological zone of Cameroon

Pig production has become a great source of income and employment in Sub-Saharan countries and Cameroon in particular. However, many pig farmers face difficulties as the production system has not been improved everywhere. Hence, the present study was conducted in other to assess the socio-economic and technical characteristics of pig production system in the humid forest with monomodal rainfall agro-ecological zone of Cameroon. For this purpose, a total of 45 smallholder pig farmers were selected using a snow ball test from the study zone and investigated. A structural questionnaire was used to interview the pig farmers. Data generated included: socio-economic characteristics of the respondents, housing, breeding, feeding, health care, management practices and challenges in pig production. The data collected were analyzed by descriptive statistics. The study revealed that most of the respondents (62.2%) were male and 35.6% were between 40-69 years old. 82% of the pig farmers were married and all (100%) were Christians. With regards to education, only 4.4% of the farmers had no formal education while 55% had an experience of 10 years in pig farming. Majority of the farmers (44.4%) jointly reared cross (exotic x local), local and exotic pigs. 57.8% of farmers feed their pigs with compounded feed associated with kitchen and farm residues twice daily, morning and evening in feeding through mostly made of plastic materials (37.8%). 84.44% of farmers housed their pigs to avoid destruction and diseases (64.44%). Piggeries were mostly made of wood (60.0%) and had concrete floors (57.8%). However, 22.2% of farmers practiced free range production system. The farmers mostly practiced free will (55.6%) and group mating and delivery takes place in the herd (62.2%). 77.8% of the farmers faced health problems and 91.1% considered pig farming to be profitable. The main challenges faced by farmers were disease outbreak and expensive feed cost (22.2%). Although pig production is profitable, there is no ready market. Nevertheless, pig production has a positive impact in the lives of rural dwellers.Keywords: Socio-economic, pig farmers, Production system, Cameroon.

Forecasting Short-Term Relationship Between Futures & Spot Price of Pepper & Cardamom Using Vector Error Correction Model

The process of determining the price of a commodity based on supply and demand factors is the Price discovery function. The Futures markets play an important role in the price discovery of agricultural commodities. The importance of commodity derivatives markets is increasing every day, especially for a developing nation like India, as the economy becomes more aligned with the global economy. This paper has examined the Price dynamics of Pepper & Cardamom in spot and futures market. The ready market prices and futures prices of pepper released by IPSTA in Kochi from January 2006 to March 2012 have been retrieved from their website in case of pepper. MCX has launched cardamom futures on February 2006. The spot and futures prices from February 2006 to March 2012 released by MCX Ltd., are utilized for the study. The ADF test is used in testing the stationarity levels. The VECM test used provides empirical evidence that there exists a short term relationship between the spot and future prices of Pepper and Cardamom.

A perspective on a locally managed decentralized circular economy for waste plastic in developing countries

Unsound post‐consumer disposal is the primary pathway of plastic into the ecosystem. One way of addressing this problem is through the establishment of a circular economy for plastic. Much of the unsound disposal comes from economically disadvantaged regions where waste disposal and recycling infrastructure is limited. In economically disadvantaged regions however, the establishment of a circular economy for plastic must be locally managed and decentralized, meaning that the disposal, collection, remanufacture, and use must all occur within the same community. We suggest that waste plastic abatement strategies must be targeted to reduce, reuse, and recycle plastic waste onsite at the local level, initiating a circular economy appropriate for infrastructure limited regions. Technologies for recycling plastic must be low cost, economically viable, socially acceptable, and not adversely impact the environment, and also produce a product that has a ready local market. This is critical because unless proposed solutions are also economically viable and socially appropriate, they are unlikely to be successful, especially in underdeveloped regions. Using big data analysis, a metric for identifying countries that will have the most potential to benefit from a locally managed decentralized circular economy for plastic has been developed. The information obtained from this metric will help researchers and policy makers promote a locally managed decentralized circular economy of plastic for managing the accumulation of waste on land and its eventual migration into waterways. Additionally, we present a case study of a proposed locally managed decentralized waste plastic abatement strategy in the municipal solid waste infrastructure limited country of Uganda. © 2018 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Environ Prog, 38: 3–11, 2019

Assessment of Shea fruit processors in Niger state for improved livelihood and entrepreneurial activities

The Shea tree is indigenous to sub-Saharan Africa, and generally found in semi-arid to arid north of the humid forest zone. Shea fruit processing is a common production activity in rural areas of Niger State. This study aimed at having an overview of Shea fruit processors as a means of identifying areas of intervention for improved productivity and their livelihood. Specific objectives were to assess the socio-economic characteristics, ascertain average monthly income from Shea processing, identify sources of labour for Shea processing, examine the social infrastructures available to processors, assess the production capacity of the processors and determine constraints to Shea butter production activities in the study area. A multi-stage sampling technique was employed to select 80 Shea butter processors for the study while a well structured questionnaire was used for data collection. The study revealed that the respondents, all women, were married (96.1%) and within their active ages. The women all belong to one or more groups. Main sources of labour for processing of Shea butter were Family (75%) and communal (65.8%); All the respondents find the current Shea butter processing methods difficult. Chi-square analysis indicates that respondents’ years of experience in processing” (χ2 = 17.18; p < 0.05) and “household size” (χ2 = 12.79; p < 0.05) have significant association with respondents’ level of butter production. The study therefore calls for better exposure of the processors through entrepreneurial skill acquisition scheme, to improved technique of Shea processing for better quality nuts/ butter production and principles of agribusiness.Keywords: Shea tree, rural livelihood, Shea processing, Quality nuts/butter, Ready market.

Chinese Abalone Merchants and Fishermen in Nineteenth-Century Santa Barbara, California

Abstract Shortly after the California Gold Rush, the first commercial abalone fishery sprang to life along the central and southern Californian coast, an industry founded and developed by Chinese immigrants. By shipping dried black abalone (Haliotis cracherodii) to Chinese communities in the American West, and exporting the product to a ready market in China, Chinese merchants assembled an elaborate trade network that reached from Santa Barbara, California, to China. Here, we offer the first synthesis of archaeological and historical data that describes the elements of Chinese export activities interpreted through a trading diaspora framework. Our results reveal details about an international trade network supported by the formation of self-governing business associations, relationships with trading partners, and interactions with European Americans. This study fills a critical gap in our understanding of the broader context of California’s historical fisheries and contextualizes the strategies of Chinese merchants who took advantage of new opportunities presented by a changing Pacific economy.

Interpunktion und Textsegmentierung im frühen deutschsprachigen Prosaroman

Abstract On the threshold of the sixteenth century, publishers met the demands of a ready market: They provided a selection of German prose novels and adapted their publications to a broader, less homogeneous readership. Against this backdrop, the article discusses the still evolving system of segmentation (primarily punctuation). When punctuation was inserted into a text, it might have been the typesetter’s task to work out a system of usage. The typesetters reacted to this new challenge by using several, even contradicting principles in a bottom-up-process of bricolage: They separated prosodic, semantic, syntactic or memory units while simultaneously considering aesthetic demands (justification).

Factors affecting Adoption of Maize Production Technologies: A study in Ghana

Purpose: The huge gap between actual and achievable yields in Ghana’s maize production threatens Ghana’s household food security. Poor adoption of improved maize production technologies is often cited as the major cause of the low yields. This study examined the factors influencing adoption of improved production technologies by maize farmers in order to highlight the constraints and opportunities for improving adoption.Research Method: The data used were obtained through a cross-sectional survey of 576 maize farmers in Ghana using the structured questionnaire. Descriptive statistics and the multinomial logit model were the methods of analysis employed.Findings: The results showed that adoption of production technologies is influenced by age, educational level, initial capital outlay, agricultural extension contact, group membership, availability of ready maize market, access to credit, experience in maize farming, land fragmentation and previous year’s price of maize. For adoption of maize production technologies to be improved, technology dissemination programmes should target to literate farmers and farmers should be encouraged to join farmer groups, stakeholders should support maize farmers with credit, maize farmers should be provided with ready market and younger farmers should be encouraged to consider maize production as a business.Research Limitations: The study focused on whether or not in general, maize farmers used production technologies. It presents limited information on specific technologies in different agro-ecological zones.Originality/Value: This study provides insights into why especially some Ghanaian maize farmers adopt or do not adopt certain technological packages promoted by the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA) of Ghana.

Exploring the Utilization of Lesser-Known Species for Furniture Production—A Case Study in the Western Region, Ghana

Increased demand for traditional timber species has led to the depletion of large areas of Ghana’s forest cover. Sustainable forest management requires that measures are put in place to minimize forest depletion through the utili-zation of lesser-known species, reforestation, setting margins for annual al-lowable cut, banning export of round logs, conservation of biological diversity and promotion of efficient wood-based industry. The study aimed at exploring public perception on the use of lesser-known species for making furniture to save our dwindling forest. The research methods adopted were purposive and random sampling. It is purposive because the research was targeted at furniture shops and furniture showrooms and random sampling was used to make the selection. A questionnaire was developed to acquire data for the study from experienced people in the timber industry as well as the general public. Specifically, 450 people were contacted to fill the questionnaire from 15 constituencies out of 29 in the Western Region. Personal interviews were also conducted. The research revealed that most Ghanaians prefer traditional species to the lesser-known ones. Greater part of the population prefers species like Odum, Danta, Dahoma, and Denyan etc. For roofing whiles Cedar, mahogany, Makore, Walnut, and Avodirie are used for furniture. The perception is that when the traditional species are used for either roofing or furniture they last longer. Some challenges with the use of lesser-known species are lack of ready market for products may from lesser known species, and lack of requisite machines to work with some of the lesser-known species etc. The study concluded that there is the need here in Ghana to promote the utilization of lesser known species; since majority of furniture manufacturers have little knowledge about their usage in the industry.

True North: Essential Identity and Cultural Camouflage in H.V. Morton’s In Search of England

True North: Essential Identity and Cultural Camouflage in H.V. Morton’s <em>In Search of England</em>

Mobile phone use and livelihoods: qualitative evidence from some rural and urban areas in Ghana

In sub-Saharan Africa, the past two decades have witnessed a phenomenal increase in the use of mobile phones which has attracted diverse research. This paper explores mobile phone use and livelihood activities in some urban and rural areas of Ghana. Qualitative data were extracted from a larger study that covered 24 sites ranging from urban to remote rural locations in Ghana, Malawi and South Africa. The Sustainable Livelihood Framework provided guidance for the study. The main findings of the study indicate that mobile phones provide direct phone-related employment and indirectly enable some others to secure jobs through contact with friends/relations and also facilitate marketing of farm produce in terms of reduction in transaction cost, access to ready market and contacts for better prices for produce. Additionally, phone use enhances job organization through communication between apprentices and their bosses and also facilitates the migration process of some irregular migrants. As a livelihood capital, mobile phone has the potential to reduce vulnerability and improve upon people’s livelihood outcomes. There is therefore the need to make mobile phones more affordable, expand mobile phone network coverage and improve upon service quality to facilitate livelihood activities, particularly in rural areas of the country.