Rice Sector Research Articles

How Does Cultural and Colonial Heritage Affect Optimal Branding Strategies? Evidence From the Rice Sector in Senegal

ABSTRACTAfrica's cultural and colonial heritage has profoundly segmented rice markets. Whereas in ancient centers of rice domestication, consumers maintained preferences for local rice consistent with their cultural heritage, preferences have shifted toward imported Asian rice in coastal areas around seaports, due to prior exposure to colonial import substitution policies. To enhance the competitiveness of locally produced rice relative to imported versions, it is necessary to tailor new local rice products to both market segments. A study was conducted in Senegal to test branding strategies for local rice in a country where both market segments coexist. Brands that mimic local and international labels were developed for local rice, and urban consumers bid to upgrade non‐preferred to preferred brands through the Becker–DeGroot–Marschak (BDM) mechanism. Contrary to expectations, results from an endogenous switching regression show that descendants from ancient Senegalese rice domesticators placed premiums on local rice with foreign‐looking brands, indicating that foreignness is perceived as a quality cue even in market segments rooted in cultural heritage. Thus, branding local rice using a combination of local and foreign cues could be an effective strategy in promoting domestic rice to both segments shaped by cultural and colonial heritage.

Faktor-Faktor Yang Mempengaruhi Peranan Perempuan dalam Budaya Bali di Desa Bali Sadhar Selatan Kecamatan Banjit Kabupaten Way Kanan

This study aims to identify and describe the factors that influence the role of women farmers and the view of Balinese culture on the role of women. The research was carried out in March 2022-April 2022 in South Bali Sadhar Village, Banjit District, Way Kanan Regency. The informants in this study were female farmers and male farmers who worked in the lowland rice sector with a total of 12 people. The approach used in this research is a qualitative approach with a research method, namely case studies. The results showed that the factors that influence the role of women are family factors, economic pressure factors, education factors and habit factors. This view of Balinese culture on the role of women is considered positive, because activities carried out in accordance with awig-awig (customary regulations) and work are an obligation to carry out dharma (goodness/truth) in accordance with Hindu religious teachings. Keywords: Factors, Role of Women, Balinese Culture

A Review of Milled Rice Demand and Supply of Some ASEAN Countries and Lesson Learnt for Cambodia

Rice is a vital crop for ASEAN countries, serving as a primary source of food security and playing a significant role in the regional economy. To draw lessons for rice supply and demand in Cambodia, this article will examine and briefly describe the rice markets in different ASEAN nations, including import and export, rice milling technology, government policy, obstacles, and opportunists. In Cambodia, a program utilizing the sustainable rice cluster (SRC) approach has been developed and put into action by the government in order to maintain the rise of rice production. Compared to traditional approaches, SRC has enhanced rice cultivation by about 40%. The key lessons Cambodia can learn are boosting domestic production, diversifying rice varieties, improving storage and distribution, practicing climate-smart practices, strengthening regional cooperation, improving market access, and farmer empowerment. By analyzing rice demand and supply dynamics in ASEAN and applying the lessons learned, Cambodia can strive to achieve self-sufficiency in rice production and reduce reliance on imports, increase the profitability and competitiveness of the rice sector, enhance food security for its population, and contribute to regional food security within ASEAN.

On‐farm foliar application of a humic biostimulant increases the yield of rice

AbstractBiostimulants play a crucial role in enhancing crop yields while promoting sustainability and environmental responsibility. Evaluating the efficacy of biostimulants on‐farm requires rigorous, multiyear trials conducted across various locations and with different cultivars. This study was conducted in Uruguay from 2015 to 2023 to assess the impact of a single application of a humic biostimulant (HB) during the R3 phenological stage on irrigated rice (Oryza sativa L.). The study encompassed 103 farms situated in diverse cropping zones, each characterized by distinct cultivars, soil qualities, radiation, and temperature conditions across the East and North regions. Results revealed that the HB treatment elicited an average yield increase of 7.4% across all sites. Notably, 93% (97) of the trials exhibited a positive yield response, with an average increase of 8.5%, while only six trials (all in the eastern zone) showed a negative response to the HB treatment. A combined analysis of variance indicated that the biostimulant's effect did not significantly differ between production zones, years, or rice cultivars when negative responses were excluded. Furthermore, relationships with environmental variables were nonsignificant, underscoring the positive effect of the biostimulant regardless of location. These findings hold significant implications for Uruguay's rice sector, that is, integrating HBs into standard management practices could substantially boost irrigated rice yields in rice‐producing areas.

Strategic Agricultural Policies and Fertilizer Subsidies: Driving Business Success in Cianjur's Rice Sector

This research investigates the impact of strategic agricultural policies and fertilizer subsidies on the business success of rice farmers in Cianjur, Indonesia. A quantitative approach utilizing cross-sectional survey data from 300 rice farmers was employed. The study explores the demographic profile of respondents, descriptive statistics of key variables, correlations between policy variables and business success indicators, and regression analysis to assess predictors of rice yield. Results indicate a high utilization rate of fertilizer subsidies, positive correlations between subsidy utilization and business success indicators, and significant contributions of access to extension services, credit facilities, and infrastructure improvements to rice yield. The integration of policies in a holistic approach emerged as crucial for enhancing business success and promoting sustainable farming practices. These findings have implications for policymakers in crafting targeted and integrated policies to support agricultural resilience and livelihoods in Cianjur and similar agricultural regions.

Performance Gap between Best-bet System of Rice Intensification and Farmers’ Practices in Zamfara State, Nigeria: An Additive-Multiplicative Translog Stochastic Frontier Profit Function

Inadequate information about the performance of a technology can hinder its uptake. The aim of this paper was to provide a thorough examination of the performance gap between the best bet system of rice intensification (BB-SRI) and farmers’ practices (FP) in Zamfara State, Nigeria. Using a multi-stage sampling technique, a sample of 300 rice farmers were selected from the Bakolori Irrigation Scheme, Zamfara State, among which 40 farmers (13%) used the BB-SRI while the remaining 260 farmers (87%) used FP. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, farm budget technique, additive-multiplicative stochastic frontier translog profit function and propensity score matching (PSM) estimator. The findings revealed that yield increased from 5,285 kg/ha with FP to 12,735 kg/ha with BB-SRI, an increase of 141%. Rice production was profitable under both FP and BB-SRI with return on investment (ROI) increasing from 2.64 using FP to 6.66 under BB-SRI, an increase of 152%. There was evidence of profit inefficiency in rice farming since the profit could still be raised by 7% and 21% using FP and BB-SRI, respectively. The yield, ROI and profit efficiency gaps between the BB-SRI and FP ranged from 7,452 kg/ha to 7,510 kg/ha, 4.02 to 4.05, and from 0.08 to 0.09, respectively. We recommend therefore that important investments and training in SRI should be considered as a top priority for the transformation and sustainability of the rice sector in order to ensure its successful promotion, uptake and diffusion across other rice producing States in Nigeria.

Optimization Balongganggang Reservoir Capacity for Irrigation

Indonesian agriculture is the largest economic contributor after the non-oil and gas industry. However, ensuring stability in agriculture poses a significant challenge, as indicated by BPS data in 2020 and 2022, showing a decrease in the rice sector in crop area and productivity value by 2.3%. Therefore, this research aimed to increase agricultural output by optimizing planting patterns and reservoirs in Balongganggang Irrigation Area and Reservoir, Sukodadi District, Lamongan Regency, East Java. Optimization of planting patterns was carried out using rainfall and climatology data from 2013 – 2022, with a linear programming method, facilitated by POM-QM for Windows V5 program. The process of optimization focused on two objectives, namely considering maximum land area and maximizing profit. According to the analysis, optimization based on land area and profit provided the same optimal value, leading to a 9.98% increase in planting intensity from 120.57% to 130.55%, with a profit of Rp 33,967,000,000.00.

Analysis of Rice Farmer Problems in Improving Community Welfare in Kelurahan Cengkeh Turi Kota Binjai

Indonesia's rice sector was once self-sufficient due to government support, macroeconomic policies, and technological advancements like the Green Revolution in lowland rice cultivation. However, the Cengkeh Turi sub-district in Binjai City, North Sumatra, faces welfare issues such as lack of capital, polluted soil, uncertain rice prices, limited land area, poor quality seeds, plant pests, lack of human resources, and a lack of government involvement in agriculture. This research aims to analyze factors such as seed type, fertilizer type, labor, land conversion, capital, distribution, and climate to improve the welfare of farmers in Cengkeh Turi Village. Data processing using Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) and Multiple Linear Regression was used. Results showed that distribution, climate, labor, and land use change factors significantly impact the welfare of the community in Cengkeh Turi Village, while the type of seed and fertilizer type had a positive effect on the welfare of the community in Kelurana Cengkeh Turi. The study highlights the need for improved agricultural practices and government support to improve the welfare of farmers in Cengkeh Turi Village.

Participation in village savings and lending associations and rice profitability in Tanzania: Application of propensity score matching and endogenous switching regression

We assess the contribution of participation in bundled service-bundled VSLAs on rice productivity and profit among smallholder rice farmers in Mvomero District, Tanzania. The study propensity score matching (PSM) and endogenous switching regression (ESR) models, and found that participation in VSLA has a positive and significant contribution to rice productivity and profit for smallholder rice farmers. Participation in VSLAs increases farmers' ability to regenerate income for investing in improving productivity and profitability and enhancing rice sector development. VSLAs prove as a tool for building financial capital through savings and easy access to credit in rural areas. This study improves on existing research and offers new insights into the effects of VSLA as one of the financial inclusion tools on the economic activities of agricultural households in Tanzania.

Quantifying and Comparing Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Monsoon Rice Production: A Comprehensive Analysis of Transplanting and Broadcasting Sowing Methods in Myanmar

Introduction Rice is a staple food, an economic crop, and the second-highest source of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the agricultural sector in Myanmar. To develop the rice sector in a sustainable way, this study aimed to determine the comparative GHG emissions between the two major sowing methods used in monsoon rice production. Methods Next, comparative GHG emissions analysis was done by using the Student t-test. This study first quantified GHG emissions from land preparation to straw burning by using emission factors for agricultural inputs and the formulation, default values, and scaling factors of a carbon footprint calculator customized for rice products (CF-Rice). Results Soil and water management was the largest contributor among the management practices in monsoon rice production and accounted for 64.8% of the total GHG emissions. At 4,479.5 kg CO2 eq. ha-1, GHG emissions from the broadcasting (BC) method were significantly higher than those from the transplanting (TP) method. Conclusion Therefore, the TP method is a better sowing technique than the BC method for reducing GHG emissions without reducing grain yield.

Channels and Methods of Communicating Agricultural Innovations to rice farmers in the Northern Region of Ghana

Rice Farmers in Ghana have benefited from technology dissemination programmes of high-yielding crop varieties to enhance their productivity and increase their incomes. The interventions in the rice sector of Ghana have led to a reduction in poverty, and reduced rice importation into the country. Despite the expected gains from the numerous interventions, there are low levels of adoption of improved rice varieties among many farmers in Ghana, partly due to ineffectiveness of the technology dissemination methods. This study examines rice farmers’ perception of the agricultural innovation communication channels and methods used to promote improved rice varieties in northern Ghana. Primary data was randomly collected (through survey, focus group discussions and key informant interviews) from 404 rice farmers and analyzed by percentages, means, standard deviations and explanations. The farmers perceived the innovation communication channels and methods that mostly helped them to adopt improved rice varieties as the effective ones. The empirical results show that fellow farmers, researchers and extension agents, and radio were perceived to be the most effective channels of innovation communication among the rice farmers. Farm and home visits, and demonstration farms, and radio broadcasts were also considered to be the most effective innovation dissemination methods used to promote improved rice varieties in the region. It is therefore necessary that young farmers are targeted through a combination of individual, group and mass media methods, for enhancing innovation dissemination and uptake. We recommend that the Government of Ghana allocates adequate resources to make agricultural extension delivery more effective and reliable.

DECISION-MAKING FOR EFFICIENCY AND INNOVATION IN THE RICE PRODUCTION CHAIN

The main objective of this article is to conduct a systematic review within the rice sector's agri-business productive chain, focusing on aspects related to the decision-making process, innovation environments, competitiveness, and methodologies for measuring performance and differentiation. The article emphasizes the importance of the agribusiness and the need for a systemic approach to addressing challenges encountered within the production chain. It highlights that pursuing competitiveness can lead to reducing production costs and adding value, and gaining competitive advantages through differentiation strategies. Within the context of the rice sector, the significance of rice is highlighted as one of the most widely cultivated cereals globally, with significant social, economic, and environmental impacts. However, fluctuations in global rice prices can result in undesirable effects. Therefore, new strategies are needed to add value to products and expand consumption beyond the conventional markets.Given this context, the article contributes to the literature by identifying the decision-making processes applied in these agroindustries, as well as addressing aspects related to innovation environments, competitiveness, and methodologies for measuring performance and differentiation.

Rice Industry Labour Issues and the Role of Social Entrepreneurship Education in Promoting Inclusivity and Fairness

This research paper digs into the critical issue of labour challenges within the rice industry and explores the transformative potential of social entrepreneurship education in fostering inclusivity and fairness.This paper presents a comprehensive examination of how social entrepreneurship education can address labour issues, ultimately contributing to a more equitable rice industry.The rice industry is characterized by a history of labour disparities, encompassing low wages, substandard working conditions, and precarious seasonal employment. These challenges affect the livelihoods and well-being of countless workers, making it imperative to seek innovative solutions. Social entrepreneurship, with its commitment to addressing societal problems, emerges as a promising avenue for positive change.This study's foundation lies in a thorough review of existing literature, which illuminates the multifaceted nature of labour challenges in the rice sector and the principles underpinning social entrepreneurship. A theoretical framework is developed to elucidate the connections between social entrepreneurship and inclusivity, providing a conceptual lens through which to view our empirical findings.Empirical data and case studies offer tangible evidence of how social entrepreneurship education has been applied in various contexts to tackle labour issues within the rice industry. These real-world examples not only underscore the practicality of this approach but also highlight the successes achieved and the hurdles encountered.The discussion section provides insight into the significance of our findings, emphasizing the potential impact of social entrepreneurship education in promoting inclusivity and fairness in the rice industry. While recognizing limitations, this research ultimately contributes to a broader dialogue on the role of education in addressing labour challenges and driving positive change in a vital sector.This paper underscores the transformative potential of social entrepreneurship education as a catalyst for addressing labour issues within the rice industry. By equipping individuals with the knowledge and skills to effect change, we can pave the way for a more inclusive and fair industry that respects the dignity and rights of its workers.

Role and impact of contract farming under various pricing standards: A case of Guyana's rice sector

<abstract> <p>Rice cultivation has played a pivotal role in Guyana's agricultural history, contributing significantly to both sustenance and economic prosperity for over two centuries. Accounting for 3.3% of the country's gross domestic product (GDP) and a substantial 20.5% of the agricultural GDP, the rice industry has faced challenges influenced by various global and domestic factors, impacting the productivity and profitability of rice farmers. One key influencing factor is contract farming, involving agreements between farmers and firms that outline production and marketing conditions for agricultural products. In Guyana's rice industry, contract farming is prevalent, but challenges such as unequal bargaining power and discrepancies in weights and prices persist. Notably, using two pricing standards, high-price and low-price, further complicates the understanding of contract farming's impact on rice cultivation. We delved into the role and impact of contract farming on rice cultivation in Guyana, with a specific focus on the Mahaica-Berbice and Essequibo Islands-West Demerara regions. In this study, conducted with 121 farmers using systematic sampling, we used profitability assessment, frequency distribution, and binary logistic regression analyses. The findings revealed that high-price contracts contributed to greater farmer profitability compared to low-price contracts. Despite this, low-price contracts persisted due to factors such as risk-sharing, access to credit, and fertilizers. Moreover, pricing standards influenced farmer behavior, with low-price contracts prompting crop diversification to supplement income. These insights underscored the significance of pricing standards in determining the effectiveness of contract farming and its impact on farmers' livelihoods. Policymakers and stakeholders can leverage these findings to design more effective contract farming models, enhancing farmers' profitability and contributing to sustainable agricultural development. Furthermore, future research may explore the impact of farmers' organization membership on contract farming productivity, providing additional depth to our understanding of this crucial agricultural practice.</p> </abstract>

Competitiveness and Comparative Advantage of Rice Production in Katsina State, Nigeria

The study was carried out to analyze the competitiveness and comparative advantage of rice production in Katsina state. A total of 196 farmers were sampled using a multi-stage sampling technique. Both primary and secondary data were utilized in the study. The primary data was collected using a structured questionnaire by trained enumerators, while the secondary data on international market prices were collected from various government and non-governmental agencies. Policy Analysis Matrix (PAM), Profit share analysis and farm budgeting techniques were used for data analysis. The result of the financial profitability analysis revealed that a typical rice farmer earned an average revenue and profit of ₦663,799.25/ha and ₦322,356/ha, respectively. The result of the Policy Analysis Matrix (PAM) indicator (Domestic Resource Cost) showed that the farmers had a comparative advantage in rice production by having a ratio of less than one (0.46). Similarly, the percentage of the Unit Cost Domestic index (UCD) and Unit Cost Export index (UCX) for the farmers were less than 0.51 and 0.57, respectively, showing that the farmers were competitive in domestic and international markets. The Effective Protection Coefficient (EPC) ratio of greater than one showed that the farmers were positively affected by the government's agricultural policies. It was recommended that the current combined trade policies in the rice sector should be sustained to strengthen the comparative advantage and increase the competitiveness of the local rice.

Households’ Socioeconomic Assessments and Effects on Purchasing Decisions of Rice Types in Oyo State, South-West Nigeria

Consumers' purchasing decisions are influenced by their demographic and socioeconomic factors. This study analyzed the effects of socioeconomic characteristics of rice-consuming household heads on purchasing decisions among alternative rice types in Oyo State, Nigeria. A multi-stage sampling procedure was used to select 174 household heads, and data from the sample were collected through a structured questionnaire. Both descriptive statistics and multinomial logit regression were used to analyze the data. Findings show that many rice consumers have formal education, and their preference for various types of rice is highly heterogeneous. Ease of rice preparation is the most important reason for opting for imported rice. The low preference for brown local rice was mainly due to high prices, perceived poor quality, and lack of knowledge about its health benefits. Households’ choice among alternative rice types was significantly determined by marital status, total expenditure, educational status, rice market price, and access to credit. Households’ socioeconomic characteristics strongly influence the types of rice purchased. The differential effects of households’ total expenditure, education, and market prices on the choice of rice types should be taken into account when developing rice interventions aimed at changing dietary habits. In addition, policies and programmes for developing the rice sector and good consumer health should involve reorienting people's values and educating them on the best types of rice. The findings can also be used for proper policy options to address the price of the local nutritious brown rice, expand its production and ensure its full commercialization from possible export.

Understanding smallholder preferences for joint ventures in Ghana's rice sector: Improving market access through inclusive business models

Efforts to connect farmers with markets in an inclusive manner have gained prominence within organizations like the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and Inclusive Business Models (IBMs) have emerged as a promising avenue for achieving this objective. Currently, the adoption of IBM structures remains limited, particularly in developing countries, resulting in a paucity of information on motivating factors behind farmer engagement. This study employs a discrete choice experiment to discern these preferences, focusing on a joint venture model within the rice sector in Ghana. Data from face-to-face surveys with smallholder rice farmers analysed with a latent class model revealed heterogeneity in preferences towards IBM attributes, with a majority (55 per cent) choosing alternatives that were consistent with a joint venture business model. These related to level of investment and decision making, quality standards, price, payment schedules and control. The study also identified demographic and experiential characteristics of farmers willing to engage with IBMs. Such farmers tended to be more educated, younger, possess greater experience in rice farming, manage smaller farms, have experience with contracts, invest in processing equipment, and infrequently adopt new production practices. These findings underscore the potential to enhance the quality of domestically produced rice through IBMs and advocate for government intervention to overcome barriers, especially in the context of investment. Additionally, the results suggest that targeting younger farmers with prior contract-selling experience could encourage participation in IBMs.

Application of the Historical Burn Analysis Method in Determining Rainfall Index for Crop Insurance Premium Using Black-Scholes

Indonesia is an agricultural country where rice sector has a high risk of production loss or crop failure. Agricultural Insurance is one of the government programs that helps farmers secure their farms. The aim of this final assignment is to obtain rainfall index to determine crop insurance premiums. The rainfall index is being carried out using Historical Burn Analysis which will produce exit values and trigger values for the index window January 2014 - December 2022 using secondary data from the Bali Climatology Station. In this study, Microsoft Excel 2016 was used as an application tool. The Black-Scholes method is used to calculate the premium in Jembrana Regency. The calculation of the rainfall index using the Historical Burn Analysis formula in determining agricultural insurance premiums using Black-Scholes can be used very well, the result show that the insurance premium value is very high where the lowest premium is IDR 6,654,075 and the highest premium is IDR 6,781,555.

The Contribution of Each Brazilian State to the Competitiveness of the Country´S Rice Exports (1999-2021)

Objective: This study aims to identify the contribution of each Brazilian state to the competitiveness of the country´s rice exports, through the indices of Revealed Comparative Advantage (RCA) and Relative Position (IPR), in addition to the construction of a performance matrix, according to the linear trend of the historical series of these indicators, following the model proposed by Farias and Farias (2018). Theoretical framework: The importance of international trade is related to its ability to expand consumer markets for the population of a country, to the mitigation of internal risks through the diversification of internal markets, and to the possibility of obtaining new raw materials, technologies and new alternatives for production. Considering its relevance, commercial relations have been the object of study of economic sciences since its inception. Methodology: Initially, the theoretical and methodological aspects necessary to obtain the Revealed Comparative Advantage (RCA) and the Relative Position (RPI) indices are detailed. Subsequently, the steps required for the construction of the performance matrix by Farias et al. (2018) for the rice sector are presented, as well as a description of the data used. Results and conclusion: The empirical data cover the period from 1999 to 2021 and were collected in the Comex Stat database. It is noteworthy that only the first two are efficient and with a growing trend, indicating that these states have strong potential to expand their participation in the sector. The state of Acre was classified as with stable external potential, while Amazonas and Mato Grosso were classified as with stable internal potential. The other units of the federation were classified as inefficient. Research implications: From the elaboration and analysis of this matrix, the present study contributes to deepen the discussions on the competitiveness of the Brazilian rice sector, and to elucidate the representativeness of each state for the international trade of this important commodity Originality/value: Brazil has favorable geographic characteristics and climatic conditions to expand rice cultivation, and the sector has shown constant increases in productivity. For these reasons and considering that rice is one of the most important cereals in the world, the country could make better use of its productive potential to increase the international competitiveness of its rice sector.

Is contract arrangement source of income gain among parboiled rice stakeholders in Benin? A doubly robust analysis

Rice supply remains insufficient for the world's consumption despite the agro-ecological potential, including the sub-Saharan African countries. The organization of the rice sector in Benin aims to a better profitability and above all in the increase in rice income of producers and processors. With this in mind, the objective of this study is to assess the impact of the contractual system on the earnings of parboiled rice stakeholders in the hill departments of Benin. For this reason, a random sample of 650 rice farmers spread over 400 producers and 250 processors made it possible to estimate of the Endogenous Switching Regression (ESR). The results of the estimates revealed that adherence to the agricultural contract as a function of socio-demographic factors such as human capital; gender; membership of an agricultural cooperative; have access to agricultural extension innovations and economic-institutional factors such as free entry into the market; access to quality agricultural products and access to credit. These results also confirm the positive effects of the acceptance of contracts on the parboiled rice income of the two actors. Adherence to agricultural contracts remains an effective agricultural policy likely to increase rice income in developing countries and in particular in the department of Collines which has a very high potential for arable land. The effective exploitation of these lowlands is a real source of increasing the rice supply in the perspective of insurance and guaranteeing better levels of food and nutritional security in Benin.