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Profitability analysis of irrigation in sugarcane: a case study of a sugar mill in Goiás.
This publication presents a financial analysis of a mobile linear irrigation system used by a sugar mill located in the state of Goiás, with the aim of providing data to feed a model that can later be used as a tool for economic analysis and profitability of irrigation in sugarcane. Annual fixed and variable costs and the direct and indirect benefits of irrigation were evaluated. The direct benefit comes from increased revenue due to increased productivity of the irrigated area and increased longevity of the sugarcane field; and the indirect benefits come from cost reductions resulting from the reduction in production area and harvesting and transportation costs. As a result, irrigation presented total annual costs of approximately R$ 72.00 per ton. The benefit/cost ratio of irrigation was 1.066, considering only the direct benefit of productivity (Stage 1), and 1.313 when considering the direct benefit of increased longevity and productivity (Stage 2). Therefore, irrigation presents good financial profitability in this case study
Economic viability of the retirement age for sugarcane plantations.
Currently, sugarcane field renovation is a fundamentally technical decision, based on the experience of technicians, especially in the use of important indicators that support this decision-making process, for the purpose of obtaining profit. Therefore, the use of analytical tools that can assist in project management is essential. This work aimed to apply the use of economic project analysis indicators, evaluating the financial returns of a sugarcane field cycle at different cutting stages, in order to determine the cutting stage that offers the most suitable economic point for its renovation and the possibility of indicating its use as a quick, safe, and practical option in the sugarcane field renovation decision. Some data, production indicators, defined as basic premises, served for the calculations of the Net Present Value with different dates [NPV] and the Annual Net Present Value [ANPV] for a sugarcane field in the traditional Central-South region of Brazil. The ANPV was used because it is a method that compares projects with different periods, which made it relevant to solving the problem proposed in this work. After analysis, without varying the indicators, it was found that sugarcane field renovation can be done in the seventh harvest. When the variation of different production indicators and scenarios was studied, in a sensitivity analysis, there was an alternation in the ideal economic point for renovation, indicating, therefore, a change in the ideal harvest stage for renovation. This indicates that the tool is practical, flexible, and can assist and be recommended in the decision-making process for sugarcane field renovation by producers and managers in the sector
Evolution of the profit margin for yerba mate in Rio Grande do Sul
Yerba mate is a product deeply rooted in the culture, history, and tradition of significant segments of the Brazilian population, especially in the Southern region. From the 1990s onwards, the sector underwent changes, such as deregulation and increased external competition. In this context, this study aimed to investigate the evolution of the commercialization margin of yerba mate in the Rio Grande do Sul market, a major producer and the main national consumer, from January 1998 to December 2016. The behavior of production, consumption, and foreign trade was also investigated. The results indicated an increase in cultivated production, reflecting deregulation, while foreign trade had marginal importance in total sales, both before and after deregulation. The results also indicated substantial stability in the margin, and prices were only significantly altered by a supply shock in 2013. Because it is a permanent crop, whose supply is inelastic to prices, it may take time to return to the previous level. Finally, the importance of diversifying consumption and organizing sectoral information as tools for developing the sector and the local economies linked to it is highlighted
The influence of the concept store on brand image and purchase intent for clothing items.
This study aimed to understand whether concept stores influence brand image and purchase intention, specifically analyzing clothing companies in the Brazilian market that use a "fast fashion" strategy. To understand the reasons why companies decide to implement a concept store and to understand the main differences between a traditional (standard) store and a concept store, a qualitative study was conducted with the manager of a large company that uses a "fast fashion" strategy and has implemented concept stores in Brazil, and a quantitative study consisting of a quasi-experimental study in which one group was presented with the stimulus of a standard store and the other with a concept store. To avoid interference in the responses due to brand image, the stimulus was based on a clothing store brand not yet present in Brazil. The analyses obtained in the study verified that the concept store exerts a positive influence on the brand image of the company using this strategy, but the purchase intention of consumers is not significantly influenced
Business expectations as indicators of production constraints in agriculture
Purpose. The purpose of the study is to identify latent indicators derived from business expectations of agricultural enterprises regarding production barriers (obstacles) and to assess their impact on agricultural output dynamics. Methodology / approach. The principal components analysis (PCA) method was applied to reduce dimensionality and eliminate multicollinearity among independent variables and to aggregate subjective assessments of production barriers reported by agricultural producers. Regression and correlation analysis are used to examine the direction and strength of relationships between the principal components and production volumes. The data are from the State Statistics Service of Ukraine for 2015–2024. Results. Two latent components (PC1, PC2) summarising the structure of production barriers were identified. The principal components reflect the opposite poles of farmers’ expectations: on the one hand, financial and material constraints, and on the other, the absence of constraints. This confirms that business expectations can be reduced to integrated latent dimensions that summarise the presence or absence of barriers to production. PC1 and PC2 revealed a strong positive statistically significant relationship with actual production volumes, which indicates their significance as aggregate indicators of business assessments. At the same time, the negative insignificant correlation of PC1 with production in constant prices affects the ambivalence of its interpretation, since its structure simultaneously contains the influence of both favourable and restrictive factors. Additional components (such as PC7) demonstrated a higher significant correlation with production volumes in constant prices than the leading components. This means that secondary, less dispersion-significant latent factors may be more informative for explaining the dynamics of production volume in constant prices. The business expectation system in agriculture has a multidimensional nature, where key barriers and incentives do not always coincide with the most variable factors, but may have greater predictive value for assessing future production. Originality / scientific novelty. The study presents a novel combination of PCA and regression analyse for interpreting business expectations as a latent indicator of production conditions. The scientific contribution lies in identifying latent indicators of subjective evaluations that are statistically linked to real production outcomes, even in the absence of direct objective measurements. Practical value / implications. The results can be used to develop a risk monitoring system in agriculture based on aggregated indicators. This approach improves the accuracy of assessing sectoral conditions and contributes to the development of more targeted agricultural policies, aimed both at overcoming critical barriers and enhancing adaptive capacity of producers
Food Costs and Wages the World Over
This publication compares food costs in the United States with costs in other countries. It also shows how long the average American works to feed his family, compared with workers in other lands
DISEÑO, GESTIÓN, IMPLEMENTACIÓN Y VALIDACIÓN DE UN PROGRAMA EDUCATIVO EN ADMINISTRACIÓN, GASTRONOMÍA Y TURISMO CON ELEMENTOS DE RESPONSABILIDAD SOCIAL Y VINCULACIÓN EMPRESARIAL
growing demand. In the Comarca Lagunera region of Mexico, tourism has experienced significant growth, creating the need to design and implement an educational program that includes gastronomy, tourism, and business administration. On the other hand, given current demands from both national and international organizations, it is important for educational programs to contain activities related to University Social Responsibility (USR) that lead to responsible practices for both businesses and universities in environmental matters and in linkages with the business sectors of the region. In this context, the objectives of this work were to design, manage, implement, and validate an educational program that integrates business administration, gastronomy, and tourism based on university social responsibility into a single program. The work was carried out in stages. First, an exploratory study was conducted to determine if there was interest among high school students in pursuing this degree. Then, the curriculum was designed by researching the programs of various local and national public and private universities. The design incorporated subjects in administration, gastronomy, tourism and university social responsibility. Subsequently, the program was managed and presented to the authorities of the School of Accounting and Administration and the Autonomous University of Coahuila, instances where the degree program was approved. Once approved, it was implemented and was very well received among new students. The program currently has a total of 250 students distributed across nine groups. It is worth mentioning that the program has been closely linked to companies in the tourism, hotel, and gastronomic sectors of the Comarca Lagunera, participating in workshops and tastings organized by companies in the sector
Probabilities of Financial Returns from Southern Pine Timber Growing
Contents: Chapter 1 – Introduction --- Chapter 2 – Southern Pine Forests and Their Management --- Chapter 3 – Economic Model of Timber Growing --- Chapter 4 – Timber Growing Financial Returns Simulator --- Chapter 5 – Biological Models of Growth and Development of Southern Pine Timber Stands --- Chapter 6 – Patterns and Trends in Southern Pine Timber Prices --- Chapter 7 – Determinants and Trends of Timber Growing Costs --- Chapter 8 – Risks of Loss from Fire, Storm, Insects and Disease --- Chapter 9 – Impacts of Federal Income Taxes on Timber Growing --- Chapter 10 – Initial Deterministic Simulation of Alternative Management Regimes --- Chapter 11 – Subsequent Selection Among Alternative Regimes According to Income and Risk --- Chapter 12 – Summary and Conclusions --- Appendix I – Technical Terms Used in Southern Pine Management --- Appendix II – Basic Southern Pine Management Regimes --- Bibliography
Status – Rice Bran Stabilization
[Partial] Table of Contents: I. Status in the Philippines --- II. Status in the United States --- III. Status in India --- IV. Status in Korea --- V. Status in Japan --- VI. Status in Taiwan --- VII. Status in Indonesia -- VIII. Literature
Cooperative Effort to Provide Technical Assistance in Developing Countries for Processing Low-Cost Nutritious Foods
Excerpts from the report Introduction: AID/ST/N has an objective of alleviating hunger and improving the nutritional status of the poorest populations in developing countries. Their programs to achieve this objective have focused on a wide range of activities, recognizing both the scope and complexity of the problems which exist. Many of their programs have been directed toward maternal and child nutrition since these populations are often the most vulnerable and they represent the greatest opportunity for high impact interventions. To assist AID/ST/N, the USDA/OICD Food Technology Branch has evaluated and transferred food technologies which could help alleviate hunger and malnutrition of vulnerable groups in developing countries. To expand the effort in the area of food extrusion and other processing technologies, the USDA/OICD developed cooperative working arrangements with Colorado State University because of its extensive research, teaching and public service programs in the area of food extrusion and the role that this important food process plays in producing nutritious and acceptable low-cost foods from a variety of raw food ingredients. This report chronicles all the activities undertaken during the cooperative efforts between Colorado State University and USDA/OICD Food Technology Branch directed toward objectives of AID/ST/N. Brief summaries of the projects are provided below with reference made to comprehensive reports which document individual project activities