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Production Risk And Technical Efficiency Of Dry-Season Vegetable Farmers In The Upper East Region Of Ghana
No full textThe productivity of yam in Ghana has been on a constant decline recently, mainly due to weather extremes and nematode infestations. This has significantly affected the profitability of yam production, with a resultant effect on the livelihoods of the thousands of yam income dependent households. Several techniques have been developed to improve the situation. This study purposes to estimate the profitability of yam production under the novel ‘wrap and plant’ technology of planting seed yam, in comparison to the traditional method in three agro-ecological zones in Ghana using 20 young and male-dominated randomly sampled yam farmers. The term ‘wrap and plant’ refers to a novel method of wrapping seed yam with abamectin treated banana paper (ABM) before planting in the soil. This is to prevent nematode migration into the seed yam during planting and also the new yam that develops. Each farmer was supported to farm on four demonstration plots of 144 mounds in all (six rows of six mounds, making 36 mounds per plot). The four demonstration plots/sites per farmer were randomly selected and the three treatments (ABP) banana paper with abamectin, (BP) banana paper without abamectin and the control, representing Farmer Practice (FP), were used with four replications per site for both dry and wet seasons. The profitability of their production under three yam planting techniques, abamectin-treated banana paper (ABP), untreated banana paper (BP), and farmer practice (FP) was determined using Benefit Cost Ratio (BCR) analysis. The study found that though the use of the new planting technology yielded significantly higher net-benefits compared to FP, they resulted in rather lower BCRs. Using FP led to 0.916 and 1.531 significantly higher BCR on the average, compared to ABP and BP, respectively. Although this study affirms FP as the most profitable planting technique, the new technology increased yam yields, but at higher costs. Farmers are willing to adopt this technology if the cost of the banana paper is further reduced. The findings of the study reinforce the importance of lowering the cost of adopting new planting techniques in order to make production under such techniques profitable for farmers
FRUTILLAS Y ECONOMÍA SOCIAL: PROPUESTA PARA EL DESARROLLO REGIONAL
No full textThe production and commercialization of berries represent a strategic alternative for agrobusiness development in the northwest of the state of Chihuahua, a region with favorable agroclimatic conditions but marginal participation in the national market. This research aimed to diagnose the productive potential of the area, identify structural and institutional barriers, and propose a commercialization model based on associativity. The hypothesis was that, with organizational integration, access to financing, and technical support, the region could consolidate itself as a competitive player in the berry value chain. A mixed methodology was used, including documentary analysis, surveys of 30 producers, and interviews with institutional stakeholders. The results revealed fragmented production, limited by low levels of technology adoption, scarce post-harvest infrastructure, and dependence on intermediaries. The economic analysis showed that blueberries and strawberries are profitable crops, with internal rates of return above 30% and a favorable benefit-cost ratio, provided that 60% of commercialization is achieved with added value. The proposal is to create a regional marketing company under cooperative schemes, integrating collection, sorting, refrigeration, and distribution, and establishing alliances with financial institutions and public programs. The conclusions indicate that, although there are organizational, financial, and logistical barriers, these can be overcome through comprehensive public policies, business training, and strengthening of local capacities. The proposal offers a viable path to integrate small producers into specialized markets, generate rural employment, and promote equitable territorial development
EVALUACIÓN ECONÓMICA PARA EL ESTABLECIMIENTO DE UN HATO CAPRINO RAZA CRIOLLA EN EL MUNICIPIO DE SAN PEDRO, COAHUILA
No full textGoat production is important from a socioeconomic perspective, as it provides a livelihood for low income families, making it one of the most representative productive activities in the rural communities of the Comarca Lagunera region. The state of Coahuila is the entity with the highest milk production, with 46,104,907 liters of the national total. This study is a detailed analysis of the establishment of a goat production unit using an extensive system with supplementation in the municipality of San Pedro, Coahuila. This initiative is aimed at the sustainable production of goat meat and milk. The study analyzed economic and financial aspects, including total investment, internal rate of return (IRR), and net present value (NPV). The results show that the project is economically and financially viable, with an IRR of 48% and an NPV of $769,194.04. These indicators represent a sustainable project, achieving an income of 35 cents per peso over five years
Value of the Agricultural Aerial Application Industry in the United States Delineated by Crops Grown and by State: A Counterfactual Study
No full textAgricultural aerial application industry in the United States provides important services for farmers and the food distribution channel. According to a 2019 National Agricultural Aviation Association (NAAA) survey, the U.S. agricultural aviation industry treats about 127 million acres of cropland each year. It is important to determine how the state, regional, and national economies would be affected should such an industry become displaced. All U.S. states are evaluated based on the top five produced crops. Data for 2019 provided by the National Agricultural Aviation Association and the U.S. Department of Agriculture will be used to develop a counterfactual revenue reduction stochastic simulation model to estimate the value of the agricultural aerial application industry for each State’s economy. Analysis shows a 9.19% loss of producer revenue and a 27% loss of input sector revenue with the absence of agricultural aerial applications to United States. The results will aid decision making for applicators, regulators, and legislators
Economic Feasibility of Establishing a Watermelon Packing Cooperative: A Case Study of Southwest Oklahoma
No full textIncreasing demand and import of watermelon in the United States presents an alternative to boost income for farmers facing declining prices of conventional crops. However, high costs associated with harvesting, post-harvest packing, storage, and marketing pose challenges to individual producers. Farmers’ cooperative (COOP) could help watermelon producers reduce post-harvest operational costs and expand direct marketing opportunities. This study analyzed the economic feasibility of establishing a watermelon packing COOP in southwest Oklahoma. Using the Packing Simulation Model (PACKSIM) and the Cooperative Feasibility Assessment Tool (CFAT), we simulated facility operation costs, revenues, and the COOP financial performance over a ten-year period. The analysis considers scenarios including various production scales, discount rates, market prices, and patronage distribution strategies. Results indicate that the economic viability of a watermelon packing COOP depends on production scale and COOP watermelon purchasing price. Larger-scale operations and lower purchasing prices could improve the likelihood of positive economic outcomes for the COOP and its members
An Evaluation of Cost Factors in the Production and Harvesting of Potatoes
No full textExcerpts from the Introduction: The total costs of potato production and harvesting are widely variable among the major potato producing areas and among growers within an area. Some of the factors that modify production costs are indigenous to specific areas, such as soil type, climate, land values, and prevailing wage rates. Other factors that modify production and harvesting costs are related to the organization and management of the potato producing enterprise. The objective of the analysis presented here is to provide a guide for estimating these costs. Each of the several functions required in potato production and harvesting is separately analyzed for a range of performance rates with machines of different sizes used on annual acreages of 80 to 640 acres. Selected values can be taken from the analysis of these functions and combined to arrive at a figure for total production and harvesting costs. Another objective of this study is the determination of the cost of individual functions to give some indication where research might be profitable
Analysis of Household Expenditures in Relation to the Food Stamp Program Benefit Structure – Final Report
No full textExcerpt from the Executive Summary: The fundamental objective of the Food Stamp Program (FSP) is to increase the capacity of low-income households to purchase food and obtain a nutritionally adequate diet. To accomplish this objective, the design of the program's benefit structure relies on several important assumptions about how low-income households spend their income. FNS sought information about the accuracy of these assumptions by funding a research project to analyze the actual expenditure behavior of low-income households based on data from the Consumer Expenditure Surveys (the CEX). This report presents the results of the investigation
Precision Dairy Farming, Robotic Milking, and Profitability in the United States
No full textModern precision dairy farming, including a wide array of sensors, data analytics, and automation technologies, help operators implement cow level—rather than herd level—management practices. Use of one or more of these technologies can reduce average costs and increase milk yields per cow. USDAʼs Agricultural Resource Management Surveys show that U.S. adoption of precision dairy technologies increased steadily between 2000 and 2021. This report provides aggregate estimates using detailed data from a representative sample of U.S. dairy farms to understand the profitability impacts of adopting precision dairy technologies. We overview and classify precision dairy equipment into three sets of technologies (non-robotic milking, breeding, and data systems), as well as robotic milking, while documenting their increasing use relative to conventional technologies and the characteristics of operators and farms that use them. Building on this information, we develop a model to estimate the impacts of precision technologies on dairy profitability, controlling for farm size and infrastructure, demographics, high speed internet access, and other factors. This analysis is the first to quantify how the adoption of more than one class of precision dairy technologies, including robotic milking, affects dairy net returns
Commercial Importance of the White Mountain Forests
No full textExcerpts: The White Mountains form the great watershed of New England. Five of the most important rivers of New England, each having remarkable water power, take their rise in the heights of northern New Hampshire and in portions of two adjoining counties in Maine. These rivers are the Connecticut, the Merrimac, the Saco, the Androscoggin, and the Kennebec. This publication treats specifically of the White Mountain forests under the following heads: (1) As a source of timber supply; (2) their protection from fire; (3) as an influence on water power; (4) as an influence on navigation; (5) as a place of health and recreation
Preference of Using ICT over Extension Agents in Accessing Agricultural Information by Farmers in Developing Countries: A Case Study of Kitui West Sub-County, Kenya
No full textInformation Communication and Technology (ICT), specifically Radio and Television are potential knowledge dissemination channels. This study investigated the usage of radio and Television compared to extension agents as sources of agricultural knowledge among farmers in Kitui West Sub County, Kenya. Specifically, the study identified that farmers potentially use radio and television as major sources of agricultural knowledge more than extension agents. The study employed a cross-sectional survey design. The target population was 19,970 smallholder maize farmers and the estimated sample size was 350. Proportionate clustered random sampling was used to select respondents in order to ensure reasonable representation of the population. Data was collected using two instruments namely; Researcher administered questionnaire for farmers and focus group discussion guide. The collected data was managed with computer program Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS Version 21.0). Questionnaire instrument used provided quantitative data which was analysed using descriptive statistics namely; frequencies and percentages while focus group discussion guide instrument used to provide qualitative data was analysed using content analysis. Results were presented by use of a table. The study therefore concludes that farmers mostly use ICT mostly Radio in obtaining agricultural information. The study recommends to the County government to engage and fund the various information sources including public, private extension officers and local media especially radio and television to increase passing of information to the farmers