Outlook on Agriculture最新文献

{"title":"Gendered trait prioritization and motivations for crop varietal choice among smallholder farmers: The case of sweetpotato in Uganda","authors":"Julius Juma Okello, Josephine Namirimu, Andrew Muganga Kizito, Agnes Mary Nanziri Ssekiboobo","doi":"10.1177/00307270241239979","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/00307270241239979","url":null,"abstract":"To improve productivity, several improved high-yielding sweetpotato varieties have been developed and released by breeders. However, most farmers still grow low-yielding landraces known also as farmers’ varieties. Farmers choose varieties to grow based on their preference for the attributes (traits) embodied in those varieties. Past studies have examined drivers of trait preference using neoclassical economic theory. This study departs from previous ones by applying principles from economic psychology to assess preference for, and prioritization, of sweetpotato traits among male and female sweetpotato farmers. Data used was data collected using focus group discussions and laddering, an in-depth personal interview process, and analysed using descriptive and means-end chain analyses. The study identifies mental constructs associated with farmers’ trait preference and prioritization, namely: the characteristics farmers mentally associate with the prioritized traits, the benefits those traits confer, and the life goals (i.e. values) they enable farmers to attain. Focus group discussions revealed that, among agronomic traits, high root yield is the most preferred/prioritized trait across gender categories and was followed by stress tolerance and underground root storage longevity. The most preferred quality traits across gender groups are root size and mealiness. Women, however, prioritized early maturity over men. The means-end-chain analysis identified several mental constructs farmers mentally associated with trait prioritization. They are increased sales, more income, food security, savings, and investment. These benefits are linked to various life goals (values) farmers aspire for namely, respect, security, achievement, and happiness. These findings imply that farmers’ choice of sweetpotato varieties to grow is driven by the agronomic and quality traits the varieties embody. The findings further imply that psychosocial factors underpin trait preference and prioritization by farmers.","PeriodicalId":54661,"journal":{"name":"Outlook on Agriculture","volume":"23 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2024-03-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140203194","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"经济学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The negative impacts of the restructuring of the abattoir industry in Great Britain on small abattoirs","authors":"Jeremy R Franks","doi":"10.1177/00307270241236800","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/00307270241236800","url":null,"abstract":"This study examines the reasons why between 1979 and 2020 the number of abattoirs licenced to slaughter red blood livestock species in Great Britain fell from 1146 to 200, average throughput per abattoir increased, larger abattoirs specialised in the species slaughtered, and family owned abattoirs have been replaced by international companies owning multiple slaughterhouses and food processing factories. The study combines abattoir sector survey data with findings from a national survey of small abattoirs. Larger abattoirs have exploited economies of size and location to achieve the throughput necessary to supply multiple retailers and/or wholesale markets. Smaller abattoirs have exploited economies of scope to develop the bespoke butchering services needed to supply private kill customers. The high rate of closure of smaller abattoirs suggests the future of small-scale, locally based supply chains in which private kill services supply is threatened. The recently introduced Small Abattoir Fund offers grants towards the purchase of new equipment which will offer some relief. But smaller abattoirs must support their private kill customers by organising collection points for onward transport of livestock to the abattoir and local redistribution centres for meat and carcases.","PeriodicalId":54661,"journal":{"name":"Outlook on Agriculture","volume":"25 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2024-03-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140127103","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"经济学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Spatial and economic dynamics of bean crops in an important production hub in Brazil","authors":"Gabriela Gomes Mantovani, Wander Plassa, Tiago Santos Telles","doi":"10.1177/00307270241231614","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/00307270241231614","url":null,"abstract":"Beans are a traditional grain crop consumed by humans that is of great importance for food security and farmers in terms of income in Brazil. Paraná is one of the largest bean-producing states in the country, but the area needed for its production is being lost, changing the dynamics of bean cultivation, and generating social and economic impacts. The objective of this study was to verify the spatiotemporal and economic dynamics of bean production in Paraná. For this purpose, using mainly data from the 2006 and 2017 agricultural censuses, the location quotient, the Hirschman–Herfindahl Index (HHI), the Williamson coefficient ([Formula: see text]), exploratory spatial data analysis (ESDA), and principal component analysis (PCA) were applied. From the results, it was possible to verify that there was a 13.95% reduction in the number of municipalities that specialized in bean production, from 98 municipalities in 2006 to 86 in 2017. Most specialized municipalities produced black beans or a combination of other colored beans. The HHI revealed that the specialized municipalities accounted for the most income from bean production. The [Formula: see text] indicated that the economic development of the central-eastern and southeastern Paraná mesoregions was related to bean production. Based on the ESDA, it was found a statistically significant and positive presence of spatial concentration in 2006 (Moran’ I = 0.36) and 2017 (Moran’ I = 0.51). Based on the PCA, it was possible to identify two main components that together explained 71.52% of the data variability. The reduction in the planted area, the decrease in the number of specialized municipalities, and the concentration of income from bean production in some municipalities make it difficult to reduce regional disparities in Paraná, and in addition, these factors increase concern about food security; thus, public policies are needed to reduce such impacts.","PeriodicalId":54661,"journal":{"name":"Outlook on Agriculture","volume":"75 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2024-02-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139948733","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"经济学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Breaking barriers to adoption: A multi-stakeholder platform approach to promoting improved common bean varieties among farmers in Malawi","authors":"Ivy Kadakoma Rambiki, Alexander Phiri, Ruth Magreta, Eliud Birachi, Catherine Larochelle, Mercy Mutua, Jean Claude Rubyogo, Wilson Nkhata","doi":"10.1177/00307270231226233","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/00307270231226233","url":null,"abstract":"Farmers’ low adoption rate of improved common bean varieties is the root cause of other challenges that stakeholders in Malawi's common bean value chain face in marketing, seed production, processing, and consumption. As a result, it is ideal to address the issue of low uptake by encouraging farmers to adopt improved varieties to make more significant contributions to the common bean value chain. The study's main objective was to assess the impact of multi-stakeholder platforms (MSPs) and farmers’ attitudes on the uptake of improved common bean varieties. According to the findings of the KAP survey, there is a correlation between farmers’ knowledge, attitude, and uptake of improved common bean varieties. Using a probit model, the paper discovered that farmers in the project area's intervention site had a 25% higher probability of uptake than farmers in the counterfactual site. Farmer households that were members of MSPs were more likely to participate than farmer households that were not members of any MSP. Meanwhile, farmers who were negative or neutral about the accessibility and affordability of improved common bean varieties were less likely to uptake them than those who were positive. According to the findings, farmers with a neutral attitude toward the yield potential of the improved common bean varieties had a lower probability of uptake than farmers with a positive attitude. Therefore, the study recommends MSP-based initiatives as one way to promote the uptake of improved common bean varieties.","PeriodicalId":54661,"journal":{"name":"Outlook on Agriculture","volume":"195 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2024-02-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139948626","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"经济学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Maize seed aid and seed systems development: Opportunities for synergies in Uganda","authors":"Jason Donovan, Rachel C. Voss, Irene Bayiyana, P. Rutsaert","doi":"10.1177/00307270231224085","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/00307270231224085","url":null,"abstract":"In the name of food security, governments and NGOs purchase large volumes of maize seed in non-relief situations to provide at reduced or no cost to producers. At the same time, efforts to build formal maize seed systems have been frustrated by slow turnover rates – the dominance of older seed products in the market over newer, higher performing ones. Under certain conditions, governments and NGO seed aid purchases can support formal seed systems development in three ways: i) support increased producer awareness of new products, ii) support local private seed industry development, and iii) advance equity goals by targeting aid to the most vulnerable of producers who lack the capacity to purchase seeds. This study explores the objectives and activities of seed aid programmes in Uganda and their interactions with the maize seed sector. We draw insights from interviews with representatives of seed companies, NGOs and government agencies, as well as focus group discussions with producers. The findings indicated that seed aid programme objectives are largely disconnected from broader seed systems development goals. There is little evidence of public-private collaboration in design of these programmes. Better designed programs have the potential to align with varietal turnover objectives, commercial sector development and targeting of underserved markets could promote equity and ‘crowd in’ demand.","PeriodicalId":54661,"journal":{"name":"Outlook on Agriculture","volume":"7 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2024-01-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139446897","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"经济学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Estimation of contribution of production factors to an agricultural output change in emerging and developing Europe","authors":"Danilo Đokić, S. Zekić, Dejan Brcanov, Bojan Matkovski","doi":"10.1177/00307270231221811","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/00307270231221811","url":null,"abstract":"Countries of Emerging and Developing Europe (EDE) significantly transformed their agri-food sector in the last decades, and it has specific implications for agricultural tendencies and the economy of these countries. This research focuses on the sources of growth of agricultural production in countries belonging to EDE, as the former communist countries classified by the International Monetary Fund. This group of countries is particularly interesting because there is room for further growth in agricultural production, which can be crucial in times of crisis. This article's main objective is to estimate agriculture's production function and analyze the relationship between agricultural output and used inputs. Based on data for the period 2008 to 2019, results showed that the increase in the use of mineral fertilizers is a key source of production growth among production factors. Due to the economic importance of fertilizer use and its environmental effect, it can be concluded that agricultural policy must be created carefully in these countries to achieve a balance between economic, social, and environmental goals.","PeriodicalId":54661,"journal":{"name":"Outlook on Agriculture","volume":"62 10","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2023-12-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"138952284","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"经济学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Farmers’ cooperatives in Southwest China: Beyond the dichotomies of failure/success and (in) authenticity?","authors":"Ju-Han Zoe Wang, Jun He, Brooke Wilmsen","doi":"10.1177/00307270231220068","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/00307270231220068","url":null,"abstract":"China has provided strong policy support for Farmers’ Cooperatives (FCs) in a bid to achieve its agricultural ambitions; however, scholars are divided on their contribution. Based upon three in-depth case studies, we interrogate the simple dichotomies used to describe FCs in China – authentic/inauthentic and failed/successful – arguing that FCs can have beneficial implications for smallholder livelihoods regardless of their organisation, operation and viability. Our research finds that local leadership and smallholder-led initiatives are more important than the authenticity and success of local FCs. We therefore call for a more nuanced understanding of the value of FCs and propose that resources should be diverted to other smallholder-led avenues to sustain China's rural development.","PeriodicalId":54661,"journal":{"name":"Outlook on Agriculture","volume":"101 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2023-12-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"138995070","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"经济学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Youth engagement in livestock production and marketing in East Africa","authors":"Renee Marie Bullock, J. O. Auma, Isabelle Baltenweck, Michel Dione, A. Mwai, Nicholas Ndiwa, A. Omore, Emily Ouma, M. Yami","doi":"10.1177/00307270231215368","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/00307270231215368","url":null,"abstract":"There is limited empirical evidence about how youth engage in livestock production in East Africa. The primary objective of this article is to better understand youth engagement in the livestock sector, namely commercialization and marketing. We compare youth to non-youth in four areas: livestock asset ownership, access to and use of services and improved practices and lastly, market participation. Our framework draws upon agricultural transformation concepts to suggest a tentative pathway through which livestock can support youth in transitions. We draw upon quantitative data and analyze and compare youth to nonyouth in intensive and extensive livestock systems in Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia, and Tanzania and investigate four livestock systems, dairy, extensive ruminants, pig, and chicken systems. The results showed that there were no systematic youth-specific trends across the asset ownership, levels of commercialization or market participation. Also, low asset ownership did not generate observable youth specific differences in market participation. Rather, education and improved practices correlate with higher levels of market participation. Exploring how livestock are acquired and implications upon asset-based approaches is recommended to better understand the potential of livestock as a source of income during youth transitions in different livestock systems. More evidence is needed to inform and tailor policy approaches to support equitable opportunities in the livestock sector better. Research into understanding how social factors, including gender, shape youth opportunities and constraints, is needed.","PeriodicalId":54661,"journal":{"name":"Outlook on Agriculture","volume":"58 1","pages":"424 - 433"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2023-11-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139216461","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"经济学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The impact of policies on the diffusion of agricultural innovations: Systematic review on evaluation approaches","authors":"Imane El Bakali, Youssef Brouziyne, Abdelkader Ait El Mekki, Nassreddine Maatala, R. Harbouze","doi":"10.1177/00307270231215837","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/00307270231215837","url":null,"abstract":"The demand for sustainable agricultural technologies still lags behind the supply confirming the demand articulation failure of transformational innovation change agricultural policies. To understand the reasons for demand shortcomings, the evaluation of developed policies is required. In the literature, there is little evidence on this topic, henceforth, this paper conducts a systematic review of the primary methodological approaches used to assess the influence of policies on the dissemination of agricultural innovations. The results showed that there are two clusters of evaluation; the first investigates how policies affect agricultural innovation adoption, and the second studies how policies affect yields and profitability. For the first cluster, 70% of the studies analyzed adoption decisions using the Double-hurdle, Probit, or Tobit models or captured changes in adoption levels over time using the Adoption and Diffusion Outcome Prediction Tool and discrete-time duration models. This cluster is related to the assessment of the input and output additionalities of innovation policies. In 58% of the studies related to the second cluster, the focus was the assessment of economic and environmental implications using mathematical programming models, particularly agent-based modeling. The purpose of evaluation in this cluster is more focused on behavioral additionality. There were no experimental or quasi-experimental methods among the methods utilized in this cluster. The majority of studies do not incorporate the evaluation of economic, social, and environmental aspects together; therefore, evaluation outlooks suggest increasing interest in sustainability impact. It is suggested that models from both clusters be used in combination to explore input, output, and behavioral additionalities simultaneously. Furthermore, including white-box evaluation approaches to evaluate demand-oriented innovation policy in the agricultural sector, in addition to usual black-box approaches, is a necessity.","PeriodicalId":54661,"journal":{"name":"Outlook on Agriculture","volume":"28 10","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2023-11-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139256301","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"经济学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Factors affecting farmers’ acceptance and adoption of biofortified crops: A systematic review","authors":"Lidya Samuel, Marcia Dutra de Barcellos, Mulugeta D Watabaji, Hans De Steur","doi":"10.1177/00307270231212924","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/00307270231212924","url":null,"abstract":"Biofortified crops offer a promising solutions to combat micronutrient deficiencies, particularly in developing nations. This study undertakes a systematic review of farmer-level acceptance and adoption of biofortified crops, including the key determinants, methodologies, indicators and measures, and findings related to acceptance and adoption of biofortified crops among farmers. The review identified 24 biofortification studies with farmers conducted across Africa and Asia, primarily in countries such as Nigeria, Uganda, and Tanzania. These studies focus on biofortified crops like rice, banana, cassava, and sweet potato. Notably, a majority of the reviewed studies followed a quantitative approach and employed a cross-sectional design. The key outcome indicators encompassed farmers’ willingness-to-pay, perceptions, beliefs, willingness-to-plant in the next growing season, and the actual adoption itself. These indicators were typically measured using a 5-point Likert scale or a dummy variable. The primary determinants driving farmers to cultivate biofortified crops were classified into four categories: socioeconomic, institutional, agronomic, and psychological and cognitive factors. Given the complex nature of challenges like hidden hunger, an all-encompassing approach is imperative in seeking effective solutions. Understanding the intricate interplay between these factors, which shape the acceptance and adoption of biofortified crops, becomes pivotal in formulating strategies that effectively address this multifaceted issue. To address challenges like hidden hunger, comprehensive solutions are essential. Understanding the factors shaping the adoption of biofortified crops is crucial for effective strategies.","PeriodicalId":54661,"journal":{"name":"Outlook on Agriculture","volume":"127 22","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-11-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"136351316","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"经济学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}