Cost-benefit analysis of on-farm grain storage hermetic bags among small-scale maize growers in northwestern Ethiopia

Abstract. Many small-scale water development initiatives are accompanied by hydrological research to study either the form of the intervention or its impacts. Humans influence both the development of intervention and research, and thus one needs to take human agency into account. This paper focuses on the effects of human actions in the development of the intervention and its associated hydrological research, as hydrological research is often designed without adequate consideration of how to account for human agency and that these effects have not yet been discussed explicitly in a systematic way. In this paper, we propose a systematic planning for hydrological research, based on evaluating three hydrological research efforts targeting small-scale water development initiatives in Vietnam, Kenya, and Indonesia. The main purpose of the three cases was to understand the functioning of interventions in their hydrological contexts. Aiming for better decision-making on hydrological research in small-scale water intervention initiatives, we propose two analysis steps, including (1) consideration of possible surprises and possible actions and (2) cost–benefit analysis. By performing the two analyses continuously throughout small-scale hydrological intervention-based initiatives, effective hydrological research can be achieved.

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Towards systematic planning of small-scale hydrological intervention-based research

Hydrology and Earth System Sciences Discussions ◽

10.5194/hessd-12-9489-2015 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 12 (9) ◽

pp. 9489-9569

Author(s):

K. E. R. Pramana ◽

M. W. Ertsen ◽

N. C. van de Giesen

Keyword(s):

Decision Making ◽

Cost Benefit Analysis ◽

Cost Benefit ◽

Human Agency ◽

Small Scale ◽

Research Projects ◽

Benefit Analysis ◽

Human Actions ◽

Systematic Planning ◽

Hydrological Intervention

Abstract. Many small-scale water development initiatives are accompanied by hydrological research to study either the shape of the intervention or its impacts. Humans influence both, and thus one needs to take human agency into account. This paper focuses on the effects of human actions in the intervention and its associated hydrological research, as these effects have not yet been discussed explicitly in a systematic way. In this paper, we propose a systematic planning, based on evaluating three hydrological research projects in small-scale water intervention projects in Vietnam, Kenya, and Indonesia. The main purpose of the three projects was to understand the functioning of interventions in their hydrological contexts. Aiming for better decision-making on hydrological research in small-scale water intervention projects, we propose two analysis steps: (1) being prepared for surprises and (2) cost-benefit analysis. By performing the two analyses continuously throughout a small-scale hydrological intervention based project, effective hydrological research can be achieved.

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AN OVERVIEW OF TREATMENT OF BRACKISH WATER USING SOLAR STILLS

International Journal of Engineering Applied Sciences and Technology ◽

10.33564/ijeast.2021.v06i03.031 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 6 (3) ◽

Author(s):

Sudhanshu S. Kamat ◽

Dilip D. Sarode

Keyword(s):

Brackish Water ◽

Cost Benefit Analysis ◽

Low Cost ◽

Cost Benefit ◽

Small Scale ◽

Operating Parameters ◽

Benefit Analysis ◽

Solar Desalination ◽

Working Principle ◽

The Cost

Solar desalination technologies are becoming popular among the scientific community for the production of fresh water from the brackish water. Membrane technologies are expensive to be implemented on small scale. Solar stills have simple working principle and there is low cost associated with it. Varied configurations and modifications have been implemented to improve the performance of solar stills. Thermodynamic analysis has also been done for the same. However, it is important to also optimize various combinations of the operating parameters, including the cost-benefit analysis associated with it. This paper focuses on the review of the effects of various geometric and operating parameters, and also optimizing the thermodynamics to improve the performance of solar still.

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Development of a Novel Helical-Ribbon Mixer Dryer for Conversion of Rural Slaughterhouse Wastes to an Organic Fertilizer and Implications in the Rural Circular Economy

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su13169455 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (16) ◽

pp. 9455

Author(s):

Ankita Bhowmik ◽

Shantanu Bhunia ◽

Anupam Debsarkar ◽

Rambilash Mallick ◽

Malancha Roy ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Circular Economy ◽

Cost Benefit Analysis ◽

Organic Fertilizer ◽

Cost Benefit ◽

Microbial Pathogens ◽

Small Scale ◽

Benefit Analysis ◽

Helical Ribbon ◽

Moisture Extraction ◽

Breakeven Point

Organic wastes of rural slaughterhouses in developing countries comprise of blood and undigested rumen contents harboring infectious microbial pathogens and having impermissible BOD5 and COD values. Previously we demonstrated valorization of blood and rumen contents through drying and conversion to an efficacious organic fertilizer which was free from infectious pathogens and heavy metals. Here we describe fabrication of a novel helical-ribbon mixer dryer for transition from the current small-scale household cooking to equipment-driven sustainable production. Blood and rumen digesta mixed in a 3:1 ratio, having initial moisture of 85%, were dried at 90–110 °C for 3–4 h to attain 15.6% final moisture-containing organic fertilizer. Energy consumption and moisture extraction rate were 49.4 MJ per batch and 18.9 kg h−1 respectively. Using this method, small abattoir owners could emerge as multi-product producers to enhance earnings while farmers could source the fertilizer locally for organic farming. The two activities can be complementary to each other and become a sustainable circular economy model. We applied a spreadsheet-based model for calculation of cash flow, breakeven point and conducted financial cost–benefit analysis on the projected operation of the dryer. Fertilizer production parallel with the meat trade should be profitable for slaughterhouse owners and farmers apart from generating local employment opportunities.

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Improving on-farm profitability of sheep and deer systems using pasture renewal in the southern South Island

Proceedings of the New Zealand Grassland Association ◽

10.33584/jnzg.2000.62.2374 ◽

2000 ◽

pp. 201-205

Author(s):

D.R. Stevens ◽

A.K. Gibson ◽

M.J. Casey

Keyword(s):

Cost Benefit Analysis ◽

Cost Benefit ◽

Net Income ◽

Benefit Analysis ◽

Farm Productivity ◽

Net Returns ◽

Sheep Farm ◽

The Cost ◽

On Farm ◽

Stocking Rates

A cost benefit analysis of pasture renewal for sheep and deer systems is presented for cultivatable land in Otago and Southland. Pasture renewal was costed at between $400/ha (direct drilling) and $550/ha (full cultivation). The benefits from new pastures were assumed to peak at between 2 and 4 years after sowing and to last for 10 years. Sheep farm productivity was improved by up to 132%, and deer production by 60% with these models. The cost benefit analyses showed that net income increased by $409/ha and $184/ha when sowing improved ryegrass pastures for sheep and deer systems, respectively. The inclusion of chicory increased the advantage to $503/ha and $304/ha for sheep and deer systems, respectively. Increasing annual pasture renewal rate from 5% to 10%, 15% and 20% on a sheep and beef property improved net returns per hectare by $191/ha, $332/ha, $370/ ha and $409/ha respectively. In conclusion, when actively managed by farmers, pasture renewal benefits gained through improved seasonality of supply and increased pasture quality are highly profitable when realised through higher stocking rates and per head performance. Keywords: cost:benefit, deer, modelling, pasture renewal, profitability, sheep

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Cost-Benefit Analysis of On-Farm Climate Change Adaptation Strategies in Ghana

Ghana Journal of Geography ◽

10.4314/gjg.v12i1.2 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (1) ◽

pp. 29-46

Author(s):

Shaibu Baanni Azumah ◽

William Adzawla ◽

Aminu Osman ◽

Paul Yao Anani

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Climate Change Adaptation ◽

Cost Benefit Analysis ◽

Cost Benefit ◽

Adaptation Strategies ◽

Zero Tillage ◽

Benefit Analysis ◽

Drought Tolerant ◽

On Farm ◽

Climate Change Adaptation Strategies

Climate change continues to hamper crop-based systems across sub-Sahara Africa. Adaptation strategies prove to be effective at improving production and enhancing livelihoods of farm households. This study employs Cost-Benefit Analysis (CBA) to assess the perceived economic profitability of adopting various on-farm climate change adaptation strategies among farmers in Zabzugu and South Tongu districts in the north and south of Ghana. A simple random sampling approach was used to select 300 farmers who had previously benefited from climate change projects. Major strategies adopted in both districts were: changing of planting dates, planting early maturing varieties, row planting, seed refilling and planting drought tolerant varieties. Adoption intensity was high in Zabzugu district compared to the South Tongu District. Generally, the adoption of each strategy was perceived to be profitable since the estimated average benefits outweighed the average costs. However, the most profitable strategies were strip cropping, repeated sowing, refilling, zero tillage and row planting. Less profitable strategies included land rotation, mixed farming, early planting, tractor ploughing and “A-frame” contour farming. Among others, drought tolerant varieties of rice, maize and soybeans, as well as zero tillage, repeated sowing and strip cropping, should be promoted and farmers encouraged to adopt these practices for enhanced benefits.

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Does On-Farm Quality Assurance Pay? A Cost-Benefit Analysis of the Grainsafe Program

Journal of Agricultural and Applied Economics ◽

10.1017/s1074070800023257 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 39 (3) ◽

pp. 541-556 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Umit Karaca ◽

Corinne Alexander ◽

Dirk Maier

Keyword(s):

Quality Assurance ◽

Cost Benefit Analysis ◽

Cost Benefit ◽

Gm Crops ◽

Farm Size ◽

Quality Assurance Program ◽

Equipment Management ◽

Benefit Analysis ◽

Quality Management Systems ◽

On Farm

Since the introduction of genetically modified (GM) crops, the commodity grain system has been under pressure to segregate GM and non-GM crops. Starting at the level of the grain handler, members of the grain supply chain have successfully used quality assurance and identity preservation programs to segregate non GM crops. Producers delivering high-value, identity-preserved crops have become interested in implementing these quality management systems at the farm level. We conduct a cost-benefit analysis that shows that quality assurance program may be profitable for producers, depending on their farm size and equipment management strategy.

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