Crop Production in a Variable Environment: A Case Study from Southern Zimbabwe

1996 ◽  
Vol 32 (3) ◽  
pp. 291-303 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ian Scoones
Keyword(s):  
Crop Production ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Household Wealth ◽  
Wealth Status ◽  
Variable Environment ◽  
Cropping Patterns ◽  
Ecological Zones ◽  
Risk Management Strategies ◽  
Communal Area

SUMMARYBiophysical and socio-economic variability have several impacts on farmers' cropping strategies in dryland areas of Africa. This study examines data from a communal area in southern Zimbabwe over a seven year period. Variation in the output of different crops, in the pattern of crop mixes, in the diversity of cropping patterns and the level of crop sales is explored. Through contrasts between ecological zones and household wealth status, the analysis helps to explain the range of farm-level risk management strategies employed. Finally, the importance for research and extension approaches of understanding variability, through a differentiated analysis of cropping strategies, is emphasized.

scholarly journals Risk Management Strategies to Reduce Net Income Variability for Farmers

1985 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 117-130 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hamid Falatoonzadeh ◽  
J. Richard Conner ◽  
Rulon D. Pope
Keyword(s):  
Risk Management ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Farm Income ◽  
Net Income ◽  
Combination Strategy ◽  
Management Tools ◽  
Risk Management Strategies ◽  
Price Risks ◽  
The Many

AbstractThe most useful and practical strategy available for reducing variability of net farm income is ascertained. Of the many risk management tools presently available, five of the most commonly used are simultaneously incorporated in an empirically tested model. Quadratic programming provides the basis for decisionmaking in risk management wherein expected utility is assumed to be a function of the mean and variance of net income. Results demonstrate that farmers can reduce production and price risks when a combination strategy including a diversified crop production plan and participation in the futures market and the Federal Crop Insurance Program (FCIP) is implemented.

scholarly journals Socio-ecological factors determine crop performance in agricultural systems

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Libère Nkurunziza ◽  
Christine A. Watson ◽  
Ingrid Öborn ◽  
Henrik G. Smith ◽  
Göran Bergkvist ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Crop Production ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Spring Barley ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Ecological Factors ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Agricultural System ◽  
Ecological Zones ◽  
Crop Performance ◽  
Latent Structures

AbstractAgricultural production systems are affected by complex interactions between social and ecological factors, which are often hard to integrate in a common analytical framework. We evaluated differences in crop production among farms by integrating components of several related research disciplines in a single socio-ecological analysis. Specifically, we evaluated spring barley (Hordeum vulgare, L.) performance on 34 farms (organic and conventional) in two agro-ecological zones to unravel the importance of ecological, crop and management factors in the performance of a standard crop. We used Projections to Latent Structures (PLS), a simple but robust analytical tool widely utilized in research disciplines dealing with complex systems (e.g. social sciences and chemometrics), but infrequently in agricultural sciences. We show that barley performance on organic farms was affected by previous management, landscape structure, and soil quality, in contrast to conventional farms where external inputs were the main factors affecting biomass and grain yield. This indicates that more complex management strategies are required in organic than in conventional farming systems. We conclude that the PLS method combining socio-ecological and biophysical factors provides improved understanding of the various interacting factors determining crop performance and can help identify where improvements in the agricultural system are most likely to be effective.

scholarly journals An interactive web-GIS tool for risk analysis: a case study in the Fella River basin, Italy

2016 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 85-101 ◽  
Author(s):  
Z. C. Aye ◽  
M. Jaboyedoff ◽  
M. H. Derron ◽  
C. J. van Westen ◽  
H. Y. Hussin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Management ◽  
Risk Analysis ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Web Gis ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Prototype Development ◽  
Risk Management Strategies ◽  
Northeastern Italy ◽  
Study Sites

Abstract. This paper presents a prototype of an interactive web-GIS tool for risk analysis of natural hazards, in particular for floods and landslides, based on open-source geospatial software and technologies. The aim of the presented tool is to assist the experts (risk managers) in analysing the impacts and consequences of a certain hazard event in a considered region, providing an essential input to the decision-making process in the selection of risk management strategies by responsible authorities and decision makers. This tool is based on the Boundless (OpenGeo Suite) framework and its client-side environment for prototype development, and it is one of the main modules of a web-based collaborative decision support platform in risk management. Within this platform, the users can import necessary maps and information to analyse areas at risk. Based on provided information and parameters, loss scenarios (amount of damages and number of fatalities) of a hazard event are generated on the fly and visualized interactively within the web-GIS interface of the platform. The annualized risk is calculated based on the combination of resultant loss scenarios with different return periods of the hazard event. The application of this developed prototype is demonstrated using a regional data set from one of the case study sites, Fella River of northeastern Italy, of the Marie Curie ITN CHANGES project.

scholarly journals Challenges to social capacity building in flood-affected areas of southern Poland

2013 ◽  
Vol 13 (10) ◽  
pp. 2555-2566 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Działek ◽  
W. Biernacki ◽  
A. Bokwa
Keyword(s):  
World War Ii ◽  
Natural Hazards ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Five Dimensions ◽  
Southern Poland ◽  
Bridging Social Capital ◽  
Transmission Of Knowledge ◽  
Risk Management Strategies ◽  
Group Interviews

Abstract. Various aspects of beliefs, behaviour and expectations of at-risk populations were analysed in four case study localities in southern Poland that were affected by flooding in 1997 and 2001. They represent localities of different sizes and are characterised by different paths of historical development. Two of them are deep-rooted communities with dense, strong family and neighbourhood ties, while the other two experienced an almost total replacement of their population due to decisions taken after World War II and still suffer from less developed social networks. Historical events also resulted in the disruption of local memories of flooding and transmission of knowledge about natural hazards. A questionnaire survey was conducted in late autumn 2006, followed by structured telephone interviews and focus group interviews in spring 2008. The results of the survey and interviews were analysed with reference to the social capacity framework and its five dimensions: knowledge, motivational, network, economic and governance capacities. Network capacities, that is resources of bonding and bridging social capital, were considered a key notion when analysing and interpreting the results. The differences in the local resources and abilities available in each of the localities to prepare a response to natural hazards were revealed. Consequently, challenges faced in the process of building and strengthening social capacity were identified as well as ways to address these challenges. It was concluded that there are general trends and tendencies that need to be considered in risk management strategies, however the different starting points of each case study community calls for different means and approaches, as well as producing somewhat different expected outcomes.

Identifying risks and mitigation strategies in private sector participation (PSP) in power generation projects in Ghana

2017 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 153-169 ◽  
Author(s):  
Collins Ameyaw ◽  
Hans Wilhelm Alfen
Keyword(s):  
Power Generation ◽  
Private Sector ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Case Study Research ◽  
Mitigation Strategies ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Private Sector Participation ◽  
Risk Management Strategies ◽  
Private Investors

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to identify the risks associated with private sector participation (PSP) in power generation (PG) projects, how they were allocated and the strategies used to mitigate their likely adverse effects. Design/methodology/approach The paper adopts case study research method and cross-case analyses to unearth the key risks and the contractual instruments used to manage them. Findings The paper identified 30 risk factors associated with four major private sector PG projects in Ghana. The allocation and mitigation strategies of these risks are also reported. Originality/value This is the first study to create a risk register of PSP PG projects. Private investors and government have been provided with a comprehensive list of risks associated with PG infrastructure. Would-be investors have also been armed with some potential risk management strategies for proper project structuring.

scholarly journals A Hybrid Fuzzy System Dynamics Approach for Risk Analysis of AUV Operations

2020 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 26-39
Author(s):  
Tzu Yang Loh ◽  
Mario P. Brito ◽  
Neil Bose ◽  
Jingjing Xu ◽  
Natalia Nikolova ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Analysis ◽  
System Dynamics ◽  
Fuzzy System ◽  
Autonomous Underwater Vehicles ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Operating Experience ◽  
Rapid Expansion ◽  
Risk Management Strategies ◽  
The Impact

The maturing of autonomous technology has fostered a rapid expansion in the use of Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs). To prevent the loss of AUVs during deployments, existing risk analysis approaches tend to focus on technicalities, historical data and experts’ opinion for probability quantification. However, data may not always be available and the complex interrelationships between risk factors are often neglected due to uncertainties. To overcome these shortfalls, a hybrid fuzzy system dynamics risk analysis (FuSDRA) is proposed. The approach utilises the strengths while overcoming limitations of both system dynamics and fuzzy set theory. Presented as a three-step iterative framework, the approach was applied on a case study to examine the impact of crew operating experience on the risk of AUV loss. Results showed not only that initial experience of the team affects the risk of loss, but any loss of experience in earlier stages of the AUV program have a lesser impact as compared to later stages. A series of risk control policies were recommended based on the results. The case study demonstrated how the FuSDRA approach can be applied to inform human resource and risk management strategies, or broader application within the AUV domain and other complex technological systems.

scholarly journals Pathogens in crop production systems irrigated with low-quality water in Bolivia

2018 ◽  
Vol 16 (6) ◽  
pp. 980-990 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luis Fernando Perez-Mercado ◽  
Cecilia Lalander ◽  
Abraham Joel ◽  
Jakob Ottoson ◽  
Mercedes Iriarte ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Management ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Water Sources ◽  
Treated Wastewater ◽  
Quality Of Water ◽  
Risk Management Strategies ◽  
Shallow Wells

Abstract In dry areas, the need for irrigation to ensure agricultural production determines the use of all available water sources. However, the water sources used for irrigation are often contaminated by untreated or minimally treated wastewater. Microbial risks from reusing wastewater for vegetable irrigation can be addressed by installing environmental barriers that pathogens must cross to reach humans in the reuse system. Knowledge of pathogen flows inside the system and pathogen removal potential is the first step towards devising a risk management strategy. This study assessed microbe prevalence in farming systems in the Bolivian highlands that use wastewater-polluted sources for irrigation of lettuce. Samples of soil, lettuce and different water sources used in the farming systems were taken during one crop season and concentrations of coliphages, Escherichia coli and helminth eggs were measured. The results showed high spread of these microorganisms throughout the whole system. There was a significant correlation between microbial quality of water and of the harvested produce for several microorganisms. The microbial prevalence in protected shallow wells was found to be significantly lower than in other water sources. These findings can help formulate feasible risk management strategies in contexts where conventional technologies for microbial removal are not possible.

scholarly journals Identifying Significant Risks and Analyzing Risk Relationship for Construction PPP Projects in China Using Integrated FISM-MICMAC Approach

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (19) ◽  
pp. 5206 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaoyan Jiang ◽  
Kun Lu ◽  
Bo Xia ◽  
Yong Liu ◽  
Caiyun Cui
Keyword(s):  
Assessment Tool ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Construction Engineering ◽  
Public Facilities ◽  
Sufficient Detail ◽  
Risk Management Strategies ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Procedural Method ◽  
Cross Reference

To meet the growing demand for public facilities and services, many developing countries, including China, have adopted the concept of public–private partnership (PPP). However, there are many risks in PPP projects. Furthermore, these risks affect each other, which may lead to project failure. However, the existing research on the PPP risk relationship has not gone into sufficient detail. Therefore, in order to fill this literature gap, this study proposes a procedural method to analyze the correlation between PPP risks. Firstly, this study, identifies the risks of construction PPP projects in China by combining the literature review with a case study and interviews. Then, fuzzy interpretative structural modeling (FISM) is used to reflect the relationships between these risks and reveal the failure mechanisms of PPP projects. In addition, based on matrix impact cross-reference multiplication applied to a classification (MICMAC) analysis, the risk is divided into four clusters, according to the driving and dependence power, to show the relationship level of the risk. Finally, the paper compares and discusses the research results with other studies and puts forward some suggestions on PPP risks. The FISM-MICMAC method adopted in this study considers the fuzzy of the PPP risk relationship and improves upon previous studies. In addition, the method of FISM-MICMAC can provide a new risk assessment tool for risk management strategies in the field of construction engineering and management.

scholarly journals Risk Management Strategies in Humid Production Regions: A Comparison of Supplemental Irrigation and Crop Insurance

2004 ◽  
Vol 33 (2) ◽  
pp. 220-232 ◽  
Author(s):  
Timothy J. Dalton ◽  
Gregory A. Porter ◽  
Noah G. Winslow
Keyword(s):  
Risk Management ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Crop Insurance ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Economic Feasibility ◽  
Supplemental Irrigation ◽  
Production Risk ◽  
Enterprise Risk ◽  
Risk Management Strategies ◽  
Management Responsibility

Recent federal agricultural programs have accelerated the devolution of enterprise risk management responsibility from the state to individual producers. Using a biophysical simulation model, the risk management benefits of federal crop insurance and supplemental irrigation are derived and compared to uninsured rainfed crop production in an expected utility framework. Federal crop insurance programs are inefficient at reducing producer exposure to weather-related production risk in humid regions, and the risk management benefits from supplemental irrigation are found to be scale and technology dependent. Environmental policies that regulate resource development will increase the investment cost of irrigation alternatives and reduce economic feasibility.

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