Maize storage losses and its main determinants in China

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Meiyi Zhang ◽  
Yi Luo ◽  
Dong Huang ◽  
Haimin Miao ◽  
Laping Wu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Economies Of Scale ◽  
Food Policy ◽  
Nationwide Survey ◽  
Loss Reduction ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Storage Losses ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Main Determinants ◽  
The Government ◽  
On Farm

PurposeThe purpose of this study was to estimate on-farm maize storage losses and to empirically analyse the main determinants of maize storage losses in China.Design/methodology/approachBased on a nationwide survey of 1,196 households in 23 provinces (autonomous regions and municipalities) in China, the authors estimated on-farm maize storage losses and used a fractional logit model to analyse the main determinants of maize storage losses in China.FindingsThe results showed that, first, 1.78% of maize was lost during the storage stage in China and that storage loss experienced by smallholders varied across regions. Second, the empirical analysis showed that storage quantities have significant and negative effects on storage losses and that an economy of scale in household storage may exist; the percentage of maize stored for consumption and feed has significant and positive effects on storage losses, which may be related to market requirements and management activities. Third, compared to traditional facilities, silos and warehouses cause lower storage losses, while spraying chemicals and re-drying maize in the storage stage incur higher losses, possibly because to save costs, smallholders conduct loss-reduction activities only when they suffer serious losses, and when taking measures, farmers may sort grains, which also increases losses. Fourth, harvesting maize when it matures is significantly associated with lower storage losses.Research limitations/implicationsTo reduce storage losses, first, farmers' awareness of food saving and loss reduction must be increased. This could be achieved through agricultural training and education regarding food-saving practices. Second, the government could provide subsidies or low-interest credits to encourage farmers to use advanced facilities and promote land transfers to realize economies of scale. Finally, the government should accelerate the construction of smart agriculture systems and the timely monitoring of crop growth to suggest farmers to harvest at the appropriate time.Originality/valueReducing post-harvest loss (PHL) has become an important means of increasing the food supply and reducing resources use in China. This study provides a complete introduction to household maize storage losses and can therefore help characterize the current state of PHL in China, which is of vital importance to food security and food policy.

The big bath of demonetization in India: strike on black money for corporate governance

2018 ◽  
Vol 21 (4) ◽  
pp. 594-600 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sandeep Goel
Keyword(s):  
Corporate Governance ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Corporate World ◽  
The World ◽  
Future Improvement ◽  
Policy Measures ◽  
The Government ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose This paper aims to focus on the concept of abolition of black money and the demonetization movement started in India for cleaning black money and its impact on corporate world and Indian economy. It discusses the corporate governance effect of the demonetization scheme and various policy measures taken by the government to unearth and curb the black money in the country. It also states the challenges in its process of implementation and implications for future. Design/methodology/approach It appraises and reviews the concept of demonetization and its process in India since its implementation on November 8, 2016. Findings The biggest positive effects of this move were eradication of stocked and staked up money, cleansing of the financial system and improving governance in India. But its implementation had mix outcomes with its own challenges for future improvement. Practical implications The lessons drawn from the experience are expected to pave way for the countries at large. Originality/value It is an original paper on demonetization in India, and it is hoped that the lessons learnt thereof will pave the way for the world at large.

The impact of land renting-in on farm productivity: evidence from maize production in China

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tongwei Qiu ◽  
Qinying He ◽  
S.T. Boris Choy ◽  
Yifei Li ◽  
Biliang Luo
Keyword(s):  
Least Squares Method ◽  
Chinese Government ◽  
Maize Production ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Farm Productivity ◽  
The Government ◽  
Low Efficiency ◽  
Land Size ◽  
On Farm ◽  
The Impact

PurposeThis study investigates the effect of renting in land on farm productivity, and the impacts of rented-in land size and transaction partner type on farm productivity.Design/methodology/approachData from the 2015 China Household Finance Survey are analyzed using an extended regression model and the two-stage least squares method.FindingsFarm households that rent in land are likely to achieve higher farm productivity, and ignoring endogeneity underestimates the positive effect of land renting-in. Further evidence indicates that rented-in land size has an insignificant impact on farm productivity, and that there is no difference in farm productivity between lessees renting-in land from acquaintances and those renting-in land from non-acquaintances. These results may be caused by the higher degree of marketization of land rentals between acquaintances in China. With increasing competition in agricultural factor markets, in theory, rented-in land size should not affect farm productivity.Practical implicationsOverall, the analysis suggests that renting in land improves farm productivity, which supports the land transfer policies that have been rolled out in recent decades in China. However, our finding that rented land size does not affect farm productivity, consistent with the results in the literature, implies that the Chinese government should no longer subsidize or prefer large farms with low productivity. More attention should be paid to small lessees and market-oriented land rentals between acquaintances. Promoting the marketization of land transfers inside acquaintance networks could realize the potential of the land market, especially if land transfers decrease.Originality/valueThis study identifies the effects of renting in land, rented-in land size and type of rental transaction partner on farm productivity using nationally representative data. The findings imply that the government should pay more attention to the marketization of land rentals between acquaintances. Although existing studies regard land rental between acquaintances as informal and of low efficiency, the recent evidence shows that China's land markets are changing, and policy makers should adjust their policies accordingly.

On farm storage, storage losses and the effects of loss reduction in China

2020 ◽  
Vol 162 ◽  
pp. 105062
Author(s):  
Yi Luo ◽  
Dong Huang ◽  
Danyang Li ◽  
Laping Wu
Keyword(s):  
Loss Reduction ◽  
Storage Losses ◽  
On Farm

The influence of personal and environmental factors on entrepreneurs' performance

Kybernetes ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 42 (6) ◽  
pp. 906-927 ◽  
Author(s):  
Doris Omerzel Gomezelj ◽  
Irena Kušce
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Factors ◽  
Multiple Linear Regression Model ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Business Environments ◽  
Perceived Performance ◽  
Start Up ◽  
Main Determinants ◽  
The Government ◽  
Start Ups

Purpose – This paper aims to analyse the determinants of business start-ups and their impact on entrepreneurial performance. The theoretical part indicates that the importance of small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) considers the role of entrepreneur in the business process and provides an overview of theoretical and empirical findings in the main determinants of business start-ups. Design/methodology/approach – The empirical part is based on quantitative survey results from a model of business start-up factors and relations with the entrepreneurs' performance. The data were analysed using the statistical package for data analysis SPSS for Windows. The factor analysis was performed separately for the set of variables that have measured the reasons for founding the start-up, the personality traits, environmental factors and performance. The paper used a multiple linear regression model to identify the strength, direction and impact of different factors on the start-up performance. Findings – In general, the study identifies which indicators influence entrepreneurs' performance (personal and business) in the first years of their companies. The paper revealed the heterogeneity of the measures for performance and their different natures (from financial indicators to those related to the entrepreneur satisfaction). Consequently, one of the most significant findings of the research is that, in spite of the fact that the most commonly used indicators for the firm performance in the literature are financial, the paper should not neglect the so-called perceived performance. This is how entrepreneurs are satisfied with their success. Research limitations/implications – The study is limited to Slovenian SMEs, but can be generalised to other regions. The study offers notable contributions for research and practice (improvements in SME environmental factors). Practical implications – The personal traits and appropriate business environments can have beneficial effects on the entrepreneur's perceived performance. The findings can be used to guide the government in efficient management of different dimensions of entrepreneur environment. Originality/value – This study proved the existence of latent elements of the entrepreneur's perceived performance. It gives valuable information, which hopefully will help the policy makers and entrepreneurs to give greater respect to the meaning of critical personal and environmental factors.

Monetary easing may quicken in Brazil this year

2017 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Monetary Policy ◽  
Interest Rate ◽  
Interest Rates ◽  
Economic Recession ◽  
Government Debt ◽  
Domestic Demand ◽  
Private Debt ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
The Government

Significance At its first meeting of 2017, on January 10-11, the COPOM reduced the benchmark Selic interest rate to 13%. The 75-basis-point (bp) rate cut decision, the largest in nearly five years, accelerated the monetary easing cycle that started in October 2016. Economic recession has been relieving inflationary pressures and opening room for more intense cuts in interest rates. Impacts Further reductions of interest rates may contribute to controlling government debt. Private debt renegotiations at lower interest rates may facilitate a recovery in domestic demand and output. Any positive effects of monetary policy on activity may help contain popular dissatisfaction with the government.

Rising living costs will hasten ‘high streets’ decline

2018 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
New Technologies ◽  
Public Confidence ◽  
Retail Sector ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Cost Cutting ◽  
Urban Decay ◽  
Advanced Economies ◽  
The Government ◽  
The Uk

Subject Retail sector woes. Significance The trend towards online shopping is progressing fast in the advanced economies at the same time as rising housing, transport, health and utility costs are squeezing incomes and adding to the decline of traditional retailing. Sharply weaker UK consumer spending is putting yet more pressure on retailers’ profit margins, forcing rapid cost cutting, restructuring and the widespread closure of less viable outlets. Job losses and vacant retail premises are rising; the latter adding to urban decay in the worst affected areas. Impacts Retailing job losses dominate headlines but shop closures will have a larger and more pernicious impact on economic and social conditions. If UK regeneration efforts gain momentum and boost the budget and the government popularity, other regions could follow the UK template. Action needs to be taken to find urban redevelopment solutions and to boost public confidence in the positive effects of new technologies.

How to strengthen the social media interactivity of e-government

2016 ◽  
Vol 40 (1) ◽  
pp. 79-96 ◽  
Author(s):  
xiaoling Hao ◽  
Daqing Zheng ◽  
Qingfeng Zeng ◽  
Weiguo Fan
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Local Governments ◽  
Structural Features ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Public ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Popular Government ◽  
The Social ◽  
Social Media Platforms ◽  
The Government

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore how to use social media in e-government to strengthen interactivity between government and the general public. Design/methodology/approach – Categorizing the determinants to interactivity covering depth and breadth into two aspects that are the structural features and the content features, this study employs general linear model and ANOVA method to analyse 14,910 posts belonged to the top list of the 96 most popular government accounts of Sina, one of the largest social media platforms in China. Findings – The main findings of the research are that both variables of the ratio of multimedia elements, and the ratio of external links have positive effects on the breadth of interactivity, while the ratio of multimedia features, and the ratio of originality have significant effects on the depth of interactivity. Originality/value – The contributions are as follows. First, the authors analyse the properties and the topics of government posts to draw a rich picture of how local governments use the micro-blog as a communications channel to interact with the public. Second, the authors conceptualize the government online interactivity in terms of the breadth and depth. Third, the authors identify factors that will enhance the interactivity from two aspects: structural features and content features. Lastly, the authors offer suggestions to local governments on how to strengthen the e-government interactivity in social media.

Innovation and firm growth in agricultural inputs industry: empirical evidence from India

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Manogna R L
Keyword(s):  
Firm Growth ◽  
Raw Materials ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Agricultural Machinery ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
The Government ◽  
Agricultural Input ◽  
Methods Of Moments ◽  
The Impact

PurposeInnovation strategy and its outcomes may be different for agricultural input firms in developing countries than those operating in developed countries; hence, a study of developing economy should be an important addition to the literature which has earlier focussed mainly on developed countries. Indian firms which were previously catering to domestic demand are now the exporters of major agricultural machinery such as tractors and pesticides.Design/methodology/approachRapid growth in demand for the agricultural inputs and improvement in technology implementations have led us to study the performance and transformation of these input industries. An empirical analysis was performed on the listed agricultural input firms during 2001–2019 to investigate the relationship between the R&D efforts and growth of firms in the seed, pesticide, fertiliser and agricultural machinery industries using the system-generalised methods of moments (GMM) technique on the panel of 1,320 firm-year observations.FindingsThe findings reveal that investments in innovations have a positive and lagged effect on the growth of firms in the Indian agricultural inputs industry. A further analysis reveals that younger firms grow faster when they invest in R&D. More specifically, the author finds evidence in the case of the agricultural inputs industry that import of raw materials negatively affects the firms' growth (FG) and export intensity (EI) positively affects the growth in the case of R&D firms. Investments in R&D are also seen to enable firms to reap benefits from externalities present in the industry.Research limitations/implicationsThis study suggests that the government should encourage the industries to invest optimally in R&D projects by providing favourable fiscal treatments and R&D subsidies which are observed to have positive effects in various developed countries.Originality/valueThere are very few studies that have explored the impact of R&D expenditure on the firm performance in agricultural inputs industry, especially in an emerging economy context like India.

Do village leaders’ engagement, social interaction and financial incentive affect residents’ solar PV adoption? – an empirical study in rural China?

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yin Shi ◽  
Liping Ding ◽  
Chenchen He ◽  
Fan Zhang ◽  
Zumeng Zhang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Factor Analysis ◽  
Social Interaction ◽  
Financial Incentive ◽  
Rural China ◽  
Clean Energy ◽  
Solar Pv ◽  
Rural Residents ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
The Government

Purpose This study aims to analyze those factors affecting the rural resident’s willingness to adopt solar photovoltaic (PV) which is important for accelerating the popularization of clean energy in China. Design/methodology/approach This study contained a sample of 653 households in 8 provinces/regions by stratified, and random sampling in rural China. Descriptive analysis, exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis techniques have been used for analytical purposes. Findings The empirical results indicate that financial incentive and social interaction have positive effects on rural residents’ adoption willingness, while village leaders’ engagement can indirectly influence their adoption willingness through social interaction and residents’ cognition. Research limitations/implications This study mainly considers external and internal factors but ignores the effect of technical factors. In addition, the samples are just selected from the residents who have adopted solar PV. Practical implications This study is expected to be useful for the government, regulators, village leaders, village leaders and other institutions. Originality/value This study conducts a systematic analysis and clarifies the relationship between factors (external and internal) and rural residents’ adoption willingness. The village leaders’ engagement is first added to the conceptual model as an external factor, which is very essential in rural residents’ adoption in China.

Determining the efficacy of consolidating municipal electric utilities in Ontario, Canada

2019 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 298-317
Author(s):  
Philip R. Walsh ◽  
Olalekan Ajibade
Keyword(s):  
Economies Of Scale ◽  
Detailed Examination ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Electricity Rates ◽  
Efficiency Measures ◽  
Signed Rank ◽  
Service Efficiency ◽  
Before And After ◽  
The Cost

Purpose This paper aims to examine empirically if the encouragement by government policy of merger and acquisition activity involving municipal and provincially owned electricity distribution utilities (LDCs) in the Province of Ontario has had positive effects in terms of value creation, operating performance and economies of scale. Design/methodology/approach It was anticipated that with LDC consolidation, there will be increased operational efficiency and improvement in the cost-effectiveness of the merged electrical utility. Using matched pairs dependent t-testing and Wilcoxon signed-rank testing, the authors compared data for three years before and after the merger or acquisition of 16 municipal utilities (616 total observations) to determine if there were any statistically significant changes (positive or negative) in measures of financial, operational and service efficiency. Findings The findings indicate statistically significant increases in debt as a percentage of shareholder equity in post-merger/acquisition utilities and consequently leveraged higher returns on equity. However, there were no statistically significant changes in financial, operational or service efficiency measures (with the exception of decreased efficiency in telephone response). Research limitations/implications A total of 16 mergers or acquisitions were reviewed involving 32 of 79 LDCs, with the research implications pointing to a need for existing policy to be reviewed to determine whether a more detailed examination is required by the provincial energy regulator, including a closer examination of managerial motives, before approving mergers between municipal electricity distributors. This research involves only a quantitative approach and further research would examine these transactions using qualitative measures for a deeper examination as to managerial motives. Practical implications The results suggest that the mergers or acquisitions to date have served only to increase shareholder risk without improvement in other financial, operational or service efficiencies, a contradiction to the rationale behind the Province’s merger policy. Social implications The consolidation policy for Ontario LDCs has not resulted in any statistically significant improvement in electricity rates or service for consumers. Originality/value This paper is the first examination of the effects of Ontario’s LDC consolidation policy in terms of specific financial, operational and service efficiency measures.

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