Will Haiti benefit from setting up an agricultural research center? A foresight quantification

foresight ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (5/6) ◽  
pp. 599-616
Author(s):  
Subir Bairagi ◽  
Alvaro Durand-Morat

Purpose Investments in agricultural research and development (AgR&D) have been an engine of agricultural productivity growth; as a result, food security and poverty situations have improved in many countries around the world. However, in Haiti, a small Caribbean country, neither has any formal agricultural research center (ARC) been established nor has a significant amount of money been invested for AgR&D. This paper aims to quantify whether setting up an ARC would be beneficial for Haiti. Design/methodology/approach A fixed-effects regression, the International Model for Policy Analysis of Agricultural Commodity and Trade impact and benefit – cost ratio (BCR) measures are used to estimate future benefits from setting up a new ARC in Haiti. Findings A total of US$21.0m annual investment is required for the proposed ARC, which could generate up to US$1.16bn in social benefits during the next three decades. In terms of BCR, if one dollar is invested for AgR&D in Haiti, the payoff could be US$1.33-4.52. Therefore, establishing an ARC is crucial for Haiti, as it is expected to generate positive benefits for society by helping formulate pro-farmer policies as well as disseminating modern agricultural technologies among farmers. Originality/value Because, to the best of the authors’ knowledge, there is no such study in Haiti’s perspective, this study contributes to the country’s literature evaluating the feasibility of establishing a new research center in Haiti with a partial equilibrium economic model.

2014 ◽  
Vol 37 (12) ◽  
pp. 1110-1136 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Kipkirong Tarus ◽  
Federico Aime

Purpose – The purpose of this study is to examine the effect of boards’ demographic diversity on firms’ strategic change and the interaction effect of firm performance. Design/methodology/approach – This paper used secondary data derived from publicly listed firms in Kenya during 2002-2010 and analyzed the data using fixed effects regression model to test the effect of board demographic and strategic change, while moderated regression analysis was used to test the moderating effect of firm performance. Findings – The results partially supported board demographic diversity–strategic change hypothesis. In particular, results indicate that age diversity produces less strategic change, while functional diversity is associated with greater levels of strategic change. The moderated regression results do not support our general logic that high firm performance enhances board demographic diversity–strategic change relationship. In effect, the results reveal that at high level of firm performance, board demographic diversity produces less strategic change. Originality/value – Despite few studies that have examined board demographic diversity and firm performance, this paper introduces strategic change as an outcome variable. This paper also explores the moderating role of firm performance in board demographic diversity–strategic change relationship, and finally, the study uses Kenyan dataset which in itself is unique because most governance and strategy research uses data from developed countries.


2020 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 83-89
Author(s):  
MR Islam ◽  
M Moniruzzaman ◽  
AJM Obaidullah ◽  
AHF Fahim

The experiment was conducted at Regional Spices Research Centre, Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute, Magura, Bangladesh during 2016-2017 and 2017- 2018 to optimize weed management practice for onion bulb production through Integrated Weed Management (IWM). The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design with three replications. Two different herbicides (Oxadiazon and Pendimethalin) with different doses in combination with hand weeding (HW) were used as treatments. The total number of treatments were 12 viz. [email protected] l/ha, [email protected] l/ha, T3= [email protected] l/ha, T4= [email protected] l/ha + one HW at 45 DAT (Days After Transplanting), T5= [email protected] l/ha + one HW at 45 DAT,T6= [email protected] l/ha + one HW at 45 DAT, [email protected] l/ha, [email protected] l/ha, T9= [email protected] l/ha + HW at 45 DAT, T10= [email protected] l/ha+ HW at 45 DAT, T11= Weed free and T12 = Weedy check (control). The onion var. BARI Piaz-1 was used as the test crop. The highest bulb yield (7.63 tha-1 in 2016 & 9.56 t ha-1in 2017) and benefit cost ratio (2.14 in 2016 and 2.46 in 2017) were obtained from T6= [email protected] l/ha + one hand weeding at 45 DAT while the lowest bulb yield (4.22 t ha-1in 2016 and 6.28 t ha-1in 2017) was obtained from T12 = Weedy check (control), while lowest benefit cost ratio (1.33 in 2016 and 1.74 in 2017) from treatment T11 =Weed free. It was concluded that [email protected] l/ha with one hand weeding at 45 days after transplanting performed better for controlling weed and maximizing bulb yield of onion. Bangladesh Agron. J. 2020, 23(1): 83-89


2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 57-76
Author(s):  
Saibal Ghosh

Purpose While several facets of financial misconduct have been explored, one aspect which has largely bypassed the attention of researchers is the factors affecting such misconduct behavior in banks. To investigate this in detail, this paper aims to use disaggregated data on Indian banks for an extended period to understand the factors driving such behavior. Design/methodology/approach Given the longitudinal nature of the data, the author uses fixed effects regression methodology which enables us to control for unobserved characteristics that might affect the dependent variable. Findings The analysis indicates that both bank- and board-specific factors are important in driving financial misconduct, although their importance differs across ownership. In particular, while size and capital are relevant for public banks, liquidity is more of a concern for private banks as compared with their public counterparts. In addition, the relevance of bank boards is important only in case of private banks. These results hold after controlling for the structure of the banking industry and the macroeconomic environment. Originality/value To the best of the author’s knowledge, this is one of the earliest studies for India to carefully examine the interface between financial misconduct and bank behavior in a systematic manner.


2015 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 253-259
Author(s):  
Md Raziul Hassan Mondol ◽  
Md Babul Anwar ◽  
Md Rahamot Ali ◽  
Khokan Kumer Sarker ◽  
Md Matiar Rahman

A field experiment was conducted at Regional Agricultural Research Station, Jessore during Kharif-I 2013 with four treatments viz. T1 = conventional tillage + manual seeding (in line), T2 = conventional tillage + manual seeding (in broadcasting), T3 = power tiller operated seeder (PTOS) and T4 = seeding with bed planter method used in the experiment. The objective of this study was to achieve the goal of increased mungbean production in Bangladesh through different tillage and seeding methods. Besides, to disseminate information in the farmer’s level conservation tillage is new technology for increasing and sustaining productivity and profitability of mungbean cultivation in mechanized way. From the study, the results revealed that seeding with bed planter method treatment was the most effective and profitable for production of mungbean among all tillage and seeding methods in considering gross margin (40705 Tk /ha) and benefit cost ratio (1.73).Res. Agric., Livest. Fish.2(2): 253-259, August 2015


2020 ◽  
Vol 38 (3) ◽  
pp. 181-201
Author(s):  
Marina Koelbl

PurposeThis study examines whether language disclosed in the Management Discussion and Analysis (MD&A) of US Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) provides signals regarding future firm performance and thus generates a market response.Design/methodology/approachThis research conducts textual analysis on a sample of approximately 6,500 MD&As of US REITs filed by the SEC between 2003 and 2018. Specifically, the Loughran and Mcdonald (2011) financial dictionary, and a custom dictionary for the real estate industry created by Ruscheinsky et al. (2018), are employed to determine the inherent sentiment, that is, the level of pessimistic or optimistic language for each filing. Thereafter, a panel fixed-effects regression enables investigating the relationship between sentiment and future firm performance, as well as the markets’ reaction.FindingsThe empirical results suggest that higher levels of pessimistic (optimistic) language in the MD&A predict lower (higher) future firm performance. Hereby, the use of a domain-specific real estate dictionary, namely that developed by Ruscheinsky et al. (2018) leads to superior results. Corresponding to the notion that the human psyche is affected more strongly by negative than positive news (Rozin and Royzman, 2001), the market responds solely to pessimistic language in the MD&A.Practical implicationsThe results suggest that the market can benefit from textual analysis, as investigating the language in the MD&A reduces information asymmetries between US REIT managers and investors.Originality/valueThis is the first study to analyze exclusively US REITs, whether language in the MD&A is predictive of future firm performance and whether the market responds to textual sentiment.


2018 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 95-103
Author(s):  
MO Ali ◽  
AHMMR Talukder ◽  
L Nahar

The field experiment was conducted at Pulses Research Centre (PRC), Ishurdi, Pabna and Regional Agricultural Research Station (RARS), Jamalpur during rabi 2012-2013 to find out the effect of seed rate and walkway for green pea production as relay cropping with transplanted Aman rice. The experiment was based on six seed rates @ 50, 60, 70, 80, 90 and 100 kg ha-1 and two walking ways viz. 15 cm wide walkway at 2 m interval over the plot and control with three replications. A local cultivar of pea, named Natore was used in this trial. Results revealed that the treatment with 100 kg seed ha-1 gave the highest pod yield of 5.13 t ha-1 and 4.98 t ha-1 at Jamalpur and Ishurdi locations, respectively which was similar to 80 (S4) and 90 (S5) kg seed ha-1.. Walkway had no significant variation in yield and yield contributing characters but it produced the higher yield over the control. Using walkway, 100 kg seed ha-1 (S6) and 15 cm walkway at 2 m interval over the plot (W1) produced the highest pod yield of 5.14 t ha-1 and 4.95 t ha-1 and fodder yield of 6.70 t ha-1 and 6.13 t ha-1 at Jamalpur and Ishurdi locations, respectively. Maximum gross margin of Tk. 1,06,040 ha-1 and Tk. 1,02,401 ha-1 was contributed by combinations of using 100 kg seed ha-1 and 15 cm walking way but maximum benefit cost ratio (BCR) of 3.40 and 3.43 were obtained from S5×W1 combination at Jamalpur and Ishurdi locations, respectively. It is concluded that pea cultivar can be successfully cultivated for green pod production through the use of 90-100 kg ha-1 seed with walkway of 15 cm wide in the plot after 2 m intervals. Bangladesh Agron. J. 2018, 21(1): 95-103


2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Saibal Ghosh

Purpose Using a novel monthly data set, this study aims to examine the factors affecting the funding of Indian start-ups. Design/methodology/approach Given the panel structure of the data, the fixed effects regression technique has been used. Findings The findings reveal that years of operation is a key factor. Amongst others, angel investors and equity financing are the key drivers of startup financing. Government policy does not appear to have gained adequate traction, although the improvement in the business reform action by state governments has begun to exert a salutary effect. Practical implications From a policy standpoint, the study provides insights into what policies and practices can be exploited to streamline the funding bottlenecks affecting startups in the Indian context. Originality/value Notwithstanding being a country with a significant presence in the startup space, there are admittedly limited studies, which examine this issue for India. Viewed from this standpoint to the best of the knowledge, the analysis is one of the early studies to shed light on the factors driving the funding of startups in the Indian context.


2017 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 194-208 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yu Wang ◽  
Tie-nan Wang ◽  
Xin Li

Purpose R&D indicates absorptive capacity, which may affect IT payoff. The purpose of this paper is to examine how R&D investment affects the relation between IT investment and firm performance and under what circumstances R&D intensity is more beneficial to IT returns. Such study has been lacking in R&D research and IT payoff literature. Design/methodology/approach A conceptual model for linking IT investment, R&D investment, environmental dynamism and firm performance was developed and tested by data collected from Chinese listed firms from 2007 to 2013, using fixed effects regression model. Findings The results show positive moderating effects of firm R&D investment and government R&D subsidies on the relation between IT investment and firm performance. Furthermore, the impact of firm R&D investment on IT payoff is stronger for firms in more dynamic environments. The findings suggest that R&D investment creates additional business value through interactions with IT, and complementarities between R&D and IT, as manifested in their interaction effect on firm performance vary across industry sectors. Research limitations/implications This paper indicates the importance of complementarities between R&D and IT, which should prove helpful to researchers and practitioners engaged in Chinese business. Originality/value This paper presents one of the first attempts at examining the moderating effect of R&D investment on the relation between IT investment and firm performance. Especially this study helps to understand under what circumstances R&D investment is more or less likely to be beneficial to IT returns.


2014 ◽  
Vol 74 (1) ◽  
pp. 17-37 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yann de Mey ◽  
Frankwin van Winsen ◽  
Erwin Wauters ◽  
Mark Vancauteren ◽  
Ludwig Lauwers ◽  
...  

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to present empirical evidence of risk balancing behavior by European farmers. More specifically, the authors investigate strategic adjustments in the level of financial risk (FR) in response to changes in the level of business risk (BR). Design/methodology/approach – The authors conducted a correlation relationship analysis and run several linear fixed effects regression models using the European Union (EU)-15 FADN panel data set for the period 1995-2008. Findings – Overall, the paper finds EU evidence of risk balancing. The correlation relationship analysis suggests that just over half of the farm observations are risk balancers whereas the other (smaller) half are not. The coefficient in our fixed effects regression suggests that a 1 percent increase in BR reduces FR by 0.043 percent and has a standard error so low that the existence of non-risk balancers is doubtful. The results reject evidence of strong-form risk balancing – inverse trade-offs between FR and BR keeping total risk (TR) constant – but cannot reject weak-form risk balancing – inverse trade-offs between FR and BR with some observed changes in TR. Furthermore, the extent of risk balancing behavior is found to differ between different European countries and across farm typologies. Practical implications – This study provides European policy makers a first insight into risk balancing behavior of EU farmers. When risk balancing occurs, BR-reducing agricultural policies induce strategic upwards leverage adjustments that unintentionally reestablish or even increase total farm-level risk. Originality/value – Making use of the large and unique FADN database, to the best of the authors knowledge, this study is the first that provides European (EU-15) evidence on risk balancing behavior, is conducted at an unprecedented large scale, and presents the first risk balancing evidence across countries and farming systems.


2015 ◽  
Vol 40 (2) ◽  
pp. 271-278
Author(s):  
MR Islam ◽  
MK Uddin ◽  
MO Ali

A study on comparative productive efficiency and feasibility of lentil varieties both at relay and minimum tillage were conducted at the Regional Agricultural Research Station, BARI, Ishurdi, Pabna, Bangladesh during the Rabi season of 2007-08 and 2008-09. Three lentil varieties viz. BARI Masur-2, BARI Masur-3 and BARI Masur-4 and two sowing methods viz. relay sowing and furrow sowing (Minimum tillage) were compared. The highest seed yield (1.59 t/ha) was obtained from BARI Masur-4 because of highest number of pods/plant and plant population/m2 while lowest from BARI Masur-2 (1.39 t/ha). The sowing methods had significant effect on the seed yield of lentil. Crops sown in furrows produced higher seed yield (1.60 t/ha) than that of crops in relay sowing. The interaction effect between varieties and sowing methods also had significant effect on the seed yield and yield attributes. The lentil variety BARI Masur-4 when grown in furrows gave the highest seed yield (1.70 t/ha). Though seed yield and gross return were highest in furrow sowing but highest benefit cost ratio (4.67) was found in relay sowing method.Bangladesh J. Agril. Res. 40(2): 271-278 June 2015


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