Examining the willingness to produce organic vegetables in the Bono and Ahafo regions of Ghana

2020 ◽  
Vol 47 (5) ◽  
pp. 619-641
Author(s):  
Precious Dapaah Opoku ◽  
Richard Kwasi Bannor ◽  
Helena Oppong-Kyeremeh
Keyword(s):  
Peer Review ◽  
Environmental Effect ◽  
Organic Production ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Conventional Farming ◽  
Heckman Selection Model ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Organic Certification ◽  
Household Headship ◽  
Organic Vegetables

PurposeThe purpose of this paper was to analyse the demographic, crop choice, institutional and environmental factors that will influence the vegetable growers in Bono and Ahafo regions of Ghana to produce organic vegetables. The study also assessed the knowledge level of vegetable growers on organic certification processes.Design/methodology/approachPrimary data were collected with the help of a structured questionnaire from 120 vegetable growers via a multistage sampling technique. The Heckman selection model was used to analyse the factors that influence farmers' willingness to adopt organic production as well as the intensity of adoption.FindingsIn this study, pepper (Capsicum spp) production, residential status, knowledge of organic certification processes, perceived negative environmental effect of conventional farming on the soil, and climate change positively influenced willingness to produce organic vegetables. Likewise, pepper production perceived negative environmental effect of conventional farming on the soil positively influenced the intensity of adoption. Household headship status, garden egg (Solanum integrifolium) production, perceived knowledge on grading and standards of vegetables, as well as the perception that only pesticides can be used to control vegetable pests negatively influenced the willingness to produce organic vegetables however perceived expertise of the farmer on grades and standards influenced intensity of adoption negatively.Originality/valueIn Ghana, even though most vegetable farmers do not have the requisite knowledge in the safe handling of pesticides, usage is widespread. Subsequent to this, is a health risk to farmers, consumers and the environment. As a result, there is a growing awareness that organic agriculture has a role to play in addressing problems associated with agrochemical use and over usage. However, most studies are consumer oriented with limited empirical research on the willingness to produce organics by farmers.Peer reviewThe peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/IJSE-12-2019-0723

Consumer preferences versus commercial differentiation: a Spanish case study

2012 ◽  
Vol 114 (11) ◽  
pp. 1626-1639 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rodolfo Bernabéu ◽  
Antonio Tendero ◽  
Miguel Olmeda
Keyword(s):  
Consumer Preferences ◽  
Organic Production ◽  
Multivariate Techniques ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Analysis Techniques ◽  
Organic Certification ◽  
Differentiation Strategy ◽  
Lamb Meat ◽  
La Mancha

PurposeThis study measures the degree of influence that attributes such as price, organic production, origin and commercial type have on Spanish consumers when purchasing lamb meat, while also analysing various lamb meat differentiation strategies.Design/methodology/approachThe methodology consisted of a survey of 421 Castilla‐La Mancha (Spain) lamb meat consumers during the month of January 2009. The preferences of these consumers were determined through several multivariate techniques.FindingsThe results obtained by means of conjoint analysis techniques show that an additional potential differentiation strategy is to offer the market conventionally produced suckling lamb and organic “ternasco” lamb. Thus, potential commercial cannibalism would be simultaneously prevented between two types of meat belonging to one and the same PGI Manchego Lamb.Originality/valueThe excessive commercial differentiation that can arise in food for basic consumption in general and particularly within the Manchego Lamb PGI. Whether it be from the inclusion of another commercial type (suckling lamb meat) together with the traditional type (“ternasco” lamb meat) and the additional possibility of the organic certification, it can make way for a certain commercial “cannibalism” among PGI lamb meats.

Determinants of green job creation: an empirical investigation

2020 ◽  
Vol 47 (7) ◽  
pp. 887-911
Author(s):  
Eman Omar Rayan ◽  
Adla Mohamed Ragab ◽  
Ashraf Samir Anwar
Keyword(s):  
Peer Review ◽  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Quantitative Methods ◽  
Local Economic Development ◽  
Job Creation ◽  
International Standards ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Economic Activities ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Qualitative And Quantitative Methods

PurposeThe twenty-first century manifests two of the challenging issues about achieving Sustainable Local Economic Development (SLED) and turning to environmental sustainability through Green Job Creation (GJC). The study examines that not only are both challenges are urgent, but they are also intimately linked and will have to be addressed together. It also finds out that further factors like Managerial Effectiveness (ME) and Public Policy Effectiveness (PPE) affect GJC.Design/methodology/approachThe study uses qualitative and quantitative methods by utilizing primary data collected through designing questionnaires answered by random executives and citizens of three governorates; Cairo, Alexandria and Beni-Suef. These governorates are chosen because they represent different Egyptian geographic areas, i.e. the capital of Egypt, lower and Upper Egypt, where there are numbers of industrial zones with many heavy polluting industrial activities that exist.FindingsThe study showed that there is a lack of effectiveness and efficiency in applying common international standards in GJC’s strategies in Cairo, Alexandria and Beni-Suef. Additionally, it is highly recommended that the three governorates enhance the exploitation of their economic resources. Quantitatively, the study showed a positive and statistically-significant connection between SLED and GJC, alongside with a positive and statistically-significant connection between ME and GJC.Originality/valueThe study provides empirical evidence about the main requirements in designing an efficient framework for achieving eco-friendly local economic activities and suggesting practical solutions to obstacles that face local strategies regarding the study’s variables.Peer reviewThe peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/IJSE-01-2020-0012

Bridging the credit gap for sustainable medicinal plant value chain development in Northwestern Vietnam

2019 ◽  
Vol 79 (4) ◽  
pp. 443-466
Author(s):  
Do Xuan Luan
Keyword(s):  
Medicinal Plant ◽  
Value Chain ◽  
Farm Size ◽  
Heckman Selection Model ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Credit Access ◽  
Access To Credit ◽  
Organic Certification ◽  
Credit Gap ◽  
Household Heads

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore the existence and determinants of the credit gap in the cinnamon value chain development in Northwestern Vietnam. Design/methodology/approach A multi-stage sampling of 548 cinnamon households and a Heckman Selection Model were applied to examine their credit access constraints. In-depth interviews with cooperatives, enterprises, banks and relevant government agencies were further conducted to explain the credit gap. Findings In the total 52.74 percent of households that received credit, 24.56 percent of them received an insufficient amount of credit as registered. In addition, 35.77 percent of total households are credit rationed. Although all enterprises and cooperatives had been successful in applying for credit as long as they have collateral, none of them received the full credit amount requested. The credit amount received satisfied 80.64, 43.03 and 44.28 percent of the demand by households, cooperatives and enterprises, respectively. The lack of valuable collateral assets is the most important factor explaining this credit gap. Moreover, membership in a farmer-based union or ownership of a bank account increases the probability of access to credit. Educated household heads with a larger farm size and the Kinh ethnic majority are positively associated with a larger amount of credit. Households with conventional cinnamon farming, more dependents and union non-membership are more likely to be credit rationed. Practical implications A reform on collateral management, facilitating access to bank accounts, capacity building for local farmer-based unions, organic certification, granting land use rights and facilitating a platform to share reliable information between relevant actors are needed to bridge the credit gap. Originality/value This paper analyses the determinants of credit access constraints by key actors in a medicinal plant value chain that was insufficiently discussed by previous studies in the field.

Examining the role of key competences in firm performance

2019 ◽  
Vol 41 (4) ◽  
pp. 391-416
Author(s):  
Bruno Škrinjarić ◽  
Polona Domadenik
Keyword(s):  
Firm Performance ◽  
Structural Characteristics ◽  
Secondary Data ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Heckman Selection Model ◽  
Firm Level ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Phase Combination ◽  
Key Competences ◽  
Nationally Representative

Purpose Industry 4.0 processes brought dramatic changes in skills and competences needed at the firm level. The purpose of this paper is: to identify and quantify key competences required for workers with economics-and-business background; to evaluate development level of those competences among the currently employed workforce; to investigate degree of match between required and currently developed competences; and finally to assess how this (mis)match translates to firm performance. Design/methodology/approach This research is based on primary data, collected through questionnaires, and secondary data of firms’ financial and structural characteristics. Key competences were estimated using factor analysis and were then used as covariates in explaining differences in firms’ performance in both static and dynamic production function specifications using standard regression model, Heckman selection model and Arellano–Bond estimation. Findings Results show that mismatches in competences basic algebra; collectedness, conflict resolution and presentation; and motivation and organization are all negatively associated in explaining the variation of firm performance, with motivation and organization having the most significant effect. Originality/value This paper focuses on competence mismatch by including both sides of the labor market (employers and employees) in the analysis. This paper offers: a theoretical structure for understanding and investigating existing competence mismatches; a step-by-step industry-driven method for deriving key required competences, including an initial exploratory phase (combination of literature review, exploratory interviews and pilot study) followed by a descriptive and implementation phases (design, implementation and analysis of nationally representative survey); and finally, analysis phase (associating competence mismatches to firm performance).

Mobile money as a financial inclusion instrument: what are the determinants?

2020 ◽  
Vol 47 (10) ◽  
pp. 1283-1297
Author(s):  
Anthony Amoah ◽  
Kofi Korle ◽  
Rexford Kweku Asiama
Keyword(s):  
Peer Review ◽  
Statistical Tests ◽  
Financial Inclusion ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Empirical Literature ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Mobile Money ◽  
Age Cohorts ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Non Parametric

PurposeThis paper seeks to examine the motivating factors that propel people to use mobile money in the Greater Accra Region (GAR) of Ghana. The authors posit that the behaviour of a person, in terms of the choice and means of transaction, cannot be explained solely by utility-maximizing assumptions or rationality. Thus, other socio-cultural and psychological factors are crucial in determining whether a person will use mobile money.Design/methodology/approachThis study uses a cross-sectional design to obtain primary data on 733 households from the GAR of Ghana to determine the drivers of mobile money use. Given the binary nature of the dependent variable, a logit model and its marginal effects are estimated. Furthermore, parametric and non-parametric statistical tests are used to examine gender effect and mobile money use.FindingsThe study finds that technology savvy cohorts (youthful age cohorts), available services such as phone credit recharge, education and income are among the key determinants of mobile money use in Ghana. Furthermore, parametric and non-parametric tests of mobile money use on gender show a statistically significant difference in gender use of mobile money, albeit, marginal. The findings imply that consistent use of mobile money to access social and economic services can go a long way in promoting financial inclusion, financial empowerment and general wellbeing of people.Originality/valueHouseholds in developing countries especially Ghana have rapidly embraced mobile money technology. However, what determines the household level of adoption, to the best of our knowledge, is unknown and yet to be tested. This study bridges that gap in the empirical literature as well as contributes to policy decisions.Peer reviewThe peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/IJSE-05-2020-0271

The Comparison between Cost and Benefit Business Model of Organic and Chemical Agricultural Vegetable Farming System

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 133-133
Author(s):  
Peerasak Puengpapat
Keyword(s):  
Production Process ◽  
Organic Farming ◽  
Business Model ◽  
Return On Investment ◽  
Agricultural Sector ◽  
Organic Production ◽  
Total Cost ◽  
Cost And Benefit ◽  
Net Profit ◽  
Organic Vegetables

This research is intended to compare and demonstrate the difference between the cost and benefit of organic farming and chemistry. Compare differences in the quality of yields and minerals in the soil both before and after cultivation and modeling of agribusiness. Using Business Model Canvas for the decision of agricultural entrepreneurs who want to modify the farming process.The research found that in the experiment comparing between the costs of Organic farming and Chemical farming to produce three types of vegetables that are cucumber ,red oak salad and radish, with the total cost of growing vegetables in Organic farming, higher than the total cost of growing vegetables in Chemical farming. There is a greater frequency of fertilizing and injecting Organic matter than chemical farming. The net profit from the sale of vegetables in the Organic agricultural sector is higher than the net profit from the sale of vegetables in the Chemical agricultural sector, as the production price of Organic agricultural sector is higher than the production price of Chemical agricultural sector because the production process of organic farming has a higher production process and requires higher production attention to produce quality, and another factor is that Organic vegetables have a higher production cost than vegetables from chemical farming, resulting in less volume of organic production in the market than vegetables from Chemical agricultural sector. Consumers are demanding more healthy Organic vegetables. As a result, the price of vegetables that produced by Organic agricultural sector is higher than the price of vegetables that produced by Chemical agricultural sector, and the Return on Investment in Organic vegetables is higher than the vegetables that produced by Chemical agricultural .The Return on Investment in production of Organic farming is 61.48% and The Return on Investment in production of Chemical farming is 33.87%. It is therefore possible to conclude that growing vegetables in Organic way is safe for vegetable farmers who do not have to be exposed to any harmful Chemicals, as well as the resulting produce that is safe from residues, allowing consumers to be safe from toxin residues and receive good quality vegetables. Type of Paper: Empirical/Experimental Keywords: Agricultural; Organics; Cost ;Business Model ;Comparison.

Study on high-temperature wear and mechanism of Al-Si/graphite composites prepared by the die-casting process

2020 ◽  
Vol 72 (10) ◽  
pp. 1153-1158 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yafei Deng ◽  
Xiaotao Pan ◽  
Guoxun Zeng ◽  
Jie Liu ◽  
Sinong Xiao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Friction Coefficient ◽  
Wear Rate ◽  
Peer Review ◽  
Die Casting ◽  
Casting Machine ◽  
Injection Pressure ◽  
Casting Process ◽  
Matrix Alloy ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Matrix

Purpose This paper aims to improve the tribological properties of aluminum alloys and reduce their wear rate. Design/methodology/approach Carbon is placed in the model at room temperature, pour 680°C of molten aluminum into the pressure chamber, and then pressed it into the mold containing carbon felt through a die casting machine, and waited for it to cool, which used an injection pressure of 52.8 MPa and held the same pressure for 15 s. Findings The result indicated that the mechanical properties of matrix and composite are similar, and the compressive strength of the composite is only 95% of the matrix alloy. However, the composite showed a low friction coefficient, the friction coefficient of Gr/Al composite is only 0.15, which just is two-third than that of the matrix alloy. Similarly, the wear rate of the composite is less than 4% of the matrix. In addition, the composite can avoid severe wear before 200°C, but the matrix alloy only 100°C. Originality/value This material has excellent friction properties and is able to maintain this excellent performance at high temperatures. Peer review The peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/ILT-10-2019-0454/

Socioeconomic effects of pension spending: evidence from Spain

2020 ◽  
Vol 47 (5) ◽  
pp. 599-617
Author(s):  
Fernando Bermejo ◽  
Eladio Febrero ◽  
Andre Fernandes Tomon Avelino
Keyword(s):  
Peer Review ◽  
Social Protection ◽  
Pension System ◽  
Decomposition Analysis ◽  
Value Added ◽  
Total Output ◽  
Alternative View ◽  
Input Output ◽  
Structural Decomposition Analysis ◽  
Content Type

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to provide broader understanding of the significant role that the pension system has in the Spanish economy by estimating the sectoral production, employment and income sustained by pensioners' consumption.Design/methodology/approachBased on input–output tables by the World Input–Output Database and consumption data from the Household Budget Survey by the Spanish Statistical Office, a demoeconomic model is applied to quantify the direct impacts, indirect impacts from interindustry links and induced impacts from income–consumption connections over a nine-year period (2006–2014). Then, the factors driving the evolution of total output, employment and value added during such period have been examined by using structural decomposition analysis.FindingsThe growing participation of consumption by pensioner households in final demand had proven crucial during the 2008 crisis to alleviate the negative trend in production and employment derived from the collapse in consumption suffered by the rest of households.Practical implicationsDetermining the underlying factors driving changes in both employment and income during the 2008 crisis can be of interest in political decision-making on the sustainability of the Spanish pension system.Social implicationsThe results of estimating both the employment and income supported by pensioners' consumption reveal the significant stabilizing effect of the public spending on pensions, particularly during the 2008 crisis.Originality/valueThe current Spanish approach of attaining the pension system sustainability by merely reducing social protection costs ignores the adverse consequences of a lower pensioners' demand. This paper addresses an alternative view in which pension spending is not considered a burden on economic growth but rather a means of improving the level of production and employment.Peer reviewThe peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/IJSE-01-2019-0047

The role of innovation in building competitive advantages: an empirical investigation

2018 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 44-69 ◽  
Author(s):  
Prodromos Chatzoglou ◽  
Dimitrios Chatzoudes
Keyword(s):  
Competitive Advantage ◽  
Conceptual Framework ◽  
Empirical Investigation ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Empirical Literature ◽  
Competitive Advantages ◽  
Manufacturing Companies ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Structured Questionnaire

Purpose Nowadays, innovation appears as one of the main driving forces of organisational success. Despite the above fact, its impact on the propensity of an organisation to develop and sustain a competitive advantage has not yet received sufficient empirical investigation. The purpose of this paper is to enhance the existing empirical literature by focusing on the antecedents of innovation and its impact on competitive advantage. It proposes a newly developed conceptual framework that adopts a three-step approach, highlighting areas that have rarely been simultaneously examined before. Design/methodology/approach The examination of the proposed conceptual framework was performed with the use of a newly developed structured questionnaire that was distributed to a group of Greek manufacturing companies. The questionnaire has been successfully completed by chief executive officers (CEOs) from 189 different companies. CEOs were used as key respondents due to their knowledge and experience. The reliability and the validity of the questionnaire were thoroughly examined. Empirical data were analysed using the structural equation modelling technique. The study is empirical (based on primary data), explanatory (examines cause and effect relationships), deductive (tests research hypotheses) and quantitative (includes the analysis of quantitative data collected with the use of a structured questionnaire). Findings Results indicate that knowledge management, intellectual capital, organisational capabilities and organisational culture have significant direct and indirect effects on innovation, underlining the importance of their simultaneous enhancement. Finally, the positive effect of innovation on the creation of competitive advantages is empirically validated, bridging the gap in the relevant literature and offering avenues for additional future research. Originality/value The causal relationship between innovation and competitive advantage, despite its significant theoretical support, has not been empirically validated. The present paper aspires to bridge this gap, investigating the impact of innovation on the development of competitive advantages. Moreover, the present study adopts a multidimensional approach that has never been explored in the existing innovation literature, making the examination of the proposed conceptual framework an interesting research topic.

scholarly journals SME credit constraints and access to informal credit markets in Vietnam

2020 ◽  
Vol 47 (6) ◽  
pp. 787-807 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lan Archer ◽  
Parmendra Sharma ◽  
Jen-Je Su
Keyword(s):  
Peer Review ◽  
Credit Markets ◽  
Credit Constraints ◽  
Policy Implications ◽  
Informal Credit ◽  
Banking Services ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Credit Access ◽  
Access Policy ◽  
Correlated Random Effects

PurposeA review of literature has documented that accessing formal credit and other banking services has always been a crucial challenge for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The alternative, therefore, tends to be informal channels. However, the credit constraint vis-à-vis informal channel link does not appear to be well documented in the literature. This study aims to investigate whether credit constraints significantly affect the probability of accessing informal credit, as well as the credit values of Vietnamese SMEs.Design/methodology/approachThis study uses a trinary approach and correlated random-effects Probit and Tobit techniques to avoid the incidental coefficients problem.FindingsThe results suggest that relative to unconstrained and partially constrained firms, fully constrained firms tend to be more active in the informal credit markets, shown by their higher probability of informal credit access and larger credit values.Originality/valueTo the best of authors’ knowledge, this is the first study on Vietnam that takes a different approach to credit constraints and examines their impact on informal credit access. Policy implications arise and are discussed.Peer reviewThe peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/IJSE-11-2017-0543

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