A Pragmatic Study for Enhancing Agricultural Efficiency through Labor Freedom

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 279-290
Author(s):  
Rajni Kapoor ◽  
Nimai Das
Keyword(s):  
Property Rights ◽  
Development Policy ◽  
Agricultural Sector ◽  
Economic Status ◽  
Allocative Efficiency ◽  
Positive Association ◽  
Farm Size ◽  
Tobit Regression ◽  
Farm Level ◽  
Rural Workers

The study aims to explore labor freedom in the agricultural sector for enhancing the efficiency of farming through policy change towards assigning property rights, rental contracts, and better wage-employment options to rural workers. Labor freedom emphasizes land reform and development policy for improving the economic status and capabilities of rural workers. The paper assessed the labor freedom index, weighted through agricultural property rights, labor wage contracts, and rural development policy. Data envelopment analysis is used to assess farm-level efficiency under the framework of Tobit regression for different size-based farm categories. Farm-level information was collected through a primary survey of 336 rural households of an advanced agricultural state in India. The study found a positive association between farm size and intensity of labor freedom, although the extent of freedom differs among farms. Size-specific variation was also observed for allocative efficiency such that marginal and medium-sized farms are more efficient than smaller ones. Tobit regression indicated labor freedom to be positively and significantly related to the efficiency of marginal, small and overall farms with enhancing efficiency of 25, 17 and nearly 20%, respectively; however, estimates of labor freedom insignificantly increased the efficiency of mediums farms, by 4.8%. This result suggests that labor freedom positive and significantly affects the efficiency of farms in general, and marginal and small farms in particular. Of course, the elasticity estimate of enhancing efficiency through labor freedom for medium farmers is found at a lower level.

scholarly journals Economic Analysis of Smallholder Maize Producers: Empirical Evidence From Helmand, Afghanistan

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 153
Author(s):  
Hamidullah Elham ◽  
Jiajun Zhou ◽  
Mouhamadou Foula Diallo ◽  
Shakeel Ahmad ◽  
De Zhou
Keyword(s):  
Production Efficiency ◽  
Allocative Efficiency ◽  
Influential Factors ◽  
Mobile Internet ◽  
Farm Size ◽  
Stochastic Production Frontier ◽  
Tobit Regression ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Agriculture Sector ◽  
Low Efficiency

Since war started at the end of 2001, the economy was severely devasted in Afghanistan, especially for the agriculture sector. Maize is the third most important cereal crop in Afghanistan, but the productivity of maize has a declining trend which may be caused by low efficiency of maize farmers nowadays. This study examines the production efficiency of maize producers and its important factors with the cross-sectional data form a multi-stage sampling survey of 250 maize producers in Helmand province in 2019. With the adoption of stochastic production frontier (SPF) model and production cost function, the paper gets the estimations of the average technical efficiency (0.737), allocative efficiency (0.65) and economic efficiency (0.568). The inputs, including land, labor, seed, fertilizer and pesticide/weedicides, have significant impacts on maize production and most of the farms exhibit an increasing return to scales. In addition, Tobit regression was applied to identify the influential factors of the production efficiencies for maize producers and the results indicate that education, family size, farm size, farming experience, contact to extension services and access to credit have significantly influence on the efficiency level. Finally, the study suggests that government should take some initiatives, such as extending the agricultural extension service, ensuring supply of high quality seeds and sufficient fertilizer with affordable prices and economical provision of mobile internet facility in remote areas, which will enhance the productivity and efficiency of the farmers and ultimately boost up their economic welfare and livelihood.

The Relation Between Property Rights, Farm Size and Technical Efficiency for the Developing Countries' Agricultural Sector

2020 ◽  
Vol 32 (5) ◽  
pp. 749-762
Author(s):  
Arash Dourandish ◽  
Sayed Saghaian ◽  
Naser Shahnoushi Forushani ◽  
Nazanin Mohammadrezazadeh ◽  
Sina Kuhestani
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Property Rights ◽  
Technical Efficiency ◽  
Agricultural Sector ◽  
Farm Size

scholarly journals Farm level allocative efficiency of rice production in Gulu and Amuru districts, Northern Uganda

2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Micheal Okello ◽  
Jackline Bonabana-Wabbi ◽  
Basil Mugonola
Keyword(s):  
Stochastic Frontier ◽  
Allocative Efficiency ◽  
Minimum Cost ◽  
Rice Production ◽  
Farm Size ◽  
Northern Uganda ◽  
Smallholder Farming ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Farm Level ◽  
Allocative Inefficiency

Abstract Smallholder farming, predominant in Uganda, is characterized by low productivity for most crops including rice which is gaining prominence as both a food and income crop. The low productivity is mostly attributed to allocative inefficiency. Allocative efficiency (AE) considers farmers’ ability to allocate resources efficiently, by producing the maximum possible output at minimum cost. Increasing AE requires an understanding of the specific sources of inefficiency that vary across farm enterprises, geographically and temporally. A cross-sectional study was carried out in Gulu and Amuru districts of Northern Uganda to assess the sources of farm-level allocative inefficiency in rice production using the stochastic frontier approach. Data were collected from a random sample of 200 smallholder rice farmers. Results show that the mean AE was 75%. Household size, distance to trading centre, farm size, number of crop enterprises, use of hired labour, use of ox-plough, and access to credit had significant effects on AE. We recommend adoption of technologies such as the use of ox-ploughs and reallocation of farm resources especially labour.

The Problem of Agricultural Taxation in West Pakistan and an Alternative Solution: A Comment (Notes & Comments)

1973 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 433-437
Author(s):  
Sarfaraz Khan Qureshi
Keyword(s):  
Capita Income ◽  
Agricultural Sector ◽  
Central Government ◽  
Policy Implications ◽  
Farm Size ◽  
Per Capita Income ◽  
Tax Rate ◽  
Water Rate ◽  
Per Capita ◽  
The Government

In the Summer 1973 issue of the Pakistan Development Review, Mr. Mohammad Ghaffar Chaudhry [1] has dealt with two very important issues relating to the intersectoral tax equity and the intrasectoral tax equity within the agricultural sector in Pakistan. Using a simple criterion for vertical tax equity that implies that the tax rate rises with per capita income such that the ratio of revenue to income rises at the same percentage rate as per capita income, Mr. Chaudhry found that the agricultural sector is overtaxed in Pakistan. Mr. Chaudhry further found that the land tax is a regressive levy with respect to the farm size. Both findings, if valid, have important policy implications. In this note we argue that the validity of the findings on intersectoral tax equity depends on the treatment of water rate as tax rather than the price of a service provided by the Government and on the shifting assumptions regard¬ing the indirect taxes on imports and domestic production levied by the Central Government. The relevance of the findings on the intrasectoral tax burden would have been more obvious if the tax liability was related to income from land per capita.

Empirical analysis on corporate environmental performance and environmental disclosure in an emerging market context

2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (6) ◽  
pp. 1061-1082 ◽  
Author(s):  
Merve Acar ◽  
Hüseyin Temiz
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Performance ◽  
Emerging Market ◽  
Positive Association ◽  
Corporate Environmental Performance ◽  
Tobit Regression ◽  
Environmental Reporting ◽  
Environmental Disclosure ◽  
Significant Positive Association ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Environmental Disclosures

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to investigate the association between environmental performance of firms and the level of voluntary environmental disclosure in emerging markets.Design/methodology/approachWe used tobit regression OLS and t-test methods to reveal the association between environmental performance and the level of voluntary environmental disclosure.FindingsWe find a significant positive association between the level of discretionary environmental disclosures and corporate environmental performance. The result is in line with the arguments of economics disclosure theory that argues environmentally good performers disclose more.Practical implicationsMany of the environmentally good firms in Turkey are also listed in the “BIST Sustainability Index,” and this situation can be the result of the relative power of external regulations. Accordingly, it can be suggested to increase the community and governmental pressures for environmental reporting but also gives importance to increase intrinsic motivations for companies to engage in disclosure practices.Originality/valueThis study shed light on relation between environmental performance and environmental disclosure in an emerging market context. Also, it is revisited that the relation between environmental performance and the level of environmental disclosure by testing two different predictions on the level of environmental disclosures.

Perceptions of an ageing agricultural workforce and farmers’ productivity strategies: Evidence from Prachinburi Province, Thailand

2021 ◽  
pp. 003072702110250
Author(s):  
Sylvia Szabo ◽  
Chidchanok Apipoonanon ◽  
Malay Pramanik ◽  
Kevin Leeson ◽  
Devendra Raj Singh
Keyword(s):  
Agricultural Sector ◽  
Labour Force ◽  
New Technology ◽  
Negative Influence ◽  
Farm Size ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Intergenerational Support ◽  
Ageing Workforce ◽  
The Family ◽  
The Government

Thailand’s agriculture is facing an ageing workforce, which could negatively influence agricultural production. Yet, there is still limited evidence regarding the perception of the ageing agricultural labour force in the country and a lack of insights into farmers’ strategies to improve agricultural output. To fill this gap, we analysed primary data from questionnaire-based surveys of 365 households in Prachinburi Province, Thailand. The results show that household poverty, farm experience, retirement, health concerns, and farm accidents are positively associated with the farmers’ perception on the ageing workforce, whereas education level, having an ageing farmer in the family, farm size, mentoring and access to new technology have a negative influence on the perception of the ageing workforce. Given the anticipated implications of the population ageing in Thailand, the government should consider establishing policy options to encourage younger entrants into the agricultural sector and prioritising policies related to intergenerational support.

Adoption of improved rice varieties by farmers in Bende local government area of Abia state

2015 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 204-215
Author(s):  
JC Ijioma ◽  
CK Osundu
Keyword(s):  
Local Government ◽  
State Government ◽  
Goodness Of Fit ◽  
Information Dissemination ◽  
Rice Production ◽  
Local Government Area ◽  
Farm Size ◽  
Tobit Regression ◽  
Rice Varieties ◽  
Rice Farmers

The study investigated the adoption of improved rice varieties by farmers in Bende Local Government Area, Abia State, Nigeria. A multi-stage random sampling technique was used to select a total of 120 rice farmers. Descriptive statistics and tobit regression model were employed to analyze the data. Results showed that cumulatively 73.3% of the farmers fell within the age range of 20-50 years, most (86.7%) of the rice farmers were literate. More than half (57.5%) of the rice farmers are females. Result further indicated that 43.3% had household sizes of 5-8 persons. A fair proportion (33.3%) had been in rice production for 11-15 years, while majority (73.3%) belongs to farmers’ associations. Fairly good (51.6%) were aware of the improved rice varieties and used it, while a substantial number (93.3%) number of the farmers cultivated swamp rice. MAS 240 variety (mean=3.13), Faro 7 variety (mean=2.95), Faro II variety (mean=2.75), Faro 8 variety (mean=2.70.) and Faro 48 variety (mean=2.68) were highly adopted by farmers in the area. The Chi square value of 7.290 was significant at 1.0% probability level and indicates goodness of fit of the model used. Coefficient of age (-0.023), and gender (-1.967) were negative and significant at 10.0% and 1.0% level of probability respectively. The coefficient of education level (0.041), farm size (0.940), farming experience (0.206) and membership of farmers’ association (0.168) were significant at 5.0% and were positively related to adoption of improved rice varieties. Farmers encountered various problems of paucity of funds (35.8%), scarcity of inputs (22.5%), and dearth of information (20.89). Based on these findings it was recommended that rice farmers should form cooperative societies to enable them raise funds for buying agricultural equipment to boost rice production. More young male farmers should be sensitized and motivated by the state government to take up rice production since female farmers dominate rice production in the area. Extension agencies should increase the level of information dissemination and teaching to the rice farmers’ clientele.Key words: Adoption, Improved Varieties, Rice

scholarly journals Private Farms of Rural Population of the Republic Tatarstan in Historical and Economic Context (2000–2010-ies)

2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (4) ◽  
pp. 385-393
Author(s):  
Ilgizar R. Kaydarov
Keyword(s):  
Small Business ◽  
Rural Population ◽  
Agricultural Sector ◽  
Animal Husbandry ◽  
State Farm ◽  
Rural Workers ◽  
Current State ◽  
The Republic ◽  
Political Principles ◽  
The Village

Introduction. In domestic historiography for many decades personal subsidiary plots were viewed as some rudiment of a non-socialist form of farming in the country’s agricultural sector. In accordance with the political principles of party ideologists, most researchers in every possible way emphasized the futility of the personal subsidiary plots and the inevitability of their soon withering away. And at the beginning of the XXI century they re-main a kind of “islands” of small business in the countryside and the main form of earnings for the total mass of rural workers. The main objective of this study is a comprehensive analysis of the current state of personal subsidiary plots of the rural population of Tatarstan in the context of determining the main socio-economic indicators in relation to the study area; identification of the most important development parameters of this form of small business. Materials and Methods. The scientific study is based on source materials from various government departments (including the Tatarstan Statistical Office), newspaper and journal periodicals, as well as data from historical, economic and sociological literature. When writing the article, the author was guided by the principles of historicism, complexity and objectivity. The research is based on the methods of historical science: problem-chronological, comparative-historical, systemic, etc. Results. During the study, the current state and indicators of the development of personal subsidiary plots of the rural population of the Republic of Tatarstan were systematically reviewed, in particular, their participation in the structure of regional gross income. It has been established that the main branches of economic activity of peasant farmsteads are vegetable growing and productive animal husbandry. It is proved that the strengthening of the positions of large investors in the village led to the curtailment of certain branches of production of personal subsidiary plots and their transition to a consumer rate of management. Discussion and Conclusion. The intensive development of various forms of small business in the post-perestroika period, including personal subsidiary plots of the population, intensified the market diversification of the economy of the agricultural sector in general and of high-quality peasant farmsteads in particular. During the forced dismantling of the collective farm and state farm management systems and the formation of new forms of entrepreneurship, peas-ant farmsteads became not only the economic basis for the existence of the rural population, but also a form of self-preservation of many settlements.

scholarly journals Technical Inefficiency Determinants in Potato Production: The case of Potato Farmers in Central Highlands of Ethiopia

2021 ◽  
Vol 04 (03) ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Hailu ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Soil Fertility ◽  
Technical Efficiency ◽  
Land Tenure ◽  
Household Head ◽  
Sampling Technique ◽  
Potato Production ◽  
Farm Size ◽  
Tobit Regression ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Land Fragmentation

The study identified the factors that cause variation in the level of efficiency in potato production. The study used household level cross sectional data collected in 2015/16 from 196 sample farmers selected by multistage sampling technique. For the data collection, a personally administered structured questionnaire was used. In the analyses, descriptive statistics, a stochastic frontier model (SFM) and a two-limit Tobit regression model were employed. Tobit model revealed that technical efficiency was positively and significantly affected by education, land tenure status, extension service, credit and soil fertility whereas variables such as sex of household head, age of household head, farm size and land fragmentation affected it negatively. Therefore the study suggested the need for policies to discourage land fragmentation and promote education, extension visits, access to credit and soil fertility for improvement in technical efficiency.

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