scholarly journals Improving the On-farm Productivity and Supply of Capers to Processors in Morocco

HortScience ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 40 (4) ◽  
pp. 1140B-1140
Author(s):  
Mohamed Rahmani ◽  
Donald S. Humpal
Keyword(s):  
Training Programs ◽  
Action Plan ◽  
Market Prices ◽  
Field Surveys ◽  
National Conference ◽  
Farm Productivity ◽  
Joint Program ◽  
Worldwide Production ◽  
On Farm ◽  
Extension Personnel

Morocco is the world's leading caper producer. Its export position has declined as worldwide production increases. Farm gate prices have declined as market prices have diminished. A joint program among the Moroccan Federation of Food Processors (FICOPAM), the Institut Agronomique et Veterinaire Hassan II (IAV Hassan II), and DAI was supported by USAID to examine how to improve industry competitiveness. Field surveys and workshops with farmers, buyers, and processors in Morocco's three main caper growing regions were used to inform a national conference to arrive at a consensus action plan. The plan focuses on a shift from weight-based to grade-based buying practices. Supporting changes were identified to modify on-farm practice; equip and regulate buying floors at major markets; institute minimum traceability requirements; and establish HACCP programs for caper processors in collaboration with Moroccan export authorities. Training programs to support these changes were completed with farmers and extension personnel in 2004.

On-farm udder health monitoring

2011 ◽  
Vol 39 (02) ◽  
pp. 95-100
Author(s):  
J. C. van Veersen ◽  
O. Sampimon ◽  
R. G. Olde Riekerink ◽  
T. J. G. Lam
Keyword(s):  
Management Practices ◽  
Health Management ◽  
Action Plan ◽  
Real Life ◽  
Health Data ◽  
Control Points ◽  
Udder Health ◽  
Critical Control Points ◽  
On Farm ◽  
Clinical Problems

SummaryIn this article an on-farm monitoring approach on udder health is presented. Monitoring of udder health consists of regular collection and analysis of data and of the regular evaluation of management practices. The ultimate goal is to manage critical control points in udder health management, such as hygiene, body condition, teat ends and treatments, in such a way that results (udder health parameters) are always optimal. Mastitis, however, is a multifactorial disease, and in real life it is not possible to fully prevent all mastitis problems. Therefore udder health data are also monitored with the goal to pick up deviations before they lead to (clinical) problems. By quantifying udder health data and management, a farm is approached as a business, with much attention for efficiency, thought over processes, clear agreements and goals, and including evaluation of processes and results. The whole approach starts with setting SMART (Specific, Measurable, Acceptable, Realistic, Time-bound) goals, followed by an action plan to realize these goals.

Does the Contract Type Matter? Impact of Marketing and Production Contracts on Cashew Farmers’ Farm Performance in Ghana

2021 ◽  
Vol 0 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Caroline Dubbert ◽  
Awudu Abdulai
Keyword(s):  
Driving Forces ◽  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Spot Markets ◽  
Switching Regression ◽  
Farm Productivity ◽  
Production Contracts ◽  
Marketing Contracts ◽  
On Farm ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Substantial Heterogeneity

Abstract Many studies show that participation in contract farming has positive impacts on farm productivity and incomes. Most of the literature, however, does not take into account that contracts vary in their specifications, making empirical evidence scarce on the diverse impacts of different types of contracts. In this study, we investigate the driving forces of participation in marketing and production contracts, relative to spot markets. We also study the extent to which different contract types add additional benefits to smallholder farmers, using recent survey data of 389 cashew farmers in Ghana. To account for selection bias arising from observed and unobserved factors, we apply a multinomial endogenous switching regression method and implement a counterfactual analysis. The empirical results demonstrate that farmers who participate in production contracts obtain significantly higher cashew yields, cashew net revenues, and are more food secure compared to spot market farmers. We also find substantial heterogeneity in the impact of marketing and production contracts across scale of operation. Small sized farms that participate in production contracts tend to benefit the most. Marketing contracts, however, do not appear to benefit cashew farmers.

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.

scholarly journals Assessing on-farm productivity of Miscanthus crops by combining soil mapping, yield modelling and remote sensing

2016 ◽  
Vol 85 ◽  
pp. 252-261 ◽  
Author(s):  
Goetz M. Richter ◽  
Francesco Agostini ◽  
Alexandra Barker ◽  
Delphine Costomiris ◽  
Aiming Qi
Keyword(s):  
Remote Sensing ◽  
Soil Mapping ◽  
Farm Productivity ◽  
On Farm
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