scholarly journals Technical efficiency and marketing channels among small-scale farmers: evidence for raspberry production in Chile

2018 ◽  
Vol 21 (3) ◽  
pp. 351-364 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roberto Jara-Rojas ◽  
Boris E. Bravo-Ureta ◽  
Daniel Solís ◽  
Daniela Martínez Arriagada
Keyword(s):  
Technical Efficiency ◽  
Marketing Channel ◽  
Policy Implications ◽  
Farm Income ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Stochastic Production Frontier ◽  
Safety Standards ◽  
Technical Performance ◽  
Small Scale Farmers ◽  
The Impact

This study analyses technical efficiency (TE) levels among small-scale raspberry producers in Central Chile. Special attention is given in to investigate the impact of the marketing channel used by the farmers on their technical performance. The data used in this study were obtained from a farm-level survey of 139 small-scale raspberry farmers. A stochastic production frontier model was used to evaluate the association between TE, extension, training and farmers’ decisions to sell their production directly to the agro-industry or indirectly through an informal middleman. The empirical results show that the decision to sell raspberries using informal channels is negatively associated with farm productivity and revenues. The analysis also reveals a positive relationship between TE and income among experienced and trained farmers. Implementing food quality and safety standards was also found decisive in increasing farm income. Policy implications stemming from these results are also discussed.

scholarly journals Determinants of the Adoption of Climate-Smart Agricultural Practices by Small-Scale Farming Households in King Cetshwayo District Municipality, South Africa

2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 195 ◽  
Author(s):  
Victor O. Abegunde ◽  
Melusi Sibanda ◽  
Ajuruchukwu Obi
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Ghg Emissions ◽  
Agricultural Practices ◽  
Educational Status ◽  
Farming System ◽  
Farm Income ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Small Scale Farmers ◽  
The Impact

Agriculture, particularly small-scale farming, is both a contributor to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and a victim of the effects of climate change. Climate-smart agriculture (CSA) offers a unique opportunity to adapt to the effects of climate change while at the same time mitigating GHG emissions. The low response to the adoption of CSA among small-scale farmers raises questions as to the factors influencing its adoption in the small-scale farming system. With the aid of a close-ended questionnaire, structured interviews were conducted and formed the basis on which data were generated from 327 small-scale farmers selected through random sampling. Descriptive statistics, Composite Score Index and a Generalized Ordered Logit Regression (gologit) model were employed for the analysis. The majority (56.6%) of the sampled farmers fell in the medium category of users of CSA practices, while the lowest proportion (17.7%) of the sampled farmers fell in the high category. The use of organic manure, crop rotation and crop diversification were the most popular CSA practices among the sampled farmers. Educational status, farm income, farming experience, size of farmland, contact with agricultural extension, exposure to media, agricultural production activity, membership of an agricultural association or group and the perception of the impact of climate change were found to be statistically significant and positively correlated with the level of CSA adoption. Furthermore, off-farm income and distance of farm to homestead were statistically significant but negatively correlated with the CSA level of adoption. This paper argues that climate change-related education through improved extension contact and exposure to mass media can strengthen integrated farm activities that bolster farm income. Additionally, farmer associations or groups should be given adequate attention to facilitate CSA adoption as a means to climate change mitigation and resilience.

scholarly journals Is Cut-Flower Industry Promotion by the Government Negatively Affecting Pollinator Biodiversity and Environmental/Human Health in Uganda?

2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-52
Author(s):  
Bin Mushambanyi Théodore Munyuli
Keyword(s):  
Human Health ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Vegetation Type ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Pollination Services ◽  
Toxicological Studies ◽  
The Government ◽  
Small Scale Farmers ◽  
The Impact

A study was conducted from 2010 to 2012 around the flower growing areas in central Uganda to generate baseline information on the status of pollinators. Primary data were gathered using a questionnaire that aimed at determining farmers and flower farm officials’ perceptions on the impact of activities carried out inside greenhouses on pollinators, human health, and on crop production in the surroundings. Results indicated that the quantity of pesticides and fertilizers applied daily varied among the different flower farms visited. Bee species richness and abundance varied significantly (P<0.01) according to flower farm location, to the landscape vegetation type, and to field types found in the surrounding of flower farms. Bee richness found around flower farms varied in number from 20 to 40 species in total across seasons and years. Bee density increased significantly with the increase in flower density. Small-scale farmers were aware of the value and importance of pollination services in their farming business. There was no clear evidence of a direct effect of agrochemicals application on bee communities living in the surrounding habitats. There is a need for further research to be conducted on human health risks and for toxicological studies on soils, plants, flowers, and bees in the farm landscape.

scholarly journals Socio-economic characteristics influencing small-scale farmers' level of knowledge on climate-smart agriculture in mahikeng local municipality, North West province, South Africa

2020 ◽  
Vol 48 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
K.L. Setshedi ◽  
S. Modirwa
Keyword(s):  
Sampling Technique ◽  
Farm Income ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Agricultural Activity ◽  
Livestock Farming ◽  
North West ◽  
Local Municipality ◽  
Level Of Knowledge ◽  
Smart Agriculture ◽  
Small Scale Farmers

ABSTRACT The aim of the study was to identify knowledge gaps and the level of knowledge on climate-smart agriculture among small-scale farmers in Mahikeng Local Municipality. A simple random sampling technique was used to select 170 respondents from a population size of1449. A descriptive and quantitative research design was used for this study. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyse data. Most respondents were males, married, had high school education and farming experience of more than 20 years. Livestock farming, was found to be the main agricultural activity amongst the respondents. Knowledge test statements revealed that, respondents had a low level of knowledge about climate-smart agriculture. Age, access to climate information, farm income per month and access to off-farm income had statistically significant relationships with respondents' level of knowledge on climate-smart agriculture. Based on the findings of this study, it is recommended that, there should be training and education activities which should be implemented to assist small-scale farmers in Mahikeng Local Municipality in increasing their knowledge on climate-smart agriculture. Keywords: Climate-smart agriculture, Knowledge, Small-scale farmers, Socio-economic characteristics

scholarly journals Farmers’ Participation in Agritourism: Does It Affect the Bottom Line?

2013 ◽  
Vol 42 (3) ◽  
pp. 471-490 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hyunjeong Joo ◽  
Aditya R. Khanal ◽  
Ashok K. Mishra
Keyword(s):  
Well Being ◽  
Farm Income ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Bottom Line ◽  
Alternative Source ◽  
Large Farm ◽  
Household Incomes ◽  
On Farm ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Economic Well Being

Agritourism is an alternative source of farm income. We examine farmers’ participation in agritourism activities to assess the impact of participation on farm household income and return to assets using a large farm-level survey. The results reveal that older, educated, and female operators are more likely to participate in agritourism. However, government subsidies and the population of the county are negatively correlated with agritourism. Of the types of farm operations examined, small-scale farms that involved agritourism generated the greatest household incomes and returns to assets. For operators of small farms, agritourism can boost the economic well-being of farm households.

scholarly journals Smallholder Coffee Productivity as Affected by Socioeconomic Factors and Technology Adoption

2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Daniel M. Wambua ◽  
Bernard M. Gichimu ◽  
Samuel N. Ndirangu
Keyword(s):  
Technology Adoption ◽  
Socioeconomic Factors ◽  
Land Tenure ◽  
Agricultural Land ◽  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Farm Income ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Farm Level ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
The Impact

Despite the increase in area under coffee in Kenya in the last decade, productivity has been on the decline. Numerous production technologies have been developed through on-station research but there has been limited on-farm research to assess the impact of these technologies at the farm level. On the other hand, smallholder farmers are endowed differently and this would positively or negatively affect the adoption of recommended technologies and hence coffee productivity. This study was carried out to evaluate the effects of socioeconomic factors and technology adoption on smallholder coffee productivity at the farm level. The study employed stratified random sampling where 376 farmers were randomly sampled from six cooperative societies which had been preselected using probability proportional to the size sampling technique. The effects of socioeconomic factors and technology adoption on coffee productivity were analyzed using the stochastic Cobb-Douglas production function. The study revealed that off-farm income, access to credit, type of land tenure, and land size had significant positive effects on coffee productivity. Therefore, coffee farmers should be encouraged to diversify their income sources and to embrace credit financing, as the government reviews land use policies to avail adequate agricultural land. The study further revealed that the adoption of recommended application rates of manure, fungicides, and pesticides had significant positive effects on coffee productivity. The adoption of these technologies should therefore be enhanced among small-scale farmers to improve coffee productivity at the farm level.

scholarly journals Gender Differentials in Technical Efficiency among Small-Scale Cassava Farmers in Abia State, Nigeria

2020 ◽  
pp. 98-109
Author(s):  
E. S. Yisa ◽  
M. I. Nwojo ◽  
A. A. A. Coker ◽  
A. Adewumi ◽  
F. D. Ibrahim
Keyword(s):  
Technical Efficiency ◽  
Maximum Likelihood Estimates ◽  
Farm Size ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Farm Income ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Gender Differentials ◽  
Female Farmers ◽  
Cassava Production ◽  
Farm Inputs

This study examined gender differentials in technical efficiency among small scale cassava farmers in Abia State, Nigeria. The profitability of cassava production, technical efficiency as well as the factors influencing inefficiency among the farmers in the study area were determined. Well structured questionnaire and interview schedule were employed to obtain primary data from the 133 male and 147 female cassava farmers sampled from two agricultural zones in Abia State. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, farm budgeting technique and stochastic frontier production function. A total of 73.68% of males and 81.63% of females were married, with an average household size of 6 and 5 persons, mean farming experience of 18 years for males and 16 years for females, and cultivated less than 2ha of land. Cassava production was profitable with a gross margin of ₦140,978.28 per hectare for males and ₦131,070.27 per hectare for females. The maximum likelihood estimates showed male farmers were more technically efficient with mean efficiency score of 0.82 compared to 0.78 for female farmers. Factors affecting the technical efficiency of male farmers included farm size, educational level, extension contact, credit amount while that of the female farmers were age, farm size, cooperative membership, land ownership and off-farm income. High cost of acquiring credit facilities and farm inputs, poor road network, inadequate extension services, limited farmland were the major constraints faced by farmers in the study area. It was concluded that male farmers were more technically efficient and also had higher gross income per hectare than their female counterpart. Policies aimed at improving the female farmers’ access to land and other farm inputs should be established and implemented by the government in order to increase efficiency was recommended.

scholarly journals ECONOMIC ANALYSIS OF CONTRACT FARMING AND TECHNICAL EFFICIENCY OF BROILER FARMERS

2021 ◽  
Vol 53 (4) ◽  
pp. 426-433
Author(s):  
Luke ADEBISI ◽  
Oluwaremilekun ADEBISI ◽  
Marvellous OWOLABI ◽  
Edet HENSHAW ◽  
Olaide ASIYANBI
Keyword(s):  
Technical Efficiency ◽  
Production Efficiency ◽  
Sampling Technique ◽  
Least Square ◽  
Farm Income ◽  
Stochastic Production Frontier ◽  
Contract Farming ◽  
Credit Access ◽  
Access To Credit ◽  
Broiler Production

The study assessed the effect of contract farming on broiler production in Osun State, Nigeria. 120 farmers comprising of broiler farmers participating and not participating in contract farming were selected using multistage sampling technique. Information was elicited from the farmers with the aid of a structured questionnaire. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Stochastic Production Frontier and Ordinary least square regression model. The findings of this study revealed that majority (75%) of the farmers rated the activities of contracting farming to be good and favorable, as the contract farmers earn more from broiler production than their counterparts. Average technical efficiency of the contract and non contract farmers were 0.8209 and 0.6803, respectively. The results also revealed that years of experience in broiler production, education of farmer, off-farm income, membership in farmers association, access to credit, access to veterinary services and participation in contract farming significantly affected technical efficiency of broiler farmers in the study area. Therefore, the study recommends that there should be increase in the awareness of the benefits associated with contract farming in agrarian communities, so that more farmers are encouraged to participate, as this will improve their production efficiency.

scholarly journals Factors Affecting Farm Performance among Small-Scale Farmers in the Volcanic Highlands of Rwanda: What is the Role of Institutions?

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 262-268
Author(s):  
Aristide Maniriho ◽  
Edouard Musabanganji ◽  
Philippe Lebailly
Keyword(s):  
Land Tenure ◽  
Agricultural Development ◽  
Farm Income ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Extension Services ◽  
Farm Production ◽  
Small Scale Farmers ◽  
Land Size ◽  
On Farm

This study attempted to examine the role of institutions in boosting rural and agricultural development in the region of the Volcanic Highlands of Rwanda. Both qualitative and quantitative data were collected from a random sample of 401 small-scale farmers through a questionnaire. Data were analyzed using a weighted least-squares method to account for heteroscedasticity, a common issue in cross-sectional studies. Results from crop output function reveal a positive and significant effect of cooperative membership, a negative but significant effect of extension services, and a negative non-significant effect of land tenure, credit access, and market access on farm production, respectively. In terms of net farm income function, the results demonstrate that farmer cooperation, land tenure, extension services, and access to output markets have a positive, non-significant influence, but that access to finance has a negative non-significant effect. Results also point to a positive and significant effect of some household characteristics, namely family size, farming experience, land size, and farm yield, on farm production. As for net farm income, education of the head, family size, farm experience, land size, farm yield, selling price, and cattle proved to be among primary determinants. It was therefore suggested that agricultural sector programs and activities should be readapted and strengthened in order to leverage rural and agricultural development in Rwanda.

scholarly journals Efficiency of small scale vegetable farms: policy implications for the rural poverty reduction in Nepal

2016 ◽  
Vol 62 (No. 4) ◽  
pp. 181-195 ◽  
Author(s):  
R.B. Shrestha ◽  
W.-Ch. Huang ◽  
S. Gautam ◽  
T.G. Johnson
Keyword(s):  
Support Services ◽  
Poverty Reduction ◽  
Production Efficiency ◽  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Rural Poverty ◽  
Policy Implications ◽  
Farm Income ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Vegetable Production ◽  
Parametric Data

Poverty and hunger reduction are intertwined challenges and enduring issues in the world, particularly in developing countries. Improvement in the efficiency in vegetable farming helps the farmers increase the per capita income, reduce poverty and eventually improve the livelihood of smallholder farmers. This paper evaluates economic efficiency of vegetable farms in Nepal using a non-parametric data envelopment analysis (DEA) approach. The results show evidence to suggest that vegetable farms in Nepal have a considerable potential for improving the vegetable production efficiency with a greater access to improved seed, agricultural credit, and training and extension services. Some policies options with regard to the vegetable production technology, and support services for farmers in general and women farmers in particular, are suggested to increase the farm efficiency. While some of these support services are currently available, we suggest that a more focus be given to creating the improved market access, to the women focused extension, and to training packages for the sustainable production. These support services can lead to increases in the farm income and to reduce poverty.

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