scholarly journals AGRICULTURAL VALUE CHAIN FINANCING: PANACEA FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN NIGERIA

2020 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ebele O. Igwemeka ◽  
Faith Chinyere Ekwunife
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Value Chain ◽  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Financing Policy ◽  
Access To Credit ◽  
Financial Uncertainty ◽  
Challenging Environment ◽  
Processing And Storage ◽  
The Right ◽  
And Storage

In the past, the agricultural financing policy of the Nigerian government emphasized primary production without paying attention to the marketing of agricultural products. Consequently, the current emphasis by financial institutions on value chain financing has further compounded the problem of access to credit by smallholder farmers who account for over 90 per cent of agricultural production in Nigeria and do not have access to lucrative markets, nor adequate processing and storage facilities. More worrisome is how the right amount of investment can be acquired, particularly in a challenging environment where financial uncertainty causes a reduction in available resources along with increased fear and scrutiny of risk. From the perspective of other climes farmer linkages, improving access to improved seeds, fertilizers and production technology, enhancing farmer integration into the seed production, processing and marketing chain through farmer organization, training and out-grower contracts among others will boost agricultural value chain financing that will lead to sustainable development.

Post-harvest groundnut aflatoxin management among smallholder farmers in Malawi

2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 37-43
Author(s):  
M. Chimbaza ◽  
H. Kankwamba ◽  
A.M. Mwangwela ◽  
W. Kamthunzi
Keyword(s):  
Value Chain ◽  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Descriptive Analysis ◽  
Aflatoxin Contamination ◽  
Intervention Strategies ◽  
Critical Stage ◽  
Analysis Of Results ◽  
The Right ◽  
And Control ◽  
And Storage

Aflatoxin contamination in groundnut production negatively affects health and trade outcomes. Aflatoxin contamination can occur at any stage along the groundnut value chain. However, the stage immediately after harvest has proven to be the most critical stage in aflatoxin management. This study presents knowledge, perceptions and practices in aflatoxin management during groundnut drying and storage among smallholder farmers in Malawi. Using probability proportionate to size random sampling techniques, the study sampled 150 smallholder farmers from three districts in the Central Region of Malawi namely Lilongwe, Mchinji and Kasungu. Descriptive analysis of results indicates that 90% of farmers harvest groundnuts at the right maturity. Results also showed that 59% farmers prefer drying groundnuts inverted in circular patches while 70% store groundnuts in polyethylene sacks on racks. Further, the study found that 97% of the farmers in the sample are aware of aflatoxin contamination but only 28% were able to identify the effects of aflatoxin contamination. These findings have implications in the design of postharvest intervention strategies on management and control of aflatoxin in groundnuts.

Prospects for the development of agrarian production systems in in the Right Bank Polesie of Ukraine

2018 ◽  
Vol 2 (95) ◽  
pp. 69-72
Author(s):  
Yu.A. Tarariko ◽  
L.V. Datsko ◽  
M.O. Datsko
Keyword(s):  
Agricultural Production ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Economic Feasibility ◽  
Capital Investments ◽  
Resource Potential ◽  
Grain Processing ◽  
Processing And Storage ◽  
The Right ◽  
And Storage ◽  
Agricultural Production Systems

The aim of the work is to assess the existing and prospective models for the development of agricultural production in Central Polesie on the basis of economic feasibility and ecological balance. The evaluation of promising agricultural production systems was carried out with the help of simulation modeling of various infrastructure options at the levels of crop and multisectoral specialization of agroecosystems. The agro-resource potential of Central Polesie is better implemented in the rotation with lupine, corn and flax dolguntsem with well-developed infrastructure, including crop, livestock units, grain processing and storage systems, feed, finished products and waste processing in the bioenergetic station. The expected income for the formation of such an infrastructure is almost 8 thousand dollars. / with a payback period of capital investments of 2-3 years.

scholarly journals COVID-19 Effects and Resilience of Vegetable Farmers in North-Western Nigeria

Agronomy ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (9) ◽  
pp. 1808
Author(s):  
Rosaine N. Yegbemey ◽  
Christelle M. Komlan Ahihou ◽  
Ifeoluwa Olorunnipa ◽  
Marwan Benali ◽  
Victor Afari-Sefa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Coping Strategies ◽  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Added Value ◽  
Vegetable Production ◽  
Probit Regression ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Individual Interviews ◽  
Processing And Storage ◽  
And Storage ◽  
North Western

The COVID-19 pandemic has particularly affected the supply of perishable foods such as vegetables, which could adversely affect food and nutrition security. Here, we study the mechanisms by which COVID-19 has affected vegetable production and the coping strategies adopted by smallholder farmers. We use cross-sectional data collected through individual interviews on a random sample of 521 vegetable producers in north-western Nigeria. The perceptions of respondents, measured on a 5-point Likert scale (from 1—not affected, to 5—severely affected), shows that COVID-19 had an average effect of 3.07 (±1.23) on vegetable production. Farmers also reported challenges in accessing farm inputs and storing or selling fresh vegetable produced. In response, farmers reduced market-oriented vegetable production, produced more vegetables for own consumption, added value through own home processing and storage, explored new markets, and accepted lower farmgate selling prices. A multivariate probit regression shows that socio-economic factors such as age, household size, marital status, challenges in accessing inputs, and perceptions of the effects of COVID-19 influenced farmers’ decisions to adopt particular coping strategies. To sustain vegetable supplies, policy makers should consider investing more in market-oriented strategies such as vegetable processing and storage, which individual farmers may not be able to afford due to high costs, lack of information and required knowledge on good agronomic practices, postharvest handling, storage and market. Public extension services can contribute to help farmers to adapt better.

scholarly journals Analysing challenges facing smallholder farmers and conservation agriculture in South Africa: A system dynamics approach

2016 ◽  
Vol 19 (5) ◽  
pp. 747-773 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wolfgang Von Loeper ◽  
Josephine Musango ◽  
Alan Brent ◽  
Scott Drimie
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
System Dynamics ◽  
Value Chain ◽  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Conservation Agriculture ◽  
Research Data ◽  
Ethnographic Research ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Ongoing Research ◽  
Access To Credit

Smallholder farmers in South Africa find it challenging to participate in the modern economy. Most of these farmers have limited access to credit and insurance, and to markets in which to sell their produce. This paper reviews ethnographic research data and argues that smallholder farmers struggle to take part in modern agricultural value chains in South Africa. System dynamics modelling is used to understand the dynamics relating to agricultural value-chain participants, and to determine whether the ethnographic research data is sufficient to answer the question as to which value-chain participants potentially have the largest impact on smallholder farmers. The modelling results show that banks may have the potential to trigger an impact on smallholder farmers’ productivity that could then attract other value-chain industries to take part in efforts to support these farmers. Smallholder farmers could become a long-term viable and sustainable option for increasing food security in South Africa. However, this study has its limitations. The data used from existing ethnographic research, conducted by way of semi-structured interviews with valuechain participants, is limited and is not able to answer questions such as: (i) how much each industry is prepared to engage with smallholder farmers in the event of other industries being prepared to do the same; and (ii) how long it will take each industry to react to a willingness to engage. Ongoing research is required to extend the interviewee base and data in order to answer these questions and for the model to be completed and used for policy guidance.

The impact of credit on productivity of smallholder farmers in Ghana

2019 ◽  
Vol 80 (1) ◽  
pp. 91-109 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ralph Essem Nordjo ◽  
Charles K.D. Adjasi
Keyword(s):  
Value Chain ◽  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Northern Region ◽  
Average Treatment Effect ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Policy Debate ◽  
Treatment Variable ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Access To Credit ◽  
The Impact

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the impact of access to production credit on the productivity of smallholder farmers. Design/methodology/approach Data for the study were drawn from the Agricultural Value Chain Facility (AVCF), which was implemented in the Northern Region of Ghana. This paper uses the Propensity Score Matching (PSM) to estimate the average treatment effect of access to production credit on the productivity of smallholder farmers. The rationale for the choice of this estimation technique is to control for selection bias since the treatment variable (access to production credit) was not randomised. The authors also test for the effect of hidden bias using “Rosenbaum bounds” sensitivity analysis. The study uses two control groups to examine the net effect of credit on productivity. Findings The results reveal that smallholder farmers with access to production credit increased productivity through investment in farm inputs. For the impact of credit on productivity using control Group 1, the result shows that farmers with access to credit increased their productivity by 0.170 metric tonnes per hectare and for control Group 2, the result shows an increase of 0.252 metric tonnes per hectare more than farmers who are without access to production credit. Practical implications The evidence as provided by this paper is that access to production credit is significant to meet the credit needs of smallholder farmers and therefore contributes to the policy debate on whether access to credit has impact on the productivity of smallholder farmers. Originality/value The paper shows the importance of production credit in augmenting the production function of smallholder farmers.

scholarly journals Cereal-Legume Value Chain Analysis: A Case of Smallholder Production in Selected Areas of Malawi

Agriculture ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (12) ◽  
pp. 1217
Author(s):  
Giacomo Branca ◽  
Luca Cacchiarelli ◽  
Valentina D’Amico ◽  
Laifolo Dakishoni ◽  
Esther Lupafya ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Value Chain ◽  
Market Access ◽  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Value Chain Analysis ◽  
Extension Services ◽  
Farmers Market ◽  
Access To Credit ◽  
Service Support ◽  
Market Opportunities ◽  
Basic Infrastructure

This article analyses the cereal-legume value chain in Malawi through a comprehensive VC Map, a SWOT exercise and a policy analysis. VC participation entails a number of challenges for smallholders. Limited access to land, technology and inputs, inadequate knowledge of market functioning, insufficient access to credit and extension services, combined with more general problems of poor infrastructures, often prevent smallholder farmers from accessing profitable market opportunities. The effectiveness of national policies (e.g., public extension service support, inputs subsidy system) oriented to increase smallholders’ market access is often constrained by inadequate financial capacity, an inefficient public extension services system and limited involvement of privates in the extension services scheme. VC interventions should distinguish between VC-ready farmers, namely those provided with the minimum conditions of external and internal factors, and non-value-chain-ready farmers. Market-based interventions (e.g., enhancing VC coordination) are needed for enhancing market access of value-chain-ready farmers. Conversely, while non-market-based interventions (e.g., investments in basic infrastructure, increasing extension services, credit and inputs access) prove necessary to build the minimum asset thresholds for non-value-chain-ready farmers’ participation in the market. A smallholder-friendly VC development relies on the role played by VC actors and the need to harmonise and improve existing policies to remove inadequacies, conflicts and overlaps in the various institutions charged with implementation.

scholarly journals Microbial production of histamine and the imperatives of processed food consumption

Bio-Research ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 1317-1327
Author(s):  
James Nnabuike Ezema ◽  
Esther Chinedu Agbo ◽  
Emmanuel Aniebolam Eze
Keyword(s):  
Value Chain ◽  
Food Poisoning ◽  
The Body ◽  
Fermented Foods ◽  
Histamine Production ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Processing And Storage ◽  
Protein Rich ◽  
And Storage ◽  
Temperature Time

Food processing and storage increase the value chain of food items, both for commercial purposes and for future use by peasant producers. The roles of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and yeasts in the processing of dairy, brewed, bakery and traditionally fermented foods cannot be over-emphasized. These organisms improve the nutritional contents and organoleptic properties of these foods. However, certain undesired products, especially from protein-rich foods, notably, biogenic amines often characterize the process. This is usually a physiologic response by the organisms to the food environments such as pH, and is often influenced by temperature, time and salt concentration.  Histamine production during such a process often results in the accumulation of exogenous histamine in the foods, thereby constituting health hazards to the consumers. Histamine food poisoning affects virtually every system of the body due to the widespread physiological roles of histamine in the body, presenting a wide range of symptoms that make diagnosis difficult. More regulated scientific approaches should be adopted by food processors and handlers especially in the developing countries where technologies may not be available.

scholarly journals Modeling and Fault Tolerance Analysis of ZigBee Protocol in IoT Networks

Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (24) ◽  
pp. 8264
Author(s):  
Paweł Dymora ◽  
Mirosław Mazurek ◽  
Krzysztof Smalara
Keyword(s):  
Fault Tolerance ◽  
Routing Algorithm ◽  
Tolerance Analysis ◽  
Sensor Nodes ◽  
Zigbee Protocol ◽  
Battery Degradation ◽  
Processing And Storage ◽  
The Right ◽  
The Impact ◽  
And Storage

This paper presents the essence of IoT (Internet of Things) works and design challenges, discusses its principles of operation, and presents IoT development concepts. WSN (Wireless Sensor Network) was characterized in detail as an essential component of IoT infrastructure. The various faults that can occur at all levels of the IoT architecture, such as sensor nodes, actuators, network links, as well as processing and storage components clearly demonstrate that fault-tolerance (FT) has become a key issue for IoT systems. A properly applied routing algorithm has a direct impact on the power consumption of sensors, which in extreme cases is the reason why nodes shut down due to battery degradation. To study the fault tolerance of IoT infrastructure, a ZigBee network topology was created, and various node failure scenarios were simulated. Furthermore, the results presented showed the impact and importance of choosing the right routing scheme, based on the correlation of throughput to the number of rejected packets, as well as the proportionality of the value of management traffic to the other including the ratio of rejected packets.

scholarly journals Thinking beyond collateral in value chain lending: access to bank credit for smallholder Vietnamese bamboo and cinnamon farmers

2019 ◽  
Vol 22 (4) ◽  
pp. 535-555
Author(s):  
Do Xuan Luan ◽  
Aaron J. Kingsbury
Keyword(s):  
Value Chain ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Value Chains ◽  
Heckman Model ◽  
Access To Credit ◽  
Stakeholder Partnerships ◽  
Multi Stakeholder ◽  
Lower Income Countries ◽  
Depth Interviews

Using case studies of the bamboo and cinnamon value chains in rural areas of northern Vietnam, this paper contributes to the existing literature by analyzing barriers and suggests conditions under which value chain lending would be an effective tool for improving smallholder farmers’ access to credit. A mixed method using both in-depth interviews with relevant stakeholders and a two-stage Heckman model is employed to explain the existing credit gap. Findings show that in both chains, bank decision-making on lending is typically limited to individual chain actors instead of considering the whole chain. Commercial banks predominately use conventional lending approaches heavily dependent on collateral which typically results in a shortage of credit available to the chain actors. Value chain lending is constrained by weak chain linkages and limited ownership of private bank accounts. Drawing from these cases in Vietnam, the article concludes by arguing that status quo value chain lending in lower-income countries merits considerable rethinking. The lending approaches of banks require innovation to ‘think beyond collateral’ in improving chain cohesion. Multi-stakeholder partnerships are important for successful value chain lending. In addition, farmer-based unions have the potential to address issues of information asymmetry in the credit market.

Study of Rural Small Hydropower Development and Reform Strategy

2011 ◽  
Vol 267 ◽  
pp. 1020-1026
Author(s):  
Xiao Juan Al ◽  
Liang Bai
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
National Policy ◽  
Allocation Mechanism ◽  
Small Hydropower ◽  
Hydropower Development ◽  
Financing Policy ◽  
Compensation Mechanisms ◽  
Market Allocation ◽  
New Countryside ◽  
The Right

Small hydropower is a kind of clean and non-carbonate energy, which is rich in resources and environmentally friendly. Not only is the small hydropower an important part of China's strategy of sustainable development, but also it is the basic national policy of long-term adherence. This article attempted to expound China's small hydropower investment system and establish the right to compensation for the use of small hydropower transfer market allocation mechanism through the development of Chinese small hydropower Analysis. In this paper,the establishment of many ways of electricity tariff about small hydropower, the financing policy and water resources were discussed. Furthermore, compensation mechanisms for the use right transfer and the external compensation mechanism of hydropower development projects were reviewed. The obtained result was the following:Not only is reform of rural small hydropower in China the need of small hydropower development, but also it is essential guarantee of new countryside construction and sustainable development.

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