scholarly journals Is a 10-sow unit economically sustainable? A profitability assessment of productivity amongst small-holder pig farmers, Mpumalanga, South Africa

2016 ◽  
Vol 83 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Priscilla Munzhelele ◽  
James W. Oguttu ◽  
Folorunso O. Fasina
Keyword(s):  
Body Condition ◽  
Value Chain ◽  
Economies Of Scale ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Scale Reduction ◽  
Good Body Condition ◽  
Commercial Feeds ◽  
Small Holder ◽  
Profitability Assessment ◽  
Structured Questionnaire

The majority of small-holder pig farmers in Mpumalanga had between 1- and 10-sow herds. The main aim of this study is to evaluate the current government agricultural intervention (supply of 10 sows and a boar) in terms of technical and economic feasibilities and ascertain whether the small-scale pig value chain system alleviates poverty. Data were obtained from 220 randomly selected small-holder pig farmers using a semi-structured questionnaire. The results showed that 58% farrowed ≤ 10 piglets/born/sow/litter, 44.2% practiced no weaning method and many fed swill and leftovers alone (41.6%). Pair-wise association revealed that the feeding of commercial feeds had a relationship with pigs in relatively good to very good body condition. Pigs in poor body condition were positively correlated with the feeding of swill alone. The economic models for the 10-sow unit proved that pig farming is unprofitable if the current management and feeding systems that operate in the commercial industry are utilised. However, only through a combination of cooperative systems, benefits of economies of scale, reduction of preweaning mortalities and structured government inputs can pig production be profitable at this scale of production.Keywords: piglets; market; profit; economics; feeds

scholarly journals Small-holder farmers knowledge and information on the impact of climate variability & extremes on livestock production in Limpopo & Mpumalanga Provinces

2022 ◽  
Vol 27 ◽  
pp. 854-869
Author(s):  
Azwihangwisi E. Nesamvuni ◽  
Khuthadzo Ndwambi ◽  
Khathutshelo A. Tshikolomo ◽  
Gabriel R. Lekalakala ◽  
Thomas Raphulu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Warning System ◽  
Livestock Production ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Contingency Plans ◽  
Small Holder Farmers ◽  
Almost All ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Small Holder ◽  
Structured Questionnaire

A study was carried out to investigate the level of awareness, knowledge and information of small-holder farmers (SHLF) on the impact of climatic change (CC) and extremes on livestock production in Limpopo and Mpumalanga Provinces. At least 366 smallholder farmers were interviewed using a semi-structured questionnaire to elicit responses on vulnerability. Almost all the farmers (96 %) have heard about CC only a few farmers (4 %) did not know CC. The medium for the conveyance of CC information was the main radio (94.32%). Newspapers and television were also efficient mediums in the conveyance of this information, each with the outreach of 16.76 and 32.67%, respectively. Central to the impact of CC was the fact that (90%) of the farmers confirmed that there was a change in grass availability; which contributed to major livestock fatalities of which over half of the farmers (55.19%) attested as the cause. The study found that 86.67% of SHLF who attended awareness meetings indicated that the discussions prioritized adapting to CC. However, SHLF (80.77%) did not have an early warning system. This was coupled with a lack of contingency plans by (84.36%) the farmers to deal with the impact of the said drought on their farms. SHLF (19%) who had facilitated contingency plans indicated that improved aspects of the plan should incorporate the support of their provision feeds, drilling of boreholes, and erection of dams. Based on SHLF perceptions there is a need for strategic shifts from grazing to small scale feed-lots.

scholarly journals Features of small holder goat farming from Chitwan district of Bagmati province in Nepal

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 186-193
Author(s):  
Alok Dhakal ◽  
Sujit Regmi ◽  
Meena Pandey ◽  
Teknath Chapagain ◽  
Krishna Kaphle
Keyword(s):  
Management Practices ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
The Status ◽  
Fallow Lands ◽  
Feeding Constraints ◽  
Breeding Constraints ◽  
Small Scale Farmers ◽  
Small Holder ◽  
Structured Questionnaire ◽  
Goat Farming

An assessment was done to analyze the status of small scale goat production system in Chitwan, Nepal. A semi-structured questionnaire having both open ended and close ended questions were interviewed to 147 farmers (69 males, 78 females). The average goat holding was 5.48±0.15 head with female: male ratio of 6: 5. Mainly women folks in the household were involved in husbandry of the raised goats. In this research, we realized that goats were a valuable commodity for the community in the survey area. Grazing in public forest, fallow lands, tree leaves, shrubs and bushes were the main sources of feed for goats throughout the year. When inquired about vaccination, 92.51% of the farmers did not vaccinate their goats and were not aware about its importance. The high index obtained was for health care constraints, followed by feeding constraints, breeding constraints, miscellaneous and marketing constraints. The findings of this survey are not very encouraging as even from one of the developed parts of the country, small scale farmers raising small small scale farmers raising goats seem to be struggling both in terms of technical and logistic inputs. There is need of awareness on improved care and management practices of goat.

scholarly journals Diversity minimization through part combination – a Portuguese railway infrastructure case study

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 86-94
Author(s):  
Diogo Rechena ◽  
Luís Sousa ◽  
Virgínia Infante ◽  
Elsa Henriques
Keyword(s):  
Economies Of Scale ◽  
Product Family ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Added Value ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Railway Infrastructure ◽  
Sustainable Services ◽  
Market Needs ◽  
Design Diversity ◽  
Requirement Changes

Abstract With increasing market needs for product and service variety, companies struggle to provide diversity in cost-effective ways. Through standardization of components with a low perceived added value, companies can take advantage of economies of scale while maintaining product diversity. Railway infrastructure managers face similar challenges of providing economically sustainable services while dealing with the costs of maintaining the system diversity. Typically, unintended design diversity stems from design practices in which existing solutions are not reused for new problems and new solutions are rarely planned considering the dynamics of requirement changes. In this paper we provide a methodology to assess how to standardize different designs to minimize design diversity and to assess design divergence in a product family. The developed methodology is able to take into account any set of standardization compatibility constraints that the user can define. The methodology was applied in the context of a small-scale railway infrastructure manager using a dataset of 223 unique designs of functionally similar components from its electrification system. Depending on the activated compatibility constraints, results indicate that over 60% of components can be reduced to a set of 86 unique designs.

scholarly journals Prevalence of Ovine Haemonchosis in Wukro, Ethiopia

2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 ◽  
pp. 1-5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lidya Gebresilassie ◽  
Berihun Afera Tadele
Keyword(s):  
Body Condition ◽  
Haemonchus Contortus ◽  
Significant Variation ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Highly Pathogenic ◽  
Good Body Condition ◽  
Associated Risk Factors ◽  
Female Sheep ◽  
Important Disease

Background.Haemonchosiscaused byHaemonchus contortusis a predominant, highly pathogenic, and economically important disease of sheep and goats.Objective. Assessing the prevalence ofHaemonchusparasite and its associated risk factors in sheep slaughtered at different restaurants of Wukro.Methods. Cross-sectional study using random sampling from November 2013 to April 2014 in a total of 384 sheep was conducted and SPSS version 20 software using descriptive statistics was used for data analysis andP<0.05was considered significant.Result. The overall prevalence ofHaemonchus contortuswas 40.9% (n=157). The prevalence in medium body condition 27.3% (n=105) varies significantly from that of good body condition 13.5% (n=52) (P<0.05). Moreover, there was significant variation (P<0.05) in the prevalence in young and adult sheep with rates of 21.9% (n=84) and 19% (n=73), respectively. At the same time, there is significant variation (P<0.05) in male and female sheep with prevalence of 29.7% (n=114) and 11.2% (n=43), respectively. The prevalence of 25.3% (n=97) in sheep that originated from Negash compared to Wukro and Agulae showed no significant variation (P>0.05).Conclusion. The current finding revealed that significant numbers of sheep were affected by the parasites. Hence strategic deworming with good husbandry practice should be implemented.

An exploration into the understanding of football value chain in south of Brazil

2019 ◽  
Vol 27 (3) ◽  
pp. 644-665 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rosiane Serrano ◽  
Daniel Pacheco Lacerda ◽  
Ricardo Augusto Cassel ◽  
Priscila Ferraz Soares ◽  
Fabio Sartori Piran
Keyword(s):  
Value Chain ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Value Added ◽  
Independent Manner ◽  
Problematic Situation ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Football Clubs ◽  
South Of Brazil ◽  
Structured Questionnaire ◽  
Current Reality

Purpose Football is significant in the global economic context. However, the same significance is not identified in the value added to the chain, as the elements that make it up act in a disintegrated and independent manner with undesired effects. Consequently, it is necessary to structure the undesired effects to seek the basic causes that sustain this problematic situation. Thus, this paper aims to use a CRT to structure the undesired effects and basic causes that limit the positive economic impacts of the south Brazilian football value chain. Design/methodology/approach A semi-structured questionnaire was applied with questions about the existing constraints. Based on the answers in the interviews, the current reality tree was elaborated, premised on identifying the basic causes that sustain the undesirable effects detected. Findings Among the main results, it was identified that management problems of the traditional leaders of football clubs and federations are considered the main reason why south of Brazil football cannot fully exploit its economic potential. Originality/value It is evidenced that the paper shows the undesired effect that has the most impact on the development of this chain, and it is important to propose improvements to its root causes, aiming at greater efficacy of the resulting actions.

scholarly journals INTERVENSI KOGNITIF DAN PENDEKATAN RANTAI NILAI DALAM PENINGKATAN PEMANFAATAN TEKNOLOGI INFORMASI DAN KOMUNIKASI DI USAHA KECIL DAN MENENGAH DI BANDUNG

2016 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 81
Author(s):  
Ari Widyanti ◽  
Indryati Sunaryo
Keyword(s):  
Communication Technology ◽  
Value Chain ◽  
Cognitive Intervention ◽  
Improve Performance ◽  
Low Level ◽  
Ict Use ◽  
Information And Communication ◽  
Medium Enterprise ◽  
Mapping Result ◽  
Structured Questionnaire

Pemanfaatan teknologi informasi dan komunikasi (TIK) di usaha kecil dan menengah (UKM) di Indonesia masih pada tingkat yang belum sesuai harapan. Mempertimbangkan bahwa UKM di Indonesia banyak menyerap tenaga kerja dan menyumbang pendapatan nasional yang cukup besar, serta melihat bahwa pemanfaatan TIK di banyak industri besar telah membawa peningkatan performansi yang cukup signifikan,  peningkatan pemanfaatan TIK di UKM merupakan hal yang penting untuk dilakukan. Penelitian ini dilakukan dengan tujuan untuk memetakan tingkat pemanfaatan TIK di UKM dan mengaplikasikan intervensi kognitif dan pendekatan rantai nilai dalam meningkatkan pemanfaatan TIK di UKM. Pemetaan pemanfaatan TIK dilakukan melalui survey dengan menggunakan kuesioner terstruktur dan wawancara yang melibatkan 61 UKM di berbagai bidang di Bandung. Hasil pemetaan pemanfaatan TIK di UKM menunjukkan bahwa pemanfaatan TIK di UKM sebatas pada tujuan pemasaran produk dan sebatas pada penggunaan website. Kendala utama pemanfaatan TIK di UKM adalah faktor SDM terutama berkaitan dengan keterbatasan pengetahuan dan informasi. Berdasarkan hasil pemetaan, selanjutnya, intervensi dilakukan melalui edukasi/kampanye dengan materi mengenai rantai nilai pada 30 UKM yang bergerak di bidang fashion. Hasil intervensi menunjukkan bahwa level pengetahuan dan intensi/kemauan untuk menerapkan TIK di UKM selain untuk kepentingan pemasaran (misalnya untuk perancangan produk dan hubungan dengan pemasok) semakin meningkat. Implikasi dari hasil penelitian ini dibahas lebih lanjut.  AbstractThe use of information and communication technology (ICT) in small and medium enterprise (SME) in Indonesia is at low level. Considering that SME in Indonesia employ a lot of people and contribute to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) as well as improve performance of industries,  coupled with low level of ICT use in Indonesian SME, ICT’ used in SME must be increased. Therefore, this study aims to map the use of ICT in SME in Bandung, and to apply cognitive intervention and value chain approach in increasing ICT use in SME.Mapping of ICT use in SME was conducted by survey with structured questionnaire and interview involving 61 SME in Bandung. Result shows that ICT use in SME is limited only for product marketing and is mostly using website.  Main constraint of ICT use in SME is related with human resource capability in particular related with limited knowledge and information about ICT use. Based on mapping result, intervention was conducted through education or campaign with value chain content on 30 SME in fashion. Intervention result shows that knowledge level and intention to implement ICT in SME other than marketing purpose is increasing. Implication of the results is discussed

scholarly journals Socio-Economic Conditions of Small-Scale Hilsa Fishers in the Meghna River Estuary of Chandpur, Bangladesh

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (22) ◽  
pp. 12470
Author(s):  
Maruf Ahmed ◽  
Sabrina Jannat Mitu ◽  
Petra Schneider ◽  
Masud Alam ◽  
Mohammad Mojibul Hoque Mozumder ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
River Estuary ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Economic Conditions ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Fishing Community ◽  
Low Literacy ◽  
Fishing Activity ◽  
Low Incomes ◽  
The Government ◽  
Structured Questionnaire

Hilsa fish (Tenualosa ilisha) have become an essential factor behind the well-being of the fishing community, giving fishers their identity as a source of cultural heritage. A field survey was conducted to understand the socio-economic conditions of hilsa fishers at the Meghna river estuary of Chandpur District using well-structured questionnaire interviews (N = 250) with hilsa fishers. The survey revealed that fishers’ livelihoods and living conditions were still below average due to low literacy levels, lack of professional skills, and low incomes. More than two-thirds of the fishers were entirely dependent on hilsa fishing, while more than one-third had between 11 and 20 years of fishing experience. More than two-thirds of the fishers did not have an alternative occupation during ban periods, and the incentives provided by the government were not adequately received by half of the fishers. Fishers were divided into three groups according to their dependence on hilsa fishing. Significant differences were found between these groups in terms of the age of fishers, annual income from fishing, and annual fishing activity days. Therefore, the government, Fisheries cooperatives, NGOs, and other relevant organizations must unite to support fishers for sustainable management.

scholarly journals Marketing of orange: a value chain perspective in the selected areas of Sylhet District in Bangladesh

2016 ◽  
Vol 27 (3) ◽  
pp. 327-338
Author(s):  
M Begum ◽  
MR Ahmed ◽  
T Noor ◽  
MI Hossain
Keyword(s):  
Value Chain ◽  
Simple Random Sampling ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Cash Income ◽  
Fruit Crops ◽  
Value Addition ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Interview Technique ◽  
A Value ◽  
Structured Questionnaire

Orange is one of the most import fruit crops that generate additional cash income for market actors. The study was investigated the marketing system of orange , value addition, roles and functions of value chain actors with the help of primary data collected from both farmers (forty) through simple random sampling and value chain actors (thirty) through purposive sampling by using structured questionnaire and face to face interview technique. The gross return and net return of farmers were estimated Tk. 2, 70,000 and Tk. 22084.77 per hectare respectively. Per quintal value addition of orange of bepari, aratdar, wholesaler and retailer were estimated at Tk. 800, Tk. 340, Tk. 700 and Tk. 1000 respectively. The net marketing margin per quintal of orange of bepari, aratdar, wholesaler and retailer were estimated at Tk. 293.59, Tk. 107.32, Tk. 356.46 and Tk. 700.8 respectively. Among the different actors, retailer incurred highest (in percentage) value addition and net marketing margin. On the other hand, aratdar incurred lowest marketing cost and marketing margin and bepari incurred highest (in percentage) marketing cost but adding second highest value in compare to another.Progressive Agriculture 27 (3): 327-338, 2016

scholarly journals De-commoditizing Ethiopian coffees after the establishment of the Ethiopian Commodity Exchange: an empirical investigation of smallholder coffee producers in Ethiopia

2019 ◽  
Vol 22 (4) ◽  
pp. 499-518
Author(s):  
Tinsae Demise Handino ◽  
Marijke D’Haese ◽  
Freaw Demise ◽  
Misginaw Tamirat
Keyword(s):  
Value Chain ◽  
Household Income ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Sustainable Livelihood ◽  
Commodity Exchange ◽  
Propensity Score Model ◽  
Southwestern Ethiopia ◽  
Score Model ◽  
Sustainable Livelihood Approach ◽  
The Impact

The repercussions of reforming an agricultural market are mainly observed at the most vulnerable segment of the value chain, namely, the producers. In the current commodity market created with trade through the Ethiopian Commodity Exchange (ECX), coffee is less traceable to its producers. Only cooperatives that sell certified coffee through the unions they belong to, are allowed to bypass the more commodified ECX market. This study aims to investigate if small-scale coffee producers in southwestern Ethiopia that sell coffee through the certified cooperative are better off. It is assumed that the coffee sales through, and membership of, a cooperative, allows farmers to improve their coffee production as well as to improve other aspects of their livelihood. A sustainable livelihood approach was used as the inspiration for the welfare indicators that needed to be considered, data collected amongst members and non-members of certified cooperatives, and a propensity score model to investigate the impact of cooperative membership on the livelihood indicators. Results suggest that members of certified cooperatives indeed receive, on average, better prices. Yet, no evidence was found that indicates that the higher price is translated into better household income. Furthermore, coffee plantation productivity of those members who were interviewed was lower than that of the non-members. This finding could explain the failure to find an overall effect. Since the majority of the producers’ income emanate from coffee, a sustainable way of enhancing the productivity of the coffee could revitalize the welfare of the coffee producers.

scholarly journals Applying the Best-Fit Framework to Assess and Strengthen National Extension and Advisory Services

2017 ◽  
pp. 80-90 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristin Davis ◽  
David J. Spielman
Keyword(s):  
Value Chain ◽  
Local Context ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Extension Agents ◽  
Performance Incentives ◽  
Advisory Services ◽  
Innovative Solutions ◽  
Cross Country ◽  
Small Scale Farmers ◽  
Best Fit

Agricultural extension and advisory services are critical to supporting technological and institutional changes that can improve the livelihoods of small-scale farmers in developing countries. However, many extension services are under-resourced, out of date, and need of structural and content changes. However, efforts to systematically strengthen local extension systems often fall into the trap of promoting blueprints that are insufficiently adapted to local context. To that end, researchers developed the best-fit framework in the 2000s to provide impetus for pursuit of more locally-tailored extension solutions. Today, almost a decade later, researchers test the framework under real-world conditions in a cross-country application. This paper examines the application of this framework across six dimensions and seven countries to formulate a set of best-fit recommendations that are also broadly appreciable. The findings show that it is possible to apply the framework to the analysis of EAS across countries while also maintaining a very localized perspective on recommendations. Across the seven countries, certain obvious commonalities exist: The growth in pluralism in extension providers, the persistence of weak incentives for extension agents, and the lack of enabling policies. At the same time, innovative solutions to many of the challenges held in common—ICT-enabled extension, performance incentives, and value-chain oriented extension—are heterogeneous. The framework allows users to pursue change processes in EAS in response to their own local realities.

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