scholarly journals Basics of Good Business Plan for Small-Scale Agribusiness Investors in Nigeria

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mustapha Momoh ◽  
Caroline Aturu-Aghedo ◽  
Nana Usman Bature
Keyword(s):  
Risk Mitigation ◽  
Cost Savings ◽  
High Rate ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Management Skills ◽  
Business Skills ◽  
Job Experience ◽  
Agriculture Sector ◽  
Entrepreneurial Skills ◽  
The Face

This chapter provides a synthesis of planning small-scale entrepreneurial skills to guide the current and prospective micro investors to harness wide ranges of agribusiness value chains in Nigeria. This initiative considered alternatives in business strategic options to harness the potentials therein, which involve production, distribution, processing of agricultural products and services integration for converting agricultural outputs for regular and timely supply of domestic and international needs. The current outcry for economic diversification couple with high rate of unemployment in Nigeria requires concerted efforts to boost the agriculture sector as a viable alternative for growth and development. Suffices to say, most agribusiness investors more often than not, experience failure because of the dearth of requisite business skills for planning the survival and growth of small-scale agribusinesses in the face of modern realities. In this wise, the chapter brings the benefits such as risk mitigation, cost savings, and income generation through combination of known production planning and business management skills. The chapter adopts discursive taxonomy, interpolating elicited facts from available literature plus the knowledge of ‘on-the-job-experience’ to promote and support the development of agribusinesses strategy for the transformation of the agriculture sector to generate employment, income, and promote food security, and competitiveness in the marketplaces.

scholarly journals Effect of infrastructure design on commons dilemmas in social−ecological system dynamics

2015 ◽  
Vol 112 (43) ◽  
pp. 13207-13212 ◽  
Author(s):  
David J. Yu ◽  
Murad R. Qubbaj ◽  
Rachata Muneepeerakul ◽  
John M. Anderies ◽  
Rimjhim M. Aggarwal
Keyword(s):  
Design Feature ◽  
Irrigated Agriculture ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Qualitative Behavior ◽  
Central Feature ◽  
Social Ecological ◽  
Vital Functions ◽  
The Face ◽  
Design Characteristics ◽  
Shared Infrastructure

The use of shared infrastructure to direct natural processes for the benefit of humans has been a central feature of human social organization for millennia. Today, more than ever, people interact with one another and the environment through shared human-made infrastructure (the Internet, transportation, the energy grid, etc.). However, there has been relatively little work on how the design characteristics of shared infrastructure affect the dynamics of social−ecological systems (SESs) and the capacity of groups to solve social dilemmas associated with its provision. Developing such understanding is especially important in the context of global change where design criteria must consider how specific aspects of infrastructure affect the capacity of SESs to maintain vital functions in the face of shocks. Using small-scale irrigated agriculture (the most ancient and ubiquitous example of public infrastructure systems) as a model system, we show that two design features related to scale and the structure of benefit flows can induce fundamental changes in qualitative behavior, i.e., regime shifts. By relating the required maintenance threshold (a design feature related to infrastructure scale) to the incentives facing users under different regimes, our work also provides some general guidance on determinants of robustness of SESs under globalization-related stresses.

scholarly journals A Proactive Model to Control Reactive Behaviors

2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 24
Author(s):  
Vida Dehnad
Keyword(s):  
Small Scale ◽  
Mutual Trust ◽  
The Face ◽  
Current Article ◽  
Project Assignment ◽  
Experimental Researches

Adaptation to change is not an easy process and sometimes does not happen at all. When people perceive that theirfreedom is going to be altered due to an unwanted change, they outwardly exhibit some symptomatic reactivebehaviors such as inertia, resistance, skepticism, and aggression. No matter how intense people’s reactance is, only afew of them may manage to examine the unwanted change more deeply and find a way to conform or adapt. Knowingthis, the current article focuses on a theoretical proactive model or a solution. The model mainly works on the idea ofrecognizing the symptomatic behavioral reactance of learners. In other words, in the face of the reactance-inducedbehaviors depicted in the model, the instructors can apply four proactive strategies of brainstorming, open transparentconversation, small scale project assignment and triple “c” rule by means of which they can walk learners safelytowards mutual trust, classroom stability and learner commitment. In the end, as the model is new, there is still enoughroom for further experimental researches on different aspects of the model in actual classroom settings.

Multi-dimensional coping and adaptation strategies of small-scale fishing communities of Bangladesh to climate change induced stressors

2017 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 446-468 ◽  
Author(s):  
Apurba Krishna Deb ◽  
C. Emdad Haque
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
International Development ◽  
Field Research ◽  
Adaptation Strategies ◽  
Fishing Communities ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Fishing Villages ◽  
Climate Change And Variability ◽  
The Face

Purpose Coastal and floodplain areas are on the frontline of climate change in Bangladesh. Small-scale coastal and floodplain fishing communities of the country face a host of cross-scale stressors continually, some induced by climate change, and they have developed coping and adaption strategies based on customary social and experiential learnings. This paper aims to examine the coping and adaptation strategies that small-scale fishing communities undertake in the face of stresses including climate change and variability. Design/methodology/approach This research takes a nuanced ethnographic-oriented approach based on around two-year-long field study in two coastal and floodplain fishing villages, represented by two distinct ethnic groups. The study adopts direct observational methods to denote the ways small-scale fishing communities address the arrays of stressors to construct and reconstruct their survival and livelihood needs. Findings It was observed that fishers’ coping and adaptation strategies comprise a fluid combination of complex overlapping sets of actions that the households undertake based on their capitals and capabilities, perceptions, socio-cultural embeddedness and experiential learnings from earlier adverse situations. Broadly, these are survival, economic, physiological, social, institutional and religiosity-psychological in nature. Adaptation mechanisms involve some implicit principles or self-provisioning actions that households are compelled to do or choose under given sets of abnormal stresses to reach certain levels of livelihood functions. Originality/value Based on empirical field research, this paper recognizes small-scale fishers’ capability and adaptability in addressing climate change-induced stresses. Policymakers, international development planners, climate scientists and social workers can learn from these grassroots-level coping and adaptation strategies of fishing communities to minimize the adverse effects of climate change and variations.

scholarly journals Mudra (shishu) – an effective scheme in startups

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 222-226
Author(s):  
K.C. Kavipriya
Keyword(s):  
Economic Development ◽  
Individual Development ◽  
High Rate ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Poor People ◽  
Employment Opportunities ◽  
The People ◽  
The Individual ◽  
The Right ◽  
Small Scale Industries

Economic Development of a country depends upon the individual development; Creation of more Employment opportunities is the right way to strengthen our Economy. By way of strengthening Small scale units, ultimately more people will get Employment. More over Small scale Industries required less amount of Capital. These are the main reasons to start the scheme MUDRA. The scheme MUDRA was launched in the year 2015 by Government of India. In India most of the people are depending upon small scale businesses as their source of livelihood. Most of the individuals depend on un-organised sectors for loans and other credit facilities which have high rate of interest along with unbearable terms and conditions. Ultimately it will lead these poor people to fall in debts. This paper is an attempt to educate the readers about MUDRA Yojana.

scholarly journals The development of small scale farming: two cases from the Commonwealth Caribbean.

1968 ◽  
Vol 16 (4) ◽  
pp. 264-274
Author(s):  
D.T. Edwards
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Changes ◽  
The Other ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Government Agencies ◽  
Rapid Rate ◽  
The Face ◽  
Market Gardening ◽  
Commonwealth Caribbean ◽  
The Government

Two very different cases of small-scale farm development in the Commonwealth Caribbean are reviewed. One is Jamaican small farming, which responded little to considerable efforts made for its improvement by the Government agencies. The other is market gardening at Aranjuez, Trinidad where production grew at an extremely rapid rate in the face of intense and antagonistic competition between the market gardeners and without significant direct assistance by official agencies. The conclusions include a number of possible strategies for farm development, comprising individual or collective persuasion, coercion, creation of new farms, and environmental changes. T. A. (Abstract retrieved from CAB Abstracts by CABI’s permission)

scholarly journals Selected skills required for sustainable small and medium businesses

2016 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 379-388
Author(s):  
Jean-Marie Mwepu Mbuya ◽  
Maria Bounds ◽  
G. Goldman
Keyword(s):  
Time Management ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Growth And Survival ◽  
Business Skills ◽  
Study Approach ◽  
Entrepreneurial Skills ◽  
Key Skills ◽  
Business Behavior ◽  
Medium Businesses ◽  
Creativity And Innovation

The objective of the study was to determine to what extent the selected skills contribute to the growth and the sustainability of small and medium businesses. In an attempt to understand the underlying factors contributing to the high failure rate of small and medium businesses, this study focused on the extent to which small and medium business owners from two age groups perceived five identified skills generally associated with entrepreneurial and business behavior as conducive to either success or failure. A lack of entrepreneurial and business skills impacts on the growth and survival of small and medium businesses in the Johannesburg Metropole. A quantitative study approach using structured survey questionnaires was used amongst 150 small and medium businesses in the Johannesburg Metropole. Factor analysis was used to analyze the responses gathered from the survey. Findings indicated that all selected entrepreneurial skills (leadership, creativity and innovation, networking, goal-setting and time management) appeared to be critical for small and medium businesses sustainability and growth. Although previous researches have indicated that entrepreneurial skills played crucial role in small and medium businesses sustainability, this study highlighted some of the key skills and attributes that SMEs owners should possess in order to operate their business ventures successfully

scholarly journals Beyond ratios - flexible and resilient nurse staffing options to deliver cost-effective hospital care and address staff shortages: a simulation and economic modelling study

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter Griffiths ◽  
Christina Saville ◽  
Jane E Ball ◽  
Jeremy Jones ◽  
Thomas Monks
Keyword(s):  
Cost Effectiveness ◽  
Significant Proportion ◽  
Nurse Staffing ◽  
Cost Savings ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Adverse Outcomes ◽  
List Type ◽  
Economic Modelling ◽  
The Face ◽  
Hospital Wards

AbstractBackgroundIn the face of pressure to contain costs and make best use of scarce nurses, flexible staff deployment (floating staff between units and temporary hires) guided by a patient classification system may appear an efficient approach to meeting variable demand for care in hospitals.ObjectivesWe modelled the cost-effectiveness of different approaches to planning baseline numbers of nurses to roster on general medical/surgical units while using flexible staff to respond to fluctuating demand.Design and SettingWe developed an agent-based simulation model, where units move between being understaffed, adequately staffed or overstaffed as staff supply and demand, measured by the Safer Nursing Care Tool, varies. Staffing shortfalls are addressed firstly by floating staff from overstaffed units, secondly by hiring temporary staff. We compared a standard staffing plan (baseline rosters set to match average demand) with a ‘resilient’ plan set to match higher demand, and a ‘flexible’ plan, set at a lower level. We varied assumptions about temporary staff availability. We estimated the effect of unresolved low staffing on length of stay and death, calculating cost per life saved.ResultsStaffing plans with higher baseline rosters led to higher costs but improved outcomes. Cost savings from low baseline staff largely arose because shifts were left under staffed. Cost effectiveness for higher baseline staff was improved with high temporary staff availability. With limited temporary staff available, the resilient staffing plan (higher baseline staff) cost £9,506 per life saved compared to the standard plan. The standard plan cost £13,967 per life saved compared to the flexible (low baseline) plan. With unlimited temporary staff, the resilient staffing plan cost £5,524 per life saved compared to the standard plan and the standard plan cost £946 per life saved compared with the flexible plan. Cost-effectiveness of higher baseline staffing was more favourable when negative effects of high temporary staffing were modelled.ConclusionFlexible staffing can be guided by shift-by-shift measurement of patient demand, but proper attention must be given to ensure that the baseline number of staff rostered is sufficient.In the face of staff shortages, low baseline staff rosters with high use of flexible staff on hospital wards is not an efficient or effective use of nurses whereas high baseline rosters may be cost-effective. Flexible staffing plans that minimise the number of nurses routinely rostered are likely to harm patients because temporary staff may not be available at short notice.Study registration: ISRCTN 12307968Tweetable abstractEconomic model of hospital wards shows low baseline staff levels with high use of flexible staff are not cost-effective and don’t solve nursing shortages].What is already known?Because nursing is the largest staff group, accounting for a significant proportion of hospital’s variable costs, ward nurse staffing is frequently the target of cost containment measuresStaffing decisions need to address both the baseline staff establishment to roster, and how best to respond to fluctuating demand as patient census and care needs varyFlexible deployment of staff, including floating staff and using temporary hires, has the potential to minimise expenditure while meeting varying patient need, but high use of temporary staff may be associated with adverse outcomes.What this paper addsOur simulation shows that low baseline staff rosters that rely heavily on flexible staff increase the risk of patient death and provide cost savings largely because wards are often left short staffed under real world availability of temporary staff.A staffing plan set to meet average demand appears to be cost effective compared to a plan with a lower baseline but is still associated with frequent short staffing despite the use of flexible deployments.A staffing plan with a higher baseline, set to meet demand 90% of the time, is more resilient in the face of variation and may be highly cost effective

scholarly journals Multifractal analysis of radar rainfall fields over the area of Rome

2005 ◽  
Vol 2 ◽  
pp. 293-299 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Calenda ◽  
E. Gorgucci ◽  
F. Napolitano ◽  
A. Novella ◽  
E. Volpi
Keyword(s):  
Scale Invariance ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Doppler Radar ◽  
Risk Mitigation ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Radar Rainfall ◽  
Invariance Properties ◽  
Meteorological Radar ◽  
Using Data ◽  
Precipitation Events

Abstract. A scale-invariance analysis of space and time rainfall events monitored by meteorological radar over the area of Rome (Italy) is proposed. The study of the scale-invariance properties of intense precipitation storms, particularly important in flood forecast and risk mitigation, allows to transfer rainfall information from the large scale predictive meteorological models to the small scale hydrological rainfall-runoff models. Precipitation events are monitored using data collected by the polarimetric Doppler radar Polar 55C (ISAC-CNR), located 15 km Southeast from downtown. The meteorological radar provides the estimates of rainfall intensity over an area of about 10 000 km2 at a resolution of 2×2 km2 in space and 5 min in time. Many precipitation events have been observed from autumn 2001 up to now. A scale-invariance analysis is performed on some of these events with the aim at exploring the multifractal properties and at understanding their dependence on the meteorological large-scale conditions.

scholarly journals Effect of Stress due to COVID-19 Pandemic on Time Management Skills among University Professionals

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Manjunatha BK Goud ◽  
Tarig H Merghani ◽  
Joan Bryant Kumar ◽  
Laxminarayana Kurady Bairy
Keyword(s):  
Stress Level ◽  
Negative Correlation ◽  
Time Management ◽  
Significant Negative Correlation ◽  
Full Time ◽  
Years Of Experience ◽  
Management Skills ◽  
Faculty Work ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Job Experience

Introduction: Time management skills are necessary for professionals to accomplish their goals and succeed in their career. The recent changes in the educational environment that were caused by the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) could be stressful and might affect the structure of faculty work. Aim: To evaluate the stress level among university personnel during the COVID-19 outbreak and its relation to their time management skills. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional web-based survey was conducted on a sample of 56 university professionals. Each participant filled a google form questionnaire consisting of Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) and Time Management Scale (TMS). The results were analysed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20.0. Results: A total of 56 responses were received from full-time faculty and staff with 60% response rate. The overall PSS (mean±SD) was 15.29±7.13, indicating a low level of stress among the professionals. The mean TMS of 37.98±7.63 indicates an average time management skills. Significant negative correlation was found between PSS and TMS (r=-0.371, p=0.005). A positive correlation was found between TMS and years of experience (r=0.278, p=0.038). Both PSS and TMS had insignificant association with age, gender and years of experience. Conclusion: The stress level during the COVID-19 outbreak is relatively low among the University professionals. The TMS has a negative correlation with the PSS; however, it improves with the increase in years of job experience.

scholarly journals SARS-CoV-2 mass vaccination: Urgent questions on vaccine safety that demand answers from international health agencies, regulatory authorities, governments and vaccine developers                  

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roxana Bruno ◽  
Peter A Mccullough ◽  
Teresa Forcades I Vila ◽  
Alexandra Henrion-Caude ◽  
Teresa García-Gasca ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Trials ◽  
Adverse Effects ◽  
Risk Mitigation ◽  
Safety Data ◽  
Vaccine Safety ◽  
Endothelial Damage ◽  
Mass Vaccination ◽  
High Rate ◽  
Public Confidence ◽  
World Population

Since the start of the COVID-19 outbreak, the race for testing new platforms designed to confer immunity against SARS-CoV-2, has been rampant and unprecedented, leading to conditional emergency authorization of various vaccines. Despite progress on early multidrug therapy for COVID-19 patients, the current mandate is to immunize the world population as quickly as possible. The lack of thorough testing in animals prior to clinical trials, and authorization based on safety data generated during trials that lasted less than 3.5 months, raise questions regarding vaccine safety. The recently identified role of SARS-CoV-2 Spike glycoprotein for inducing endothelial damage characteristic of COVID-19, even in absence of infection, is extremely relevant given that most of the authorized vaccines induce endogenous production of Spike. Given the high rate of occurrence of adverse effects that have been reported to date, as well as the potential for vaccine-driven disease enhancement, Th2-immunopathology, autoimmunity, and immune evasion, there is a need for a better understanding of the benefits and risks of mass vaccination, particularly in groups excluded from clinical trials. Despite calls for caution, the risks of SARS-CoV-2 vaccination have been minimized or ignored by health organizations and government authorities. As for any investigational biomedical program, data safety monitoring boards (DSMB) and event adjudication committees (EAC), should be enacting risk mitigation. If DSMBs and EACs do not do so, we will call for a pause in mass vaccination. If DSMBs and EACs do not exist, then vaccination should be halted immediately, in particular for demographic groups at highest risk of vaccine-associated death or serious adverse effects, during such time as it takes to assemble these boards and commence critical and independent assessments. We urge for pluralistic dialogue in the context of health policies, emphasizing critical questions that require urgent answers, particularly if we wish to avoid a global erosion of public confidence in science and public health.

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