Alabio ducks, germplasms of South Kalimantan, as protein and income sources

Apart from providing food originating from meat and eggs, Alabio ducks have another important role for farmers in South Kalimantan, namely as an income source, employment source, and preservation of local genetic source. This paper aimed to study the economic profile of Alabio ducks in several types of businesses in Hulu Sungai Utara Regency, South Kalimantan. A survey method was carried out on several groups of duck farmers. In order to obtain more in-depth information, a focus group discussion (FGD) was held with key insiders in the duck industry. The results showed that the duck farming business has good prospects and can be a source of income and employment for farmers and young generations. The business of hatchery, slaughter-duck producers, hatching egg producers, and consumes-egg producers, is economically feasible. Improving bio-security and handling and managing environmental sanitation have to carry out, among others, through pens, equipment, and environmental disinfection, as well as routine vaccinations with the escort and support of local and central government. In addition, to increase the welfare and income of farmers need to introduce technological innovations that can increase farming efficiency.

Taxpayer Bunching Evidence: Responsiveness at Kink Points of the Honduran Personal Income Tax

This paper studies the response of taxpayers to changes in the marginal tax rate or kinks, estimated through compensated elasticities by applying the bunching methodology to Honduran administrative data on Personal Income Tax (PIT) from the period 2011 – 2018. Due to missing data issues at the first kink, estimates are only generated for the other two kinks. The results show a low response, reflected by a compensated elasticity around 0.09. Higher response on wage earners was found at the second kink. Further analysis is done by type of taxpayer, income source, third-party reporting, gender, and age.

FINANCIAL AND SOCIAL CHALLENGES FACING PENSIONERS LIVING ALONE BELOW THE POVERTY LINE DURING THE COVID-19 PERIOD: THE CASE OF GEORGIA

Restrictions, physical distancing and lockdown imposed during Covid-19 are associated with many challenges such as financial shortages and lack of social relationships, which have been particularly damaging for vulnerable groups dependent on others. This research aims to study financial and social challenges faced by one of the vulnerable social groups-pensioners living alone below the poverty line during the covid-19 period in four Georgia municipalities (Bolnisi, Dmanisi, Tianeti and Kaspi) in July-August 2020. The survey was conducted with 475 respondents (confidence level 95, interval 4), but 11 questionnaires were discarded due to technical deficiencies. The analysis was performed on 464 data. The study used available sampling where gender (strata) representation was maintained. 78.6% were female and 21.14% male. Overall, the elderly is a fairly vulnerable group in municipalities and across the country. The biggest problem during the pandemic period was a lack of financial resources. The study participants' primary income source is social assistance and various pensions; Thus, the elderly people are financially dependent on state aid. The elderly have limited social relationships; They rarely interact with neighbors, much less with relatives, and even less with friends. The elderly rarely go to the city or village center either. Limited social networking and activities affect the mental health of the elderly. Such a situation is especially noteworthy in a pandemic. There is a positive correlation between limited access to technologies and lack of financial resources that plays a vital role in social relationships among the elderly; Those elderly who cannot afford access to computer/internet and telephone reported higher isolation levels. Keywords: social isolation, Covid-19, pensioners living alone, under poverty line

Factors Influencing Participation of Farmer in Contract Farming in Narsingdi District of Bangladesh

Aims: Contract farming (CF) has been used extensively to integrate agricultural value chain both in the developed and developing countries. Participation in CF is associated with increased farm productivity and farmer income. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to analyze socio-economic factors affecting farmer’s participation in contract farming. Study Design: The selected 15 socio-economic factors were used to determine the impact on farmer’s participation in contract farming. Besides, the socio-demographic profile of the farmers in the study area was discussed. Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted upon contract and non-contract farmers of Shibpur upazila under Narsingdi district of Bangladesh. The duration of the study was from July, 2019 to December, 2020. Methodology: The study used nationally-representative data of smallholder vegetable farmers in Shibpur upazila of Narsingdi district. The data were collected from 75 contract farmer and 125 non-contract farmer of Shibpur upazila. Binary logistic regression was used to analyze fifteen factors that potentially affected farmers’ decision to participate in CF and descriptive statistics were used to analyze the socio-demographic profile of the farmer. Results: The study found that farmers education, wife’s occupation, family size, labor, fertilizer use, training, savings and income were the significant factors in the model and farmers occupation, other family member's occupation, income source, land type, size of land, experience and storage place were non-significant predictors using P<0.01 and P<0.05 threshold. Conclusion: Farmer’s education, female head's occupation, family size, land type, size of land holdings, labor use, type of fertilizers being used, training or technical knowledge and average monthly income of the respondents had a positive influence on farmer’s decision.

Factors Related To The Loneliness Of Older Women With Hypertension In Tehran

Older women have longevity and face with common chronic diseases such as hypertension longer than men. In addition the refusal to accept older women into the mainstream of society can affect the loneliness of older women particularly in developing countries such as Iran. This study was conducted to describe factors related to loneliness of older women with hypertension in Tehran. This descriptive, correlational study was conducted on a sample of 300 older women above age 60 in five regions of Tehran in 2020. A socio-demographic questionnaire and the Russell Loneliness Scale were used for data collection. Content validity and Cronbach’s alpha were used for evaluating the validity and reliability of questionnaires. 61% of older women were widowed and 37.3% lived alone with a mean age of 72.16(± 8.5) year. The mean score for loneliness was 66.26 (±13.44) on a 20 to 80-point scale. The scores of loneliness were influenced significantly by not having an income source, no living companion, chronic diseases, hospitalization in last year, family history of hypertension, and duration of hypertension. The best predictors of loneliness were hospitalization in last year, duration of hypertension, family history of hypertension, and chronic diseases. The findings of this study showed that loneliness is very common in older women with hypertension and is related to a number of factors. Monitoring modifiable factors such as hospitalization in the last year and non-modifiable factors such as duration of hypertension will help us to prevent or reduce loneliness in older women with hypertension.

Market Survey of Fresh and Marine Water Fishes and Socioeconomic Conditions of Fish Retailers in Three Markets of Chattagram City

The study was carried out to survey the fresh and marine water fishes sold out in three markets of Chattagram city and socioeconomic condition of the fish retailers. Overall 29 fresh water and 24 marine water fish species were found to be sold in the three markets. Prices of fishes were higher in Kazirdewri Bazar followed by Riazuddin Bazar and Bohaddarhat Bazar. Data of fish retailers were collected through questionnaires in terms of age, income source, living standards, family size, financial facilities, literacy and education. Sole income came from fish business for 97% of the fish retailers, whilst 3% of the retailers did other business as well. Among 45 retailers interviewed, 40% were below 45 years, 53% were between 45-55 years and remaining 7% were above 55 years age. For coping with the business, 15% of the retailers were self-sufficient, 53% took loan from bank, whilst 32% took loan from local money lenders. Of the fish retailers, 34% was illiterate and 66% was literate, where 36% received up to primary level, 16% secondary level, 10% S.S.C and 4% H.S.C levels of education. In comparison with their education status their children were more educated (93%). Although their income was low, they tried to make their children educated, which is a good sign for our education sector. Transport cost, unhygienic market place, lack of sanitary facilities, poor ice-supply, exploitation by the middlemen, lack of proper management, lack of capital and the political disturbances were the common constraints of fish marketing. Necessary measures were recommended to overcome these problems. Bangladesh J. Zool. 49 (2): 277-288, 2021

Transformation of labor participation on off-farm diversification: insights from rural households in Indonesia

This study analyses the rural transformation and the determinants of off-farm work diversification in Indonesia. Based on employment growth, the study explores the transformation of the labour sector to off-farm work as an alternative income source in mitigating the decreasing carrying capacity of the agricultural sector. Using a panel data set from rural households in Central Sulawesi, the study applied a random logit model to account for the determinants of off-farm participation and economic mobility over time. The results show that crop failure is a key driver of off-farm work diversification which is further compounded by several factors including asset holdings, the age and education level of the household head by 51.1%, 21.77%, 1.59% and 18.59% respectively. These results confirm that ‘these push’ factors are motivating the rural household on off-farm labour allocation, which indicate the implications of economic transformation through the diversification of income sources and labour allocation away from agriculture subsystems in rural areas in Indonesia.

An experimental look at trust, bargaining, and public goods in fishing communities

Pro-social behavior is crucial to the sustainable governance of common-pool resources such as fisheries. Here, we investigate how key socioeconomic characteristics influence fishers’ pro-social and bargaining behavior in three types of experimental economic games (public goods, trust, and trade) conducted in fishing associations in Chile. Our games revealed high levels of cooperation in the public goods game, a high degree of trust, and that sellers rather than buyers had more bargaining power, yet these results were strongly influenced by participants’ socioeconomic characteristics. Specifically, gender, having a secondary income source, age, and being the main income provider for the household all had a relationship to multiple game outcomes. Our results highlight that engagement in pro-social behaviors such as trust and cooperation can be influenced by people’s socioeconomic context.

Waste Pickers and Their Practices of Insurgency and Environmental Stewardship

Informed by different grassroots learning and educational practices engaged in waste management, and drawing from the concepts of insurgent citizenship and environmental stewardship, we examine the role of waste picker organizations and movements in creating new pathways towards more sustainable environmental waste governance. Two case studies (Argentina and Brazil) demonstrate how waste pickers inform and educate the general public and raise the awareness of socio-environmental questions related to waste management. Different educational practices are used as strategies to confront citizens with their waste: to see waste as a consumption problem, resource, and income source. Our paper draws on grassroots learning (social movement learning and insurgent learning) and education (stewardship) aimed at the transformation of waste practices. We argue that waste pickers play an important role in knowledge production promoting recycling, in landfilling less and recovering more resources. We conclude that waste pickers act as insurgent citizens and also are environmental stewards.

Impacts of Payment for Forest Ecosystem Services in Protecting Forests in Dak Lak Province, Vietnam

Vietnam’s Payment for Forest Ecosystem Services (PFES) scheme has the goal of protecting remaining natural forests by providing financial support to people involved in forest protection. However, studying the case of Dak Lak province in the Central Highlands region of Vietnam shows that even after eight years of PFES implementation, achieving this goal remains a challenge. Although PFES does provide a stable income source and higher payments than state forest protection programs, enables the mobilization of more personnel resources for patrolling forest and relieves a great burden on the state budget in terms of investment in forest protection and development, forest cover in Dak Lak province is still decreasing, mainly due to conversion for other land uses, especially commercial agricultural and industrial crops. These drivers are rooted in national socio-economic planning aimed at boosting economic growth and in local people’s need to sustain their livelihoods. In addition, our paper shows that illegal logging is still widespread in Dak Lak. Weak law enforcement in areas of forest managed by state forest authorities and state companies also contributes to deforestation. However, these drivers are neither fully recognized nor addressed, and instead, the blame for deforestation is laid on local communities. PFES alone cannot protect forests in Dak Lak province. It needs to be backed up by political commitment to address underlying drivers of deforestation, improved social programs to help local people diversify their income sources and clarity over land use.