Combined simulation and optimization framework for irrigation scheduling in agriculture fields

In the context of growing evidence of climate change and the fact that agriculture uses about 70% of all the water available for irrigation in semi-arid areas, there is an increasing probability of water scarcity scenarios. Water irrigation optimization is, therefore, one of the main goals of researchers and stakeholders involved in irrigated agriculture. Irrigation scheduling is often conducted based on simple water requirement calculations without accounting for the strong link between water movement in the root zone, soil–water–crop productivity and irrigation expenses. In this work, we present a combined simulation and optimization framework aimed at estimating irrigation parameters that maximize the crop net margin. The simulation component couples the movement of water in a variably saturated porous media driven by irrigation with crop water uptake and crop yields. The optimization component assures maximum gain with minimum cost of crop production during a growing season. An application of the method demonstrates that an optimal solution exists and substantially differs from traditional methods. In contrast to traditional methods, results show that the optimal irrigation scheduling solution prevents water logging and provides a more constant value of water content during the entire growing season within the root zone. As a result, in this case, the crop net margin cost exhibits a substantial increase with respect to the traditional method. The optimal irrigation scheduling solution is also shown to strongly depend on the particular soil hydraulic properties of the given field site.

Economic Study of Banana Marketing in District Fatehpur, Uttar Pradesh

Survey work was carried out with the sample of 50 farmers in five different villages of the Malwan block of Fatehpur district of U.P. were selected purposively and randomly keeping because of having the highest area under Banana cultivation in district Fatehpur and based on the increasing trend in the area under production and production of banana. Sample villages were taken, keeping in view that they fall in the banana-rich area, and also the samples resemble the entire population. Data analysis reveals that the producer’s share in consumer’s rupee is 35.52 percent and wholesaler’s net margin 18.71 percent, and retailer’s net margin 26.86 percent of the total marketing margin of banana in channel I. The channel II contractor’s net margin is found 3.6 percent, wholesaler’s net margin, 17.99 percent, and the retailer’s net margin was 25.95 percent of the total marketing margin of banana in the study area.

Choice of marketing outlets among smallholder cowpea farmers in Ghana

PurposeTo help address the problem of imperfections in the performance of cowpea markets in Ghana, the study sought to understand the costs and benefits associated with different market outlets and factors influencing farmers' choice of these outlets.Design/methodology/approachA two-stage sampling technique was adopted to collect data from 300 cowpea farmers through purposive sampling of communities and simple random selection at the farmer level in Ejura Sekyedumasi municipality of Ghana. Analytical methods including profitability measures such as gross margin, net margin, return on investment and multinomial logistic (MNL) regression model were used to analyze the data.FindingsThe results showed that production and marketing of cowpea is profitable with farmers who trade in wholesale markets recording the highest gross margin (Gh₵1245.85 (US$227.76)), net margin (Gh₵1029.37 (US$188.18)) and return on investment (ROI) of 63%. Important nonfarm-related factors including household size, farming experience, membership of farmer-based organization and extension contact were found to significantly influence the choice of marketing outlets in the study area. In addition, market attributes such as produce selling price, volume of cowpea sold and post-harvest value addition were also key determinants of cowpea market outlet choices.Practical implicationsThe results of the study are vital to agricultural administrators in devising efficient cowpea market systems for smallholder farmers in Ghana. Likewise, the study provides important information to smallholder farmers in the choice of market outlets that maximizes their returns.Originality/valuePrevious studies on marketing of cowpea in Ghana emphasized on direct retail or consumer marketing to maximize farmers' returns. Meanwhile, there are claims to suggest that the sale of cowpea grains in the country are carried out through varied market outlets which come with differing costs and benefits implications for smallholder farmers. Therefore, the present study comprehensively compared associated costs and benefits in all available cowpea market outlets so as to settle the confusion surrounding most profitable and efficient marketing channel for smallholder farmers toward poverty reduction.

Innovation and Sustainability Management as a Key Factor in Global Purpose-Driven Micro, Small, and Medium-Sized Bogotanas Companies

This work aims to present the results of the application of the RISE model (innovation and business sustainability route) in 25 global purpose-driven micro, small, and medium-sized Bogotanas companies, beneficiaries of the Innova District project and its impact on the net margin. The working hypothesis is the management of innovation and sustainability has some impact on the net margin of the global purpose-driven micro, small, and medium-sized Bogotanas enterprises. It is a preliminary analysis, the findings and conclusions that were made based on the description of results and development of polynomial regressions only generated conclusive elements for the population of companies analyzed and the characteristics of the research proposed. However, the proposed hypothesis was verified for a group of companies, while, for a second group, the correlation between innovation and sustainability and the net margin was relatively low or almost nil.

Évaluation de la rentabilité et de la productivité totale des facteurs de production des exploitations céréalières : cas de la culture du blé dur au Nord de la Tunisie

The main objectives of this paper are to assess the production costs and to measure the total factor productivity (TFP) of durum wheat production for a sample of cereal farmers in the North of Tunisia. Our hypothesis is that improvement of these indicators can reduce the production costs and consequently the improvement of producers' incomes. To test this hypothesis, a survey was carried out with 232 cereal farms in the subhumid region in the North of Tunisia cultivating durum wheat. The reconstituted costs approach was used to estimate the production costs. The results obtained show that total costs, production costs and net margins of durum wheat vary according to the farm size. About 67% of surveyed farms make a positive net margin. The empirical results of the regression reveal that productivity is negatively affected by the farm size, the new varieties demanding water and the investments made by the farm while it is affected positively by crop rotations

Transfer Pricing: Purpose of Determination and Factors Affecting Transfer Pricing Determination

The study discusses several things, including the factors that influence the determination of transfer pricing and the methods used in determining transfer pricing. Factors that influence transfer pricing include tax considerations, dance calculations, competitive factors, environmental risk, calculation of performance appraisals and accounting contributions. The method used in determining transfer pricing. Methods in determining transfer pricing include traditional methods, traditional methods consist of several ways including the comparable uncontrolled price method, cost-plus method, and resale price method. Transactional profit method: split profit and transactional net margin method.

Analisis Kelayakan Finansial Selada Keriting dengan Sistem Hidroponik (Studi Kasus PT Cifa Indonesia)

Diversifikasi produksi pertanian sebagai salah satu cara untuk meningkatkan perekonomian pertanian, salah satu caranya melalui penganekaragaman produksi komoditas pertanian. Selada keriting dan Seledri merupakan suatu komoditi sayuran yang memiliki prospek dan nilai komersial yang cukup baik, untuk menganalisis peningkatan pendapatan dan kelayakan usaha selada keriting dan seledri hidroponik dilakukan dengan menganalisis data-data yang didapat secara praktek kerja lapangan di Pt. Cifa Indonesia Kabupaten Bogor yang dilaksanakan pada bulan Februari sampai April 2020 untuk mengumpulkan data primer yang meliputi pengamatan, kuisioner , dan wawancara serta pengumpulan data sekunder meliputi data pembiayaan usahatani dan data-data yang berhubungan dengan perusahaan, bertujuan untuk menganalisis peningkatan pendapatan dan kelayakan usaha pada strategi diversifikasi selada keriting dan seledri hidroponik. Analisis data dilakukan menggunakan alat analisis : BEP, B/C Ratio, R/C Ratio, ROI, PBP, IRR, NPV. Total Net Margin yang didapat dari diversifikasi selada keriting dan seledri selama satu tahun adalah Rp55.478.135 dengan nilai Net Benefit Cost 4,4, nilai Net Revenue Cost 2,4 , nilai Return Of Investement 12%, nilai Pay Back Periode 5,5 bulan, nilai Internal Rate Return 55%, dan nilai Net Present Value Rp601.561.199 selama 7 tahun, ini menunjukan bahwa usaha diversifikasi ini layak dikembangkan. Analisis SWOT yang menyatakan usaha diversifikasi produk ini layak dikembangkan, ini ditunjukan berdasarkan strategi strength-opportunities yaitu kekuatan dengan memanfaatkan peluang dengan memaksimalkan hasil produksi selada keriting dan seledri hidroponik yang sesuai dengan permintaan konsumen dan tren pasar sehingga tercipta loyalitas konsumen baik terhadap produk maupun perusahaan.

PENINGKATAN PELUANG BISNIS STRATEGIS PADA PEMASANGAN SPM DAN JALUR PIPA BAWAH LAUT PROYEK SUPPLY AVTUR KE BANDARA SOEKARNO HATTA DARI REFINERY UNIT-VI BALONGAN

Increasing business opportunities from an economic aspect that includes the financial performance of the Refinery Unit VI is very important to manage. Good financial performance will support the company's business continuity, and also have a positive impact on stakeholders. Refinery Unit VI's commitment to improving financial performance is very high, and strives to achieve predetermined key performance indicators (KPI). Refinery Unit VI measures the achievement of KPI regularly every quarter as part of the evaluation. Targets related to current economic performance are the achievement of KPIs on Refinery Gross Margin and Net Margin. The person in charge for recording and reporting financial performance is under the Financial Function. Refinery Unit VI uses Internal Control over Financial Reporting (ICoFR) to control financial reports, where each function that has the authorization uploads it on the ICoFR web system. In 2017, Refinery Unit VI succeeded in 100% compliance with the IcoFR. The realization of the Refinery Unit VI financial performance from 2015 was always above the target despite fluctuations in product prices. This is a good thing, supported by the achievement of the increasing Gross Refinery Margin and Net Margin from 2015–2017. Refinery Unit VI has continuously succeeded in improving financial performance and achieving the highest Gross Refinery Margin among all Refinery Units owned by PT Pertamina (Persero). The installation of SPM and subsea pipelines is the target of increasing the Refinery Unit VI development program.

Economic indicators of nitrogen fertilization in sunflower cultivars

Sunflower is one of the most important oilseeds in the world. However, cultivation in semi-arid regions requires analysis of production costs and profitability, ensuring effective decision-making, focused on farming procedures and techniques. In two agricultural crops, 2016 and 2017, experiments were conducted to evaluate the economic indicators of sunflower cultivars (‘Aguará 06’, ‘Altis 99’, ‘Multissol’ and ‘BRS 122’) submitted to nitrogen (N) doses (0; 30; 60; 90 and 120 kg ha-1) via fertirrigation under semi-arid conditions. The net margin corresponded to the increase of N doses, reaching a maximum net margin in the 2016 harvest of R$ 366.89 ha-1 at the dose of 81 kg ha-1 of N for ‘BRS 122’; R$ 577.41 ha-1 with 118 kg ha-1 of N for ‘Multissol’; and for ‘Aguará 06’ (R$ 2,124.00 ha-1) and ‘Altis 99’ (R$ 976.66 ha-1) at the dose of 120 kg ha-1 of N. In the 2017 harvest, ‘BRS 122’ obtained R$ 190.90 ha-1 in the dose of 83 kg ha-1 of N and ‘Multissol’ reached R$ 657.50 in the dose of 85 kg ha-1 of N; the cultivars ‘Aguará 06’ (R$ 1,078.00 ha-1) and ‘Altis 99’ (R$ 957.14 ha-1) in the dose of 120 kg ha-1 of N. The rate of return and the profitability index were positive for all cultivars in both crops.