Horizontal Integration of Farmers on the Example of Agricultural Producer Groups in North-East Poland

Increasing horizontal integration in agriculture, by creating groups of agricultural producers, may accelerate the modernization of Polish agriculture and increase its competitiveness. The aim of the research was to find out about the state and conditions affecting the functioning of agricultural producer groups in North-East Poland in the years 2000-2021. As part of the research, data on the characteristics of the groups were analyzed, i.e. their specializations, scope of activities, personal composition, and legal forms. Moreover, the amount of financial aid obtained from RDP was defined. The article uses information contained in legal acts, literature on the subject, as well as secondary data from the ARMA. Based on the research, a short duration of the created groups has been noticed. Out of 170 entities created, 24 of them were active at the time of the study, with a total of 3,142 members. Most of them collaborated in dairy groups in the Podlaskie Voivodeship (1940).

Increasing efficiency of honey extracting through innovative technology as exemplified by a small agricultural producer

Honey and wax production in Russia is considered a traditional branch of agriculture, which enables to produce valuable biologically active food for the population and raw materials for the industry. Many sources speak for a rapid annual decrease in the number of bees. One of the factors in reducing the number of bees is a somewhat tough way of collecting honey, in which a small percentage of the hive dies. The paper discusses the possibility of using innovative Australian FlowHive technology designed to allow honey to flow down freely. With this technology, honey is extracted without disturbing the bees as in normal extraction. The pivotal technological secret of a FlowHive beehive is durable plastic mobile honeycombs. By turning a special knob, the vertical gaps are offset by one half of a cell, allowing the honey to flow down through the cells into a channel at the base of each frame and out into a collection vessel. The paper presents a set of data for calculating the effectiveness of innovative beehives in small agricultural production. It establishes that, once applied, innovative hives not only increase profits, but also decrease costs for basic production.

The impact of agricultural producer price on sustainable food security in Africa – a system GMM approach

Purpose. Given the efforts towards achieving the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for food security by 2030, this study investigates the moderating impact of public investments in agriculture on the agricultural producer price – agricultural sustainability nexus in 40 African countries covering the period from 2000 till 2019. Methodology / approach. In this study we used multiple regression techniques to explore a dynamic panel data model based on the one-step system Generalized Method of Moments (System-GMM). Proposed by Arellano and Bover and further developed by Blundell and Bond, the System-GMM estimator was preferred over other techniques because of its efficiency in eliminating the simultaneous biases that are associated with regression model estimations. Specifically, the one-step System-GMM was preferred over the two-step System-GMM for our estimation due to the efficiency of its optimal weighting matrices. Results. The study discovered that although the interactions between public investments on agriculture and agricultural sustainability amplify the positive impact of a set of explanatory variables on agricultural producer price to an extent, the impact on food security in Africa is insignificant. The study also discovers that the net effects of a set of interactive terms on producer price in the developing countries in Africa are slightly lower than in the least-developed countries. The weighted average food security index for the period under study was abysmal 44.54%, indicating moderate food insecurity in Africa. Originality / scientific novelty. In the context of food security literature in Africa, this study is the first attempt at exploring the agricultural producer price – agricultural sustainability nexus based on the moderating impact of public investments on agriculture with the Global Food Security Index (GFSI), a composite food security model developed by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU). Among our study proposals it is a call for a detour from the current agricultural investment and producer price policies especially the current ‘one-size-fits-all’ regional frameworks which have proved to be less progressive and less transformative to more robust country/sector-specific frameworks that have the potential to better the fortunes of agriculture and improve food security. Practical value / implications. The current state of agricultural producer price in most African countries is ample proof that the role and importance of the producer price have been gravely diminished. Despite governments’ efforts towards improving food security, the evidence as presented in this study supports the fact that those efforts have not achieved much success. The study, which contains a number of recommendations, highlights agricultural producer price as a potentially important driver of agricultural sustainability and sustainable food security in Africa.

Modelo de estrategias en intervención para producir la inteligencia colectiva en los productores campesinos del departamento de Cundinamarca

El propósito de este artículo es desarrollar una propuesta de intervención para mejorar la inteligencia colectiva en los campesinos pertenecientes a la Asociación de Productores Campesinos Agropecuarios. La base del documento será la revisión de temas como la inteligencia colectiva y la economía del comportamiento, y cómo estos enfoques pueden aportar diferentes elementos para mejorar la productividad en el grupo de productores. Lo que se busca es, para la inteligencia colectiva, comprender cuáles son esos factores que impactan las relaciones que se establecen entre los individuos, las interacciones necesarias para generar comportamientos colectivos; según informes, existe un escaso nivel cultural en los campesinos de conocimiento de procesos colectivos. AbstractThe purpose of this article is the development of an intervention proposal to enhance the collective intelligence of farmers who are members of the Farmer’s Agricultural Producer Association (Asociación de Productores Campesinos Agropecuarios). This document will serve as a basis for the review of collective intelligence as well as economical behavior and how these approaches may provide different elements leading to an increase in production of this group of farmers. Regarding collective intelligence, we seek to understand which factors impact interpersonal relationships, the interaction necessary for building collective behavior; according to reports, there exists low levels of cultural knowledge in collective processes by farmers.

Simulation of Sowing Precision in Laboratory Conditions

In agrotechnical practice, it was found that between qualitative indices, which express the sowing precision achieved by precision planters determined in the laboratory, and those determined under operating conditions, that there are certain differences, which are sometimes quite significant. The decrease in the value of the quality indices was manifested by the increase of the number of mistakes, either of the number of double planting holes (with at least two seeds), or of the number of missing planting holes. Both cases are unfavorable for the agricultural producer, generating production losses. This paper discusses the influence of the degree of soil grinding on sowing precision in operating conditions, by determining the spectrum of the vibrations induced in the mechanical structure of row units of a precision planter in contact with the soil of three different plots for three working speeds: 4, 6, and 8 km·h−1. Later, the vibrations were simulated under laboratory conditions, on the stand, by means of rubber hemispheres (with diameters between 30 and 100 mm, corresponding to soil fractions resulting from the determination of the degree of soil grinding) mounted on rubber bands, which actuated the seed meters, for testing under an accelerated regime, outside of the optimal agricultural periods (out of season: beginning mid-May until the end of March), in order to obtain the accuracy of the precision planters. It was found that the sowing precision determined in stationary conditions on the stand, and on a plot with an appropriate degree of seedbed preparation, decreased between 2.92% (at 4 km·h−1) and 6.67% (at 8 km·h−1). The main objective of the tests was to reduce labor costs, which was necessary for the staff involved for determining the qualitative indices of work in real field operating conditions, eliminating fuel consumption, while reducing the duration of testing dependent on meteorological factors (season, temperatures, and precipitation, etc.).

Integration into agricultural producer groups as a manifestation of rural entrepreneurship

Entrepreneurship is an integral part of rural development contributing to activation, competitiveness and innovation. One manifestation of rural entrepreneurship is farmers associating into producer groups. The article aims to analyse the determinants of rural entrepreneurship and the functioning of integration processes in agriculture based on Poland’s example of agricultural producer groups. The paper presents the theoretical basis for developing collective entrepreneurship in rural areas and agricultural producer groups’ current state. The goals and motives for the operation of such producer groups and their benefits are presented. Their formation is the result of integration processes taking place in agriculture, both horizontal and vertical. This study is theoretical, based on the literature and the analysis of legal structures and desk research with secondary sources of information from the Agency for the Restructuring andModernization of Agriculture. The issues discussed constitute a starting point for further research.

DIGITAL MARKETING OF AGRI-FOOD PRODUCTS IN SUPPORT OF RURAL TOURISM DURING THE COVID PANDEMIC

The paper explores the possibilities of restructuring the activities of rural tourism in Serbia, during the COVID pandemic. Having in mind the shock experienced by the tourism sector, as well as the area of rural tourism, digital marketing of agricultural and food products is imposed as one of the solutions. Namely, through online platforms and modern logistics, producers can consolidate business revenues during a pandemic, when rural tourism is almost impossible. The move can be seen as a short-term business restructuring caused by a pandemic. In that way, with the measures of state support, the area of rural tourism in Serbia can be preserved, in order to be ready for the period after the pandemic. Digitization enables small agricultural producers to survive and strengthen their market position in conditions of intensified global competition. This is achieved through digital cooperation, which can play the role of one large agricultural producer, thus achieving the effects of economies of scale, size and breadth.

ANALYSIS OF THE EFFICIENCY OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF DIGITIZATION PROJECTS IN AGRICULTURAL ENTERPRISES

The article analyzes the effectiveness of the implementation of digitization projects in agricultural enterprises. The calculations take into account the uneven financial and investment opportunities of agricultural enterprises, which have provided for the differentiation of investment options depending on the funds available to the producer, as well as the actual land bank of the agricultural producer, which has affected the intensity of digitization tools. The most attractive digitization tools for agricultural enterprises in terms of implementation efficiency have been identified, among which are allocated: autopilot and course index with its subsequent installation on agricultural machinery; the system of automatic shutdown of sections of a sprayer; the system of automatic shutdown of sections of a seeder; the system of liquid fertilizer application during sowing; differentiated method of fertilization; field condition monitoring (using drones, UAVs); alternative application of fertilizers and PPE (using drones). Indicators of efficiency of realization of packages of investment projects at the land bank in 500 hectares and 5000 hectares for various options of investment (the sum of investments of 150-200 thousand UAH; 200-300 thousand UAH; 300-500 thousand UAH), and also indicators of efficiency of packages of investment projects connected with preparation and realization of production within five years of realization at the land bank of 5000 hectares for various investment options within the above amounts of investment are calculated. The most attractive sets of investment projects in digitization tools have been presented, which can be chosen by agricultural enterprises, trying to maximize the level of NPV received within certain investment opportunities. It has been determined that having different amounts of initial investment, agricultural enterprises of different sizes (with a land bank of 500 ha or 5000 ha) have a fairly wide choice of options for investing in almost every monetary segment. The expediency of investing funds of agricultural enterprises in digitization tools has been proved, which confirms the general trend towards digitization of agricultural enterprises and has a solid economic basis.

Evaluation of producer inflation, subsidies and profitability of vegetables and grains in Sinaloa, 2018-2019

Objective: To evaluate producer inflation, equity in PROCAMPO subsidy distribution, as well as profitability of eight agricultural products in the state of Sinaloa, 2018-2019 cycle.Design/Methodology/Approach: First, inflation is estimated in the value of agricultural production, using the agricultural producer price index (INPP) base 2019. Second, the inequality in the allocation of PROCAMPO is calculated with Lorenz curves. Third, the internal rate of return (IRR) is estimated for the eight products and compared with the 28-day yield of the treasury certificates (CETES).Results: The current values generated show growth in cereals (corn, wheat), and vegetables (tomato, chili peppers), with downward inflationary gaps in the period 2000-2019. There is a concentration of the PROCAMPO allocation in producerswith high income deciles. The IRR is high in vegetables, and low in corn and beans.Study Limitations/Implications: This study does not specify the size of the productive unit and only the data is generalized. It does not address marketing channels and their destinations.Findings/Conclusions: The producer is assuming the inflationary increase. Income transfers via PROCAMPO areinequitable. The IRR in corn and beans is sometimes less profitable than CETES.