AN ANALYSIS OF GROWTH AND PERFORMANCE OF KARNATAKA STATE COOPERATIVE AGRICULTURAL AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT BANK IN KARNATAKA

Primary Agricultural Cooperative and Rural Development Banks are playing an important role in meeting the credit requirements of the rural population. The main activity of the Bank is the dispensation of long-term credit for agricultural and rural development under schematic lending approved by NABARD Bank. The lending programs are for productive purposes like integrated loans for agriculture and allied agricultural purposes under major and medium-term projects. The present study was carried out with a broad objective to examine the performance of the Karnataka State Cooperative Agriculture and Rural Development Bank (KSCARD Bank). The study has made use of secondary data (2010- 11 to 2019-20) and the analysis is carried out by using the exponential growth model which has been used to analyze the performance of KSCARD Bank. Finally, it is concluded that the lending performance has very crucial role in Long Term Credit requirements, but the status of the recovery balance of KSCARD bank is very high when compared to the demand and collection of the recovery

Reverse Logistics: Its Concept and Drivers in New Zealand: Case Studies

<p>Companies have achieved cost-reduction, marketing advantage and attention for the natural environment as some of the benefits from their reverse logistics (RL) activities. Many companies have considered RL as a strategic goal because it is part of the supply chain that offers value. Such value relates to the ability to efficiently and effectively manage 'returns'. Returns in this thesis refer to used products, materials and packaging as well as waste. The RL concept has gained increased attention by companies and government. Consumers are starting to be aware of this as an indispensable service after sales where they can have their used products retrieved and properly disposed. Only a few companies in New Zealand have been leaders in the RL area since they implemented it in the 2000's without being any regulation. It was found in the study that more and more companies are looking at implementing RL, no matter which industry they are in or their position in the supply chain. However, little is known about what factors promote RL practices for companies in New Zealand. The broad objective of the study was to explore factors driving the implementation of RL for companies in New Zealand from an environmental perspective. There were seven main factors found in New Zealand: stakeholders, green sustainability, leadership, marketing, economic, regulations and information. Moreover it was aimed to achieve a clear understanding of the RL meaning as it was not commonly heard in New Zealand. Many companies in New Zealand refer to RL backward flow as a product stewardship scheme, extended producer responsibility (EPR) and resource efficiency. Ten companies from different industries and a Ministry participated in this research, including manufacturing and retailers. For some companies, RL implementation was highly mature than others who where in the initial stages of implementation. The method used to collect data was semi structured interviews. All interviews were transcribed by the researcher and analysed accordingly. Relevant themes were assigned along the transcripts to organise the study's content. Those themes included RL concept, main factors, resources, problems, benefits, strategies and greening perspective. Quotations from the interviewees were used in the findings to support information. The findings from the research suggest that companies in New Zealand and Europe have similar factors influencing RL implementation. Alvarez-Gil et al., (2007) found that in Spain, stakeholders, environmental issues, regulations and change in strategic focus (also known as leadership) have encouraged activities such as returns, refurbish and recycle. The only factor that was not found in other studies was information. Furthermore findings show that New Zealand as a whole is leader in pro environmental practices but still there is room to improve on it. Managerial implications are presented in the conclusions chapter. Those implications were deducted from the information obtained from findings based on the researcher's judgment. They are practical and logical so that any company or person wanting to implement RL can benefit by having some advice.</p>

Reverse Logistics: Its Concept and Drivers in New Zealand: Case Studies

<p>Companies have achieved cost-reduction, marketing advantage and attention for the natural environment as some of the benefits from their reverse logistics (RL) activities. Many companies have considered RL as a strategic goal because it is part of the supply chain that offers value. Such value relates to the ability to efficiently and effectively manage 'returns'. Returns in this thesis refer to used products, materials and packaging as well as waste. The RL concept has gained increased attention by companies and government. Consumers are starting to be aware of this as an indispensable service after sales where they can have their used products retrieved and properly disposed. Only a few companies in New Zealand have been leaders in the RL area since they implemented it in the 2000's without being any regulation. It was found in the study that more and more companies are looking at implementing RL, no matter which industry they are in or their position in the supply chain. However, little is known about what factors promote RL practices for companies in New Zealand. The broad objective of the study was to explore factors driving the implementation of RL for companies in New Zealand from an environmental perspective. There were seven main factors found in New Zealand: stakeholders, green sustainability, leadership, marketing, economic, regulations and information. Moreover it was aimed to achieve a clear understanding of the RL meaning as it was not commonly heard in New Zealand. Many companies in New Zealand refer to RL backward flow as a product stewardship scheme, extended producer responsibility (EPR) and resource efficiency. Ten companies from different industries and a Ministry participated in this research, including manufacturing and retailers. For some companies, RL implementation was highly mature than others who where in the initial stages of implementation. The method used to collect data was semi structured interviews. All interviews were transcribed by the researcher and analysed accordingly. Relevant themes were assigned along the transcripts to organise the study's content. Those themes included RL concept, main factors, resources, problems, benefits, strategies and greening perspective. Quotations from the interviewees were used in the findings to support information. The findings from the research suggest that companies in New Zealand and Europe have similar factors influencing RL implementation. Alvarez-Gil et al., (2007) found that in Spain, stakeholders, environmental issues, regulations and change in strategic focus (also known as leadership) have encouraged activities such as returns, refurbish and recycle. The only factor that was not found in other studies was information. Furthermore findings show that New Zealand as a whole is leader in pro environmental practices but still there is room to improve on it. Managerial implications are presented in the conclusions chapter. Those implications were deducted from the information obtained from findings based on the researcher's judgment. They are practical and logical so that any company or person wanting to implement RL can benefit by having some advice.</p>

Utilization of traditional medicine in the treatment of ailments among aged people in Ughelli community of Delta State

Traditional, complementary and alternative medicine (TCAM) refers to a set of healthcare practices (indigenous or imported) that are delivered outside of the mainstream (orthodox) healthcare system. The broad objective of this study was to investigate the use of traditional medicine in the treatment of ailments among aged people in Ughelli Community of Delta State, Nigeria. The study comprised of 241 subjects (121 males and 120 females) of about 40+ years who were resident in Ughelli community. First, a self-administered, open and close questionnaire was carefully structured, validated and issued to a cross section of selected subjects from within the study area. The instrument obtained the socio-demographic records of the subjects, alongside their knowledge on traditional medicine, attitudes towards, as well as practices towards traditional medicine. Information on the source, benefit, adverse effects and frequently used traditional medicines were also collected from participants, while leaving them with multiple responses in the open-ended questions. Following data collection, Results were subjected through the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS version 25), using the Chi-square test at a 95% confidence interval. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was also used to compare the differences in means between groups, while setting a p value less than 0.05 as statistically significant. From our observation, an average of 98 subjects strongly agreed to their knowledge of the effectiveness of traditional medicines in the treatments of ailments. This number was of significant increase in comparison with about 76 subjects who were not sure in their response on the effectiveness of traditional medicines over orthodox in the study area. In addition, this negates the total number of sampled respondents (15%) who posited to disagree in support of the non-effectiveness of traditional medicines over its effectiveness. Also, a great percentage (36%) responses agreed that drinking is a far effecting and popular route of administering traditional medicines than others, while about 27% strongly agreed to this; even though a greater proportion of responses were not sure of the topical routes of applying traditional medicines.

“Between a Rock and a Hard Place”: The Coronavirus, Livelihoods, and Socioeconomic Upheaval in Harare’s High-Density Areas of Zimbabwe

For Zimbabwe, the confirmed Covid-19 deaths for 2020 numbered in the hundreds, not thousands. Still, Covid-19 could not have come at a worse time owing to a myriad of crises the country was going through. As a result, the Covid-19 pandemic was much more than a public health crisis as it threatened already vulnerable people, putting lives and livelihoods at risk. This article focuses on the socioeconomic impact of the novel coronavirus pandemic, examining the social pattern of its unfolding and impact, analyzing the institutional and communal responses to the disease, and marking the effects of its aftermath in Harare’s high-density residential spaces. The research design captures a broad empirical picture of what was happening by specifically drawing on case study examples from Harare, the capital city of Zimbabwe. The broad objective of the research brings out how low-income households experienced the Covid-19 pandemic compared to higher-income households as informed by sex-based differences, access to healthcare, and food. It also captures the differential impacts and inequalities in socioeconomic outcomes, livelihoods, poverty reduction, and human development informing these household experiences. Beyond this, the study captures and highlights how the Covid-19 crisis led to widespread instances of food insecurity, economic anxiety, and general disenfranchisement from alternative sources of income that, in turn, created further social upheaval. The last strand of this article exposes the implications of some of the public health measures instituted in attempts to tackle Covid-19.

Assessment of Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana

In India, Rural Road Connectivity, has been appreciated as a key component of Rural Development, which promotes access to economic and social services and generates increased agricultural incomes as well as strengthens rural livelihoods. In this context, Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY), was launched in December, 2000 as a special intervention of the Government of India with the broad objective of ensuring sustainable poverty reduction. The scheme aims to provide good quality all-weather single connectivity to every eligible habitation. Rural roads are a state subject under the Constitution and as such are the basic responsibility of the states. However under the PMGSY, the construction of good quality and well-engineered roads are fully funded by the Government of India. Maintenance of these roads is the responsibility of the states. The year 2013 saw the launch of PMGSY-II with the objectives of consolidating the existing rural road network and upgrading existing rural roads that provide connectivity to rural growth centres. PMGSY-II envisages sharing of construction costs between the Centre and the states with maintenance costs continuing to be funded fully by the states.

STRATEGIC THINKING AND COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE OF SMALL AND MEDIUM SCALE ENTERPRISES (SME’s) IN SOUTHEAST NIGERIA

The broad objective of the study was to ascertain the nature of relationship existing between Strategic Thinking and the Competitive Advantage of SMEs in South-East Nigeria. The study deployed survey research design, with a population of three hundred and eleven (311) selected SMEs in Anambra and Abia State of southeast Nigeria, and a sample size of 172 arrived at using Krejcie and Morgan (1970) formula. Pearson’s Product Moment Correlation Coefficient was used to analyze the data, and hypothesis was tested at 5% level of significance. The findings revealed that a statistically significant relationship exists between Innovative Thinking and Value Creation of SMEs in South-East Nigeria (r = .972, p-value < 0.05). Sequel to this, it was concluded that the continuous existence of firms in a changing business environment require more than having resources of whatever kind; it transcends owning finance, equipment or even personnel. It was recommended among other things that owners of SMEs need to give other people, like family members and employees the opportunity to contribute to the innovative processes of their organization, as it will help them to create more value for their customers. Keywords: Strategic Thinking, Competitive Advantage, SME’s, Innovative Thinking and Value Creation.

Developing a Nature Recovery Network using systematic conservation planning

Conservation area networks in most countries are fragmented and inadequate. To tackle this in England, government policies are encouraging stakeholders to create local-level Nature Recovery Networks. Here we describe work led by a wildlife organisation that used the systematic conservation planning approach to identify a Nature Recovery Network for three English counties and select focal areas within it where they will focus their work. The network was based on identifying core zones to maintain current biodiversity and recovery zones for habitat restoration, meeting area-based targets for 50 priority habitat, landscape, landcover and ecosystem service types. It included the existing designated sites for conservation, which cover 6.05% of the study site, and identified an additional 11.6% of land as core zones and 18% as recovery zones, reflecting the organisation’s broad objective of conserving and connecting 30% of England by 2030. We found that systematic conservation planning worked well in this context, identifying a connected, adequate, representative and efficient network and producing transparent and repeatable results. The analysis also highlighted the pressing need for government agencies to provide national-level guidance and datasets for setting targets and including species data in spatial planning, creating a national framework to inform local action.

The Effect of Globalization on Ethiopian Modern Literature

This article is an attempt to instigate (re instigate) scholarly discussion on how globalization affects Ethiopian modern literature in the way it is written, read and studied today. In the course of achieving this broad objective, the paper attempted to disclose main philosophical and literary issues that should characterize modern Ethiopian literature. Data were collected through document analysis and analyzed in a historical analysis method. The finding indicated that globalization has been affecting the aesthetic as well as thematic features of modern Ethiopian literature both positively and negatively since its emergence. In the early periods of its development, globalization was an opportunity for modern Ethiopian literature, for it enables writers to adapt western styles of storytelling, whereas it has become a trait for it starting from the third phase of its historical development, which is well-known as post-revolution period. This dynamic effect of globalization does not only affect literary characteristics of modern Ethiopian literature but also has a significant effect on defining it. Based on the discussions held in the analysis, this study, therefore, attempts to conclude by vigilantly forwarding the possible Ethiopian definition for Ethiopian literature.

Supply chain management and performance of brewing firms in South-South, Nigeria

The broad objective of this paper is to determine the nature of relationship that exists between supply chain management and performance of brewing firms in South-South, Nigeria. Specifically, this study seeks to ascertain the extent of relationship between agile supply chain and organizational innovation. The study was fastened on Ludwig von Bertalanffy systems theory of 1950s. Survey research design was adopted for the study, a total population of two hundred and forty-eight (248) was used for the study. Census sampling method was used for the study because the population is a manageable size. The data collection tool employed by the researcher was the questionnaire, while the analysis of the data was done using the linear regression analysis. Results obtained from the test of hypothesis revealed that a strong significant positive relationship exists between agile supply chain and organizational innovation (F =6755.312; R-squared = 0.853; P <.05). Based on the findings, the study concluded that there exists a strong significant positive relationship between supply chain management and performance of brewing firms in South-South, Nigeria. Base on that, the study recommended an enactment and implementation of an agile supply chain strategy by the production department of the focused brewing firms as it could impact organizational innovation.