AgEcon Search: Research in Agricultural and Applied Economics collects
(58.734 recursos)
AgEcon Search: Research in Agricultural and Applied Economics collects, indexes, and electronically distributes full text copies of scholarly research in the broadly defined field of agricultural economics including sub disciplines such as agribusiness, food supply, natural resource economics, environmental economics, policy issues, agricultural trade, and economic development.
The majority of items in AgEcon Search are working papers, conference papers, and journal articles, although other types such as books chapters and government documents are included. AgEcon Search will serve as the permanent archive for this literature and encourages authors and organizations to use this electronic library as the storehouse for additional appropriate scholarly electronic works.
Volume 03, Number 2, September 2009
Mostrando recursos 1 - 5 de 5
1.
Economic impacts of soil fertility management research in West Africa - Akinola, Adebayo A.; Alene, Arega D.; Adeyemo, Remi; Sanogo, Diakalia; Olanrewaju, Adetunji S.
This paper assesses the potential economic impacts of balanced nutrient management systems
technology options: BNMS-manure, which combines inorganic fertilizer and organic manure,
and BNMS-rotation, which is maize–soybean rotation, in maize-based systems in the northern
Guinea savanna areas of Nigeria, Ghana, Togo and Benin. The economic surplus analysis
suggested that BNMS-manure research and extension could achieve returns ranging from 17 to
25% and a maximum adoption of 24 to 48%, for the conservative and base scenario respectively;
and that BNMS-rotation research and extension could achieve returns ranging from 35 to 43%
and a maximum adoption of 20 to 40%, for the conservative and base scenario respectively. Our
results were...
(17) - 15-jul-2011
2.
Labor markets and labor allocative efficiency among farm households in western Kenya - Kamau, Mercy W.; Burger, Kees; Giller, Ken E.; Kuyvenhoven, Arie
This paper evaluates how efficiently farm households allocate labor between farm and off-farm activities. It estimates farm and off-farm labor supply functions to determine the factors
that influence labor allocation. Both the shadow wage and the off-farm wage rate are included
as regressors in the supply functions. The study reveals that, on average, farm households are
inefficient, but when linked to labor markets their productivity and internal efficiency
increase. The decision to sell labor is influenced by location, and off-farm employment is
difficult to find, particularly for the better educated. Interventions should aim to increase
opportunities for off-farm employment for persons with skills or with higher...
(15) - 15-jul-2011
3.
Production structure and derived demand for factor inputs in smallholder dairying in Kenya - Kavoi, Mutuku Muendo; Hoag, Dana L.; Pritchett, James G.
This study examined the production structure of smallholder dairy farms in Kenya’s
marginal zones, using duality theory in production and costs. The restricted translog cost
function was used to derive a system of six input share equations, which were estimated
simultaneously with the cost equation by the iterative Zellner procedure. The Morishima
elasticities of inputs and the price elasticities of factor demands were computed, and
economies of scale were determined. The results indicated that the production structure is a
fairly well integrated system of activities, despite scale diseconomies. The Morishima
elasticities indicated that factor inputs are substitutable. For example, as prices of formal
feeds remain relatively high, informal...
(22) - 15-jul-2011
4.
The efficiency of smallholder agriculture in Malawi - Tchale, Hardwick
This paper analyses Malawi’s smallholder agricultural efficiency, using a nationally
representative sample survey of rural households undertaken by the National Statistical
Office in 2004/2005. It aims to inform agricultural policy about the level and key
determinants of inefficiency in the smallholder farming system that need to be addressed
to raise productivity. The study found that the factors that improve efficiency are higher
output prices relative to input costs, favorable commodity and input markets, farmers’
organizations, extension, productive assets, and the quantity and productivity of
household labor. The wide range of inefficient practices suggests there is considerable
scope for improving efficiency in the smallholder sub-sector. The paper concludes with...
(21) - 15-jul-2011
5.
Farmers’ health and agricultural productivity in rural Ethiopia - Ulimwengu, John M.
This paper estimates a stochastic production using household survey data to analyze the
relationship between farmers’ health impediments and agricultural production efficiency
in Ethiopia. The results show that healthy farmers produce more per unit of inputs, earn
more income and supply more labor than farmers affected by sickness. The model results
show that production inefficiency increases significantly with the number of days lost to
sickness. This finding suggests that investing in the health sector in rural areas will not
only improve farmers’ agricultural performance but also increase their income.
Policymakers should therefore devise strategies that will maximize the contribution of
health investments to agricultural productivity and the overall...
(18) - 15-jul-2011
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