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Kaberia, Bonface Kangentu. "Comparative study of roles of knowledge repositories in farmer-to-farmer knowledge exchange among smallholder dairy goat farmers in Kenya." Thesis, University of Reading, 2008. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.494807.
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This study looks at the ongoing exchange of information among dairy goat keeping communities in Kenya. Its aim is to understand the mechanism of communications between farmers and to consider how this mechanism could be used to scale up development initiatives in order to create maximum impact among poor farmers. The field study was carried out in Meru Central and South districts in Kenya between September 2005-August 2006. Based on the research questions, it employed a combination of qualitative and quantitative methods (for purpose of triangulation) using Focus Group Discussions (n=16), structured questionnaire interviews (n=144) and Repertory Grid interviews (n=124) to obtain data on information exchange processes among rural dairy goat farmers. The study provides and tests a conceptual and methodological framework for eliciting and studying features of the ongoing information exchange. A similar framework can also be used in evaluating the effectiveness of farmer-to-farmer extension communications in rural development.
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Keeler, Rebecca L., Aaron Wachhaus, Bob Cunningham, Tom Barth, Richard Huff, and Michael Howell-Maroney. "David Farmer: Methodologist?" Digital Commons @ East Tennessee State University, 2014. https://dc.etsu.edu/etsu-works/651.
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Sorensen, Emily Allyson. "Modeling Whole Farm Systems to Enhance Beginning Small Farmer Success in Southwest Virginia." Thesis, Virginia Tech, 2016. http://hdl.handle.net/10919/72282.
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The number of very small farms (<10 acres) is increasing and beginning farmers (in practice for <10 years) are more likely to run them. Very small farms are typically complex systems in which the farmer manages both production of a diverse array of crops and marketing of crops directly to consumers and their failure rate in early years is high. This work seeks to increase the likelihood of success for beginning farmers by understanding these complex systems better. We collected qualitative and quantitative data from interviews with three successful beginning farm operations in Southwest Virginia covering practical and philosophical aspects of farm production, sales and management. We mapped social, environmental and economic aspects of farming systems and studied how farmers use resources (Community Capitals) and management to enhance their system's success, developing a broader definition of success that encompasses what farmers gain from farming beyond profitability. Using these maps, we created a system dynamics model of a small farm system in STELLA including unique components such as customer attraction and retention. Through model development, we learned that these successful farmers began their operations with experience and financial resources, and employed their skills, resourcefulness and cultural and social capital to charge prices for their products that could sustain their operations financially. Using our model, current and aspiring farmers, service providers, and small farm advocates will be able to simulate real or hypothetical farm systems to better understand what establishing a successful small farm might require and how to confront potential challenges.Master of Science
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Hudson, Michael David. "Farmer survivability in Virginia." Thesis, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 1988. http://hdl.handle.net/10919/80049.
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A study focusing on farm financial stress in Virginia was conducted to provide information to educators. The financial situation of Virginia farmers during the 1980's was reviewed. The years 1983, 1984, and 1985 were determined to be the time during the 1980s when farmers' financial situations were most severely stressed.
Attention was directed towards corn, soybean, and wheat farmers since this group was readily identifiable as being financially stressed. Fifteen personal interviews of farmers were conducted in seven counties where the majority of these crops are grown. For comparison purposes, part of the interviews were conducted with individuals who are still farming and part with individuals who were forced to exit farming due to financial adversity.
Comparing the information gathered from farmers in a favorable financial condition with the information gathered from those farmers in a vulnerable financial condition, some factors that helped farmers survive the agricultural depression of the 1980’s were discovered. Farmers in favorable financial condition are superior managers, operate timely businesses, borrow and spend conservatively, are more educated, have more years of farming experience, and use better financial and production recordkeeping practices. Access to marketing information is also important for farmer survivability. Producers in favorable financial condition own larger percentages of their operated land, and they utilize more family labor.Master of Science
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Daniels, Nelson T. "An evaluation of the small farmer outreach training and technical assistance program for farmers of color in Texas." Diss., Texas A&M University, 2005. http://hdl.handle.net/1969.1/4438.
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The purpose of this study was to examine the effectiveness of the small farmer outreach training and technical assistance programs as related to farmers of color. The items to be evaluated included financial considerations, educational effectiveness, access and acquisition of farm loans, participation in Extension sponsored events and involvement in community activities. The sample population for this study was small scale agricultural producers representing two ethnic groups, African Americans and Hispanics, located in Cameron, Hidalgo, Starr and Willacy counties and enrolled in the Small Farmer Outreach Training and Technical Assistance Program (N=68) between October 1, 2001, and September 30, 2004. Descriptive statistics were used for reporting personal characteristics of the participants, as well as to determine knowledge gained and effectiveness of the Small Farmer Outreach Training and Technical Assistance Program. Statistical Package for the Social Sciencesî (SPSS) was used to calculate frequencies, percentages and variability of the variables. The major findings of the study were as follows: 1. The Small Farmer Outreach Training and Technical Assistance Program is an effective educational program in teaching farm management techniques and assisting with the acquisition of financial resources. 2. Farm size was relatively small with over half of the farms being fewer than 50 acres. 3. The ethnic identity of participants was more likely to be Hispanic than African American. 4. Total household income for a majority of the participants was less than $50,000. 5. The majority of the participants were part-time farmers. 6. The majority of the participants had a farm plan. 7. A majority of the participants had at least a high school education. 8. Program participants were likely to be approved for a loan through the United States Department of Agriculture.
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Smith, Stephanie Mary. "Virginia Farmer Retirement and Transition Planning." Thesis, Virginia Tech, 2005. http://hdl.handle.net/10919/32500.
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This study focuses on determining how Virginia farmers are planning for farm retirement and succession and whether they will be financially prepared for their retirement years. The Virginia farming population is aging, life expectancy is increasing, and Social Security benefits are not a stable source of retirement income presenting challenges for Virginia farmers who are planning to either retire from the family farm or transition it to the next generation. In this study a 59-item survey was sent to 2000 randomly selected Farm Credit agricultural customers. Results from the survey were analyzed using chi-square tests and correlations to determine statistically significant relationships between the variables. The analysis indicates that Virginia farmers planning to retire from the farm face high levels of debt and plan to sell the farm operation. Virginia farmers planning to transition the farm are generating higher profits from the farm operation and their successor has been identified. The majority of Virginia farmers are financially prepared for retirement with Social Security support; however, without supplemental income from Social Security the majority of the Virginia farming population is not financially prepared for retirement. The results indicate necessary action from the private, academic, and public sectors. Financial professionals should offer retirement planning seminars, academia should continue to research the issues, and the government should consider developing a savings plans specifically for the agricultural community that offer tax advantages.Master of Science
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Mambo, Isaac Moya Cosby. "Supporting agricultural innovation : an analysis of farmer-to-farmer extension in Mbawa and Kaluluma extension planning areas, Malawi." Thesis, University of Reading, 2014. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.629093.
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Using the agricultural innovation systems (AIS) framework, this study analysed farmer-to-farmer (F-2-F) extension to understand how it is supporting and contributing to agricultural innovation, i.e., the generation, dissemination, and utilisation of innovations, among smallholder farmers in Mbawa and Kaluluma Extension Planning Areas, Malawi. The study investigated the extent and how farmer extensionists (FEs) are supporting and contributing to agricultural innovation; identified FEs' work performance assessment criteria; assessed effectiveness of FEs in reaching different groups of farmers; and the impact of F -2-F extension on smallholder farmers' livelihoods. Data were collected using questionnaire surveys from 774 and 179 randomly sampled farmers and FEs, respectively. Focus group discussions, key informant interviews, document analysis, and innovation histories were also used. Empirical findings show that FEs were largely supporting and contributing to dissemination of externally generated innovations; and generation and dissemination of locally generated innovations was limited. Using principal components analysis (PCA) to delineate better-off and poor farmers, findings show that, through group contact method, FEs were mostly working with wealthier follower farmers. Further analysis showed that, through individual contact method, FEs were accessible to all farmers regardless of their wealth, household headship, sex, and education status as they were able to consult FEs at their convenient time. Findings suggest that provision of non-monetary incentives to FEs, and addressing the constraints that FEs face in the course of their work can be key in incentivising FEs work. FEs were wealthier farmers than fellow farmers and largely selected by the community. Also, the present evidence suggest that F-2-F extension has contributed to improving smallholder farmers ' livelihoods by enhancing human, physical, financial, and social capital. The findings of this study offer guidance on the design and implementation of F-2-F extension approaches in Malawi and other developing country contexts. Lastly, the current findings point to the need for a government policy to harmonise the implementation modalities of F-2-F extension in Malawi.
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Mbwika, James M. "Kenya smallholder farmer education and farm productivity." Thesis, University of British Columbia, 1990. http://hdl.handle.net/2429/29578.
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This research was undertaken to study the effect of education on small farm revenues and profits in Kenya. Schooling (defined as the number of school standards completed by the farm operator) was used as the most important source of education. It was hypothesized that schooling has a positive effect on farm revenues and profits. The effect of other sources of information viz; extension contact, demonstration attendance and baraza attendance on farm revenues and profits were also investigated.
The research was done using regression analysis where these variables and other farm activity relevant variables were fitted in regression equations. The choice of these variables
were based on economic theory, Kenya small farm characteristics and the objective of the study. Several factors would qualify as supporting evidence for the argument that educated farmers are more productive. We expect educated farmers to be more informed in terms of use of new production technologies. Education as a source of human capital also enhances the productive abilities of human beings and also enables those who have invested in education to use their resources more efficiently as well as adjusting to new "ways of producing more efficiently".
In the current study we find that schooling of the farm operator is positively related to level of expenditure on farm purchased variable inputs. This indicates that education enhances adoption of new technologies and innovativeness. Further it was shown that farmers with more education earned more value added per acre from their farm business compared to their less educated counterparts. On the overall farm activity, farmers with eight or more standards of schooling earned upto 80.2% in value added per acre compared to those who had no schooling.
The regression estimates were done on a stepwise procedure where farm specific enterprises
were estimated separately and then aggregated and estimated as one farm sector. Thus a crop equation, a livestock equation and a total farm output equation were estimated.
This model was then developed into a variable profit function. A simple linear function procedure was used in the regression analysis.
In all the estimated value added equations the schooling coefficient was positive and significant at 5% level two tail t-test. As we move from farm specific activities to a farm aggregate output model and lastly to value added model the schooling coefficient increased in size confirming the positive role of education in allocative effect. These results show that schooling plays an important role in allocation of other purchased inputs and also choice of crop mix and input selection. The estimated marginal return to schooling of farm operator in the profit function was Kshs.281. In an earlier function where schooling of the farm operator was fitted into a total farm income equation the estimated marginal return to schooling was Kshs.778.89.
When schooling of the farm operator is allowed to interact with extension service the estimated interaction variable coefficient is negative showing the two act as substitute sources of knowledge, and the schooling coefficient increased in size showing that those who had both schooling and extension service earned comparatively more farm revenues.
The role of other educative factors like extension service, demonstration attendance, and baraza attendance in influencing agricultural production was investigated. Regression
results showed that extension contact had a negative and significant effect on farm revenues and profits. Demonstration and baraza attendance had similar effects on farm revenues and profits.
In the value added function hired labour variable was fitted as the cost of hired labour per day. The estimated coefficient for this variable was positive and significant at 5%. The estimated coefficient for this variable shows hired labour is not optimally used, and farmers can increase their farm profits by hiring more labour. When this variable was fitted as the wage rate paid to hired labour per day the estimated coefficient was positive and significant. These results indicate that cost of hired labour depends on its quality. In the sales function hired labour was specified as mandays of hired labour per year and the estimated coefficient which reflects the shadow price of labour was higher than average hired labour wage rate implying that this factor is underemployed.
In the sales function the estimated coefficient for the value of purchased inputs variable indicates that there is an element of underutilization of these inputs. This variable is fitted in value terms and in profit maximizing conditions the estimated coefficient is expected to be no different from unit. However, the estimated coefficient for this variable is approximately 2.5 showing a shilling spent on purchased inputs will bring forth 2.5 shillings. Thus an increase in the use of purchased inputs will increase farm revenues.
Results show evidence of regional differences in farmer productivity and utilization of purchased inputs in favour of Central province.
The study is based on the 1982 CBS-IDS-World Bank Household Survey of Rural Kenya data set.Land and Food Systems, Faculty of
Graduate
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Furtado, de Souza Jose Ribamar. "Farmer participation in Brazilian sugar cane research." Thesis, London School of Economics and Political Science (University of London), 1991. http://etheses.lse.ac.uk/2815/.
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This research is concerned with the contribution which farmer participation, as a complementary approach to agricultural research in Brazil, can make to the Improvement of disadvantaged farmers socioeconomic conditions through the solution of their technological problems. This notion is embodied in the concepts of Farming Systems Research and Farmer Participatory Research, which provide the broad theoretical framework within which this investigation was developed. The context in which the research was carried out was Brazilian sugar cane growing regions, with a specific focus on the practice of farmer participation within the Three Year' Plan for Diffusion of Technology for Sugar Cane Agro-industry's Resource-poor Farmers (Plano Trienal). Material for this investigation derives from two sources: direct involvement since the pilot project original phase of the Plano Trienal over a period of six years and a period of fieldwork undertaken in 1988. During the latter, data were collected by means of questionnaires, interviews, participant observation and Informal discussions in the States of Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Minas Gerais, Espirito Santo, Pernambuco, Paraiba and Rio Grande do Norte. The dynamics of sugar cane agriculture is analysed within the overall sugar cane agro-industry as a particular sector of Brazilian agriculture. The concepts of Farming Systems Research and Farming Participatory Research are then set within this general frame of reference. Subsequently, the policies advocated by research and extension services is situated within the wider context of the Brazilian sugar cane agro-industry. Specific attention is then given to the failure of 'conservative modernisation' policies adopted by those services. Within this broad framework the formation and development of the Plano Trienal is described and analysed. The performance of the Plan's selected projects is then investigated through a comparative study, with particular attention given to the types of approaches employed, both, participatory and persuasive. In this perspective, combined statistical and qualitative methods are employed, based on variables (such as technology, approach, farm, farmer and technician) with specific reference to four economic indicators: productivity, assets, adoption and technological problems. Finally, the role of Farmer Participation is critically analysed referring to Farmer Participatory Research as a crucial component of the agricultural research process. The research findings point to the central importance of farmer's indigenous knowledge and scientific knowledge based upon 'mutual respect', and grounded in experience, for the processes of participatory research. In these processes, the relationship established between farmer and technician was found to be a fundamental aspect of research practice in which great weight is placed upon the farmer's role not as an object but as the 'subject' of agricultural research. This research demonstrates that the projects which embraced this approach achieved a higher level of technology adoption, a greater number of technological solutions and a greater increase in productivity and farmers' assets. The main policy implication of the thesis is that farmer participation, as a complementary approach to agricultural research methods, can contribute significantly to modifying the socio-economic situation of disadvantaged farmers.
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Jayappa, Vinay. "Economic perspective of farmers indebtedness in suicidal prone area - Punjab, India." Thesis, Manhattan, Kan. : Kansas State University, 2010. http://hdl.handle.net/2097/4157.
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Ngcobo, Phumelele Nondumiso. "Implementation Evaluation Of The Smallholder Farmer Support Programme And Its Likelihood Of Increasing Farm Productivity: A Case Of “Abalimi Phambili Project”, Jozini, Kwazulu-Natal." Master's thesis, Faculty of Commerce, 2018. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/30870.
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Farmer support programmes are aimed at assisting in unlocking barriers faced by smallholder farmers. These programmes were implemented many years ago by the public and private sector. However, research continues to show that the increase in the number of these initiatives and in budgets/expenditures have not equally translated into an increase in the number of smallholder farmers advancing to commercial status. Therefore, this evaluation research is focused on assessing the implementation progress of a farmer support programme being implemented in Jozini, KwaZulu-Natal. The aim is to assess whether or not the programme is implemented according to the theory of change and to assess the likelihood of the programme achieving its intended outcomes. Both the quantitative and qualitative approaches were applied to collect and analyse data. Quantitative data was made up of project data and qualitative data was obtained through conducting in-depth interviews with farmers currently participating in the programme. Findings from this paper are expected to add to the existing body of knowledge in terms of strengthening and improving the design of farmer support programmes; to emphasise the importance of conducting implementation evaluations to assess programme performance early in implementation; to better understand what is working or not during implementation; and to understand why this is so.
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Allan, Joan. "Images of marginality in the fiction of Beverley Farmer /." Title page and introduction only, 1993. http://web4.library.adelaide.edu.au/theses/09AR/09ara417.pdf.
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Soleri, Daniela. "Developing methodologies to understand farmer-managed maize folk varieties and farmer seed selection in the Central Valleys of Oaxaca, Mexico." Diss., The University of Arizona, 1999. http://hdl.handle.net/10150/284781.
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Collaborative plant breeding (CPB) is an approach to crop improvement incorporating close attention to local biophysical and sociocultural environments and interaction between farmers and plant breeders. CPB may have particular potential for improvement in highly stress-prone environments and for low-resource, traditionally based agricultural communities, situations where more conventional approaches have not been effective. However, CPB will require methodological adjustments or innovations relevant to the smaller scale of its target area and its participatory approach. This study investigated methodologies useful to CPB, working with maize farmers from two communities in the Central Valleys of Oaxaca, Mexico. A method for rapid estimation of broad sense heritability (H) was applied in farmers' maize fields. H estimates for morphophenological traits were compared with narrow sense heritability (h2) from half sib family analysis of five of the same populations and with published estimates. Absolute values of H were larger than h2 from this study and the literature, however trait ranking was the same as in the literature, but differed from h2 rankings from this study. With an understanding of their limitations, these rapid, economical estimations provide useful information for CPB work on-farm, where empirical information is frequently lacking. Collegial interaction based on the knowledge and skills of farmers and breeders will depend upon understanding those in terms relevant to each group. Methods from social and biological sciences were integrated to understand selection and its consequences from farmers' perspectives but based on concepts used by plant breeders. Information was elicited regarding farmers' perceptions of their maize populations, growing environments and expectations for response to selection. Farmers' decisions about varietal repertoires imply assessments of local genetic and environmental variation. Traits of high and low heritability are distinguished, as reflected in expected selection response. Farmers' selection practices were not always effective yet they understood the reasons for this and had no expectations for selection response in some traits given the methods available. Farmers' statements, practices and perceptions regarding selection and the genetic response of their maize populations to their selection indicate selection objectives different than may be typically assumed, suggesting a role for breeder and farmer collaboration.
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Godwin, Kyle R. "Farmer suicide and access to care in Iowa." Thesis, University of Iowa, 2019. https://ir.uiowa.edu/etd/6742.
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Suicide is a leading cause of death around the world, in the United States, in Iowa, and among farmers. Occupational suicides, such as farmer suicide, have been increasing drastically since the year 2007. It has been found that those in the agriculture, forestry, and fishing sector had a 50 percent higher risk of suicide compared to other occupational groups. Suicide prevention strategies may not adequately reach rural residents (farmers) due to economic, geographic, and/or cultural barriers. According to the decennial census, 36 percent of Iowa’s population resided in rural areas. Iowa Death Certificate Records between 2011 and 2014 were utilized to examine the relationships between farmer suicides and access to care in Iowa. Farmer suicides were compared based on county rurality and mental health provider shortage designation. Whether a county had a farmer suicide, was rural, had a certified mental health center, or mental health provider shortage area was assessed to discover where farmer suicides were occurring. In Iowa, 86 counties were mental health provider shortage areas, there were 72 certified mental health centers that provided outpatient care, and 81 farmer suicides occurred during the study period. Statistical analyses and odds ratios did not find any significant association between farmer suicides and county rurality, certified mental health centers, or mental health provider shortage areas. However, counties with at least one certified mental health center were more likely to have one or more farmer suicide and counties designated as mental health provider shortage areas were at less risk of having a farmer suicide. Limitations of this study include capturing mental health centers open during the study period and all mental health centers in the state. Further studies are needed to better understand how farmers interact with mental health care facilities.
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Parkins, J. "Farm forestry networking, farmer group development in Kenya." Thesis, National Library of Canada = Bibliothèque nationale du Canada, 1997. http://www.collectionscanada.ca/obj/s4/f2/dsk2/ftp04/mq21199.pdf.
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McDonald, Alyssa Jade. "A one health exploration of cacao farmer training." Thesis, The University of Sydney, 2022. https://hdl.handle.net/2123/27418.
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Responding to emerging evidence indicating the cacao farming households experience poor health and often live in poverty, this research identifies and analyses a popular, yet often under-researched intervention, cacao farmer training. Using PRISMA to identify published cacao training programs form 2014-2020, this study identified 59 programs which demonstrated that most training occurs in crop productivity and financial literacy to a lesser extent, with very little training in human health or environmental sustainability. Results indicate that farmer training is reported consistently over the years, and is mostly recorded from West Africa and the Asia Pacific area, with little evidence documented in Latin America. A review of the data was then conducted to identify Eco Health principles in training program design, and One Health frameworks in curriculum. This thesis offers an alternate method to improving sectoral productivity beyond the old-fashioned models of increasing land size or implementing modern agronomic technologies applying plant growth stimulants. This analysis looks at underlying barriers within the value chain, particularly in the farming household, and contributes a novel understanding of issues that extend beyond cacao to agricultural and developing community challenges such as food security, sustainable crop production and human and animal wellbeing.
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Perkin, P. "An investigation into the relationship between farm and farmer characteristics and objectives among a sample of farmers in Berkshire." Thesis, University of Reading, 1992. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.332224.
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Grewar, Robert. "Investigating the relationship between sustainability and farmer decision-making: a qualitative study of maize farmers in Mpumalanga, South Africa." Thesis, Rhodes University, 2011. http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003906.
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The goal of the research paper was to understand the complex relationship between the issue of sustainability and maize farmers’ decision-making processes. The aim is to shed light on the realities experienced by maize farmers in terms of how sustainability impacts on the decisions they make and how the decisions they make impact on sustainability. The importance of the research lies in the current state of affairs in the world in terms of the current economic recession, overpopulation, dire poverty and hunger, and the poor state of the environment. If humankind is to continue its existence on Earth in a happy, healthy world, something is going to have to give. In order for this to happen, people need to start grappling with the concept of sustainability. Focusing on sustainability as a whole is likely to end in despair. However, breaking the problem down into its component pieces will allow people to influence the particular sector in which they operate. It is therefore imperative for research into sustainability to be undertaken in all sectors of society and the economy. Agriculture presents an excellent research area due to its intrinsic link with the environment, society and the economy. Agriculture and its wellbeing is inextricably tied to environmental health. Healthy plants and animals will not grow in unhealthy conditions. Society is to a large degree dependent on agriculture for food, agriculture therefore has a significant impact on social order and function. Agriculture is one of the primary contributors to GDP, particularly in poor and developing nations. As a result, agriculture has an important role to play in ensuring economic sustainability. In order to engage with sustainability from an agricultural perspective it was decided to engage on the farmer-level. Gaining an understanding of their reality in terms of what motivates their decisions is key to understanding the relationship between agriculture and sustainability. Three maize farmers in Mpumalanga, South Africa, were interviewed with the aim of collecting qualitative data and then analysing the data using thematic analysis. The methodology employed enabled the researcher to uncover patterns in the data that constituted themes across the interviews. The following themes emerged: Theme 1: Economic factors are the primary decision driver. This is primarily due to the extent of the financial risk experienced by farmers as a result of market risk, production risk, finance risk, and rising input costs. This results in economic considerations superseding environmental or social concerns in farmers’ decisions. This has a negative impact on the overall sustainability of the farming operation. Theme 2: There has been a decrease in the number of family-run farms. This is attributable to a number of factors including economic failure, fear of loss of land due to land-reform policies, as well as crime. Family-run farms tend to have a greater focus on sustainability due to the vested interest in the next generation taking over the farm. The corporate farming operations that are taking over the farms tend to be more focussed on short-term gains in order to satisfy shareholders. Theme 3: Mechanisation is preferable to manual labour. There has been an alarming decrease in the number of labourers employed on farms. Farmers say this is due to two factors. Firstly, machines are more efficient than labour. Secondly, restrictive labour laws have made famers less keen to employ people. The net effect of these two factors is that unemployment is rising. This has negative consequences for society, the economy, and the environment. Theme 4: Farmers believe they do very little environmental damage. This results in decisions being made that do not consider environmental wellbeing other than soil health. This is because farmers see healthy soil as an integral input that optimises economic performance. Farmers tend to prioritise economic factors in their decisions more than environmental or social factors. This results in an unsustainable perspective. The only ways in which this is likely to change is if the financial risk associated with agriculture is decreased, or if farmers are given financial incentive to change their ways. In order to deal with this issue it is necessary for further research to be conducted. Research needs to be conducted to confirm the results of this study. It is important to know whether the results pertain only to maize farmers in Mpumalanga or whether most farmers in South Africa, and indeed the world, face similar problems. Research should also be conducted to propose policies or procedures to reduce financial risk in agriculture. Research should focus on reducing market risk and reducing input costs, possibly via subsidisation.
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Stones, Wilna Anneke. "The evaluation of the subtropical crops extension and advisory service (Subtrop) as perceived by farmer members and extension advisors in the subtropical regions, South Africa." Diss., University of Pretoria, 2012. http://hdl.handle.net/2263/29115.
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In order to minimize duplication, consolidate resources and strengthen industry representation to government, the South African Avocado Growers Association (SAAGA), South African Litchi Growers Association (SALGA), South African Macadamia Growers Association (SAMAC) and the South African Mango Growers Association (SAMGA); amalgamated under an umbrella organization called Subtrop. This study focuses on the pre and post effect the amalgamation had on Extension services to the abovementioned organizations. The effect was measured by conducting a survey. The survey measured both Subtrop member and relevant Subtrop staff responses. The survey used two questionnaire types, one for Subtrop members and one for Subtrop extension advisors. The questionnaires were designed to complement the SPPS V19.0® statistical package. The questionnaires were completed at group interview sessions. A total of 127 farmer respondents, divided in two groups, namely 90 farmer respondents and 37 opinion leader respondents participated in the external survey. The internal survey comprised of six Subtrop extension advisor respondents. Farmer and opinion leader respondents, (hereafter called respondents), provided their perceptions and rated the extension services of the technical department of Subtrop. Results showed that the respondents used the Extension services for on farm advice and group based Extension services like study groups. The Subtrop Extension services received a higher rating after the Subtrop amalgamation than before the amalgamation. Subtrop extension advisor responses showed a need for training and coaching, as well as some reconciliation with respect to the increase in work load afforded by the amalgamation. Pre-amalgamation extension advisors served one commodity, while post amalgamation extension advisors now serve four commodities. The respondents indicated their satisfaction with the organizing of study groups. They also indicated that the study groups met their needs. Although the respondents understood the value of intercommunication and participation, the study showed that the minority realized the need to take ownership of study groups. All the extension advisors indicated that organizing study groups was the single activity that used most of their time. The Subtrop study groups were rated higher after the Subtrop amalgamation than before. The Subtrop newsletters were rated higher after the Subtrop amalgamation. The respondents indicated the newsletters as valuable and therefore proved newsletters as an appropriate extension communication tool. The Subtrop websites were indicated as somewhat valuable. Most respondents indicated a lack of awareness of the websites, indicating a need to promote the websites better. Although very few respondents completed the marketing related services section of the survey, those that completed this section were all aware of this service. The following recommendations emerged: For extension advisors: - The development of a curriculum of Subtrop commodities for training purposes;
- Regular technical and soft-skill training;
- The development of a mentorship program; and
- For new extension advisors an orientation program which includes the above mentioned.
- Study group management needs to be improved, combine newsletters, improve awareness of research and promote websites and market services.
- Further: develop an extension policy, maximize area committee involvement and regular member feedback surveys.
Dissertation (MSc)--University of Pretoria, 2012.
Agricultural Economics, Extension and Rural Development
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Parish, Amy L. "Farmer willingness to adopt High Available Phosphorus (HAP) corn." Access to citation, abstract and download form provided by ProQuest Information and Learning Company; downloadable PDF file, 145 p, 2008. http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?did=1459910291&sid=2&Fmt=2&clientId=8331&RQT=309&VName=PQD.
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Hounsome, Barry. "Investigating the relationship between farmer health and farm income." Thesis, Bangor University, 2006. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.428824.
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Patil, Vikram [Verfasser]. "Governing Farmer Rehabilitation and Resettlement in India / Vikram Patil." Aachen : Shaker, 2015. http://d-nb.info/1081887400/34.
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Hines, Christopher A. "Profitability drivers of farmer cooperatives: a Dupont model analysis." Thesis, Kansas State University, 2014. http://hdl.handle.net/2097/17561.
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Master of AgribusinessDepartment of Agricultural Economics
Brian Briggeman
“Skyscrapers of the plains” is a term which refers to the country elevators spread throughout Kansas and the Midwest, along with the elevators are farmer cooperatives. Farmer cooperatives have been around for more than a century to serve the area farmers as a place to store and market their grain and to purchase their farm inputs. The objective of this research is to identify key profitability drivers of farmer cooperatives of different sizes throughout time. This will be done by using a unique data set gathered from the CoBank’s RiskAnalysis database and examining it with the DuPont model. The project breaks down the data by size, large vs. small, and location. If a cooperative has done more than 100 million dollars in sales in 2010, it was classified as large for the entire time period, all other cooperatives were small. Location was either Kansas or Midwest. In this model, operating profit margin or earns, asset turnover ratio or turns, debt-to-equity ratio or leverage, and spread are examined. Also examined are Return on Assets, the operating performance, and Return on Equity, the financial performance, of the cooperative. Board of Directors and cooperative managers will be able to take this information and hopefully make decisions which make their respective cooperatives more profitable. With the information provided, cooperative managers and Board of Directors will be able to financially compare themselves versus other cooperatives of similar size whether they are in Kansas or in other Midwestern states.
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GONÇALVES, Tamires. "Pasture trees: regeneration, farmer management or original flora remnant?" Universidade Federal de Alfenas, 2015. https://bdtd.unifal-mg.edu.br:8443/handle/tede/830.
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Embora seja um consenso crescente que o declínio das árvores isoladas em paisagens agrícolas merece urgente atenção, tais elementos não têm sido considerados em estratégias conservacionistas. Isso se deve, em parte, à escassez de conhecimento a respeito dos fatores que afetam estas árvores. Poucos são os estudos que abordam as relações entre as práticas de manejo de pastagens e a abundância e riqueza do componente arbóreo em pastos, sendo que o efeito do distanciamento de manchas florestais é ainda pouco compreendido. Diante disso, os objetivos deste estudo foram (i) descrever a composição de espécies e a estrutura de tamanho de árvores dispersas em pastagens, bem como (ii) investigar se a distância de fragmentos florestais remanescentes e o manejo do pecuarista afetam; tal composição e estrutura. Este estudo foi realizado em nove pastagens no Sul de Minas Gerais. Todas as árvores com diâmetro à altura do peito (d.a.p) ≥ 5 cm foram mensuradas e identificadas em 1,96 ha em cada pasto (17,65 ha de pastagem amostrada). No total foram identificadas 700 árvores, pertencentes a 30 famílias e 90 espécies. Com o aumento da distância de fragmentos florestais, a abundância e a riqueza decrescem, porém não foi encontrada relação entre a estrutura de tamanho e a variável distância. As espécies mais importantes encontradas são, em sua maioria, características de fases iniciais de sucessão e, algumas delas, são exóticas. Foi possível concluir que o processo de regeneração natural é o fator determinante sobre a abundância e riqueza em seis pastos estudados, e que o manejo do pecuarista atua sobre a composição de espécies e a estrutura de tamanho das árvores nos demais pastos. Este estudo é um importante passo para o melhor entendimento dos fatores que afetam a cobertura de árvores em pastagens. Além disso, os resultados poderão servir de subsídio para guiar ações de manejo, uma vez que o conhecimento de que em alguns pastos a regeneração natural é responsável pelo componente arbóreo, e que em outros o manejo do pecuarista é o fator atuante, poderá ajudar no planejamento de ações para manter e/ou melhorar a riqueza de árvores nestas áreas.Despite of the growing consensus that scattered trees decline in agricultural landscapes deserves urgent attention, such countryside elements have received little consideration in conservation programs. In part this is due to lack of knowledge about the factors affecting these trees. There are few studies addressing the relationship between farmer management and pasture trees, and the effects of distance from forest fragments on species composition of these trees are poorly understood yet. Our aims were (i) describe the vegetation structure of pasture trees, and (ii) investigate whether the distance from forest fragments and the farmer management affect such vegetation structure. Our research was carried out in nine pastures from a semideciduous forest region in southern Minas Gerais state, Brazil. All pasture trees with the diameter at breast height (d.b.h.) ≥ 5 cm were measured and identified in 1.96 ha of each pasture (totaling 17.64 ha). We found 700 trees belonging to 30 families and 90 species. Tree abundance and species richness decreased with increasing distance from the forest fragments, while we found no relationship between tree size and this explanatory variable. The most important species found are characteristics from early successional stages or are exotics. The natural regeneration is the acting factor on tree abundance and species richness in six studied pastures, while the farmer management acts on species composition and tree size in other pastures. Our study is an important step to better understanding about the factors that affect the tree coverage in pastures, and may guide conservation programs. Since the knowledge that in some pastures natural regeneration is responsible for tree component whilst in others farmer management is decisive in species composition provides a basis to help with planning actions to maintain and/or improve tree species richness in these pastures.
Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de Minas Gerais - FAPEMIG
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Cerdeira, Elsa Marina Brás. "Viagem ao mundo do rio de Bion a Farmer." Master's thesis, Instituto Superior de Psicologia Aplicada, 1998. http://hdl.handle.net/10400.12/428.
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Kganyago, Mpho Clementine. "Understanding farmer seed systems in Sespond, North West Province." Master's thesis, University of Cape Town, 2020. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/32486.
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Farmer-led seed systems (FSS) provide the backbone for small-scale farmers and many rural communities that use traditional methods of farming to produce seeds that grow and adapt to local conditions. FSS differ from one community and farmer to the next, depending on the methods and practices used to maintain seed varieties. Seed diversity can enhance FSS by improving livelihoods and strengthening farmers' networks, thus contributing to resilient communities. Although nuanced, the dualistic agricultural system in South Africa consists largely of subsistence (small-scale) and commercial (large-scale) farming and includes different crop management systems and post-harvest practices. In South Africa, maize (Zea mays) is a major staple grain crop with a significant role as animal and poultry feed. The North West region is one of the highest white-maize-producing provinces in South Africa. Maize seed systems include both traditional, openpollinated varieties (OPVs) and cultivars such as modern hybrids and genetically modified (GM) seed varieties, including those engineered for specific purposes. The dominant GM maize is that designated for pest resistance using Bacillus thuringienesis (Bt), a soil bacterium which produces a toxin that is fatal to a wide variety of insects such as moths and flies. Many small-scale farmers prefer their own traditional seeds for breeding, planting, selection, selling and consuming. However, FSS based on traditional varieties are threatened by modern cultivars which may be introduced in different ways including through seed exchange, purchasing at shops or by pollination from nearby commercial farms. This study was conducted in the Sespond community of the North West Province. The aim of the study was to understand how small-scale farmers in Sespond maintain traditional maize varieties through selection and storage in a complex agricultural landscape that incorporates both formal and informal seed systems. The formal system represents industrialised farms and companies that work with commercial seed. The informal system represents small-scale farmers who rely on their own seed. Qualitative methods included mapping software which was used to obtain visual agricultural data in and around Sespond. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 30 small-scale farmers to collect information about their farming practices, including the maize varieties planted. Quantitative methods included collecting 20 maize samples from different farmers for genetic analysis. Agdia® immunostrip tests were used to detect for the presence of Crystal protein (Cry protein) produced by the Bt bacterium, engineered to improve the resistance of maize against insects. The results showed that 13 samples were negative for the protein and seven samples were positive for the protein. A key finding is that small-scale farmers are not able to detect the different maize varieties in their seed systems. This represents a threat for traditional seed varieties in the community as without this knowledge, farmers are not able to adequately manage their production and storage systems. Farmers made use of alternative storage methods such as the mill to reduce seed damage they experienced at home. However, the findings of this research showed that there was an increasing risk of farmers' traditional maize being mixed with GM maize at the mill. Farmers' rights to plant and consume traditional maize were therefore undermined. This study recommends that (a) efforts are made to increase awareness among farmers that help to distinguish transgenes from hybrids and traditional maize varieties; (b) measures are implemented at mills to both improve the transparency about the storage and processing of traditional maize and to separate traditional maize from hybrid and GM maize.
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Pay, Kenneth(Wen Hong Kenneeth). "The effect of cash constraints on smallholder farmer revenue." Thesis, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2020. https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/128974.
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Thesis: S.M., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Computation for Design and Optimization Program, 2020Cataloged from student-submitted PDF version of thesis.
Includes bibliographical references (pages 77-79).
Many smallholder farmers in developing countries struggle to make ends meet. We develop a model that examines how markets catering to numerous smallholder farmers reach an equilibrium, while incorporating real world challenges that smallholder farmers face, namely a lack of long term planning and cash constraints. Through this, we analyze the effectiveness of two common forms of government intervention, storage and loan provision. We fully characterize market equilibrium conditions under the base scenario of no government intervention, analyzing how price conditions, number of farmers, and severity of cash constraints impact farmer behaviour. We then illustrate how these results change when storage and loans are integrated into the model. The analysis demonstrates that myopic optimization and cash constraints induce farmers to make sub-optimal decisions, resulting in farmers not receiving the full benefit of government interventions. We show that while storage is always useful in situations where farmers have excess quantity, providing overly generous loan terms can negatively impact farmer revenue by disincentivizing farmers from selling their produce on the market. We also show that attempting to improve equality by alleviating farmer cash constraints can result in negative externalities like increased wastage. Empirical analysis with Bengal gram farmers in India shows that farmers are in dire need of government assistance to meet their cash constraints. However, improving loan terms only boosts farmer revenue up to a point, after which revenue declines. The analysis shows that while loan schemes are widely popular and sometimes necessary in aiding struggling farmers, governments should be aware that the strategic response of different farmers can result in adverse effects.
by Kenneth Pay.
S.M.
S.M. Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Computation for Design and Optimization Program
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Tilly, Camilla. "Local Food is Growing, but is Farmer Interest Wilting? An Empirical Investigation into the Factors that Motivate Farmer Involvement in Local Selling Channels." Thesis, Uppsala universitet, Institutionen för geovetenskaper, 2019. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:uu:diva-388469.
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Local food systems (LFS) connect producers and consumers in a geographically restricted food supply chain. Local food advocates argue that limiting the spatial scope of food systems can help to address the sustainability challenges present in the global food system. LFS are argued to eliminate intermediaries, enable clear product provenance, encourage community interactions, and involve few food miles. LFS are growing in Sweden, where the government launched a National Food Strategy in 2016, which among other aims promotes the proliferation of local food. This study aims to understand why several farmers from Uppland, central Sweden engage in local selling and whether concerns about sustainability influence the choice of selling channels among them. Using on-farm, semi-structured interviews with the farmers, this research explores three research questions concerning: (1) farmer motives for engaging in local selling channels, (2) factors constraining farmer involvement in LFS, and (3) farmer perceptions on the future of local selling channels. The overall purpose of this research is to provide a critical perspective on local selling as a sustainable food system solution. The study reveals a wide range of motives, including economic advantages from responding to consumer demand and cutting out middlemen, price premiums, more customer interactions, job satisfaction, and proximity to markets. Various economic and personal constraints limit the farmers’ use of local selling channels. Such constraints include seasonality of produce, performing time-consuming middlemen tasks, limited access to essential infrastructure, low transport load utilisation, and individual reasons for not wanting to up-scale local production. The results indicate that better access to on-farm or nearby infrastructure, improved small-scale efficiency, increasing food prices for consumers, changing consumer preferences, more diverse farm products, and better congruency between government objectives and import policies could all help to support LFS in the future. This research exposes a number of underlying contradictions and tensions associated with local food in the literature and among the interviewed farmers. The study finds that sustainability concerns are not a critical motive for the farmers’ involvement in local selling. Some of the farmers even question the sustainability of such channels and challenge the idea that LFS are inherently more sustainable than food systems on other scales. Furthermore, almost all the farmers are involved in both local and global food systems. The farmers do not find it conflicting to be part of both food systems, and are in fact consciously using both systems to their economic advantage. Thus the clear distinction between local and global food systems made in the LFS literature is not reflected in the practical experiences of the farmers involved in this study.
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Mpuzu, Misery Sikelwa. "The impact of farmer support programmes on market access of small holder farmers in the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal Provinces." Thesis, University of Fort Hare, 2013. http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1007140.
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Most smallholder farmers in South Africa are characterized by poor resources such as land, labour and capital while they play an important role in poverty alleviation especially in poor rural areas. Smallholder farmers are increasingly recognized because of their contribution to household food security. The world markets are increasingly being integrated due to globalization and liberalization. As a result, smallholder farmers are facing increasing market competition, not only in international markets but in local markets as well. However, smallholder farmers often face a number of barriers to accessing these markets arising in part from the tightening of food safety and quality standards requiring compliance with phytosanitary and sanitary standards and growing power of supply chain integration. Furthermore, the viability of these smallholder producers is constrained by institutional obstacles which include lack of access to information, high marketing and transaction costs and low quality and lack of critical volume in the absence of bulking up arrangements, etc. These barriers have contributed to the exclusion of smallholder/small-scale farmers from formal markets. In order to address these obstacles and speed up the pace of agrarian reform many support schemes (farmer support programmes) are now being designed to specifically address market access and value chain issues through unique co-innovation arrangements to improve the farmer’s access to profitable international chains. A number of farmer support programmes (FSP) have been implemented in South Africa to reduce the risk of a lack of capacity and a lack of economic and/or financial experience in smallholder farms. Intervention measures have been instituted to these smallholder farmers to assist them to move out of poverty through agricultural production. The aim of this study was to understand the roles played by farmer support programmes in addressing income and welfare levels and sustainability of smallholder farmers in South Africa. Eighty nine (89) farmers were interviewed for this study and almost half (49%) of them received support from various organizations while 51% of the sampled farmers did not receive any support. The study was designed to compare the two groups between the treated and control group to assess the impact of these programmes.Using a Tobit and Propensity Score Matching technique, potential diffusion effects were eliminated between farmers supported by Farmer Support Programmes and farmers that did not belong to support services. The latter was selected from comparable communities with no agricultural support services. Findings from the Tobit regression and propensity score matching are consistent across the two methods, suggesting that being a member of any agricultural support programme has a significant positive impact on income and welfare of smallholder farmers.Farmer Support Programmes and collective marketing activities such as the collection and sale of members’ products appear to have a significant and positive impact on smallholder welfare of those farmers engaged in them. In the second analysis the study tested the types of arrangements that farmers would adopt to market their produce. From the results it was established that those farmers who were supported by institutional arrangements or FSP had better access to markets than those farmers who operated as individuals. Marginal effects are used to show the degree to which farmers chose a particular marketing channel or institutional arrangement that these farmers take when trying to access better paying markets. Then the final analysis is on factors that determine the extent to which collective action contribute to farmers’ income and market access. A number of variables (age, distance to the market, region the farmers are located) were evaluated using the multinomial regression model. Empirical results suggest that among South African cooperatives, those established in KwaZulu-Natal and partly in the Eastern Cape and upon the voluntary initiative of farmers are more sustainable and have access to better paying markets both locally and internationally than the other areas. The results also show that NGO-supported cooperatives have a longer life span than Government controlled cooperatives.
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Makunga, Phendulwa Zikhona. "Small-scale farmers' participation in planning and implementation of farmer support programmes in Amahlathi Local Municipality, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa." Thesis, University of Fort Hare, 2017. http://hdl.handle.net/10353/6248.
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The democratic government in South Africa has brought about several policies which were initiated for rural development, and one of the government’s strategies was to involve the agricultural sector. Farmer Support Programmes (FSPs) were developed to assist small-scale farmers to become commercial farmers. The study looked at the participation of small scale farmers in the planning and implementation of the FSPs in the Amahlathi Local Municipality. 108 small scale farmers were selected using a non-random purposive probability and twelve farmers’ organisations. Semi-structured questionnaires and semi-structured interviews were used as the data collection tool and method respectively. The data analysis used was a descriptive analysis and a thematic analysis. The results revealed that the farmers have a positive perception towards the support programmes being helpful in their farming needs. The positive perception was especially on the extension and advisory services, dipping and vaccination programme, and the supply and funding of inputs and assets. However, the results revealed that there was no significant difference between gender and the perception of the farmers when a chi square test of association was performed. The results also revealed that the farmers and farmers’ organisations were not involved in the planning of the programmes by the government. It is therefore recommended that for the success of the FSP and for economic growth in the rural areas, the government has to avoid using a top-down approach when developing these programmes, and instead consult the farmers and the farmers’ organisations to know the specific needs of the farmers in their farming practices.
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Hobart, John. "Forager-farmer relations in south-eastern Africa : a critical reassessment." Thesis, University of Oxford, 2003. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.275772.
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Gaines, Adam W. "Work of Art : the life and music of Art Farmer." Virtual Press, 2005. http://liblink.bsu.edu/uhtbin/catkey/1317924.
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Atengdem, Paschal B. "Effectiveness and relevance of farmer training : lessons from Northern Ghana." Thesis, University of Reading, 1997. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.362056.
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Milligan, Roger Simon. "Searching for symbiosis : pastoralist-farmer relations in North-east Nigeria." Thesis, University of Sussex, 2002. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.250010.
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Barry, Douglas. "Echoes of Laocoön's Warning in Letters from an American Farmer." ScholarWorks@UNO, 2011. http://scholarworks.uno.edu/td/1293.
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A dramatic shift in tone in the final letter of J. Hector St. John de Crèvecoeur's Letters from an American Farmer reveals Farmer James' conflicting attitudes about an independent America. When the letters are juxtaposed with a Western myth of origin such as Virgil's Aeneid, it becomes clear that Crèvecoeur is forcing his narrating persona to repeat a pattern of civilization – destruction, renewal – on which all of Western civilization is based. The sudden pessimism that erupts in the penultimate "Distresses of a Frontier Man" is symptomatic of James' anxiety about the American Revolution and the resulting disruption in his bucolic way of life.
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Mnisi, Kuhle. "Efficiency and financial sustainability of sugarcane Farmer Cooperatives in Eswatini." Master's thesis, Faculty of Commerce, 2019. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/30461.
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The economy of Eswatini is heavily reliant on the production of sugarcane. However, the 2015 drought, as well as the decision by the European Union (EU) to end the quota system for sugar has had deleterious consequences for the local industry. In Eswatini, sugar imports decreased by 13.5% during the 2016/2017 financial year. Another problem is that a third of Eswatini’s sugar output originates from smallholder farmers who have experienced problems with sugarcane productivity in recent years. Therefore, to assist with future investment decisions, there is a need for continued assessment of the financial sustainability of the industry. This is imperative to enhance the productive efficiency of farmers and to improve their welfare. This study assessed the efficiency and operational sustainability of the 114 sugarcane Farmers Cooperatives (FCs) in The Kingdom of Eswatini from 2014 to 2017. The Stochastic Frontier Analysis technique, the Cobb-Douglas and the Translogarithm production functions were used to estimate technical efficiency scores. The results of the study showed that the sugarcane FCs are operationally self-sustainable, with an average technical efficiency of 83.69% (Translog) and 73.01% (Cobb-Douglas). The study identified operational sustainability, and access to grants and loans as significant contributors to improved technical efficiency. On the other hand, factors such as distance to mill, age and membership number were observed to have a negative effect on technical efficiency. Our recommendation is that government policy should focus on implementing caps on certain variables which have decreasing marginal benefit. Policy should also focus on how best to direct funding such that farmers’ operating expenses are minimised. This could be done through continual development of cost saving infrastructure to allow farmers to utilise inputs to increase efficiency.
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Vaiknoras, Kate Alyse. "Farmer Preferences for Attributes of Conservation Agriculture in Eastern Uganda." Thesis, Virginia Tech, 2014. http://hdl.handle.net/10919/49539.
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Conservation agriculture has many potential benefits for small farmers. This study seeks to estimate the value that farmers in eastern Uganda place on some these benefits. Data from a choice experiment study are analyzed with a mixed logit model to determine farmers' willingness to pay for increases in maize yield, reductions in erosion, and reductions in land preparation labor requirements. It finds that farmers have a statistically significant willingness to pay for increases in yield and reductions in erosion, but not for reductions in planting labor. In addition, farmers in Kapchorwa district value erosion control and labor reductions more and price increases less than in Tororo district, while women care more about price increases than men do.Master of Science
CCRA-6 (Economic and Impact Analysis)
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Graskemper, Viktoria [Verfasser]. "Entrepreneurship in Agriculture – Farmer Typology, Determinants and Values / Viktoria Graskemper." Göttingen : Niedersächsische Staats- und Universitätsbibliothek Göttingen, 2021. http://d-nb.info/1235757099/34.
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Pile, Stephen John. "The private farmer : transformation and legitimation in advanced capitalist agriculture." Thesis, University of London, 1988. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.310515.
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Miller, Jennifer Christine. "Farmer Adoption of Best Management Practices Using Incentivized Conservation Programs." ScholarWorks @ UVM, 2014. http://scholarworks.uvm.edu/graddis/275.
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Many farms in the United States impose negative externalities on society. Population growth and the accompanying increase in demand for food further promote this trend of environmental degradation as a by-product of food production. The USDA's Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) provides financial assistance to farmers who wish to address natural resource concerns by making structural improvements or implementing best management practices (BMPs) on their farms. Regional examinations of program implementation and incentive levels are needed to evaluate the effectiveness of EQIP at both the farm and environmental level. This research addresses this need in the following two ways. First, conjoint analysis was used to calculate the willingness to accept incentive levels desired by Vermont farmers for implementing three common BMPs and the relative importance of each attribute in their adoption decisions. Next, a survey was conducted to document Vermont farmers' experiences, or choices not to engage, with EQIP. The results of the conjoint analysis indicated that farmers' adoption decisions are most heavily influenced by the available implementation incentives and that the higher the incentive level offered, the more willing farmers are to adopt a practice. The survey results triangulated these findings as cost was the most frequently cited challenge farmers face when implementing BMPs and one third of respondents felt the cost-share amount they had received was inadequate. Although 46% of respondents reported receiving nonmonetary benefits, 43% had encountered challenges when enrolling or participating in EQIP. In addition, though contracts are designed to address specific resource concerns, 30% of respondents had not fully fixed the original issues with their contracts. This also indicates that the incentive levels offered in EQIP contracts may be lower than Vermont farmers' preferred incentive levels, affecting the adoption rate of BMPs and subsequently the environmental health and long term sustainability of Vermont's agricultural systems. Program areas ripe for improvement, key points for farmers weighing the costs and benefits of program participation, and future research opportunities are discussed in order to guide efforts to improve the effectiveness of EQIP in Vermont. This research also raises awareness of how much it costs to simultaneously support environmental health and food production in our current food system and who ultimately should bear this financial burden.
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Njobvu, Idah. "Impacts of Maize Policy Changes on Small Scale Farmers' Vulnerability to Exploitation in Nyimba District, Zambia." Thesis, Norges teknisk-naturvitenskapelige universitet, Geografisk institutt, 2011. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:no:ntnu:diva-17030.
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Taking cognisance of the fact that SSFs the major producers of maize in Zambia were most affected by the 1991 agricultural policy reforms, from 2005 onward, the state became very active in the maize market and production systems in order to mitigate their problems. The main objective of this study is to investigate to what extent the maize policy changes have contributed to the SSFs’ vulnerability to exploitation. This information will be of use in the policy formulation process to ensure that the formulation of policies take a holistic approach to mitigation of the SSFs’ vulnerabilities. The study draws from political economy, peasant rationality and risk aversion theories to explain the phenomenon under study. Qualitative research methodology was used to collect and analyse both the secondary and the primary data. The study indicates that the prevailing dual system where the state marketing system exists side by side with the private sector has resulted in forms of exploitation which can broadly be classified as petty and structural forms of exploitation. Several factors could be said to exacerbate SSFs’ vulnerability to exploitation such as FRA’s delay in opening its marketing season; delays in paying the SSFs’ for their maize by government/FRA; lack of monitoring of the FRA buying agents’ activities; SSFs’ passivity, and incomplete information.
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Antonsson, Adam. "Organic farming and agricultural transitions : Understanding the role of agricultural space in Halland, Sweden." Thesis, Stockholms universitet, Kulturgeografiska institutionen, 2015. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:su:diva-118713.
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This thesis aims to investigate the attitudes towards organic farming and how agricultural space is understood among organic farmers in the Swedish region of Halland and then to relate this to the ongoing discussion on multifunctional agricultural transition. The research is based on a field study on nine different organic farms in Halland, where qualitative interviews have been conducted for the creation of the empirical results. Using the theory of planned behavior and the concept of the “good farmer”, the thesis has revealed that the organic farming community in Halland is heterogeneous and different perspectives and attitudes are expressed about organic farming and agriculture. While the farmers are driven by many aspects of organic farming, the attitudes towards agriculture are often in line with traditional productivist ideals highlighting clean fields and high yields, even though many organic farmers have started to question the traditional norms often due to the different conditions met by organic farmers. Due to the various attitudes represented, the range within the multifunctional agricultural spectrum is rather wide were some organic farmers understand agricultural space more in line with productivist ideals while others express attitudes in line with organic farming principles, suggesting a strong multifunctional understanding of agricultural space.
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Kassegne, Abeje Berhanu. "Beyond technology packages : towards a farmer-informed paradigm for Ethiopian extension /." [St. Lucia, Qld.], 2004. http://adt.library.uq.edu.au/public/adt-QU20041020.163429/index.html.
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Bernet, Thomas. "The Peruvian dairy sector : farmer perspectives, development strategies and policy options /." [S.l.] : [s.n.], 2000. http://e-collection.ethbib.ethz.ch/show?type=diss&nr=13830.
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Wu, Lifeng. "Farmer Field School and Bt cotton in China : an economic analysis." Hannover Technische Informationsbibliothek und Universitätsbibliothek Hannover, 2010. http://d-nb.info/1003998933/34.
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O'Brien, Elizabeth. "Organisation, landowner and farmer management in the conservation of blanket mires." Thesis, University of Central Lancashire, 2000. http://clok.uclan.ac.uk/20039/.
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Despite being Britain's most extensive semi-natural habitat, less research has been carried out on blanket mires than on many other habitats. This is possibly a result of their relative inaccessibility, since they are mainly confined to upland areas in England and Wales and remoter parts of Scotland; also to their apparent abundance, given that they cover significant portions of the landscape. Blanket mires in Britain cover approximately 1.5-2 million hectares; studies have documented substantial losses and up to ninety percent of blanket mires in Britain have been adversely affected. Literature on blanket mires suggests that poor management is one of the key issues for this habitat together with a lack of financial resources and commitment by the Government to protect and conserve sites adequately. The range of land uses of blanket mires is complex and includes agriculture, conservation, recreation, water catchment, grouse and deer management and forestry. These various uses have led to conflict among certain groups and a number of uses have had a detrimental effect on this habitat. Often the value of blanket mires has been overlooked even though this habitat, as part of natural ecosystem process, can provide functions and services such as wildlife interest and hydrological supply systems. A gap has been identified in the current literature on blanket mires, which suggests that research into the broader issues of strategy and management of this habitat, by organisations, landowners and farmers, has not been undertaken. Interview data have been obtained from organisations, landowners and farmers involved with blanket mire management and assessed by interpretational analysis. The research has been carried out both at a national level in Britain and at a local level with a case study of the Forest of Bowland in Lancashire. The local case study has been related to the wider context of blanket mire management and conservation. A total of fifty four in-depth interviews were undertaken in order to gain information on the views, perspectives and experiences of those involved with blanket mire management. How blanket mires are valued has a significant impact on how peatlands are conserved and for what reason. This research reveals that, in order to be effective, organisations will have to have a clear vision of what end point they are working towards and devise practical sategies that are flexible enough to incorporate the distinctiveness of different blanket mire areas.
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Zakrisson, Victor. "Markanvädnings och markvård på småskaliga farmer i Bungomadistriktet, Western Province, Kenya." Thesis, Stockholms universitet, Institutionen för naturgeografi och kvartärgeologi (INK), 2013. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:su:diva-88923.
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In Northen Bungoma, Western province – Kenya, the Vi-Agroforestry Project (VI-AFP) has introduced a new project that covers 7000 households. To succeed with the project, a water resources protection project, agroforestry methods will be implemented to secure the water quality of the area. In this thesis a foundation is laid for future follow-up studies of land cover and land use of this area. To carry out this study an existing method from a cooperation between VIAFP and Dalarnas University (HDa) has been implemented. The method aims to do follow-up studies and understand the changes that occur in landscape. So far the contents of the method have been to interview local farmers and map their farms. In this thesis one more aspect has been added to the method in the form of satellite images. This addition will give studies a larger perspective for the investigated area that acts as a foundation for future follow-up studies. By combining satellite images and detailed investigations on farms in the landscape the insight from both angels increases. The satellite images explain common patterns found on single farms in a larger context and vice versa. Actions taken for preserving land may differ between farms, although they have similar prerequisites. The type of action implemented for preserving may be a result of economic conditions and the proportion of the farm in relation to the landscape. With resemblance to other areas in Kenya, knowledge of ground preserving methods is more extensive then the implementation of these. To satisfy the needs of a growing population, more sensitive land has to be cultivated. Changes occurring on macro-scale level in Kenya are transferable to the investigation area.
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Cox, Mark David. "Factors affecting farmer acceptance of biological control within integrated pest management." Thesis, Imperial College London, 1996. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.309163.
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LIN, HSIN-YI, and 林心儀. "Agriculture Mobile Apps in drivers and barriers for farmers: Old farmer and young farmer differences." Thesis, 2017. http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/874cnu.
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碩士國立高雄應用科技大學
資訊管理系碩士在職專班
105
With the development of ICT combined with information management and mobile applications, development of other related agricultural ICTs has become a global trend. Mobile agriculture technology is a developing domain of agricultural ICT, offering a variety of agriculture related services through mobile applications. However, most mobile applications are not widely implemented for farmers. In this thesis, we discuss the use of the Shennong Knowledge application, available for Android and iOS, among smallholder farmers to understand the influence of the application on farmer behavior. This study aimed to investigate the intent drive and resistance of farmers in Taiwan to the Shennong Knowledge application and to analyze the differences in these aspects between old and young farmers. Results indicate that effort expectation, tradition barrier, and image barrier positively influence young farmers. By contrast, performance expectation, social influence, and tradition barrier are the major factors among affecting elderly farmers. Mobile application developers should improve the programming framework to address these resistance factors and should market the advantages of the driving factors. This measure may strengthen the willingness of farmers to use mobile applications to enhance the effectiveness, authenticity, and convenience of agricultural information and services.
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Wang, Te-Pei, and 王德培. "Determinants of Farmers’ Sales Performance in a Local Farmer Market – A Case Study of the Taipei Hope Farmer Market." Thesis, 2019. http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/kvbvfx.
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碩士國立臺灣大學
農業經濟學研究所
107
Determinants of Farmers'' Sales Performance in Farmers'' Markets - Take The Taipei Hope Farmers'' as an example. The purpose of this study is to explore the factors related to the sales performance of farmers'' market farmers. This study is based on Taiwan''s current largest farmers market. The " The Taipei Hope Farmers''" is a target for statistical analysis of the sales of farmers in the whole year of 106. The statistics are for farmers who have participated in the exhibition for more than five times in the whole year. A total of 465 farmer units were counted. According to this study, the conclusions are as follows: First, the sales of products are non-organic, and the items sold are the most processed, followed by fruits. Second, the status of farmers is mostly non-green farmers, and the area is the most in the central part. Third, the sales performance is significantly related to the identity of the farmers, the region and the number of exhibitors. Fourth, the identity of farmers is significantly related to organic products and processed products and fruits. Fifth, the explanatory factor of sales performance is up to 63%. According to the research conclusions, the research suggestions are put forward.