http://ageconsearch.umn.edu/handle/33938 Search the Channel search http://ageconsearch.umn.edu/simple-search http://ageconsearch.umn.edu/handle/9504 Title: Creating a new valuation tool for South African agricultural cooperatives <br/> <br/>Authors: Geyser, M.; Hassan, R.M. <br/> <br/>Abstract: Long-term shareholder wealth is equally important for all profit seeking organizations, regardless of their size. This paper examines introducing Economic Value Added (EVA) as a performance measure for agribusinesses and co-ops in South Africa. EVA is an effective measure of the quality of managerial decisions as well as a reliable indicator of an enterprise's value growth in future. The question posed is whether South African agribusinesses and cooperatives are capable of creating shareholder and member value after the deregulation of the agricultural markets. Thu, 29 May 2003 22:58:59 GMT http://ageconsearch.umn.edu/handle/9505 Title: The incidence of post-harvest problems among small farmers surveyed in three regions of the Limpopo Province <br/> <br/>Authors: Randela, R. <br/> <br/>Abstract: High yielding varieties and new production technology have vastly increased the world's agricultural production and provided rural incomes and affordable food for large parts of the population. While production research has received considerable attention, until recently, post harvest activities have not received much attention. Post harvest research has significant contribution towards the alleviation of poverty, food insecurity and the sustainable use of resources. The objective of the paper is to assess the post-harvest constraints affecting main staple grain crops in three regions of the Limpopo Province. Some of the most common post harvest constraints revealed by the study are, weevils, rodents and transport for produce from the field to home Chemical, biological and indigenous control measures are used by the smallholder farmers to alleviate some of the post harvest constraints. The results of the study seem to indicate that more research work should be done especially on the use of indigenous knowledge towards the alleviation of post harvest constraints. Thu, 29 May 2003 22:58:59 GMT http://ageconsearch.umn.edu/handle/9506 Title: Comparative advantage of organic wheat production in the Western Cape <br/> <br/>Authors: Mahlanza, B.; Mendes, E.; Vink, N. <br/> <br/>Abstract: In a context in which the framework of agricultural policy and business is changing radically the objective of the government and farmers should be to support the development of systems that look likely to be winners in the future. As a result this paper uses a Policy Analysis Matrix (PAM) to determine whether wheat production would have a comparative advantage if produced under organic practices. The paper starts by analysing the comparative advantage of wheat under conventional practices, and later contrasts conventional with organic practices. The results of the analyses mainly indicate a comparative advantage for wheat grown under organic practices especially when the social cost benefit ratio (SCB) is incorporated into the analyses. This is because the domestic resource cost (DRC) criterion that is used by the PAM is confirmed to understate the social profitability of systems that use domestic factors intensively like organic wheat systems and favours systems that use less of these factors like conventional systems. The results also show the existence of distortions in the market even if wheat were to be produced under organic practises, although these are shown to be less than for wheat produced under conventional practices. Thu, 29 May 2003 22:58:59 GMT http://ageconsearch.umn.edu/handle/9507 Title: Stochastic maize production technology and production risk analysis in Dadar district, East Ethiopia <br/> <br/>Authors: Fufa, B.; Hassan, R.M. <br/> <br/>Abstract: A stochastic production technology that allows risk effects of factor inputs was estimated for maize farmers in Ethiopia. The results suggested that the promoted improved maize technology exhibits constant returns to scale whereas non-adopters use decreasing returns to scale technology. The study showed that timely planting is critical for maize yield stability among both adopters and non-adopters and suggests the importance of using oxen and higher efforts to achieve that. Nevertheless, the results showed that most of the factors under the control of the farmers do not offer powerful explanation to maize yield variability compared to natural factors such as rainfall, frost, pests and diseases. Thu, 29 May 2003 22:58:59 GMT http://ageconsearch.umn.edu/handle/9508 Title: Patterns of access to rural service infrastructure: the case of farming households in Limpopo Province <br/> <br/>Authors: Makhura, M.N.; Wasike, W.S.K. <br/> <br/>Abstract: Inadequate infrastructure is a major development challenges in developing countries. This paper applies factor analysis to determine the pattern of access to rural service infrastructure on 158 farming households in the Limpopo Province. The nine components of access to service infrastructure (distance to Polokwane, nearest town, local government, hospital, magistrate office, post office, traditional authority, district agricultural offices and extension service) were subjected to factor analysis. The results support the concept of centre-periphery pattern of service infrastructure development. Polokwane is a major centre in the Province, and provide a composite of services. Its peripheries are regions, which have towns as centres. Health, local government and postal services are mainly found in such regional centres. The district centres provide mainly agricultural and justice services. Finally, local centres provide services of traditional authorities, agriculture and postal services. These patterns have major implication for infrastructure development policy and programs. They also need to be considered in current crafting of institutions for rural economic development. Thu, 29 May 2003 22:58:59 GMT http://ageconsearch.umn.edu/handle/9509 Title: Can lagging countries catch up? <br/> <br/>Authors: Schuh, G.E. <br/> <br/>Abstract: I am honoured to be invited to deliver the Simon Brand Lecture at these Annual Meetings of South Africa's Agricultural Economics Association. I especially liked the theme your organizers chose for the Conference. My congratulations on the 40th anniversary of the founding of the Association. I participated in the organization of the Brazilian Society of Agricultural Economics, and that too was about 40 years ago. You are a vital and vigorous profession – one that you can all be proud of. Thu, 29 May 2003 22:58:59 GMT