http://ageconsearch.umn.edu/handle/36237 Search the Channel search http://ageconsearch.umn.edu/simple-search http://ageconsearch.umn.edu/handle/31729 Title: Cassava as drought insurance: Food security implications of cassava trials in Central Zambia <br/> <br/>Authors: Barratt, N.; Chitundu, D.; Dover, O.; Elsinga, J.; Eriksson, S.; Guma, L.; Haggblade, M.; Haggblade, S.; Henn, T.O.; Locke, F.R.; O'Donnell, C.; Smith, C.; Stevens, T. <br/> <br/>Abstract: Wide, weather-induced fluctuations in maize production lead to recurrent food shortages in Zambia's maize consuming regions, while the cassava-growing regions of the north enjoy stable food production, even in drought years. Noting this striking correlation between drought vulnerability and the prevalence of maize as a staple food, a growing array of agencies in Zambia has begun introducing highly productive new cassava varieties, developed in the north, to more central and southerly regions in an effort to provide low-cost food security during drought years. Yet agroecological conditions in these drought-prone regions differ significantly from the northern research stations where Zambian scientists developed the new cassava varieties. So it is not clear that the varieties or management practices that work well in the north will prove optimal in other regions. In order to assist farmers and agencies interested in expanding cassava as a food security crop in central Zambia, we have conducted cassava trials in central Zambia over the past three years. Concurrently, we have engaged in regular onfarm discussions with early adopting farmers. Results from these investigations suggest that, with some modification of management practices recommended in the north, many of the new cassava clones offer a feasible means of mitigating lean season hunger and providing low-cost, in-kind drought insurance for rural households in central Zambia. Sun, 26 Feb 2006 22:58:59 GMT http://ageconsearch.umn.edu/handle/31730 Title: Multinominal logit analysis of household cooking fuel choice in rural Kenya: The case of Kisumu district <br/> <br/>Authors: Pundo, M.O.; Fraser, G.C.G. <br/> <br/>Abstract: The study uses multinomial logit model to investigate the factors that determine household cooking fuel choice between firewood, charcoal, and kerosene in Kisumu, Kenya. Empirical results indicate that level of education of wife, the level of education of husband, type of food mostly cooked, whether or not the household owns the dwelling unit, and whether or not the dwelling unit is traditional or modern type are important factors that determine household cooking fuel choice. Implications for regional and national fuel policies are discussed. Sun, 26 Feb 2006 22:58:59 GMT http://ageconsearch.umn.edu/handle/31731 Title: Institutional economics as a theoretical framework for transformation in agriculture <br/> <br/>Authors: Omamo, S.W. Sun, 26 Feb 2006 22:58:59 GMT http://ageconsearch.umn.edu/handle/31732 Title: Modelling the marginal revenue of water in selected agricultural commodities: A panel data approach <br/> <br/>Authors: Moolman, C.E.; Blignaut, J.N.; van Eyden, R. <br/> <br/>Abstract: South Africa is a water-stressed country where water availability is an important constraint to economic and social development, and will become even more so in the future if this scarce resource is not managed effectively. In order to manage this scarce supply of water, we need to value it. This study focuses on the value of water in the agricultural sector, in particular the marginal revenue of water for six irrigation commodities namely avocados, bananas, grapefruit, mangoes, oranges and sugarcane. A quadratic production function was fitted with an SUR model specification in a panel data study from 1975 to 2002 to obtain marginal revenue functions for each of the six commodities. We found that mangoes are the most efficient commodity in its water use relative to revenue generated (marginal revenue of water equals R25.43/m³ in 2002) and sugarcane the least efficient (marginal revenue of water equals R1.67/m³ in 2002). The marginal revenue of water is not an indication of the true “market” price. Neither is it an indication what the administered price should be. The marginal revenue of water is rather a guideline for policy makers to determine which industries or commodities within an industry can generate the largest revenue per unit water applied Sun, 26 Feb 2006 22:58:59 GMT http://ageconsearch.umn.edu/handle/31733 Title: Bridging the economic divide in South African agriculture by improving access to natural resources <br/> <br/>Authors: Viljoen, M.F. <br/> <br/>Abstract: The paper focuses on improvement in access to the natural resources land and water to bridge the economic divide in South African agriculture. The relevance of the approach to bridging the economic divide, progress made since 1994 in land and water reform and problems experienced and strategies to overcome them are discussed. Challenges imposed by climate change and biodiversity on the effective utilization of land and water resources are also highlighted. Given the broadness of the subject, an overview of some important issues can only be attempted within the allocated time. The presentation starts with background information to place the discussion in context within the national framework and to define certain concepts. Conceptual issues regarding access to natural resources are then presented to serve as an analytical framework for the subsequent discussions on access to land and water, climate change and biodiversity. The presentation concludes by integrating the foregoing discussions and highlighting some challenges for agricultural economists. Sun, 26 Feb 2006 22:58:59 GMT http://ageconsearch.umn.edu/handle/31734 Title: Determinants of fertilizer use on maize in Eastern Ethiopia: A weighted endogenous sampling analysis of the extent and intensity of adoption <br/> <br/>Authors: Fufa, B.; Hassan, R.M. <br/> <br/>Abstract: Factors influencing the extent and intensity of fertilizer adoption on maize production in Ethiopia were analyzed. A Weighted Endogenous Sampling Maximum Likelihood estimator was used in the specification of a Probit and Tobit fertilizer adoption models. The results have important implications for the formulation of policies and programs targeted to promotion of fertilizer use in small-scale maize production. Those include improved road infrastructure, consideration of weather related crop failure insurance programs, development of drought tolerant cultivars and targeting particular farmer groups. Sun, 26 Feb 2006 22:58:59 GMT http://ageconsearch.umn.edu/handle/31735 Title: Measurement and analysis of rural household income in a dualistic economy: The case of South Africa <br/> <br/>Authors: Kirsten, J.; Moldenhauer, W. <br/> <br/>Abstract: Government Departments in South Africa utilise a number of different data sets on income of rural households. These include the Population Census, the October Household Survey of 1995 and 2000, the Rural Household Survey of 1997 and the various agricultural censuses (1996 and 2003). All of these use different approaches in obtaining household income. The agricultural census, for example, only reports on farm income – excluding the non-farm income. This paper reviews the different sources of household income data, their measurement techniques and the utilisation thereof. The difference in application of various surveys in the former homeland areas and the so-called commercial farming areas are also shown. In the case of the former homeland areas integrated rural household data are used for poverty measurement purposes. The context and methodologies of these surveys are discussed in detail. Sun, 26 Feb 2006 22:58:59 GMT http://ageconsearch.umn.edu/handle/31736 Title: The agricultural input elasticity of rural-urban migration in South Africa <br/> <br/>Authors: Asfaha, T.A.; Jooste, A. <br/> <br/>Abstract: The pace of rural-urban migration relative to urban job creation is of particular relevance in relation to the level of urban unemployment and poverty in many developing countries. Faced with high levels of urban unemployment and other socio-economic problems governments in developing countries adopted several policies to ameliorate the situation. Since such policies were mainly urban biased in nature it not only failed in most cases but also in some instance exacerbated the situation by stimulating more rural-urban migration. Rural-urban migration occurs where there is economic disparity between rural and urban areas. Some economists therefore, argue that boosting agricultural productivity and/ or income can reduce the incidence of economic problems partially posed by rural-urban migration. In this paper, an attempt is made, using a recursive equation system and a South African data set for the period 1965-2002, to measure the indirect agricultural input elasticity of rural-urban migration. The results indicate that narrowing the urban-rural income differentials can reduce the massive rural-urban migration and high urban unemployment in the country. It is furthermore shown that developing agricultural land and infrastructure and increasing fertilizer use can boost agricultural income, reduce rural-urban migration and is consistent with policies aimed at curbing urban unemployment. Sun, 26 Feb 2006 22:58:59 GMT http://ageconsearch.umn.edu/handle/31737 Title: Stochastic efficiency analysis of alternative water conservation strategies <br/> <br/>Authors: Grove, B.; Nel, F.; Maluleke, H.H. <br/> <br/>Abstract: Stochastic efficiency with respect to an exponential utility function was used to determine utility-efficient water-conserving irrigation schedules for wheat and maize based on certainty equivalents. Total gross margin risk resulting from production risk of alternative deficit irrigation practices was quantified using an irrigation simulation model and stochastic budgeting procedures. Results showed increasing production variability with increasing levels of deficit irrigation, especially when rainfall has significant potential to contribute to the production process. Risk-averse decision makers are more willingly to adopt deficit irrigation schedules for maize due to increased effective rainfall. The conclusion is that the potential to use rainfall more effectively through deficit irrigation is a key variable determining adoption of deficit irrigation strategies by risk-averse decision makers. Localized weather forecasts may improve acceptance of deficit irrigation by risk-averse decision makers. The value of information for weather forecast might be low because of high risk premiums placed on full irrigation by risk-averse decision makers. Sun, 26 Feb 2006 22:58:59 GMT http://ageconsearch.umn.edu/handle/31735 Title: Measurement and analysis of rural household income in a dualistic economy: The case of South Africa <br/> <br/>Authors: Kirsten, J.; Moldenhauer, W. <br/> <br/>Abstract: Government Departments in South Africa utilise a number of different data sets on income of rural households. These include the Population Census, the October Household Survey of 1995 and 2000, the Rural Household Survey of 1997 and the various agricultural censuses (1996 and 2003). All of these use different approaches in obtaining household income. The agricultural census, for example, only reports on farm income – excluding the non-farm income. This paper reviews the different sources of household income data, their measurement techniques and the utilisation thereof. The difference in application of various surveys in the former homeland areas and the so-called commercial farming areas are also shown. In the case of the former homeland areas integrated rural household data are used for poverty measurement purposes. The context and methodologies of these surveys are discussed in detail. Sun, 26 Feb 2006 22:58:59 GMT http://ageconsearch.umn.edu/handle/31736 Title: The agricultural input elasticity of rural-urban migration in South Africa <br/> <br/>Authors: Asfaha, T.A.; Jooste, A. <br/> <br/>Abstract: The pace of rural-urban migration relative to urban job creation is of particular relevance in relation to the level of urban unemployment and poverty in many developing countries. Faced with high levels of urban unemployment and other socio-economic problems governments in developing countries adopted several policies to ameliorate the situation. Since such policies were mainly urban biased in nature it not only failed in most cases but also in some instance exacerbated the situation by stimulating more rural-urban migration. Rural-urban migration occurs where there is economic disparity between rural and urban areas. Some economists therefore, argue that boosting agricultural productivity and/ or income can reduce the incidence of economic problems partially posed by rural-urban migration. In this paper, an attempt is made, using a recursive equation system and a South African data set for the period 1965-2002, to measure the indirect agricultural input elasticity of rural-urban migration. The results indicate that narrowing the urban-rural income differentials can reduce the massive rural-urban migration and high urban unemployment in the country. It is furthermore shown that developing agricultural land and infrastructure and increasing fertilizer use can boost agricultural income, reduce rural-urban migration and is consistent with policies aimed at curbing urban unemployment. Sun, 26 Feb 2006 22:58:59 GMT http://ageconsearch.umn.edu/handle/31737 Title: Stochastic efficiency analysis of alternative water conservation strategies <br/> <br/>Authors: Grove, B.; Nel, F.; Maluleke, H.H. <br/> <br/>Abstract: Stochastic efficiency with respect to an exponential utility function was used to determine utility-efficient water-conserving irrigation schedules for wheat and maize based on certainty equivalents. Total gross margin risk resulting from production risk of alternative deficit irrigation practices was quantified using an irrigation simulation model and stochastic budgeting procedures. Results showed increasing production variability with increasing levels of deficit irrigation, especially when rainfall has significant potential to contribute to the production process. Risk-averse decision makers are more willingly to adopt deficit irrigation schedules for maize due to increased effective rainfall. The conclusion is that the potential to use rainfall more effectively through deficit irrigation is a key variable determining adoption of deficit irrigation strategies by risk-averse decision makers. Localized weather forecasts may improve acceptance of deficit irrigation by risk-averse decision makers. The value of information for weather forecast might be low because of high risk premiums placed on full irrigation by risk-averse decision makers. Sun, 26 Feb 2006 22:58:59 GMT http://ageconsearch.umn.edu/handle/31730 Title: Multinominal logit analysis of household cooking fuel choice in rural Kenya: The case of Kisumu district <br/> <br/>Authors: Pundo, M.O.; Fraser, G.C.G. <br/> <br/>Abstract: The study uses multinomial logit model to investigate the factors that determine household cooking fuel choice between firewood, charcoal, and kerosene in Kisumu, Kenya. Empirical results indicate that level of education of wife, the level of education of husband, type of food mostly cooked, whether or not the household owns the dwelling unit, and whether or not the dwelling unit is traditional or modern type are important factors that determine household cooking fuel choice. Implications for regional and national fuel policies are discussed. Sun, 26 Feb 2006 22:58:59 GMT http://ageconsearch.umn.edu/handle/31732 Title: Modelling the marginal revenue of water in selected agricultural commodities: A panel data approach <br/> <br/>Authors: Moolman, C.E.; Blignaut, J.N.; van Eyden, R. <br/> <br/>Abstract: South Africa is a water-stressed country where water availability is an important constraint to economic and social development, and will become even more so in the future if this scarce resource is not managed effectively. In order to manage this scarce supply of water, we need to value it. This study focuses on the value of water in the agricultural sector, in particular the marginal revenue of water for six irrigation commodities namely avocados, bananas, grapefruit, mangoes, oranges and sugarcane. A quadratic production function was fitted with an SUR model specification in a panel data study from 1975 to 2002 to obtain marginal revenue functions for each of the six commodities. We found that mangoes are the most efficient commodity in its water use relative to revenue generated (marginal revenue of water equals R25.43/m³ in 2002) and sugarcane the least efficient (marginal revenue of water equals R1.67/m³ in 2002). The marginal revenue of water is not an indication of the true “market” price. Neither is it an indication what the administered price should be. The marginal revenue of water is rather a guideline for policy makers to determine which industries or commodities within an industry can generate the largest revenue per unit water applied Sun, 26 Feb 2006 22:58:59 GMT http://ageconsearch.umn.edu/handle/31729 Title: Cassava as drought insurance: Food security implications of cassava trials in Central Zambia <br/> <br/>Authors: Barratt, N.; Chitundu, D.; Dover, O.; Elsinga, J.; Eriksson, S.; Guma, L.; Haggblade, M.; Haggblade, S.; Henn, T.O.; Locke, F.R.; O'Donnell, C.; Smith, C.; Stevens, T. <br/> <br/>Abstract: Wide, weather-induced fluctuations in maize production lead to recurrent food shortages in Zambia's maize consuming regions, while the cassava-growing regions of the north enjoy stable food production, even in drought years. Noting this striking correlation between drought vulnerability and the prevalence of maize as a staple food, a growing array of agencies in Zambia has begun introducing highly productive new cassava varieties, developed in the north, to more central and southerly regions in an effort to provide low-cost food security during drought years. Yet agroecological conditions in these drought-prone regions differ significantly from the northern research stations where Zambian scientists developed the new cassava varieties. So it is not clear that the varieties or management practices that work well in the north will prove optimal in other regions. In order to assist farmers and agencies interested in expanding cassava as a food security crop in central Zambia, we have conducted cassava trials in central Zambia over the past three years. Concurrently, we have engaged in regular onfarm discussions with early adopting farmers. Results from these investigations suggest that, with some modification of management practices recommended in the north, many of the new cassava clones offer a feasible means of mitigating lean season hunger and providing low-cost, in-kind drought insurance for rural households in central Zambia. Sun, 26 Feb 2006 22:58:59 GMT http://ageconsearch.umn.edu/handle/31731 Title: Institutional economics as a theoretical framework for transformation in agriculture <br/> <br/>Authors: Omamo, S.W. Sun, 26 Feb 2006 22:58:59 GMT http://ageconsearch.umn.edu/handle/31734 Title: Determinants of fertilizer use on maize in Eastern Ethiopia: A weighted endogenous sampling analysis of the extent and intensity of adoption <br/> <br/>Authors: Fufa, B.; Hassan, R.M. <br/> <br/>Abstract: Factors influencing the extent and intensity of fertilizer adoption on maize production in Ethiopia were analyzed. A Weighted Endogenous Sampling Maximum Likelihood estimator was used in the specification of a Probit and Tobit fertilizer adoption models. The results have important implications for the formulation of policies and programs targeted to promotion of fertilizer use in small-scale maize production. Those include improved road infrastructure, consideration of weather related crop failure insurance programs, development of drought tolerant cultivars and targeting particular farmer groups. Sun, 26 Feb 2006 22:58:59 GMT http://ageconsearch.umn.edu/handle/31733 Title: Bridging the economic divide in South African agriculture by improving access to natural resources <br/> <br/>Authors: Viljoen, M.F. <br/> <br/>Abstract: The paper focuses on improvement in access to the natural resources land and water to bridge the economic divide in South African agriculture. The relevance of the approach to bridging the economic divide, progress made since 1994 in land and water reform and problems experienced and strategies to overcome them are discussed. Challenges imposed by climate change and biodiversity on the effective utilization of land and water resources are also highlighted. Given the broadness of the subject, an overview of some important issues can only be attempted within the allocated time. The presentation starts with background information to place the discussion in context within the national framework and to define certain concepts. Conceptual issues regarding access to natural resources are then presented to serve as an analytical framework for the subsequent discussions on access to land and water, climate change and biodiversity. The presentation concludes by integrating the foregoing discussions and highlighting some challenges for agricultural economists. Sun, 26 Feb 2006 22:58:59 GMT