Browsing by Browse by FOR 2020 "300208 Farm management, rural management and agribusiness"
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Publication Open AccessReportAccelerating precision agriculture to decision agriculture: Enabling digital agriculture in Australia(Cotton Research and Development Corporation (CRDC), 2017) ;Leonard, Emma ;Rainbow, Rohan ;Laurie, A; ;Llewellyn, R ;Perrett, Ed ;Sanderson, Jay ;Skinner, Andrew ;Stollery, T ;Wiseman, Leanne; ;Zhang, Airong ;Trindal, Jane ;Baker, I ;Barry, Simon ;Darragh, L ;Darnell, Ross ;George, A ;Heath, Richard ;Jakku, EmmaAustralian Government, Department of Agriculture and Water ReourcesThe aim of the project was to benchmark Australian producers' needs, perceived risks and benefits, and expectations associated with digital agriculture and big data context. Such understanding will inform strategies aimed at 1) better utilising agricultural data to enhance productivity and profitability, and 2) better capitalising on the opportunities created by digital agriculture and big data. In consultation with P2D project members and participating RDCs, CSIRO designed the survey questionnaire and conducted a survey of 1000 producers across 17 agricultural industries during the period of 7 March to 18 April 2017. The sampling specifications for each industry was defined in consultation with relevant participating RDCs. The study investigated producers' needs, perceived risks and benefits, and expectations from three aspects: telecommunication infrastructure, the status of current data collection, and data sharing and concerns in the big data context.3670 1 - Some of the metrics are blocked by yourconsent settings
Journal ArticlePublication Accounting for risk in productivity analysis: an application to Norwegian dairy farmingEmpirical studies have often shown wide differences in productivity among firms. Although several studies have sought to identify factors causing such differences, only a few studies have examined the effects of risk and risk aversion on productivity. In this study, using Norwegian dairy farming data for 2009, we examined the effects of different aspects of risk on productivity. We used a range of variables to construct indices of risk taking, risk perception and risk management. These indices were then included as arguments in an input distance function which represents the production technology. Our results show that these risk indices did affect productivity. Regional differences in productivity, though small, were also found to exist, suggesting that unobserved edaphic factors that differ between regions also affected productivity.1073 1 - Some of the metrics are blocked by yourconsent settings
Journal ArticlePublication Achieving better strategic fit and higher surplus for Australian beef value chains by recognising and countering chain failureStrategic fit is the nature of the link between the customer priorities that a value chain hopes to satisfy, and the capabilities that are available in the value chain to implement that objective. Usually, there is a trade-off between value chains that focus on being responsive to customer needs and those that focus on supplying at the lowest possible cost. If demand uncertainty is low, a low-cost value chain is the best strategic fit; conversely if demand uncertainty is high, a responsive value chain is the best fit. A poor fit means lower chain surplus to be shared among the chain participants. We provide an outline of an analytical framework for determining the optimal level of responsiveness for a food value chain. We then present and discuss two case studies. Both feature initiatives aimed at internalising positive chain externalities and capturing chain goods within the Australian beef value chain. We use our framework to show how these initiatives are predicted to promote responsiveness and thus achieve a better strategic fit and higher surplus for the whole chain. Verifying that such a move would indeed contribute to higher chain surplus would require some new measurements of whole-of-chain outcomes so that the economic relationships making up the framework could be estimated and analysed.2603 1 - Some of the metrics are blocked by yourconsent settings
Journal ArticlePublication Achieving Strategic Fit in a Food Value Chain: Further Evidence and the Link with Strategic ScopeMaximising value in a food value chain requires the achievement of a strategic fit of services applied to the transfer and sale of heterogeneous products in different channels to meet the varying requirements of customers. However, the approaches offered in the supply chain management textbooks do not provide rigorous analytical tools to achieve that optimal mix. To overcome this deficiency, an approach based on the standard microeconomic framework of the production possibilities frontier and the iso-revenue curve has been used to demonstrate the optimal mix of attributes from responsive and low-cost strategies, applied on a whole-of-chain basis. The optimal mix depends on both the technical feasibility of production and the relative unit returns from each product. In this paper, further real-world examples are provided, and the evidence suggests that commercial decisions on the cost-responsiveness mix have been made in accordance with the proposed framework. The relationship between strategic fit and strategic scope is also explored.
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Thesis DoctoralPublication Adoption and impact of improved cassava varieties: Evidence from Ghana(2017) ;Kondo, Kodjo; ; Cassava is an important tropical root crop for food security and national economies. In Ghana, the roots are used in popular local cuisines as well as in brewery, bakery, confectionery and plywood industries. A number of high-yielding and disease-resistant varieties are released and promoted to increase productivity and improve rural welfare. The study used a sequential mixed-method approach to identify, among drivers and impediments, the dissemination mechanism with highest impact on the adoption of improved cassava varieties (ICVs) and its intensity. The analyses helped estimate the impact of ICV adoption on productivity and households' livelihood, and to provide evidence of technological, managerial, and environmental gaps between adopters and non-adopters. Data were collected in 2014 from 608 randomly selected cassava-producing households in 14 communities in six districts of the Ashanti and Brong-Ahafo regions. Summary statistics reveal a 25 percent ICV adoption rate. Econometric analyses indicate significant and positive effects on the likelihood of households' ICV adoption for group members, the number of varieties planted, the number of livestock owned and information received mostly through innovation platforms (IPs). Impediments to ICV adoption include the location in the Ashanti region, household size, distances to the nearest tarred road and market, and grey-skin colour of ICVs. Results from propensity score matching and instrumental variable approaches indicate positive impacts of ICV adoption on cassava and whole-farm productivities and on per-capita annual crop income. Adopters appear to incur lower total annual per-capita expenditures and expenditures on food than non-adopters but spend more on children’s education. Bias-corrected stochastic output distance functions and stochastic metafrontier production functions showed strong evidence of technological, managerial, and environmental gaps between adopters and non-adopters in both cassava and whole-farm production. In both cases, adopters were found to operate on higher frontiers and to be more efficient than non-adopters. Adopters also appear to operate in a more favourable 2 production environment than non-adopters. The study provides strong evidence of inefficiency in cassava production for both ICV adopters and non-adopters. Findings imply that policy measures could be taken to increase the 25 percent ICV adoption rate through the establishment of IPs, focusing on households in Brong-Ahafo and those who are group members that integrate livestock-farming with cassava production. ICV adoption is expected to lead to increased productivity through technological change and enhanced efficiency. Moreover, the adoption of ICVs has the potential to increase crop incomes, food security and result in higher investment in children’s education, especially for female-headed households.2522 - Some of the metrics are blocked by yourconsent settings
Thesis DoctoralPublication Adoption and Performance of 'Clean and Safe' Vegetable Farming Systems in Northern Thailand(2012) ;Kramol, Prathanthip; ; ; Chang, ChristieConcerns about health and environmental hazards in food production have become an important issue for consumers, farmers and governments worldwide. In Thailand, vegetables are grown at various points along the 'clean' continuum based on four different production practices related to the use of synthetic chemicals. Organic farming is applied to technologies with no use of chemicals or synthetic fertilisers during production or processing. Pesticide-free and safe-use practices lie between organic and conventional practices, and are possible steps when converting conventional farms to organic farms. These four main vegetable farming systems have been developed and promoted by government and non-government organisations (NGO) to reduce agrochemical contamination in agricultural products for domestic and export markets. The main purpose of this study is to examine the adoption behaviour and performance of farmers operating under the four different vegetable farming practices. By using farm level data collected from 377 smallholder vegetable farmers in northern Thailand, econometric models were estimated to examine factors affecting the adoption of 'clean and safe' farming system and practices, and farm performance.2067 - Some of the metrics are blocked by yourconsent settings
Book ChapterPublication Adoption of Integrated Crop Management Technology for Poverty Reduction and Food Security: The Case of Smallholder Rice Production in Timor Leste(Oxford University Press, 2020-10-16) ;Rola-Rubzen, Maria Fay; ;Brito, Marcolino Estevao Fernandes E; Dixon, JohnTimor Leste, also known as East Timor, has been combating poverty since it regained independence from Indonesia in 2002. About two-thirds of the population live in rural areas with the majority relying on agriculture for their main source of livelihood (Ministry of Finance 2008). Given the strong reliance on agriculture, the government has focused on agricultural development as a key pillar of economic development (MAF 2012).1686 11 - Some of the metrics are blocked by yourconsent settings
DatasetPublication Agricultural and aquaculture transformation in southwest coastal Bangladesh: environmental change impacts and adaptive capacity(University of New England, 2022-05-04); ; Climatic, salinity, cropping area, cost-benefit data were collected from primary and secondary sources. I collected secondary data from government agencies, websites and published materials. I collected primary data on farmers perception of climatic change, risks, adaptation, drivers of intensification, yield, price and cost-benefit from the study villages in southwest coastal Bangladesh. Multiple data collection activities such as focus group discussion, household case study, household questionnaire survey, key informant interviews were applied to collect primary data. Data were processed and analysed using statistical software (e.g. excel, R, @Risk). The collected data supported to answer the research questions. All data set were used to justify the viability of crop and aquaculture systems in salinity affected southwest coastal Bangladesh.356 - Some of the metrics are blocked by yourconsent settings
Thesis DoctoralPublication Agricultural Land Abandonment in the Hill Agroecological Region of Nepal: Drivers, Farmer Perceptions and Reutilisation PathwaysAmid concerns of the looming scarcity of agricultural land and rapidly growing global demand for food and biofuel, cropland abandonment is occurring in many parts of the globe, affecting millions of hectares of cultivated land. Although cropland abandonment trends have been widely reported and studied in European landscapes and other Western countries, this land use change phenomenon is relatively new in developing countries, including Nepal, and knowledge about the drivers and impacts of cropland abandonment is lacking. There is a need for a deeper understanding of why Nepalese farmers are abandoning farming, what are the impacts of cropland abandonment on rural households, and how abandoned croplands can be reutilised for the benefit of the rural community and the environment.
Drawing lessons from global evidence, this PhD work aimed to understand the underlying drivers and implications of agricultural land abandonment, and to explore potential reutilisation pathways to improve the rural economy, food security and sustainable land use in Nepal. To achieve this goal, four research objectives were formulated and investigated using a systematic literature review and quantitative and qualitative data collection from three districts of the hill agroecological region of Nepal, using a mixed methods research approach. Three districts – Kavre, Lamjung and Kaski – were selected considering the diversity of demographic and socioeconomic status of farmers, land use and farming practices, economic opportunities and livelihood systems, and land abandonment trend and prospect for reutilisation. Quantitative data was collected through a household survey and qualitative data were collected through focus group discussions and key informant interviews. In total 374 household surveys, 6 focus group discussions, and 15 key informant interviews were conducted.
The first objective of this study was to conduct a systematic review to understand the drivers and consequences of agricultural land abandonment and pathways for the reutilisation of abandoned agricultural lands reported across the globe (Chapter 2). For the review, 124 relevant articles were retrieved from a systematic search of CAB Abstracts, Scopus and Web of Science, applying exclusion and inclusion criteria in line with standard protocols. The spatial and temporal diversity of the reviewed articles showed that most of the research on the topic of land abandonment is concentrated in European (64 articles) and Asian Countries (44 articles). Although this land use change has received research attention from the early 1990s, about 95% of the articles were published only in the last 15 years. In the case of Asian countries, almost all of the studies took place after 2014.
The review identified seven categories of drivers responsible for cropland abandonment: demographic, household characteristics, farm characteristics, biophysical, economic, regulatory and socio-political. Cropland abandonment had mixed impacts on several abiotic and biotic components of the landscape, with contrasting views about the social and environmental implications. However, negative consequences were most frequently reported compared to positive consequences, particularly in the agricultural landscape, farmland and farm structures, food security, socio-cultural aspects and economic aspects. Positive impacts were observed on carbon sequestration, habitat availability and microbial abundance. Although previous studies often considered land abandonment as a global concern in land use assessment and management, few studies discussed the possible reutilisation pathways of abandoned croplands. Alternative land uses included various farm-forest and afforestation systems, highvalue crop farming and a range of communal land management approaches. Finally, this review chapter provided valuable insights for future research and knowledge about the trade-offs and opportunities associated with land abandonment.
The second objective of the study was to examine the extent, drivers and impacts of cropland abandonment in the hill agroecological region of Nepal (Chapter 3). The study revealed that, depending on the location, between 31% and 48% of croplands were abandoned in the region, with 60% of farming households having abandoned at least one parcel of cropland. Biophysical drivers (distance from homestead to parcel, the slope of the parcel, land fragmentation, land quality and irrigation availability) and socio-demographic drivers (family size, higher education of the household members and out-migration) were commonly responsible for agricultural land abandonment. Negative impacts of land abandonment were reported for rural landscapes, human-made farm structures, socio-economic systems, local food production and food security. In line with global studies, this research suggested that marginal land quality, demographic changes (particularly migration) and rising alternative economic opportunities elsewhere contributed to cropland abandonment.
The third objective of this study was to investigate the dynamics and potential pathways for reutilising abandoned cropland. To address this objective, Chapter 4 examined the potential reutilisation options, farmer preferences, and conditions that create an enabling environment for productive reutilisation of abandoned croplands. Regardless of their abandoned cropland holdings, the majority of the Nepalese hill farmers considered that abandoned croplands should be reutilised. The farmers identified seven options for reutilising abandoned croplands: Cash cropping, Fruit crop farming, Spice and medicinal crop farming, Fodder tree plantation, Cereal cropping, Woodlot plantation and Mixed subsistence farming. Despite the dominance of traditional mixed subsistence farming in the area, the majority of farmers did not consider this system as a viable option for reutilisation. Farmers preferred high value and cash-generating options for reutilisation. This implied that the use of relatively productive croplands for marketoriented farming could help to minimise abandonment and revitalise the Nepalese agricultural sector. The study showed that farmers' preferences and adoption of reutilisation options are influenced by their socio-economic attributes, household needs and availability of resources.
Chapter 4 also showed that the most important conditions that motivate farmers, apart from labour availability, were structural and institutional conditions that require state or commercial intervention to address. However, many aspects of these latter factors are beyond the control of farming households in the region. This highlighted the need for an in-depth understanding of how policies regulate structural, commercial and institutional settings, thereby shaping the reutilisation decisions of farmers at the local level. Chapter 5 addressed this need by analysing the policy constraints for reutilisation of abandoned farmlands and identifying possible policy solutions for the management of abandoned farmlands for productive use.
Chapter 5 found that policy provisions related to land rights, labour, incentives and governance play important roles in shaping decisions on reutilisation of abandoned cropland. Land-related issues rooted in ownership, tenancy rights, access, inheritance law and rising trends of land conversation to non-farm use, have played important roles in shaping the abandonment and reutilisation process. Migration-promoting policies, and agricultural policies that fail to support farming systems innovation or agricultural market development have further limited reutilisation. Similarly, the lack of effective implementation of programs to manage croplands sustainably, weak coordination within and between institutions, and conventional land governance systems are other constraints for reutilisation.
Based on these findings, five potential policy solutions to address these problems have been recommended: (a) provision of land use rights transfer to improve access to land, (b) promoting the consolidation of fragmented land parcels to help ensure economies of scale, (c) improved farm labour management and promotion of farm mechanisation to address labour shortage issues (d) commercially oriented policy priorities to reutilise relatively productive abandoned croplands for high-value, comparative advantage and export potential commodities, and (e) improved administrative and governance capacity of local governments to monitor and manage unauthorised land conversion, fragmentation and abandonment.
From a global policy perspective, abandoned croplands are often viewed as unproductive land, occupying marginal lands. But there is evidence that a significant portion of globally abandoned croplands is still economically viable for recultivation, a view reinforced in this study. Thus, development activities and policies should consider options for reutilising abandoned croplands sustainably to address the growing global socio-economic and environmental challenges associated with land abandonment. Against this backdrop, it is anticipated that the findings of this study will contribute to ongoing national and international discussions about practices, policies and trade-offs of cropland abandonment and its reutilisation pathways.
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Book ChapterPublication Agricultural transformation in the Vietnamese Mekong Delta in the new era(Elsevier Inc) ;LienLe, Thi Ha ;Dang, Khim Khoi; ;Nguyen, Hong QuanThe Vietnamese Mekong River Delta (VMD) is the world's third-largest delta, located in the Lower Mekong Basin. Situated in the humid tropics, the VMD has favorable conditions for diverse tropical agriculture, which has been experiencing a dynamic transformation from primary production to strategically commercial production, providing the whole nation with food security and exports. However, past successes of extensive growth have come at environmental costs, including changing natural hydrological regimes, deforestation, depletion of natural resources and biodiversity, land degradation, land subsidence, water pollution, drought, and salinity intrusion. In the face of climate change and complex upstream developments, it is recommended that agriculture in the VMD follow a transformation pathway that includes nature-based agricultural land use change, circular agricultural and agroecology, combined green and gray engineering, and market-based agribusiness in order to ensure environmental and socio-economic sustainability.
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Journal ArticlePublication Analysing pig traders in Uganda: sampling issues, marketing activities, and constraint analysisUn élément intégral de la chaîne de valeur de l’exploitation porcine en Ouganda est l’activité des traders. Cet article rend compte d’une étude qui a quantifié la nature de ces traders dans le District de Mukono, un lieu de marketing majeur pour l’exploitation porcine, proche de Kampala. La littérature sur l’échantillonnage des traders pour ce type de recherche n’offre que très peu de directives, et le deuxième objectif de cette étude était de tester des mécanismes d’échantillonnage et de rendre compte de leur influence sur les résultats statistiques obtenus. Différentes sources pour le cadre d’échantillonnage ont permis d’obtenir des échantillons différents, avec un chevauchement dans des proportions limitées. Les deux échantillons ont distinctement révélé deux profils différents de traders.2018 2 - Some of the metrics are blocked by yourconsent settings
Thesis DoctoralPublication Analysis of Livestock Industry App Technology Development and Adoption for Farmer Extension and Decision-Making(University of New England, 2022-10-05); ; ; Mobile applications (apps) can be of great benefit to the way farmers record and access information, make more informed decisions, combine with other precision agriculture technologies, and play an important role in the delivery of farmer extension. There is little peerreviewed empirical information on Australian or international farmers' adoption and use of agricultural apps. Despite their widespread use, the literature also suggests that farmers have lower uptake of mobile device and app use than the general population.
The first objective of this thesis was to review the current technology adoption and extension models and assess their relevance for the adoption of app technology for the livestock industry, particularly the sheep sector. The next objective was to establish the levels of technology adoption of smartphones and agricultural app use for Australian livestock farmers and what farm or farmer characteristics influence adoption. The next task was to assess the motivations or incentives for farmers to adopt agricultural apps in their farm businesses and finally evaluate the attitude of farmers towards the role of apps in extension and on-farm decision-making. Overall, the research project aimed to identify factors of importance to farmers that influence their decision-making processes for agricultural app uptake through directly asking farmers. Another aim was to identify factors and processes important to developing agricultural apps that underpin successful adoption. These results can form the basis of a development framework to guide the creation of agricultural apps targeting farmers as their end-users.
This study uses a mixed-methods research methodology. Online quantitative surveys were conducted to establish smartphone ownership and agricultural app use levels and evaluate farmer attitudes towards the role of apps in farmer extension and decision-making. The study also identifies factors of importance to livestock farmers and other factors influencing app adoption. I held semi-structured key informant qualitative interviews with app development team members from industry research and development (R&D) and private sector organisations. Analysis of the interviews identified key success factors for app adoption.
An initial online survey (Survey 1) was completed by 392 respondents, including app users and non-app users, where 79% were sheep farmers. Subsequent surveys (Surveys 2–4) were completed by a total of 150 respondents, targeting the users of three Australian agricultural apps—RamSelect, Lifetime Ewe Management and Good Bulls—where 84.7% of respondents were farmers (sheep and dairy). Survey respondents generally had high smartphone and tablet ownership levels of between 91.9% and 97.9%. Mobile app use was also high among survey participants, with 83.4% for Survey 1 and 90.8% for Surveys 2–4. However, significantly lower rates of agricultural app use suggest either a lack of relevant, useful and easy to use apps for agriculture or an issue with the value proposition for app adoption.
Survey 1 found that farmer age, use of advisers and farmer network participation significantly influenced farmer app adoption. However, when asked, farmers ranked networks and advisers of low influence when deciding to use an agricultural app. Older age brackets had lower levels of app adoption, but the level of adoption was still relatively high. Thus, age should not be viewed as a barrier to adoption or overlooked in R&D and marketing. Developers and marketers of agricultural apps should also be wary of how they use farm advisers and farmer networks in their adoption plans. Although there was a positive relationship with higher levels of adoption, it may not be for previously thought reasons.
All surveys revealed a strong positive farmer attitude towards using apps in farmer extension. The vast majority of participants see apps replacing some traditional extension methods or that apps would be useful tools to incorporate into programs. Participants demonstrated a similar positive attitude for the role of apps in on-farm decision-making. The combined response signifies a strong positive attitude to using apps in the livestock industry.
Participants were asked to rank the importance of app attributes and reasons for app use. Participants identified usefulness, ease-of-use and a better way of doing something already done as the most important app attributes. Survey participants highlighted that making more informed decisions, increasing efficiency, accessing and recording important information and saving time were the most important reasons for agricultural app use. The top reason for not using an agricultural app was apps taking too long to set up and learn how to use.
The interviewing of agricultural app development teams helped identify key factors within the app development process that led to apps being more likely to achieve successful adoption. These factors include beginning the process with a verified end-user 'pain point', validating the app solution, clearly defining the app value proposition, having end-users engaged throughout the whole development process and implementing advanced systems to utilise feedback to enable customer success continual product improvements. Furthermore, some areas of R&D organisation product development and funding models hinder the success of app adoption that had a commercialisation goal.
This study contributes to the literature by establishing both levels of technology adoption of agricultural apps and key determinants of app adoption in the Australian livestock industry. While the study was conducted in Australia, there is limited peer-reviewed information on agricultural app adoption more broadly. This study adds value to the small number of existing international studies. The study considers farm and farmer characteristics that influence agricultural app adoption and uniquely identifies what motivates and influences farmers to adopt from a farmer perspective, as well as their attitudes towards the role of apps in farmer extension and on-farm decision-making.
While many aspects of existing DST adoption frameworks and established technology adoption models are still relevant to adopting agricultural apps, no single model or framework effectively encapsulates the factors and processes needed, or the new app-specific findings reported in this study. On this basis, a framework is proposed based on the research conducted, identifying why farmers use agricultural apps, factors that influence app adoption, and the factors and processes within app development that lead to apps being more successful in the marketplace. The agricultural app adoption framework is intended for app developers and providers, with farmers as their target users, particularly livestock producers, to reach greater levels of adoption success. The framework can also inform funders, extension agents and policymakers on the crucial elements to be considered in developing successful apps for farmers.
This study also highlights areas for further investigation, such as the need to better understand the relationship between farmer network participation and adviser use with higher levels of technology adoption and how best to incorporate apps into new and existing farmer extension programs. There is also potential for using other product development and funding models within R&D organisations to improve commercialisation success and higher levels of app adoption.
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Publication Open AccessJournal ArticleAn Analysis of Technical Efficiency in the Presence of Developments Toward Commercialization: Evidence from Tanzania's Milk Producers(Palgrave Macmillan Ltd, 2021-06) ;Bahta, Sirak ;Omore, Amos; ;Okike, Iheanacho ;Gebremedhin, BerhanuWanyoike, FrancisThe level and determinants of technical efficiency in milk-producing households are examined in connection with households’ level of commercialization. A sample of 469 milk producers are modeled using Stochastic Frontier Analysis (SFA). Average Technical Efficiency (TE) is estimated to be 80%, with variation among regions and generally reflecting levels of commercialization. Results show that assuming milk producers are rational, TE is increased by increasing the number of cattle, cows, and crossbreeds, and by additinal veterinary and feed inputs. These results support much existing research, and our contribution is the extension of analysis to actions and characteristics of the value chain due to commercial behaviors. We identify both direct and indirect potential effects of commercialization and identify mechanisms for their operation in development programs for commercial value chains. We find that credit access, training, group membership, market participation, and female household all improve TE while non-cattle income would reduce TE. We present sub-groups of households to better contrast levels of productivity and compare a limited number of the sub-groups' characteristics and actions. We provide commentary and explanation regarding commercialization and its direct and indirect connections to productivity. Recommendations include partnerships and facilitating actions that support commercialization, in association with improving efficiency in Tanzanian dairy.1777 8 - Some of the metrics are blocked by yourconsent settings
Publication Open AccessJournal ArticleẢnh hưởng của biến đổi khí hậu đến sự tham gia vào chuỗi giá trị cây trồng cạn của nông hộ ở đồng bằng sông Cửu Long(Journal of Economics and Forecasting, 2023-08-01) ;Sang, Le Thanh ;Nhu, Mao Huynh; ; ;Khai, Huynh VietDuyen, Tran Thi ThuNông dân ở đồng bằng sông Cửu Long (ĐBSCL) đang sản xuất trong điều kiện bị ảnh hưởng bởi biến đổi khí hậu (BĐKH). Bên cạnh, việc chuyển đổi nông nghiệp theo tinh thần Nghị quyết Nghị quyết 120 về phát triển bền vững thích ứng với BĐKH. Tuy nhiên, các nông hộ sản xuất nhỏ là những người có khả năng thích ứng thấp và có nguy cơ bị tụt hậu trong quá trình chuyển đổi của vùng. Nghiên cứu đã sử dụng phương pháp phân tích chủ đề để phân tích dữ liệu định tính. Kết quả cho thấy, BĐKH đã tác gây ra những thách thức đáng kể như làm giảm chất lượng và số lượng sản phẩm của nông hộ, tăng chi phí sản xuất và giảm năng suất, hạn chế sự tham gia của họ vào chuỗi giá trị, ảnh hưởng nghiêm trọng đến thu nhập và sinh kế của các nông hộ. Mặt khác, nông dân cũng có những cơ hội như sản xuất được ký hợp đồng với công ty, được Chính quyền địa phương hỗ trợ. Từ đó, nhóm tác giả đã đề xuất một số giải pháp nhằm nâng cao năng lực thích cho các nông hộ ở ĐBSCL.
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Journal ArticlePublication Antipodean agricultural and resource economics at 60: farm managementFrom the beginning Agricultural economics in the Antipodes has encompassed farm management in various guises, from the farm economics of firms to the farm management economics of a firm to farm management research. Theoretical advances in the inter-disciplinary task of farm management analysis, built on economics as the core discipline, make a sound foundation for farm management to be enriched by related disciplinary areas, which will further enhance analytical and problem-solving capacities. Nowadays though, as in the past, the potential outstrips the application, meaning farmer advice, policy analysis and research investment evaluation are much the poorer.1333 - Some of the metrics are blocked by yourconsent settings
Publication Open AccessJournal ArticleASKBILL as a web-based program to enhance sheep well-being and productivityASKBILL is a web-based program that uses farm measurements, climate data and information on genetics to predict pasture growth, animal performance and animal health and climate risks. The program uses several biophysical models, which are customised by user inputs, localised daily weather updates and a dynamical probabilistic 90-day climate forecast to enhance sheep well-being and productivity. This approach can minimise the requirement for manual, auto and remote measurements, thus reducing labour requirements and complexity. In this article, the animal growth model provides an example of a biophysical model used to provide predictions. This is an energy-based model and the model parameterisation is designed to be physiologically meaningful and able to be customised for the genetic merit of the animal using a growth coefficient that calibrates growth of body components and energy requirements. A key feature of the animal growth model is its forecast projections, which are based on an ensemble of simulations. The model can estimate supplementary feeding rates required to achieve target liveweights and body condition scores and stocking rates required to achieve target pasture levels. The model can be customised for a farm and its livestock and is updated daily in response to climate data. This dynamic feature enables it to provide early stage alerts to users when animal production targets are unlikely to be met.2488 368 - Some of the metrics are blocked by yourconsent settings
Publication Open AccessJournal ArticleAssessing Relationship Quality as a Driver of Innovation in a Western Australian Lamb Production NetworkThe Western Australian sheep meat industry has been in steady decline for the past three decades, with sheep numbers in the state halving since 1990. There are many causes of this decline, but innovations in product and marketing have also presented new opportunities for the industry. In a single organisation case study, novel assessment methods were used to generate quantitative and qualitative data to measure supply chain relationship quality and its determining factors. Results indicated an imbalance between processor and producer perceptions of relationship quality, where processing staff recognised the potential for improvement from the current quality of relationships while producers were content in their relationships. Across several on-going innovations, evidence for cohesion of supply chain actors in the innovations' implementation was scarce. Results suggest that the processor's staff and producers are willing to improve supply chain relationships, but their action is constrained by opposing perceptions of supply chain performance. Improved communication channels and direct contact from the processor will see producers more satisfied and willing to increase commitment. Further, it is suggested that livestock agents will need to act in a manner beneficial to others in the supply chain to improve the quality of relationships with processors and producers. The processor proposes actions to achieve these ends, essentially by paying personalised attention to individual producers' needs.
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Publication Open AccessBook ChapterAustraliaThe area of land in Australia under certified organic management continues to grow. The regulatory framework for organic certification in Australia Certification has remained stable with little change in the past year. However, the organic industry and the Australian Government continue to respond to global organic developments through review of the National Standard for Organic and BioDynamic Produce (National Standard), which was revised in 2016. Timely rain and a good growing season across Australia generally in 2016 bode well for supply of organic produce across most sectors.2539 - Some of the metrics are blocked by yourconsent settings
Publication Open AccessJournal ArticleThe Australian Apple Industry - Trends and Challenges(University of Melbourne, 2020-08-03) ;Rohr, Sarah; ; Apples are an important and popular fruit among the Australian population and, in the case of fresh apples, the domestic market is relatively self-sufficient. Retail specifications and consumer preferences are the driving force for quality standards for apples along the chain, with actors working to provide the best quality selection of produce. However, the industry is facing many inter-related challenges. These include the growing influence of climate change, the changing nature of consumer preferences, an increasing shortage of labour to undertake orchard operations, and a significant volume of loss and waste. These challenges are discussed in this paper. While all of these challenges are important, it is noteworthy that the total amount of fresh apples that is potentially diverted from the Australian fresh apple supply chain each year is conservatively estimated at 163,000 tonnes, about 40 per cent of total production at the farm level. If this waste is valued at the average farm price, it equates to an industry loss of $245 million annually.1955 7 - Some of the metrics are blocked by yourconsent settings
ReportPublication Australian Organic: Market Report 2017(Australian Organic Limited, 2017); ; ;Bez, Nick; Horticulture Innovation Australia LimitedThe number of certified organic operations in Australia grew by 5% between 2015 and 2016. There were an estimated 2,075 certified organic producers, 1,163 certified processors and 513 certified handlers in Australia in 2016. Exports increased to all continents in 2016, and new markets opened up in Central Asia and South America. About a third of exports by tonnes were destined for the East Asian market, and another third to North America. The top five export destinations for exports in 2016 were the USA, South Korea, China, Hong Kong, and Singapore, which account for about two-thirds of total tonnage exported. Hong Kong showed the biggest increase in exports between 2015 and 2016. Beef was the top export by tonnage, at close to 20% of all exports in 2016. Horticultural produce, dairy products and wine were other important exports in terms of total tonnage.2928 5 - Some of the metrics are blocked by yourconsent settings
ReportPublication Australian Organic: Market Report 2018(Australian Organic Limited, 2018); ; ; ; ;Lefley, Ed ;Sahota, Amarjit ;Bez, Nick ;Christie, RhiannonAustralian Organic LimitedThis is the sixth Australian Organic Market Report (AOMR), which aims to assist industry, governments, media, researchers, representative organisations and others to assess market status, identify potential growth areas, report on areas of significance and map development for the organic industry.3750 14 - Some of the metrics are blocked by yourconsent settings
Publication Open AccessJournal ArticleThe Australian Wine Industry at the Crossroads: A Comparison of Performance Across Major Wine Exporting Countries in 2000(Australia and New Zealand Regional Science Association International Inc (ANZRSAI), 2015) ;Grant, Bligh; ; ; ABSTRACT: International market dynamics are often cited as the cause of the decline in the Australian wine industry's relative position globally and the subsequent declining economic returns to the country's diverse regions. However, this perspective has been derived principally from international trade data. By way of providing a more nuanced explanation, we compare Australia's wine production and export performance with that of the 10 largest wine-exporting countries from the Southern Hemisphere New World, North American New World and Old World (European) wine-producing regions for the pivotal year 2000. The analysis deploys three performance measures and one measure for productivity developed specifically for this study. The results suggest that these wine exporters occupied a series of complex positions with respect to one another. Further, Australia's situation was at the time far from dire. Nevertheless, the comparative position from the perspective of performance in 2000 initiated a situation where 'the hunter became the hunted'.2468 - Some of the metrics are blocked by yourconsent settings
Journal ArticlePublication Beyond 'get big or get out': Female farmers' responses to the cost-price squeeze of Australian agricultureThis research examines how female agricultural producers are responding to the cost-price squeeze of Australian agriculture. Thirty-six in-depth interviews were conducted with female producers in a variety of sectors from across Australia. In order to maintain viability female producers are seeking alternative methods of production and marketing, rather than pursing economies of scale. Female producers are seeking alternatives to hegemonic agriculture due to its gendered financial and social constraints. This involves the sustainable production of niche products on smaller plots of land and direct marketing to capture more of the economic value of their products and to reduce risk. This research highlights ways in which producers can stay on farm and contribute to the creation of alternate food systems. It represents an alternative to the competitive productivist agricultural approach of “get big or get out” and improves the visibility of women farmers and a shift in the masculinist construction of farming. These alternative production and marketing methods have the potential to benefit Australian agriculture, rural communities, to create more equal gender regimes and to improve environmental sustainability.1398 5 - Some of the metrics are blocked by yourconsent settings
ReviewPublication Book Review of Agricultural Product Prices, by W G Tomek and H M KaiserNow in its fifth edition Agricultural Product Prices was originally co-authored by William G. Tomek and Kenneth L. Robinson. As stated by the authors in the preface to their first edition:'The decision to write this book was motivated by two considerations. First, we believe that the behaviour of agricultural product prices is sufficiently unusual as to require special treatment. Second, we saw a need for a more up-to-date text, which would combine principles of price determination, information on pricing institutions, and an introduction to selected quantitative techniques as applied to agricultural prices'. These two considerations are still pertinent today.2600 1 - Some of the metrics are blocked by yourconsent settings
Publication Open AccessJournal ArticleBusiness Models and Innovation in the Indonesian Smallholder Beef Value ChainThis paper proposes a framework for identification of business models in smallholder cattle production and marketing that represents innovation behaviour. Cattle are vital to Indonesia's smallholders' livelihoods, and smallholder systems are key to serving the country's growing demand for beef. Business incentives currently select against the development and sustainability of breeding systems which would support domestic production, and so new models are needed which utilize innovation. The three primary components of a business model are presented: its value proposition, its value architecture, and its financing mechanism. A research approach is provided, by way of mapping data needs to the business models, and proposing relationships between observed innovation practices and the business models within the value chain. For implementation, the paper provides guidance on facilitation needs and the role of stakeholders in the case of the Indonesian cattle and beef value chain.
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Publication Open AccessJournal ArticleCan we explain variations in winery ratings in Victoria?The scoring of wines and the ratings of wineries is the source of much debate. In this paper we attempt to explain variations in winery ratings in Victoria by examining two winery rating systems, the winery 5-star ratings system of Halliday and the WineBoss version that modifies the Halliday system, to obtain a consensus industry rating from a variety of sources; in conjunction with a limited number of other data about the wineries that are rated. We use ordered logit models and odds ratios on a sample of rated Victorian wineries (291 in the Halliday sample and 331 in the WineBoss sample) to see which predictor variables increase the odds of a winery being in a higher-rated category. Wineries that are older, use a consultant winemaker and/or produce predominantly red wines are more likely to be in a higher-rated category than those wineries that do not; conversely, wineries that use a contract winemaker and/or are located in a number of particular regions of Victoria are more likely to be in a lower-rated category than those wineries that do not. All of these results are as expected and confirm previous research. However, neither the size of the winery in terms of output nor whether the winery has other revenue sources, such as a restaurant, has any significant correlation with winery rating. The paper concludes with some suggestions for further research.2456 - Some of the metrics are blocked by yourconsent settings
Journal ArticlePublication Catching up with the Cotton Production CourseThe 2017-18 year has seen some changes in the way the University of New England (UNE) run, CRDC funded Cotton Production Course has been delivered. The biggest behind the scenes change has been a slight shift in delivery with Oliver Knox taking on more teaching and administration so Brendan Griffiths could ease up a bit and devote more time to his farm and other ventures. We have also had to accommodate changing some of the delivery so that it is more in line with most of UNE’s course delivery, something we had avoided for the past 25 years, but we are making it work and student feedback remains favourable.1879 9 - Some of the metrics are blocked by yourconsent settings
Publication Open AccessJournal ArticleChain Failure Theory as a Framework for Evaluating Horizontal and Vertical Strategic Alliances among Food Value Chain Participants: A Red Meat Industry Perspective(Charles Sturt University, AFBM Network, 2017) ;Malcolm, Bill; ; Useful insights about the operations of value chains can be gained by considering them as "latent clubs", that is, systems having the potential for improvement through collective action. Club theory therefore can be applied to examine ways to increase the economic surplus of a food value chain by participants taking collective action within a club good framework. The results of such action are called "chain goods". If these types of goods are not supplied along the value chain, value chain partners cannot maximise whole-of-chain profit. The result is "chain failure"; a concept analogous to the market failure of public goods in the wider economy. If an opportunity exists for partners in a value chain to collectively provide such goods, forming a club may be an efficient way do so. Horizontal and vertical strategic alliances are formed among firms, or groups of firms, in the value chain at the same level and/or across different levels. These alliances within a value chain are formed to correct some particular chain failure(s), such as supplying chain goods or internalising chain externalities. Strategic alliances may comprise all or only some chain members. Thus, they are clubs. The theoretical concepts of chain failure, chain goods and chain externalities can be used as a framework for evaluating whether to invest or not in a strategic alliance. The fact that there are existing alliances which appear to be organised in this way suggests that these concepts have practical as well as theoretical merit.2487 2 - Some of the metrics are blocked by yourconsent settings
Publication Open AccessJournal ArticleChallenges and adaptations for resilient rice production under changing environments in Bangladesh(MDPI AG, 2023-06-12); ; ; Rice-based food production is crucial for food security, socio-political stability, and economic development in Bangladesh. However, climate and environmental changes pose serious challenges to sustainable rice production in the country. This review paper critically reviews the status, challenges, and adaptation opportunities of Bangladeshi rice systems in changing environmental, demographic, and socio-economic settings. A mixed-methods approach (quantitative summary of secondary data on rice production, environmental changes, impact on rice productivity" and qualitative thematic synthesis) was used to review adaptation for resilient rice production. Significant agronomic and environmental challenges to rice-based cropping in Bangladesh are posed by rising temperatures, anomalous rainfall patterns, extreme weather, and increasing salinisation. Rice production, availability, and access have been further compromised by decreasing arable areas, labour shortages, crop diversification, and low profitability. Farmers are adapting through autonomous and centrally planned strategies such as efficient irrigation and input use, stress-tolerant cultivars, mechanisation, and income diversification. However, profitable and sustainable adaptation requires broader facilitation by the government (e.g., infrastructure, financial incentives) and agribusiness (e.g., extension services, contracting). This review paper recommends research and development support for efficient irrigation management and stress-tolerant cultivars, enabling policy initiatives, and equitable value chain participation. The insights of the review can be applied to policymakers to target policy design and decision-making for a sustainable rice system in years to come.
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Publication Open AccessJournal ArticleChallenging structures: gender transformative interventions by livestock CRP in Ethiopia(Frontiers Research Foundation, 2023-09-04); ; ; Introduction: This study is a review of secondary literature that has been synthesized to extract information and demonstrate the implementation and impact of community conversations (CCs) on gender aspects of social norms in livestock-based systems in Ethiopia.
Methods: The study used the phenomenological method of qualitative literature review to sketch the gender transformative approach to the delivery of knowledge products in a program on transforming the small ruminant value chain. The CC aimed at addressing gender-related norms in the division of labor, resource ownership, and handling practices of animals and their products previously identified, and those that emerged during the CC events across the study sites. A total of 1,517 community members (out of which 574 are women) took part in various CC events.
Results and discussion: The review shows that the gender-related norms addressed were in line with the identified constraining norms faced by women livestock keepers in the mixed and livestock-based systems. The CC approach adopted complied with the stages laid out in literature: identification of existing knowledge; imparting new knowledge; knowledge integration and application; and review, reflection, and re-planning. The process was inclusive and community-engaging, which possibly cultivated intrinsic motivation and ownership of the process. Changes in knowledge, attitudes, and practices at household, community, and institutional levels were identified. The conclusions include institutionalizing the gender transformative approach in the public agricultural extension system. This could be facilitated by the generation of robust objective evidence of impacts and guidance for subsequent scaling at local, regional, and national levels.
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Publication Open AccessThesis DoctoralA Change Management Approach to Unlocking the Value of Digital Agriculture for Family Farming Businesses(University of New England, 2022-06-09) ;Leonard, Emma Catherine; ;Wells, Reuben; Digital is the next wave of innovation for agriculture, enabling data flows and data-driven actions along the agri-food value chain. Yet family farming businesses are struggling to comprehend the value of changing to digital methods of data collection and use. Working with all internal and nominated external members of a farming business team, this research employed a mixed methods research approach to establish How can an adoption framework improve uptake and use of digital agriculture by a family farming business?
Whole-of-team engagement and clear communication is crucial for successful change. By combining change management and diffusion of innovation theories with maturity modelling a conceptual novel adoption framework was proposed consisting of two evaluation tools and a Change Guide. Using surveys, video tutorials and industry resources the evaluation tools were populated with task and situation statements which were tested, reviewed and agreed by the participants using a Delphi method. These tools quantified the current state of digital capability or digital processes, and highlighted strengths and weaknesses by skill, characteristics and focus activities. These findings flowed into the third part of the framework; the Change Guide which is used to address a digital change specifically desired by the business.
Using the team approach highlighted inconsistencies in individuals' perceptions and priorities for digital change. Before using the framework, the participants struggled to present their current digital state of capability or process. Using a formalised approach to change was unfamiliar to the teams but this bottom-up approach was accepted by the participants. To achieve wider uptake of the framework, targeted extension would be required.
An embedded study with providers of digital solutions for agriculture investigated their perspectives on, and approaches to, adoption. Providers also struggled to present the value proposition of digital change. An ecosystem for influencing human, technological and data factors was described.The ongoing failure to unlock the value proposition of digital agriculture is considered to be due to digital solutions being offered at a task, rather than a process level, and failure to align digital solutions with human influences on adoption. The adoption ecosystem for providers and adoption framework for users offer a way to overcome these limitations and illuminate the value of digital change and the pathway to adoption.
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Publication Open AccessJournal ArticleThe characteristics of the farm and the farmer that affect the adoption of biosecurity on smallholder poultry farms in Indonesia(Centro para la Investigacion en Sistemas Sostenibles de Produccion Agropecuaria, 2013) ;Susilowati, S H; ;Iqbal, MJubb, ThomasHighly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) is endemic in most provinces in Indonesia. Its presence in the country since 2003 has provided the impetus for the Indonesian Government (GoI) to encourage the adoption of biosecurity in smallholder broiler and layer farms. In order to identify cost-effective biosecurity for these farms it is first necessary to identify the biosecurity activities already adopted and the reasons behind this level of adoption. This paper identifies the biosecurity activities already adopted by farmers, and the farm and farmer characteristics that influence this adoption. This paper develops the discussion of how to measure adoption and then use these measures as dependent variables in identifying the factors that influence adoption. The dependent variable is an aggregated Biosecurity Control Score which ranks and aggregates farmers' adoption of 44 Biosecurity Control Indicators. The analysis identified that older, more educated farmers with larger families are more likely to adopt better biosecurity in layer and broiler farms. On layer farms, farmers with fewer non-poultry sources of income will have better biosecurity. The farm characteristic that may influence biosecurity adoption in both layer and broiler farms is farm area. In broiler farms the number and average capacity of farms are also important.1164 - Some of the metrics are blocked by yourconsent settings
Publication Open AccessJournal ArticleClimate Smart Agriculture Implementation on Coffee Smallholders in Indonesia and Strategy to AccelerateSustainable coffee production is significantly threatened by climate change. While implementing CSA practices offers numerous benefits, adoption rates remain low. Coffee plantations are dominated by smallholders and located in rural areas, making them more complex and requiring a comprehensive analysis and intervention. This study used an exploratory approach to assess farmers' preferences for CSA practices, identify barriers to implement, and design a support system model. The investigation focused on Arabica and Robusta farmers, with case studies from two Indonesian production centres. Preferences assessment used conjoint analysis, barriers evaluation used Mann-Whitney analysis, model development used synthetic approaches, and priority analysis used the Analytical Hierarchy Process. The study revealed that diversification is more desirable than cultivation, soil management, and water management. Arabica farmers preferred intercropping with annual crops, whereas Robusta farmers preferred perennials crops. Robusta farmers assessed that agricultural inputs, such as labor, capital, climatic data, and farm equipment and machinery, existed as barriers. However, these represent a lesser issue for Arabica farmers. We proposed agricultural innovation support system, consisting of innovation support facilities and services, as a comprehensive support system model to accelerate CSA implementation. Further analysis showed that the priority strategy for Arabica farmers is support services that focus on network development, while for Robusta farmers is support facilities that focus on climate information system development.
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Publication Open AccessReportCo-designed scoping study to unlock the power of digital(Agrifutures, 2020-06); ; ; ; Food Agility CRCThe 'power' of digital innovation within the Australian chicken meat sector is projected by many analyses to lie in digitally enabled advances surrounding traditional strengths of productive efficiency, consumer acceptance, and relatively low retail prices. The power also lies in variations to conventional models so as to innovate into value-added products, particularly those bearing information-related attributes such as traceability. This report characterises the nature of benefits available and the prerequisites and mechanisms for capturing them. However, there is considerable variation among stakeholders in the industry and each is motivated by contextually specific potential gains and unique capabilities in securing them.
This scoping study collects, evaluates and presents available information so as to map relevant literature, experience and knowledge to the field of digital transformation in the Australian chicken meat industry.
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Journal ArticlePublication Collective action in invasive species control, and prospects for community-based governance: The case of serrated tussock ('Nassella trichotoma') in New South Wales, Australia(Elsevier Ltd, 2016); ; ; ; Berney, PeterResponsibility for solving collective action problems in invasive species control has conventionally been assigned to government. The large continuing costs arising from invasive species demonstrate the limitations of government-centred (monocentric) approaches to governance in this domain, and indicate a need for polycentric alternatives which complement government capacities with those of landholders and their community organisations. We sought to add to existing knowledge about collective action problems for invasive species management, and to explore the potential for community-based, polycentric approaches to improve management in this domain, through workshops and a survey of landholders regarding the weed serrated tussock ('Nassella trichotoma') in two regions of New South Wales, Australia. Serrated tussock threatens the private interests of a substantial proportion of landholders in the two regions. Private landholders recognise how management of this weed on their own properties poses a collective action problem, where success is dependent on the diligent control efforts of neighbouring private and public landholders. They are more likely to consider issues relating to horizontal social capital (e.g. relationships with public and private neighbours) as barriers to effective serrated tussock control on their own property, than issues relating to information and education about this species. Community-based approaches to this weed have the potential to improve its management across the landscape, and a great majority of private landholders appear willing to participate in such a program. Such an approach will require the active participation of public land managers, continued coercion of non-cooperative landholders, and can be developed from the foundation of existing institutional arrangements for land management, taking into account unique regional relationships and characteristics. It should complement and build on, rather than replace existing legislative, research, and extension approaches.1733 1 - Some of the metrics are blocked by yourconsent settings
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Publication Open AccessDatasetCommunity-based Interventions, National Impact: Enhancing Zambia's Indigenous Chicken Sector(University of New England, 2023-11-28) ;Kanyama, Christopher Manchishi ;Ngosa Mathews; The datasets are based on outcomes of the Qualtrics surveys, data from Poultry Association of Zambia (PAZ) and fieldwork conducted during my PhD at the University of New England. The background is that most rural communities in Zambia depend on agriculture and production of small livestock such as indigenous chickens (Gallus Domesticus) for their livelihoods. Innovations targeting such communities require an understanding of the prevailing environmental, social-cultural, and agricultural production systems and conditions. To contextualise these communities, we collected demographic, social economic and other essential data through a Qualtrics survey. The survey was a more appropriate and feasible data collection method during the COVID-19 period. The Human Research Ethics approval (HE21-052} was granted on 19/05/2021. Appropriate training of enumerators, field tests, data collection, and data verification were done accordingly. The study complied with the requirements of the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC). Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock also authorised the survey.
We surveyed 368 households in 15 districts and 18 veterinary camps through a random cluster sampling of which 358 data were valid: Eastern livelihood zone (N=158), Central (N=100), and Southern (N=100). Further, the PAZ granted express permit to enable us analyse market data for the first quarters of 2016 through to 2023.
Therefore, the data sets include the verified original survey data and associated syntaxes for processing the Qualtrics survey data in SPSS.
The main and specific objectives are:
1. To investigate the socioeconomic status of small-scale farmers producing indigenous chickens in Zambia.
2. To determine the main challenges faced by small-scale producers of indigenous chickens.
3. To facilitate researcher-community-stakeholders’ linkages and establish community-based interventions in selected communities in Zambia.
4. To enhance rural livelihoods through improved production and marketing of indigenous chickens.
The following were the specific objectives for the project:
i. To implement the most economical and safest methods of data collection involving humans during the COVID-19 pandemic era.
ii. To identify the motivations for raising indigenous chickens in Zambia
iii. To determine the main hindrances in the production and marketing of indigenous chickens by small-scale farmers.
iv. To evaluate the sustainable livelihoods for small-scale farmers in the study sites.
v. To enhance social-economic gains for small-scale households producing indigenous chickens.
vi. To assess the impact of the increased cost of producing commercial broilers and layer on the indigenous chicken sector in Zambia.
vii. To evaluate the status of indigenous chicken breeds in Zambia.
viii. To promote sustainable use and conservation of indigenous chicken breeds in Zambia.
ix. To evaluate farmers' perspectives on the short-term impacts of COVID-19 on rural poultry farming in selected districts.
x. To report and reflect on the findings of the short-term market intervention implemented in Zambia.1267 213 - Some of the metrics are blocked by yourconsent settings
Thesis DoctoralPublication Community-Based Interventions, National Impact: Enhancing Zambia’s Indigenous Chicken Sector(University of New England, 2025-05-23) ;Kanyama, Christopher Manchishi; ; Ngosa, MathewsThis thesis is an outcome of four research activities undertaken during my four-year PHD research program at the University of New England, each contributing unique and valuable insights. The activities included the Review of literature, Qualtrics surveys, Analysis of poultry market data, and Short-term market intervention. The main objective of this research was to promote the sustained use and conservation of various breeds of Indigenous chickens (Gallus domesticus) (ICs) in Zambia. The four main research questions were: 1. Have IC breeds disappeared in the past decade? 2. Are Small-Scale Farmers (SSFs) benefiting from keeping ICs? 3. What are the challenges faced by IC producers? 4. What measures and strategies could reduce the challenges and enhance the performance of the IC sector in Zambia?
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Publication Open AccessJournal ArticleConsciously Pursued Joint Action: Agricultural and Food Value Chains as ClubsCertain members of a population consciously and deliberately decide to take joint action to provide particular types of goods or services that are at least partly excludable and at least partly congestible because it is too costly to provide such goods individually. These goods are called club goods or collective goods. We first define some key concepts in club theory and public choice. This includes the prospects for determining the optimal level of membership of a club, how to determine the optimal level and range of provision of services by a club, and consideration of the dynamics of club membership. Then we examine the ways in which club theory can help provide an alternative approach to recognising and overcoming market failure in agricultural and food value chains. We note that useful insights can be gained by considering value chains as 'latent clubs'. That is, they are systems that exist which are either inactive or have not been fully developed, but which have the potential for improvement through collective action. If value chain members do exploit an opportunity to reap the rewards of collective action, then forming a club that comprises the whole chain or a subset of chain members offers an efficient organisation design to do so. We find that all of the calculus that has been identified for clubs can be applied to agricultural and food value chains. However, there are two particular issues that require further consideration. One is the nature of risk in agricultural value chains, and how it is related to member preferences, and the other is the form of collective action to be taken by agricultural value chains in the future.2685 - Some of the metrics are blocked by yourconsent settings
Publication Open AccessJournal ArticleConsumers' preferences for animal-source foods and retail outlets: The case of Tanzania(African Association of Agricultural Economists,Association Africaine des Agroeconomistes, 2016-09); ;Mtimet, Nadhem ;Pica-Ciamarra, UgoNsiima, LonginGrowth in population and income, as well as urbanisation, are contributing to the growing consumption of high-value foods in developing countries. However, public and private investments targeting high-value agricultural markets are constrained by limited information on the quality dimensions of the market, the nature of traditional retail formats, and consumer segmentation. This paper presents a simple and appropriate methodology to provide such information, and applies it in Tanzania to animal-sourced foods. It features a rapid survey, which is then aligned with nationally representative survey data. The results show that Tanzanian consumers demand, and are anticipated to continue demanding, relatively good-quality animal products but in rather low-valued product forms. Consumer segments are differentiated by level of wealth and by choice of retail format and retail product form, rather than by quality per se.
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