Pub Date : 2021-04-03DOI: 10.1080/03031853.2021.1920436
Yohana James Mgale, Yan Yunxian, Provident Dimoso
ABSTRACT In an effort to increase agricultural production, promote regional specialization and stabilize domestic food prices, the Tanzanian government has implemented several market-enhancing policies. The success of these measures depends, among other factors, on the cointegration and degree of price transmission across spatial markets. This study uses the vector autoregressive procedure of the Toda-Yamamoto causality test, dynamic ordinary least squares cointegration tests, and the asymmetric error correction model to examine the performance of Tanzania's domestic wholesale rice markets (lead-lag price relationship and long-run price adjustment process) during the post-agricultural market liberalization period. In response to changes in the marketing-enhancing policies during the investigation period, the presence of multiple structural breaks in the long-run equation is allowed. The results show that the Dar es Salaam market influences prices in all the rice markets examined, thus acting as a price leader. Furthermore, the price adjustment process results demonstrated the absence of asymmetric price adjustment between the central and regional wholesale rice markets, suggesting improved integration and efficiency of inter-regional rice markets. On the other hand, a central market's presence implies that interventions aimed at the central market can buffer regional markets to withstand adverse price shocks caused by food price spikes and volatility.
{"title":"Cointegration and spatial price transmission among rice markets in Tanzania: implications for price stabilisation policies","authors":"Yohana James Mgale, Yan Yunxian, Provident Dimoso","doi":"10.1080/03031853.2021.1920436","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/03031853.2021.1920436","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT In an effort to increase agricultural production, promote regional specialization and stabilize domestic food prices, the Tanzanian government has implemented several market-enhancing policies. The success of these measures depends, among other factors, on the cointegration and degree of price transmission across spatial markets. This study uses the vector autoregressive procedure of the Toda-Yamamoto causality test, dynamic ordinary least squares cointegration tests, and the asymmetric error correction model to examine the performance of Tanzania's domestic wholesale rice markets (lead-lag price relationship and long-run price adjustment process) during the post-agricultural market liberalization period. In response to changes in the marketing-enhancing policies during the investigation period, the presence of multiple structural breaks in the long-run equation is allowed. The results show that the Dar es Salaam market influences prices in all the rice markets examined, thus acting as a price leader. Furthermore, the price adjustment process results demonstrated the absence of asymmetric price adjustment between the central and regional wholesale rice markets, suggesting improved integration and efficiency of inter-regional rice markets. On the other hand, a central market's presence implies that interventions aimed at the central market can buffer regional markets to withstand adverse price shocks caused by food price spikes and volatility.","PeriodicalId":55541,"journal":{"name":"Agrekon","volume":"60 1","pages":"157 - 175"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2021-04-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/03031853.2021.1920436","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"42378486","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"经济学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2021-04-03DOI: 10.1080/03031853.2021.1920437
J. Djokoto
ABSTRACT This study contributes to the debate on whether foreign direct investment crowd-in or crowd-out domestic investment by examining the short run and long run crowding effects of foreign direct investment (FDI) on domestic investment (DI) in the agricultural economy, using a cross-section of 64 countries from 1997 to 2016. In the short run, FDI has no discernible effect on DI in developing and transition economies’ agriculture. For developed economies, however, there is a crowd-out effect. Overall, is a crowding-in effect in the short run. A crowding-out effect was observed for developed countries whilst a crowding-in effect was observed for developed and economies in transition. Overall, the long-run effect is “no effect”. Improving the investment environment regarding regulatory and administrative processes as well as the absorptive capacity of the host country are recommended.
{"title":"Foreign direct investment into agriculture: does it crowd-out domestic investment?","authors":"J. Djokoto","doi":"10.1080/03031853.2021.1920437","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/03031853.2021.1920437","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT This study contributes to the debate on whether foreign direct investment crowd-in or crowd-out domestic investment by examining the short run and long run crowding effects of foreign direct investment (FDI) on domestic investment (DI) in the agricultural economy, using a cross-section of 64 countries from 1997 to 2016. In the short run, FDI has no discernible effect on DI in developing and transition economies’ agriculture. For developed economies, however, there is a crowd-out effect. Overall, is a crowding-in effect in the short run. A crowding-out effect was observed for developed countries whilst a crowding-in effect was observed for developed and economies in transition. Overall, the long-run effect is “no effect”. Improving the investment environment regarding regulatory and administrative processes as well as the absorptive capacity of the host country are recommended.","PeriodicalId":55541,"journal":{"name":"Agrekon","volume":"60 1","pages":"176 - 191"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2021-04-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/03031853.2021.1920437","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"43027665","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"经济学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2021-04-03DOI: 10.1080/03031853.2021.1917429
Y. Hirooka, T. Masuda, Y. Watanabe, Yasuhiro Izumi, Hiroyuki Inai, S. Awala, M. Iijima
ABSTRACT In the semi-arid regions of southern Africa, around the borders of Angola with Namibia, the Cuvelai seasonal wetland system is formed by floods during the rainy season. The objective of the present study was to assess the effects of introduction of a rice-based mixed cropping system to the seasonal wetlands (ondombe in the local language) from agronomic, social, and economic perspectives. For this purpose, we used a simple methodology with a multidisciplinary approach for yield and household survey and scenario analysis in northern Namibia. The yield survey revealed that in ondombe, rice showed a higher yield performance than that of pearl millet and sorghum, even in a drought year. The farm household survey showed that introducing a rice-based mixed cropping to ondombe could help local farmers enhance crop productivity by reducing labour and providing high rice yield. In addition, scenario analysis based on the yield and household surveys conducted in these regions suggested that the introduction of the mixed cropping system to ondombe could compensate for one-fourth of the governmental urgent food import budget even in drought years. Therefore, this system is an effective option for sustainable agricultural production and environmental management in the studied region.
{"title":"Agronomic and socio-economic assessment of the introduction of a rice-based mixed cropping system to the Cuvelai seasonal wetland system in northern Namibia","authors":"Y. Hirooka, T. Masuda, Y. Watanabe, Yasuhiro Izumi, Hiroyuki Inai, S. Awala, M. Iijima","doi":"10.1080/03031853.2021.1917429","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/03031853.2021.1917429","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT In the semi-arid regions of southern Africa, around the borders of Angola with Namibia, the Cuvelai seasonal wetland system is formed by floods during the rainy season. The objective of the present study was to assess the effects of introduction of a rice-based mixed cropping system to the seasonal wetlands (ondombe in the local language) from agronomic, social, and economic perspectives. For this purpose, we used a simple methodology with a multidisciplinary approach for yield and household survey and scenario analysis in northern Namibia. The yield survey revealed that in ondombe, rice showed a higher yield performance than that of pearl millet and sorghum, even in a drought year. The farm household survey showed that introducing a rice-based mixed cropping to ondombe could help local farmers enhance crop productivity by reducing labour and providing high rice yield. In addition, scenario analysis based on the yield and household surveys conducted in these regions suggested that the introduction of the mixed cropping system to ondombe could compensate for one-fourth of the governmental urgent food import budget even in drought years. Therefore, this system is an effective option for sustainable agricultural production and environmental management in the studied region.","PeriodicalId":55541,"journal":{"name":"Agrekon","volume":"60 1","pages":"145 - 156"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2021-04-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/03031853.2021.1917429","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"48510270","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"经济学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2021-03-31DOI: 10.1080/03031853.2021.1903520
S. Zantsi, G. Mack, N. Vink
ABSTRACT The purpose of this article is to propose an improved methodology to determine a viable farm size for potential emerging farmers as land reform beneficiaries. Land reform in South Africa has been criticised because of poor implementation and slow pace, accompanied by poor productivity in redistributed land. To explain this, it has been suggested that commercial farms are too large for emerging farmers who have little or no experience in commercial farming. Thus, there have been calls for measures to make subdivision of land easier and cheaper. To this end, cross–sectional survey data from 833 potential emerging farmers in three rural provinces are analysed to determine a viable income for emerging farm households as a basis for calculating a viable farm size, using the income aspiration literature, farm household economics theory as a point of departure. Off–farm income, farm income and aspirational income are included in the calculation. The viable income was matched to the existing commercial farm enterprise gross margins per hectare obtained from the Bureau for Food and Agricultural Policy, which are then used as the basis for suggesting “viable farm sizes” for different emerging farm households.
{"title":"Towards a viable farm size – determining a viable household income for emerging farmers in South Africa's Land Redistribution Programme: an income aspiration approach","authors":"S. Zantsi, G. Mack, N. Vink","doi":"10.1080/03031853.2021.1903520","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/03031853.2021.1903520","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT The purpose of this article is to propose an improved methodology to determine a viable farm size for potential emerging farmers as land reform beneficiaries. Land reform in South Africa has been criticised because of poor implementation and slow pace, accompanied by poor productivity in redistributed land. To explain this, it has been suggested that commercial farms are too large for emerging farmers who have little or no experience in commercial farming. Thus, there have been calls for measures to make subdivision of land easier and cheaper. To this end, cross–sectional survey data from 833 potential emerging farmers in three rural provinces are analysed to determine a viable income for emerging farm households as a basis for calculating a viable farm size, using the income aspiration literature, farm household economics theory as a point of departure. Off–farm income, farm income and aspirational income are included in the calculation. The viable income was matched to the existing commercial farm enterprise gross margins per hectare obtained from the Bureau for Food and Agricultural Policy, which are then used as the basis for suggesting “viable farm sizes” for different emerging farm households.","PeriodicalId":55541,"journal":{"name":"Agrekon","volume":"60 1","pages":"91 - 107"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2021-03-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/03031853.2021.1903520","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"45649064","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"经济学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2021-02-01DOI: 10.1080/03031853.2022.2107030
M. Matita, E. Chirwa, Stevier Kaiyatsa, Jacob Mazalale, Masautso Chimombo, Loveness Msofi Mgalamadzi, B. Chinsinga
ABSTRACT This paper examines the determinants of livelihood trajectories of households surveyed in rural Malawi in 2007 that were tracked in 2018. Using a set of indicators, including income source diversification and participation in social assistance programmes, households were placed in different trajectories, namely, dropping out, stepping up, hanging in and stepping in. A multinomial logit model was used to analyse factors explaining placement in a livelihood trajectory. We find that the explanatory factors are not the same for farmers in different pathways. The stepping-up of households is likely with increasing commercialization and significant asset accumulation. Furthermore, the stepping-in trajectory is constrained by initial land holding sizes but is more likely if a household has had experience with the cultivation of several different kinds of crops. We find that crop diversification reduces the chance of dropping out but also increases the possibility of hanging in, implying that the blanket recommendation to farmers to diversify crop production may not attain the same benefits to all farmers. This may well be complemented with useful extension services, especially for young farming households. Overall, the study findings point to the complexity and the need for context-dependent development approaches to provide sustainable escapes from poverty.
{"title":"Determinants of smallholder farmers’ livelihood trajectories. Evidence from rural Malawi","authors":"M. Matita, E. Chirwa, Stevier Kaiyatsa, Jacob Mazalale, Masautso Chimombo, Loveness Msofi Mgalamadzi, B. Chinsinga","doi":"10.1080/03031853.2022.2107030","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/03031853.2022.2107030","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT This paper examines the determinants of livelihood trajectories of households surveyed in rural Malawi in 2007 that were tracked in 2018. Using a set of indicators, including income source diversification and participation in social assistance programmes, households were placed in different trajectories, namely, dropping out, stepping up, hanging in and stepping in. A multinomial logit model was used to analyse factors explaining placement in a livelihood trajectory. We find that the explanatory factors are not the same for farmers in different pathways. The stepping-up of households is likely with increasing commercialization and significant asset accumulation. Furthermore, the stepping-in trajectory is constrained by initial land holding sizes but is more likely if a household has had experience with the cultivation of several different kinds of crops. We find that crop diversification reduces the chance of dropping out but also increases the possibility of hanging in, implying that the blanket recommendation to farmers to diversify crop production may not attain the same benefits to all farmers. This may well be complemented with useful extension services, especially for young farming households. Overall, the study findings point to the complexity and the need for context-dependent development approaches to provide sustainable escapes from poverty.","PeriodicalId":55541,"journal":{"name":"Agrekon","volume":"61 1","pages":"399 - 411"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2021-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"47143101","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"经济学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2021-01-02DOI: 10.1080/03031853.2021.1892992
W. Sihlobo
As a member of the Presidential Advisory Panel on Land Reform and Agriculture, I am happy to respond to Prof Gran’s commentary on the work and conclusions of the panel. Before I reply in detail it is important to provide some context and background to my comments. Land reform is one of the unavoidable policy discussions that have dominated South Africa’s agricultural policy landscape over the past two decades and promises to remain part of the discussions over the foreseeable future. More so, as data continue to show that the progress made thus far on land reform falls short of the government’s 30% target at the dawn of democracy. Vink and Kirsten (2019), estimate that 20% of the targeted land has already been transferred away from white landowners to the State and black owners, and some through private and State-supported transactions including land restitution. These transfers have been through restitution, redistribution, private transactions and State procurement. Moreover, South Africa’s land reform programme continues to be marred by the poor and slow implementation, corruption and many failed farms. The failure to transfer land the State has acquired to the beneficiaries over the last 26 years can also be ascribed to the State’s unwillingness to engage the private sector, agribusiness, and existing landowners to be part of the solution. To contribute towards the better delivery of the land reform programme and address the failures mentioned above, President Cyril Ramaphosa assembled a panel of experts – The Presidential Advisory Panel on Land Reform and Agriculture (Panel), to undertake the task. The Panel’s report initially drew criticism from various farmer interest groups as it did not denounce the emerging policy proposal that South Africa should consider Expropriation of Land Without Compensation. While such critique is understandable, it shows that some critics lacked a clear understanding of the central mandate on this proposal. The Panel was tasked to outline “under what conditions should Expropriation of Land Without Compensation be applied”. It was not to ask if the Panel agreed with the proposal or not. Some scholars, such as Prof Gran, have already engaged with the details of the report and offered views on it. Prof Gran is not new in the South African land reform discussion. Some of his essential work includes the 2002 paper which explored the subject of power and trust in land politics in South Africa, arguing then that trust in government concerning land policies is waning, despite progress in the redistribution of land (Gran 2002). This time around, Gran remains sceptical about the focus of South Africa’s land reform policy proposals. Commenting on the Panel’s work, Gran points out some supposed gaps in the final report from a political economy perspective (Presidential Advisory Panel on Land Reform and Agriculture 2019). Such supposed gaps include a lack of focus on improving local democracy and the absence of insight into
{"title":"Reply: how a government panel on land reform in South Africa is stuck in old ways","authors":"W. Sihlobo","doi":"10.1080/03031853.2021.1892992","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/03031853.2021.1892992","url":null,"abstract":"As a member of the Presidential Advisory Panel on Land Reform and Agriculture, I am happy to respond to Prof Gran’s commentary on the work and conclusions of the panel. Before I reply in detail it is important to provide some context and background to my comments. Land reform is one of the unavoidable policy discussions that have dominated South Africa’s agricultural policy landscape over the past two decades and promises to remain part of the discussions over the foreseeable future. More so, as data continue to show that the progress made thus far on land reform falls short of the government’s 30% target at the dawn of democracy. Vink and Kirsten (2019), estimate that 20% of the targeted land has already been transferred away from white landowners to the State and black owners, and some through private and State-supported transactions including land restitution. These transfers have been through restitution, redistribution, private transactions and State procurement. Moreover, South Africa’s land reform programme continues to be marred by the poor and slow implementation, corruption and many failed farms. The failure to transfer land the State has acquired to the beneficiaries over the last 26 years can also be ascribed to the State’s unwillingness to engage the private sector, agribusiness, and existing landowners to be part of the solution. To contribute towards the better delivery of the land reform programme and address the failures mentioned above, President Cyril Ramaphosa assembled a panel of experts – The Presidential Advisory Panel on Land Reform and Agriculture (Panel), to undertake the task. The Panel’s report initially drew criticism from various farmer interest groups as it did not denounce the emerging policy proposal that South Africa should consider Expropriation of Land Without Compensation. While such critique is understandable, it shows that some critics lacked a clear understanding of the central mandate on this proposal. The Panel was tasked to outline “under what conditions should Expropriation of Land Without Compensation be applied”. It was not to ask if the Panel agreed with the proposal or not. Some scholars, such as Prof Gran, have already engaged with the details of the report and offered views on it. Prof Gran is not new in the South African land reform discussion. Some of his essential work includes the 2002 paper which explored the subject of power and trust in land politics in South Africa, arguing then that trust in government concerning land policies is waning, despite progress in the redistribution of land (Gran 2002). This time around, Gran remains sceptical about the focus of South Africa’s land reform policy proposals. Commenting on the Panel’s work, Gran points out some supposed gaps in the final report from a political economy perspective (Presidential Advisory Panel on Land Reform and Agriculture 2019). Such supposed gaps include a lack of focus on improving local democracy and the absence of insight into","PeriodicalId":55541,"journal":{"name":"Agrekon","volume":"60 1","pages":"85 - 87"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2021-01-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/03031853.2021.1892992","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"48724119","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"经济学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2021-01-02DOI: 10.1080/03031853.2021.1886494
N. Vink
Agrekon was finally able to operate independently from 1 April 1990, in other words from Volume 28, when the Department of Agriculture decided to pass it on to AEASA together with a generous dowry that was sufficient to carry the not inconsiderable costs of printing and distribution, etc. for the first few years. The times they were a’ changing: 2 February 1990 was a real watershed moment in South Africa, which created the circumstances for many changes that would otherwise not have been countenanced. Furthermore, with the increasing pressure to “publish or perish” came increased emphasis on independent peer review and proof of the absence of conflicts of interest. We were fortunate, because we were able to tackle these new pressures from a solid base, as the Journal was in good “academic” shape (Wissing and Groenewald 1987), all the processes and procedures for getting it out to the members of the Association were in place, and new technologies (think Microsoft Office®) were being produced and were rapidly improving. We would soon be able to produce a whole edition without the intervention of a typewriter, even if we did not have Google Translate® to assist with bilingual publication! In our editorial note in the first Agrekon of the new era (Van Zyl and Vink 1990) we noted the origins of the Journal, with the government Department of Agricultural Economics and Marketing playing a similar important role in the early years to that of the Economic Research Service USDA in the United States (Stanton 2007). We also noted the strengthening bonds between our Association and Agrekon, which manifested especially in the publication of the annual AEASA Conference papers in the year-end edition of each volume. We noted that, at that time, Agrekon was a good barometer of the state of research and the practice of agricultural economics in South(ern) Africa, but we also announced some important changes to the publication. First, the Journal was expanded to four editions a year, while the final edition would still be dedicated to the Conference proceedings. Second, there would be an expanded list of referees and a new Editorial board to reflect the new emphasis on arms-length, expert review of contributions. Third, the purpose, target audience and content were reoriented to make themmore transparent, and more reflective of the rapidly expanding membership that AEASA experienced at that time. More specifically, learning from Glenn Johnson (1987) we wanted Agrekon to cover disciplinary topics in the application of economics to problems in the farm and food sector; multidisciplinary or subject matter topics that synthesise relevant evidence and information about the sector; and problem solving in all aspects of the sector, including farm management, extension, marketing and market development and decision-making in farming, government, private enterprise and research institutions, etc. We noted the difficulty of this last type of publication, usually the purview
{"title":"Reflections on two terms as editor of Agrekon","authors":"N. Vink","doi":"10.1080/03031853.2021.1886494","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/03031853.2021.1886494","url":null,"abstract":"Agrekon was finally able to operate independently from 1 April 1990, in other words from Volume 28, when the Department of Agriculture decided to pass it on to AEASA together with a generous dowry that was sufficient to carry the not inconsiderable costs of printing and distribution, etc. for the first few years. The times they were a’ changing: 2 February 1990 was a real watershed moment in South Africa, which created the circumstances for many changes that would otherwise not have been countenanced. Furthermore, with the increasing pressure to “publish or perish” came increased emphasis on independent peer review and proof of the absence of conflicts of interest. We were fortunate, because we were able to tackle these new pressures from a solid base, as the Journal was in good “academic” shape (Wissing and Groenewald 1987), all the processes and procedures for getting it out to the members of the Association were in place, and new technologies (think Microsoft Office®) were being produced and were rapidly improving. We would soon be able to produce a whole edition without the intervention of a typewriter, even if we did not have Google Translate® to assist with bilingual publication! In our editorial note in the first Agrekon of the new era (Van Zyl and Vink 1990) we noted the origins of the Journal, with the government Department of Agricultural Economics and Marketing playing a similar important role in the early years to that of the Economic Research Service USDA in the United States (Stanton 2007). We also noted the strengthening bonds between our Association and Agrekon, which manifested especially in the publication of the annual AEASA Conference papers in the year-end edition of each volume. We noted that, at that time, Agrekon was a good barometer of the state of research and the practice of agricultural economics in South(ern) Africa, but we also announced some important changes to the publication. First, the Journal was expanded to four editions a year, while the final edition would still be dedicated to the Conference proceedings. Second, there would be an expanded list of referees and a new Editorial board to reflect the new emphasis on arms-length, expert review of contributions. Third, the purpose, target audience and content were reoriented to make themmore transparent, and more reflective of the rapidly expanding membership that AEASA experienced at that time. More specifically, learning from Glenn Johnson (1987) we wanted Agrekon to cover disciplinary topics in the application of economics to problems in the farm and food sector; multidisciplinary or subject matter topics that synthesise relevant evidence and information about the sector; and problem solving in all aspects of the sector, including farm management, extension, marketing and market development and decision-making in farming, government, private enterprise and research institutions, etc. We noted the difficulty of this last type of publication, usually the purview ","PeriodicalId":55541,"journal":{"name":"Agrekon","volume":"60 1","pages":"7 - 9"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2021-01-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/03031853.2021.1886494","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"49265014","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"经济学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2021-01-02DOI: 10.1080/03031853.2021.1894190
Z. Mdlulwa, E. Mathebula, C. Ngwane
ABSTRACT Livestock production remains vulnerable to animal disease, threatening the productivity and food security of smallholder farmers. Application of primary animal health care (PAHC) practices is considered a cost-effective method for farmers to prevent and control livestock diseases. Using data collected on 593 smallholder farmers in five provinces of South Africa, this paper uses partial proportional odds (PPO) modelling to evaluate the determinants of livestock keepers’ choice of PAHC practices. Access to animal handling facilities, contact with animal health practitioners, farmers’ associations, household income and positive perceptions about vaccines had a positive influence on the farmer’s choice of PAHC practices, while negative perceptions about vaccines had a negative influence. Increased timely delivery of animal health services and provision of animal handling facilities is recommended to expedite increased farmers’ uptake of PAHC practices. Development of animal health policies using the “One Health” approach is advised to ensure a collaborative, multisectoral and transdisciplinary effort at local and national level to achieve optimal health outcomes. Use of the PPO model is a departure from the norm in the literature for determining a farmer’s adoption strategies. The model proved to be instrumental as it predicted significant variables extra to those usually applied in multinomial models.
{"title":"Determinants of livestock keepers’ primary animal health care practices","authors":"Z. Mdlulwa, E. Mathebula, C. Ngwane","doi":"10.1080/03031853.2021.1894190","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/03031853.2021.1894190","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT Livestock production remains vulnerable to animal disease, threatening the productivity and food security of smallholder farmers. Application of primary animal health care (PAHC) practices is considered a cost-effective method for farmers to prevent and control livestock diseases. Using data collected on 593 smallholder farmers in five provinces of South Africa, this paper uses partial proportional odds (PPO) modelling to evaluate the determinants of livestock keepers’ choice of PAHC practices. Access to animal handling facilities, contact with animal health practitioners, farmers’ associations, household income and positive perceptions about vaccines had a positive influence on the farmer’s choice of PAHC practices, while negative perceptions about vaccines had a negative influence. Increased timely delivery of animal health services and provision of animal handling facilities is recommended to expedite increased farmers’ uptake of PAHC practices. Development of animal health policies using the “One Health” approach is advised to ensure a collaborative, multisectoral and transdisciplinary effort at local and national level to achieve optimal health outcomes. Use of the PPO model is a departure from the norm in the literature for determining a farmer’s adoption strategies. The model proved to be instrumental as it predicted significant variables extra to those usually applied in multinomial models.","PeriodicalId":55541,"journal":{"name":"Agrekon","volume":"60 1","pages":"57 - 79"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2021-01-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/03031853.2021.1894190","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"48257636","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"经济学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2021-01-02DOI: 10.1080/03031853.2021.1901750
T. Gran
ABSTRACT The government Panel on land reform, headed by Dr. Vuyokazi Mahlati, presents an encompassing analysis of government programmes suggesting revised and new programmes to increase the speed of land reform. This note registers that improvement of local democracy is not a variable in the report. The note suggests that the Panel is stuck in old ways, in effect a centralised planning tradition and a heavily top down governing model. It suggests that developing local municipal and amakhosi democracy might seem a detour in land politics but might actually lead to a different and more effective land reform. Such land reform will favour more dignity, creativity and trust among people and a more fair modernisation of the South African economy.
{"title":"How a government panel on land reform in South Africa is stuck in old ways","authors":"T. Gran","doi":"10.1080/03031853.2021.1901750","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/03031853.2021.1901750","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT The government Panel on land reform, headed by Dr. Vuyokazi Mahlati, presents an encompassing analysis of government programmes suggesting revised and new programmes to increase the speed of land reform. This note registers that improvement of local democracy is not a variable in the report. The note suggests that the Panel is stuck in old ways, in effect a centralised planning tradition and a heavily top down governing model. It suggests that developing local municipal and amakhosi democracy might seem a detour in land politics but might actually lead to a different and more effective land reform. Such land reform will favour more dignity, creativity and trust among people and a more fair modernisation of the South African economy.","PeriodicalId":55541,"journal":{"name":"Agrekon","volume":"60 1","pages":"80 - 84"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2021-01-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/03031853.2021.1901750","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"41362257","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"经济学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2021-01-02DOI: 10.1080/03031853.2021.1879659
A. Ferreira, W. Lombard, Y. T. Bahta, Anton Geyer
ABSTRACT Döhne Merino sheep are a dual-purpose breed known for both good-quality meat and Merino-type wool. The objective of this study was to determine the price attributes of Döhne Merino wool in South Africa using a hedonic model and data from 83 registered Döhne Merino farmers in South Africa. The results indicated that the price of Fleece wool was most sensitive to changes in the staple strength, staple length, and fibre diameter, while clean yield had a lower impact. Fibre diameter had the largest effect on the price of Pieces wool, followed by staple strength and staple length. The Bellies wool price was very sensitive to changes in clean yield, followed by staple length. It is recommended that Döhne Merino wool with higher staple strength and longer staple length should be produced due to the price premiums that could be earned. The findings provide evidence of the demand for quality attributes associated with wool and could aid Döhne Merino wool producers in deciding how to maximise their profit. Woolgrowers and other interested stakeholders could use this information to ensure that wool quality meets market demand.
{"title":"Price attributes of Döhne Merino wool in South Africa","authors":"A. Ferreira, W. Lombard, Y. T. Bahta, Anton Geyer","doi":"10.1080/03031853.2021.1879659","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/03031853.2021.1879659","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT Döhne Merino sheep are a dual-purpose breed known for both good-quality meat and Merino-type wool. The objective of this study was to determine the price attributes of Döhne Merino wool in South Africa using a hedonic model and data from 83 registered Döhne Merino farmers in South Africa. The results indicated that the price of Fleece wool was most sensitive to changes in the staple strength, staple length, and fibre diameter, while clean yield had a lower impact. Fibre diameter had the largest effect on the price of Pieces wool, followed by staple strength and staple length. The Bellies wool price was very sensitive to changes in clean yield, followed by staple length. It is recommended that Döhne Merino wool with higher staple strength and longer staple length should be produced due to the price premiums that could be earned. The findings provide evidence of the demand for quality attributes associated with wool and could aid Döhne Merino wool producers in deciding how to maximise their profit. Woolgrowers and other interested stakeholders could use this information to ensure that wool quality meets market demand.","PeriodicalId":55541,"journal":{"name":"Agrekon","volume":"60 1","pages":"31 - 42"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2021-01-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/03031853.2021.1879659","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"45565187","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"经济学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}