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NEP: New Economics Papers
Agricultural Economics
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Edited by: Angelo Zago
http://ideas.repec.org/e/pza49.html
Universita degli Studi di Verona
Date: 2006-11-25
Papers: 34
This document is in the public domain, feel free to circulate it.
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+ Note: Access to full contents may be restricted +
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In this issue we have:
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1. Introduction of New Agricultural Technologies and Marketing
Stragegies in Central Mozambique
Rafael N. Uaiene
2. Potential Impact of the Kwacha Appreciation and Proposed Tax
Provisions of the 2006 Budget Act on Zambian Agriculture
John Fynn; Steven Haggblade
3. Impact of HIV/AIDS-related Adult Mortality on Rural
Households' Welfare in Zambia
Antony Chapoto; T.S. Jayne
4. Rural Poverty Dynamics, Agricultural Productivity and Access
to Resources
Paul Gamba; Elliot Mghenyi
5. Understanding Rwandan Agricultural Households' Strategies to
Deal with Prime Age Illness and Death: A Propensity Score
Matching Approach
Cynthia Donovan; Linda Bailey
6. Emerging Structural Maize Deficits in Eastern and Southern
Africa: Implications for National Agricultural Strategies
T.S. Jayne; Antony Chapoto
7. Impact of HIV/AIDS-Related Deaths on Rural Farm Households'
Welfare in Zambia: Implications for Poverty Reduction
Strategies
Antony Chapoto; T.S. Jayne
8. Seasonal Analysis of Selected Fresh Fruit and Vegetable
Prices at Wholesale Level in Key Urban Markets of Kenya
Mary Mathenge; David Tschirley
9. Why do poor farmers default less?: Case of Indian informal
credit market A game theoretic exploration
Rajeev, Meenakshi; Ranade, Ranjeet; Deb, Sarmistha
10. Potential Impact of the Kwacha Appreciation on Zambia
Agriculture
John Fynn; Steven Haggblade
11. Exploring the Paradox of Rwandan Agricultural Household
Income and Nutritional Outcomes in 1990 and 2000
Andrew McKay; Scott Loveridge
12. Levies on Agricultural Commodities: Who Benefits? A Rapid
Assessment
Billy Mwiinga; Julius Shawa; T.S. Jayne; James Shaffer
13. Reprint: The Many Paths of Cotton Sector Reform in Eastern
and Southern Africa: Lessons From a Decade of Experience
David Tschirley; Colin Poulton; Duncan Boughton
14. Recommendations for Adjusting Weights for Zambia Post
Harvest Survey Data Series and Improving Estimation
Methodology for Future Surveys
David Megill
15. Options for Economic Growth in Mali through the Application
of Science and Technology to Agriculture
Valerie Kelly; Janet Carpenter; Oumar Diall; Tom Easterling;
Moctar Kon?; Peter McCornick; Mike McGahuey
16. Agricultural Extension in Kenya: Practice and Policy Lessons
Milu Muyanga; T.S. Jayne
17. Priority Setting for Public-Sector Agricultural Research in
Mozambique with the National Agricultural Survey Data
T. Walker; R. Pitoro; A. Tomo; I. Sitoe; C. Sal?ncia; R.
Mahanzule; C. Donovan; F. Mazuze
18. Zambia Horticultural Rapid Appraisal: Understanding the
Domestic Value Chains of Fresh Fruits and Vegetables
Munguzwe Hichaambwa; David Tschirley
19. Discounting Spotted Apples: Investigating Consumers?
Willingness to Accept Cosmetic Damage in an Organic Product
Yue, Chengyan; Alfnes, Frode; Jensen, Helen H.
20. Long-Run Impact of Corn-Based Ethanol on the Grain, Oilseed,
and Livestock Sectors: A Preliminary Assessment, The
Elobeid, Amani; Tokgoz, Simla; Hayes, Dermot J.; Babcock,
Bruce A.; Hart, Chad E.
21. Zambia's 2005 Maize Import and Marketing Experiences: By
Lessons and Implications
Anthony Mwanaumo; T.S. Jayne; Ballard Zulu; Julius Shawa;
Green Mbozi; Steven Haggblade; Misheck Nyembe
22. Learning from the 2002/03 Food Crisis in Southern Africa:
Lessons for the Current Year
David Tschirley; Pedro Arlindo; Jan J. Nijhoff; Billy
Mwinga; Michael T. Weber; T.S. Jayne
23. Staple Food Consumption Patterns in Urban Kenya: Trends and
Policy Implications
M. Muyanga; T.S. Jayne; Gem Argwings-Kodhek; J. Ariga
24. The Economics of Obesity-Related Mortality Among High Income
Countries
Huffman, Wallace; Huffman, Sonya K.; Tegene, Abebayehu;
Rickertsen, Kyrre
25. Fresh Fruits and Vegetable Consumption and Trade in Urban
Kenya
Milton Ayieko; David Tschirley; Mary Mathenge
26. Anticipating and Responding to Drought Emergencies in
Southern Africa: Lessons from the 2002-2003 Experience
David Tschirley; Jan J. Nijhoff; Pedro Arlindo; Billy
Mwinga; Michael T. Weber; T.S. Jayne
27. Factors Driving the Growth in Fertilizer Consumption in
Kenya, 1990-2005: Sustaining the Momentum in Kenya and
Lessons for Broader Replicability in Sub-Saharan Africa
Joshua Ariga; T.S. Jayne; J. Nyoro
28. Trends in Breakfast Meal and Maize Marketing Margins in
Zambia
Antony Chapoto; T.S. Jayne
29. Cooperative game theory and its application to natural,
environmental, and water resource issues : 3. application to
water resources
Parrachino, Irene; Dinar, Ariel; Patrone, Fioravante
30. Civil War, Crop Failure, and the Health Status of Young
Children
Richard Akresh; Philip Verwimp
31. Cooperative game theory and its application to natural,
environmental, and water resource issues : 2. application to
natural and environmental resources
Zara, Stefano; Dinar, Ariel; Patrone, Fioravante
32. Lexicographic Preferences in Discrete Choice Experiments:
Consequences on Individual-Specific Willingness to Pay
Estimates
Danny Campbell; W. George Hutchinson; Riccardo Scarpa
33. Optimal Transfers and Participation Decisions in
International Environmental Agreements
Carlo Carraro; Johan Eyckmans; Michael Finus
34. Cooperative game theory and its application to natural,
environmental, and water resource issues : 1. basic theory
Parrachino, Irene; Zara, Stefano; Patrone, Fioravante
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1. Introduction of New Agricultural Technologies and Marketing
Stragegies in Central Mozambique
Rafael N. Uaiene (Department of Agricultural Economics,
Michigan State University)
This paper presents a quantitative assessment of the potential
farmers? benefits from increases in the productivity of the
agricultural sector combined with the introduction of new
marketing strategies. The analysis is based on farm-programming
models designed to capture the important structural features of
farm household decision making in Mozambique. The model
explicitly incorporates the harvest income target and
satisfaction of household caloric demand through home-consumption
of own production before maximizing cash revenues through
marketed goods.
Keywords: food security, food policy, central Mozambique, new
technologies, inventory credit, household farm model
JEL: Q18
Date: 2006
URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:msu:icpwrk:mz-iiam-rr-02e&r=agr
2. Potential Impact of the Kwacha Appreciation and Proposed Tax
Provisions of the 2006 Budget Act on Zambian Agriculture
John Fynn (Department of Agricultural Economics, Michigan
State University)
Steven Haggblade
The study aims to quantify the impact of the Kwacha appreciation
and to project the broad impact on the agricultural export,
domestic production and processing sectors. It explores the scope
for mitigating actions ? by farmers, commercial enterprises and
government authorities ? that might provide a means of survival
of export operations and the retention of income-earning
opportunities by rural communities in the commercial and small
scale agricultural sectors. The study aims to assess the impact
of the Kwacha appreciation on the viability of agricultural
enterprises and income earning opportunities in the context of
the new tax regulations proposed in the 2006 budget. It is
anticipated that the findings of this study should establish a
foundation for formulating a strategy for the survival of
agricultural exports and domestic production capacity by various
stakeholder groups.
Keywords: food security, food policy, Zambia Kwacha appreciation,
agricultural export, domestic production
JEL: Q18
Date: 2006
URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:msu:icpwrk:zm-fsrp-wp-016&r=agr
3. Impact of HIV/AIDS-related Adult Mortality on Rural
Households' Welfare in Zambia
Antony Chapoto
T.S. Jayne (Department of Agricultural Economics, Michigan
State University)
This study estimates the impacts of prime-age (PA) adult
morbidity and mortality on crop production and cropping patterns,
household size, livestock and non-farm income in Zambia using
nationally representative rural farm household longitudinal
survey data. The findings provide important information to assist
policy makers, donors, and development planners in designing
interventions to mitigate the impacts of the AIDS on vulnerable
households.
Keywords: food security, food policy, Zambia, HIV/AIDS mortality
JEL: Q18
Date: 2005
URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:msu:icpbrf:zm-fsrp-pb-012&r=agr
4. Rural Poverty Dynamics, Agricultural Productivity and Access
to Resources
Paul Gamba (Department of Agricultural Economics, Michigan
State University)
Elliot Mghenyi
The objectives of this paper are: measure the prevalence of
rural poverty in 1997 and 2000, based on the nationwide Tegemeo
survey; categorize households according to whether they were
above the poverty line in both 1997 and 2000, entered into
poverty or exited from poverty between 1997 and 2000, or were
above the poverty line in both years; identifies the household-
level and community-level factors associated with rural poverty
through econometric analysis; and the implications of these
results for the design of appropriate poverty reduction
strategies. Such analysis is intended to guide donor programs and
interventions designed to attack the roots of chronic poverty.
Keywords: food security, food policy, Kenya, rural poverty
JEL: Q18
Date: 2005
URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:msu:icpwrk:ke-tegemeo-wp-021&r=agr
5. Understanding Rwandan Agricultural Households' Strategies to
Deal with Prime Age Illness and Death: A Propensity Score
Matching Approach
Cynthia Donovan (Department of Agricultural Economics,
Michigan State University)
Linda Bailey
This research seeks to evaluate the agricultural strategies used
by households in dealing with morbidity and mortality, and to
determine differences in crop production between households that
have experienced a recent adult illness or death due to illness
compared to those without adult morbidity or mortality.
Keywords: food security, food policy, Rwanda. morbity, mortality
JEL: Q18
Date: 2005
URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:msu:icpwrk:rw-fsrp-rr-15&r=agr
6. Emerging Structural Maize Deficits in Eastern and Southern
Africa: Implications for National Agricultural Strategies
T.S. Jayne (Department of Agricultural Economics, Michigan
State University)
Antony Chapoto
This note summarizes analysis of trends in net maize exports
over the 1960-2005 period and examines whether these trends are
being reflected in changing maize price levels in the region. The
implications are highlighted of the findings for countries?
agricultural development strategies.
Keywords: food security, food policy, Zambia maize
JEL: Q18
Date: 2006
URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:msu:icpbrf:zm-fsrp-pb-016&r=agr
7. Impact of HIV/AIDS-Related Deaths on Rural Farm Households'
Welfare in Zambia: Implications for Poverty Reduction
Strategies
Antony Chapoto
T.S. Jayne (Department of Agricultural Economics, Michigan
State University)
Using comprehensive rural farm household longitudinal data from
Zambia, this paper measures the impacts of prime-age (PA) adult
morbidity and mortality on crop production and cropping patterns,
household size, livestock and non-farm income. The paper adopts
and extends the counterfactual (difference-in-difference)
approach by controlling for initial (pre-death) household
conditions that may influence the severity of the impacts of
adult mortality. In particular, the study controls for initial
poverty status, landholding size, effective dependency ratios,
and the gender and position of the deceased person. Moreover, the
possibility that PA death in the household is endogenous is taken
into account by conceptualizing the measurement of effects of
prime-age adult death on rural agricultural households? welfare
as a two stage process: first, by examining the characteristics
of afflicted households; and second, conditional on being
afflicted, determining the effects of morbidity and mortality on
indicators of household welfare both prior to and after mortality.
The findings from this study provide important information that
may assist governments, donors, and development planners in
developing specific policies or interventions to mitigate the
impacts of the disease on vulnerable households.
Keywords: food security, food policy, HIV/AIDS, prime-age
mortality, endogeneity, rural livelihoods
JEL: Q18
Date: 2005
URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:msu:icpwrk:zm-fsrp-wp-015&r=agr
8. Seasonal Analysis of Selected Fresh Fruit and Vegetable
Prices at Wholesale Level in Key Urban Markets of Kenya
Mary Mathenge
David Tschirley (Department of Agricultural Economics,
Michigan State University)
Agricultural commodities typically show a strong seasonal
pattern in production, with supplies which come off the farm
during one or perhaps two distinct periods of the year having to
meet relatively stable demand over the course of the entire year.
This seasonal pattern in production can give rise to strong
seasonal patterns in price movements, with low prices during and
shortly after the harvest, rising to peaks just prior to the next
harvest. Understanding this price seasonality, the typical timing
and levels of seasonal highs and lows, and the reliability of
each, is a key task for anyone wishing to understand the market
for an agricultural commodity. This paper presents the results of
seasonal analysis for seven fresh fruit and vegetable crops in
Nairobi, Mombasa, and Kisumu: ripe bananas, kales, dry onions,
tomatoes, cabbages, oranges, and potatoes due to their importance
in urban consumer diets.
Keywords: food security, food policy, wholesale fruit and
vegetable prices, Kenya
JEL: Q18
Date: 2006
URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:msu:icpwrk:ke-tegemeo-wp-022&r=agr
9. Why do poor farmers default less?: Case of Indian informal
credit market A game theoretic exploration
Rajeev, Meenakshi
Ranade, Ranjeet
Deb, Sarmistha
In the face of many debt-ridden farmers committing suicide, the
agricultural credit delivery system assumes a significant role in
the agrarian economy of India. This paper looks at the credit
delivery system in rural India on the basis of a field survey
carried out in the State of West Bengal. Given the reality that
access to formal sector credit is not smooth for the marginal
farmers, the emergence of a trader class as a major source of
credit for working capital (without demanding any collateral),
appears to be beneficial for these poor farmers. Surprisingly,
the repayment rates of the comparatively poorer farmers are found
to be better than that of the financially better-off farmers. The
paper constructs a game theoretic model to show how in the face
of asymmetric information, necessity to build trust has led to
this behaviour.
Keywords: Key Words: Borrower; lender; trader; strategy
JEL: Q14
Date: 2006-11-01
URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pra:mprapa:768&r=agr
10. Potential Impact of the Kwacha Appreciation on Zambia
Agriculture
John Fynn
Steven Haggblade (Department of Agricultural Economics,
Michigan State University)
The rapid recent appreciation of the Kwacha has placed these
gains at risk. The sudden strengthening of the Kwacha since
November 2005 has reduced the Kwacha value of agricultural
exports by 30%, forcing reductions in farmgate prices and eroding
exporter profit margins. As in a classic case of Dutch Disease,
large inflows of foreign exchange?whether from surging
international copper prices, foreign aid or speculative financial
inflows?have contributed to the strengthening Kwacha. The
subsequent rapid appreciation of the Kwacha risks making much of
Zambia?s export agriculture uncompetitive on world markets.
Keywords: food security, food policy, Zambia, appreciation impact
JEL: Q18
Date: 2006
URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:msu:icpbrf:zm-fsrp-pb-013&r=agr
11. Exploring the Paradox of Rwandan Agricultural Household
Income and Nutritional Outcomes in 1990 and 2000
Andrew McKay
Scott Loveridge (Department of Agricultural Economics,
Michigan State University)
A brief introduction to Rwanda, its recent history and
agricultural policies provides context for the reader. This then
leads into a brief discussion of rural livelihood strategies.
Next is basic documentation of income and expenditure surveys
conducted prior to the war (1990) and after the war (2000). Then
patterns are compared in household strategies in a time before
the disruptions to a time of relative calm after the major
disruptions.
Keywords: food security, food policy, Rwanda, household income,
nutrition
JEL: Q18
Date: 2005
URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:msu:icpwrk:rw-fsrp-rr-14&r=agr
12. Levies on Agricultural Commodities: Who Benefits? A Rapid
Assessment
Billy Mwiinga
Julius Shawa
T.S. Jayne (Department of Agricultural Economics, Michigan
State University)
James Shaffer
This report provides an initial assessment of the impact of
agricultural commodity taxes levied by local district authorities
on the national objectives of food security, poverty alleviation
and economic growth. A study was undertaken to provide government
with a better understanding of the effects of the grain levy on
the national policy objectives of promoting food security,
poverty alleviation, and economic growth in Zambia.
Keywords: food security, food policy, agricultural commodity
taxes, Zambia
JEL: Q18
Date: 2005
URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:msu:icpwrk:zm-fsrp-wp-012&r=agr
13. Reprint: The Many Paths of Cotton Sector Reform in Eastern
and Southern Africa: Lessons From a Decade of Experience
David Tschirley (Department of Agricultural Economics,
Michigan State University)
Colin Poulton
Duncan Boughton
With cotton sector reform in much of SSA a decade old, it is now
possible to review the empirical record and begin drawing lessons
from experience. This paper assesses the record of five countries
in southern and eastern Africa: Tanzania, Uganda, Zimbabwe,
Zambia, and Mozambique. In four of these countries, cotton is the
first- or second most important smallholder cash crop; only in
Uganda does it substantially lag other cash crops. The focus on
the course of reform in each ? initial conditions, key elements
of the reform, and institutional response to it ? and attempt
to draw lessons for policy makers, donors, and researchers. the
paper begins by outlining the challenges faced by cotton
production and marketing systems. Next a review the range of pre-
reform institutional responses to these challenges, before
discussing the reform process in each country and reviewing the
evolving institutional response to it. Finally, assess the
performance that each country has achieved and attempt to relate
this to its initial conditions and subsequent institutional
responses, and closing by outlining lessons for strategies to
improve cotton systems in SSA.
Keywords: food security, food policy, cotton sector reform,
Tanzania, Uganda, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Mozambique
JEL: Q18
Date: 2006
URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:msu:icpwrk:zm-fsrp-wp-018&r=agr
14. Recommendations for Adjusting Weights for Zambia Post
Harvest Survey Data Series and Improving Estimation
Methodology for Future Surveys
David Megill (Department of Agricultural Economics, Michigan
State University)
The Central Statistical Office (CSO) has been conducting the
Zambia Post-Harvest Survey (PHS) annually for about 15 years.
This survey is one of the most important sources of data in
Zambia for the annual production of crops and livestock, as well
as socio-economic characteristics of agricultural households. The
purpose of this report is to document the findings from this
review of the PHS sampling, listing and estimation methodology
and the proposed weight adjustment procedures, as well as to make
recommendations for improving the methodology for the PHS and
Crop Forecasting Survey (CFS) in the future.
Keywords: food security, food policy, estimation methodology,
agricultural households
JEL: Q18
Date: 2005
URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:msu:icpwrk:zm-fsrp-wp-013&r=agr
15. Options for Economic Growth in Mali through the Application
of Science and Technology to Agriculture
Valerie Kelly (Department of Agricultural Economics,
Michigan State University)
Janet Carpenter
Oumar Diall
Tom Easterling
Moctar Kon?
Peter McCornick
Mike McGahuey
This report represents a synthesis of individual reports and
notes prepared by each team member. The first three points in the
terms of reference (TOR), provide an overview of current S&T
research institutions and programs in Mali. Promising S&T
products and needed support services are identified to encourage
rapid uptake (4th item on the TOR). This discussion is divided
into two sub-sections: one presents the key findings concerning
crops and the other deals with livestock. These sections include
the team?s recommendations for product- or subsector-based
activities to be pursued in Mali by researchers, extension
services, and public and private sector actors involved in
different levels of the value-chain. Cross-cutting issues that
affect technology development and uptake across multiple products
and subsectors (5th item on the TOR) are analyzed. Key issues
discussed are research and extension capacity; the role of
natural resource and water management in stimulating agricultural
productivity growth and reducing production risk; and downstream
institutional constraints such as regulatory issues that limit
uptake and dissemination of S&T products. Resolutions are
discussed.
Keywords: food security, food policy, Mali science and
technology research, research and extension
JEL: Q18
Date: 2005
URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:msu:icpwrk:ml-promisam-rr-01e&r=agr
16. Agricultural Extension in Kenya: Practice and Policy Lessons
Milu Muyanga (Department of Agricultural Economics, Michigan
State University)
T.S. Jayne
The primary objective of this study is to assess the food crops
and livestock extension service provision in Kenya with a broad
aim of understanding what exists, what works and why. It seeks to
expand knowledge on the nature of the existing extension
providers, their characteristics, approaches employed and the
challenges they face. Based on success cases, an attempt is made
to delineate the fundamentals of ideal extension service system
and the role of the government in such a scenario, with the aim
of informing the implementation of the new National Agricultural
Sector Extension Policy (NASEP).
Keywords: food security, food policy, extension services,
privatization, policy reform, Kenya
JEL: Q18
Date: 2006
URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:msu:icpwrk:ke-tegemeo-wp-026&r=agr
17. Priority Setting for Public-Sector Agricultural Research in
Mozambique with the National Agricultural Survey Data
T. Walker (Department of Agricultural Economics, Michigan
State University)
R. Pitoro
A. Tomo
I. Sitoe
C. Sal?ncia
R. Mahanzule
C. Donovan
F. Mazuze
The bulk of this research report addresses the question of where
commodity research should be cited across IIAM?s ten agro-
ecologies and four zonal research centers. As IIAM decentralizes
its scientific human resources to its four zonal center locations,
it should not lose sight of the primacy of the Northeast Zonal
Research Center in both economic importance and the potential for
poverty reduction. Our analysis suggests that the Northeast Zonal
Research Center contributes about 40% to value of commodity
production and to absolute poverty alleviation. The temptation is
that too many resources are allocated to the South Zonal Research
Center because the research infrastructure in the south is wider
and deeper than in the center and north of the country. If the
three other zonal research centers are to fulfill their promise,
a few key facilities need to be rehabilitated and strengthened in
the center and north. The scarcity of research infrastructure is
most constraining in the coastal agroecologies, especially for
rice.
Keywords: food security, food policy, priority setting,
Mozambique, rice
JEL: Q18
Date: 2006
URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:msu:icpwrk:mz-iiam-rr-03e&r=agr
18. Zambia Horticultural Rapid Appraisal: Understanding the
Domestic Value Chains of Fresh Fruits and Vegetables
Munguzwe Hichaambwa
David Tschirley (Department of Agricultural Economics,
Michigan State University)
The purpose of this paper is to begin generating the empirical
information needed to launch a process of stakeholder
consultation regarding the key challenges facing the country?s
horticultural sector. The paper is based on a rapid appraisal of
the sector meant to provide a broad overview; FSRP?s hope is
that stakeholder input will help identify a more focused set of
applied research dealing with specific issues. The paper proceeds
as follows: the rest of this chapter presents the data and
methods used in the research; chapter two uses national rural
household survey data to characterize horticultural marketing
patterns in the smallholder sector; chapter three presents
results of the rapid appraisal, focusing on large scale farmers,
?first sellers? in the Soweto wholesale market of Lusaka,
retail traders in Lusaka and Ndola, and shoppers from a range of
retail outlets in both cities; chapter four concludes with a
discussion of policy and program issues.
Keywords: food security, food policy, Zambia horticultural rapid
appraisal, fresh fruits and vegetables
JEL: Q18
Date: 2006
URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:msu:icpwrk:zm-fsrp-wp-017&r=agr
19. Discounting Spotted Apples: Investigating Consumers?
Willingness to Accept Cosmetic Damage in an Organic Product
Yue, Chengyan
Alfnes, Frode
Jensen, Helen H.
Organic producers have limited methods of avoiding plant
diseases that result in cosmetic damage to produce. Therefore,
the appearance of organic produce is often less than perfect. We
use an experimental auction to investigate how cosmetic damage
affects consumers? willingness to pay for organic apples. We
find that 75% of the participants are willing to pay more for
organic than for conventional apples given identical appearance.
However, at the first sight of any imperfection in the appearance
of the organic apples, this segment is significantly reduced.
Furthermore, we find that there is a significant effect of
interaction between cosmetic damage and product methods. Even
though most consumers say they buy organic products to avoid
pesticides, we find that cosmetic damage has a larger impact on
the willingness to pay for organic apples than for conventional
apples.
Keywords: appearance, apples, experimental auctions, organic,
willingness to pay.
Date: 2006-11-06
URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:isu:genres:12693&r=agr
20. Long-Run Impact of Corn-Based Ethanol on the Grain, Oilseed,
and Livestock Sectors: A Preliminary Assessment, The
Elobeid, Amani
Tokgoz, Simla
Hayes, Dermot J.
Babcock, Bruce A.
Hart, Chad E.
The ongoing growth of corn-based ethanol production raises some
fundamental questions about what impact continued growth will
have on U.S. and world agriculture. Estimates of the long-run
potential for ethanol production can be made by calculating the
corn price at which the incentive to expand ethanol production
disappears. Under current ethanol tax policy, if the prices of
crude oil, natural gas, and distillers grains stay at current
levels, then the break-even corn price is $4.05 per bushel. A
multi-commodity, multi-country system of integrated commodity
models is used to estimate the impacts if we ever get to $4.05
corn. At this price, corn-based ethanol production would reach 31.
5 billion gallons per year, or about 20% of projected U.S. fuel
consumption in 2015. Supporting this level of production would
require 95.6 million acres of corn to be planted. Total corn
production would be approximately 15.6 billion bushels, compared
to 11.0 billion bushels today. Most of the additional corn acres
come from reduced soybean acreage. Wheat acreage would expand
because of higher prices and increased demand for feed wheat.
Corn exports and production of pork and poultry would all be
reduced in response to higher corn prices and increased
utilization of corn by ethanol plants. These results should not
be viewed as a prediction of what will eventually materialize.
Rather, they indicate a logical end point to the current
incentives to invest in corn-based ethanol plants.
Keywords: biofuels, commodity markets, corn price, energy
markets, ethanol.
Date: 2006-11-06
URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:isu:genres:12692&r=agr
21. Zambia's 2005 Maize Import and Marketing Experiences: By
Lessons and Implications
Anthony Mwanaumo
T.S. Jayne (Department of Agricultural Economics, Michigan
State University)
Ballard Zulu
Julius Shawa
Green Mbozi
Steven Haggblade
Misheck Nyembe
This paper shows how government actions can affect the
performance of the maize marketing system and influence the
severity of food crises. Examples from the 2005/06 marketing
season are used to illustrate how Zambia?s food security
situation can be improved through closer consultation,
transparency and predictability between government and the
private sector. The paper also identifies longer-run options for
strengthening the ability of local and regional markets to ensure
household and national food security in the face of maize
production instability.
Keywords: food security, food policy, Zambia, maize
JEL: Q18
Date: 2005
URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:msu:icpbrf:zm-fsrp-pb-011&r=agr
22. Learning from the 2002/03 Food Crisis in Southern Africa:
Lessons for the Current Year
David Tschirley (Department of Agricultural Economics,
Michigan State University)
Pedro Arlindo
Jan J. Nijhoff
Billy Mwinga
Michael T. Weber
T.S. Jayne
This paper examines the efficiency and effectiveness of
emergency response in Southern Africa through the lens of the
2002/03-food crisis in the region. It outlines improvements in
information and operational procedures needed to enhance the
response to future events. Also discussed are national and
regional trade regime changes that would reduce the need for
emergency response, and consider what lessons the 2002/03 crisis
may have for the role of Strategic Grain Reserves.
Keywords: food security, food policy, food crisis, southern
Africa, trade
JEL: Q18
Date: 2005
URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:msu:icpbrf:mz-minag-rl-46e&r=agr
23. Staple Food Consumption Patterns in Urban Kenya: Trends and
Policy Implications
M. Muyanga
T.S. Jayne (Department of Agricultural Economics, Michigan
State University)
Gem Argwings-Kodhek
J. Ariga
This study examines current consumption patterns of the main
staple carbohydrate products in Nairobi--maize, wheat, rice, and
cooking banana--in an effort to illuminate policy issues
affecting urban food security. Also identified the factors
driving changes in the amount and form of urban maize meal
consumption. To better understand how food security policy should
be designed in order to respond to the needs of low-income
consumers, we disaggregate consumption and expenditure patterns
for low-, medium- and high-income groups. The study also examines
whether the marketing channels used by the poor to secure their
staple carbohydrate products differ from those used by relatively
high-income consumers. The results hold important implications
for policy makers by revealing how staple food consumption
patterns are changing, and by identifying the types of
investments that are needed to strengthen improve low-income
consumers? access to food.
Keywords: food security, food policy, maize, wheat, rice,
cooking banana, Kenya
JEL: Q18
Date: 2005
URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:msu:icpwrk:ke-tegemeo-wp-016&r=agr
24. The Economics of Obesity-Related Mortality Among High Income
Countries
Huffman, Wallace
Huffman, Sonya K.
Tegene, Abebayehu
Rickertsen, Kyrre
Health production and supply functions based on models for
productive households are established. Data for 18 high income
countries over 1971-2001 are used in the empirical analysis. In
the health production function, mortality from cardiovascular
diseases and diabetes is positively related to inputs of calories
and sweeteners but not to input of fat or to national health care.
In the health supply function, a high real price of food, real
wage rate and non-labor income, a modest level of socialized
medicine, and a low labor force participation rate decrease
mortality. A cheap food policy erodes gains from reduced smoking
and better treatments for high cholesterol levels and
hypertension that have occurred over the last three decades.
Keywords: health, household production, food prices, obesity,
mortality, high income countries
JEL: D1 I1 Q1
Date: 2006-11-17
URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:isu:genres:12699&r=agr
25. Fresh Fruits and Vegetable Consumption and Trade in Urban
Kenya
Milton Ayieko
David Tschirley (Department of Agricultural Economics,
Michigan State University)
Mary Mathenge
This study looks at the urban consumption patterns of fresh
fruits and vegetables and the major supply chain systems used in
the distribution of fresh produce. The study integrates issues of
supply chain organization and performance into the analysis of
consumer demand for fresh produce. In particular, the study looks
at how system organization and performance affects the ability of
the system to satisfy consumer demand for fresh produce. The
study pursues these main objectives, namely, to estimate the
household consumption of fruits and vegetables per adult
equivalent; to examine the shopping patterns of fresh produce
consumers as compared to other food purchases; and to examine the
various supply chain systems for fresh produce.
Keywords: food security, food policy, fresh fruits and vegetable
consumption, consumer demand, Kenya
JEL: Q18
Date: 2005
URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:msu:icpwrk:ke-tegemeo-wp-019&r=agr
26. Anticipating and Responding to Drought Emergencies in
Southern Africa: Lessons from the 2002-2003 Experience
David Tschirley (Department of Agricultural Economics,
Michigan State University)
Jan J. Nijhoff
Pedro Arlindo
Billy Mwinga
Michael T. Weber
T.S. Jayne
This paper examines the efficiency and effectiveness of
emergency response in southern Africa through the lens of the
2002/03 food crisis in the region. The authors outline
improvements in information and operational procedures needed to
enhance the response to future events. They also discuss national
and regional trade regime changes that would reduce the need for
emergency response, and consider what lessons the 2002/03 crisis
may have for the role of Strategic Grain Reserves (SGRs).
Keywords: food security, drought, emergency, Southern Africa
JEL: Q18
Date: 2006
URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:msu:idpwrk:089&r=agr
27. Factors Driving the Growth in Fertilizer Consumption in
Kenya, 1990-2005: Sustaining the Momentum in Kenya and
Lessons for Broader Replicability in Sub-Saharan Africa
Joshua Ariga (Department of Agricultural Economics, Michigan
State University)
T.S. Jayne
J. Nyoro
The objective of this study is to identify the factors
responsible for the impressive growth in fertilizer use in Kenya
since market liberalization in the early 1990s. Over the past 10
years, fertilizer consumption has risen by 35%. So far, it is
unknown whether smallholder farmers are responsible for this
growth or whether it is being driven mainly by the large-scale
and/or estate sectors. Moreover, it is important for policy
makers to know whether the increased fertilizer consumption is
being devoted to smallholder food crops or whether industrial
crops such as tea and sugarcane are responsible for this growth.
This study addresses these questions using nationwide survey data
on smallholder fertilizer use patterns between 1996 and 2004. The
study also explores whether the growth in fertilizer use in Kenya
is attributed to any particular types of fertilizer delivery
supply chains. A better understanding of the types of fertilizer
distribution channels fueling the growth in consumption and the
sustainability of these delivery systems can be of great help in
guiding future policy to replicate successful supply chain models
more widely in Kenya. Finally the study is meant to guide
discussions on fertilizer marketing policy in Kenya in line with
the new Economic Recovery Strategy (ERS).
Keywords: food security, food policy, fertilizer consumption,
Kenya
JEL: Q18
Date: 2006
URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:msu:icpwrk:ke-tegemeo-wp-024&r=agr
28. Trends in Breakfast Meal and Maize Marketing Margins in
Zambia
Antony Chapoto (Department of Agricultural Economics,
Michigan State University)
T.S. Jayne
This paper analyzes the trends in retail maize meal prices and
the wholesale-retail margins enjoyed by millers and retailers in
Zambia since maize and maize meal prices were decontrolled in the
early 1990s. This note summarizes material from a broader study
on Zambia?s maize supply chain. The findings from this paper
are designed to inform policy discussions aimed at improving
household food security and maize market performance in Zambia.
Keywords: food security, food policy, Zambia, maize
JEL: Q18
Date: 2006
URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:msu:icpbrf:zm-fsrp-pb-014&r=agr
29. Cooperative game theory and its application to natural,
environmental, and water resource issues : 3. application to
water resources
Parrachino, Irene
Dinar, Ariel
Patrone, Fioravante
This paper reviews various applications of cooperative game
theory (CGT) to issues of water resources. With an increase in
the competition over various water resources, the incidents of
disputes have been in the center of allocation agreements. The
paper reviews the cases of various water uses, such as multi-
objective water projects, irrigation, groundwater, hydropower,
urban water supply, wastewater, and transboundary water disputes.
In addition to providing examples of cooperative solutions to
allocation problems, the conclusion from this review suggests
that cooperation over scarce water resources is possible under a
variety of physical conditions and institutional arrangements. In
particular, the various approaches for cost sharing and for
allocation of physical water infrastructure and flow can serve as
a basis for stable and efficient agreement, such that long-term
investments in water projects are profitable and sustainable. The
latter point is especially important, given recent developments
in water policy in various countries and regional institutions
such as the European Union (Water Framework Directive), calling
for full cost recovery of investments and operation and
maintenance in water projects. The CGT approaches discussed and
demonstrated in this paper can provide a solid basis for finding
possible and stable cost-sharing arrangements.
Keywords: Town Water Supply and Sanitation,Environmental
Economics & Policies,Water Supply and Sanitation
Governance and Institutions,Water Supply and Systems,
Water and Industry
Date: 2006-11-01
URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wbk:wbrwps:4074&r=agr
30. Civil War, Crop Failure, and the Health Status of Young
Children
Richard Akresh (University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign)
Philip Verwimp (Institute of Social Studies)
Economic shocks at birth have lasting impacts on children?s
health several years after the shock. We calculate height for age
z-scores for children under age five using data from a Rwandan
nationally representative household survey conducted in 1992. We
exploit district and time variation in crop failure and civil
conflict to measure the impact of exogenous shocks that children
experience at birth on their height several years later. We find
that girls born after a shock in a region experiencing these
events exhibit 0.72 standard deviations lower height for age z-
scores and the impact is worse for poor households. There is no
impact of these shocks on boys? health status. Results are
robust to using household level production and rainfall shocks as
alternative measures of crop failure. The analysis also
contributes to the debate on the economic conditions prevailing
on the eve of the Rwandan genocide.
Keywords: Child health, economic shocks, civil war, rainfall
shocks, Africa
JEL: I12 J13 O12 O15
Date: 2006-09
URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hic:wpaper:19&r=agr
31. Cooperative game theory and its application to natural,
environmental, and water resource issues : 2. application to
natural and environmental resources
Zara, Stefano
Dinar, Ariel
Patrone, Fioravante
This paper provides a review of various applications of
cooperative game theory (CGT) to issues of natural and
environmental resources. With an increase in the level of
competition over environmental and natural resources, the
incidents of disputes have been at the center of allocation
agreements. The paper reviews the cases of common pool resources
such as fisheries and forests, and cases of environmental
pollution such as acid rain, flow, and stock pollution. In
addition to providing examples of cooperative solutions to
allocation problems, the conclusion from this review suggests
that cooperation over scarce environmental and natural resources
is possible under a variety of physical conditions and
institutional arrangements. CGT applications to international
fishery disputes are especially useful in that they have been
making headway in policy-related agreements among states and
regions of the world. Forest applications are more local in
nature, but of great relevance in solving disputes among
communities and various levels of governments.
Keywords: Environmental Economics & Policies,Fisheries &
Aquaculture,Common Property Resource Development,
Economic Theory & Research,Ecosystems and Natural
Habitats
Date: 2006-11-01
URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wbk:wbrwps:4073&r=agr
32. Lexicographic Preferences in Discrete Choice Experiments:
Consequences on Individual-Specific Willingness to Pay
Estimates
Danny Campbell (Gibson Institute of Land, Food and
Environmen, Queen?s University Belfast)
W. George Hutchinson (Gibson Institute of Land, Food and
Environmen, Queen?s University Belfast)
Riccardo Scarpa (University of Waikato)
In discrete choice experiments respondents are generally assumed
to consider all of the attributes across each of the alternatives,
and to choose their most preferred. However, results in this
paper indicate that many respondents employ simplified
lexicographic decision-making rules, whereby they have a ranking
of the attributes, but their choice of an alternative is based
solely on the level of their most important attribute(s). Not
accounting for these simple decision-making heuristics introduces
systemic errors and leads to biased point estimates, as they are
a violation of the continuity axiom and a departure from the use
of compensatory decision-making. In this paper the implications
of lexicographic preferences are examined. In particular, using a
mixed logit specification this paper investigates the sensitivity
of individual-specific willingness to pay (WTP) estimates
conditional on whether lexicographic decision-making rules are
accounted for in the modelling of discrete choice responses.
Empirical results are obtained from a discrete choice experiment
that was carried out to address the value of a number of rural
landscape attributes in Ireland.
Keywords: Continuity axiom, Discrete Choice Experiments,
Lexicographic Preferences, Mixed Logit, Individual-
Specific Willingness to Pay
JEL: C35 Q24 Q51
Date: 2006-10
URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:fem:femwpa:2006.128&r=agr
33. Optimal Transfers and Participation Decisions in
International Environmental Agreements
Carlo Carraro (Department of Economics, University Of Venice
C? Foscari)
Johan Eyckmans (European University College Brussels EHSAL
and Center for Economic Studies, Katholieke Universiteit
Leuven.)
Michael Finus (Department of Economics, University of Hagen
and National University of Singapore)
The literature on international environmental agreements has
recognized the role transfers play in encouraging participation
in international environmental agreements. However, the results
achieved so far are overly specific. Therefore, we develop a more
general framework that enables us to study the role of transfers
in a systematic way. We propose transfers using both internal and
external financial resources for making ?welfare optimal
agreements? self-enforcing. To illustrate the relevance of our
transfer scheme, we use a stylized integrated assessment
simulation model of climate change to show how appropriate
transfers may induce almost all countries into signing a self-
enforcing climate treaty.
Keywords: Self-enforcing International Environmental Agreements,
Climate Policy, Transfers
JEL: C72 H23 Q25 Q28
Date: 2006
URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ven:wpaper:44_06&r=agr
34. Cooperative game theory and its application to natural,
environmental, and water resource issues : 1. basic theory
Parrachino, Irene
Zara, Stefano
Patrone, Fioravante
Game theory provides useful insights into the way parties that
share a scarce resource may plan their use of the resource under
different situations. This review provides a brief and self-
contained introduction to the theory of cooperative games. It can
be used to get acquainted with the basics of cooperative games.
Its goal is also to provide a basic introduction to this theory,
in connection with a couple of surveys that analyze its use in
the context of environmental problems and models. The main models
bargaining games, transfer utility, and non-transfer utility
games) and issues and solutions are considered: bargaining
solutions, single-value solutions like the Shapley value and the
nucleolus, and multi-value solutions such as the core. The
cooperative game theory (CGT) models that are reviewed in this
paper favor solutions that include all possible players and
ignore the strategic stages leading to coalition building. They
focus on the possible results of the cooperation by answering
questions such as: Which coalitions can be formed? And how can
the coalitional gains be divided to secure a sustainable
agreement? An important aspect associated with the solution
concepts of CGT is the equitable and fair sharing of the
cooperation gains.
Keywords: Environmental Economics & Policies,Economic Theory &
Research,Livestock & Animal Husbandry,Education for the
Knowledge Economy,Education for Development
Date: 2006-11-01
URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wbk:wbrwps:4072&r=agr
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