Browsing by Author "Hegde, Shraddha"

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    Assessing Economic Contributions of the Virginia Seafood Industry: An Estimation Framework Utilizing Primary Data
    Gonçalves, Fernando H.; van Senten, Jonathan; Schwarz, Michael H.; Hegde, Shraddha (MDPI, 2024-05-26)
    With a focus on seafood industries, this study provides a framework for economic contribution assessments, outlines Virginia’s seafood supply chain components, and evaluates the direct, indirect, and induced economic impacts of Virginia’s seafood industry in 2019. Utilizing an analysis-by-parts method in IMPLAN, primary expenditure data from watermen, aquaculture farmers, processors, and distributors were collected through surveys. The efficacy of obtaining primary data through stakeholder surveys heavily relies on the investigator’s interpersonal skills to establish trust and elucidate the study’s benefits, particularly its potential to inform policy decisions. In 2019, the Virginia seafood industry’s estimated total economic contributions amounted to USD 1.1 billion, supporting 7187 individuals. This impact encompasses 6050 direct jobs, 523 indirect jobs, and 614 induced jobs, primarily benefiting watermen and coastal communities. Furthermore, the industry’s influence extends beyond its immediate economic sphere, supporting diverse sectors such as polystyrene foam manufacturing, boat building, sporting and athletic goods, and commercial and industrial machinery. Wages and salaries disbursed throughout the seafood supply chain ripple to Virginia’s economy, benefiting nondepository credit intermediation, owner-occupied dwellings, and real estate sectors. Future research focusing on seafood sales in restaurants and retail outlets will complete the understanding of the seafood industry’s broader economic impact on the state.
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    Cost of regulations on US catfish farms
    Hegde, Shraddha; Kumar, Ganesh; Engle, Carole; van Senten, Jonathan (Wiley, 2022-07-14)
    Understanding the economic effects of regulations on US aquaculture farms provides insights into which compliance costs create the greatest compliance burden on farms. This can further guide strategies to improve the efficiency of regulatory frameworks and potentially reduce on-farm compliance costs while maintaining adequate oversight. This study estimated the regulatory compliance burden on US catfish farms as part of a national effort to quantify the cost of regulations on US aquaculture farms. Completed survey interviews of catfish farms in the major catfish-producing states covered 63% of the total US catfish production area. Total regulatory costs of the US catfish industry were estimated at $45 million annually. Lost farm revenues (measured as the value of lost production, the value of markets lost from regulations, and the value of business opportunities lost because of regulations) were estimated to be $35 million per annum. Catfish-producing states outside the Alabama/Arkansas/Mississippi region had the highest ($2856/ha) and Alabama the lowest ($1127/ha) regulatory costs per hectare among the surveyed states. The greatest regulatory cost burden on catfish farms ($18 million) was caused by environmental regulations related mostly to the management of federally protected piscivorous migratory birds, followed by labor regulations ($12 million), and taxes/insurance ($7 million). Regulatory costs ($/kg) were 2.6 times higher on smaller (<80 ha) farms relative to larger (>300 ha) farms. Attention is needed to identify alternative regulatory frameworks that provide the same degree of regulatory oversight but are more cost-efficient.
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    Economic contributions of the Virginia seafood industry
    Gonçalves, Fernando Henrique; van Senten, Jonathan; Schwarz, Michael; Hegde, Shraddha (Virginia Cooperative Extension, 2022-11-04)
    The economic benefits of the seafood supply chain to the overall state economy demonstrate the magnitude and reach of the Virginia seafood industry. Watermen, aquaculture farmers, processors, and distributors sustain jobs and support other economic sectors operating within and beyond our Commonwealth that amplify their contribution to our economy. This study measured the combined impact of the different levels of the seafood supply chain on the Virginia Commonwealth’s economy.
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    Seafood Purchasing Behavior in the U.S. during the Early Recovery Period from the COVID-19 Pandemic
    Uzmanoglu, Mustafa Selcuk; Hegde, Shraddha; Engle, Carole; van Senten, Jonathan; Kumar, Ganesh; Dey, Madan (MDPI, 2024-09-03)
    This study examined seafood consumption during the early period of economic recovery following the COVID-19 pandemic. Specifically, surveys of U.S. consumers compared seafood purchasing behavior of the first two quarters of 2021 (Q1, 1 January through 31 March 2021, and Q2, 1 April through 30 June 2021) with those of 2020. Each survey included 100 seafood consumer respondents in each of the 20 U.S. metropolitan market areas. Following data cleaning, there were 1885 valid responses for Q1-2021 and 1940 for Q2-2021. A majority (57%) of respondents had received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine before March 2021 and 70% had received at least one dose as of June 2021. Regardless of vaccination status, few respondents (6% to 9.5% for food generally and 4% to 6.5% for seafood) reported changes in seafood consumption. Seafood consumption away from home increased significantly in Q1-2021 as compared to 2020 and continued to increase but to a lesser degree in Q2-2021. Demographic differences were found in shopping behaviors by age, education, income, and gender, but not by ethnic group. Generally, higher-income females with higher education tended to purchase more seafood. Respondents reported increased numbers of shopping trips per year in Q1-2021 as compared to 2020, which continued into Q2-2021 for general food, but shopping trips for seafood decreased as compared to 2020. The frequency of takeout purchases (times/year) of prepared meals for home consumption of seafood decreased during Q1 from 2020 and remained at that level in Q2-2021, but home delivery purchases of prepared meals of seafood increased during this period. Approximately 50–55% of respondents reported no change in overall seafood consumption levels, while 28% noted an increase in seafood consumption compared to pre-pandemic periods, a significant increase from the 19% who had reported doing so pre-pandemic. In contrast, those reporting a decrease declined from 31% to 17% in comparison to pre-pandemic levels. Seafood consumption in the U.S. remained stable and recovered in early 2021, with a preference for dining out. Consumer behaviors varied by age, income, education, and gender, but not by ethnicity. These changes were primarily driven by access, availability, and income, indicating the need for further research on long-term consumption patterns. This study found apparent stability of seafood consumption by U.S. consumers, which recovered from pandemic consumption levels in early 2021, and there was little change in seafood consumption, frequency, or the types of seafood consumed. Vaccination status did not appear to affect seafood consumption.
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    Technological progress in the US catfish industry
    Hegde, Shraddha; Kumar, Ganesh; Engle, Carole; Hanson, Terry; Roy, Luke A.; Cheatham, Morgan; Avery, Jimmy; Aarattuthodiyil, Suja; van Senten, Jonathan; Johnson, Jeff; Wise, David; Dahl, Sunni; Dorman, Larry; Peterman, Mark (Wiley, 2022-04)
    The US catfish industry has undergone significant technological advancements in an attempt to achieve cost efficiencies. This study monitored the progress of the adoption of alternative and complementary technologies in the US catfish industry. A 2019-2020 multi-state in-person survey in Alabama, Arkansas, and Mississippi (n = 68), revealed increased adoption of intensively aerated ponds (6,315 ha) and split ponds (1,176 ha). The adoption of alternative, more intensive, production practices has been accompanied by increased adoption of complementary technologies of fixed-paddlewheel aeration, automated oxygen monitors, and hybrid catfish. As a result, the average aeration rate in the tristate region has increased to 7.8 kW/ha with 97% of catfish farms adopting automated oxygen monitors. About 53% of the water surface area in the tristate region was used for hybrid catfish production. Fingerling producers have also adopted a feed-based, oral vaccine against Enteric Septicemia of Catfish, with 83% of the fingerling farms and 73% of the fingerling production area vaccinated against ESC in 2020. Increased adoption of productivity-enhancing technologies in the US catfish industry explains the 59% increase in foodfish productivity from 2010 to 2019. Monitoring the progress of adoption of productivity-enhancing technologies will guide researchers and Extension personnel involved in the refinement and dissemination of these technologies.