Scholarly Works, Agricultural and Applied Economics

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https://hdl.handle.net/10919/24298
Research articles, presentations, and other scholarship

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Browsing Scholarly Works, Agricultural and Applied Economics by Subject "16 Studies in Human Society"

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    The impact of iron-biofortified bean adoption on bean productivity, consumption, purchases and sales
    Vaiknoras, Kate; Larochelle, Catherine (Elsevier, 2021-03-01)
    Staple food crops tend to be low in micronutrients; therefore, individuals whose diets rely heavily on them can suffer from micronutrient deficiency. Biofortification addresses this issue through the breeding of staple crops that are micronutrient-dense and high yielding. One such crop is iron-biofortified beans. Ten iron-biofortified bean varieties were released between 2010 and 2012 in Rwanda, a country with high rates of bean production and consumption, to address iron deficiency. This study evaluates the effect of the most widely adopted of these varieties, RWR2245, on household yield, land cultivated under beans, bean consumption, purchases, and sales. Because the adoption decision could be endogenous, we use a control function approach to quantify the impacts of adoption. RWR2245 provides a yield gain of 20%-49% over traditional bush bean varieties. In our preferred model specification, we find that over a 12-month period, growing RWR2245 for at least one out of two annual growing seasons increases the length of time beans are consumed from own production by 0.64 months (19–20 days), reduces the length of time beans are purchased for consumption by 0.73 months (22–23 days), and increases the probability of selling beans by 12%. Adoption can thus improve household nutrition via two channels: primarily by increasing iron intake via substituting biofortified harvested beans for less nutrient-dense beans from the market, and additionally by increasing household income that can be spent on nutritious foods through the reduction in bean purchases and increased likelihood of selling beans. Moreover, the sale of iron-biofortified beans implies the availability of iron-dense food in markets, also benefiting households that purchase beans. These findings are promising for the continued adoption of iron-biofortified beans in Rwanda and elsewhere and provide evidence that biofortified crops are an effective investment for nutrition, food security, and poverty reduction.
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    Value Chain Approaches in a Stagnant Industry: The Case of Furniture Production in Jepara, Indonesia
    Clements, Corinna; Alwang, Jeffrey R.; Achdiawan, Ramadhani (Informa, 2021-10-14)
    This article assesses impacts of the Jepara Furniture Value Chain project, which was intended to address challenges faced by small-scale furniture producers in Jepara, Indonesia. The assessment focuses on effects of membership in the APKJ, an association started as part of the project. Propensity score matching was used to compare differences in outcome variables for association members and matched non-members. A limited, positive impact of APKJ membership was found. Members have improved their marketing behaviors in ways that will allow them to retain more value compared to non-members. APKJ members are also more likely to have obtained certificates of timber legality. Membership in the APKJ does not have a significant effect on firm profit and there is little evidence of an industry transformation. The paper also provides a critique of indiscriminate use of a value chain approach.