Scholarly Works, Agricultural and Applied Economics
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- Accès aux champs et productivité dans le bassin arachidier du SénégalMills, Bradford; Kakpo, Ange (2022-06-01)L'accès aux terres arables pour la production agricole est de plus en plus menacé en Afrique subsaharienne (ASS) à cause de disponibilités foncières de plus en plus réduites. Cette faible disponibilité en terres peut exacerber les disparités suivant l’âge et le sexe en matière d'accès à la terre et de productivité agricole. La présente note de recherche vise à examiner les déterminants de l'accès des membres du ménage aux terres pour la culture de l’arachide dans le bassin arachidier du Sénégal, et les implications d'un accès limité à la terre pour la productivité des jeunes et des femmes producteurs d'arachide. Dans cette étude, on entend par jeune, un homme ou une femme ayant entre 16 et 29 ans.
- Access to information and farmer's market choice: The case of potato in highland BoliviaAmaya, Nadezda; Alwang, Jeffrey R. (2011)Potato incomes are critical determinants of Andean farmers' household well-being. Efforts to improve incomes of producers should recognize the role of access to market information. In highland Bolivia, market information has entered the digital age. Cell phones are ubiquitous, and networks lubricated by cellular technologies are affecting traditional means of gathering information. Andean markets are characterized by the heavy involvement of women. Lower information costs could change market choices and roles of men and women. This study explores the effects of information access on market choice near Cochabamba. It diagnoses the roles of men and women and investigates decision-making and changes in it. The research confirms the importance of gender and cell phones to market access. Market decisions are made jointly by men and women, but women take a leading role in marketing. Women dominate marketing by negotiating favorable prices with buyers who are also women. Marketing networks have not changed substantially since the introduction of new information technologies. While cellular technology has broadened access to information and quickened its flow, it has not fundamentally changed network structures. The study provides recommendations about improving competitiveness of small-scale potato producers: (1) increasing access to information by expanding the information content of existing networks; (2) expanding cell phones access; (3) consideration of the important roles intermediaries play; and (4) more technical support for market and information access.
- Access to Information, gender relations and access to potato markets in the Jatun Mayu watershed located in Tiraque, BoliviaLarochelle, Catherine; Alwang, Jeffrey R. (2012)Poster presentation: Access to Information, gender relations and access to potato markets in the Jatun Mayu watershed located in Tiraque, Bolivia
- Achieving Water Quality Goals in the Chesapeake Bay: A Comprehensive Evaluation of System ResponseScientific & Technical Advisory Committee (EPA, Chesapeake Bay Program, Scientific and Technical Advisory Committee, 2023-05-04)
- Adaptive watershed management in the South American Highlands: Learning and teaching on the flyAlwang, Jeffrey R. (2008)The purpose of this poster is to describe an adaptive watershed management process in Chimbo, Ecuador. We show the conceptual framework and our empirical strategy. We present results showing that ethnic and agro-ecologic diversity in the watershed mean that technical interventions must be tailored to local conditions and the process of moving knowledge to action is highly context specific. Low incomes and high vulnerability of human populations mean that livelihood alternatives must be identified and incorporated into the adaptive plan.
- Adaptive watershed management in Tiraque, BoliviaBotello, Rubén C.; Figueroa, I.; Amaya, Nadezda; Vargas, O.; Saavedra, Ana Karina; Alwang, Jeffrey R. (2008)Poster outlining the project's objectives at the Bolivia site. The overall objectives are: to enhance and support the local capacity to raise policies and interventions to increase incomes, improve social conditions and protect environment in Guaranda, Ecuador and Tiraque, Bolivia. The project's primary objectives are: 1) to understand the economic, social, political and environmental conditions and their determinants in Chimbo, Ecuador and Tiraque, Bolivia, 2) to generate and validate sustainable technological alternatives to improve production systems and increase incomes while being environmentally friendly, 3) to create a system to assess alternative actions policies and intervention impacts in the income creating and the social and environmental conditions, 4) to build a local capacity to assess alternative policies, make and fulfill decisions and strengthen the social capital.
- Adoption and Impacts of Integrated Pest Management in Bangladesh: Evidence from Smallholder Bitter Gourd GrowersRahman, Md. Sadique; Norton, George W. (MDPI, 2019-04-17)Determinants of integrated pest management (IPM) adoption, productivity and efficiency of bitter gourd (Momordica charantia L.) growers in Bangladesh were jointly measured using propensity score matching (PSM), sample selection stochastic frontier production function (SFPF) and inverse probability weighted regression adjustment (IPWRA) techniques. The significant value (P < 0.05) of the selectivity variable (ρ(w,v)) coefficient justifies the use of the sample selection SFPF. The decision to adopt IPM was positively influenced by the training and other farmers’ decisions to adopt. Mean technical efficiency (MTE) was found to be significantly higher for adopters (0.59) compared to non-adopters (0.40). The MTE analysis suggests that arranging more training sessions and making farmers more familiar with the IPM practices would improve the technical efficiency of the growers. Adoption of IPM practices significantly reduced the number pesticide applications, which imply environmental benefits from their adoption.
- Adoption and Impacts of Potato Variety Cooperation 88 (C88) in Yunnan, China: A Multi-dimensional AssessmentMyrick, Stephanie; Qin, Junhong; Pradel, Willy; Li, Canhui; Suarez, Victor; Cheng, Zhen; Hareau, Guy; Larochelle, Catherine; Alwang, Jeffrey R. (2018-05-29)
- Adoption of Energy Efficient TechnologyMills, Bradford F. (2016-06-03)Presentation to NSF Research Experience for Undergraduates Seminar Series
- Agricultural exports and retaliatory trade actions: An empirical assessment of the 2018/2019 trade conflictGrant, Jason H.; Arita, Shawn; Emlinger, Charlotte; Johansson, Robert C.; Xie, Chaoping (2021-01)We estimate the ex-post agricultural trade impacts of retaliatory measures imposed by foreign countries in response to United States' Section 232 and 301 tariffs using a theoretically consistent, monthly, product line gravity equation. Retaliation led to significant US agricultural export losses of $13.5 to $18.7 billion on an annualized basis. Considerable heterogeneity exists in the average treatment effect of retaliation. First, retaliatory trade actions presented a strong within-year seasonal impact. Nearly 70% of aggregate trade losses occurred during the US's peak export marketing season. Second, U.S. trade losses were particularly pronounced on homogeneous bulk commodities, whereas product differentiation dampened the impact of retaliation. Third, with few exceptions, the counterfactually estimated direct trade losses line up well with the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) trade damage estimates for trade aid programs distributed to farmers impacted by the trade dispute. Finally, we find little evidence that U.S. exports were able to be reoriented to alternative, nonretaliating markets-an indication of high bilateral trade frictions and the destructive consequences of retaliatory trade actions.
- Agricultural, Off-Farm, Migration, and Social Protection Strategies to Increase Rural Household Resilience to Rainfall Shocks in Sub-Saharan AfricaMills, Bradford F.; Kostandini, Gentian; Murray, Anthony G.; Gao, Jianfeng; Koo, Jawoo; Guo, Zhe; Rusike, Joseph; Omamo, Steven (2016-04-07)Presented at the Spring Seminar Series at the Global Forum on Urban and Regional Resilience, Blacksburg, VA, 2016-04-07. Presented at the AGRA side session of the12th CAADP Partnership Platform, Accra, Ghana, 2016-04-12.
- The American Rescue Plan: Farms, Food, and FamiliesPierce, Tim; Bovay, John (Virginia Cooperative Extension, 2021)This publication, which accompanies a webinar on “The American Rescue Plan: Farms, Food, and Families”, provides an overview of the American Rescue Plan and its implications for farms, food, and families. The webinar and handout are part of the Virginia Sustainable Farms and Agribusiness Education Initiative offered by Virginia Tech’s Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics and Virginia Cooperative Extension. More information about the program is available at https://aaec.vt.edu/extension/va-sustainable-farms-agribusinesses.html. The webinar is available at: https://video.vt.edu/media/1_sb3hzeg1.
- Análisis de la viabilidad socio-económica y ambiental del sistema de producción papa-leche en la microcuenca del río Illangama-EcuadorBarrera, Victor H.; Alwang, Jeffrey R.; Cruz Collaguazo, E. P. (Asociación Latinoamericana de Producción Animal, 2010)De acuerdo al Índice de Necesidades Básicas Insatisfechas (NBI), en la microcuenca del río Illangama, alrededor del 76% de la población es pobre y sus ingresos están entre US$120 y 160 por mes, aún después de adoptar sistemas complejos con un alto potencial de producción. El más importante de ellos es el sistema papa-leche que aporta la mayor proporción de ingresos familiares y garantiza su seguridad alimentaria. Desde este punto de vista, se realizó un análisis de la viabilidad socio-económica y ambiental del sistema con el propósito de establecer su eficiencia y flexibilidad bajo nuevas condiciones. Este análisis se basa en la información compilada de diferentes fuentes, niveles y escalas, mediante estudios de campo, investigación experimental y observación de parcelas de productores. Los resultados evidencian que el sistema tiene el más alto potencial de productividad en el área y es viable adoptar porque incrementa la producción y los ingresos. Representa la mejor opción debido a que los productores disponen de los medios de producción y mano de obra familiar, lo cual permitirá que el sistema sea sostenible. Desde el punto de vista ambiental, si el sistema es manejado adecuadamente con la implementación de alternativas tecnológicas, amigables con el ambiente, detendría el avance de la frontera agrícola hacia áreas de páramo. El sistema es una opción que los gobiernos locales deberían impulsar para preservar el ecosistema páramo. (Resumen de autores)
- Andean potato diversity conserved in the International Potato Center genebank helps develop agriculture in Uganda: the example of the variety 'Victoria'Bernal-Galeano, Vivian; Norton, George W.; Ellis, David; Anglin, Noelle L.; Hareau, Guy; Smale, Melinda; Jamora, Nelissa; Alwang, Jeffrey R.; Pradel, Willy (2020-05)The International Potato Center (CIP) genebank conserves and facilitates access to highly diverse germplasm of potato, sweetpotato, and Andean roots and tubers as a global public good for food security. While it is generally understood that material from the CIP genebank has played an important role in the release of many CIP-related varieties grown by smallholder farmers in lower-income countries, the contribution has not been evaluated in quantitative terms. By applying the relative contribution of provenance based on pedigree data, we apportion the CIP genebank contribution of two released potato varieties: Pallay Poncho and Victoria. The estimated contribution of the CIP genebank to Pallay Poncho and Victoria is 35% and 72%, respectively. We then used an economic surplus approach to measure Victoria’s benefits in Uganda by attributing and valuing productivity gains. The gross benefit of Victoria in Uganda is estimated at USD $1.04 billion (2016 value), which exceeds the annual operating cost of the entire genebank over its lifetime. Seventy-two percent of the economic benefits corresponding to germplasm of Victoria are due to the CIP genebank contribution. Our findings demonstrate the magnitude of economic benefits generated by the use of conserved germplasm provided by the CIP genebank in crop improvement, which is only one of the several components of its total economic value. These results show that the availability of diverse germplasm is perhaps one of the most important elements in varietal development.
- Animal Welfare Standards and MarketingJacobs, Leonie; Bovay, John; Pierce, Timothy (Virginia Cooperative Extension, 2021)This handout provides an overview of animal welfare economics and the benefits to farmers from marketing their commitments to animal welfare.
- Are Consumer Health Concerns Influencing Direct-From-Producer Purchasing Decisions?Thapaliya, Sudha; Interis, Matthew G.; Collart, Alba J.; Walters, Lurleen M.; Morgan, Kimberly L. (Cambridge University Press, 2017)Research has shown health concerns may motivate consumers to purchase foods sold at direct market outlets, yet connections between management of specific diseases and food purchase decisions remain unclear. We utilize a two-step decision framework to evaluate whether family incidences of six illnesses (cancer, heart disease, diabetes, obesity, back/joint pain, and Alzheimer’s disease/dementia) affect decisions to buy food at farmers’ markets and farm stands.We find that cancer, diabetes, obesity, and back/joint pain influence the decision to purchase from farm stands. Disease incidences have varying directional effects on frequency of purchase for both farmers’ markets and farm stands.
- Are potato markets gendered? An analysis of gender networks in the potato marketing chain in the Jatun Mayu watershed of Tiraque, BoliviaAmaya, Nadezda; Alwang, Jeffrey R.; Christie, Maria Elisa (2010)Incomes from potato production are critical for the well-being and survival of many Andean farmers. These incomes depend on market access and ability to receive fair prices. Potato markets have existed in the area since pre-Colombian times and, while the appearance of the markets themselves is changing only slowly, access to market information has entered the digital age. Cell phones are now becoming ubiquitous even in apparently isolated rural areas, and information networks that are lubricated by cellular technologies are supplanting traditional means of gathering market information. Andean markets are characterized by heavy involvement of women. Our study begins by examining the widely held assumption that Andean societies are male-dominated and women attend to reproductive responsibilities only. If, in contrast, women are actively involved in potato marketing, efforts to improve incomes of poor highland potato producers should recognize their roles along the entire potato market chain. As access to information becomes more widely spread and the cost of obtaining information from multiple sources becomes lower, the roles of men and women could be affected; we also explore these changes. Market information networks exist side by side with social networks and it is critical to understand how the two interact and reinforce one another.
- Are US consumers willing to pay a premium for bee-friendly beef?Larochelle, Catherine; Chishimba, Elizabeth (AgEcon, 2022-08-01)The loss in biodiversity has resulted in a decline in bee populations which threatens our food production systems due to the reliance of wild plants and agricultural crops on bee pollination services. Thus, the restoration of pollinator habitats calls for concerted efforts from all actors, including producers, retailers and consumers. This study examines consumer willingness to pay for bee-friendly beef using data from a nationwide choice experiment survey of 2,162 U.S. beef consumers. Using a fully correlated mixed logit regression we show that U.S. beef consumers prefer bee-friendly ground beef compared to conventional ground beef and are willing to pay $1.06 - $2.36 more per pound for bee-friendly ground beef. The willingness to pay value varies depending on whether beef consumers donate or volunteer to an environmental organization, are knowledgeable about pollinator population decline, feel they have a role to play in restoring pollinator populations or if the beef consumer considers the environmental impact of food production when purchasing food. The analysis from this study identifies one incentive that can be used to encourage beef producers to contribute to the restoration of pollinator populations by adopting and maintaining wildflower-enhanced pastures on their ranches.
- Are USDA reports still news to changing crop markets?Karali, Berna; Isengildina-Massa, Olga; Irwin, Scott H.; Adjemian, Michael K.; Johansson, Robert C. (2019-04)This study investigates whether major USDA reports still provide important news to changing crop markets. The news component of each report, or market "surprise," is measured as a difference between the USDA estimate and its private expectation in corn, soybeans, and wheat markets. Changes in the relevance of USDA information are assessed by examining changes in the magnitude of market surprises and shifts in the futures price reaction to these surprises, which isolates the impact of each report. The stable size of market surprises over time suggests that competition from alternative data sources has not reduced the news component of USDA crop reports. Increasing price reaction to most reports, including those facing competition from alternative information sources, suggests that value of public information may be enhanced in uncertain markets affected by structural changes.
- Arsenic in drinking water in Bangladesh: factors affecting child healthAziz, Sonia N.; Aziz, M.S. Khwaja; Boyle, Kevin J. (Frontiers, 2014-06-16)The focus of this paper is to present an empirical model of factors affecting child health by observing actions households take to avoid exposure to arsenic in drinking water. Millions of Bangladeshis face multiple health hazards from high levels of arsenic in drinking water. Safe water sources are either expensive or difficult to access, affecting people’s individuals’ time available for work and ultimately affecting the health of household members. Since children are particularly susceptible and live with parents who are primary decision makers for sustenance, parental actions linking child health outcomes is used in the empirical model. Empirical results suggest that child health is significantly affected by the age and gender of the household water procurer. Adults with a high degree of concern for children’s health risk from arsenic contamination, and who actively mitigate their arsenic contaminated water have a positive effect on child health.