Suchergebnisse

AbstractThis study discusses the modernization of smallholder agriculture in China, where most farms are small, and farms' parcels are fragmented. The study puts forward a framework of agricultural modernization by vertical division of labor and specialized production in agriculture. We posit that hiring machinery services could be a pathway to connect smallholders with modern agriculture and achieve food security in China. Using household‐level data from China, this study examines how hiring machinery services affects farm productivity and rural households' welfare. Findings show that mechanization services increased rural Chinese families' food security and agricultural productivity. Hiring machinery services improves smallholders' income by influencing the input efficiency of maize production and increasing participation in off‐farm work. Our findings highlight the importance of technology to improve smallholder agriculture and food security, not only in China but also in other South and Southeast Asian countries.

AbstractIndia has witnessed a rapid rise in personal income, increased spending on infrastructure and construction and urbanisation in the past three decades. Households have changed their eating habits by purchasing more processed food. This study examines the factors affecting India's consumption of and expenditures on processed foods. The study uses information from three rounds of data collected by the National Sample Survey Organisation (NSSO) and probit and selection bias‐controlled tobit and ordinary least square (OLS) estimation procedures to estimate the empirical model. Findings reveal that the average expected per capita monthly spending on processed foods increased by about 77% between 1990–1991 and 2011–2012. An increase in total consumption expenditure and rapid urbanisation were the primary drivers of consumption and spending on processed foods by Indian households. Secondly, households with salaried or stable incomes were more likely to consume processed foods than other households. This study suggests public and private initiatives to improve human health and nutritional outcomes in Indian households. The government should strengthen food safety regulations related to processed food preparation, distribution and consumption.

AbstractAdoption of agroforestry in the early spring under the green growth initiative programs, such as the Billion Trees Afforestation Project, has positively impacted crop productivity and plantation success in Pakistan. However, the timely adoption decision of agroforestry in the Hindu Kush Himalayan is still low, particularly among smallholders. Using a mixed-method approach, we examine the factors influencing smallholder households and community-level timely agroforestry adoption decisions. Findings show that the early and later decision-makers farmers had agricultural lands on riversides and primarily adopted agroforestry to protect their crops from devastating effects of winds and floods. In contrast, late adoption decision-makers adopted agroforestry for income diversification. Results of our logit model show that several household and community-level factors influence smallholders' timely adoption of agroforestry. The factors that positively affect the timely adoption of agroforestry include age-related factors, education, and the establishment/existence of functional community-based organizations. In contrast, political conflicts and tenure insecurity negatively affect smallholders' timely adoption of agroforestry. In-depth interviews with Village Development Committees members revealed that terrace farming, farms on riversides, communities without access to other energy sources, population growth, and low farm acreage ensured the timely adoption of agroforestry. The policy recommendations include strengthening collaborative efforts among community members, especially engaging educated old-aged farmers (elders of traditional communities) to increase adoption rates and land tenure security to ensure timely agroforestry adoption under the newly launched 10-BTAP.

AbstractThis study investigates contract farming's impact on smallholders' profits and post‐harvest losses (PHLs). The study uses an endogenous switching regression (ESR) and farm‐level data from okra growers located in two different districts in India. Results show that okra growers under production contract (PC) or marketing contract (MC) have higher profits and PHLs than independent okra growers. However, under a low rejection‐rate scenario, growers under PC or MC have significantly lower PHLs and increased profits. The reduction in PHLs is not surprising, but the magnitude of the decrease shows that rejection rates are the major contributor to PHLs for contracted growers. Thus, contract farming with low rejection reduces PHLs and increases the profits of smallholders─a win‐win situation for growers and contracting firms.