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Analysis of Technical Efficiency of Smallholder Maize Production Using Stochastic Frontier Approach: The Case of Amhara Region, Ethiopia
Minilik Tsega,
Tesfaye Haregewoin,
Bamlak Alamirew
Issue:
Volume 7, Issue 5, September 2022
Pages:
204-213
Received:
11 July 2022
Accepted:
17 August 2022
Published:
5 September 2022
DOI:
10.11648/j.ijae.20220705.11
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Abstract: Maize is one of the most important cereal crops in Ethiopia, ranking first in total cereals production (30%). The crop is mainly produced by smallholder farmers. The crop current national yield (4.01t/ha) is far below the world average. Producers’ Technical Efficiency (TE) is one of the major factors for its low level of yield. The study sought to examine TE level of smallholder maize production and to explore socioeconomic factors explaining the variation in TE among smallholder maize producers in Amhara regional state, Ethiopia. A Translog stochastic production function model was used to analyze TE while Maximum Likelihood (ML) and Quintile Regression (QR) estimation techniques were employed to identify TE determinant factors. The study used a data collected from 239 maize producing households’ selected randomly from seven major maize growing districts of the study region. The study results showed presence of maize production inefficiency, which was accountable for 66.5% of variability between observed and frontier output. The estimated TE of smallholder maize producers in the study area ranges from 20% to 94% with a mean TE of 83%. The study also indicated that number of cultivated maize plots, total cultivated land size, improved variety adoption, contact with extension agents and cultivated plot’s soil fertility status as factors which have positive and significant TE effect. It has also identified household size, involvement in formal education and age of household head as factors having significant negative TE effect. The study underlines the possibility to improve the average TE of smallholder maize production in the study area by 17% (4.8qt/ha increase in productivity) through better use of the available resources, given the current state of technology.
Abstract: Maize is one of the most important cereal crops in Ethiopia, ranking first in total cereals production (30%). The crop is mainly produced by smallholder farmers. The crop current national yield (4.01t/ha) is far below the world average. Producers’ Technical Efficiency (TE) is one of the major factors for its low level of yield. The study sought to ...
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The Role of Agroforestry in Ecosystem Service and Climate Change Regulation: A Review
Issue:
Volume 7, Issue 5, September 2022
Pages:
214-221
Received:
8 July 2022
Accepted:
16 August 2022
Published:
19 September 2022
DOI:
10.11648/j.ijae.20220705.12
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Abstract: Agricultural and forest ecosystems, as well as communities' means of subsistence, have been threatened by the effects of climate change caused by complicated weather-related phenomena. Agroforestry plays a significant part in climate change adaptation through diversified land use practices, sustainable livelihoods, income sources, increased forest and agricultural productivity, and decreased weather-related production losses, which increase resilience against climate impacts. It provides a variety of ecosystem services; however, evidence in the agroforestry literature supporting these perceived benefits has been lacking until recently. This paper aimed to provide empirical information on the role of agroforestry in ecosystem maintenance and climate change adaptation and mitigation provided by agroforestry. Agroforestry has played a greater role in the maintenance of the ecosystem and mitigation of CO2 than monocropping and open cereal-based agriculture but less than natural forest. It is important for preserving biodiversity, CO2 sequestration, and adapting to climate change. CO2 sequestration through above and ground biomass, offsetting CO2 emission from deforestation and microclimate modification are major climate change mitigation effects. Provision of numerous ecosystem services such as food, fodder, fuel wood, income source, and enhancing soil productivity helps the community sustain changing climate effects. Hence, considerable attention needs to be given to agroforestry to contribute considerable benefit to the maintenance of the ecosystem, and climate change mitigation and adaptation next to a forest.
Abstract: Agricultural and forest ecosystems, as well as communities' means of subsistence, have been threatened by the effects of climate change caused by complicated weather-related phenomena. Agroforestry plays a significant part in climate change adaptation through diversified land use practices, sustainable livelihoods, income sources, increased forest ...
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Yield Trends and Yield Gap Analysis of Cereal Crops in Ethiopia: Implications for Research and Policy
Daniel Hailu,
Rozina Gidey
Issue:
Volume 7, Issue 5, September 2022
Pages:
222-226
Received:
19 August 2022
Accepted:
15 September 2022
Published:
29 September 2022
DOI:
10.11648/j.ijae.20220705.13
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Abstract: This paper presents the analysis of yield and yield gaps of cereal crops in Ethiopia. The result indicates that cereal acreage recorded an annual growth rate of 30.4 percent from 2006/07 to 2020/21. In the 2020/21s, growth in cereal production enhanced to about 159.9 percent as compared to the base year 2006/07. Growth in area cultivated has been the principal source of current production increases in most studied crops, except for rice and oats. The production increase can be attributed to 65.5 percent increase in area cultivated and a 34.5 percent increase in crop yield. The average cereal yield level is very low (2.1 tons/ha) as compared to that of the estimated average potential (3.2 tons/ha) in the country for the studied crops. In 2021, the gap between farmers’ yield (25.3, 30.5, 41.8, 26.9, 19.7 and 31.5 qt/ha) and released cultivars potential yield were (31.2, 35.2, 61.1, 36.9, 32.9 and 37.2 qt/ha) for barley, wheat, maize, sorghum, oats, and rice in the country, respectively. The gap analysis is promising and if farmers had closed Yg for studied crops in the same order, Ethiopia could have the potential grain surplus by a respective of 0.6, 4.8.2, 0.02, 0.05, 1.6 and 0.9 million Mt, without expanding cropland area. The empirical analysis based on the Pooled Mean-Group (PMG) model result, if cultivated area and yield of crops is increased by 1 percent then the production growth will be increased by 0.999 percent and by 0.995 percent in the long run respectively. If improvement in breeding can be sustained at existing levels, various yield gaps even appear to increase over time. This means that exploitable yield gaps remain large, which is thought necessary to uphold growth in average farm yields.
Abstract: This paper presents the analysis of yield and yield gaps of cereal crops in Ethiopia. The result indicates that cereal acreage recorded an annual growth rate of 30.4 percent from 2006/07 to 2020/21. In the 2020/21s, growth in cereal production enhanced to about 159.9 percent as compared to the base year 2006/07. Growth in area cultivated has been t...
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Potential for Oil Seed Crops Production Increase in Ethiopia Through Closure of Existing Yield Gaps
Daniel Hailu,
Rozina Gidey
Issue:
Volume 7, Issue 5, September 2022
Pages:
227-231
Received:
16 August 2022
Accepted:
15 September 2022
Published:
29 September 2022
DOI:
10.11648/j.ijae.20220705.14
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Abstract: The objective of the study was to analyze the status of oil seed production and yield gaps in Ethiopia. The data were analyzed using descriptive and econometrics analysis. In Ethiopia, oil seed production and productivity has shown an increasing rate while cropland area growth rate was negative and 3.8 percent. Between 2006/07 and 2020/21, average actual yield growth is 87.3, 74.2, 133.8, 63, -3 and 53.7 percent for groundnuts, linseed, neug, rapeseed, sesame, and sunflower respectively. Oilseeds production increased 59.9 times, in the period which was because of 53.4 percent in area and a 46.6.7 percent in crop yield. Even though it shows increasing, oil seed production and productivity is relatively small as compared to potential. Findings suggest that the country produced between 7.4 and 49.4 percent of their locally attainable oil seed crops yields given their weather, inputs applied, change in farming practices, amounts of fertilizer used, quality of seed varieties, technology and use of irrigation in the production system. The average oilseeds yield level is very low (1.1 tons/ha) as compared to that of the estimated average potential (1.4 tons/ha) in the country for the studied crops. For the analyzed period 2021, the national level yield gaps existed (5, 4.5, 1.3, 0.6 and 10.1 qt/ha) between the released cultivars potential yield and national average yield for groundnuts, linseed, rapeseed, sesame, and sunflower respectively. If farmers had produced the potential yield levels, Ethiopia could have increased production in the same order a respective of 57, 36, 1, 21, and 4 thousand Mt, with improved management from the current level of cropland area. In conclusion, the combination of new crop breeding technologies and crop management practices could enable farmers to significantly increase their yields without bringing new land into production.
Abstract: The objective of the study was to analyze the status of oil seed production and yield gaps in Ethiopia. The data were analyzed using descriptive and econometrics analysis. In Ethiopia, oil seed production and productivity has shown an increasing rate while cropland area growth rate was negative and 3.8 percent. Between 2006/07 and 2020/21, average ...
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The Cross-Border Livestock Trade in Kenya and Uganda in Comparison to the Albanian (European Union) Context
Ekiru Francis Anno,
Elenica Beqiraj Pjero,
Bobby Ekadon Lotiang
Issue:
Volume 7, Issue 5, September 2022
Pages:
232-242
Received:
10 September 2022
Accepted:
4 October 2022
Published:
17 October 2022
DOI:
10.11648/j.ijae.20220705.15
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Abstract: Agriculture is an economic pillar of many countries, regions and communities around the world. In 2018, agriculture accounted for 4% of global gross domestic product (GDP) and over 25% in the least developed countries. It is a primary source of food, income, nutrition, employment, and trade, and is projected to help reduce poverty, raise incomes and improve food security for over 80% of the world’s poor, who live in rural areas and depend on farming. In Sub-Saharan Africa and the European Union (EU), agriculture is a key source of foreign exchange and a determinant of international relations through trade. However, agriculture is faced with myriad challenges which inhibit the performance of its crucial value chain components, i.e., production, distribution of commodities and the competitiveness of markets. A study focusing on the similarities and differences existing among Kenya, Uganda, and Albania (EU) cross-border trading was designed and undertaken in 2021 - 2022 with objectives of (i) comparing the livestock sector's development and market contexts; (ii) identifying the social, economic and political factors that influence cross-border livestock trade; and (iii) ascertaining similarities and differences that are important for the growth of the livestock sector in the countries of study. A comparative research design employing a mixed-method study approach was used and the data analysed both quantitatively and qualitatively. The study results showed that the greatest similarity between Kenya, Uganda and Albania is that are all Third-World countries with promising economies. Agriculture contributes significantly to their GDPs. The rural population is substantial and livestock plays a pivotal role in households’ well-being. The countries belong to regional economic blocks and have similar livestock production and market-access constraints. The key differences include varying poverty and literacy levels, varying livestock farming systems with family farming advanced in Albania and less pronounced in Kenya and Uganda; varying GDPs and per capita incomes; varying foci, scopes of government policies, priorities and political decisions; varying agricultural financing; variable climates and factors of production. The study concludes that livestock production and marketing challenges in Kenya and Uganda are enormous and they affect cross-border market access efforts. In Albania, quality standards hinder access to EU and global markets. Strategic actions by governments, development partners and livestock farming communities are key in leveraging livestock sector development prospects.
Abstract: Agriculture is an economic pillar of many countries, regions and communities around the world. In 2018, agriculture accounted for 4% of global gross domestic product (GDP) and over 25% in the least developed countries. It is a primary source of food, income, nutrition, employment, and trade, and is projected to help reduce poverty, raise incomes an...
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Profitability and Profit Efficiency of Sugarcane Block Farming in Balayan, Batangas, the Philippines: An Empirical Study
Marietta Dina Padilla Fernandez,
Joel Guansing Ronario,
Evelyn Bagtas Estanislao,
Lea May De Los Reyes Aguila
Issue:
Volume 7, Issue 5, September 2022
Pages:
243-253
Received:
23 August 2022
Accepted:
13 September 2022
Published:
27 October 2022
DOI:
10.11648/j.ijae.20220705.16
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Abstract: This study aimed at determining the profitability and profit efficiency of sugarcane block farming in Balayan, Batangas, Philippines. Farm-level data obtained from 157 block farm members in Crop Years (CY) 2018-19 and 2019-20 were used and analyzed using a Cobb-Douglas stochastic frontier profit function model. Empirical results show that the block farm mean profitability is higher in CY 2019-20 than in CY 2018-19 by 27% in both gross margin and profit while only 5% for Revenue/Cost ratio. While the mean profit efficiency scores increased from 0.57 in CY 2018-19 to 0.77 in CY 2019-20. Although around 96% of the sample farms were inefficient in CY 2018-19, this became 100% in the succeeding year. With efficiency score of 0.77 for the current year, there is still opportunities to increase profit efficiency by 23% through the adoption of the best farm practices in the study area. The factors that influenced profit efficiency were the costs of power, man-animal, fertilizer, planting materials, labor, and fixed cost. Also, the number of trainings, number of planting materials, and frequency of weeding positively influenced efficiency. The sole constraint to efficiency was the use of N fertilizer (kg). Block farming had played its part in increasing farmers’ profit efficiency through technology diffusion and adoption as various training, technical advisory and production support embedded in the program were provided to the members. Therefore, the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) should continue organizing small farmers unto block. It should also organize service providers in the district to serve as a hub in providing production support services making productivity inputs (high yielding varieties and farm machinery) accessible in the area. Furthermore, SRA should expand the coverage of its Socialized Credit Program to enable farmers to modernize their farm operations and enhance their farm income and profit.
Abstract: This study aimed at determining the profitability and profit efficiency of sugarcane block farming in Balayan, Batangas, Philippines. Farm-level data obtained from 157 block farm members in Crop Years (CY) 2018-19 and 2019-20 were used and analyzed using a Cobb-Douglas stochastic frontier profit function model. Empirical results show that the block...
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