Advances in Food Science and Technology

Advances in Food Science and Technology ISSN: 6732-4215 Vol. 7 (4), pp. 001-007, April, 2019. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

A mathematical programming approach to crop mix problem

Nordin Hj. Mohamad¹* and Fatimah Said²

¹Institute of Mathematical Sciences, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

²Faculty of Economics and Administration, University of Malaya, Malaysia

Accepted 11 January, 2019

Abstract

Problems normally faced by farmers include what to plant, how much to plant and when to plant. In this study, a linear programming crop mix model for a finite-time planning horizon was proposed. Given limited available resources such as budget and land acreage, the crop-mix planning model was formulated and transformed into a multi-period linear programming problem. The objective was the maximization of the total returns at the end of the planning horizon. The model was applied to selected single-harvest crops and solved by LINDO, a linear programming package. The results were analyzed and discussed.

Key words: Crop mix, single-harvest, linear programming.

Advances in Food Science and Technology ISSN: 6732-4215 Vol. 7 (4), pp. 001-005, April, 2019. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Intra-industry trade in the agriculture sector: The experience of United States

Nuno Carlos Leitão

Polytechnic Institute of Santarém, ESGTS, Portugal. E-mail: [email protected]. Tel: + 351-243 303 200.

Accepted 11 October, 2018

Abstract

This study analyses the determinants of United State’s intra-industry trade (IIT) applied to the agriculture sector. The results indicate that IIT in this sector is a negative role of the difference in GDP per capita between U S. and its trade partners. This is according to the literature; that is, countries with similar demands will trade similar products. Statistically strong evidence is also found that this trade is influenced by the economic dimension between trading partners. The foreign direct investment inflows have a positive influence on U.S. bilateral IIT.

Key words: Intra-industry trade, United States, agriculture sector, panel data.

Advances in Food Science and Technology ISSN: 6732-4215 Vol. 7 (3), pp. 001-020, March, 2019. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Training needs of members in cooperative dairy marketing in Ethiopia

A. D. Bekele¹* and G. B. Pillai²

¹Department of Cooperatives, Ambo University, Ethiopia.

²Department of Cooperative Studies, Mekelle University, Mekelle, Ethiopia.

Accepted 10 May, 2018

Abstract

Cooperative education and training are the most significant pillars of a strong and self-reliant co-operative movement. Realizing the importance of the Co-operative education and training needs, this research paper attempted to determine the training needs of members with the specific objectives of determining their level of awareness, to identify their training needs, to examine the association between training needs and socio-psychological characteristics, and to ascertain the constraints faced in cooperative dairy marketing by members in Arsi Zone, Oromia region, Ethiopia. This study adopted survey method. Three-stage sampling was used in which random sampling procedures were followed to select 176 respondents from the population. Structured interview schedule and FGD (Focus group discussion) were used to collect the data from the sampled respondents. The data were analyzed through descriptive statistical tools, X2- test, Cramer’s V, Person’s correlation coefficient, and multiple linear regression. In addition, awareness levels of stakeholders were evaluated by means of awareness index. Training need of members and officials were identified using TNS and prioritized via TNI. The constraints in dairy marketing were ranked using preference index. According to the results of the study, awareness index indicates that the majority of members (55.7%) have low level of awareness in dairy marketing. Due to the presence of many development interventionists, only 24.4% of the members perceived high level of training need, while 46% of the members had perceived medium level of training need in dairy marketing. The research findings highlighted that there is demand for upgrading the awareness of members in dairy marketing as well as organization of effective training programs to the needy group. The preference of members regarding type, method, duration, season, frequency, place, and language of training was:- peripatetic, group discussion, three to six days, winter, once in a year, FTC’s and Afaan Oromoo respectively. About 50 to 75% of the training was perceived to be more practical as vital part in the training program. As per the model analysis output, indebtedness and economic motivation positively influenced the perception of members’ training need; whereas, knowledge and training undergone in dairy marketing was found to negatively influence training needs at 1% level of significance. Irregular supply of milk, long fasting days, lack of transport facilities, absence of training, lack of credit access from the dairy coops(co- operatives) were found to be the basic constraints in dairy marketing among members. The findings suggest that co-operative policy makers and practitioners should stress in the adoption of participatory co-operative training approach and it should be implemented to increase the motivation, sense of ownership and shared responsibility among all co-operative stakeholders.

Key words: Dairy marketing, training need, dairy co-operatives, members.

Advances in Food Science and Technology ISSN: 6732-4215 Vol. 7 (3), pp. 001-012, March, 2019. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Market access, intensification and productivity of common bean in Ethiopia: A microeconomic analysis

E. Katungi¹*, D. Horna², S. Gebeyehu³ and L. Sperling⁴

¹Centro Internacional de Agricultura Tropical (CIAT), Africa, P.O.BOX 6247, Kampala Uganda.

²Environment and Production Technology Division (EPTD), International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), Washington DC, USA.

³Melkasa Agricultural Research Center of the Ethiopia Institute of Agriculture Research, Nazareth, Ethiopia.

⁴Centro Internacional de Agricultura Tropical (CIAT), Africa, Arusha office, Tanzania.

Accepted 28 December, 2018

Abstract

This work analyses on-farm adjustments in land allocation and intensification in a commercial crop following the increases in market demand in a developing economy. Drawing from the survey conducted among common bean producers in Ethiopia in 2008, a two stage econometric method was used to investigate the contribution of market access and other micro-level factors in facilitating crop intensification and productivity. Ethiopia is the leading commercial producer and exporter of common bean in Africa but also one of the countries in Africa with high levels of soil nutrient depletion. Understanding factors that influence input use and productivity is critical for food security and agricultural sustainability in the country. Based on farm survey data, it was shown that most farmers had expanded their area under common bean but the use of fertilizer and improved varieties was still low. Increase in the intensity of fertilizer and seed use produces an increase in yield and so is market access. Market access has intensification as well as specialization effects on common bean yield. Access to credit, extension and household wealth are other factors that facilitate common bean intensification while risk increasing factors constrain it.

Key words: Common bean, intensification, productivity, Ethiopia.

Advances in Food Science and Technology ISSN: 6732-4215 Vol. 7 (2), pp. 001-009, February, 2019. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Graphical visualisation and domain partitioning of minerals in clay fraction of soils from Capricorn District, South Africa

G. I. E. Ekosse¹*, K. S. Mwitondi² and F. T. Seabi³

¹Directorate of Research Development, Walter Sisulu University, P/Bag 11 Mthatha, Eastern Cape 5117, South Africa.

²Faculty of Arts, Computing, Engineering and Sciences, Sheffield Hallam University, S1 1WB, UK.

³Agricultural Research Council, Pretoria, South Africa.

Accepted 28 July, 2018

Abstract

Modeling techniques were used to study minerals in clay fraction of soils from Capricorn District, Limpopo Province, South Africa. Minerals in the clay fraction of soils were identified by X-ray diffraction (XRD) technique and semi-quantified. The minerals were then subjected to a combination of exploratory data analysis (EDA), graphical visualisation and domain-partitioning techniques in order to determine their cross-influence to one another in terms of abundances. Quartz and kaolinite were major dominant minerals in the soils; smectite, feldspar and mica were in minor to trace quantities. Consensual associations among other traces and high quantities of minerals were detected. Evidence of relationship using EDA portrayed general skewness in favour of quartz and kaolinite. Quartz remained dominant in the soils but with a consistent high probability of co-existence with kaolinite. Where there is low quartz content, kaolinite increased with the drop in quartz made up for by a combination of smectite, mica and feldspar. The nested nature of interaction also revealed indirect relationship between quartz and mica. The tree model, which yielded 100% accuracy, showed smectite as the first important mineral in identifying whether there is high, medium or low quartz content in the sols. Down the line the model relies heavily on both mica and kaolinite. Collating the minerals contents and data modeling procedures, inter alia, it could be inferred that the weathering of feldspar and mica may have an impact on the mineralisation of kaolinite and smectite; which are both important minerals in several agricultural applications.

Key words: Conditional probability, decision trees, domain-partitioning, feldspar, kaolinite, smectite.

Advances in Food Science and Technology ISSN: 6732-4215 Vol. 7 (2), pp. 001-011, February, 2019. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Assessing the contribution of alternative agriculture to poverty reduction and employment creation: A case study of sugar beet cultivation in Kenya

Nicodemus Mandere Mandere^1,2*, Stefan Anderberg¹, Frederick Ato Armah³ and Samson Wakuma Abaya³

¹Lund University Centre for Sustainability Studies (LUCSUS), P.O. Box 170, 221 00 Lund, Sweden.

²Department of Physical Geography and Ecosystems Analysis, Lund University, Sweden.

³Lund University Master’s Programme in Environmental Studies and Sustainability Science (LUMES), Lund University, Sweden.

Accepted 14 September, 2018

Abstract

In Kenya, the government is promoting high-value and drought resistant crop varieties in an effort to reduce poverty in rural areas. Sugar beet is one such crop. This study was conducted with two objectives: 1) to assess the opportunities and challenges for sugar beet cultivation and adoption in the Nyandarua district of Kenya and 2) to assess whether sugar beet adoption can offer an opportunity for escaping poverty for smallholder farmers in the district. The factors favoring sugar beet cultivation and adoption in the district include: adequate land area suitable for sugar beet cultivation and the high sugar beet yield that can be attained per unit suitable land area, farmers’ awareness of the positive aspects of sugar beet cultivation, and the willingness of many farmers to grow the sugar beet crop. Notwithstanding these favorable conditions, some socio-economic factors - mainly the affordability of sugar beet production and possible lack of appropriate farming technologies, will present challenges to widespread sugar beet adoption, particularly to those farmers in the low- and medium-income categories. The sugar beet profit analysis showed that depending on the market price, sugar beet can potentially increase household net income. However, since the majority of households are in the low-and medium-income categories, for sugar beet to pull the smallholder farmers out of poverty, interventions from government and other stakeholders is of vital necessity. The impact of sugar beet adoption and cultivation will vary from household to household. Those households within the high-income category who can raise the required start up capital are likely to benefit, while the low- and medium-income households may not, which is true for any new crop with high start up costs. Alternative agriculture alone is therefore not a sufficient strategy to address the problems of poverty and unemployment. Any successful strategy to address these issues must be broad-based, and include alternative agriculture and other growth and development strategies. Provision for the entire necessary infrastructure should precede or accompany all of these strategies in order to optimize implementation benefits.

Key words: Kenya, sugar beet, poverty, household income, prospects, challenges, alternative agriculture.