计量经济分析 = Econometric analysis

Statistics for Spatial Data.

Trust: The Social Virtues and the Creation of Prosperity

The State of Food and Agriculture

The objective of this paper is to determine the ability of farmers in Africa to detect climate change, and to ascertain how they have adapted to whatever climate change they believe has occurred. The paper also asks farmers whether they perceive any barriers to adaptation and attempts to determine the characteristics of those farmers who, despite claiming to have witnessed climate change, have not yet responded to it. The study is based on a large-scale survey of agriculturalists in 11 African countries. The survey reveals that significant numbers of farmers believe that temperatures have already increased and that precipitation has declined. Those with the greatest experience of farming are more likely to notice climate change. Further, neighboring farmers tell a consistent story. There are important differences in the propensity of farmers living in different locations to adapt and there may be institutional impediments to adaptation in some countries. Although large numbers of farmers perceive no barriers to adaptation, those that do perceive them tend to cite their poverty and inability to borrow. Few if any farmers mentioned lack of appropriate seed, security of tenure, or market accessibility as problems. Those farmers who perceive climate change but fail to respond may require particular incentives or assistance to do what is ultimately in their own best interests. Although experienced farmers are more likely to perceive climate change, it is educated farmers who are more likely to respond by making at least one adaptation.

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The perception of and adaptation to climate change in Africa

Objective: Despite policy and development focus promoting dairy intensification, dairy management in Uganda still exhibits a continuum stretching from intensive to extensive systems. The purpose of this study was to examine farmers’ risk attitudes and its effects on enterprise choices and resource use under different dairy intensification systems. Methodology and results: Longitudinal data were obtained from 14 cattle farms drawn from Masaka, Mbarara and Jinja districts. Farms were sampled to represent increasing levels of intensification i.e. zero grazing, semi-intensive fenced, tethered, and herded dairy systems. Observed and profit driven farm plans were established by net farm benefit maximization using linear programming whole-farm modeling. Risk attitudes were examined by stochastic dominance techniques. Results of net farm benefit maximization show that all dairy systems are profitable under observed plans and that profit plans would lead to higher farm net benefits in all dairy systems. All systems, except tethered ones, have second order degree stochastic dominance (SSD). Tethered systems show first order stochastic dominance (FSD). Producers in zero grazed, semi-intensive, fenced and herded systems are risk averse whereas tethered farms extravagantly utilized farm resources beyond optimal levels. Farmers’ risk averting behavior resulted into raising multiple crop enterprises in dairy systems. Optimal cattle herd sizes were in fenced and herded systems, slightly larger than optimal herds were kept in the semi-intensive and tethered systems while slightly lower than optimal herd sizes were raised in the zero grazing system. Conclusion and application of findings: In order to successfully shift to more profitable systems, alternative management practices proposed are (1) adopting fewer but bigger crop enterprises; (2) maintaining traditional staple foods to cater for subsistence needs and preferences and to ensure gradual adjustment; (3) reclaiming fallow lands into production in zero-grazed, semi-intensive, fenced and herded systems; (4) releasing some land out of production in the tethered system; and (5) using more hired labour. Land released from the tethered system could be rented out to other land constrained systems. The proposed plans would lead to more stable dairy livelihood dynamics that are necessary for household subsistence needs, at the same time catering for traditional food preferences and nutritional diversity and also ensuring shifts towards the desired sustainable commercialisation of dairy systems under the Government’s Plan for Modernisation of Agriculture (PMA) development policy framework.

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Risk attitudes, resource rationalization and dairy intensification in Uganda: stochastic dominance with observed and optimal net farm benefits.

Inadequate and poor-quality feed resources are a key constraining factor in livestock production that compromises the livelihoods of many women and men dependent on livestock, who can be found in most low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Several forage varieties have been developed, which are targeted to smallholder farmers in developing countries, yet the level of adoption remains low, particularly among women farmers. Adoption of varieties could enhance livelihoods by increasing livestock productivity and also by providing an income from the sale of surplus forage. However, evidence on gendered barriers to and incentives for the adoption of forage varieties is scarce. This study explores the gender dynamics influencing the uptake and commercialization of a forage variety, Brachiaria (syn. Urochloa), among women and men farmers in four subcounties in Kenya. Through a mixed-methods approach, 260 individuals (59 women and 201 men) belonging to a household where at least one individual is a member of a dairy cooperative were interviewed. Complementary data from qualitative interviews engaging 16 single-sex focus group discussions (FGDs) and 8 key informant interviews (KIIs) were collected. Results reveal that Brachiaria is accessible to both women and men. Dairy cooperatives are important means for women and men to access extension services, useful information, and planting materials, but only a few women are cooperative members. Men face constraints owing to small land areas, rather than the ownership and access problems that constrain women. These challenges privilege men as de facto owners of resources while subordinating women and disenfranchising them in terms of adopting this technology. Complex yet important pathways for women’s and men’s empowerment exist through the sale of planting materials, hay bales, and an increased volume of milk obtained when cows are fed with Brachiaria. We conclude that cooperative membership for men should be supported, while at the same time gender norms that reduce women’s engagement with cooperatives, and their access to and control over land, should be challenged.

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Exploration of gender dynamics in the production and marketing of forage technologies in Kenya

ILRI One Health Strategy: Stopping the global rise of high-impact zoonotic disease, foodborne disease and antimicrobial resistance

Ownership of small livestock species, but not aggregate livestock, is associated with an increased risk of anemia among children in Ethiopia: A propensity score matching analysis

Simple Summary Donkeys are resilient species and exhibit functional adaptation in a wide range of climatic conditions. However, in comparison to other livestock species, their inclusion in agricultural or livestock health and nutrition policy, education, and research sectors is negligible. The focus of the current review is on the value of donkeys across a range of sectors, including agriculture, construction, industry, and tourism. The study emphasizes the importance of donkey welfare, as well as the vital function that donkeys serve in sustaining the livelihoods of some of the most underprivileged communities all around the world. In poor and oppressed communities all around the world, donkeys can help to empower women and give them a way to work and make a living. Abstract Despite the substantial contribution donkeys make to the livelihood of the world’s poorest populations, the existence of donkeys has received little notice worldwide. This article reviews the value of donkeys in a variety of sectors, including agriculture, construction industry, and mining, as well as their role in empowering women and achieving sustainable development goals. However, donkeys and mules are not given enough credit or attention in terms of developing strategies regarding their role in reducing poverty. There is a dearth of information and statistics on their impact across industries, the factors contributing to the donkey population dropping, the socioeconomic status of the dependent communities, and related animal and human welfare issues.

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Isabelle Baltenweck

Papers

Risk attitudes, resource rationalization and dairy intensification in Uganda: stochastic dominance with observed and optimal net farm benefits.

Exploration of gender dynamics in the production and marketing of forage technologies in Kenya

ILRI One Health Strategy: Stopping the global rise of high-impact zoonotic disease, foodborne disease and antimicrobial resistance

Ownership of small livestock species, but not aggregate livestock, is associated with an increased risk of anemia among children in Ethiopia: A propensity score matching analysis

Means of Livelihood, Clean Environment to Women Empowerment: The Multi-Faceted Role of Donkeys