Showing papers by "International Food Policy Research Institute published in 1997"
Book•
01 Apr 1997
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors extended the UNICEF model of care and summarized the literature on the relationship of care practices and resources to child nutrition, and defined resources needed by the caregiver for care and showed that the child's own characteristics play a role in the kind of care that he or she receives.
Abstract: Care is the provision in the household and the community of time, attention, and support to meet the physical, mental, and social needs of the growing child and other household members. The significance of care has best been articulated in the framework developed by the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF). This paper extends the UNICEF model of care and summarizes the literature on the relationship of care practices and resources to child nutrition. The paper also summarizes attempts to measure the various dimensions of care. The concept of care is extended in two directions: first, we define resources needed by the caregiver for care and, second, we show that the child's own characteristics play a role in the kind of care that he or she receives. The literature summary and methodological recommendations are made for six types of resources for care and for two of the least studied care practices: complementary feeding and psychosocial care. The other care practices are care for women, breast-feeding, food preparation, hygiene, and home health practices. Feeding practices that affect a child's nutritional status include adaptation of feeding to the child's abilities (offering finger foods, for example); responsiveness of the caregiver to the child (perhaps offering additional or different foods); and selection of an appropriate feeding context. Psychosocial care is the provision of affection and attention to the child and responsiveness to the child's cues. It includes physical, visual, and verbal interactions.
471 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors analyzed the repayment rates of 128 credit groups belonging to three group-based credit programs in Bangladesh: the Association for Social Advancement (ASA), the Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee (BRAC), and the Rangpur Dinajpur Rural Service (RDRS).
417 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors examine how the shift from customary tenure systems to private property has affected women, the effect of gender differences in property on collective action, and the implications for project design.
336 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the determinants of producer prices received by a sample of dairy producers near Addis Ababa suggest that different levels of access to infrastructure, assets, and information explain why they contemporaneously accept widely different producer prices for fluid milk.
303 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors use a newly constructed panel data set that includes an agricultural research or stock-of-knowledge variable to quantify the sources of growth in Chinese agriculture and find that research-induced technical change accounts for a significant share (20%) of the growth in agricultural output since 1965.
227 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors investigate the extent to which poor households are discouraged from making a non-divisible but profitable investment using data on irrigation wells in India, and they estimate the parameters of a structural model of irreversible investment.
Abstract: This article investigates the extent to which poor households are discouraged from making a non-divisible but profitable investment. Using data on irrigation wells in India, we estimate the parameters of a structural model of irreversible investment. Results show that poor farmers fail to undertake a profitable investment that they could, in principle, self-finance because the nondivisibility of the investment puts it out of their reach. Irreversibility constitutes an additional disincentive to invest. Simulations show that the availability of credit can dramatically increase investment in irrigation and that interest-rate subsidization has little impact.
195 citations
TL;DR: The large impact of zinc supplementation on diarrhea incidence suggests that young, rural Guatemalan children may be zinc deficient and that zinc supplementation may be an effective intervention to improve their health and growth.
Abstract: Objective. A community-based, randomized, double-blind intervention trial was conducted to measure the impact of zinc supplementation on young Guatemalan children9s morbidity from diarrhea and respiratory infections. Methods. Children aged 6 to 9 months were randomly assigned to receive 4 mL of a beverage containing 10 mg of zinc (as zinc sulfate) daily (7 d/wk) for 7 months (n = 45) or a placebo (n = 44). Morbidity data were collected daily. Diagnoses of diarrhea, fever, and anorexia were based on mothers9 definitions. Respiratory infections were defined as the presence of at least two of the following symptoms: runny nose, cough, wheezing, difficulty breathing, or fever. Results. High rates of diarrhea and respiratory infections were reported. Children from the placebo group had a 20% episodic prevalence of diarrhea, with 8 episodes/100 d, and a 7% episodic prevalence of respiratory infections, with 3 episodes/100 d. The median incidence of diarrhea among children who received zinc supplementation was reduced by 22% (Wilcoxon rank test), with larger reductions among boys and among children with weight-for-length at baseline lower than the median of the sample (39% reductions in both subgroups). Zinc supplementation also produced a 67% reduction in the percentage of children who had one or more episodes of persistent diarrhea (χ2 test). No significant effects were found on the episodic prevalence of diarrhea, the number of days per episode, or the episodic prevalence or incidence of respiratory infections. Conclusions. The large impact of zinc supplementation on diarrhea incidence suggests that young, rural Guatemalan children may be zinc deficient and that zinc supplementation may be an effective intervention to improve their health and growth.
182 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors present measures of land and labor productivity for a group of ninety-eight developed and developing countries using an entirely new data set with annual observations spanning the past three decades.
Abstract: In this paper, we present measures of land and labor productivity for a group of ninety-eight developed and developing countries using an entirely new data set with annual observations spanning the past three decades. The substantial cross-country and intertemporal variation in productivity in our sample is linked to both natural and economic factors. We extend previous work by dealing with multiple sources of systematic measurement error in conventional agricultural inputs. The mix of conventional inputs, indicators of quality of agricultural inputs, and the amount of publicly provided infrastructure are all significant in explaining observed cross-sectional differences in productivity patterns.
177 citations
TL;DR: In the past three decades, Africa's public agricultural research systems have changed in substantive ways as mentioned in this paper, the total number of researchers increased fourfold, the dependency on expatriate researchers significantly declined, while the education levels of national researchers improved.
168 citations
TL;DR: In this article, a double-blind, placebo-controlled study examined whether 10 mg of oral zinc as zinc sulfate, given daily for up to 7 mo, affected activity patterns of 85 Guatemalan infants recruited at 6-9 mo of age.
Abstract: Zinc deficiency has been associated with growth deficits, reduced dietary intake and appetite, and has been hypothesized to result in reduced activity. This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study examined whether 10 mg of oral zinc as zinc sulfate, given daily for up to 7 mo, affected activity patterns of 85 Guatemalan infants recruited at 6-9 mo of age. Infant activity was assessed by time sampling-observation method at 10-min intervals during a 12-h data collection period, at base line, 3 and 7 mo follow-up. Motor development and the percentage of time infants were observed in various positions (being carried, lying down, sitting, crawling, standing or walking) and engaged in various activities (eating, sleeping, resting, crying/whining or playing) were compared by treatment group. No differences in motor development were observed by treatment group. However, at follow-up 2 (after 7 mo of supplementation), zinc-supplemented infants were significantly more frequently observed sitting up compared with lying down, and were playing during 4.18 +/- 1.95% (P < 0.05) more observations than unsupplemented infants. They were also somewhat less likely to be observed crying or whining (P < 0.10) compared with those receiving the placebo. These effects are independent of other factors including infant age, motor development, sex, maternal education, family socioeconomic status and nutritional status at base line. Further research must be conducted to determine the long-term developmental importance of these differences in activity patterns associated with zinc supplementation in this setting.
140 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors used a more appropriate approach to measure growth in output, input and total factor productivity for Chinese agriculture using newly estimated production and productivity growth indexes, the impact of rural reforms have been reassessed.
TL;DR: A case study for India finds an explanation for the drop in average household consumption in rural areas occurring in the year after the 1991 stabilization program instigated to deal with a macroeconomic crisis as discussed by the authors.
Abstract: This case study for India finds an explanation for the drop in average household consumption in rural areas occurring in the year after the 1991 stabilization program instigated to deal with a macroeconomic crisis. A number of factors contributed to falling average living standards, including inflation, a drop in agricultural yields, and contraction in the non-farm sector. The same factors resulted in high poverty measures, although there was also a sizable unexplained shift in distribution. Despite their having an unusually rich data base, the authors nevertheless are unable to account for a large share of the increase in measured poverty, and cannot rule out the possibility that it was the result of sampling and non-sampling errors. Only about one-tenth of the measured increase in poverty is explicable in terms of the variables that would be expected to transmit shocks to the household level. Soon after, the poverty measures returned to their previous level. The study cautions users of survey-based welfare indicators not to read too much into a single survey, particularly when (as here) its results are difficult to explain in terms of other data on hand. However, the usefulness of objective socioeconomic survey data for longer-term poverty monitoring should not be thrown into doubt by these results.
TL;DR: In this paper, a lack of understanding of the links between water scarcity, food production, food security, and environmental sustainability has been identified, and research to improve this understanding would have high payoffs.
Abstract: Global food projections indicate that food prices in the next threedecades will likely be stable or decline, but progress inreducing malnutrition in developing countries will be slow. Smallshortfalls in crop productivity growth would lead to rising foodprices and worsening malnutrition. Increased food production fromirrigation is essential, and will require expansion of irrigatedarea and water supplies, and improved efficiency of use of existingwater supplies. Neither of these growth factors will prove easy, andboth will require complex institutional and policy reforms. Failureto meet food production needs through efficient expansion andintensification of irrigated agriculture would increase pressure onland resources and hasten the process of environmental degradation.Irrigation and water development strategies have been hampered bya lack of understanding of the links between water scarcity, foodproduction, food security, and environmental sustainability.Research to improve this understanding would have high payoffs.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors examine trends in the understanding and policies toward farmer participation in irrigation management over the past 20 years, with special attention toexperiences with induced participation and management transfer programs in the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Senegal, Columbia Basin USA, and Mexico.
Abstract: This article examines trends in the understandingof and policies toward farmer participation in irrigationmanagement over the past 20 years, with special attention toexperiences with induced participation and management transferprograms in the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Senegal,Columbia Basin USA, and Mexico. Key lessons relate to the valueof social organizers as catalysts; the role of the irrigationagency as partner; and the enabling conditions for participation.As levels of income and infrastructure rise, we can expect moreformal organizations that enable farmers to deal with bankaccounts, service contracts, water rights, water markets, andadvanced technology in irrigation systems. The impact ofparticipation on irrigation performance needs to be evaluated notjust in terms of reductions in government costs, but by whetherimprovement in physical structures and farmers‘ control overwater are great enough to offset the farmers‘ costs ofparticipating.
TL;DR: In this article, the macroeconomic assumptions, demand and supply parameters, and structures of the models used in projecting China's future food supply, demand, and trade are analyzed, and improvements needed in future work on modelling China's grain economy, which include accounting for the links between agriculture and other sectors, technical change in the livestock industry and infrastructure constraints on grain imports.
Abstract: This article analyses the macroeconomic assumptions, demand and supply parameters, and structures of the models used in projecting China's future food supply, demand and trade. Projections vary greatly, from China being self-sufficient in grain to being a net importer of 369 million metric tons of grain in 2030. The differences stem mainly from the approaches chosen to model China's grain production and, in particular, the combined effects of land decline and yield growth. The article also points out improvements needed in future work on modelling China's grain economy, which include accounting for the links between agriculture and other sectors, technical change in the livestock industry and infrastructure constraints on grain imports.
TL;DR: For example, the authors showed that the share of the developing countries in total world meat consumption will rise from 47 percent currently to 64 percent by 2020, according to projections by IFPRI's IMPACT model.
Abstract: People in developed countries consume about 3 to 4 times as much meat and fish, and 5 to 6 times as much milk products per capita as in developing Asia and Africa. Yet, meat, milk, and fish consumption per capita has barely grown in the developed countries as a whole over the past 20 years. Growth in per capita consumption and production has occurred in developing regions such as developing Asia, where income has increased from a low level and urbanization is rapid. By 2020, according to projections by IFPRI's IMPACT model, the share of the developing countries in total world meat consumption will rise from 47 percent currently to 64 percent. The net impact on food access for the poor of the world will depend on their role as producers of meat, milk, and fish, their role as consumers, and their need for protein. The amount of cereals per capita consumed directly by rural people will decline as they diversify their diets into animal proteins, but feed use will increase greatly. Available evidence suggests that on balance poor consumers in developing countries will probably be better off.
TL;DR: None of the regression equations to predict the 24-h lipid content of breast milk based on daytime samples reached a sufficiently high predictive power to be recommended for the estimation of individual child intake, so standardization of time of day and interval between feeds is recommended.
01 Jan 1997
TL;DR: The UNICEF model of care is extended and resources needed by the caregiver for care are defined and it is shown that the child's own characteristics play a role in the kind of care that he or she receives.
Abstract: Care is the provision in the household and the community of time, attention, and support to meet the physical, mental, and social needs of the growing child and other household members. The significance of care has best been articulated in the framework developed by the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF). This paper extends the UNICEF model of care and summarizes the literature on the relationship of care practices and resources to child nutrition. The paper also summarizes attempts to measure the various dimensions of care. The concept of care is extended in two directions: first, we define resources needed by the caregiver for care and, second, we show that the child's own characteristics play a role in the kind of care that he or she receives. The literature summary and methodological recommendations are made for six types of resources for care and for two of the least studied care practices: complementary feeding and psychosocial care. The other care practices are care for women, breast-feeding, food preparation, hygiene, and home health practices. Feeding practices that affect a child's nutritional status include adaptation of feeding to the child's abilities (offering finger foods, for example); responsiveness of the caregiver to the child (perhaps offering additional or different foods); and selection of an appropriate feeding context. Psychosocial care is the provision of affection and attention to the child and responsiveness to the child's cues. It includes physical, visual, and verbal interactions.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors examined the possible environmental and resource constraints to long-term food production growth and explored the implications of these possible constraints for food and resource policies, concluding that food production in the aggregate is likely to keep pace with growing populations and incomes, and that real food prices will be stable or slowly declining.
Abstract: Projections of global food supply and demand to the year 2020 indicate that food production in the aggregate is likely to keep pace with growing populations and incomes, and that real food prices will be stable or slowly declining. This article examines the possible environmental and resource constraints to long-term food production growth and explores the implications of these possible constraints for food and resource policies. The article reviews and synthesises the evidence on biophysical limits to crop productivity; plant genetic resources and biotechnology; the availability of plant nutrients; soil and land degradation; the increasing scarcity and declining quality of water; and the impact of global climate change on agriculture.
TL;DR: Growth faltering starts soon after birth in rural Guatemala and thus, effective interventions should be targeted to mothers and their infant as early as possible during the first year.
Abstract: Growth retardation starts in the first three months of life among rural Guatemalan children
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors synthesize the main findings and highlights the insights of six articles that examine how China has managed its agricultural resources in the past, how agriculture is performing at present, and what challenges lie ahead as the country seeks to meet the food needs of its growing population.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors discuss the prospects for expanding, or even sustaining, Vietnam's recent re-acquired rice exporter status and conclude that the prospects are moderate to good over the long term, but are quite dependent on further policy and institutional reforms, infrastructural investments, and technological progress.
TL;DR: In this paper, Can social security programmes do more with less? General issues and the challenges for Southern Africa: Vol. 14, No. 2, pp. 125-153.
Abstract: (1997). Can social security programmes do more with less? General issues and the challenges for Southern Africa. Development Southern Africa: Vol. 14, No. 2, pp. 125-153.
TL;DR: The impacts of indiscriminate insecticides use are discussed, technologies for more judicious insecticide use are examined, and the risks associated with moving to a reduced insecticideUse strategy are examined.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors explore current dissatisfaction withpast irrigation improvement approaches and examine reasons such dissatisfaction is so widespread, and build on these themes to speculate on directions inwhich both public irrigation agencies and local level management institutions will evolve in the future.
Abstract: The paper explores current dissatisfaction withpast irrigation improvement approaches and examines reasonssuch dissatisfaction is so widespread. It reviews past andcurrent efforts to improve irrigation management in developingcountries and deduces themes with implications for the future. Finally it builds on these themes to speculate on directions inwhich both public irrigation agencies and local levelmanagement institutions will evolve in the future.
TL;DR: The emerging trends in global food supply and demand up to 2020 are reviewed, and policy challenges and obstacles to meeting this demand are discussed.
Abstract: This article reviews the emerging trends in global food supply and demand up to 2020 and discusses policy challenges and obstacles to meeting this demand. Data were obtained from the International Food Policy Research Institutes International Model for Policy Analysis of Commodities and Trade (Rosegrant et al.). The country-specific data pertains to 37 countries and regions and 17 food commodities and prices in the world market. Cereal prices are expected to decline by about 11% by 2020; meat prices may decline by 6%. After 2010 cereal prices are expected to dramatically decline. Cereal demand will change with changes in income and urbanization. Maize and coarse grains will be replaced by wheat and rice. Life style changes may lead to a switch from rice to wheat. Growth in food consumption in developed countries will slow. A projected 82% of growth in global cereal consumption and almost 90% of increased global meat demand will occur in developing countries during 1993-2020. Asia alone will account for 48% of increased cereal consumption and 61% of increased meat consumption. 88% of food production growth will occur in developing countries through increased yields and 94% in developed countries. World trade in cereals will increase from an estimated 185 million metric tons annually to 328 million during 1993-2020. Food security for the poor and child malnutrition will remain unimproved. Yield growth is affected by agricultural research fertilizer and energy use land degradation water scarcity and bad policy. Water scarcity is the most limiting on yield growth. Malnutrition problems present multiple challenges.
Posted Content•
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors find that the time a star scientist remains in a university before moving to a firm is significantly decreased as the quality of the bioscientist and as her focus on human genetics increases, while the expected frequency of offers increases with increases in local firms commercializing the technology and the percentage of ties to scientists outside the bioscienceist's organization.
Abstract: Following a breakthrough discovery, scientific knowledge with natural excludability may be best transferred to industry by the labor mobility of top scientists from universities and research institutes to firms. We model labor mobility as a function of scientist's quality (as measured by scientific citations) and his or her reservation wages which is determined by labor quality and the cost of moving, and also depends on the trial frequency, (number of potential firm employers), potential interfering offers from universities, and experienced increase in productivity of top scientists already in firms (reducing reservation values). Applying our model to bioscience and related industries, we find broad support in a group duration analysis. The time a star scientist remains in a university before moving to a firm is significantly decreased as the quality of the bioscientist and as her focus on human genetics increases; decreased as the expected frequency of offers increases with increases in local firms commercializing the technology and the percentage of ties to scientists outside the bioscientist's organization; decreased by experienced increase in productivity by other star scientists nearby who have already moved to firms. Only the number of top quality universities in the local area, via interfering university moves, increases the time a star scientist remains in a university before moving to a firm. We find some evidence of heterogeneity when we decompose the sample of bioscientists by their destination status, finding only quality remains significant across both affiliated scientists (full-time employment in a firm) and linked scientists (part-time employment), with all variables that are significant in the duration model also entering for linked scientists.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors used social accounting matrices for three African countries to model the income effects of stylized structural adjustment programs on different socioeconomic groups, revealing wide variation in the likelihood for typical SAPs to be acceptable to political elites while generating growth in the rest of the economy.
TL;DR: It is concluded that a decentralized system of data collection, processing, and analysis is more likely to be successful in planning interventions for food security and nutritional improvements during periods of drought.
Abstract: This article uses a case study from Malawi to demonstrate the use of a Food Security and Nutrition Monitoring (FSNM) system for managing and mitigating the effects of drought. The implementation of...