Dynamic Multi-stage Resource Selection with Preference Factors in Grid Economy

Malaysia is contemplating removal of most of her subsidy support measures including subsidies on cooking oil which is largely palm oil based. This paper aims to examine the effects of cooking oil subsidy removals on the competitiveness of the oil palm subsector and related markets. This is done by developing and applying a comparative static, multi-commodity, partial equilibrium model with multi-stages of production function for the Malaysian perennial crops subsector which explicitly links different stages of production, primary and intermediate input markets, trade, and policy linkages. Results partly suggest that export of cooking oil will increase by 0.2 per cent due to a 10 per cent cooking oil subsidy reduction, while domestic output of cooking oil may eventually see a net decline of 1.97 per cent. The results clearly point out that the effect of reducing cooking oil subsidies is relatively small at the upstream levels and therefore it only induces minute effects on factor markets. Consequently, the market for other agricultural crops is projected to change very marginally. Keywords: Multicomodity, comparative statics, partial equilibrium model, output supply-factor markets linkages, effects of cooking oil subsidy removals.

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IMPACT ASSESSMENT OF AGRICULTURAL TRANSFORMATION PROJECT ON PRODUCTIVITY AND POVERTY AMONG RICE FARMERS IN KANO STATE, NIGERIA.

FUDMA Journal of Sciences ◽

10.33003/fjs-2020-0402-234 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 4 (2) ◽

pp. 392-400

Author(s):

O. S. Balogun ◽

M. A. Damisa ◽

O. Yusuf ◽

O. L. Balogun

Keyword(s):

Sampling Method ◽

Insect Pests ◽

Study Data ◽

Average Treatment Effect ◽

Descriptive Statistics ◽

Rice Farmers ◽

Agricultural Transformation ◽

Multi Stage ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Late Model

The study was carried out to examine the effect of agricultural transformation on the beneficiary’s productivity and poverty of rice farmers in Kano State Nigeria. A multi-stage sampling method was employed to select 571 respondents for the study. Data were collected through structured questionnaires on respondent’s income, input and output quantities as well as their expenditures. Data were analysis using descriptive statistics, Foster-Greer-Thorbecke (FGT), Propensity score matching and LATE model. Results from the study shows that respondents productivity revealed a significant difference of about 127 kg/ha in rice productivity between participants and non-participants. Also, the LATE estimates revealed an average treatment effect ATE0 of about 222.98kg/ha. Furthermore, the project had a significant effect N11, 321.4 on the participant’s consumption expenditure than the non-participants N9980.60. Moreover, participants were, able to increase their household total expenditures by N34780 per annum. Fluctuations of input/output prices insect pests and inadequate extension visits were all the major constraints faced by the farmers. It was recommended that farmers’ information and sensitization system should be overhauled and improved. Also, attention should be given to well organize extension visits for the farmers from stake holders

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Radiofrequency ablation of colorectal liver metastases

Perspectives in Surgery ◽

10.33699/pis.2019.98.10.399-403 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 98 (10) ◽

Keyword(s):

Radiofrequency Ablation ◽

Liver Resection ◽

Liver Metastases ◽

Colorectal Liver Metastases ◽

Survival Rates ◽

Postoperative Mortality ◽

Disease Free Survival ◽

Female Ratio ◽

Liver Resections ◽

Multi Stage

Introduction: Radical liver resection is the only method for the treatment of patients with colorectal liver metastases (CLM); however, only 20–30% of patients with CLMs can be radically treated. Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is one of the possible methods of palliative treatment in such patients. Methods: RFA was performed in 381 patients with CLMs between 01 Jan 2001 and 31 Dec 2018. The mean age of the patients was 65.2±8.7 years. The male to female ratio was 2:1. Open laparotomy was done in 238 (62.5%) patients and the CT-navigated transcutaneous approach was used in 143 (37.5%) patients. CLMs <5 cm (usually <3 cm) in diameter were the indication for RFA. We used RFA as the only method in 334 (87.6%) patients; RFA in combination with resection was used in 36 (9.4%), and with multi-stage resection in 11 (3%) patients. We performed RFA in a solitary CLM in 170 (44.6%) patients, and in 2−5 CLMs in 211 (55.6%) patients. We performed computed tomography in each patient 48 hours after procedure. Results: The 30-day postoperative mortality was zero. Complications were present in 4.8% of transcutaneous and in 14.2% of open procedures, respectively, in the 30-day postoperative period. One-, 3-, 5- and 10-year overall survival rates were 94.8, 66.8, 43.9 and 16.6%, respectively, in patients undergoing RFA, and 90.6, 69.1, 52.8 and 39.2%, respectively, in patients with liver resections. Disease free survival was 63.2, 30.1, 18.4 and 13.1%, respectively, in the same patients after RFA, and 71.1, 33.3, 22.8 and 15.5%, respectively, after liver resections. Conclusion: RFA is a palliative thermal ablation method, which is one of therapeutic options in patients with radically non-resectable CLMs. RFA is useful especially in a non-resectable, or resectable (but for the price of large liver resection) solitary CLM <3 cm in diameter and in CLM relapses. RFA is also part of multi-stage liver procedures.

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