Land Tenure, Farm Size, and Rural Market Participation in Developing Countries: The Case of the Tunisian Olive Sector

1998 ◽  
Vol 46 (4) ◽  
pp. 831-848 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lokman T. Zaibet ◽  
Elizabeth G. Dunn
Author(s):  
Daniel Hailu ◽  

The study identified the factors that cause variation in the level of efficiency in potato production. The study used household level cross sectional data collected in 2015/16 from 196 sample farmers selected by multistage sampling technique. For the data collection, a personally administered structured questionnaire was used. In the analyses, descriptive statistics, a stochastic frontier model (SFM) and a two-limit Tobit regression model were employed. Tobit model revealed that technical efficiency was positively and significantly affected by education, land tenure status, extension service, credit and soil fertility whereas variables such as sex of household head, age of household head, farm size and land fragmentation affected it negatively. Therefore the study suggested the need for policies to discourage land fragmentation and promote education, extension visits, access to credit and soil fertility for improvement in technical efficiency.


2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. 237-252
Author(s):  
Josiah Ateka ◽  
◽  
Perez Ayieko Onono-Okelo ◽  
Martin Etyang ◽  
◽  
...  

The inverse farm size and productivity relationship (IR) is a recurring theme in the literature. However, most previous studies were undertaken within a setting of mixed cropping systems. In this article, we investigate the effect of farm size on productivity within the context of a perennial monocropping system, acute competition for farmland, frequent subdivision of farms and declining yields. We apply household survey data of smallholder tea farms in western Kenya and consider both technical efficiency (TE) and the yield per hectare as indicators of productivity. The findings show that the effect of farm size on productivity is nonlinear, with TE initially declining and then rising with farm size. The findings also demonstrate that the farm size and productivity relationship is important for perennial monocrops and that the use of robust measures of productivity is important for the IR. The findings have important implications for agricultural policy in developing countries.


Land ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (12) ◽  
pp. 494
Author(s):  
Christine Magaju ◽  
Leigh Ann Winowiecki ◽  
Mary Crossland ◽  
Aymen Frija ◽  
Hassen Ouerghemmi ◽  
...  

Increasing tree cover in agricultural lands can contribute to achieving global and national restoration goals, more so in the drylands where trees play a key role in enhancing both ecosystem and livelihood resilience of the communities that depend on them. Despite this, drylands are characterized by low tree survival especially for tree species preferred by local communities. We conducted a study in arid and semi-arid areas of Kenya and Ethiopia with 1773 households to assess how different tree planting and management practices influence seedling survival. Using on-farm planned comparisons, farmers experimented and compared tree survival under different planting and management practices as well as under varying socioeconomic and biophysical contexts in the two countries. Seedling survival was monitored at least six months after planting. Results show that watering, manure application, seedling protection by fencing and planting in a small hole (30 cm diameter and 45 cm depth) had a significant effect on tree seedling survival in Kenya, while in Ethiopia, mulching, watering and planting niche were significant to tree survival. Household socioeconomics and farms’ biophysical characteristics such as farm size, education level of the household head, land tenure, age of the household head had significant effects on seedling survival in both Ethiopia and Kenya while presence of soil erosion on the farm had a significant effect in Kenya. Soil quality ranking was positively correlated with tree survival in Ethiopia, regardless of species assessed. Current findings have confirmed effects of context specific variables some involving intrahousehold socioeconomic status such education level of the household head, and farm size that influence survival.


2017 ◽  
Vol 77 (1) ◽  
pp. 78-94 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charles B. Dodson ◽  
Bruce L. Ahrendsen

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine changes in the structures of US farms and lenders and identify prospective implications for federal credit. Design/methodology/approach Data from US farm operations for 1996-2014 were adjusted to 2014 values using commodity price indices. Farm size groups were constructed by value of farm production to analyze changes in farm numbers, production, assets, debt, leverage, liquidity, profitability, land tenure, commodity type, contract production, organization type, and use of Farm Service Agency (FSA) direct and guaranteed loans by farm size. Bank, Farm Credit System (FCS), and FSA data from 1996 to 2015 were adjusted to 2014 values. Lender size groups were constructed to analyze changes in bank and association numbers, farm loans, and use of FSA guaranteed loans by lender size. Findings The greatest consolidation has been by farms with over $2 million in production. More farm debt is held by large, complex organizations, frequently with multiple operators, more variable income, and greater reliance on production contracts and operating and nonreal estate credit. Large farms have greater leverage, are more profitable, and have a larger share of household income from the farm. Banks and FCS institutions are fewer and larger, yet smaller institutions use FSA guarantees to a greater extent. Larger farms tend to be more reliant on both direct and guaranteed FSA loans and are likely to become more dependent on FSA credit. Originality/value Changing farm and lender structure together with softening farm income may require FSA farm loan program changes to meet any increase in loan demand. Policy alternatives are provided to meet changing demand for farm credit.


2012 ◽  
Vol 17 (5) ◽  
pp. 579-601 ◽  
Author(s):  
Solomon Asfaw ◽  
Leslie Lipper ◽  
Timothy J. Dalton ◽  
Patrick Audi

AbstractThis paper examines determinants of output and input market participation. It employs propensity score matching techniques to evaluate the impact of market participation on pigeonpea diversity and household welfare, using cross-sectional data of 333 households from Kenya. Results show that input and output market participation decisions are quite distinct. Output market participation is influenced by household demographics, farm size and radio ownership, while input market participation is determined by farm size, bicycle ownership and access to a salaried income. The findings reveal a positive and significant impact of output market participation on pigeonpea diversity, while input market participation had a negative and significant impact on diversity. The results indicate that output market participants have significantly higher food security status than non-participants, in line with the general findings of the literature. However, no significant impact is found between indicators of household welfare and input market participation.


Author(s):  
A. A. Dalla ◽  
S. K. Vihi ◽  
B. Jesse ◽  
L. G. Tor

This study assessed cost and returns analysis of groundnut production in Qua’an Pan Local Government Area of Plateau State, Nigeria. The specific objectives were to determine the socio economic characteristics of groundnut producers in the study area, estimate the cost and returns of groundnut production, determine the input and output relationship in groundnut production and identify the constraints faced by groundnut farmers in the study area. Multistage sampling technique was used in selecting 150 respondents for the study. Primary data were collected through the use of structured questionnaires and interview technique and were subjected to both descriptive and inferential statistics. The results obtained from the study revealed that the mean age of the respondents was 38 years with males dominating (82%) the groundnut production enterprise in the study area. Greater (85%) percentages of respondents were married with majority (64%) of them having primary school education. The respondents had an average household size of nine (9) persons, a mean farming experience of 9.3 years and an average farm size of 3.0 hectares. The result also revealed that majority (72%) of the respondents did not belong to any cooperative/ farming association. The result indicates that majority (79%) of the groundnut farmers acquired their farmland by inheritance. Groundnut production in the study area is profitable. The average output obtained per hectare was 696 kg at the prevailing selling price of ₦280/kg. The total revenue (TR), gross margin (GM) and, net farm income (NFI) per hectare obtained were ₦194880, ₦139380 and ₦123730 respectively. The return on naira invested (RNI) by farmers in the study area was ₦1.70 indicating that for every one naira invested, ₦1.70 profit was gained. The result of the double log production function analysis shows that farm size, cost of fertilizer and cost of labour were statistically significant and influenced the profitability of groundnut production.  Major constraints to groundnut production in the study area include; high cost of inputs (64 %), high cost of labour (49 %), lack of organized market system (47%), land tenure (42%) among others. The study recommends that groundnut stakeholders and research institutes should work more on introducing new improved groundnut varieties. Government should subsidize groundnut inputs like recommended fertilizer and herbicides so as to motivate farmers to grow groundnut. Government should establish organized marketing systems where farmers will have proper and reliable linkages with buyers thereby reducing the undue exploitative tendencies of the middlemen.  Improved storage facilities should be provided so that farmers could store their produce to avoid spoilage and for sale during times of scarcity.


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