...world’s poorest nations more, increasing foreign aid or removing all agricultural tariffs and subsidies? It is our view that there is not one simple answer to this complex issue. Certainly, if the richest countries in the world removed all tariffs and subsidies it would provide an immediate benefit to the world’s poorest nations, but this would also have a huge negative impact on farmers in world’s wealthy nations, which makes it an impractical solution. On the other hand, simply increasing foreign aid comes with its own set of challenges, such as creating an overdependence on wealthy nations and encouraging poor nations to be less self-sufficient. The solution to this problem must be achieved by striking a balance between the amount of foreign aid given to poor nations and the tariffs and subsidies that are given to support the farmers of wealthy nations. For example, the subsidies being provided to US cotton farmers are believed to be depressing the world cotton prices by as much as 50 percent. We believe that a well planned, gradual move towards a subsidy level that reduces the depressed cotton prices by only 20 percent (versus the current 50 percent) would help to achieve a better balance, providing countries such as Brazil an opportunity to compete for its share of the world’s cotton market. If the wealthiest countries in the world would work together to strike a balance in each of the major agricultural areas, it would allow the world’s poorest nations the opportunity to...
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...ICTs for Better Marketing of Agricultural Produce in Bangladesh 1. Introduction Agriculture is the most important sector in the economy of Bangladesh. As the largest private enterprise, agriculture contributes about 21% of the GDP, sustains the livelihood of about 52% of the labour force and remains a major supplier of raw materials for agro-based industries in Bangladesh [1]. The rural economy of Bangladesh is transforming, the specific manifestation is non-farm economy is flourishing. Out of 80% of total population living in rural areas, 46% are employed in the non-farm sector [2]. In Bangladesh, the alarming trend is that income share of lower tier people has decreased, widening gap between the richest and poorest [3]. According to PRSP, 2005, agriculture must grow yearly by at least 4-4.5%. It is apparently possible through increasing agricultural productivity based on modern agricultural technology and a supply chain linking farmers with consumers in the domestic and global markets [1]. In a market economy framework, access to information is crucial in terms of having access to market and getting price advantage in the production process. Unfortunately, there is no separate market for the poor producers of goods and services. Accordingly, access to information may drastically change the situation in favor of the poor producers within and outside the country. Country like Bangladesh where most of its population live in villages and depend on agriculture as their main occupation...
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...source of all material wealth. Moreover, the economic prosperity of a country is closely linked to the richness of her natural resources, (Hans, et al: 2009).Land is an economic resource as well asan important factor in the formation of individual and collective identity, and in the day-to-day organization of social, cultural and religious life. It is also an enormous political resource that defines power relations between and among individuals, families and communities under established systems of governance (FAO: 2006). Land reforms involve the changing of laws, regulations or customs regarding land ownership. Land reforms may consist of a government initiated or government- backed property redistribution, generally of agricultural land. In sight of the above, land reform can therefore refer to the transfer of ownership of land from a relatively small number of wealthy owners with extensive landholdings such as plantations, large ranches, or agribusiness plots, to individual ownership by those who work on the land. Such transfer of land may be with or without compensation; compensation may vary from token amounts to the full value of the land (Esirkepov, T: 1999).Land reforms may also entail the transfer of land from individual ownership even peasant ownership in smallholdings to government- owned collective farms; it has also, in other times and places, referred to the exact opposite: division of government- owned collective farms into smallholdings. The...
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...www.pwc.com Global Agribusiness Monthly commentary from our Agribusiness experts around the Globe. October 2014 Contents Regional views Did you know? Publications Calendar of events Prices Global Agribusiness contacts 2 8 11 13 14 21 Regional views Overview With teams around the Globe, this document sets out to give a flavour of what our local agribusiness experts are observing in their territories. This month we are reminded of the ever present impact of volatility on Global agriculture. We have seen significant falls in dairy commodities, grains and oils in 2014 with coffee soaring in the opposite direction on the back of a drought in Brazil. The moves have happened quickly (e.g dairy down over 50% in New Zealand since February 2014 and coffee spot prices up over 30% since August 2014) and this can be difficult for farm families or small holders to deal with. For example in the UK, dairy farmers have taken to public protests and blockades. At PwC we are bullish on the long term prospects for agriculture given Global population and wealth trends however we also recognise that this future optimism can be meaningless to a farmer when short term production costs exceed selling price. Agriculture is a volatile industry and participants have to put in place their own strategies to deal with this which are right for them, be it selling forward or hedging for budget certainty, insuring where possible against crop loss, keeping a buffer of cash or liquid assets which...
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...manageable, boundaries will be defined. First, because of the vast number of activities relating to management information systems, a total review is not possible. Those discussed here is only a partial sampling of activities, reflecting the author's viewpoint of the more common and interesting developments. Likewise where there were multiple effects in a similar area of development, only selected ones will be used to illustrate concepts. This is not to imply one effort is more important than another. Also, the main focus of this paper will be on information systems for use at the farm level and to some lesser extent systems used to support researchers addressing farm level problems (e.g., simulation or optimization models, geographic information systems, etc.) and those used to support agribusiness firms that supply goods and services to agricultural producers and the supply chain beyond the production phase. Secondly, there are several frameworks that can be used to define and describe management information systems. More than one will be used to discuss important concepts. Because more than one is used, it indicates the difficult of capturing the key concepts of what is a management information system. Indeed, what is viewed as an effective and useful management information system is one environment may not be of use or value in another. Lastly, the historical perspective of management information systems cannot be ignored. This perspective gives a sense of how these systems have...
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...countertrade, in the case of the latter. More complex forms include truly global operations which may involve joint ventures, or export processing zones. Having decided on the form of export strategy, decisions have to be made on the specific channels. Many agricultural products of a raw or commodity nature use agents, distributors or involve Government, whereas processed materials, whilst not excluding these, rely more heavily on more sophisticated forms of access. These will be expanded on later. Chapter Objectives The objectives of the chapter are: Structure of the Chapter The chapter begins by looking at the concept of market entry strategies within the control of a chosen marketing mix. It then goes on to describe the different forms of entry strategy, both direct and indirect exporting and foreign production, and the advantages and disadvantages connected with each method. The chapter gives specific details on "countertrade", which is very prevalent in global marketing, and then concludes by looking at the special features of commodity trading with its "close coupling" between production and marketing. Basic issues An organization wishing to "go international" faces three major issues: i) Marketing - which countries, which segments, how to manage and...
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...United States should institute a blanket reform of its international trade policies. Its current protectionist practices are both in violation of current World Trade Organization suggestions and mandates and, far from being beneficial to the American economy, for the most part serve to hurt both American and foreign consumers. There are few American markets not protected in some way by the Federal Government in the form of tariffs, quotas, or domestic subsidies. While these practices are touted as an aid to domestic manufacturing process, true economic analysis shows that most if not all protectionist measures actually serve to limit economic growth. The arguments given to justify protectionism range from the poorly-disguised corporate handout to downright racism, while the few good reasons for it such as to protect 'sunrise' or developing industries do not apply to the United States. Section 2: What is Protectionism? Protectionism, defined simply, is any form of barrier to free trade that a governing body places on a market. By this definition, any trade legislation that the government...
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...economic sector and it creates plenty of employment opportunities as well. India agriculture has an extensive background which goes back to 10 thousand years. At present, in terms of agricultural production, the country holds the second position all over the world. In 2007, agriculture and other associated industries such as lumbering and forestry represented around 16.6% of the Gross Domestic Product of the country. In addition, the sector recruited about 52% of the entire manpower. Regardless of the fact that there has been a gradual slump in its contribution to the gross domestic product of the country, India agriculture is currently the biggest industry in India. On the whole, it has a key role in the socioeconomic growth of the country. In terms of agricultural contribution, the following states in India are the most developed states: • Punjab • Uttar Pradesh • Madhya Pradesh • Haryana • Bihar • Andhra Pradesh • Maharashtra • West Bengal All these states play a key role in the agrarian development of India. The total arable territory in India is 1,269,219 km2, which represents about 56.78% of the overall land zone of the country. Arable land in India is diminishing because of continuous strain from an ever-increasing number of inhabitants and growing urbanization. The overall water surface area of the country is 31440 km2 and the country experiences a mean yearly precipitation of 1,100 mm. Irrigation represents 92% of the consumption...
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...AGRO-SOCIETY AROUD THE GLOBE- 7 * PERSPECTIVE FROM BANGLADESH- 8 * MIS IN AGRICULTURE- 10 * MANAGEMENT IFORMATION SYSTEM IN ACTION- 11 * AGRICULTURE, MIS AND BANGLADESH- 22 * AGRO-SOCIETY OFBANGLADESH BELONGS TO- 23 * CHALLENGES FACED BY AGRO-INDUSTRY OF BANGLADESH- 24 * POSSIBILITIES FROM AGRO-INDUSTRY OF BANGLADESH- 25 * THE GOALS THAT BANGLADESH GOVERNMENT SHOULD ACHIEVE TO DEVELOP ITS ECONOMY AND AGRO-INDUSTRY- 25 * AND WITH MIS- 25 * USING MIS IN AGRO-INDUSTRY MARKETING- 26 * LASTLY- 27 INDEX ACKNOWLEDGEMENT NAME: EMRAN SAYEED NAME: CHOWDHURY SAIMA TABASSUM NAME: MONOLOVA SAMARUKH NAME: SHOAIB AHMED NAME: NISHAT TASNEM EASHA ABSTRACT We are reporting on Management Information Systems practices in agricultural industry. We tried to think closely the application of Management Information Systems in agro-society, and we recommended some suggestions to them and all over how they can improve and more accurately and superficially apply the Management Information Systems in their relevant fields. CONCEPT OF MIS Management Information Systems...
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...Chapter I INTRODUCTION In many countries in Asia, goats are very important in the protein diets of the people, as well as a good, stable source of livelihood especially for the poor in the rural areas. Goat production is mostly carried out by smallholders where the animals are kept in small flocks at an average of 5-10 head/family. While rearing of goat remains at a subsistence level, its contribution to the total farm income is substantial. Goat production fits well in the rural landscape as well as in the resource capacity of smallholder farmers. It requires low initial capital and guarantees a high return on investment in as fast as two years; hence it is an attractive undertaking among rural households (FFTC Annual Report 2009). In recognition of its importance, several advanced technologies have been developed to increase goat production in some countries in the region. Technology improvement widely ranges from reproductive techniques and seasonal breeding, to silage making, agricultural by-product utilization, slotted slat barn facilities and total mix ration. However, most Asian small-scale goat farmers do not have access to these relevant information and advanced technologies for increased outputs, giving them very limited opportunities to improve their production as well as their livelihood. Goats are a most likely alternative source of animal protein, and can efficiently provide meat and milk to complement cattle and buffalo production. Goat raising has become...
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...world market demand for shrimp has led many developing countries to enter this appealing market through massive use of shrimp farms which has had a significant impact on the world's mangrove forests because of over production and lack of care for the environment. Thailand has become the world's leader in shrimp exports, and in turn, the greatest violator of mangrove conservation. The Thai shrimp farming industry started to boom in the 1980s and was subsidized by the government. Thailand quickly became an important shrimp export industry and has been the world's largest producer of tiger shrimp since 1991. Because of the financial incentives of producing shrimp from the viewpoint of a farmer are much more attractive, more and more farmers switch from growing rice to producing shrimp. In 2009 Thailand produced over 539,000 tons of shrimp. Due to this rapid expansion and the shift into shrimp farms across Thailand, mangrove ecosystems and other parts of agricultural land have been exploited of their natural resources. The United States and Japan are the largest export markets for Thai shrimp and the demand is steadily increasing. Therefore the Thai shrimp industry has to find ways in which they can cater to the increasing demand while reducing the exploitation of their natural resources. In recent years the government stepped in and created laws to deal with shrimp farmers who damage the fragile ecosystem. Several countries also imposed import restrictions on shrimp which have...
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...customer awareness. Improve services that the industry provides to the community. Improve ways in which the industry contributes to sustainable development. iii. iv. v. PESTLE In our 2012 planning process (for 2013/14), we have considered the key challenges and opportunities facing the UK agriculture and horticulture industry through a PESTLE analysis. (Political, Economic, Sociological, Technological, Legislative and Environmental). Given that the six commodity sectors we work with are affected by the factors listed below to varying extents, we provide a brief description of the impact in the short-term and long-term. This PESTLE analysis is a planning tool (at a single point in time) and occasionally significant changes can occur quickly which will result in changes to the activities of AHDB, even though the PESTLE has not been formally reviewed. 1 Impact Short-Term within 3 years Impact Long-Term 3-20 years Implication for meeting the objectives of AHDB Political “GREEN GOVERNMENT” Green Government/Climate Change Mitigation will seek reduction in GHG emissions The Coalition Government has stated it wishes to be the greenest Government ever. Government sees economic opportunity for the UK from the development of new markets for low emission products and services supported by investment in innovation. The 2008 Climate Change Act requires GHG emission reductions of 80% by 2050 and the UK Government and devolved administrations continue to review how this...
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...Executive Summary Sustainable forest management is first and foremost a local and national responsibility. Nevertheless, there is much to be gained from international cooperation, and many developing countries continue to rely on foreign assistance, including in supporting the sustainable management of forests and other natural resources. However, forests (and other development objectives) often suffer from competing and overlapping priorities both among donors and between donors and national governments. Ensuring effective collaboration among donors and government agencies in developing countries is a prerequisite for improving the governance, monitoring, assessment and management of forests. Developed countries also face challenges associated with competing domestic policy goals that undermine efforts to achieve sustainable forest management. Therefore, more effective communication and coordination across sectors and countries is needed for a sustainable future. In this project we concludes with four broad strategies for a sustainable future: • Plant trees and invest in ecosystem services. • Promote small and medium forest-based enterprises, and gender equity. • Use wood for energy; reuse and recycle wood products. • Enhance communication, and coordinate development. About half the forest managed by Forestry Tasmania are available for sustainable timber production. A network of formal and informal reserves on State forest protects values such as flora, fauna, soil...
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...held in Geneva in May 1998, included a celebration of the 50th anniversary of the system. Is it a bird, is it a plane? There are a number of ways of Looking at the WTO. It’s an organization for liberalizing trade. It’s a forum for governments to negotiate trade agreements. It’s a place for them to settle trade disputes. It operates a system of trade rules. (But it’s not Superman, just in case anyone thought it could solve- or causeall the world’s problems!) Above all, it’s a negotiating forum … Essentially, the WTO is a place where member governments go, to try to sort out the trade problems they face with each other. The first step is to talk. The WTO was born out of negotiations, and everything the WTO does is the result of negotiations. The bulk of the WTO’s current work comes from the 1986–94 negotiations called the Uruguay Round and earlier negotiations under the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT). The WTO is currently the host to new negotiations, under the “Doha Development Agenda” launched in 2001. Where countries have faced trade barriers and wanted them lowered, the negotiations have helped to liberalize trade. But the WTO is not just about liberalizing trade, and in some circumstances its rules support maintaining trade barriers - for example to protect consumers or prevent the...
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...Alexis McGregor Hoover High School Des Moines, IA Zimbabwe, Factor 7: Animal Agriculture Zimbabwe: Overcoming Hunger Through the Improvement of Agricultural Education and the Issue Over Social Inequality What is hunger? Many would probably say it is that mildly uncomfortable feeling that you get after not eating for a few hours. The majority of people use the phrase “I’m starving!” when they get this feeling. But what about the 805 million people in which “starving” means not knowing where their next meal is coming from. Agriculturalists and world food leaders now face a huge challenge: in feeding the 9 billion people who are projected to be on Earth by 2050 (Nat’l Geographic). Of the 196 sovereign countries in the world, 147 are considered underdeveloped and lack food security, Zimbabwe being one of them. Zimbabwe is located in the southern portion of Africa, surrounded by Botswana, South Africa, Zambia, and Mozambique, making it a land-locked state. Zimbabwe has a total land area of 390,757 square miles and is home to 13,771,721 people (CIA World Factbook). The land is composed of mostly high plateaus with mountains in the east. With a tropical climate, the country has rainy seasons between November and March but is currently suffering from an extensive drought due to unreliable rainfall. The frequent droughts that occur throughout the year make it especially hard for farmers, ranchers, and families who depend on sustainable agriculture as their main source of...
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