Technical efficiency in the spice based agroforestry sector in Matale district, Sri Lanka

Spices constitute an important sub-sector of the economy of Sri Lanka. Most perennial spices are cultivated in agroforestry types of farming systems. A field survey was conducted covering 127 agroforestry farmers in six divisional secretariats in Matale district during the period of October to December 2002. Technical efficiency of spice based agroforestry systems was estimated in order to identify the potential increase in production without incurring additional costs for farm inputs. The factors affecting technical efficiency and constraints and potential of the agroforestry system were also investigated. According to a stochastic frontier production function using a Cobb–Douglas model, hired labour, organic fertilizer, inorganic fertilizer, land size, and soil conservation measures showed significant positive effects on the agroforestry production. The mean technical efficiency of the spice based agroforestry systems was 84.32%. According to the inefficiency model the efficiency increased significantly as a result of farm visits by extension officers, participation in farmer training, less sloping lands, more experience, and higher diversity of the agroforestry system. Technical efficiency decreased, however, with higher education level of the farmer and with higher off-farm income. Unsustainability of the agroforestry system is seen as a result of a␣range of constraints related to productivity, market, technology and institutions.     

农户家庭经营问题研究——对邢台县浆水镇农户抽样调查材料的分析

本文应用数理统计方法对邢台县浆水镇9村265户样本资料进行了系统分析。指出农户家庭经营是我国农村普遍存在的基本经营形式。这一新生事物完全适应现阶段农村生产力发展水平,其收入已成为农民收入的主要来源。近年来,农民收入虽有大幅度提高,但水平仍然很低,农户间收入差距也在不断扩大,山区农村经济仍在一个低水平上运行。本文还对影响农民收入水平的相关因素和农户收支结构进行了分析,并有针对性地提出改善家庭经营管理的建议。最后,对加强农户家庭经营方面的研究与领导也提出具体意见。     

Plant species diversity of homegardens of Cuba and its significance for household food supply

The cultivation of different plants in homegardens for self-sufficiency has a long tradition in Cuba, but knowledge about homegardens in Cuba is small. To analyse this more deeply, cultivated plants of 31 homegardens were surveyed in three villages in eastern Cuba in 2001. Two of the study villages were located in a humid area with an annual precipitation of about 2200 mm. The third village was situated in a semiarid area with about 450 mm precipitation. The plants studied in the homegardens included those for human consumption such as fruits, vegetables, tubers and cereals as well as spices and medicinal plants. In total, 101 different plant species were found with an average number of 18 to 24 species per homegarden for the three villages. A broad range of species was found in all villages, because irrigation is used under semiarid conditions, which lead to a relative high similarity in species composition between the villages. But, also differences due to the climatic situation became evident, particularly with the medicinal plants. In general, homegarden production provided a broad and diverse basis for self-sufficiency of the households. Although homegarden production showed to be only a small source of income, it is particularly important because of low-paid outside work and minimal food provision of the state.This revised version was published online in November 2005 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Agroforestry in the interior highlands

The USDA Agricultural Research Service, headquartered at the South Central Family Farm Research Center, Booneville, Arkansas, recently initiated an agroforestry research program for the interior highlands and the southeastern United States. The purpose of the agroforestry program is to develop a research and technology transfer program in agroforestry that will provide additional alternative income opportunities for family farms of this region. The objectives of the program are: 1) to develop new information on the establishment, maintenance, and utilization of conifer and hardwood tree stands in open pastures, 2) to develop new knowledge in multiple-use management and their environmental impacts, and 3) to facilitate multidisciplinary networks and partnerships of farmers, technical specialists, scientists, and managers for accomplishing agroforestry research and technology transfer.     

Impact of agroforestry intervention on farm income under the subsistence farming system of the middle hills, Nepal

Practices that minimize the rate of soil degradation, increase crop yields and raise farm income are key to sustaining agricultural productivity in the hills of Nepal. The use of farmland is undergoing rapid changes in response to increasing population pressure, deforestation and subsistence needs. Against this background, this study examined the impact of an agroforestry intervention project on farm income based on a sample of subsistence farm households in Dhadhing district. The project was implemented by Nepal Agroforestry Foundation in 1993/94 to increase fodder production through the promotion of agroforestry. A total of 223 households (82 with project and 141 without project) were interviewed during May–October 1998 to collect information on production and agroforestrys' impact on farm income. The benefit-cost analysis showed that the agricultural system including agroforestry was more profitable than the conventional one. The results also showed that the introduction of mulberry trees for sericulture could further enhance the profitability of an agroforestry-based system. Thus, agroforestry has great potential for enhancing food production and farmers' economic conditions in a sustainable manner through its positive contributions to household income.This revised version was published online in November 2005 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Co-application of compost or inorganic NPK fertilizer with biochar influences soil quality,grain yield and net income of rice

Most agricultural soils in sub-Saharan Africa are degraded, compromising the grain yield of rice and farmers return on investment. A 3-year field study was undertaken to explore the effect of the application of compost or inorganic NPK fertilizer applied alone or in combination with biochar on soil quality, grain yield of rice and net income. The five treatments were laid out using a randomized complete block design with four replications. The treatments were applied to supply approximately 75 kg N ha^–1. The best fertilizer input was compost+biochar which resulted in the greatest improvement in soil physico-chemical properties by reducing bulk density and increasing porosity and moisture retention, organic matter content, percent nitrogen, available phosphorus and cation exchange capacity. Apart from treatment with inorganic fertilizer alone, treated soils showed a decrease in pH. Bacterial and fungal counts and basal respiration decreased in soils in the following order: compost+biochar>compost only>inorganic NPK fertilizer+biochar>inorganic NPK fertilizer>control. The increase in pooled grain yield and net income in response to treatment followed the order: compost+biochar>NPK+biochar>NPK>compost>control. The findings suggest that the use of compost or NPK alone might improve soil quality and increase grain yield and net income, but it is greatly recommended to co-apply these fertilisers with biochar.     

基于支持向量回归与地统计学的农民收入预测

农民收入既受其自身动态时序特性的影响,又与国家政策、农产品产量、天气等多种人为因素和自然因素关系密切,是一种典型的多维时间序列数据.该研究以国民总收入、乡村人口等11个可能与农民收入相关的影响因子为自变量,农村居民家庭平均每人纯收入为因变量,基于1982～2011年我国相关统计数据,采用支持向量回归与地统计学非线性时间序列预测模型对农民收入进行分析.结果表明：非线性时间序列预测模型大幅度提高了农民收入预测精度;农民的主要收入来源已不是粮食生产,而是向其他农业生产、进城务工等方面转移.     

农业经济政策与粮食主产区农民增收耦合机制发展研究

通过改进的索洛模型,对建国以来我国农业经济政策与粮食主产区农民增收发展的历史与现状进行了实证。结果显示:农业经济政策制定与实施力度的直接贡献度与粮食主产区农民增收成正相关关系,在此基础上提出相应耦合机制的政策建议。     

2008-2013年中国渔民收入结构变化及拉动力分析

依据国家最新渔民收入统计制度,研究中国渔民收入结构在2008-2013年的变化趋势。利用灰色关联度量化综合模型,从变化率差异和绝对值差异两个角度,对渔民收入结构与渔民总收入的关联度进行分析,发现家庭经营收入与渔民总收入的关联度名列第一;基于强调变化率差异,财产性收入关联度名列第二;基于强调绝对差异分析,工资性收入关联度排第二位。通过进一步分析渔民收入结构对渔民总收入的贡献率和拉动力,分析发现,家庭其他经营收入对家庭经营收入提供的贡献率和拉动力高于来自渔业生产收入所提供的贡献率和拉动力,这表明渔民劳动力已产生明显分化。生产性补贴成为影响渔民收入的第二大要素,其对渔民收入的贡献率与拉动力皆名列第二。渔民工资性收入的拉动力主要来源于其他行业,说明渔业雇工水平低、渔业产业工资水平低;渔民土地和水面经营权租金对渔民财产性收入的增长产生明显的负影响,作业渔场缩减等问题制约了渔民增收。     

农业财政支出对农民收入影响的分析

运用Granger因果关系协整分析方法,求解农业财政支出对农民收入的影响,得出了农业财政支出是农民收入增长Granger原因的结论.根据模型结果,农业财政支出每增加一亿元,第三年农民人均纯收入增加1.88元.增加农业财政支出是当前增加农民收入的有效途径,文章具体提出了农业财政支出的政策建议.