Related items
Showing items related by metadata.
-
Book (series)Cropping system diversification in Eastern and Southern Africa: Identifying policy options to enhance productivity and build resilience 2018
Also available in:
No results found.Crop diversification is an important policy objective to promote climate change adaptation, yet the drivers and impacts of crop diversification vary considerably depending on the specific combinations of crops a farmer grows. This paper examines adoption determinants of seven different cropping systems in Malawi, Zambia and Mozambique, and the impact of their adoption on maize productivity and income volatility – using a multinomial endogenous treatment effect model. These cropping systems consist in different combinations of four categories of crops: dominate staple (maize), alternative staples, legumes, and cash-crops. The study finds that relative to maize mono-cropping systems, the vast majority of systems have either neutral or positive effects on maize productivity, and either reduce or have neutral effects on crop income volatility. In particular, cropping systems that include legumes produce better outcome in most cases than those that feature cash crops. From a policy perspective, three recurrent determinants of diversification are found. First, private sector output market access is an important driver of diversification out of maize mono-cropping. Policies crowding in private output market actors can help to promote a wide range of more diverse cropping systems. Second, proximity to public marketing board buying depots discourages the adoption of more diverse cropping systems. Therefore, reforms to these institutions must be part of any diversification strategy. Finally, in all countries and for all systems, land size is a key determinant of adopting more diverse systems. Thus, land policy is an integral element of any boarder diversification strategy. -
Book (stand-alone)
-
Book (series)Favourable policies for family-based maize production in Ecuador
FAO Agricultural Development Economics Policy Brief 17
2019Also available in:
This policy brief analyses Ecuador’s trade, productive and price policies for maize and their effect on farmers’ level of protection. The minimum support price enacted until 2017, turned out to be a non-operative policy due to a higher market price, which created incentives for speculative investments by traders. To counteract speculative investments the Ministry enacted a price range for maize, the price ceiling is expected to counteract future speculations. Productive and trade policies aiming to protect small farmers seem to achieve their objective. The effective rate of protection increased for all farm production systems from 2016 to 2017 with the highest protection for farmers with traditional production systems. Pricing policies protect not only farmers but also benefit wholesalers and other actors along the value chain. However, the high support in maize converges in disincentive to the final consumer, which is critical for Ecuador considering that maize is directly an important part of Ecuadorian diets and indirectly as part of the poultry value chain. Furthermore, the high support price puts pressure on the national budget. Further analysis of the poultry value chain as well as alternative policies should be evaluated to get a better understanding of the policies impact and reduce pressure from the national budget.
Users also downloaded
Showing related downloaded files
No results found.