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1 – 10 of 172Workicho Jateno Gadiso, Bamlaku Alamirew Alemu and Maru Shete
This study aims to measure the status of rural household food security across regions using multidimensional indicators. It also aims to identify the determinants of rural…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to measure the status of rural household food security across regions using multidimensional indicators. It also aims to identify the determinants of rural household food security in Ethiopia.
Design/methodology/approach
The study adopted descriptive and explanatory designs. It used data from the fourth wave of the Ethiopian socioeconomic survey that has 3,115 respondents. The authors constructed household food security index using variables that capture availability, access, utilization and stability dimensions of food security. The authors categorized households into relative food security groups, namely, alarming and moderately food insecure, as well as moderately and highly food secure. Beta regression model, which is widely used to analyze response variables that assume values between 0 and 1, is used to estimate the determinants of food security.
Findings
The study finds that 77.7% of rural households are food insecure. Of this, 90% are moderately food insecure. Regional variations in magnitude of food security showed that Harari, Gambella and Benshanguel Gumuz regional states are relatively better-off than other regions in Ethiopia. The study identified sex, education level, marital status, location and wealth status of households as significant determinants of food security.
Originality/value
This study sheds light on regional variations in multidimensional food security in Ethiopia. It thus challenged previous estimates of food security using uni-dimensional indicator. It highlighted the need for region-specific analysis of determinants and a follow up of tailored regional interventions.
Peer review
The peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/IJSE-02-2023-0139
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This study empirically examines the impact of climate change and agricultural research and development (R&D) as well as their interaction on agricultural productivity in 12…
Abstract
Purpose
This study empirically examines the impact of climate change and agricultural research and development (R&D) as well as their interaction on agricultural productivity in 12 selected Asian and Pacific countries over the period of 1990–2018.
Design/methodology/approach
Various estimation methods for panel data, including Fixed Effects (FE), the Feasible Generalized Least Squares (FGLS) and two-step System Generalized Method of Moments (SGMM) were used.
Findings
Results show that both proxies of climate change – temperature and precipitation – have negative impacts on agricultural productivity. Notably, agricultural R&D investments not only increase agricultural productivity but also mitigate the detrimental impact of climate change proxied by temperature on agricultural productivity. Interestingly, climate change proxied by precipitation initially reduces agricultural productivity until a threshold of agricultural R&D beyond which precipitation increases agricultural productivity.
Practical implications
The findings imply useful policies to boost agricultural productivity by using R&D in the context of rising climate change in the vulnerable continent.
Originality/value
This study contributes to the literature in two ways. First, this study examines how climate change affects agricultural productivity in Asian and Pacific countries – those are most vulnerable to climate change. Second, this study assesses the role of R&D in improving agricultural productivity as well as its moderating effect in reducing the harmful impact of climate change on agricultural productivity.
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Drawing on social capital theory, this study aims to explore the effect of corporate social responsibility (CSR) on organizational resilience. The research investigates the…
Abstract
Purpose
Drawing on social capital theory, this study aims to explore the effect of corporate social responsibility (CSR) on organizational resilience. The research investigates the mediating role of relationship quality in the association of CSR with organizational resilience, and the moderating role of data-driven culture in the association between CSR and relationship quality.
Design/methodology/approach
Data were collected from Chinese agricultural firms with a sample of 241 senior or middle executives and structural equation modeling was used to test the research model and hypotheses.
Findings
The results indicate that CSR positively affects the relationship quality between agribusinesses and farmers, which in turn positively affects both proactive resilience and reactive resilience. Relationship quality has a partial mediating role in the association of CSR with proactive resilience and reactive resilience. Data-driven culture has a positive moderating effect on the relationship between CSR and relationship quality.
Originality/value
By arguing for CSR toward organizational resilience and analyzing its underlying mechanism, this study enriches the literature on CSR and organizational resilience and expands the existing knowledge on the roles of relationship quality and data-driven culture. This study also provides practical insights into how to improve organizational resilience.
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Agricultural banks likely respond differently to economic downturns compared to nonagricultural banks. Limited previous research has examined the performance of agricultural banks…
Abstract
Purpose
Agricultural banks likely respond differently to economic downturns compared to nonagricultural banks. Limited previous research has examined the performance of agricultural banks under economic crisis and in the presence of banking regulations. This study aims to explore agricultural banks' responses to economic and regulation shocks relative to nonagricultural banks.
Design/methodology/approach
This study uses bank-quarter level data from 2002 to 2022 for virtually all commercial banks in the U.S. In this research, the Z-score measures the bank’s default risk, the return on assets measures bank profitability and changes in amount of farm loans indicate the wider impact on the agricultural sector. Effects of the financial crisis, Basel III reforms to banking regulation and the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic on these banking measures are assessed using distinct empirical frameworks. The empirical estimations use various subsamples based on bank types, bank sizes and time periods.
Findings
Economic downturns are associated with fluctuations in returns and the risk of default of commercial banks. Agricultural banks appeared to be more resilient to economic downturns than nonagricultural banks. However, Basel III regulated agricultural banks were more likely to fail amidst the pandemic-related economic shocks than the regulated non-agricultural banks.
Originality/value
This study examines the resiliency of agricultural banks during economic downturns and under postfinancial crisis regulation. This is one of the first empirical works to analyze the effectiveness of Basel III regulation across bank types and sizes considering the COVID-19 pandemic. The key finding suggests that banking regulation should consider not only size heterogeneity but also the heterogeneity in lending portfolios.
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Yixin Zhao, Zhonghai Cheng and Yongle Chai
Natural disasters profoundly influence agricultural trade sustainability. This study investigates the effects of natural disasters on agricultural production imports in China…
Abstract
Purpose
Natural disasters profoundly influence agricultural trade sustainability. This study investigates the effects of natural disasters on agricultural production imports in China within 2002 and 2018. This exploration estimates the mediating role of transportation infrastructure and agriculture value-added and the moderating role of government effectiveness and diplomatic relations.
Design/methodology/approach
This investigation uses Probit, Logit, Cloglog and Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) models.
Findings
The results confirm the mediating role of transportation infrastructure and agriculture value-added and the moderating role of government effectiveness and diplomatic relations in China. According to the findings, natural disasters in trading partners heighten the risk to the agricultural imports. This risk raises, if disasters damage overall agricultural yield or transportation infrastructure. Moreover, governments’ effective response or diplomatic ties with China mitigate the risk. Finally, the effect of disasters varies by the developmental status of the country involved, with events in developed nations posing a greater risk to China’s imports than those in developing nations.
Originality/value
China should devise an early warning system to protect its agricultural imports by using advanced technologies such as data analytics, remote sensing and artificial intelligence. In addition, it can leverage this system by improving its collaboration with trading partners, involvement in international forums and agreement for mutual support in crisis.
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The paper intends to show why farms as we know them today may soon be a thing of the past and that organisational behaviour research has an important contribution to make in…
Abstract
Purpose
The paper intends to show why farms as we know them today may soon be a thing of the past and that organisational behaviour research has an important contribution to make in assisting the upcoming transformation.
Design/methodology/approach
Two strains of literature are reviewed and then synthesised: the literature on robots replacing humans in agricultural production and the literature on vertical integration that shifts decisions to agribusiness. Then the potential contribution of organisational behaviour research is outlined.
Findings
It is shown how the farm is likely to lose both roles for which their geographic entity is important: making decisions and carrying out production. This requires contributions from organisational behaviour research in the realms of decision designs and social systems.
Social implications
It can be anticipated that the most profitable strategy for farmland owners in the future will be collaboration with contractors. Farms as organisations, are increasingly losing their importance. This not only has grave social implications for farmworkers and landowners but also for scholars in organisational behaviour research.
Originality/value
The paper challenges an organisational unit that is so familiar to us that it is rarely questioned.
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Nguyen Doanh, Truong Tuan Linh and Thi Tuan Linh Pham
This study uses a comprehensive theoretical framework that combines social cognitive theory and neighborhood effect to investigate the influence of neighborhood effects on…
Abstract
Purpose
This study uses a comprehensive theoretical framework that combines social cognitive theory and neighborhood effect to investigate the influence of neighborhood effects on farmers’ outcome expectations, observational learning and self-efficacy. This study aims is to analyze the mechanisms that underlie the adoption of social media by farmers for knowledge exchange in the agricultural context. Specifically, this research explores the role of neighborhood effects, outcome expectations, observational learning and self-efficacy in shaping farmers’ decision-making process regarding the use of social media platforms for exchanging agricultural knowledge.
Design/methodology/approach
The study data was collected through a sample survey conducted among 570 agricultural households residing in the provinces of Thai Nguyen, Cao Bang, Bac Kan and Phu Tho, located in the northern region of Vietnam. To analyze the data, structural equation modeling was used as the statistical technique of choice.
Findings
The findings of the study indicate a significant influence of neighborhood effects on outcome expectations, observational learning and self-efficacy. These factors, derived from social cognitive theory, also exhibit a positive association with farmers’ adoption of social media for knowledge exchange. Additionally, the study highlights that neighborhood contribute to a favorable adoption of social media among farmers via outcome expectations, observational learning, and self-efficacy.
Research limitations/implications
The study is limited in examining farmers’ social media adoption for agriculture knowledge exchange in Northern mountainous area of Vietnam. This study could be replicated across various regions or nations, providing comparative insights into the adoption of social media among farmers for knowledge exchange.
Practical implications
The study findings suggest practical and innovative means to promote farmers’ social media adoption for agriculture knowledge exchange.
Originality/value
This study presents a pioneering approach by integrating social cognitive theory and neighborhood effect to elucidate the factors influencing farmers’ adoption of social media for the purpose of agriculture knowledge exchange.
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Yingju Zhang, Saimin Liu and Giovanni Baldi
This paper aims to explore the rationale, the process and the outcomes and risks of place branding in rural China.
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to explore the rationale, the process and the outcomes and risks of place branding in rural China.
Design/methodology/approach
An in-depth case study analysis, including interviews, has been conducted.
Findings
Place branding in the case of China is practiced and dominated through administrative entities by using subsidies and regional development programs to coordinate, organize and promote local agricultural resources. Although this government-led place branding has effective effects on rural development, it is unsustainable and unstable because it lacks sufficient market and stakeholder participation.
Research limitations/implications
The effectiveness of place branding in China has been examined and proved.
Practical implications
The government’s role in place branding in China should be adjusted. The government should position itself as a service and auxiliary role. Simultaneously, it should strengthen market-oriented operations and stakeholder participation in place branding.
Originality/value
This paper is one of the first contributions to examine the impact of place branding as a rural development policy tool in China, and the in-depth case study examines and proves the effectiveness of place branding in rural China.
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Qiqi Liu and Tingwu Yan
This paper investigates the ways digital media applications in rural areas have transformed the influence of social networks (SN) on farmers' adoption of various climate change…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper investigates the ways digital media applications in rural areas have transformed the influence of social networks (SN) on farmers' adoption of various climate change mitigation measures (CCMM), and explores the key mechanisms behind this transformation.
Design/methodology/approach
The study analyzes data from 1,002 farmers’ surveys. First, a logit model is used to measure the impact of SN on the adoption of different types of CCMM. Then, the interaction term between digital media usage (DMU) and SN is introduced to analyze the moderating effect of digital media on the impact of SN. Finally, a conditional process model is used to explore the mediating mechanism of agricultural socialization services (ASS) and the validity of information acquisition (VIA).
Findings
The results reveal that: (1) SN significantly promotes the adoption of CCMM and the marginal effect of this impact varies with different kinds of technologies. (2) DMU reinforces the effectiveness of SN in promoting farmers' adoption of CCMM. (3) The key mechanisms of the process in (2) are the ASS and the VIA.
Originality/value
This study shows that in the context of DMU, SN’s promotion effect on farmers' adoption of CCMM is strengthened.
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Soraya González-Mendes, Sara Alonso-Muñoz, Fernando E. García-Muiña and Rocío González-Sánchez
This paper aims to provide an overview of the application of blockchain to agri-food supply chains, including key issues and trends. It examines the state of the art and…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to provide an overview of the application of blockchain to agri-food supply chains, including key issues and trends. It examines the state of the art and conceptual structure of the field and proposes an agenda to guide future research.
Design/methodology/approach
This article performs a bibliometric analysis using VOSviewer software on a sample of 205 articles from the WoS database to identify research trend topics.
Findings
The number of publications in this area has increased since 2020, which shows a growing research interest. The research hotspots are related to the integration of blockchain technology in the agri-food supply chain for traceability, coordination between all actors involved, transparency of operations and improvement of food safety. Furthermore, this is linked to sustainability and the achievement of the sustainable development gtoals (SDGs), while addressing key challenges in the implementation of blockchain-based technologies in the agri-food supply chain.
Practical implications
The application of blockchain in the agri-food supply chain may consider four key aspects. Firstly, the implementation of blockchain can improve the traceability of food products. Secondly, this technology supports sustainability issues and could avoid disruptions in the agri-food supply chain. Third, blockchain improves food quality and safety control throughout the supply chain. Fourthly, the findings show that regulation is needed to improve trust between stakeholders.
Originality/value
The paper provides a comprehensive overview of the blockchain phenomenon in the agri-food supply chain by optimising the search criteria. Moreover, it serves to bridge to future research by identifying gaps in the field.
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