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21 – 30 of over 1000E. Omuru and R. Kingwell
To illustrate problems a developing country faces in generating and managing agricultural R&D funds and to portray some practical solutions to these problems.
Abstract
Purpose
To illustrate problems a developing country faces in generating and managing agricultural R&D funds and to portray some practical solutions to these problems.
Design/methodology/approach
A case study of cocoa and coconut R&D in Papua New Guinea is used to illustrate the problems and solutions associated with funding and managing agricultural R&D in a developing country context.
Findings
Several problems associated with donor funding, unreliability of funding and corruption are outlined. Solutions to these problems include fund diversification, commercial activity by the R&D provider to generate their own source of R&D funds, changes to national legislation to provide greater security of national funding for agricultural R&D and introduction of some performance‐based incentives for scientists.
Research limitations/implications
Being a case study limits the ease of generalizing its findings.
Practical implications
The issues of generating R&D funds and their governance are widespread problems in developing countries. This study shows some practical solutions to these problems.
Originality/value
This paper offers some practical solutions and insights about improved management of agricultural R&D funds in a developing country. Its findings have possible relevance for many other developing countries.
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Bismark Amfo, Adinan Bahahudeen Shafiwu and Mohammed Tanko
The authors investigated cocoa farmers' access to subsidized fertilizer in Ghana and implications on productivity.
Abstract
Purpose
The authors investigated cocoa farmers' access to subsidized fertilizer in Ghana and implications on productivity.
Design/methodology/approach
Primary data were sourced from 435 cocoa farmers. Cragg hurdle and two-step Tobit model with continuous endogenous regressors/covariates were applied for the drivers of cocoa farmers' participation in fertilizer subsidy programme and productivity. Propensity score matching (PSM), inverse-probability weights (IPW) and augmented inverse-probability weights (AIPW) were applied for productivity impact assessment of fertilizer subsidy.
Findings
All the farmers were aware of fertilizer subsidy for cocoa production in Ghana. Farmers became aware of fertilizer subsidy through extension officers, media and other farmers. Half of cocoa farmers benefitted from fertilizer subsidy. Averagely, cocoa farmers purchased 292 kg of subsidized fertilizer. Many socio-economic, farm-level characteristics and institutional factors determine cocoa farmers' participation in fertilizer subsidy programme, quantity of subsidized fertilizer obtained and productivity. Beneficiaries of fertilizer subsidy recorded higher cocoa productivity than non-beneficiaries. Hence, fertilizer subsidy for cocoa production in Ghana leads to a gain in productivity.
Practical implications
There should be more investments in fertilizer subsidy so that all cocoa farmers benefit and obtain the required quantities.
Originality/value
The authors provide new evidence on cocoa productivity gain or loss emanating from fertilizer subsidy by combining different impact assessment techniques for deeper analysis: PSM, IPW and AIPW.
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Kenneth Ofori-Boateng and Baba Insah
– The study aimed at examining the current and future impact of climate change on cocoa production in West Africa.
Abstract
Purpose
The study aimed at examining the current and future impact of climate change on cocoa production in West Africa.
Design/methodology/approach
A translog production function based on crop yield response framework was used. A panel model was estimated using data drawn from cocoa-producing countries in West Africa. An in-sample simulation was used to determine the predictive power of the model. In addition, an out-sample simulation revealed the effect of future trends of temperature and precipitation on cocoa output.
Findings
Temperature and precipitation play a considerable role in cocoa production in West Africa. It was established that extreme temperature adversely affected cocoa output in the sub-region. Furthermore, increasing temperature and declining precipitation trends will reduce cocoa output in the future.
Practical implications
An important implication of this study is the recognition that lagging effects are the determinants of cocoa output and not coincident effects. This finds support from the agronomic point of view considering the gestation period of the cocoa crop.
Originality/value
Although several studies have been carried out in this area, this study modeled and estimated the interacting effects of factors that influence cocoa production. This is closer to reality, as climatic factors and agricultural inputs combine to yield output.
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Verónica León Bravo, Mariuxy Jaramillo Villacrés and Minelle E. Silva
To understand the context surrounding the sustainable supplier management (SSM) process (i.e. selection, development and evaluation), this paper aims to explore institutional…
Abstract
Purpose
To understand the context surrounding the sustainable supplier management (SSM) process (i.e. selection, development and evaluation), this paper aims to explore institutional logics existing in the Ecuadorian cocoa supply chain (SC). By considering local characteristics and sustainability practices, this study illustrates how competing logic influences SSM.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper uses a multiple-case study method for which the authors interviewed different cocoa SC members in Ecuador and used a ground-up approach to analyse the data and reveal singularities influencing sustainability management.
Findings
The analysis uncovered two main logics operating within the Ecuadorian cocoa SC SSM process: a commercial logic (e.g. potential for market access, product traceability) and a sustainability logic (e.g. local development and traditions/cultural issues). These logics address market demand requirements; however, some local producers’ needs that impact SSM remains unexplored such as the existence of a regional ancestral culture that poses sustainability as a dominant logic with meaning beyond the triple bottom line. While the two logics have influenced supplier sustainability performance, this paper finds that, of the three SSM sub-processes (selection, development and evaluation), supplier development was the most relevant sub-process receiving attention from SC managers in the studied context.
Practical implications
By understanding the differences in logic and needs, SC managers can better develop strategies for SSM.
Originality/value
The study highlighted in this paper investigated the underexplored topic of the effects that competing logic may have on SSM. This paper focusses on the supplier’s point of view regarding sustainability requirements, addressing a consistent research gap in the literature.
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The price bump comes amid a push by Ghana and Ivory Coast, the world's two largest producers, for cocoa buyers to pay a Living Income Differential (LID) of USD400 per metric…
Details
DOI: 10.1108/OXAN-DB257022
ISSN: 2633-304X
Keywords
Geographic
Topical
The purpose of this paper is to examine the significance of the direct and indirect effects (through country and firm’s specific advantages) of government policies for export…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to examine the significance of the direct and indirect effects (through country and firm’s specific advantages) of government policies for export promotion (GPEP) on the export performance of small and medium-size enterprise (SME) Cocoa exporters in Cameroon.
Design/methodology/approach
To test the proposed model, data were obtained through self-administered questionnaires using snowball sampling technique to 101 SME Cocoa exporters. This was analyzed using structural equation modeling (SEM) techniques to examine both the direct and indirect effects of GPEP on the export performance of SME Cocoa exporters in the South and Centre Regions of Cameroon.
Findings
The findings suggest that GPEP had both direct and indirect effects on the export performance of SME Cocoa exporters. Direct effect was on the usage of GPEP which reduces operating cost and increase performance. The indirect effects were through the provision of country and firms specific advantages. However, the only significant path was through the provision of export marketing information.
Research limitations/implications
The research is limited to one country, one sector, and two regions and does not take into consideration other factors that may influence the effect of GPEP, country, and firms specific advantages on export performance. Moreover, the non-significant paths should be interpreted with caution and further testing required in a different context.
Practical implications
Empirical findings are relevant for the government and SME Cocoa exporters. It informs the government about the effectiveness of GPEP and the need to disseminate marketing information using every possible medium best understood by the SMEs. It suggests an opportunity for engagement of both SMEs and government authorities in accessing the outcome of GPEP which will increase transparency, awareness, usage, and export performance.
Originality/value
The research has successfully developed and tested a model for analyzing the direct and indirect effects of GPEP on export performance based on the resource-based view and SEM in a context where there is a call for more empirical and theoretical work on export performance due to limited studies. The framework reveals positive effects of GPEP, country, and firms’ specific advantages as determinants of export performance.
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Compares marketing approaches in 12 countries for wheat, coffee, cocoa, citrus and bananas, in some major product countries. Looks at Australia for wheat marketing along with…
Abstract
Compares marketing approaches in 12 countries for wheat, coffee, cocoa, citrus and bananas, in some major product countries. Looks at Australia for wheat marketing along with Canada and the USA; coffee marketing is covered by Kenya, Uganda and Brazil; cocoa marketing is covered by Ghana, Nigeria and Brazil; citrus marketing involves Israel, South Africa and the USA; bananas are covered by Jamaica and Brazil. Explores all of these in depth and discusses them with breakdowns of figures.
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The Food Hygiene (General) Regulations, 1970, when they first appeared, seem to have attracted more notice in the daily press than in the specialist journals, although, while…
Abstract
The Food Hygiene (General) Regulations, 1970, when they first appeared, seem to have attracted more notice in the daily press than in the specialist journals, although, while re‐enacting much that was in the 1960 regulations, which they repeal, the new measures break new and important ground, as well as introducing a number of amending provisions, which experience has shown were needed. We tend to associate hygiene needs of food and drink with the thronging streets of the city and town, the hidden backrooms of restaurants, the bustling market and the mobile food van, which, in this motorized age, has ousted the bawling backstreet hucksterer.
Christoph Dörrenbächer, Matthias Tomenendal, Anna-Luisa Grebe and Julia Thielemann
This chapter critically discusses the many positive aspects that are ascribed to gazelle firms by exploring the external effects and dark sides of high firm growth. On the…
Abstract
This chapter critically discusses the many positive aspects that are ascribed to gazelle firms by exploring the external effects and dark sides of high firm growth. On the background of the more general debate on purpose versus profit as a firm’s mission, the chapter theoretically elaborates on the dichotomy between quantitative and qualitative growth of gazelles. This is followed by a case-based illustration and exploration as to how quantitative and qualitative growth interrelates in gazelles and what are impediments for high growth that is purpose driven. The chapter closes with a discussion of the Janus-faced nature of gazelles and how their corporate citizenship can be enhanced.
Details
Keywords
Countries in Central America and the Andean region are looking to expand their production of high quality cacao and cocoa.