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This paper examines household and community characteristics that influence the entry of rural households into non-farm entrepreneurship and investigates the various factors that influence the market exit of non-farm enterprises (NFEs).

The authors use data from three rounds (2011/12, 2013/14 and 2015/16) of the World Bank’s Living Standards Measurement Study – Integrated Surveys on Agriculture (LSMS-ISA). The authors employ panel logit and multilevel logit models to examine the probability of opening one or more enterprises and the enterprise exit rates.

Results indicate that the likelihood of starting a NFE is positively associated with primary education attainment, access to credit, experiencing idiosyncratic shocks and availability of formal financial institutions. Age, higher education attainment and rising farm input prices constrain entry into non-farm entrepreneurship. The enterprise exit rate is negatively associated with small-town residence, wealth, access to tar/gravel roads and cellphone communication.

Policymakers and administrators should strive to address the challenges that communities face in transportation, communication and financial services. Policies aimed at stabilizing prices and increasing access to mobile communication, primary education and road infrastructure could help expand the rural non-farm sector.

Previous studies primarily examined the determinants of participation in NFEs at a given time using cross-sectional data. The current study uses panel data to study the dynamics of NFE ownership by investigating households’ decisions to enter into or exit from the sector.

The peer review history for this article is available at https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/IJSE-09-2022-0611

A correlation has been shown in the literature between credit constraints and the adoption of agricultural technologies, technical efficiencies and measures for adapting to climate change. The relationship between credit constraints, risk management strategy adoption and income, however, is not well understood. Consequently, the purpose of this study was to investigate how credit constraints affect the income and risk management practices adopted by Northern Nigerian maize farmers.

Cross-sectional data were collected from 300 maize farmers in Northern Nigeria using a multi-stage sampling technique. Descriptive statistics, seemingly unrelated regression and double hurdle regression models were the analysis methods.

The results showed that friends and relatives, banks, “Adashe”, cooperatives and farmer groups were the main sources of credit in the study area. The findings also revealed that the sources of risk in the study area included production risk, economic risk, financial risk, institutional risk, technological risk and human risk. In addition, the risk management strategies used to mitigate observed risks were fertilizer application, insecticides, planting of disease-resistant varieties, use of herbicides, practising mixed cropping, modern planning, use of management tools as well as making bunds and channels. Furthermore, we found that interest rate, farm size, level of education, gender and marital status were significant determinants of statuses of credit constraints while the age of the farmer, gender, household size, primary occupation, access to extension services and income from maize production affected the choice and intensity of adoption of risk management strategies among the farmers.

The study concluded that credit constrained status condition of farmers negatively affected the adoption of some risk management strategies and maize farmers’ income.

The study concluded that credit constrained status condition of farmers negatively affected the adoption of some risk management strategies and maize farmers’ income. It therefore recommends that financial service providers should be engaged to design financial products that are tailored to the needs of smallholder farmers in the study area.

This paper incorporates the role of constraints in influencing farmers’ decisions to uptake credits and subsequently their adoption behaviours on risk management strategies. The researcher approached the topic with a state-of-the-art method which allows for obtaining more reliable results and hence more specific contributions to research and practice.

This study aims to explore the latent potential of alternative-responsible tourism and ecotourism leadership in sustainable tourism and the sustenance of rural communities in Musina Municipality in Limpopo Province, South Africa. It also sought to compare this potential with other African pastoral areas and to integrate it with various rural sites elsewhere abroad.

Narrative literature, document reviews, interviews and focus group discussions were used to garner relevant data and were analyzed through cross-tabulation analysis and manually. On this account, probable climate change-bound environmental consequences, rural, tourism, farming and ecological administration issues came to the forefront.

The examination correlates the potential position of proper ecotourism exercises and responsible tourism as an agreeable path to promote sustainability in rural localities. Subsequently, upon apparent countryside products, ecotourism and farming exercises glimpsed in the study area, environmental degradation poses a conceivable hazard to natural resource governance. Hereafter, it aggravates the possibilities for climate change effects and poor subsistence.

The rich biodiversity in the study area provides platforms for sustainable rural tourism enterprises and addresses any pertinent concerns. Thus, the study has manifested a demand for a creative tourism approach and innovations against environmental change outcomes and to capacitate Musina Municipality residents and probably others elsewhere on the continent to engage in ethical tourism initiatives and sustainable livelihoods.

Progress in agriculture significantly relies on the adoption of innovative farm practices by farmers. Being proactive and risk-taking catalyses this innovativeness. Progressive farmers in general are proving to be effective in developing their farms along entrepreneurial lines. The paper aims to examine the relationship between the entrepreneurial traits of risk-taking, proactiveness, innovativeness and entrepreneurial intention (EI) of progressive farmers in Kashmir.

A quantitative research approach was used to evaluate how innovativeness, risk-taking and proactiveness affect EI. The data was collected from registered progressive farmers using a structured questionnaire via both online and offline means. 203 useable responses were received. The data was then analysed using partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM).

The results reveal that progressive farmers' EI is influenced by innovativeness, risk-taking and proactiveness. As hypothesized, a significant and positive relationship was found between entrepreneurial orientation (EO) traits of risk-taking, proactiveness and innovativeness and EI.

The study adds to the existing body of knowledge on agri-entrepreneurship by conceptualizing EO traits influencing EI of progressive farmers and offering insightful advice to policymakers on how to improve progressive farmers' entrepreneurial abilities and in turn convert their EI into agro venture establishment in Kashmir.

This study makes advancements in the field of farming-related EO by examining the EI of progressive farmers. This study covers a knowledge gap as there aren't many empirical studies on agricultural entrepreneurship that concentrate on the EO of progressive farmers and how it influences the EI in general in India and the Kashmir valley in particular.

Several farm safety net strategies are available to farmers as a source of financial protection against losses due to price instability, government policies, weather fluctuations and global market changes. Producers can employ these strategies combining crop insurance policies with countercyclical policies for several crops and production areas; however, less is known about the efficiency of these strategies in enhancing profit and reducing its variability. In this study, we examine the efficiency of these strategies at minimizing inter crop year farm profit variability.

We utilized relative mean of profit and coefficient of variation, to compare counterfactually calculated farm safety net strategies for a sample of 28,615 observations across 2,486 farms and four dryland crops (corn, soybean, sorghum and wheat) in Kansas spanning nine crop years (2014–2022). A no farm safety net strategy is used as the benchmark for every alternative strategy to ascertain whether a policy customization is statistically different from a no farm safety case.

The general pattern of the results suggests that program combination strategies that have a high-profit enhancement potential necessarily have low profit risk for dryland wheat and sorghum production. On the contrary, such a connection is absent for dryland corn and soybeans production. Low-cost farm safety net strategies that enhance corn and soybeans profits do not necessarily lower profit risks.

This paper is one of the first to use a large sample of actual farm-level observations to evaluate how combinations of safety net programs offered under the Title I (PLC, ARCCO and ARCIC) and XI (FCIP) of the U.S. Farm Bill rank in terms of profit level enhancement and profit risk reduction.

This study investigates how income from non-farm activities affects households' consumption in two land holders' groups: households with insecure land holding and households with secure land holding.

Following an instrumental variable approach, this study analyzes data collected on a nationwide sample of 1,800 households in rural Burkina Faso.

For insecure land holders' group, this study finds that income from non-farm activities has a positive effect on household consumption per capita. Moreover, the share of household food consumption is negatively associated with non-farm income in this group. For secure land holders' group, the results show that non-farm income has only a negative effect on the share of their food consumption.

The study highlights the livelihood sustaining role of non-farm activities for rural households. Unlike previous studies, the results show that non-farm income is particularly important for land tenure insecure households facing risk of losing agricultural income.

The peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/IJSE-05-2023-0423

Despite the abundance of small-scale farms in the USA and their importance for both rural economic development and food availability, the extensive research on small business management and entrepreneurship has mostly neglected the agricultural context, leaving many of these farms' business challenges unexplored. The authors focus on informing a specific decision faced by small farm managers: selling directly to consumers (i.e. farmer's markets) versus selling through aggregators. By collecting historical data and a series of interviews with industry experts, the authors employ simulation methodology to offer a framework that advises how small-scale farmers can allocate their product across these two channels to increase revenue in a given season. The results, which are relevant for operations management, small business management and entrepreneurship literature, can help small-scale farmers improve their performance and compete against their larger counterparts.

The authors rely on historical and interview data from key industry players (an aggregator and a small farm manager) to design a simulation analysis that determines which factors influence season-long farm revenue performance under varying strategies of channel allocation and commodity production.

The model suggests that farm managers should plan to evenly split their production between the two distribution channels, but if an even split is not possible, they should plan to keep a larger percentage in the nonaggregator (farmers' market/direct) channel. Further, the authors find that farmers can benefit significantly from a strong aggregator channel customer base, which suggests that farmers should promote and advertise the aggregator channel even if they only use it for a limited amount of their product.

The authors integrate small business management and operations management literature to study a widely understudied context and present practical implications for the performance of small-scale farms.

Only a small number of studies have analysed the sustainability of the socio-cultural impacts of volunteer tourism (VT). Existing research tends to focus on volunteers, the host communities and organisations, while the interconnectedness between theories (of capitals) and concepts (i.e. empowerment and sustainability) have received minimal attention. Sustainability is considered both an effect of empowerment and a means for achieving it. Drawing on the perspectives and theoretical concepts related to multiple forms of capital, this paper aims to take an interpretive stance to examine socio-cultural impacts.

This research draws on 37 semi-structured interviews conducted with stakeholders on the perceived socio-cultural impacts of VT on two farm communities in Vietnam. A qualitative thematic coding analysis was used to identify themes that explain the perceptions of the stakeholders within the host communities.

The findings of this study were divided into the nine themes of educational effects, job opportunities, cultural exchanges, relationships, health, awareness of environmental conservation, physical changes, promoting local products and tourism and community resource development. The research provides additional insights into the interconnectedness between different types of capital, empowerment and sustainability of socio-cultural impacts.

VT organisations should provide more opportunities for local residents to become involved in decision-making regarding volunteer activities and to share their voices and concerns about how the VT programmes are set up. The government could provide support services or training and skills to locals after the volunteers leave, which would be significant in developing and maintaining the sustainability of impacts on host communities.

This research creates a model for connecting capital to sustainability and empowerment to study the socio-cultural impacts of VT.

只有少数研究分析了志愿旅游（VT）社会文化影响的可持续性。现有的研究往往集中在志工、所在社区和组织上, 而理论（资本）和概念（即赋权、永续性）之间的相互联系很少受到关注。永续发展既被认为是赋权的效益, 也是实现赋权的一种手段。研究借鉴与多种资本形式相关的观点和理论概念, 并采取说明式立场来检视社会文化影响。

本研究借鉴了与利害关系人进行的 37份半结构化访谈, 了解 VT 对越南两个农场社区的社会文化影响。使用定性主题编码分析来确定能够解释主办社区内利害关系人看法的主题.

结果分为教育效果、就业机会、文化交流、人际关系、健康、环境保护意识、身体变化、推广当地产品和旅游业以及社区资源开发九个主题。该研究为不同类型的资本、赋权和社会文化影响的可持续性之间的相互联系提供了更多见解。

旅游志工组织应为当地居民提供更多机会参与志工活动的决策, 并分享他们对VT计画如何设立的意见与担忧。政府可以在志工离开后向当地人提供支持服务或培训和技能, 这对于发展和维持对东道社区影响的可持续性具有重要意义。

这项研究创建了一个将首都与永续发展和赋权联系起来的模型, 以研究 VT 的社会文化影响。

Sólo un pequeño número de estudios han analizado la sostenibilidad de los impactos socioculturales del turismo de voluntariado (VT). Las investigaciones existentes tienden a centrarse en los voluntarios, las comunidades de acogida y las organizaciones, mientras que la interconexión entre las teorías (de los capitales) y los conceptos (es decir, empoderamiento, sostenibilidad) han recibido una atención mínima. La sostenibilidad se considera tanto un efecto del empoderamiento como un medio para lograrlo. Basándose en las perspectivas y conceptos teóricos relacionados con múltiples formas de capital, la investigación adopta una postura interpretativa para examinar los impactos socioculturales.

Esta investigación se basa en 37 entrevistas semiestructuradas realizadas con partes interesadas sobre los impactos socioculturales percibidos de VT en dos comunidades agrícolas en Vietnam. Se utilizó un análisis de codificación temática cualitativa para identificar temas que explican las percepciones de las partes interesadas dentro de las comunidades anfitrionas.

Los hallazgos de este estudio se dividieron en nueve temas de efectos educativos, oportunidades laborales, intercambios culturales, relaciones, salud, conciencia de la conservación ambiental, cambios físicos, promoción de productos locales y turismo, y desarrollo de recursos comunitarios. La investigación proporciona información adicional sobre la interconexión entre diferentes tipos de capital, el empoderamiento y la sostenibilidad de los impactos socioculturales.

Las organizaciones de turismo de voluntariado deberían brindar más oportunidades para que los residentes locales se involucren en la toma de decisiones relativas a las actividades de voluntariado y compartan sus voces e inquietudes sobre cómo se establecen los programas de VT. El gobierno podría brindar servicios de apoyo o capacitación y habilidades a los locales después de que los voluntarios se vayan, lo que sería importante para desarrollar y mantener la sostenibilidad de los impactos en las comunidades anfitrionas.

Esta investigación crea un modelo para conectar las capitales con la sostenibilidad y el empoderamiento con el fin de estudiar los impactos socioculturales de VT.

The purpose of this paper is to present an oligopolistic version of the cobweb model that departs from the strict assumptions of perfect competition in the traditional cobweb model.

Introducing a model where n identical producers engage in Cournot competition, with output decisions influencing market prices. The paper retains the original assumptions of naive expectations and a linear model where price expectations of Cournot competitors are made simultaneously with production decisions. The investigation focuses on the model's behavior as the number of producers decreases or industry concentration increases. The authors also show empirical evidence when drawing the data from the pig sector in China and the USA.

The findings indicate that the cobweb model undergoes a transition from divergent to continuous and even convergent as the number of producers decreases or industry concentration increases. The incorporation of costs related to entry and exit from the market contributes to achieving a more stable equilibrium state.

The cobweb model has been primarily studied in an idealized market structure of perfect competition, and the assumptions that they share are not obviously appropriate to many agriculture markets. This study presents an alternative version of the cobweb model in an oligopolistic market that relaxes the strict assumptions of perfect competition. The authors show the dynamics of reduced competitor numbers or increased industry concentration on the convergence of the cobweb model based on subtle variations in parameters.

The disconnect between producers and consumers is a fundamental issue causing irregularities, inefficiencies and leakages in the agricultural sector, leading to detrimental impacts on all stakeholders, particularly farmers. Despite the potential benefits of Metaverse technology, including enhanced virtual representations of physical reality and more efficient and sustainable crop and livestock management, research on its impact in agriculture remains scarce. This study aims to address this gap by identifying the critical success factors (CSFs) for adopting Metaverse technology in agriculture, thereby paving the way for further exploration and implementation of innovative technologies in the agricultural sector.

The research employed integrated methodology to identify and prioritise critical success criteria for Metaverse adoption in the agricultural sector. By adopting a mixed-method technique, the study identified a total of 15 CSFs through a literature survey and expert consultation, focusing on agricultural and technological professionals and categorising them into three categories, namely “Technological”, “User Experience” and “Intrinsic” using Kappa statistics. Further, the study uses grey systems theory and the Ordinal Priority Approach to prioritise the CSFs based on their weights.

The study identifies 15 CSFs essential for adopting Metaverse technology in the agricultural sector. These factors are categorised into Technological, User Experience-related and Intrinsic. The findings reveal that the most important CSFs for Metaverse adoption include market accessibility, monetisation support and integration with existing systems and processes.

Identifying CSFs is essential for successful implementation as a business strategy, and it requires a collaborative effort from all stakeholders in the agriculture sector. The study identifies and prioritises CSFs for Metaverse adoption in the agricultural sector. Therefore, this study would be helpful to practitioners in Metaverse adoption decision-making through a prioritised list of CSFs in the agricultural sector.

The study contributes to the theory by integrating two established theories to identify critical factors for sustainable agriculture through Metaverse adoption. It enriches existing literature with empirical evidence specific to agriculture, particularly in emerging economies and reveals three key factor categories: technological, user experience-related and intrinsic. These categories provide a foundational lens for exploring the impact, relevance and integration of emerging technologies in the agricultural sector. The findings of this research can help policymakers, farmers and technology providers encourage adopting Metaverse technology in agriculture, ultimately contributing to the development of environment-friendly agriculture practices.