Research Article-en
Agricultural Economics
R.Y. Abdulsalam; M. N. Shamsudin; A. H. I. Abdul Hadi
Abstract
Motivated by Nigeria’s persistent pursuit of rice self-sufficiency, this paper projects the country's future rice self-sufficiency levels. These projections could guide policy decisions in areas of the rice market that show potential for growth, aiding in the achievement of Nigeria's goal through ...
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Motivated by Nigeria’s persistent pursuit of rice self-sufficiency, this paper projects the country's future rice self-sufficiency levels. These projections could guide policy decisions in areas of the rice market that show potential for growth, aiding in the achievement of Nigeria's goal through improved planning strategies. Using time series data covering the period from 1980 to 2018, this study adopted an econometric technique to model Nigeria's rice market which was estimated using a dynamic Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) approach. The results revealed that paddy producer price elasticity was 0.206 and had no influence on paddy area harvested. On the other hand, the national policy of rice credit guarantee scheme variable displayed a positive relationship with paddy area harvested. Lagged yield and lagged area harvested had positive influences on yield and area harvested, respectively. This could mean that paddy producers were motivated by previous year’s yield levels and area harvested. The demand own-price elasticity of rice was -0.321 and its cross-price elasticity was 0.193, with wheat revealed to be a substitute. The obtained elasticities were then used to make a ten-year projection. Results suggested that by 2028, increasing rice production relative to dwindling imports will boost rice self-sufficiency level to 71%. However, the average yearly rice self-sufficiency level was 53%, requiring 3.85 million Mt of rice imports. The projections revealed that Nigeria will not achieve rice self-sufficiency by 2028 unless intensive yield enhancing policy-supporting efforts are pursued.
Research Article-en
Agricultural Economics
Mahkameh Khavamoshi Yazdi; A. Karbasi
Abstract
This research was conducted to investigate the motivations and attitudes of consumers to choose chocolate and their effects on purchase intention. For this purpose, the effects of health variables, mood, weight control, chocoholism, sensory, packing, price, and brand trust on the purchase intention of ...
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This research was conducted to investigate the motivations and attitudes of consumers to choose chocolate and their effects on purchase intention. For this purpose, the effects of health variables, mood, weight control, chocoholism, sensory, packing, price, and brand trust on the purchase intention of chocolate have been investigated using the structural equation model. The results of this research indicate that only the variable of mood has a positive and significant effect on chocoholism. Additionally, the variables of brand trust, packaging, and price have a positive, direct, and significant impact on the intention to purchase chocolate. Mood and packaging stood out with a notable difference, indicating that these two factors are especially important from the consumer’s perspective. Furthermore, attractive packaging has the ability to attract the attention of consumers and convey important information about the product, including taste, ingredients, and nutritional value. Also, most consumers buy chocolate products from their trusted brands, so in this case, famous and reliable brands usually have an advantage, price sensitivity is different in consumer groups. These factors are often interrelated and their importance may vary depending on individual preferences, demographics, and market trends.
Research Article-en
Agricultural Economics
S. Nikan; G. Dashti; J. Hosseinzad; M. Ghahremanzadeh
Abstract
Rice is a crucial agricultural product, and enhancing its productivity is essential for increasing production. This study aims to analyze the total factor productivity growth of rice production in Iran from 2000 to 2020. Using parametric (stochastic frontier analysis) approaches, the research evaluated ...
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Rice is a crucial agricultural product, and enhancing its productivity is essential for increasing production. This study aims to analyze the total factor productivity growth of rice production in Iran from 2000 to 2020. Using parametric (stochastic frontier analysis) approaches, the research evaluated the rice productivity growth and its components, including scale and technological changes. Based on the estimated Translog Cost Function, the annual total factor productivity growth was 2.1%, with positive technological change as the primary driver of these improvements. To further enhance productivity, the study recommends utilizing improved seeds, modern machinery, fertilizers, and nutritional solutions during rice cultivation. Additionally, the research suggests the application of parametric approaches in future studies to assess the impact of technological changes on crop yields.
Research Article-en
Agricultural Economics
M. Majidian; A. Dourandish
Abstract
Exporting agricultural products is considered as one of the strategies for developing non-oil exports and achieving sustainable economic growth in developing countries. Saffron, as an export commodity, holds particular significance in Iran's non-oil exports. Given Iran's position among the top four saffron-exporting ...
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Exporting agricultural products is considered as one of the strategies for developing non-oil exports and achieving sustainable economic growth in developing countries. Saffron, as an export commodity, holds particular significance in Iran's non-oil exports. Given Iran's position among the top four saffron-exporting countries globally, this study aims to prioritize Iran's saffron target markets based on market competition indices and calculate its relative advantage and export stability index in the world market and Iran's export target countries. Comparison of the global market structure of the product during 2003 to 2022 revealed that despite the significant shares of Iran, Spain, England, and Nigeria in most years, the market structure has been characterized by a multi-sided monopoly, open and closed, and in some years dominated by oligopoly, indicating an increase in the number of competitors and the competitiveness of the export market for this product. Iran, with an average share of 13.6% in the saffron export market and producing over 80% of saffron, does not have a direct share in global exports, and most of Iran's saffron is exported to countries such as the UAE, Spain, China, and Oman, and then re-exported to other countries, for which strategies such as market expansion and branding need to be prioritized. The results showed that in 2022, four countries, Nigeria, Sri Lanka, Iran, and Spain, accounted for 93% of the total world exports, and Iran ranked second in terms of export volume in the saffron export market during the study period. Also, Iran had an export stability index of less than one (0.96) but the trend of this index indicates a decrease in Iran's stability. The results showed that the majority of Iran's saffron exports are concentrated in only four countries, with the composition of these countries varying over time. To enhance market stability and growth, it is crucial to expand the target export markets. Prioritization should be given to China, UAE, Spain, India, USA, Germany, France, Italy, Sweden, and Kuwait, with average priority ranks of 4.15, 6.85, 7.7, 7.95, 8.9, 12.3, 14.35, 15.25, 15.5, and 16.45 respectively. Furthermore, the results indicated that the export market for saffron is oligopolistic. Therefore, it is essential for all exporting countries to collaborate in determining the price and market share for each country. This collaborative approach can help in stabilizing the market, ensuring fair pricing, and promoting sustainable growth in the saffron industry.
Research Article-en
Agricultural Economics
H. Naruei; M. Ahmadpour Borazjani; M. Salarpour; A. Keikha; R. Esfanjari Kenari
Abstract
The negative and destructive impact of climate change on the efficiency and productivity of agricultural inputs has been demonstrated in many regions of the world, particularly in arid and semi-arid areas. In this context, the adoption of innovative strategies to increase farmers' flexibility and adaptability ...
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The negative and destructive impact of climate change on the efficiency and productivity of agricultural inputs has been demonstrated in many regions of the world, particularly in arid and semi-arid areas. In this context, the adoption of innovative strategies to increase farmers' flexibility and adaptability to climate change has increased. Hence, understanding the impact of climate adaptation strategies on agricultural efficiency and yields is crucial. This study examined the effects of climate change adaptation strategies, input utilization, and external factors beyond farmers' control on technical efficiency using the Endogenous Modified Stochastic Frontier (EMSF) model. Data were collected from 265 questionnaires distributed among wheat farmers during the 2022-2023 cultivation period, using a stratified random sampling approach. The climate adaptation strategy index was formulated using the Principal Component Analysis (PCA) technique. The PCA revealed that changes in farm size (0.812), adaptation of conservation tillage (0.797), and adjustments in planting dates (0.619) were the most influential factors. Conversely, rainwater harvesting (0.219) and biofertilizer application (0.327) emerged as the adaptation strategies with the lowest factor loadings among farmers. In this study, the average technical efficiency of wheat farmers was calculated to be 82%. The model estimation results showed that labor input, chemical pesticides, chemical fertilizers, water, and machinery significantly and positively contribute to wheat production efficiency. Additionally, the implementation of climate adaptation strategies by farmers reduces technical inefficiency. Variables such as education level, farming experience, access to climate information, and access to credit also effectively reduce technical inefficiency.
Research Article-en
Agricultural Economics
A. Pashabadi; Sh. Geravandi
Abstract
Urban agriculture promotes sustainable development and fosters societal participation, including the rehabilitation of various groups, such as inmates. Therefore, this research aimed to analyze the effectiveness of prison-farm rehabilitation programs in Dizel Abad Prison in Iran. The research population ...
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Urban agriculture promotes sustainable development and fosters societal participation, including the rehabilitation of various groups, such as inmates. Therefore, this research aimed to analyze the effectiveness of prison-farm rehabilitation programs in Dizel Abad Prison in Iran. The research population consisted of two groups: one with 130 inmates, of whom 97 were selected and studied through systematic sampling via Cochran's formula, and the second group included 14 managers, offenders, and prison experts interviewed through a census. The data collection instrument was a researcher-developed questionnaire based on the Kirkpatrick evaluation model. The reliability of the questionnaire was confirmed using Cronbach's alpha coefficient, while its face and content validity were validated by a panel of experts. The findings at the first level of evaluation (i.e., reaction) showed that, with a confidence interval of 99%, the inmates were satisfied with participating in the urban agriculture training course. At the second level (i.e. learning), results indicated a significant increase in the inmates’ knowledge, with a statistically significant difference between their pre- and post-test scores (p<0.01). At the third level (i.e., behavior), the findings suggested that urban agriculture in prisons could lead to significant behavioral changes in inmates, with 95% confidence. At the fourth level of evaluation (i.e., results), the findings showed that although the urban agriculture training course in Dizel Abad Prison caused moderate changes in the inmates, the difference in pre-and-post-test scores was not statistically significant. Overall, the findings demonstrated that the urban agriculture training course in Dizel Abad Prison could bring about changes in inmates’ behavior, knowledge, and attitude. These findings support the potential of prison-farm programs within urban agriculture initiatives as viable methods for rehabilitation.