Total Factor Productivity Decomposition for Cotton
Growers in the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS): 1961-2005
-- Ajetomobi Joshua Olusegun
This study investigates the Total Factor Productivity (TFP) growth in the Economic Community of
West African States (ECOWAS) cotton and its decomposition to efficiency change and technological
progress from 1961-2005, using the stochastic production frontier approach. Calculations are based on panel
data of major cotton producers in the region collected from the Food and Agriculture Organization
Statistics (FAOSTAT) database, and the international cotton advisory committee database. The data includes
cotton output and six input variables comprising land area, labor, seed, capital, time trend and country
fixed effects. The 45-year period is divided into two subperiods—1961-1978 and 1979-2005, in order to
study the effects of ECOWAS reforms on productivity growth of the crop. The results show that there is
potential for efficiency improvements in cotton production in ECOWAS, and the average technical efficiency
score for the region is 0.91. The most technically efficient country is Burkina Faso, noted for sustainable
cotton support system. A closer look at the TFP in the ECOWAS and pre-ECOWAS subperiods shows larger
TFP in the ECOWAS period (1979-2005). In both the pre-ECOWAS and ECOWAS periods, productivity
growth in cotton is sustained through technological progress rather than through more efficient use of inputs.
© 2009 IUP. All Rights Reserved
Role of Crop Diversification in Output Growth in India: A State-Level Analysis
-- Pradeep Kumar Mehta
Diversification, as one of the major tools of policy, drew widespread attention in India in the recent
past in the face of stagnant growth, incomplete agricultural transformation and low productivity. There
are four dimensions of diversification—number of crops, spread of cropping pattern, proportion of high
value crop in the cropping pattern and shift in cropping pattern mix. This paper examines the link
between different dimensions of diversification
and the growth of output in India, in the last three decades.
The results show that there is great heterogeneity, in terms of typology of diversification within the states,
with no clear-cut link of one type of diversification with income and risk pattern. The temporal picture
shows that the role of crop diversification (change in crop mix) in the output growth is increasing in India,
over time. However, the results suggest that diversification towards high value per se is not sufficient
for increasing growth. It is also important that these high value crops remain remunerative over the
period of time, through proper technological and market development, otherwise the gains from
diversification will be meagre.
© 2009 IUP. All Rights Reserved.
Rural Employment Diversification
in Punjab: Exploring Some Linkages
-- Sandeep Kaur and Parmjit Nanda
Industries play a crucial role in the process of economic development as they change the
sectoral composition of output and employment. Diversification of rural economy, not only in terms of output,
but also in terms of employment, is thus essential for the sustainability and development of
the rural economy of Punjab. Considering this, the paper seeks to examine the various factors affecting
non-agricultural employment. The study reveals that there is a rise in the proportion of rural non-agricultural
workers within the total rural workers in the different districts of Punjab. There are wide inter-district
variations in terms of population served per commercial bank and literacy rate affecting rural
non-agricultural employment. During the study period, literacy rate turned out to be the most
significant variable affecting inter-district variations. In rural non-agricultural employment, districts like
Amritsar, Faridkot and Kapurthala have now limited capacity in the agricultural sector. Therefore, these
districts should shift from the agricultural to the non-agricultural sector. As the shift of
the rural workers to rural non-agricultural sector was largely due to push factors, the rural non-agricultural sector in Punjab
has to develop in such a way that it can generate strong pull factors. The activities in the rural
non-agricultural sector must focus on the level of per capita income of the state as well as on the
aspirations of the unemployed rural, especially the educated youth. Only then,
the rural non-agricultural sector, including the rural industrial sector, would be able to employ non-agricultural labor.
© 2009 IUP. All Rights Reserved.
Urban Agriculture: Factors Affecting
the Decision to Grow Vegetables
in Tamale Metropolis
-- Seidu Al-Hassan
The study utilizes cross-sectional data obtained from 196 urban agriculturalists (136
vegetable farmers and 56 non-vegetable farmers) to examine the factors that determine the cultivation
of vegetables in the Tamale Metropolitan Assembly of the
northern region of Ghana. The results indicate that vegetable production in the study area is influenced by
different factors such as extension service, the use of inorganic fertilizer (manure) and
the availability of farm land. Existing extension
agents should be trained in modern vegetable production techniques, who
should, in turn, train the vegetable farmers. The emphasis should be on quality seed production, seed
variety, diversification and quality control. Also, the extension service delivery should be directed towards efficient application
of manure. This can be achieved by encouraging vegetable farmers to form cooperatives in order to
have a better network with livestock producer associations. Another recommendation is that policy
makers should consider providing large and suitable irrigable
lands for vegetable production.
© 2009 IUP. All Rights Reserved.
Expenditure Patterns on Foodservice
in Malaysia
-- Tey Yeong Sheng,
Mad Nasir Shamsudin,
Zainalabidin Mohamed,
Amin Mahir Abdullah
and Alias Radam
Rapid changes have occurred in the way food is
prepared and cooked, and in the places where it is consumed.
Foodservice has become increasingly important in the composition of the food account
among Malaysians. The objective of this study is to analyze
consumers' expenditure pattern on foodservice in Malaysia. Several functional forms and a Heckman two-step
methodology, to account for censored-response
bias, are employed in the analysis of the Household Expenditure Survey
2004-2005 data. Regardless of functional forms, the empirical estimates of income elasticity of demand for foodservice are
significantly bigger than income elasticity of demand for food at home. This study shows positive prospect for
foodservice industry in Malaysia, where an increase in income has the propensity to lead to an increase in
expenditure (demand) on foodservice.
© 2009 IUP. All Rights Reserved.
