Effect of the southern Africa development community (excluding southern African customs union) agreement on south African exports and imports of wood and wood products

The aim of the study was to analyse the effect of the Southern Africa Development Community agree-ment (SADC) (excluding Southern African Customs Union (SACU)) on South African wood and the wood products trade, using the gravity model. The study used panel data from 1996 to 2016. The results showed that the SADC (excluding SACU) agreement positively impacts the exports of wood and wood products. However, on imports, there is insufficient evidence to indicate that the SADC (excluding SACU) agreement has a statistically significant positive effect on South African wood and wood products. The SADC (excluding SACU) is an important market for South African wood exports and wood products exports. Therefore, maintaining or improving trade facilitation measures could further benefit South Africa’s ex-ports of wood and wood products

Determinants of market choice among agricultural cooperatives in South Africa

The potential of agricultural cooperatives to foster socioeconomic development is a critical issue in developing countries. This study examines the factors that influence market choice among South African agricultural cooperatives. Data for 381 agricultural cooperatives were collected from the Cooperative Data Analysis System, drawn from the original database of 3,197 cases from 2017. Cases with missing observations were omitted. A multivariate approach utilising principal component analysis and K-means clustering was employed to identify the typologies of market choices. Multinomial logistic regression was then applied to determine the factors influencing agricultural cooperatives’ choice of market typologies. The study reveals that the financial and social efficiency of agricultural cooperatives, the age of the institution, the square of the age of the institution, ownership of livestock, cooperative size, and credit access all influence market typology selection. Training programs such as those in financial management, corporate governance, accounting and bookkeeping, management committees, and the number of managers in cooperatives also impact cooperatives’ market choice. The findings of this study should facilitate the design of policies that cater to cooperatives encountering diverse market choices. By influencing the choices of agricultural cooperatives, stakeholders can contribute to more meaningful cooperative involvement in markets

Econometric estimation of the relationship between the unemployment rate and economic growth in Limpopo province, South Africa

This study aims to empirically estimate the relationship between economic growth and the unemployment rate in the Limpopo Province of South Africa. The analysis used quarterly data covering the 2008–2018 period, which was obtained from Statistics South Africa. For data analysis, the study employed the difference model, the dynamic model and the Granger causality test to consider the potential short term and long term relationships. Based on the difference model estimation, the Okun’s coefficient was determined to be -0.22. The Granger causality test showed that a causal relationship between these two variables does not exist, which means that a change in the growth rate of the real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) does not cause a change in the rate of unemployment and vice-versa. The impossibility of applying Okun’s law indicates that a cyclical recovery will not be accompanied by a decrease in unemployment. Furthermore, this might reflect the sizable structural and/or frictional component of unemployment in the Limpopo Province. Lastly, South Africa’s economic policies have not been suitable for fostering development that can reduce unemployment and this could be due to an improper structure of the public and private sectors

The response of Zimbabwe tobacco exports to real exchange rates volatility: 1980–2019

The focus of this study was on investigating the response of tobacco exports to real exchange rates and real exchange rate volatility and other factors in Zimbabwe using secondary data spanning from 1980 to 2019. Bilateral nominal exchange rates and time-variant weights of Zimbabwe’s 10 major trading partners were calculated and used to compute the real exchange rate index. The time-dependent weighting system was used to better represent the evolution of trade patterns in the index. The arithmetic method was employed for computing the index. Generalized autoregressive conditional heteroskedasticity (GARCH) and autoregressive conditional heteroscedasticity (ARCH) models were used to generate the real exchange rate volatility index. The export response function was adopted as the tobacco exports response model. The variables in the tobacco exports response model were the realworld Gross Domestic Product (GDP), real exchange rate, terms of trade, real exchange rate volatility and dollarization. A vector error correction model (VECM) was used to estimate the response of tobacco exports to real exchange rate, real exchange rate volatility and other factors. The VECM results indicated that real world GDP was insignificant in both the short and long run. In the long run, the real exchange rate appreciation had a negative impact on tobacco exports. Conversely, in the short run, the depreciation of real exchange rate had a positive impact on tobacco exports. Hence, the government has to adopt other mechanisms that reduce uncertain movements of exchange rates

Evaluating the Impacts of Projected Yield Changes on India’s Wheat and Rice Markets

This report evaluates how yield changes induced by volatile weather trends can impact India’s production, prices, and trade of wheat and rice. Results from a computable general equilibrium model show that under two volatile weather trend scenarios (one that is considered business as usual and another that projects more volatile weather), India is expected to see an increase in average yields for both rice and wheat in the next two to three decades. While increasing per hectare yield leads to higher total rice production in this report’s model, an increase in household income and population (as projected by USDA, Economic Research Service) will lead to higher per capita demand for rice in India. According to model results, this demand is expected to lead to an estimated reduction in exports of both rice and wheat to the global market. Furthermore, results indicate that countries importing from India would shift their demand to other major rice and wheat exporters

An Estimating Formula and the Ratio Method of Estimating

This report is concerned with estimates that are somewhat different in nature from those that are made from sample data, by raising it to the universe, and the nature of such estimates has been indicated in the discussions on correlation and regression. For example, the fundamental principle underlying the calculation of numerical expressions of cause and effect relationships is that from the determination of the extent to which independent and dependent variables are associated, or have been associated in the past, logical deductions sometimes can be made as regards future relationships. When we have measured the degree of apparent cause and effect relationships between certain variables it is often possible to estimate or predict future occurrences. This is a principle underlying many correlation analyses, for it is only on the basis of past occurrences that we can arrive at conclusions as to what is most likely to happen in the future. Simple regression lines enable us to show the relationship between a series of independent variables and a series of dependent variables, thus making it possible to make some deduction as regards most probable values of a dependent variable that are likely to be associated with given values of the independent variable. In like manner, the multiple regression equation provides a means of estimating the most probable values of a dependent variable that are likely to be associated with given values of 2 or more independents

Conflict in Nigeria’s agricultural community. The herders’ perspective in north central Nigeria

The crop farmer-herder conflict has taken a toll on the agricultural development of Nigeria. The violent conflict between these two major players in the Nigerian agricultural sector, constitute a threat to their livelihood strategy. As a result of these conflicts, fortunes have been lost in terms of crops and livestock. Our study investigated conflict between herders and crop farmers in Kogi State, Nigeria. In general, a herdsman is responsible for the conflict experienced on the agricultural scene in Nigeria. This work presents the herders’ perspective to the lingering dispute. For the purpose of the study, purposive sampling method was used to select 3 locations in the state. Furthermore, we applied snowball sampling to select 40 herder respondents from each of the three locations; consequently, a total of 120 herders were sampled for the study. Data were collected through the use of structured interview schedules. Descriptive statistics, the 5 point Likert scale and Chi square test were used for the analyses. Among the identified causes of conflict this presentation conveys the intent of the authors better are crop damage by cattle (72.5%), crop farmers encroachment onto cattle routes (47.5%), inadequate grazing reserves for cattle (70.0%), lack of access to water points (64.2%), pollution of water points leading to death of livestock (47.5%), intentional bush burning (66.7%), maiming/ killing of stray cattle (74.2%), and blockade of stock route by farms (80.8%). Resolution of conflict situations was found to be carried out mostly by traditional institutions, the police, local authorities, courts and cattle breeders association through legal means and payment of compensation among others. Furthermore, the herdsmen also have strategies to prevent such conflicts; these are restriction of cattle, awareness of the existence of a stock route among members and use of the stock route. Therefore, we recommend the use of traditional institutions and support of the cattle breeders association to manage such conflicts in any case

Konzept für ein nationales Biodiversitätsmonitoring im Wald (NaBioWald)

Forests offer a diversity of habitats for animals, plants, and fungi. With this they are essential in providing a multitude of ecosystem services such as carbon sequestration, wood provision, clean water, and recreation, as well as, natural hazard protection. Their large genetic diversity and heterogeneity of species and habitats is the foundation of a successful adaptation to climate change. Last but not least, it is worth protecting and further evolving forest biodiversity for its intrinsic value and beauty. According to the recent National Forest Inventory (BWI 2022) about 95 % of German forests are currently managed. However, there is a wide range of management systems and intensities. These are apparent past and present as well as between the different regions. A deeper understanding of the effects of different forest management systems on the biological diversity (later on: biodiversity) is essential to not only to preserve forest biodiversity but to selectively use it to secure all ecosystem services, as well as, creating resilient forests under climate change. Besides management, the changing climate, deposition, and pesticides influence forest biodiversity..

Relationships between producers and processors in terms of fruit production and prices of fruits for processing in Poland

The aim of this paper is to present the relationships between the growers and the processors in the supply chain of raw material for processing in Poland and to study the dependence between the level of purchase prices for individual species of fruit for processing and the harvest of these fruits in Poland. The investigations cover the period of 2000–2017. The object of the research were the volume of production and the prices of selected species of the fruits for processing (apples, sour cherries, plums, raspberries, strawberries, currants and gooseberries). The volume of fruit production were determined based on the data of the Central Statistical Office. Purchase prices of fruits for processing were adopted based on data of the Department of Horticulture Economics IERiGŻ- -PIB. The dependence was studied by Pearson’s correlation coefficient and Spearman’s R index. Based on the literature review, among the factors important in relationships between producers of agricultural raw materials and processors can be mentioned: price volatility of the fruits for processing, small production scale, requirement of stable supply, and the ability to impact the quality of the raw materials for processing. The fragmentation of fruit production in Poland makes the small scale of fruit production contributes to the poor (the underlying) fruit growers’ position in the supply chain of fruit for processing. Fruit producers must accept the terms of the sale and the price of fruits determined by fruit processing industry. The price for most (aside from the raspberries) species of fruit for processing in Poland were negative correlated with the amount of production while the negative sign shows that the increase in fruit harvest was accompanied by the decrease in purchase price of fruit for processing. The results suggest fruit growers the opportunity of impact on price of fruit for processing by controlling the volume of fruit harvest

Marketing analysis of fresh tomatoes in Abeokuta north local government area of Ogun State, Nigeria

The marketing of fresh tomatoes is faced with many challenges mainly due to their high perishability and seasonality. This sometimes results in a lot of wastage and thus a decrease in the profits of the marketers. The study analyzed the marketing of fresh tomatoes in Abeokuta North Local Government Area of Ogun State with the aim of determining how profitable the venture was in the study area. A two-stage sampling technique was used to select 240 tomato marketers for the study. Primary data collected from the respondents with the use of well-structured questionnaires were used for the study. The objectives of the study were achieved using descriptive statistics, gross margin analysis, marketing margin analysis, and multiple regression analysis. The study revealed that the majority (76.7%) of the marketers were female. Most (70.9%) were within the age bracket of 31–50 years and 22.5% of them had no formal education. The cost and return analysis revealed that all of the marketing (100%) costs were variable and 90.4% was the cost of purchase. The total revenue was ₦181,845.35 (about 227 USD) and the marketing margin was 27.03%. The enterprise was profitable, with a gross margin of ₦55,102.45 (about 69 USD), and returns per naira invested were ₦1.43k. Gender, purchase price of tomatoes, transportation costs, marketing experience, and level of education were significant determinants of the quantity of the produce purchased by marketers for sale. The study concluded that fresh tomatoes marketing is a profitable venture in the study area. Therefore, the study suggested, among other things, that the government should construct new access roads and rehabilitate existing ones to make transportation of fresh tomatoes from the farms easier and cheaper for marketers