IFAD Research Series 93: New methods to define and measure rurality in Latin America and their impact on public policies: the cases of Mexico and Panama

The official definition for determining which areas are urban and which are rural in the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean continues to be characterized by dichotomous criteria based mainly on the number of inhabitants. This fails to consider either the changing and highly diverse context of rural areas or their increasing productive diversification and interaction with urban and intermediate areas. A fresh measure of what constitutes rurality will sharpen understanding of territories and strengthen public policies directed toward these areas, where the most pronounced disadvantages for meeting the 2030 Agenda Sustainable Development Goals are encountered. This article summarizes the main findings of a joint technical project between the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) and International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) in Mexico and Panama, which aimed to generate new methods for defining and measuring rurality. Two index proposals are presented for the two studied countries: the relative rurality index and the contiguity of areas of similar densities. This research provides: (i) a methodological approach for the construction of alternative rurality scenarios; (ii) cartographic and statistical information for the socioeconomic characterization and analysis of territories; and (iii) applied analysis for strengthening development policies for rural areas in Mexico and Panama within the framework of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development

The odds of South African agriculture using wildlife ranching to adapt to climate change

In this paper, we explore the role of wildlife in climate change adaptation, especially in areas used predominantly for livestock production in South Africa. Using a sample of 3 449 wildlife and livestock ranches, we estimate a multinomial choice model of various ranching options in these areas. The results indicate that mixed wildlife-livestock ranches are less vulnerable to climate change when compared to ranches with only wildlife or only livestock. However, given the ranching options, the revenues of ranches with only wildlife are higher compared to other ranches. The results further show that an increase in temperature will influence more livestock farmers, especially those farming with cattle, to change their land use from livestock to wildlife ranching. Using climate models, we establish that livestock farmers in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa will be affected most by climate change and will subsequently change their land use

DEVELOPMENT OF LEISURE AND SPORTS CONSUMPTION AND SPORTS MOTIVATION AMONG CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES

The number of studies on the leisure and sporting habits of people with disabilities as well as the background of sports motivation is far from the focus of research on intact research. Thus, the assessment of physical habits and sports motivation factors determining the quality of life of persons with disabilities can be considered as a less researched deficit area in Hungary and internationally. In our research, we examine the recreational and sporting habits of the 8-18 year-olds, as well as the motivational background, and the results of this research are presented in this paper. The importance of this issue is confirmed by the fact that, according to a UN survey, 650 million people have some kind of disability, 50 million of them in Europe and nearly half a million in Hungary, 5% of the population. The questionnaire (N = 639) was filled by children with disabilities living in the North Great Plain region with the help of a teacher. We used both closed and open questions in the questionnaire, and we helped and orient children with response categories for some questions. Data were processed using SPSS software, averaged, standard deviation, median, mode, and Chi2 probe was used to examine relationships in addition to basic statistics. Our results showed that it is a problem for young people with disabilities that they prefer passive leisure activities, which is similar to the results of studies on intact research. Boys and girls have different sports, boys are more active than girls

OGRANICZENIA I SZANSE ROZWOJU GOSPODARSTW ROLNYCH Z REGIONU WARMII I MAZUR W KONTEKŚCIE ZMIAN WSPÓLNEJ POLITYKI ROLNEJ UNII EUROPEJSKIEJ

The main objective of the research was to diagnose the conditions for the development of farms implementing production in the conventional and ecological system, in the conditions set out in the Strategic Plan for the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) after 2023. In the study were used data obtained in direct surveys conducted in 2022 among the owners of farms from the region of Warmia and Mazury. 165 owners of conventional farms and 158 owners of organic farms participated in the research. The surveyed farm owners, despite a skeptical attitude towards solutions regarding the European Green Deal (EGD), lack of acceptance of the implementation of selected assumptions of this policy, e.g. restrictions on the use of mineral fertilizers and eco-schemes, were in favor of functioning within the EU structures. As a threat to the development of agriculture, leaving the EU structures or resigning from using EU funds were indicated. The contemporary geopolitical situation, restrictions on the import and export of raw materials to Ukraine and the lack of stability on many markets were also indicated as a potential limitation of development. The main potential opportunities for the development of agriculture in Poland, in the opinion of the surveyed owners of farms operating under the conventional production system, are the conditions created for small and medium-sized farms and the increase in demand for agricultural services. In the opinion of the owners of farms implementing production under ecological systems, the assumptions of the new CAP and the EGD may be an opportunity to strengthen the profitability of these entities and to search for alternative sources of income

Pre-and-During-Pandemic Financial Standing of Companies in Poland Ranked According to the Type of Business Activity

Subject and purpose of work: This paper seeks to examine how the COVID-19 pandemic affected the financial standing of companies classified according to the type of their business activity. Materials and methods: This paper is based on aggregate data on businesses operating in Poland in the period 2017–2021, grouped according to the type of business activity. The data was published by the Central Statistical Office GUS in Poland. The company status was investigated using the calculated values of diagnostic indicators (return on assets, current financial liquidity, level of debt, stock rotation, and growth in sales). These indicators were normalized with the zero unitarization method to construct a synthetic indicator. The synthetic indicator was then used to generate business rankings. Results: The vast majority of the examined companies proved to be profitable. In 2020, the profitability and sales revenue of the businesses concerned were found to deteriorate slightly. There has been a downward trend in the rankings for companies operating in the accommodation and catering sector and the manufacturers of petroleum products. Pharmaceutical companies were the businesses that improved and topped the rankings. Conclusions: The pandemic had a strong negative impact on businesses operating in the market sector of accommodation and catering. The producers of refined petroleum products were also affected. The producers of pharmaceuticals benefited most during the pandemic. There are no clear indicators as to the impact of the pandemic on other types of businesses

A REVIEW OF THE BOOK “THE APPLICATION OF THE ANALOGY METHOD IN THE SEARCH FOR COMMON AREAS OF COGNITION IN BIOLOGY AND ECONOMICS” BY WIESŁAW MUSIAŁ AND KAMILA MUSIAŁ. THE PUBLISHING HOUSE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURE IN KRAKOW, 2021, 215 PP

A review of the book “The Application of the Analogy Method in the Search for Common Areas of Cognition in Biology and Economics” by Wiesław Musiał and Kamila Musiał. The Publishing House of the University of Agriculture in Krakow, 2021, 215 pp

EVALUATION OF THE CROP INSURANCE PERFORMANCE IN HARYANA

Subject and purpose of the work: The purpose of the study is to evaluate the overall physical and financial performance of the crop insurance schemes in Haryana. Materials and methods: The study was purely based on secondary data collected from the Department of Agriculture and Farmer Welfare Union of Haryana. The compound annual growth rate and the percentage method have been used to analyse the performance of Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana. Results: The compound annual growth rate of benefited farmers was higher in the Rabi crop (28%), and in the same way, the overall area covered (1.4%) was also higher in the Rabi crop. The non-loanee farmers adopted Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) without any kind of loan in any scheme such as the Kisan credit card. The growth rates of non-loanee farmers of Rabi and Kharif crops were observed at 143.2% and 184.3% which was highly satisfactory. Loanee farmers were already large in number since the commencement of PMFBY. Conclusions: It was found that the parameters such as area covered, loanee, non-loanee farmers and the number of beneficiaries of Rabi and Kharif crops increased and had a significant effect on the farmer’s coverage over the years. Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana gives a positive assurance to farmers. As the number of beneficiaries of this scheme increases and farmers have the assurance that if their crop is damaged due to natural calamities their claim will be settled, they will use a high-yielding variety of seeds, pesticides, herbicides, and new technology, thus production and productivity will increase. They play a vital role in the coverage of cultivated area and will ultimately decide to participate in crop insurance. Hence, this scheme has proved effective in maintaining the farmer’s interest in crop insurance and ensuring the timely settlement of claims, which has been the main driving force in retaining farmers under crop insurance

A Statement on Rural Problem Areas

Information and map graphics on: Low Income Farm Families, People on Poor Lands, Farm Tenants, Farm Laborers, Farm Families on Relief, Unemployment in Agriculture, Migrating Farm Families, and Farm Families on Low Standards of Living

CHANGES IN THE PERFORMANCE OF THE AGRICULTURAL SECTOR IN HUNGARY DUE TO THE 2008 ECONOMIC CRISIS AND COVID-19 PANDEMIC

Subject and purpose of work: The paper examines two of the most important sectors of agriculture, crop and livestock production, in a time series analysis. The authors analyzed the number of enterprises, the number of employees, labor costs, turnover, and balance sheet total, and also assessed the evolution of liquidity and profitability in the two sectors, broken down by size. Materials and methods: The results of livestock and crop production were examined separately for the period 2008-2020. The analysis was based on aggregated data from the National Tax and Customs Administration in Hungary. Enterprises with the NACE REV 0140 for animal husbandry and 0110 for crop production were studied. In the research time series analysis and, where possible, trend analysis were performed. Results: In the research, the following indicators were examined using time series analysis in both crop and livestock production: the number of companies, the number of employees, the net sales revenue, the composition of net sales, the development of the balance sheet total, cost structure, labor costs, the quick ratio of liquidity, and the ROA indicator. Conclusions: Agricultural enterprises are most affected by the downward trend during the period under review, with the exception that the animal husbandry sector started to decline earlier than the crop production sector