9 research outputs found
An Assessment of the Impact of Strategic Alliances in Food Processing on the Technical Efficiency of Housewives Groups in Thailand
The cottage food processing industry in Thailand comprises mainly small-scale enterprises such as the ‘housewives groups’ that consist of a number of housewives who combine their food processing activities in a particular district or village. The effects of various factors on the performance of these housewives groups is assessed using survey data to estimate a stochastic input distance model. Our results show that membership of vertical strategic alliances at a high level is associated with higher levels of technical efficiency. Other factors positively influencing technical efficiency within these groups are the level of experience of group members, the ratio of workers to total members, government support, the community base of the group as opposed to private ownership, and the availability of funds to invest in business activities that have been derived from savings activities by group members. The ability of housewives groups to exploit cost complementarities by combining fruit and vegetable processing activities is tested by estimating scope and diversification economies for fruit and vegetable processed outputs. While diversification economies were found to exist, the more rigorous test for scope economies did not support their existence.Housewives group, scope economies, strategic alliance, Agribusiness,
Impact of Labour Migration on Farm Efficiency: A Study of Maize Farming in Northern Thailand
Impact of Labour Migration on Farm Efficiency: A Study of Maize Farming in Northern Thailand
This paper investigates the relationship between labour migration and agricultural productivity in the Northern Province of Thailand. Drawing on maize production data from a household survey, an estimate of stochastic production function to evaluate the effects of migration, remittances and salient characteristics of migrants on the mean maize output and levels of technical efficiency was tried. Evidence shows that remittances and number of migrant workers facilitate maize production. It was also found that remittances, duration of migration, gender and education of migrants enhance the productive capacity of maize farmers
Migration and Farm Efficiency: Evidence from Northern Thailand
This paper investigates the relationship between labour migration and agricultural productivity in the Northern Province of Thailand. Drawing on maize production data from a household survey, we estimate a stochastic production function to evaluate the effects of migration, remittances and salient characteristics of migrants on the mean maize output and levels of technical efficiency. Evidence shows that remittances and number of migrant workers facilitate maize production. It was also found that remittances, duration of migration, gender and education of migrants enhance the productive capacity of maize farmers.Migration, stochastic frontier, technical efficiency, maize, Thailand, Crop Production/Industries, Labor and Human Capital,
An Assessment of the Impact of Strategic Alliances in Food Processing on the Technical Efficiency of Housewives Groups in Thailand
The cottage food processing industry in Thailand comprises mainly small-scale enterprises such as the 'housewives groups' that consist of a number of housewives who combine their food processing activities in a particular district or village. The effects of various factors on the performance of these housewives groups is assessed using survey data to estimate a stochastic input distance model. Our results show that membership of vertical strategic alliances at a high level is associated with higher levels of technical efficiency. Other factors positively influencing technical efficiency within these groups are the level of experience of group members, the ratio of workers to total members, government support, the community base of the group as opposed to private ownership, and the availability of funds to invest in business activities that have been derived from savings activities by group members. The ability of housewives groups to exploit cost complementarities by combining fruit and vegetable processing activities is tested by estimating scope and diversification economies for fruit and vegetable processed outputs. While diversification economies were found to exist, the more rigorous test for scope economies did not support their existence
Migration and Farm Efficiency: Evidence from Northern Thailand
This paper investigates the relationship between labour migration and agricultural
productivity in the Northern Province of Thailand. Drawing on maize production data
from a household survey, we estimate a stochastic production function to evaluate the
effects of migration, remittances and salient characteristics of migrants on the mean maize
output and levels of technical efficiency. Evidence shows that remittances and number of
migrant workers facilitate maize production. It was also found that remittances, duration
of migration, gender and education of migrants enhance the productive capacity of maize
farmers
Can strategic alliances in food processing increase the technical efficiency of housewives groups in Thailand?
An assessment is made of the effects of strategic alliances, among other factors, on the performance of community-based food processing enterprises in the northern province of Thailand. Using survey data, we estimate a stochastic frontier production function and examine a number of factors affecting technical inefficiency of housewives groups focusing on the nature of strategic alliances. Our results show that vertical strategic alliances in marketing at the regional and provincial levels provide a means for housewives groups to increase productivity by attaining higher levels of technical efficiency through membership
Impact of Strategic Alliances on the Productivity of Housewives Groups in Northern Thailand
The food industry in Thailand comprises various types of food manufacturers including local processors who produce cottage foods, defined as foods produced in a home with little capital requirement and without the use of a commercial kitchen. The cottage food processing industry mainly comprises community enterprises such as the so-called 'housewives groups'. These groups consist of a number of rural Thai housewives who combine their food processing activities in a particular district or village. The main objective is to assess the impact of vertical and horizontal strategic alliances on the productivity of housewives groups in the cottage foods industry in northern Thailand. In particular, we focus on both types of alliances as conduits to raise the productivity of these groups in producing processed fruit and vegetable products. Vertical alliances are implemented by entering into relationships with groups in the supply chain that supply them with inputs or buy their outputs. Horizontal alliances are implemented to exchange information on product marketing and inputs for production, improve distributional services, exert greater marketing power, and share technology and equipment among groups at the same level in the supply chain. We also assess whether higher levels of vertical strategic alliance are more productive than lower levels. Five levels of strategic alliance can be identified for housewives groups in Thailand, in ascending order of aggregation: village; district; 'aumpher' (sub-provincial); provincial; and regional. Greater productivity gains are expected at higher levels of strategic alliance because they should open up a broader range of opportunities to improve processing performance. In the next section, the main competitive weaknesses of housewives groups are outlined, followed by a review of how they may use strategic alliances to overcome these weaknesses. The analytical method to measure the efficiency and productivity of the groups is then outlined and a brief description is provided of the source of data. Results are reported and discussed, and the paper ends with a section containing the main conclusions drawn from the analysis
An Assessment of the Impact of Strategic Alliances in Food Processing on the Technical Efficiency of Housewives Groups in Thailand
The cottage food processing industry in
Thailand comprises mainly small-scale enterprises such as the
‘housewives groups’ that consist of a number of housewives
who combine their food processing activities in a particular
district or village. The effects of various factors on the
performance of these housewives groups is assessed using
survey data to estimate a stochastic input distance model. Our
results show that membership of vertical strategic alliances at
a high level is associated with higher levels of technical
efficiency. Other factors positively influencing technical
efficiency within these groups are the level of experience of
group members, the ratio of workers to total members,
government support, the community base of the group as
opposed to private ownership, and the availability of funds to
invest in business activities that have been derived from
savings activities by group members. The ability of housewives
groups to exploit cost complementarities by combining fruit
and vegetable processing activities is tested by estimating scope
and diversification economies for fruit and vegetable processed
outputs. While diversification economies were found to exist,
the more rigorous test for scope economies did not support
their existence