FACTORS THAT SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT OF FUR FARMS: THE CASE STUDY OF GREECE

This study aims to discuss the key factors that can contribute to the development of the fur industry in Greece. The industry consists of two sub-sectors i.e. production and processing of fur skins (raw material), and the production of fur garments. The profitability of fur-bearing farms, considered from the perspective of investment and further international fur trade, and both these were examined in this study because these two sub-sectors are closely linked. The results obtained from the analysis of the two fur production sub-sectors showed that the investment of capital in the industry can expect positive returns while at the same time creating well-paid jobs. Although not presenting a comparative advantage, but the foreign trade of fur garments produced in the region can gain competitiveness if some of the strategies used by Greek fur companies are adjusted. Results of the current study can be concluded that despite the weaknesses that emerge from the results of this study, both sub-sectors of the fur industry can make a significant contribution to the development of the local community of Western Macedonia

Agro And Eco-Tourism Development In Rural Areas Of Uzbekistan: Analysis Using Of “Gravity” Model Approach

The main purpose of the article is formulation of ways and favorable conditions and possibilities for development of agro and eco-tourism in rural areas of Uzbekistan. At the same time, inflow of tourists using approach of “Gravity” model was analyzed in order to identify theoretical and practical aspects of alternative identification of the share of tourism services in contemporary development of rural areas and agriculture of Samarkand region. Within the framework of our research, we studied theoretical and practical aspects of agro and eco-tourism and the rural areas of Samarkand region and collected statistical data was analyzed on the basis of “Gravity” model and forecasted indicators of tourism inflow were identified. As the result of the research, scientific and practically significant recommendations have also been developed and figured out

Women’s business activities in Greece: The case of agro-tourism

The aim of agro-tourism is to contribute to a reversal of the climate of abandonment pervading the countryside and to create favorable conditions for the development of new financial activities. For the most countries, the mainstream of business owners are male, while in Greece, the percentage of women entrepreneurs is only 15%, and in the rural area, even smaller. Government poli-cies and the European Union is supporting women entrepreneurship, since women in the labor sector are important factors of development and society’s progress. This paper presents the findings of a research regarding women’s’ firms functioning in the agrotourism sector. Field research was undertaken in almost all the women’s agrotourism companies or cooperatives all over Greece. In this matter the sample consisted of 203 women’s enterprises functioning in Greece, representing an almost 100% sample of the target research population. Statistical analysis employed frequencies, percentages, means as well as chi-square tests. Results revealed that the type of the agro-tourism firm affect the type of activity chosen from the women’s agrotourism firm, while the wo-men’s agrotourism firms’ manager’s age as well as area of operation of the firm does not. This paper is based on research carried out within the framework of the project co-funded by the European Social Fund and National Resources - EPEAEK II - ARCHIMIDIS

Farmers’ satisfaction with Agricultural Credit: The case of Greece

The existence of an appropriate institutional framework pertaining to the financial system in agriculture, that will support efficient financial mediation, reduce transaction costs, and facilitate the farmers’ access to loaned capital on favourable terms, is considered to be an essential step as regards the course of competitiveness in Greek agriculture. This paper is based on an empirical study on a sample of farmers. The aim of this research study is to examine the farmers’ satisfaction with current structures and services related to agricultural credit, as provided in Greece at present. On a second level, this objective of this paper is to develop a typology of farmers, based on their satisfaction structures (by a methodological scheme based on Principal Axes Factoring (PAF), Hierarchical and K-Means Cluster Analysis). The results of this typology will allow for conclusions and proposals to be deduced, regarding the potential for improving agricultural credit, with the growth of the agricultural sector as the ultimate aim. The PAF highlighted five factors-dimensions that can be used to analyze the farmers’ satisfaction with agricultural credit. The first and most important factor is linked to the financial terms of credit and to transaction costs. The second focuses on the human aspect of services, on facilities and equipment. The third factor pertains to the possibility of receiving such services on a personal basis. The fourth is linked to the terms of lending, and the fifth factor exclusively defines the particular properties of agricultural credit

Farmers’ satisfaction with Agricultural Credit: The case of Greece

The existence of an appropriate institutional framework pertaining to the financial system in agriculture, that will support efficient financial mediation, reduce transaction costs, and facilitate the farmers’ access to loaned capital on favourable terms, is considered to be an essential step as regards the course of competitiveness in Greek agriculture. This paper is based on an empirical study on a sample of farmers. The aim of this research study is to examine the farmers’ satisfaction with current structures and services related to agricultural credit, as provided in Greece at present. On a second level, this objective of this paper is to develop a typology of farmers, based on their satisfaction structures (by a methodological scheme based on Principal Axes Factoring (PAF), Hierarchical and K-Means Cluster Analysis). The results of this typology will allow for conclusions and proposals to be deduced, regarding the potential for improving agricultural credit, with the growth of the agricultural sector as the ultimate aim. The PAF highlighted five factors-dimensions that can be used to analyze the farmers’ satisfaction with agricultural credit. The first and most important factor is linked to the financial terms of credit and to transaction costs. The second focuses on the human aspect of services, on facilities and equipment. The third factor pertains to the possibility of receiving such services on a personal basis. The fourth is linked to the terms of lending, and the fifth factor exclusively defines the particular properties of agricultural credit.Agricultural Credit, Satisfaction, funding, Principal Axes Factoring, Financial Marketing, Agribusiness, Agricultural Finance, Consumer/Household Economics, Financial Economics, Marketing,

The New Food Safety Standard ISO 22000. Assessment, Comparison and Correlation with HACCP and ISO 9000:2000. The Practical Implementation in Victual Business

The present paper aims to study the application of new standard of food safety: ISO 22000:2005 in the catering industry. At the beginning the study made a comparison between ISO 22000 with the HACCP system and the ISO 9000:2000 standard, in order to identify their similarities and differences, while it pinpoints and records the reasons for creating and applying the ISO 22000 standard. Due to the preliminary nature of this study, we are given the opportunity to assess the practical application of ISO 22000 in an array of victual businesses and the repercussions on them, through their managers’ points of view. The present research will explore the influence of the ISO 22000 to the food safety issues, marketing, financial, operational and the business personnel. The research is preliminary. The method used to approach the issue was based on primary research through an appropriate questionnaire focusing on 20 victual businesses where the new standard has already been put into practice. In-depth site interviews were conducted at each firm to obtain detailed information about the ISO 22000:2005 registration process and experience. The conclusions from the current study identified the advantages and disadvantages of the ISO 22000 implementation. Also, explores the problems and barriers that face managers. Finally, it explores marketing managers’ attitudes towards ISO certification. ISO 22000, certification is a valuable tool to ensure food safety and quality requirements for food products while provide catering industry with reliability in order to meet consumers needs and wants

CIRCULAR ASSESSMENT TOOLS: ASSESSING CIRCULARITY IN OLIVE OIL MILLS

In the last few years, since the implementation of circular economy (CE) is necessary for the transition to a sustainable food system, academics and practitioners have paid increasing attention to the CE concept. CE evaluations today have not demonstrated satisfactory results to meet the context of CE, as most of the indicators are focused on resource efficiency, waste disposal and recycling rates, or a particular stage of the product or process, ignoring the system perspective. In spite of the research community's extensive work, an effective tool to measure circularity in the agri-food industry has not yet been developed. This study aims to highlight the CE tools, based on scientific literature and practice, so as to identify those that could assess circularity in olive oil mills. Due to the uncontrolled disposal of waste from olive oil mills, the Mediterranean countries that produce the majority of olive oil have to cope with major environmental issues. Therefore, the assessment of circularity in order to identify the transition to CE in this sector is of great importance for these countries