171 research outputs found
Seasonal bias in household vulnerability to poverty stimates: insights from a natural experiment
Using data from 260 households from the Hadejia-Nguru wetlands, the paper shows that vulnerability to poverty estimates are biased if the data used is seasonal. The seasonal bias in the consumption expenditure is less pronounced than in its variance. The paper further shows that the relative sizes of the seasonal bias in expected consumption expenditure and its variance determines the final magnitude of the bias. However, the bias in the expected consumption expenditure is sufficiently corrected by including seasonal dummy variables. We therefore encourage researchers to consider seasonality when they are modelling consumption expenditure with the aim of estimating vulnerability.Seasonal bias; vulnerability to poverty; natural experiment; Nigeria
The role of shocks and risks for the livelihoods of small scale fishing communities of Hadejia-Nguru Wetlands in Nigeria
This paper assesses the impact of risks and shocks on household welfare in the Hadejia-Nguru Wetlands in Nigeria. We use estimated income loss in consumption equations to assess the impact. Our findings identify death of an adult member, drought, and social conflict as important shocks in the area. These shocks are more significant in reducing household food consumption than non-food consumption. Additionally, we find that farming dependent households suffer more from social conflicts; fishing households suffer more from drought; while the impact of death of an adult member does not depend on household livelihood strategies. Since the shocks that significantly reduce household consumption are not specific to such communities, we conclude that fishing communities do not need special social protection policies but these should not be left out in these programs. Further research should consider understanding the roles of off farm activities as ex-ante risk mitigation strategies or ex-post coping strategies. --
WILLINGNESS TO PAY TO AVOID HEALTH RISKS FROM PESTICIDES, A CASE STUDY FROM NICARAGUA
A contingent valuation approach to assess the health effects of pesticides among Nicaraguan vegetable farmers is presented. Farmers' valuation of health is measured as willingness to pay (WTP) for low toxicity pesticides. Results show, that farmers are willing to spend about 28% of current pesticide expenditure for avoiding health risks. The validity of results is established in scope tests and a two-step regression model. WTP depends on farmers' experience with poisoning, income variables and pesticide exposure. The results can help in targeting of rural health policies and the design of programmes aiming to reduce negative effects of pesticides.health risks of pesticides, contingent valuation, Nicaragua, Health Economics and Policy,
THE IMPACT OF FARMER FIELD SCHOOLS ON PESTICIDE USE AND ENVIRONMENT IN THAILAND
This paper presents an application of a difference in differences model to measure environmental and economic impacts of Farmer Field School on crop and pest management practices of rice in Thailand. Panel data from 241 farm households were collected three times over a period of four years in five rice-producing provinces of Thailand. Data included socio-economic data describing household and farm characteristics, rice input and output data including detailed accounts of pesticide use and other pest management practices and farmers' knowledge of crop management and agro ecosystem factors. Using the concept of environmental impact quotient parameters on the health and environmental consequences of a change in pesticide use was computed. Data analysis was conducted by measuring changes in farm performance, using a two and a three periods growth model. Results showed that trained farmers significantly reduced pesticide use on the short term. It was also found that they retain their reduced pesticide use practices several years after the training. However no significant change in rice gross margin could be detected.Farmer Field School, Impact Assessment, Multi-Periods Panel Data Model, Pesticide Use, Environment, Teaching/Communication/Extension/Profession,
Does seasonal vulnerability to poverty matter? A case study from the Hadejia-Nguru Wetlands in Nigeria
Applying research on vulnerability to seasonal data, we assess seasonal vulnerability to poverty using panel data from the Hadejia-Nguru Wetlands in Nigeria involving 260. We find that both observed poverty and vulnerability to poverty vary seasonally and that these variations are related to household livelihood strategies. Basing on our findings policy interventions should aim at increasing crop productivity (both food and cash crops) and returns to crop sales as well as promoting income diversification to off-farm activities. Safety net programs should be implemented only after productivity-enhancing interventions have been implemented. Further research is proposed to particularly assess the influence of seasonal variation on household livelihood choices. --Vulnerability to poverty,Seasonality,Social protection,Nigeria
Diversification in land and labor allocation in response to shocks among small-scale farmers in central Vietnam
The paper analyzes the relationship between the allocation of labor and land of the households, the number of crops grown and the number of income sources of the households with different types of shocks and risks. It uses the data from the first phase of the household survey in three provinces of Central of Vietnam, conducted within the scope of the DFG research project “Impact of shocks on the vulnerability to poverty: consequences for development of emerging Southeast Asian economies”. The results suggest that the households diversify their portfolio (labor and land) into different income generating activities in order to cope with shocks. Among the different types of shocks and risks, agriculture and economic shocks and risks are the main factors to explain the (ex-post) risk-coping strategies and the (ex-ante) risk management of the households. The number of crops grown and the number of income sources from the households experienced with shocks are higher than others. In addition, the high-risk expectation households diversify their labor and land more than the low risk expectation households. The access to credit and market, the number of household labor, the education of the household head, and the wealth of the household are also very important factors that impact on the diversification level of the households.Diversification, risk management, risk coping strategies, Vietnam, Farm Management, Labor and Human Capital,
Diversification, risk management and risk coping strategies: Evidence from rural households in three provinces in Vietnam
The paper analyzes the relationship between the allocation of labor and land, the number of crops grown and income sources of rural households in Vietnam and different types of shocks and risks. It uses the data from the first phase of the household survey in three provinces of Central of Vietnam, conducted within the scope of the DFG research project "Impact of shocks on the vulnerability to poverty: consequences for development of emerging Southeast Asian economies". The results suggest that the households diversify their portfolio (labor and land) into different income generating activities in order to cope with shocks. Among the different types of shocks and risks, agriculture and economic shocks and risks are the main factors to explain the (ex-post) risk-coping strategies and the (ex-ante) risk management of the households. The number of crops grown and the number of income sources from the households experienced with shocks are higher than others. In addition, the high-risk expectation households diversify their labor and land more than the low risk expectation households. The access to credit and market, the number of household labor, the education of the household head, and the wealth of the household are also very important factors that impact on the diversification level of the households. --Diversification,risk management,risk coping strategies,Vietnam
Risk attitude and risk behavior: Comparing Thailand and Vietnam
Are responses to a simple survey item sufficiently reliable in eliciting risk attitudes? Our angle in examining reliability is to conduct comparative research across Thailand and Vietnam. We find, first, that the survey item is informative about individual risk attitude because it is plausibly related to socio-demographic characteristics (including vulnerability), it is experimentally validated and has some predictive power. Second, however, we find major differences between both countries: whereas explained variances of regressions are tentatively higher in Vietnam, the predictive value of the survey item is much lower than in Thailand. Therefore, the survey item cannot be implemented across countries in an unreflected way. --risk attitude,socio-economic survey,household behavior,field experiment
R&D and private investment: How to conserve indigenous fruit biodiversity of Southern Africa
Indigenous fruits contribute widely to rural incomes in Southern Africa but their availability is declining. A domestication program aims to increase farm-household income and conserve biodiversity through farmer-led tree planting. Planting domesticated indigenous fruit trees is an uncertain, irreversible but flexible investment. Our analysis applies the real option approach using contingent claims analysis, which allows solving the discounting problem. The article analyses (1) to what level fruit collection cost and/or (2) the necessary technical change, i.e. breeding progress, have to rise in order to render tree planting economical, using data from income portfolios of rural households in Zimbabwe. Results currently show that collecting indigenous fruits is more profitable than planting the trees. A combination of technical change and decrease in resource abundance can provide incentives for farmer-led planting of domesticated trees and biodiversity conservation. However, breeding progress must be significant for investment in tree planting to be economically attractive. --indigenous fruits,real option,technology adoption,uncertainty,ex ante impact assessment,Zimbabwe
Finding Quality Employment through Rural Urban Migration: a case study from Thailand
This study investigates the effects of rural urban migration on economic development in Thailand. It draws upon a panel data base of some 2000 rural households collected from 2007 to 2010 in three provinces from Northeast Thailand and migrant survey of some 650 migrants in the Greater Bangkok area conducted in 2010. The study offers some new findings on migration in Thailand. First there is evidence that the widely praised social protection policies for the rural poor in Thailand may be less effective for urban migrants. Second, the study shows that migration has benefits for income growth of rural households but is less effective in reducing inequality and relative poverty in rural areas. Generally the less favored rural households tend to have migrants who are more educated albeit at an overall low education level of the rural population in Thailand. The overall message which emerges from this paper is that poor rural households tend to produce poor migrants which could be one of the reasons for the continuous existence of a wide rural urban divide in welfare. The crucial importance of education for migration success calls for more investment in secondary education in rural areas. --Rural Urban Migration,Thailand,Employment Quality
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