Meat demand flexibilities for Tanzania: Implications for the choice of long-term investment

This study uses the inverse almost ideal demand system (IAIDS) to estimate demand flexibilities for beef, small ruminant (sheep and goat) meat, pork and poultry in Tanzania. Own uncompensated price flexibilities were less than one in absolute value, implying that both direct and indirect induced price effect through a change in total expenditure have little impact on budget shares. Estimated scale flexibilities were all negative, suggesting that increases in income will increase the quantities of meat consumed. Production of small ruminant meat was the most attractive investment compared to other meat commodities.IAIDS, Meat demand, Flexibilities, Two-stage budgeting, Tanzania, Livestock Production/Industries, Q11, Q18,

COST EFFICIENCY OF CATFISH FARMS IN CHICOT COUNTY, ARKANSAS: THE IMPACT OF EXTENSION SERVICES

Cost efficiency measures of a sample of catfish farms in Chicot County, Arkansas are estimated using a data envelopment analysis technique. A measure of overall efficiency is used to determine operator's characteristics, farm practices, and institutional support services that are likely to lead to higher farm level cost efficiency. Results indicate that live catfish production could increase by 55% using the same level of inputs if all farms were operating at the minimum average cost curve. Higher feeding rate and availability of extension services were associated with increased cost efficiency. Higher stocking density affected overall efficiency negatively. The marginal value of extension contacts in Chicot County was estimated to be $2988. This study was conducted when catfish prices were at the lowest level in ten years. Some of the results are indicative of farms struggling to meet short-run financial obligations rather than normal farm practices.catfish, cost efficiency, data envelopment analysis, and extension services, Resource /Energy Economics and Policy, C14, C24, D61,

FACTORS AFFECTING ADOPTION OF IMPROVED MAIZE SEEDS AND USE OF INORGANIC FERTILIZER FOR MAIZE PRODUCTION IN THE INTERMEDIATE AND LOWLAND ZONES OF TANZANIA

This paper examines factors influencing the adoption of improved maize seeds and the use of inorganic fertilizer for maize production by farmers in the intermediate and lowland zones of Tanzania. The results indicate that availability of extension services, on-farm field trials, variety characteristics and rainfall were the most important factors that influenced the extent of adopting improved maize seeds and the use of inorganic fertilizer for maize production. Farmers preferred those varieties which minimize field loss rather than maximizing yields. Future research and extension policies should emphasize farmer participation in the research process and on-farm trials for varietal evaluation and demonstration purposes.adoption, agroecological zones, improved maize seeds, new technology, Tanzania, Crop Production/Industries,

Students Perspective On The Impact Of The Title III Program On Doctoral And Professional Programs At Minority Serving Institutions: An Analysis Using A Multilevel Rasch Rating Scale Model

We assessed the impact of Part B, section 326 of the Title III program using data from three historically Black Universities.The Title III program aims at strengthening the resource capacity of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) with eligible doctoral and professional programs. The lack of documented quantitative impact contributes to skepticism regarding program efficacy. A web-based survey instrument was used to collect data from students across five domains: research and instruction; technology development; facilities improvement; student financial assistance; and student services. A multilevel Rasch Rating Scale Model (ARSM) was utilized for data analysis. The students indicated that the program has intermediate to high impact on research and instruction and low impact on tutorial and counseling services and outreach programs

The Typology of Public Schools in the State of Louisiana and Interventions to Improve Performance: A Machine Learning Approach

Extant literature on education research focuses on evaluating schools’ academic performance rather than the performance of educational institutions. Moreover, the State of Louisiana public school system always performs poorly in education outcomes compared to other school systems in the U.S. One of the limiting factors is the stringent standards applied among heterogeneous schools, steaming from the fit-for-all policies. We use a pairwise controlled manifold approximation technique and gradient boosting machine algorithm to typify Louisiana public schools into homogenous clusters and then characterize each identified group. The analyses uncover critical features of failing and high-performing school systems. Results confirm the heterogeneity of the school system, and each school needs tailored support to buoy its performance. Short-term interventions should focus on customized administrative and academic protocols with malleable interpositions addressing individual school shortcomings such as truancy. Long-term policies must discourse authentic economic development programs to foster community engagement and creativity while allocating strategic resources that cultivate resilience at the school and community levels

Meat demand flexibilities for Tanzania: Implications for the choice of long-term investment

This study uses the inverse almost ideal demand system (IAIDS) to estimate demand flexibilities for beef, small ruminant (sheep and goat) meat, pork and poultry in Tanzania. Own uncompensated price flexibilities were less than one in absolute value, implying that both direct and indirect induced price effect through a change in total expenditure have little impact on budget shares. Estimated scale flexibilities were all negative, suggesting that increases in income will increase the quantities of meat consumed. Production of small ruminant meat was the most attractive investment compared to other meat commodities

Potential Optimal Tariff Rates for Tanzania: A CGE Analysis

Computable General Equilibrium (CGE) models are usually presented as a set of simultaneous equations that describe the economic activities of consumers, producers, government, and traders in the markets for factors of production (inputs), and for goods and services (outputs). The supply and demand in each market is equilibrated by a market-clearing price. The model is called computable because simulation is used to find the prices that clear the markets for inputs and outputs. The models allow for the establishment of a direct link between economic structures as embodied in a social accounting matrix and policy changes. In this study a CGE model of Tanzania is used to endogenously determine revenue-neutral tax rates and the corresponding pareto-optimum capital adjustment that are needed to lower intermediate sales tax and import tax rates. The generic CGE model of Tanzania is presented based on the 2001 national social accounting matrix. The objective is to develop a detailed and suitable model for assessing impacts of new and potential macroeconomic policy options available for Tanzania. For illustration purposes, the model is used to endogenously determine revenue-neutral tax rate changes and the corresponding pareto optimum capital adjustment needed to lower intermediate input price by 20%, relative to import prices. The results indicate that lower tax rates will increase production for both domestic and export markets and lower price indices across the 2 board. However, total investment has to increase by more than 2% so as not to make all households at least as well-off as they were before the new taxes

COST EFFICIENCY OF CATFISH FARMS IN CHICOT COUNTY, ARKANSAS: THE IMPACT OF EXTENSION SERVICES

Cost efficiency measures of a sample of catfish farms in Chicot County, Arkansas are estimated using a data envelopment analysis technique. A measure of overall efficiency is used to determine operator's characteristics, farm practices, and institutional support services that are likely to lead to higher farm level cost efficiency. Results indicate that live catfish production could increase by 55% using the same level of inputs if all farms were operating at the minimum average cost curve. Higher feeding rate and availability of extension services were associated with increased cost efficiency. Higher stocking density affected overall efficiency negatively. The marginal value of extension contacts in Chicot County was estimated to be $2988. This study was conducted when catfish prices were at the lowest level in ten years. Some of the results are indicative of farms struggling to meet short-run financial obligations rather than normal farm practices

FACTORS AFFECTING ADOPTION OF IMPROVED MAIZE SEEDS AND USE OF INORGANIC FERTILIZER FOR MAIZE PRODUCTION IN THE INTERMEDIATE AND LOWLAND ZONES OF TANZANIA

This paper examines factors influencing the adoption of improved maize seeds and the use of inorganic fertilizer for maize production by farmers in the intermediate and lowland zones of Tanzania. The results indicate that availability of extension services, on-farm field trials, variety characteristics and rainfall were the most important factors that influenced the extent of adopting improved maize seeds and the use of inorganic fertilizer for maize production. Farmers preferred those varieties which minimize field loss rather than maximizing yields. Future research and extension policies should emphasize farmer participation in the research process and on-farm trials for varietal evaluation and demonstration purposes