The effect of internationalisation on the beef and maize sub-sectors: The relevance of revealed comparative advantage measures

According to the RCA and RCA# the beef sub-sector in South Africa has shown a revealed comparative disadvantage for 17 out of the 22 years to 2002, while the maize sub-sector showed a revealed comparative advantage for 18 out of the same 22 years. However, this article argues that these results do not show the real state of competitiveness that exists in these sub-sectors, mainly because RCA measures should not be used to make definitive conclusions whether an industry, sector or sub-sector is competitive, nor whether it uses scare resources efficiently. RCA measures explain in more accurate ways, relative to a simple analysis of export trends, how a country features in the context of world trade. Hence, one possible application of RCA measures is to deduce the impact of changes in trade policies on an industry, sector or sub-sector. Cognisance should also be taken that the RCA measures fail to distinguish between a region's factor endowments. Finally, it appears as if both the beef and maize sub-sectors have adjusted favourably since the implementation of the Marrakech agreement and subsequent deregulation of the domestic market. Favourably in this context means that both sub-sectors appear to have discounted the changing trade and regulatory environments into their respective supply chains. The question of how competitive these sub-sectors are relative to their international counterparts however remains unanswered, and will require a more in-depth analysis of the complete chains for these sub-sectors.International Relations/Trade,

Rural Credit for Resource-Poor Entrepreneurs: Lessons from the Eritrean Experience

Developing countries' small-scale farmers lack access to financial services. In the Eritrean Savings and Micro- Credit program (SMCP), solidarity groups are jointly responsible for individual members' loans; this reduces transaction costs, improves repayment and substitutes for collateral. Performance of SMCP (1996 to 2002) indicates low arrears and good repayment, but not satisfactory saving mobilization. SMCP service reached many people previously without access to financial services, thus materially improving individuals' economic self-confidence and independence, cash holdings and household living standards. It has had favourable social spin-offs; a well-designed village-banking model can help solve economic problems of the poor.Agricultural Finance,

Popular dispute resolution mechanisms in Ethiopia: Trends, opportunities, challenges and prospects

This article finds that high-ranking officials within the judiciary and executive, heads of some organisations, and certain researchers have acclaimed the harmonisation and application of the Popular Dispute Resolution Mechanisms(PDRMs) in Ethiopia’s justice system. To this effect, they have sponsored national and regional forums, conferences and workshops; established research institutions and centres as well as sponsored scholars who conduct research on this initiative. The positive attitude of these stakeholders towards PDRMs, the multiplicity and diversity of PDRMs, as well as the support of various institutions to such initiatives are considered to be good opportunities for the harmonisation and application of these practices in the country’s justice system. On the other hand, the absence of clear laws and policies related to the legitimacy of the informal justice systems, the level of administration to which they should be accountable, their interconnection with the formal courts and other state structures, the scope of application of their jurisdiction and their financial transactions are found to be serious challenges that demand immediate attention. Some of the hitherto existing research works are found to be scattered, poorly cross-referenced and out-of-the-reach of researchers and readers; while others are shallow in their investigative depth and limited in thematic and geographical coverage. In order to address these challenges and dilemmas, the article recommends the establishment of a new regulatory organ at macro level that has the capability and legitimacy to adapt and harmonise PDRMs in ways that can preserve the traditional African indigenous values and at the same time respect international human rights conventio

How important is a regional free trade area for Southern Africa?: Potential impacts and structural constraints

"We develop a detailed trade analysis to assess the potential welfare impacts of a free trade agreement (FTA) on the agricultural sector of southern African countries and to determine opportunities and challenges faced by the region as a consequence of the agreement. Our approach combines an in-depth look at the current trading patterns of southern African countries with the application of a partial equilibrium analysis that uses bilateral trade data at the four-digit standard international trade classification (SITC) level for 193 agricultural industries in 14 southern African countries. Low diversification of agricultural exports in most southern African countries seems to be a major constraint for promoting regional trade. In most countries, overall welfare effects of an FTA would be positive but small. Inefficient agricultural producers with a regional comparative advantage for agriculture would benefit from trade creation with the rest of the world. Welfare results for regional importers would be negative because of increased imports from inefficient regional producers. These results suggest that the region should be looking at regional policies and interventions beyond trade arrangements, such as those targeting investment, agricultural productivity, and diversification, to enhance benefits of regional trade liberalization." from authors' abstractRegional trade agreement, Agricultural trade, Development strategies,

Adoption Determinants of Improved Cook Stove Among Rural Households: The Case of Benishngul Gumuz Reginal State, Ethiopia

Energy consumption of rural households’ depends on traditional fuel sources including wood, crop residue, coal, and animal dung, which inefficient and largely attributed to air pollution and deforestation problems. To this end adoption of improved cook stove has anticipated to reduce these problems. So, the prime objective of the study was to investigate the determinants of improved cook stove adoption in Case of Assosa District, Benishngul Gumuz Reginal State, Ethiopia in the year 2018. The study was conducted based on descriptive design and mixed method research on a target population of 3880 households from Assosa district with sample size of 341 households that determined using Kothari formula based on proportional sampling technique from each selected sub districts and 20 key informants selected using purposive sampling technique. Binary logit regression model was employed for econometrics analysis using STATA software. The finding showed that stove design and neighborhood effect are the most determinants of improved cook stove adoption. Hence, for fast dissemination; cook stove design should not be one fit for all policy rather cooks stove design should take into account the socio-cultural feeding practice of the potential adopters.Keywords: Adoption, improved cook stoves, Binary logit regression.DOI: 10.7176/JETP/10-3-03Publication date:July 31st 202

Total Synthesis of an Analog of Hydramycin and Derivatization of Thiol-terminated Carbohydrates and Development of a Glycoconjugate Too Set for the Assembly and Presentation of Carbohydrate Ligands on Surfaces

2-(1,2-Dihydroxy-1-(oxiran-2-yl)ethyl)-11-hydroxy-5-methyl-1Hnaphtho[ 2,3-h]chromene-4,7,12-trione (1), a pyranoanthraquinone isolated from Streptomyces violaceus P950-4, showed a potent antibacterial and cytotoxic activity. A model synthesis for analogs 2-(1,2-dihydroxy-1-(oxiran-2-yl)ethyl)-4H-chromen- 4-one (2) and2-(1-hydroxy-1-(oxiran-2-yl)ethyl)-1H-naphtho[2,3- h]chromene-4,7,12-trione (3) was developed by Dr. David White and Dr. Sarah Headrick. A new analog, 2-(1,2-dihydroxy-1-(oxiran-2-yl)ethyl)-1H-naphtho[2,3- h]chromene-4,7,12-trione (4), was designed to be structurally more similar to hydramycin with –CH2OH functionality on the pyranone ring and anthraquinone skeleton. Therefore, it is expected to have greater anticancer activity than either analogs 2 or 3. This dissertation will cover developments, challenges and solutions in the total synthesis of the analog 4. Both eukaryotic and prokaryotic cell surfaces present a complex set of glycoconjugates. Glycoconjugates contain carbohydrates covalently linked to another building block of nature, such as an amino acid (peptide) or a lipid. Since most glycans, which are complex arrays of covalently attached sugar chains, are on the outer surface of cellular and secreted macromolecules, they are in a position to modulate or mediate a wide variety of events in cell–cell, cell–matrix, cell–surface, cell–virus and cell–molecule interactions. These interactions mediate cell adhesion, cell motility, and cell–cell communication and recognition of toxins. This dissertation is focused on the development of a glycoconjugate“tool set”, that will facilitate a modular approach to glycoarrays. The development consists of a derivatization of thiol-terminated mannose and galactose that will mimic the glycans on the cell surfaces, creation of nano-patterned microarray surfaces for the introduction of carbohydrates, and examination of the arrays by interrogation with fluorescently labeled probes

Estimation of Commodity Specific Production Costs Using German Farm Accountancy Data

A central problem in estimating per unit costs of production originates from the fact that most farms produce multiple outputs and standard farm-accounting data are only available at the whole-farm level. The seemingly unrelated regression (SUR) approach is used to estimate per unit production costs based on German farm accountancy data. Special emphasis is put on outlier detection prior to the estimation of production costs to increase the robustness of the results. Outlier observations are identified based on the Mahalanobis distance for each observation on the data set. It was observed that less negative cost coefficients are estimated after the exclusion of the outliers. The time series analysis of cost estimation based on SUR regression shows the costs of arable crops after 2004, affected by rising prices of fertilizer, seeds and energy, while the increase of livestock production costs after 2006 is attributed to feed costs.Multi-output, outlier detection, production costs, Seemingly Unrelated Regression, Agricultural Finance,

PENERAPAN PERATURAN MENTERI HUKUM DAN HAK ASASI MANUSIA NOMOR 17 TAHUN 2018 TENTANG PENDAFTARAN PERSEKUTUAN KOMANDITER (CV), PERSEKUTUAN FIRMA, DAN PERSEKUTUAN PERDATA DALAM MENJAMIN KEPASTIAN DAN PERLINDUNGAN HUKUM

 Peraturan Menteri Hukum dan Hak Asasi Manusia Nomor 17 Tahun 2018 mengatur bahwa pendaftaran Persekutuan Komanditer (CV), Persekutuan Firma, Persekutuan Perdata diajukan melalui Sistem Administrasi Badan Usaha (SABU). Maka Permenkumham tersebut telah mengesampingkan ketentuan Pasal 23  Kitab Undang-undang Hukum Dagang (KUHD), sehingga proses pendaftaran akta pendirian CV, Firma, dan Persekutuan Perdata tidak perlu diajukan lagi ke pengadilan negeri.Mengingat bahwa penelitian ini menggunakan jenis penelitian hukum dengan metode pendekatan yuridis empiris yaitu penelitian hukum yang berarti penelitian terhadap peraturan yang mengatur tentang pengangkatan anak dikaitkan dengan kenyataan. Sedangkan jenis data yang digunakan dalam skripsi ini menggunakan jenis data yang bersifat kualitatif.Dengan diberlakukannya Permenkumham No. 17 Tahun 2018 ini maka pendaftaran CV menjadi lebih mudah dan lebih teratur. Dalam rangka percepatan dan peningkatan penanaman modal dan berusaha, perlu menerapkan pelayanan Perizinan Berusaha terintegrasi secara elektronik, maka yang harus dipenuhi dalam penerapan aturan tersebut adalah bagainmana mempercepat dan memudahkan proses pendaftaran prsekutuan. Hal yang sejauh ini sering terjadi sejak penerapan sistem pendaftaran yang terintegrasi melalui SABU adalah server yang down karena banyak yang mengakses, dan biasanya, kejadian tersebut terjadi lantaran kapasitas server yang tidak diperbaharui.Kata Kunci: Peraturan Menteri Hukum dan Ham Nomor 17 Tahun 2018, Pendaftaran, Persekutuan, SABU Regulation of the Minister of Law and Human Rights of the Republic of Indonesia Number 17 of 2018 regulates the registration of limited partnership (CV), firm association, civil partnership filed through the Sistem Administrasi Badan Usaha (SABU). So the Regulation has overridden the provisions of Article 23 of the Kitab Undang-undang Hukum Dagang (KUHD), so that the registration process for the deed of establishment of CV, Firma, and Civil Alliance does not need to be submitted again to the district court.Keyword: Regulation of the Minister of Law and Human Rights Number 17 of 2018, Registration, Partnership, SAB

The Impact of Microfinance Institutions on Improving the Livelihood of Their Clients: The Case of SMCP-Eritrea

Microfinance institutions supply loans, savings and other financial services to the poor and other low income clients on a sustainable basis and play a role in the alleviation of poverty. The objective of this article is, therefore, to examine the impact of Saving and Micro-Credit Program (SMCP) in improving the livelihood of its clients. SMCP is one of two microfinance institutions active in Eritrea. The data collected from clients (both old and new) was analyzed through the help of Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). The result indicated that there is a statistically significant relationship between duration of cliental membership and mean income of clients of SMCP. Thus, the findings reveal that SMCP plays significant role in improving the livelihood of its clients through its provision of financial services. It is therefore recommended that microfinance policy should further be publicized so that other low income members of the Eritrean society would be aware and demand financial services to grow their small business and improve their economic status. Keywords: Microfinance, SMCP, Clients livelihood, ANOVA, Eritrea DOI: 10.7176/DCS/13-4-02 Publication date:June 30th 202