Considerations for determining research priorities: learning cycles and impact pathways

Agricultural researchers identify and apply new science, novel approaches and innovations that could generate research breakthroughs and improve impacts to support the development of the agricultural sector. During the past few decades, there has been an expansion of the research agenda along the entire research-fordevelopment continuum, with farm- and policy-level implications. The goals and objectives of research have broadened from primarily food production to include sustainable resource management, equity, gender, health, and environmental concern

Structure of south central agricultural production

Using a dual economic specification of a multi- product technology, the structure of agricultural production was tested for five South Central states purpose. (Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Mississippi, and Louisiana). A comprehensive set of output supplies and input demands comprised the estimation equations in each state. Evidence of non-joint in a subset of commodities was detected in four of five states. Several commodities also satisfied sufficient conditions for consistent aggregation. However, the specific outputs satisfying each structural property varied by state. Sufficient conditions for consistent geographic aggregation across the states were not satisfied. These results provide empirical guidance and important cautions for legitimately simplifying state-level model specifications of southern agricultural production

Non-user benefits emanating from enhanced water flow to the Yala Protected Area Complex

In Evans, Alexandra; Jinapala, K. (Eds). Proceedings of the National Conference on Water, Food Security and Climate Change in Sri Lanka, BMICH, Colombo, Sri Lanka, 9-11 June 2009. Vol. 2. Water quality, environment and climate change. Colombo, Sri Lanka: International Water Management Institute (IWMI).Water is a multiple use resource. Increasing scarcity and competition from various sectors is an important dimension to be considered in its management. Understanding the value of water to different water uses is, therefore, necessary to assist decision-making in water allocation among sectors. Although water used in agriculture can be valued using production function approaches, such direct valuation methods are not available for the environmental uses of water. This paper uses non-market valuation methods to estimate the economic value of a committed flow through a unique ecosystem, the Yala Protected Area Complex (YPC). The Yala Protected Area Complex is an important wildlife refuge situated in south-eastern Sri Lanka. Its large land extent, undisturbed nature, and abundance and diversity of fauna contribute to its uniqueness. The fact that the YPC is also the most visited national park in Sri Lanka is partially a result of this uniqueness. However, maintenance of the park?s ecosystem depends on the flow of the Menik Ganga. This flow is regulated by the Veheragala Reservoir Project, and there is now discussion of reducing flow into the park by about half of the current level. The proposed plan ensures dry season flow into the YPC and, therefore, has been deemed acceptable. However, there is a possibility that farmers will demand further water releases during the dry season which could in turn endanger the planned downstream water releases. So there is a potential trade-off between environmental and irrigation uses of water. A willingness to pay (WTP) survey was conducted in ten districts in Sri Lanka during the fourth quarter of 2008 to estimate the WTP of the general population of the country towards maintaining this important environmental resource. In the hypothetical market presented, participants were told of the need for financial contributions from the general public to ensure the release of a minimum downstream flow commitment of 50 MCM. Participants were also informed of how this flow would enhance the ecosystem of the YPC. A single bound dichotomous choice contingent valuation approach was used as the elicitation format. Nonobligatory voluntary contributions were solicited towards a trust fund that could be used to ensure release of the required quantity of water downstream during dry months. According to the results of a binary logistic regression, income, age, and religious attachments are important factors affecting the decision to contribute to environmental flow maintenance to the YPC. Sixty-five percent of respondents were willing to pay something to ensure the maintenance of an adequate environmental flow in the YPC. The estimated mean WTP for water releases to enhance the YPC is Sri Lankan Rupees (SLR) 435 per year. Over the requested payment horizon of 10 years, the present value of aggregate WTP from the Sri Lankan population to enhance the ecosystem of the YPC is SLR 12 billion. This quantity greatly surpasses the present value of net benefits from rice farming estimated at SLR 0.64 billion, which would be generated if the same quantity of water was used for irrigation for 10 years (assuming current prices and input intensities). Thus, there is a clear opportunity for national welfare gain by ensuring adequate flow in YPC

Non-user benefits emanating from enhanced water flow to Yala Protected Area Complex. [Abstract only].

Paper presented at the Water for Food Conference: national conference addressing water management issues, food security, environment and climate change in Sri Lanka, organized by the International Water Management Institute, Irrigation Department (Sri Lanka), Department of Agriculture (Sri Lanka), Hector Kobbekaduwa Agrarian Research and Training Institute, held at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall, Colombo, Sri Lanka, 9 - 11 June 200

Production function for rice in Kirindi Oya major irrigation system in Sri Lanka. [Abstract only].

In Abeyratne, F.; Ariyawardana, A. (Eds.). Third Annual Research Forum of the Sri Lanka Agricultural Economics Association (SAEA), held at the Hector Kobbakaduwa Agrarian Research and Training Institute, Colombo 7, Sri Lanka, 2 October 2009. Colombo, Sri Lanka: Hector Kobbakaduwa Agrarian Research and Training Institute (HARTI

Distinguishing Errors in Measurement from Errors in Optimization

Typical econometric production practices under duality ignore the source of disturbances. We show that, depending on the source, a different approach to estimation is required. The typical approach applies under errors in factor input measurement rather than errors in optimization. An approach to the identification of disturbance sources is suggested. We find credible evidence in U.S. agriculture of errors in optimization compared to errors of measurement, and thus reject the typical specification. Copyright 2003, Oxford University Press.

Imperfect Price Deflation in Production Systems

Numéraire prices that are measured with error create challenges for econometric estimation. A straightforward approach for a model with linear input demands, such as generated from a quadratic normalized profit function, is proposed where the numéraire price is measured with error. Numéraire measurement error is likely because expected output price is measured imperfectly by actual output price. An approach using generalized method of moments is developed to estimate such errors-in-variables (EIV) systems that avoids use of extra-sample data or additional structural specifications. Monte Carlo examination of small sample properties shows promise. Measurement error is statistically significant using aggregate U.S. agricultural data. Copyright 2007, Oxford University Press.