Governance Control Mechanisms in Portuguese Agricultural Credit Cooperatives

Over the last decade Portuguese Agricultural Credit Cooperatives (ACCs) have increasingly face survival challenges related to their difficulty in gathering equity. The main source of ACCs equity is the net benefit; thus, understanding how ACCs governance can work on correcting bad economic performance is of crucial importance to overcome this constraint. The main objective of this paper is to describe the governance control mechanisms in the ACCs. Five governance mechanisms are identified: board and chairman change (internal mechanisms), central ACC intervention by an agent or by management board replacement and merger. Empirical analysis proved that the internal governance mechanisms activity is not related to the ACC performance. Additionally: (a) ACCs with a central ACC agent and merged ACCs hold a weaker credit management and a heavy administrative costs structure and profitability problems; and (b) ACCs with a management board replacement by the central ACC hold a weaker credit management and present solvency problems.cooperatives, credit, governance, multinomial logit, Agricultural Finance, D23, L29 ,

Differences in portuguese credit institutions' lending and investment behaviour in a time of slump

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the influence of the different property rights models of credit institutions (public, private, cooperative or mutual) in their credit policy and investment behaviour and in response to the current crisis and regulatory framework adjustments. Taking Portuguese credit institutions as the object, it concludes that overall banks' business models are qualitatively identical and their lending and investment behaviours are similar, except for the saver profile of cooperative banks and the deeper focus on loans to customers to the detriment of financial investments of the mutual savings banks. Moreover, the reactions to the crisis were equivalent, except for the state-owned banks, which presented the most favourable reaction, albeit not deep enough to be significant.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Ownership and governance of Portuguese credit co-operatives: the legal framework

Today, financial system enterprises operate in an environment full of global opportunities and threats; and in the sequence of corporate scandals and world financial crisis, the banking activity is constrained by ethical self-restraining as well as innovative regulations enforced by domestic and global governance institutions. The dual nature of credit cooperative is reflected by their formal and institutional solutions. They need to meet both banking and cooperative regulations, especially for those dedicated to relations between the two areas; hence, they result from considering their singularity and consistency. The main aim of this paper is to provide an insight of the Portuguese legal framework of cooperative credit

Governance control mechanisms in Portuguese agricultural credit cooperatives

Over the last decade Portuguese Agricultural Credit Cooperatives (ACCs) have increasingly face survival challenges related to their difficulty in gathering equity. The main source of ACCs equity is the net benefit; thus, understanding how ACCs governance can work on correcting bad economic performance is of crucial importance to overcome this constraint. The main objective of this paper is to describe the governance control mechanisms in the ACCs. Five governance mechanisms are identified: board and chairman change (internal mechanisms), central ACC intervention by an agent or by management board replacement and merger. Empirical analysis proved that the internal governance mechanisms activity is not related to the ACC performance. Additionally: (a) ACCs with a central ACC agent and merged ACCs hold a weaker credit management and a heavy administrative costs structure and profitability problems; and (b) ACCs with a management board replacement by the central ACC hold a weaker credit management and present solvency problems

The Portuguese agricultural credit cooperatives governance model

The Portuguese Agricultural Credit Cooperatives (ACC) play a significant role in the national banking system. At the present, they face the challenge of matching the application of the traditional cooperative rules (which leads to a resulting set of vaguely defined property rights) with being successful in an ever more strong and competitive banking sector. The main objective of this paper is to understand the Portuguese ACC governance model, focusing on the strategies used to ameliorate the decision and investment problems arising from the strict application of traditional cooperative rules. Contrary to most of their pairs, Portuguese ACC choose to focus their efforts on the cooperative activity and performance rather than on the cooperative rules it selves. Although that strategy proved to be financial fruitful, it drives Portuguese ACC to a growing conflict of interests and to an identity crisi

The social performance of credit institutions

This paper analyses the social performance of the different Portuguese credit institutions, namely, their conduct in terms of financial inclusion, job creation and social responsibility. Results show “stakeholders view” banks superior performance in promoting economic and social development. Cooperative banks, in particular, mainly located on low density regions have a crucial function in the territorial and economic financial inclusion of those populations. That role was not affected by the current crisis. Moreover, banks are aware of their social responsibilities and making efforts to become more sustainable. The public bank proved to be the most socially responsible institution. Further, bigger and more internationalized banks adopted international principles regarding sustainable financing and show good environmental protection performances, contrary to the cooperative and mutual savings banks which have a better performance for social conduct.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Challenges to the Sustainable Development of the Sheep Sector in Mediterranean Mountain Areas

The paper discusses a case study of the Trás-os-Montes region to assess the resilience and sustainability of the local sheep sector. The area is a low-density mountainous region where small ruminant production is a relevant sector of the economy and is mainly based on natural resources. The study employed a mixed methodological approach to identify the socio-economic profile of different actors and the main obstacles and opportunities of this livestock activity. The research found that the main strength of the sector is the intrinsic quality of the products with origin in the various indigenous sheep breeds. However, marketing channels associated with this mechanism are generally limited, and its market shares are minimal. The analysis highlights the constraints resulting from the holdings’ small average size, the advanced age of most farmers, the lack of successors, the low profitability of the lamb meat, and producers’ weak bargaining power. Also, wool's lack of economic interest is an economic and environmental problem for farmers.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

A fileira da maça em Portugal - produção e mercados

A maçã é um dos principais frutos à escala mundial. Em Portugal a macieira está entre as principais espécies frutícolas ocupando cerca de 14 mil hectares, com produções próximas das 300 mil toneladas anuais. O mercado evoluiu para a diferenciação, apostando na certificação e qualificação, com nomes e modos de produção protegidos, bem como, produtos dirigidos a segmentos de mercado específicos, explorando a diversidade e possibilidade de escolha dos consumidores. Todavia, o sucesso do setor depende das ações coordenadas de toda a fileira, especialmente, no reforço da garantia da quantidade e qualidade do produto. Com o presente estudo pretende-se contribuir para o desenvolvimento e competividade da produção frutífera nacional, nomeadamente, de maça. Assim, analisa-se o setor da maça, retratando-o ao nível da produção, comercialização, consumo e comércio externo, incluindo, as estratégias de incremento do valor acrescentado adotadas. O estudo abarca o período 2005-2015 e tem por base múltipla informação estatística, complementada com outras fontes secundárias e informação primária, obtida junto de agentes integrantes na fileira.Este trabalho foi financiado por: Projeto PRODER, Medida 4.1. Introdução de telas anti granizo em macieira: avaliação de efeitos colaterais e impacte económico (PA 54823).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Da produção ao consumo: breve análise do mercado nacional de amêndoa

A produção mundial de Frutos de Casca Rija – FCR cresceu significativamente na última década, esperando-se a manutenção desta tendência para os próximos anos, motivada pelo crescente consumo nos países desenvolvidos e emergentes. Em Portugal, esta atividade desempenha um papel fundamental na sustentabilidade das economias das regiões rurais, sendo, em algumas delas, a principal fonte de rendimento. A presente comunicação visa contribuir para o incremento da competitividade da fileira dos FCR, em particular, da amêndoa. Para tal, analisa a produção, comercialização e consumo de amêndoa, a nível nacional e internacional, no período 2004-2014, com base em múltipla informação estatística, complementada com outras fontes secundárias relacionadas com a temática, bem como, informação primária obtida junto de agentes integrantes na fileira. Nas últimas décadas a cultura da amendoeira foi alvo de desinteresse, tendo-se assistido ao abandono de parte significativa do amendoal nacional. Todavia, esta tendência inverteu-se recentemente, tendo-se registado uma evolução positiva a partir de 2011, especialmente com o aumento da área de amendoal em Trás-os-Montes e no Alentejo. Tal, é resultado da crise económica que o país atravessa e da crescente valorização deste fruto, cujo preço ao produtor, no último quinquénio, exibiu um acréscimo superior a 90%. Por outro lado, a fileira debate-se com problemas de eficiência no elo da distribuição e com a concorrência de outros países produtores com preços mais competitivos. A estrutura da produção, fortemente atomizada, resulta na pequena dimensão económica dos produtores, situação agravada pelo fraco desempenho das Organizações de Produtores – OP do setor. Ao nível da procura observa-se que em resultado da sua excelente qualidade, a amêndoa produzida em Portugal tem boa procura interna e externa, sendo a produção insuficiente para responder às necessidades internas. Quanto à procura externa verifica-se que a proximidade geográfica com Espanha e os laços históricos com as ex-colónias têm sido cruciais para as exportações nacionais, assumindo especial relevância os mercados de Angola e Brasil.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Identity and Perception of the Sheperds' Profession

The paper discusses the challenges facing sheep farmers in Portugal, particularly in hiring and retaining shepherds. A qualitative study was conducted based on personal interviews with 65 shepherds in the Trás-os-Montes region to identify their vision of pastoralism, their profession, and their roles. The study found that most shepherds are male and aging, with low educational levels, and livestock production as their main occupation. The main motivations for the profession were to work with animals, lack of better job opportunities, and a source of income. Most shepherds have a positive image of the profession but believe it is not socially valorized, and half do not wish to be followed by their heirs. The paper highlights the importance of linking the public perception of pastoralism with environmental and social values to increase the attractiveness of shepherding as a profession.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio