An Economic Assessment of the BSE Crisis in Canada: Impacts of Border Closure and BSE Recovery Programs

Using a static, multi-market, partial equilibrium model this paper assesses the economic consequences three alternative government responses to the BSE crisis in Canada: 1) expansion in slaughter capacity, 2) partial destruction of the cattle herd, and 3) deficiency payments. Each of these policies is evaluated under four different border situations 1) free trade in young beef only, the 2004 baseline situation; 2) autarky; 3) free trade in young beef and cattle; and 4) complete free trade. The results of the policy analysis are quite sensitive to the border assumptions employed making it impossible to select a "best" policy without perfect foresight with respect to the timing and the degree of border opening.Livestock Production/Industries,

An Economic Assessment of the BSE Crisis in Canada: Impact of Border Closure and BSE Recovery Programs

This article assesses the economic consequences of three alternative government responses to the BSE crisis in Canada: 1) expansion in slaughter capacity; 2) partial destruction of the cattle herd; and 3) deficiency payments. Each of these policies is evaluated under four different border situations: 1) autarky; 2) free trade in young beef only; 3) free trade in young beef and cattle; and 4) complete free trade. The results of the policy analysis are quite sensitive to the border assumptions, making it impossible to select a “best†policy without perfect foresight with respect to the timing and the extent of the border opening.BSE, cattle and beef, partial equilibrium model, simulation, trade ban, International Relations/Trade, Livestock Production/Industries,

Decomposition of Productivity Growth in Sri Lanka’s Paddy Sector : Roles of Area Expansion and Chemical Fertilizer Use

Peer reviewe

An Analysis of Labour Use Pattern in Thirappane Village Tank Cascade System in Sri Lanka: Determinants and Potential Effects of Off-farm Employment

Participation in off-farm employment is a strategy adopted by farmers in many developing countries to increase and stabilize their incomes. However, empirical evidence on its effects on management of natural resources is context specific. This study examines the pattern on labor use with special emphasis on determinants and potential effects of participation in off-farm employment by the villagers reside in Thirappane tank cascade system in Sri Lanka. Data gathered from a primary survey conducted among 134 households were used for analysis. The results of probit models revealed that the farmers who possess agricultural assets have a higher probability of joining employment in other-farms and those who are educated and own large farms participate in non-farm sector employment. Community management of the village tank cascade systems will be challenging owing to the increased interest in off-farm activities by the able

Effect of Potassium on Growth, Fruit Quality Improvements and Resistance to Anthracnose in Field Grown Capsicum (Capsicum Annum L. Cv. ‘Hungarian Yellow Wax’)

Postharvest losses of capsicum crop accounts for 30-40% of total crop production. It has been shown that postharvest losses of capsicums can be reduced significantly with the application of potassium due to improvements in disease resistance and fruit quality. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of higher doses of potassium (K) on plant growth, yield and fruit quality parameters and resistance to anthracnose disease of capsicum cv. ‘Hungarian Yellow wax’. Three different levels of potassium, Department of Agriculture (DOA) recommended level [180g per bed (control)], double the level (360g per bed) and three times of the level (540g per bed) were applied to the soil in a Randomized Complete Block design. The same experiment was repeated in three farmer fields of Naula Grama Niladhari (GN) division in Dambulla Divisional Secretariat of Matale district of the central province of Sri Lanka. Plant growth parameters were measured at two week intervals, and fruit quality parameters (TSS, Ph, %TA), fruit physical parameters (length, width, pericarp thickness, fresh weight, firmness and cell wall thickness) were recorded. Finally the resistance to diseases of capsicum fruits was also tested by inoculation of Colletotrichum capsici to the fruits. This study concludes that application of higher doses of potassium improves some plant growth parameters (height and plant diameter at base), fruit physical parameters (fruit length, width , fresh weight, firmness and cell wall thickness). The tripled and doubled the dose of potassium application reduced anthracnose disease by over 75% and 95% respectively indicating that higher level of K could have a significant impact in reducing postharvest losses of capsicum in local conditions KEYWORDS: Potassium application, capsicum anthracnose, fruit qualit

Silicon Supplementation by Rice Hull Leachate on the Growth, Yield, Fruit Parameters and Anthracnose Disease Resistance of Capsicum ‘MuriaF1’

Silicon has prooven beneficial in growth, yield and disease resistance of plants. Currently, the differentchemical sources; sodium silicate, potassium silicate and calcium silicate have been used to supply Si forplants. However, rice hull is one of the natural sources of Si which has not properly utilized. It has beenreported that 5 g of rice hull leach 40 ppm of soluble Si in a week of soaking period. Thus, this research wasconducted to investigate the effect of rice hull leachate as a Si source, on growth, yield and fruit parametersand also disease resistance of hydroponically grown Capsicum annum L. ‘Muria F1’. Leaching studies wereconducted to determine the optimum level of Si leached by rice hull, by soaking them in different time periods(days). This leachate was incorporated to the plants grown in hydroponic media supplemented with twodifferent nutrient solutions i.e Nutrient formula (NF) and Albert solution.The growth, yield and fruit qualityparameters were measured and the resistance against anthracnose disease was assessed by artificialinoculation of fruits with Colletotrichum gloeosporioides and measuring the lesion area. Capsicum plantsgrown in rice hull leachate with either nutrient solution showed significant increase in, shoot length (>12%),number of leaves (>27%), leaf area (>42%) fruit length (>12%), fruit fresh weight (>37%) and yield(>44%) and also a significant reduction of anthracnose disease (>43%) compared to control. The resultsrevealed that rice hull leachate could be used as a low cost silicon source in hydroponic media to enhanceperformance of Capsicum cv. Muria F1.Keywords: Rice hull, Capsicum annum L., silicon, Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, hydroponic

An Economic Assessment of the BSE Crisis in Canada: Impact of Border Closure and BSE Recovery Programs: Technical Annex

This document is the technical annex to the full paper "An Economic Assessment of the BSE Crisis in Canada: Impact of Border Closure and BSE Recovery Programs" which is available separately

Agricultural Trade Policy Options for Sri Lanka During Crisis Times

Sri Lanka, trade, policy, Agricultural and Food Policy, International Development, International Relations/Trade,