Agricultural Input Subsidies in Pakistan: Nature and Impact

Pakistan has a history of subsidising agricultural inputs. Although none of the agricultural inputs were subsidised during the early 1950s, the process was initiated in the second half of the decade by subsidising chemical fertilisers in order to popularise their use [Niaz (1984)]. The list of subsidised inputs and the rate structure of the subsidies were expanded considerably throughout the Sixties. Towards the end of the Sixties, it was noted that almost all the agricultural inputs including fertilisers, insecticides, seeds, irrigation water, tubewell installations, and the operation and purchase of tractors and tractor-related equipment were subsidised in one form or another [Aresvik (1967) and Kuhnen (1989)]. In the 1970s, some curtailment of subsidies occurred as a result of input price increases which followed the worldwide recession, a major oil shock, the credit crunch, the war with India, and the consequent steep devaluation of Pakistani Rupee [Chaudhry (1982)]. Although the subsidies had survived the onslaught of the Seventies and tended to persist on most inputs, the government became totally committed to their removal beginning with the 1980s, under pressures from the IMF and the World Bank [Government of Pakistan (1980)]. As a consequence, there was a total withdrawal of subsidy from seeds, insecticides, tubewells, and tractors. A phased-out withdrawal of fertiliser subsidy, culminating in 1984-85 in the case of nitrogenous fertilisers and in 1989-90 in the case of phosphatic and potash fertilisers, was also to be undertaken [World Bank (1986)]. The purpose of the present paper is to highlight the progress of withdrawal of input subsidies in Pakistan, to study the nature of the input subsidies and possibly analyse the impact of the withdrawal of subsidies on the farm sector. Needless to add that the study is also intended to make policy recommendations on the various aspects of subsidy withdrawal.

Longitudinal Seismic Behavior of Earth Dams

Earthquake-induced vibration in earth darns in a direction parallel to the darn axis is studied using analytical elastic models. The non-homogeneity of the darn materials is taken into account by assuming specific variations of the elastic moduli along the depth due to the confining pressure. Based on the models, a rational procedure is developed to estimate dynamic stresses and strains (both shear and normal) and corresponding elastic moduli and damping factors for earth darns from their hysteretic responses to real earthquakes, utilizing the hysteresis loops from the crest and base records. This leads to a study of the variation of stiffness and damping properties with the strain levels of different loops. Finally, an analysis of real earthquake performance of an earth dam, in the longitudinal direction, yields data on the shear moduli, damping factors, and nonlinear constitutive relations for the dam materials; the Ramberg-Osgood nonlinear stress-strain curves are then fitted to these data

On the existence of optimum cyclic burst-correcting codes

It is shown that for each integer b >= 1 infinitely many optimum cyclic b-burst-correcting codes exist, i.e., codes whose length n, redundancy r, and burst-correcting capability b, satisfy n = 2^{r-b+1} - 1. Some optimum codes for b = 3, 4, and 5 are also studied in detail

Comments on Percrocuta carnifex (Carnivora, Percrocutidae) based on new fossil material from the Nagri Formation (Middle Siwaliks) of Hasnot, Pakistan

New dentary material of Percrocuta carnifex (Pilgrim, 1913) from the Nagri Formation ofHasnot, Pakistan, is described. Specimens of this species from the Siwalik continental deposits described by previous authors are discussed in detail. In addition to the taxonomic description of the new material, the occurrence and stratigraphic position of this species within the Siwalik Hills are re-evaluated. Except for the holotype, the specimens assigned to this species are very fragmentary. The newly discovered material, a right mandibular ramus containing teeth, is the best preserved specimen found to date. The comparative analysis, based on tooth morphology and dimensions of previously reported specimens and of the specimen studied here, suggests that this species is restricted to the Chinji and Nagri formations. Finally, the dental morphological features of the studied specimen and those of other species of Percrocuta are compared, and then the phylogenetic relationship between these species is discussed. The described specimen is thus important for the taxonomic, stratigraphic and phylogenetic knowledge of P. carnifex from the Siwaliks

Perencanaan Ulang Struktur Gedung Tahan Gempa Menggunakan Metode Dinding Geser Yang Mengacu Pada Sni – 1726 – 2012 Pada Gedung Dekanat Fakultas Teknik Universitas Brawijaya

Kemajuan ilmu dan teknologi berpengaruh besar dalam perkembangan Indonesia di segala aspek, terutama dalam aspek pembangunan. Pemerintah berperan aktif dalam mewujudkan pembangunan dalam rangka memenuhi kebutuhan hidup manusia yang beragam. Bsolusi untuk menciptakan bangunan tinggi dalam mengatasi masalah tersebut. Sesuai pedoman peraturan gempa terbaru SNI – 1726 – 2012 terdapat delapan alternatif sistem atau subsistem yang dapat digunakan dalam merencanakan struktur gedung bertingkat tinggi yang tahan terhadap gempa. Salah satu sistem yang saat ini menjadi alternatif adalah sistem dinding geser. Dalam hal ini dilakukan perencanaan ulang Gedung Dekanat Fakultas Teknik Universitas Brawijaya yang terdiri dari delapan lantai. Tujuan dari penulisan tugas akhir ini adalah untuk memperoleh besarnya momen, gaya lintang, dan gaya lateral yang akan digunakan untuk menghitung luas tulangan dan dimensi elemen struktur balok, kolom, dan dinding geser. Konsep perencanaan yang digunakan adalah metode kekuatan yang biasanya disebut dengan ultimate strength method, dimana beban bekerja pada elemen struktur dinaikkan secukupnya dengan beberapa faktor reduksi untuk mendapatkan beban yang mana keruntuhan dinyatakan “telah diambang pintu” atau biasa disebut juga dengan beban berfakor. Pada perencanaan ulang ini dilakukan beberapa Perubahan terhadap desain awal yaitu Perubahan desain gedung, dimensi elemen struktur, dan dinding geser. Perencanaan tulangan lentur dan tulangan geser dibatasi pada Portal E yang dianggap telah mewakili portal yang lainnya. Dari hasil perhitungan untuk tulangan lentur balok dan kolom diperoleh tulangan D22 dan untuk tulangan geser diperoleh Ø10 dengan jarak sengkang yang berbeda – beda. Untuk dinding geser diperoleh tulangan horizontal dan tulangan vertikal yaitu Ø10 – 200 (2 lapis). Hasil perhitungan yang didapat digunakan untuk gambar detail penulangan. Kata

Structural and Biological Behaviour of Co(II), Cu(II) and Ni(II) Metal Complexes of Some Amino Acid Derived Schiff-Bases

Biologically active tridentate amino acid (Alanine, Glycine & Tyrosine) derived Schiff-bases and their Co(II), Cu(II) & Ni(II) complexes have been synthesised and characterised on the basis of their conductance and magnetic measurements, elemental analysis and 13C-NMR, 1H-NMR, IR and electronic spectral data. These Schiff-bases and their complexes have been evaluated for their antibacterial activity against bacterial species such as Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumonae, Proteus vulgarus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa and this activity data show the metal complexes to be more antibacterial than the Schiff-bases against one or more bacterial species

Size - Productivity Relationship in Pakistan's Agriculture in the Seventies

A large majority of the less developed countries, including Pakistan, suffer from low levels of productivity in agriculture. In view of the scarcity of farm land and the limitations of intensive margins of cultivation, the importance of raising these levels may not be underestimated in terms of a more judicious use of labour force, rapid growth of agricultural production and increased availability of funds for industrial development. Productivity gains favouring well-to-do farmers, however, may produce undesirable results such as deterioration of income inequalities, political instability and social unrest, and must be avoided as far as possible. It is in this context that the distribution of productivity gains among various size groups should be taken to be as important as the aggregate growth of farm productivity, if not more