Short Data Gap Filling Algorithm Prototype

This design note describes an algorithm to fill short data gaps encountered in pixel or flux time series using auto-regressive modeling techniques

MULTIPLE JOB-HOLDING AMONG U.S. FARM WOMEN: OFF-FARM WORK AND ON-FARM DECISION-MAKING USING A BARGAINING APPROACH

Participation rates for farm women in off-farm labor markets continue to increase, as does their participation in making major farm decisions such as whether to buy or sell land, adopt a new production practice or invest in farm equipment. Data from the Survey of U.S. Farm Women conducted in 2001 by Penn State in collaboration with researchers at the Economic Research Service and in collaboration with NASS are used to examine the multiple work roles of farm women off the farm and in farming. Descriptive statistics for the results of the 2001 survey are compared to those from the last major survey of U.S. farm women conducted by Rosenfeld in 1980. Then, using data limited to farm couples, models of job choice considering jointness in participation are estimated and tested under conditions of presence or absence of children, followed by estimation of models of on-farm decision-making using a household bargaining approach. Of particular interest is the effect of the >path= of intergenerational farm transfer (i.e., if inherited or purchased through her family or through her spouse=s/partner=s family) on job choice and farm decision-making. Results show that the work decisions of farm couples are correlated, both when children are present and when they are not. Further, the >path= of farm transfer influences the choices that women make. The transferof the farm through her family has in some cases a positive influence on her choices, both in terms of her involvement on the farm and her participation in farm decisions. Farm transfer through the husband=s/partner=s family generally has strong negative influences on her participation in farm decision-making. Keywords: bargaining models, multiple job-holding, decision-making, intergenerational transfer, farm women, off-farm employment, employment, laborbargaining models, multiple job-holding, decision-making, intergenerational transfer, farm women, off-farm employment, employment, labor, Labor and Human Capital,

IMPACT OF CREDIT ON LABOR ALLOCATION AND CONSUMPTION PATTERNS IN MALAWI

Using a bargaining framework, this paper analyzes the impact of access to credit on household labor allocation and on consumption expenditures in rural Malawi. The labor participation decisions of married men and women and female heads are estimated using random-effects probit models, and are corrected for endogeneity of access to credit. Expenditure shares are estimated using ordinary least squares and Tobit models.Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety, Labor and Human Capital,

Volatile Price and Declining Profitability of Black Pepper in India: Disquieting Future

Historically, black pepper has been a highly tradable commodity; its domestic price, production as well as profitability are highly influenced by its international prices. In 2003-04, the domestic prices of black pepper plunged down to Rs 74/kg from a peak of Rs 215/kg in 1999-2000. The study has therefore been undertaken to identify the drivers for its production, examine the profitability of the farmers and analyse the price behaviour and mechanism of price transmission in black pepper. Like other major spices, the production of black pepper in India has increased substantially over the years. Area under the crop and lagged export quantity have been the main drivers influencing pepper production in the country. From the field survey in two major black pepper growing districts, viz. Idukki and Wayanad, it has been revealed that the production of pepper has become unremunerative due to depressed prices in the domestic and/or global markets coupled with increasing input costs. Further, from the projections for production and demand for black pepper during the period 2005-2015, it is learnt that its production is going to outpace the domestic demand in a big way. This requires a serious attention because until new and diversified export markets are not exploited, the farmers would face further crash in farm gate price due to huge surplus stock. From the co-integration analysis, it has emerged that the three series of prices — farm harvest, domestic, and export, have been moving together over the years and the prices have tended to find equilibrium faster in the long-run than during the preliberalization period. The availability of disease-free planting material and financial assistance on easy terms would help the farmers to replace the senile plantation for realizing increased crop yield and profitability. The specific policies for integrating farm harvest price with retail price will not only help the producers but also make these spices somewhat more affordable to the domestic consumers.Crop Production/Industries, Marketing,