FROM A SASAKAWA GLOBAL 2000 PILOT PROGRAM TO SUSTAINED INCREASES IN AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTIVITY: THE CRITICAL ROLE OF GOVERNMENT POLICY IN FOSTERING THE ETHIOPIAN TRANSITION

Drawing from the experience in Ethiopia, this paper examines the role that public policy must play in building public/private partnerships to develop the extension programs, input markets, and credit services necessary to turn a pilot Sasakawa-Global 2000 program into economically sustainable national policies and programs.Sasakawa-Global 2000, Ethiopia, government regulation, agricultural input markets, Agricultural and Food Policy, Productivity Analysis,

Accelerated Tidal Circularization Via Resonance Locking in KIC 8164262

Tidal dissipation in binary star and planetary systems is poorly understood. Fortunately, eccentric binaries known as heartbeat stars often exhibit tidally excited oscillations, providing observable diagnostics of tidal circularization mechanisms and timescales. We apply tidal theories to observations of the heartbeat star KIC 8164262, which contains an F-type primary in a very eccentric orbit that exhibits a prominent tidally excited oscillation. We demonstrate that the prominent oscillation is unlikely to result from a chance resonance between tidal forcing and a stellar oscillation mode. However, the oscillation has a frequency and amplitude consistent with the prediction of resonance locking, a mechanism in which coupled stellar and orbital evolution maintain a stable resonance between tidal forcing and a stellar oscillation mode. The resonantly excited mode produces efficient tidal dissipation (corresponding to an effective tidal quality factor $Q \sim 5 \times 10^4$), such that tidal orbital decay/circularization proceeds on a stellar evolution time scale.Comment: Published in MNRAS Letters. For an interactive 3D model of the system, go to http://www.glowscript.org/#/user/slantburns/folder/Public/program/KIC816426

FINANCIAL AND RISK ANALYSIS OF MAIZE TECHNOLOGY IN ETHIOPIA, BASED ON CERES-MAIZE MODEL RESULTS

This paper presents a financial and risk analysis of improved versus traditional maize production technology in Ethiopia, based on yields simulated with the CERES-Maize crop growth model (Schulthess and Ward, 2000). The purpose is to analyze the potential performance of the SG2000/Ministry of Agriculture program technology under less favorable meteorological conditions (rainfall level and distribution), and in areas with lower agroecological potential than those covered by the SG2000/MOA program through 1998. At the time of this study, expansion of the MOA program into lower potential zones seemed likely. Results show that use of fertilizer and improved seed is highly profitable under a variety of assumptions about crop growth conditions, maize prices, and fertilizer costs. Risk is examined using simple sensitivity and breakeven analysis, and stochastic dominance analysis.Crop Production/Industries, Research and Development/Tech Change/Emerging Technologies,

Developing Cereal-Based Demand for Fertilizer among Smallholders in Southern Africa: Lessons Learned and Implications for Other African Regions

Crop Production/Industries, Downloads July 2008 - July 2009: 11,

Comparing Yields and Profitability in MADER's High- and Low-Input Maize Programs: 1997/98 Survey Results and Analysis

Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Directorate of Economics, Republic of Mozambiquefood security, food policy, Mozambique, maize, Crop Production/Industries, Q18,

Comparing Yields and Profitability in MARD's High- and Low-Input Maize Programs 1997/98 Survey Results and Analysis

This paper summarizes the results from data collected during the study’s second year, 1997/98. The analysis is based on a sample of 210 smallholder farmers in Nampula Province using three different sets of production practices: the DNER/Sasakawa- Global 2000 Program (DNER/SG) high-input package (improved open-pollinated maize, 100 kg/ha each 12-24-12 and urea fertilizer on credit); improved planting and weeding practices only (using local seed, without fertilizer); and a control group of farmers using traditional practices (no improved seed or fertilizer). The objectives of the research were to: describe the characteristics, input use patterns and yield response by group; analyze the relative contribution to yield of the different technologies, environmental factors, and management practices; and assess the profitability of the three different technology types at the farm level.food security, food policy, Mozambique, maize, Crop Production/Industries, Q18,

Incentive value and spatial certainty combine additively to determine visual priorities

How does the brain combine information predictive of the value of a visually guided task (incentive value) with information predictive of where task-relevant stimuli may occur (spatial certainty)? Human behavioural evidence indicates that these two predictions may be combined additively to bias visual selection (Additive Hypothesis), whereas neuroeconomic studies posit that they may be multiplicatively combined (Expected Value Hypothesis). We sought to adjudicate between these two alternatives. Participants viewed two coloured placeholders that specified the potential value of correctly identifying an imminent letter target if it appeared in that placeholder. Then, prior to the target’s presentation, an endogenous spatial cue was presented indicating the target’s more likely location. Spatial cues were parametricallymanipulated with regard to the information gained (in bits). Across two experiments, performance was better for targets appearing in high versus low value placeholders and better when targets appeared in validly cued locations. Interestingly, as shown with a Bayesian model selection approach, these effects did not interact, clearly supporting the Additive Hypothesis. Even when conditions were adjusted to increase the optimality of a multiplicative operation, support for it remained. These findings refute recent theories that expected value computations are the singular mechanism driving the deployment of endogenous spatial attention. Instead, incentive value and spatial certainty seem to act independently to influence visual selection

Can The Momentum be Sustained? An Economic Analysis of the Ministry of Agriculture/Sasakawa Global 2000's Experiment with Improved Cereals Technology in Ethiopia

A Joint Research Activity of: Grain Marketing Research Project/Michigan State University, Sasakawa Global 2000, Ministry of Agriculture Department of Extension and Cooperatives, Ethiopian Agricultural Research Organizationfood security, food policy, Ethiopia, SG2000, Crop Production/Industries, Q18,

Time valued life cycle greenhouse gas emissions from buildings

The UK has adopted legally binding carbon reduction targets of 34% by 2020 and 80% by 2050 (measured against the 1990 baseline). Buildings are estimated to be responsible for more than 50% of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the UK. These consist of both operational, produced during use, and embodied, produced during manufacture of materials and components, and during construction, refurbishments and demolition. A brief assessment suggests that it is unlikely that UK emission reduction targets can be met without substantial reductions in both Oc and Ec. Oc occurs over the lifetime of a building whereas the bulk of Ec occurs at the start of a building’s life. A time value for emissions could influence the decision making process when it comes to comparing mitigation measures which have benefits that occur at different times. An example might be the choice between building construction using low Ec construction materials versus building construction using high Ec construction materials but with lower Oc, although the use of high Ec materials does not necessarily imply a lower Oc. Particular time related issues examined here are: the urgency of the need to achieve large emissions reductions during the next 10 to 20 years; the earlier effective action is taken, the less costly it will be; future reduction in carbon intensity of energy supply; the carbon cycle and relationship between the release of GHG’s and their subsequent concentrations in the atmosphere. An equation is proposed, which weights emissions according to when they occur during the building life cycle, and which effectively increases Ec as a proportion of the total, suggesting that reducing Ec is likely to be more beneficial, in terms of climate change, for most new buildings. Thus, giving higher priority to Ec reductions is likely to result in a bigger positive impact on climate change and mitigation costs