Tart Cherry Yield and Economic Response to Alternative Planting Densities

The study investigates the economic response of tart cherry yields to planting density using an unbalanced longitudinal yield data from tart cherry orchards in Northwest Michigan. The relationship between tart cherry yield and tree age is specified as a linear spline function and planting density interacts with tree age. A random effect method, treating block as random, is used to estimate the spline function. Stochastic simulation was used to estimate the mean and variance of the product of two random variables (price and yield), and the coefficient of variation was used as a measure of how much risk is involved in corn/soybeans production relative to tart cherries production. Estimates of the variance provided the discount factor (10%) and with yields predicted from the statistical model, relevant cost data and prices, a deterministic simulation was performed to determine the economically optimal planting density, using annualized net present value (ANPV) as the decision-making criterion. Results of the study show that at a discount rate of 10% and tart cherries priced at $0.30 per lb, planting 160 trees per acre is most profitable. A sensitivity analysis is carried out to determine the effect of variation in interest rates and tart cherry prices on the optimal planting density. Changing the discount rate to 12$0.50/lb did not change the most profitable planting density

Beyond crop production: Gender relations along the pigeon pea value chain and implications for income and food security in Malawi

Legume-intensified maize systems have been identified as a potential ―one stop‖ solution to the problems of food insecurity and declining soil fertility in Malawi. Previous research to understand legume adoption/cultivation in Malawi has failed to examine how gender relations may influence incentives to adopt and potential food security gains at the farm level, or how gender may impact participation, performance, and benefits at later value chain stages. Using a combination of key informant interviews, focus groups, and a value chain approach, we identify gender based constraints and opportunities along the pigeon pea value chain, their implications for legume adoption/expansion, for income gains, and for the food security status of legume producing/selling households. We find that due to their culturally prescribed role as heads of households, men are mostly responsible for legume cultivation decisions at the farm level and across all regions. Cultural restrictions on women‘s mobility and gender disparities in transportation assets exclude women from participating in markets, thereby giving men more access to pigeon pea sales revenue. Men‘s predominant role in pigeon pea marketing and their power to make major decisions on the allocation of crop revenue creates a disincentive among women to expand the legume at the farm level, especially since women make major labor contributions towards the cultivation and post-harvest handling of the legume. Our results indicate that income from pigeon pea sales may not always translate to improvements in household food security, especially when intra-household gender differences in market participation, consumption needs and preferences are considered. We find that post-farm level, women on the pigeon pea value chain still face mobility restrictions, unequal gender division of labor in reproductive and household chores, limited access to transportation assets, limited credit and non-farm employment opportunities which hinder the performance and benefits from participation at higher nodes of the pigeon pea value chain. Development efforts targeting increases in household food security through the promotion of pigeon pea must take our findings into consideration to improve intervention outcomes

Tart Cherry Yield and Economic Response to Alternative Planting Densities

The study investigates the economic response of tart cherry yields to planting density using an unbalanced longitudinal yield data from tart cherry orchards in Northwest Michigan. The relationship between tart cherry yield and tree age is specified as a linear spline function and planting density interacts with tree age. A random effect method, treating block as random, is used to estimate the spline function. Stochastic simulation was used to estimate the mean and variance of the product of two random variables (price and yield), and the coefficient of variation was used as a measure of how much risk is involved in corn/soybeans production relative to tart cherries production. Estimates of the variance provided the discount factor (10%) and with yields predicted from the statistical model, relevant cost data and prices, a deterministic simulation was performed to determine the economically optimal planting density, using annualized net present value (ANPV) as the decision-making criterion. Results of the study show that at a discount rate of 10% and tart cherries priced at $0.30 per lb, planting 160 trees per acre is most profitable. A sensitivity analysis is carried out to determine the effect of variation in interest rates and tart cherry prices on the optimal planting density. Changing the discount rate to 12$0.50/lb did not change the most profitable planting density.Tart cherries, pricing, planting density, Crop Production/Industries, Risk and Uncertainty, D4, D24, L11,

Trends in Per Capita Food Availability in West Africa, 1980-2009

The goal of this paper is to provide evidence of shifts in food consumption patterns in the ECOWAS countries of West Africa from 1980 through 2009.1 In particular, the analysis is intended to identify major contributors to diets, changes in the levels as well as in the composition of food supply at the country-level, and to enhance understanding of the food supply situation within the ECOWAS zone using national-level FAOSTAT food balance sheet data from 1980-2009. The paper provides detailed displays of per capita food availability for each of the 15 countries, which will serve as the basis for more detailed quantitative and qualitative analysis in subsequent reports

AN ANALYSIS OF MALAWI’S PIGEON PEA VALUE CHAIN

Background : Pigeon pea (Cajunus Cajan) is a crop that is well adapted in the semi-arid tropics. The legume is also highly drought tolerant (compared to maize, tobacco and cotton), and its long taproot is advantageous in accessing nutrients in deeper soil profiles (Snapp et al. 2003). The crop is also well adapted to the needs of poor smallholder farmers in the semi-arid tropics (Jones, Freeman, and Le Monaco 2002), because compared to maize, an important cash crop in Malawi, pigeon pea production is less resource intensive.1 Because of its adaptation to the agro-ecology in eastern Kenya, southern Malawi, northern Mozambique, southern Tanzania and northern Uganda, pigeon pea is a legume of choice grown by local population and the crop is particularly important in the diets in these regions (Jones, Freeman, and Le Monaco 2002). Smallholder farmers in eastern and southern Africa grow pigeon pea for subsistence and as a cash crop (Jones, Freeman, and Le Monaco 2002). At the household-level, the plant has multiple uses— its dried seed, pods and immature seeds are consumed as green vegetables; the leaves and stems are used for fodder and the dry stems are used as fuel (Simtowe et al. 2010). Compared to the dominant maize crop, pigeon pea grain has a high protein content of 21 to 25 percent (ibid), thus making it a valuable source of protein for many poor families who cannot afford other sources of protein, such as dairy and meat (Me-Nsope and Larkins 2016). The crop is also promoted in Malawi for its potential contribution to soil fertility through biological nitrogen fixation as well as from the leaf fall and recycling of the nutrients (Mhango, Snapp, and Phiri 2012; Snapp et al. 2002). Pigeon pea also has a strong potential to contribute to national food security through market possibilities. Almost two decades ago, Orr et al (2014) found that in the southern region of Malawi, the legume accounts for approximately 20% of household income among poor farmers. Several studies observe the potential the crop offers to improve livelihoods of resource-poor farmers (Bie 2008; De Schutter 2010); Mula and Saxena 2010). Despite these numerous potential benefits, smallholders continue to face numerous challenges that limit their ability to reap these benefits. Several questions remain about the performance, competitiveness, and profitability of pigeon pea production and marketing, and the ability of the value chain to contribute to the food security and poverty reduction objectives of the country of Malawi

Is the Future of Malawi’s Pigeon Pea Industry at the Mercy of India? An Analysis of Malawi’s Pigeon Pea Value Chain

Key Findings • Pigeon pea production and yields have increased steadily over the years, making it the most important legume crop accounting for 35% of total legume production in Malawi, in 2016/17. • It is mostly grown in the Southern region of Malawi while crop suitability maps indicate that the Central and Northern regions are relatively more suitable. • The crop is grown on small pieces of land (on average 0.5 ha/household) and is mostly intercropped with maize. • Some of the constraints include: limited access by farmers to improved seed varieties partly due to limited availability of the seeds and limited access to financial resources to enable the farmers purchase the seeds; limited access to extension by farmers; pest and disease attacks that are not managed; low farm gate prices, and limited access to markets. • India is the largest importer of pigeon pea from Malawi. However, data is not available to show how much of the crop crosses Zambia, Tanzania and/or Mozambique borders through informal trade. • In 2016/17 prices of pigeon pea plummeted (from a high of Mk 1,000/kg (>$1) in some markets to as low as ~Mk 100/kg in some markets in 2018. This is partly due to a ban on imports into India. Despite this, pigeon pea hactarege is estimated to decrease by only 9.2% and production by 10.8% in 2017/18 season. • To strengthen the pigeon pea value chain, Malawi needs to invest in the seed and extension systems, strengthen farmer organizations, secure the India market through diplomacy, diversify the export market and create demand within the country

Is the Future of Malawi’s Pigeon Pea Industry at the Mercy of India?

KEY FINDINGS -Pigeon pea production and yields have increased steadily over the years, making it the most important legume crop accounting for 35% of total legume production in Malawi, in 2016/17. -It is mostly grown in the Southern region of Malawi while crop suitability maps indicate that the Central and Northern regions are relatively more suitable. -The crop is grown on small pieces of land (on average 0.5 ha/household) and is mostly intercropped with maize. -Some of the constraints include: limited access by farmers to improved seed varieties partly due to limited availability of the seeds and limited access to financial resources to enable the farmers purchase the seeds; limited access to extension by farmers; pest and disease attacks that are not managed; low farm gate prices, and limited access to markets. -India is the largest importer of pigeon pea from Malawi. However, data is not available to show how much of the crop crosses Zambia, Tanzania and/or Mozambique borders through informal trade. -In 2016/17 prices of pigeon pea plummeted (from a high of Mk 1,000/kg (>$1) in some markets to as low as ~Mk 100/kg in some markets in 2018. This is partly due to a ban on imports into India. Despite this, pigeon pea hactarege is estimated to decrease by only 9.2% and production by 10.8% in 2017/18 season. -To strengthen the pigeon pea value chain, Malawi needs to invest in the seed and extension systems, strengthen farmer organizations, secure the India market through diplomacy, diversify the export market and create demand within the country