The NOMAD experiment at the CERN SPS

The NOMAD experiment is a short base-line search for $\nu_{\mu}\rightarrow \nu_{\tau}$ oscillations in the CERN neutrino beam. The $\nu_{\tau}$'s are searched for through their charged-current interactions followed by the observation of the resulting $\tau^{-}$ through its electronic, muonic or hadronic decays. These decays are recognized using kinematical criteria necessitating the use of a light target which enables the reconstruction of individual particles produced in the neutrino interactions. This paper describes the various components of the NOMAD detector: the target and muon drift chambers, the electromagnetic and hadronic calorimeters, the preshower and transition radiation detectors, and the veto and trigger scintillation counters. The beam and data acquisition system are also described. The quality of the reconstruction of individual particles is demonstrated through the ability of NOMAD to observe K$^0_{\rm s}$'s, $\Lambda^0$'s and $\pi^0$'s. Finally, the observation of $\tau^{-}$ through its electronic decay being one of the most promising channels in the search, the identification of electrons in NOMAD is discussed

Land Consolidation as Technical Change: Effects on Off-farm Labour Supply in Vietnam

This paper studies land reform through the reduction of land fragmentation in rice production and views it as a form of technical change. The analysis hypothesizes that the impacts of land consolidation depend on the factor bias of this technical change. At a theoretical level, if the technical change is factor neutral, it will reduce off-farm labor supply and slow rural structural transformation away from rice production. Conversely, if the technical change is factor-biased and the elasticity of substitution between factors is low enough, the opposite conclusions are possible. The paper studies the implications of these propositions for Vietnam by developing an empirical analysis of the impact of rice land consolidation on farm and nonfarm outcomes. The findings indicate that the reduction of land fragmentation – land consolidation – decreases farm labor supply, reduces labor intensity in agriculture and raises farm profits and productivity. In quantitative terms, if land fragmentation declines by 1 per cent, farm labor supply decreases by 0.36 per cent. Farm profits and productivity per hectare increase by 0.12 per cent and 0.055 per cent, respectively. Similarly, land consolidation releases more farm labor to nonfarm sectors, and increases nonfarm profits. Based on these findings, the paper argues that land consolidation should be encouraged through development of institutions related to land markets, such as land ownership rights and the promotion of land rental markets

Land Consolidation as Technical Change: Effects on Off-farm Labour Supply in Vietnam

This paper studies land reform through the reduction of land fragmentation in rice production and views it as a form of technical change. The analysis hypothesizes that the impacts of land consolidation depend on the factor bias of this technical change. At a theoretical level, if the technical change is factor neutral, it will reduce off-farm labor supply and slow rural structural transformation away from rice production. Conversely, if the technical change is factor-biased and the elasticity of substitution between factors is low enough, the opposite conclusions are possible. The paper studies the implications of these propositions for Vietnam by developing an empirical analysis of the impact of rice land consolidation on farm and nonfarm outcomes. The findings indicate that the reduction of land fragmentation – land consolidation – decreases farm labor supply, reduces labor intensity in agriculture and raises farm profits and productivity. In quantitative terms, if land fragmentation declines by 1 per cent, farm labor supply decreases by 0.36 per cent. Farm profits and productivity per hectare increase by 0.12 per cent and 0.055 per cent, respectively. Similarly, land consolidation releases more farm labor to nonfarm sectors, and increases nonfarm profits. Based on these findings, the paper argues that land consolidation should be encouraged through development of institutions related to land markets, such as land ownership rights and the promotion of land rental markets

Emerging Gender Issues in Vietnam Pig Value Chain

Using a broad systematic literature review of peer reviewed publications and grey literature, the paper summarizes the most relevant gender issues in the pig value chain of Vietnam, and the ways in which these could be addressed. Specifically, women were found to face more severe constraints than men in accessing productive resources, markets and services. They have limited access to land use rights and therefore have limited access to resources for pig production. Besides, time constraints and cultural norms hinder women from actively participating in trainings and extension activities. Several projects/programs have been undertaken to help reduce the gender gaps. Lessons learnt from successful projects indicate that approaching women farmers via the Women’s Union is an effective way to increase the active participation of women in trainings. Identifying and providing technical trainings that meet specific needs of women farmers could lead to productivity increase. Besides, it is important to facilitate collaboration and dialogue between men and women to encourage men’s support of women’s empowerment and to improve the positive impacts of project interventions

Emerging Gender Issues in Vietnam Pig Value Chain

Using a broad systematic literature review of peer reviewed publications and grey literature, the paper summarizes the most relevant gender issues in the pig value chain of Vietnam, and the ways in which these could be addressed. Specifically, women were found to face more severe constraints than men in accessing productive resources, markets and services. They have limited access to land use rights and therefore have limited access to resources for pig production. Besides, time constraints and cultural norms hinder women from actively participating in trainings and extension activities. Several projects/programs have been undertaken to help reduce the gender gaps. Lessons learnt from successful projects indicate that approaching women farmers via the Women’s Union is an effective way to increase the active participation of women in trainings. Identifying and providing technical trainings that meet specific needs of women farmers could lead to productivity increase. Besides, it is important to facilitate collaboration and dialogue between men and women to encourage men’s support of women’s empowerment and to improve the positive impacts of project interventions

Can Micro-credit Empower HIV+ Women? An Exploratory Case Study in Northern Vietnam

Vietnamese women are subject to many restrictions related to gender and their position in the household that affect their ability to make strategic choices. For example, they have unequal access to capital and other resources. Studies have shown how gender inequities cause women, especially poor women, to bear the brunt of the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Micro-credit through women’s groups has been reported to contribute to women’s empowerment. This raises the question of whether and how microcredit programs for women in the special circumstance of living with an HIV infection can empower these women and improve their economic status and their health. This article describes how a small group of HIV+ women in Hanoi followed over a period of two years gained in five dimensions of empowerment at the household level by micro-credit offered through a support group

Factors Contributing to Animal Health Risks: Implication for Smallholder Pig Production in Vietnam

In Vietnam, there are about four million households producing pigs of which more than half are producing at small scale, i.e., about one to two pigs per production cycle. One of the most critical constraints to pig production, especially for small scale, is the presence of animal disease. Many types of diseases have been reported by smallholder pig producers in Hung Yen such as diarrhea, pneumonia, fever, blue ear, head edema and pasteurellosis. The percentage of sick pigs is highest among piglets (27 percent), as compared with growing pigs and fatteners (five percent each). Diseases could lead to death of pigs, resulting in economic losses to the pig producers. Estimates of the cost of mortality in pig production in Hung Yen were about 3.3 million VND per household, accounting for about 13.6 percent of total income from pig production. Results of this study suggest that there are some practices that contribute to mitigating disease risk and those practices can be easily applied at small scale of pig production. These practices are related to applying a suitable production scale, isolating different age classes of pigs, designing pig houses and using specialized livestock farming tools and sanitation. The value of losses avoided from the above practices is estimated at 320.3 USD per household per year