A separable programming model incorporating linear demand functions for grains and vegetable oils: an analysis of United States agriculture in 1985

Applications of linear programming in analyzing and evaluating various policies related to agriculture have been numerous. The use of quadratic programming is relatively less common. The computational aspects of the problem present an important limitation on the use of quadratic programming when size of the model used is relatively large. In the present study, separable programming was applied to solve a quadratic programming model of U.S. agriculture. The quadratic objective function of the model was transformed into a separable function using eigenvalues and eigenvectors of the demand matrix. The quadratic programming model is formulated in such a way that number of constraints in the model is relatively small which facilitates application of separable programming to a broad spectrum of problems;The quadratic programming model is used to analyze the impact of alternative energy price and supply situations on the crop production sector of U.S. agriculture. In recent years, continuous rise in energy prices and prospects of reduction in fossil fuel-based energy supply are having numerous effects on the use of energy in all sectors of the economy and development of competing energy sources. In the present study, impact of alternative energy situations is analyzed on a number of variables related to agriculture which may be listed as follows: land, water, nitrogen and energy use in farming, regional crop production patterns, methods of farming, resource and output prices, energy and nonenergy related expenses in crop production, farm income and consumer expenditures on farm products at farm level;With increased energy prices, reduction in the use of inputs such as water and commercial fertilizer nitrogen which require energy was observed similarly. Reduction in irrigated farming and increase in acreages under minimum tillage were also observed as means of accomplishing reductions in energy use. But the decrease in energy used in farm production was very small relative to the increase in energy prices. Crop prices at farm-level, total cost of crop production, consumer expenditures at farm level and net farm income all increase due to increased energy prices;When energy supplies are reduced, the main results are similar to those observed when the energy prices increased. Regional level reduction in energy supply, rather than the national level reduction causes the nonenergy related cost of production to increase under the former alternative relative to the latter

Roof above the head : A qualitative assessment of rural housing in India

The development of rural housing in a manner that results in adequate, quality shelter for inhabitants of Mahatma Gandhi’s “real India” is a challenge before the nation. What are the issues confronting rural housing development in India? The litany of its woes is endless. At first impression, rural housing is vulnerable to weaknesses in the delivery system for housing materials and services. Gradually, it dawns on the observer that the sector is deeply affected by the infrastructure deficit – roads, electricity supply, drinking water and sanitation. It has been bypassed by the numerous economic revolutions that have made India a vibrant economic superpower. For instance housing finance, which played a key role in the urban housing explosion, is conspicuous by its absence in the rural setting. Additionally, the limited mobility of rural households, the lack of vibrancy in the market for village properties and the marked volatility in agricultural incomes combine to dampen the prospects of this nebulous sector.Housing

Estimation and analysis of beef gain roughage-concentrate production functions

Through the 1960s and early 1970s, many cattle feeders formulated feedlot rations composed primarily of grains. Rations high in grain were relatively inexpensive and economical. For example, Scott and Broadbent [20] constructed a programming model in 1972 that utilized the California net energy system as developed by Lofgreen and Garett [16] and adopted by the National Research Council (NRC) of the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) to estimate economical rations. They concluded, In most feedlot operations, it appears that the maximum possible rate of gain w ill be most profitable under usual price relationships” [20, p. 24]. Although maximizing rate of gain is a biological objective, it was congruent with the economic objective of maximizing profits. Therefore, there were several reasons for little interest in investigating the trade-off or substitution rates between roughages and concentrates in the beef feeding ration. First, concentrates were relatively inexpensive. Second, addition of roughages to rations generally reduces rate of gain. A longer time on feed thus increases the nonfeed costs, such as labor, yardage fees, and carrying charges, and reduces the annual volume of a lot. Third, roughages generally are bulkier and more difficult to handle than concentrates. They may require more expensive equipment and large long-term capital investments. Fourth, many feedlots were designed and constructed to provide high-concentrate rations. Hence, little effort was exerted toward investigating the rate of substitution between roughages and concentrates

A separable programming model incorporating linear demand functions for grains and vegetable oils: an analysis of United States agriculture in 1985

Applications of linear programming in analyzing and evaluating various policies related to agriculture have been numerous. The use of quadratic programming is relatively less common. The computational aspects of the problem present an important limitation on the use of quadratic programming when size of the model used is relatively large. In the present study, separable programming was applied to solve a quadratic programming model of U.S. agriculture. The quadratic objective function of the model was transformed into a separable function using eigenvalues and eigenvectors of the demand matrix. The quadratic programming model is formulated in such a way that number of constraints in the model is relatively small which facilitates application of separable programming to a broad spectrum of problems;The quadratic programming model is used to analyze the impact of alternative energy price and supply situations on the crop production sector of U.S. agriculture. In recent years, continuous rise in energy prices and prospects of reduction in fossil fuel-based energy supply are having numerous effects on the use of energy in all sectors of the economy and development of competing energy sources. In the present study, impact of alternative energy situations is analyzed on a number of variables related to agriculture which may be listed as follows: land, water, nitrogen and energy use in farming, regional crop production patterns, methods of farming, resource and output prices, energy and nonenergy related expenses in crop production, farm income and consumer expenditures on farm products at farm level;With increased energy prices, reduction in the use of inputs such as water and commercial fertilizer nitrogen which require energy was observed similarly. Reduction in irrigated farming and increase in acreages under minimum tillage were also observed as means of accomplishing reductions in energy use. But the decrease in energy used in farm production was very small relative to the increase in energy prices. Crop prices at farm-level, total cost of crop production, consumer expenditures at farm level and net farm income all increase due to increased energy prices;When energy supplies are reduced, the main results are similar to those observed when the energy prices increased. Regional level reduction in energy supply, rather than the national level reduction causes the nonenergy related cost of production to increase under the former alternative relative to the latter.</p

Growth in India’s state economies before and with reforms: shares and determinants

The overall growth performance of the Indian economy has been characterized by substantial regional variation in growth over the decades (Shand and Bhide 2000). This is despite the focus in successive Five-Year Plan policies and programs on reducing the incidence of poverty and of achieving balanced regional development (Bhide and Shand 1999). A close understanding of the regional patterns of growth within India is desirable for several reasons. First, central importance in policy continues to be the objective of achieving and sustaining a higher overall growth rate in the Indian economy. Policy makers need insights on past performance at state level in order to formulate future policy directions more effectively. Second, high levels of foreign and domestic investment are needed to reach the growth target. Foreign and domestic investors need information on state level performance and prospects to guide their choice of location between states. Third, there are fiscal problems in the states, which are exacerbating those at the Centre, and the issue of fiscal stability now requires these problems at state level to be addressed. Finally, with greater decentralization of policy making process consequent to the economic reforms in the 1990s, information on the states’ performance is important for the policy makers at the state level also. Policies will be based on such assessments in each state. The economic reforms that began in the early 1990s brought to the fore the role of State governments in attracting new investments from the private sector needed for growth. In the previous regime of centralized planning, the states’ role was largely limited to lobbying for public sector investment. Private investment was influenced by the incentives offered by the states for such investments, but the centralised planning process laid down the criteria for new investments. In the new environment of liberalised economic policies, state governments are increasingly recognising the need for a more competitive approach to attracting new investments in their own states. The economic reforms in the 1990s at the national level have also led to a greater focus on the activities of the States. The dominance of central planning and the grip of economic controls have waned with the change in focus to market-driven and private sector-fuelled development and by growing globalisation. There is a shift towards decentralization of government, with local urban and rural government strengthened by the Constitutional amendments of 1992. It is recognized too that the priority areas in government expenditure for development are in physical infrastructure (roads, waterworks, power), and in social infrastructure (schools, hospitals, family planning), where public funding and provision are determined mainly by State governments. While there is evidence of changes in perception of the role of the states among the policy makers in the various policy statements, actual implementation of the new policies is less impressive. Lahiri and Fardoust (2000) have commented “As a direct consequence of …economic and political developments of the past decade, appropriate policy responses, expenditure allocations and revenue efforts of the Indian State governments have become very important for growth and welfare. Perhaps, most States have lagged behind the central government in introducing economic reforms in the post 1991 period. This relative lack of progress is evident in the areas of tax reforms, disinvestment and liberalization of rules and procedures. A large majority of the States has followed shortsighted, populist policies that have harmed their economic and social development. The composition of expenditures as well as the stock of infrastructure assets has deteriorated with the neglect of cost recovery mechanism for maintaining public assets. Reform at the State level is critical for the country.” Clearly a large part of the onus for stimulating economic development and attracting the necessary investment resources lies with the States. Their capacity to rise to this challenge is central to the theme of this paper. States “will be competing more intensely than before, in market place for resources in future and, States may find it somewhat difficult to place a significant responsibility on the Centre for their relative performance” (Reddy 2000). This paper profiles India’s regions and most progressive states, with particular reference to recent growth, development and investment outcomes. It examines growth rates, and shares and their determinants