Potential Effects of Transgenic Rice on Farm Households' Nutritional Status in Bangladesh

The spread of agricultural biotechnology in developing countries has grown rapidly in recent years. Several transgenic products are under development with potential to address a variety of adverse production conditions. These products have raised hope that yield and quality improvements in rice will accelerate and help in the battle against under-nutrition, especially in areas of prevalent under-nutrition in Asia. A farm household model is developed and estimated to project ex ante effects of introducing transgenic rice on farm households¡¯ nutritional status in Bangladesh. Assuming the yield effects of transgenic rice are similar to that of previous high yield varieties, the model estimates the profit effect of introducing transgenic rice. The profit effect is then translated into effects on farmers¡¯ consumption decisions. The results indicate that the total profit elasticity with respect to the percentage of rice area in high yield variety is 0.08. The calorie elasticity with respect to the percentage of rice area in HYV ranges from 0.062 in non-poor to 0.074 in poor households, and the protein elasticity ranges from 0.075 in non-poor to 0.084 in poor. Therefore, the results indicate that transgenic rice is likely to play a significant role in improving farm households¡¯ nutritional status in terms of total calorie/protein intake.Food Security and Poverty,

Implications of Transgenic Rice for Farm Households' Nutritional Vulnerability: Projections for Bangladesh

This paper employs multivariate regression to forecast the calorie intake of Bangladeshi farm households in the hunger season based on the household income, production, and demographic composition in the current (post harvest) season. Nutritional vulnerability profiles are derived from the estimation of ex ante mean and variance of future consumption. The results show the income increase induced by introducing transgenic rice will reduce each individual household's probability of suffering a future consumption shortfall and its vulnerability. The overall vulnerability profile of farm households improves in Bangladesh.Food Security and Poverty,

ECONOMIC ANALYSIS OF ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS OF INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT

Public support for integrated pest management (IPM) is derived in part from concerns over food safety and the environment, yet few studies have assessed the economic value of health and environmental benefits of IPM. An approach is suggested for such an assessment and applied to the Virginia peanut IPM program. Effects of IPM on environmental risks posed by pesticides are assessed and society's willingness to pay to reduce those risks is estimated. The annual environmental benefits of the peanut IPM program are estimated at $844,000. The estimates of pesticide risks and willingness to pay can be applied elsewhere in economic assessments of IPM.Integrated pest management, Willingness to pay, Environmental benefits, Crop Production/Industries, Environmental Economics and Policy,

Finance Companies and Small Business Borrowers: An Empirical Investigation

Finance companies have been perceived as isolated and insignificant lenders, attracting high risk borrowers and charging these borrowers relatively high prices. Using the 1988 National Survey of Small Business Finance, this study examines the relationship between finance companies and other lenders, describes the characteristics of borrowers attracted to finance companies and assesses whether finance companies charge higher loan prices and impose more stringent collateral requirements on their borrowers than other lenders. This study refutes the popular notion that finance companies are not mainstream lenders by suggesting that finance companies are an important source of financial capital attracting borrowers similar to those attracted by commercial banks and charging these borrowers competitive prices

Tests of oxyacetylene welds

Thesis (B.S.)--University of Illinois, 1915.Typescript.Includes bibliographical references