Alternative to Disincentive Rice Producer Prices in Madagascar: Case Study in Alaotra Prefecture and Bongolava Prefecture

This study identifies the reasons for low producer prices of rice that have not covered its production costs for many years in Madagascar. The following points will be discussed: the farmers’ marketing conditions and the rural rice market structure, including the functions of each intervening trader preceding rice distribution in urban centers. The study also assesses current functions of the agricultural farmer cooperative: an organization expected to enable the establishment of fair trade in the domestic rice market. The data come from interviews conducted with 120 farmers, 20 traders, and the survey of the overall cooperative associations in two prefectures and main rice suppliers of the capital city. The analysis reveals that farmers were often compelled to sell their products largely to the nearby village assemblers who are under the commission of large traders located in urban cities. Despite the fact that farmers do not maintain bargaining power for a variety of reasons, there have been no rural organizations, such as agricultural farmer cooperatives, established to support them in many areas. The few agricultural farmer cooperatives that have been introduced recently maintain only limited market power because they are ill-suited to deal with the farmers’ conditions. The results suggest that the major issues which may deserve more attention are: the emergence and furtherance of a cooperative movement which fits the local conditions, the enforcement of market rules, and the establishment of marketing institutions that ensure fair trade.Cooperatives, Madagascar, Markets, Rice, Agricultural and Food Policy, Consumer/Household Economics, Environmental Economics and Policy, Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety, Food Security and Poverty, Institutional and Behavioral Economics, International Relations/Trade, Marketing, Research and Development/Tech Change/Emerging Technologies, Research Methods/ Statistical Methods,

Implementation of food safety activities: the case study in mandarin orange farmers by agriculture cooperative in Japan

A number of high outbreaks have raised questions regarding food quality and safety assurance. Agriculture cooperatives as food business operators have a central role, challenged to maintain standard demanded by customers, government, and international code which are incorporated into their operations activity. The objective of this study was to investigate the role of cooperatives in implementing food safety management at production (farmers) and consumer (exporters, retailers or wholesale) levels. The research employed case studies in prefecture-level cooperatives in Japan. Data were collected with a diagnostic tool for evaluation of food safety activities on farms and traders and semi-structured interviews with safety assurance managers of the cooperatives. Thirty mandarin orange farms, two traders, three cooperative staff, one processing company and one exporter association, were evaluated. The findings indicate that cooperatives have the double responsibility of managing quality and safety in the food chain. They are responsible for operational decisions taken by farmers during cultivation period. At the same time, they make the tactical decision concerning of quality and safety requirements between customers, and farmers, including selling the products. Hierarchical relationships farmers with cooperatives and customers with cooperatives show the good level in food safety activities (score 2). Therefore, this study useful for assist quality assurance system into the food industry and agriculture sector in Japan

Alternative to Disincentive Rice Producer Prices in Madagascar: Case Study in Alaotra Prefecture and Bongolava Prefecture

This study identifies the reasons for low producer prices of rice that have not covered its production costs for many years in Madagascar. The following points will be discussed: the farmers’ marketing conditions and the rural rice market structure, including the functions of each intervening trader preceding rice distribution in urban centers. The study also assesses current functions of the agricultural farmer cooperative: an organization expected to enable the establishment of fair trade in the domestic rice market. The data come from interviews conducted with 120 farmers, 20 traders, and the survey of the overall cooperative associations in two prefectures and main rice suppliers of the capital city. The analysis reveals that farmers were often compelled to sell their products largely to the nearby village assemblers who are under the commission of large traders located in urban cities. Despite the fact that farmers do not maintain bargaining power for a variety of reasons, there have been no rural organizations, such as agricultural farmer cooperatives, established to support them in many areas. The few agricultural farmer cooperatives that have been introduced recently maintain only limited market power because they are ill-suited to deal with the farmers’ conditions. The results suggest that the major issues which may deserve more attention are: the emergence and furtherance of a cooperative movement which fits the local conditions, the enforcement of market rules, and the establishment of marketing institutions that ensure fair trade

Indigenous techniques used in rice cultivation in Sri Lanka: An analysis from an agricultural history perspective

638-650This study attempted to identify indigenous techniques in rice farming with aim of understanding the sustainable principles of these techniques that can be adopted to overcome the problems in modern agriculture. The data for the analysis were obtained through interviews with farmers and key informants, focus group discussions, and field observations carried out in a historically important rice-growing area, the Padaviya Irrigation System area, from June to October 2012. The survey of farmers covered 60 farmers scattered throughout the area. The farmers were selected by employing purposive sampling method in order to capture the farmers, who have experience with indigenous techniques. The results indicated that the indigenous techniques in rice farming corresponded to the natural features of the region, including the rainfall patterns, soil conditions, temperature, and humidity. The techniques are entirely dependent on local resources, which are recognized based on the historical experiences of the local population. Cultivation based on rainfall patterns and the lunar calendar and adopted techniques in soil fertility management, seed selection, seed treatment, water management, and pest and disease control techniques provide highly sustainable method as alternatives to the modern high external input-based techniques. Indeed, decision making based on rainfall patterns and the lunar calendar avoids possible risk in rice farming. These techniques are not harmful to the environment and thus can maintain the long-term production sustainability of rice farming. This study indicates the importance of taking into account the historical experience and knowledge of the local population in the revitalization of the rice sector in Sri Lanka