Research on stingless bee at several Meliponiculture (stingless beekeeping) sites in West Sumatra, including at Universitas Andalas Campus Complex, had been conducted from April to December 2019 by using direct survey and direct collection methods on stingless bee worker at their colony entrances. A total of 18 stingless bee species that belong to five genera were collected. Tetragonula was the genus with the highest in species number (8), followed by Homotrigona (5) and Lepidoptrigona (3). Meanwhile, Heterotrigona and Geniotrigona were only represented by a single species each despite their popularity among West Sumatra beekeepers. Universitas Andalas Campus Complex harbours the highest species number of stingless bee (10), followed by stingless beekeeping site in Lubuk Minturun (7). Only 2-4 stingless bee species bred elsewhere stingless beekeeping sites. We presume that the difference of species number recorded in various stingless beekeeping sites indicated the complexity of this bee species within the variety of habitats.

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Elasticities of substitution, often called Armington elasticities, reflect incomplete substitutability because of perceived product characteristics. This study divides the determinants of the Japanese demand for beef imports into two factors: (i) substitution elasticity and (ii) country-of-origin bias, and demonstrate how these measurements are associated with trade policy and food scare events. The Japanese beef industry serves as a case study to evaluate the multifold impact of import liberalisation and a series of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) outbreaks. A time-varying parameter model is used to shed light on the dynamic effects of the import liberalisation and BSE outbreaks on the measurements. The estimation results reveal that the estimated substitutability and country-of-origin bias are very sensitive to the BSE cases, but not to the process of trade liberalisation. The results also confirm that as a result of the BSE outbreaks, the major factor of the Japanese demand for beef imports has changed from relative prices to the country-of-origin effect, thereby emphasising the importance of a traceability system and promotional activities, which would help in the formation of the country-of-origin effect.

<p>The drought disaster in Indonesia has occurred since 1811. It is because Indonesia is situated in a part of the earth with tropical climate which is highly sensitive to the climate anomaly El-Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO) which is a source of drought. In addition to El Nino, the drought in Indonesia is also influenced by positive IOD which constitute a regional climate phenomenon in Indian Ocean. The drought has widespread, complex impacts which lasts for a long time after the drought itself ends. This widespread impact lasting for so long is caused by the fact that water is a basic need and vital for every living creature, irreplaceable by any other resources. The impacts in agriculture sector include limited irrigation water, reduced planting areas, decreased land productivity, declined crops production, and less farmer’s income, and from social perspective, the drought disaster may promote division and conflict which expand to include the conflict between water users and even between (local) governments.</p>

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