This paper uses one particular bioeconomic model, first, to explore some questions and hence generate information pertaining to the complex interactions existing in an integrated crop-livestock farming system in Ethiopia. Secondly, it examines various ways in which such a model may be used to assess, ex ante, the likely impact of multiple technology adoption on such systems under a set of policy scenarios. The Ginchi watershed in the Ethiopian highlands is used as a case study.
The potential of this approach to simulate the farm level impacts of these policies is clearly shown here. The preliminary results suggest that reallocation of existing production contracts between producers according to a market-type mechanism, can generate small positive benefits for the farmers in the sample investigated here. Should reductions in contracts be deemed necessary a market-type mechanism can accomplish the necessary reallocation at lower cost to the farmers than a uniform reduction of contracted tonnage across all farmers. It is possible that a self-financing 'outgoer ' type scheme might generate benefits similar to those associated with a market-type mechanism.* UK currently has 8 per cent (white sugar equivalent) of the total EU sugar quota. Ninety-one per cent of this quota is designated A-quota, the remaining nine per cent is referred to as B-quota. Sugar production over and above these amounts, often referred to as C-quota sugar, is not supported under CAP. British Sugar plc, as the sole British processor of sugar from sugarbeet, has been allocated all of the UK quota. t There is also the introduction of a permanent provision for cane refining because of Portugal and the commitments made in 1986 at its time of joining the EU.
There are continuing developments in the analysis of hunger and famines, and the results of theoretical and empirical studies of hunger and food insecurity highlight cases where hunger intensifies sufficiently to be identified as famine. The varying ability of those affected to cope with the shocks and stresses imposed on them are central to the development of food insecurity and the emergence of famine conditions and to explaining the complex interrelationships between agriculture, famine, and economics. There are a number of approaches to understanding how famines develop. The Malthusian approach, which sees population growth as the primary source of hunger and famine, can be contrasted with the free market or Smithian approach, which regards freely operating markets as an essential prerequisite for ensuring that famine can be overcome. A major debate has centered on whether famines primarily emerge from a decline in the availability of food or are a result of failure by households to access sufficient food for consumption, seeking to distinguish between famine as a problem related to food production and availability and famine as a problem of declining income and food consumption among certain groups in the population. These declines arise from the interaction between food markets, labor markets and markets for livestock and other productive farm resources when poor people try to cope with reduced food consumption. Further revisions to famine analysis were introduced from the mid-1990s by authors who interpreted the emergence of famines not as a failure in markets and the economic system, but more as a failure in political accountability and humanitarian response. These approaches have the common characteristic that they seek to narrow the focus of investigation to one or a few key characteristics. Yet most of those involved in famine analysis or famine relief would stress the multi-faceted and broad-based nature of the perceived causes of famine and the mechanisms through which they emerge. In contrast to these approaches, the famine systems approach takes a broader view, exploring insights from systems theory to understand how famines develop and especially how this development might be halted, reversed, or prevented. Economists have contributed to and informed different perspectives on famine analysis while acknowledging key contributions from moral philosophy as well as from biological and physical sciences and from political and social sciences. Malthus, Smith, and John Stuart Mill contributed substantially to early thinking on famine causation and appropriate famine interventions. Increased emphasis on famine prevention and a focus on food production and productivity led to the unarguable success of the Green Revolution. An important shift in thinking in the 1980s was motivated by Amartya Sen’s work on food entitlements and on markets for food and agricultural resources. On the other hand, the famine systems approach considers famine as a process governed by complex relationships and seeks to integrate contributions from economists and other scientists while promoting a systems approach to famine analysis.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.