Would Kazakh Citizens Support a Milk Co-Operative System?

Abstract

We estimate the monetary value of a policy aimed at increasing rural co-operative production in Kazakhstan to increase milk production. We analyse the drivers associated with public support for such policy using the contingent valuation method. The role of individuals’ psychological aspects, based on the reasoned action approach, along with individuals’ views on the country’s past regime (i.e., to the former Soviet Union), their awareness about the governmental policy, their sociodemographic characteristics, and household location on their willingness to pay (WTP) for the policy is analysed using an interval regression model. Additionally, we examine changes in individuals’ WTP before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. The estimated total economic value of the policy is KZT 1335 bn for the length of the program at KZT 267 bn per year, which is approximately half the total program budget, which includes other interventions beyond the creation of production co-operatives. The total economic value of the policy would equal the cost of the whole program after 10 years, indicating public support for this policy amongst Kazakh citizens. Psychological factors, i.e., attitude, perceived social pressure, and perceived behavioural control, and the respondents’ awareness of the policy and views on the Soviet Union regime are associated with their WTP. Sociodemographic factors, namely, age, income, and education, are also statistically significant. Finally, the effect of the shocks of COVID-19 is negatively associated with the respondents’ WTP.

Will the Adoption of Early Fertigation Techniques Hinder Famers’ Technology Renewal? Evidence from Fresh Growers in Shaanxi, China

“…Similarly, Moges and Taye [15] explained this correlation as a positive correlation between farmers' education and cognition, and a high cognitive level can improve the adoption level. Most studies have found that young and highly educated farmers have a higher adoption level, which is similar to our conclusion [1,17,24]. However, some studies have found that demographic variables do not continue to play a role, but depend on the complexity of technology [55].…”

“…However, for the high-cost IICS, farmers' endowment plays an important role. The above conclusions are different from previous studies, which showed that higher endowment usually leads to higher adoption intention [11,17]. For example, the study of Jayne [52], which focused on Africa, found that the adoption level of high-income farmers is high.…”

“…In addition, age, gender, education, and other demographic characteristics Agriculture 2021, 11, 913 2 of 17 also affect the adoption of fertigation techniques [14,15]. At present, with the enrichment of relevant research, factors have expanded to psychological factors, such as environmental attitude [1,16,17]. In general, regardless of the factors studied, most of the current research focuses on linear technology renewal, that is, in all papers, farmers are at the same technical level before adopting the new technology.…”

“…Due to the heterogeneity of farmers, the benefits of adopting the same technology are also different [29]. This kind of factor is farmers' endowment, which determines whether the technology is suitable for the specific farmer, and ultimately affects their adoption intentions [17]. We will not consider other factors, such as environmental attitudes [1], as the two types of techniques are similar.…”

The Agricultural Cooperative in the Face of the Challenges of Globalization, Sustainability and Digitalization

“…Another study estimates the monetary value of a policy aimed at increasing rural cooperative production in Kazakhstan in order to increase milk production [9]. It analyzes the factors associated with public support for such a policy.…”