Luc D’Haese

This paper reports on an impact assessment of the biological control programme against invasive Prosopis species or mesquite in South Africa, in order to evaluate its impact and to provide feedback to researchers, research managers and policymakers. The study developed a framework for structuring an effectiveness and efficiency analysis on public expenditure as related to agricultural technology research and development.

This study explored historical food availability/supply and the market demand for food. Secondary data was used for analyzing demand-supply gap. The average growth in rice production was 2.9% per year in 1971/72 to 2008/09, of which 93% was contributed by yield growth. The overall growth rate of area under food grain was 0.3% in 1971/72 to 2008/09. The overall food grain production growth rate is higher than population growth rate from 1971/72 to 2008/09. The own price and income elasticities of rice were -0.108 and 0.199 respectively. It was projected that upto 2021, the annual demand for food exceed the supply of food which were -0.28% for rice and -1.76% for wheat. That implies the demands are greater than the supplies for both crops. Keywords: Food supply and demand; Price and income elasticities DOI: 10.3329/jbau.v8i1.6405J. Bangladesh Agril. Univ. 8(1): 91-102, 2010

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The objective of this paper is to conduct a comprehensive analysis on the competitiveness of the agribusiness sector in South Africa Three instruments emerged from this viz the AGRIBUSINESS COMPETITIVENESS STATUS (ACS) index; the AGRIBUSINESS EXECUTIVE SURVEY (AES); and the AGRIBUSINESS CONFIDENCE INDEX (ACI). The framework developed in this paper combines quantitative and qualitative analyses to develop strategies to enhance the competitiveness of the sector. This study can act as a basis for strategic planning, policy development and strategic positioning by the agribusiness sector in South Africa and will allow for future monitory and analysis of competitive performance. Keywords: Competitiveness, Confidence, Agribusiness, Porter Analysis, Relative Trade Advantage, South Africa INTRODUCTION In today's global economy, where agribusinesses worldwide face an increasingly competitive trade and production environment, many questions are being asked about the competitiveness of the South African agribusiness sector. For example: "What is competitiveness?"; "How competitive are the sector?"; and, "How can it be measured practically?" The competitiveness of the agribusiness sector in South Africa furthermore depends on a number of technological, socio-political and economic factors. One of the most pervasive influences is that of the external environment, and in particular, the set of policies which operate in the market for agricultural goods. These factors have also a direct influence on the business confidence of agribusinesses in South Africa. Appropriate adjustments could therefore contribute to changing negative situations into positive status. It will however, be important to identify the particular set of factors which needs to be adjusted. The main question to be answered by this paper is: "Can tbe South African agribusiness sector successfully compete on a sustainable basis within the global environment?" The result or outcome of being in a position to successfully compete will clearly be manifested in a number of propositions. These will include acceptable levels of profits and returns on resources invested in the South African agribusiness activities and the concomitant ability of such economic activities to consistently attract resources from other (non-agribusiness) economic activities to sustain the sector. Five secondary questions are locked into this main question. The first question to be answered is: "How is competitiveness defined and measured?" The second question to be answered is: "How competitive is the South African agribusiness sector globally?" The third question that needs to be examined is: "What are the key success factors and what are the main constraints impacting on the competitiveness of the South African agribusinesses sector?" The fourth question to be considered is: "How favourable is tbe decision-making environment in which South African agribusinesses operates?" Knowing the state of competitiveness and the factors impacting on competitiveness the last question can be answered: "How can the competitiveness of the South African agribusiness sector be enhanced?" (I.e. the strategic approach to achieve and sustain competitiveness). These questions are well motivated by Michael Porter (1998): "A firm must understand what (it is about its home nation that) is most crucial in determining its ability or inability to create and sustain competitive advantage in international terms." In order to meet the challenges imposed by this situation, economic analysis have an important contribution i.e. to pinpoint inefficiencies and weaknesses in the business systems, whilst emphasizing elements that could provide a sustainable competitive advantage to the agribusiness sector in South Africa with regards to both the challenge of global competition, the satisfaction of customer demand and the incorporation of socio-economic and equity considerations - and thus developing new competitiveness strategies to respond to these dynamic challenges. …

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The objective of this paper is to conduct a comprehensive analysis on the competitiveness of the agribusiness sector in South Africa Three instruments emerged from this viz the AGRIBUSINESS COMPETITIVENESS STATUS (ACS) index; the AGRIBUSINESS EXECUTIVE SURVEY (AES); and the AGRIBUSINESS CONFIDENCE INDEX (ACI). The framework developed in this paper combines quantitative and qualitative analyses to develop strategies to enhance the competitiveness of the sector. This study can act as a basis for strategic planning, policy development and strategic positioning by the agribusiness sector in South Africa and will allow for future monitory and analysis of competitive performance. Keywords: Competitiveness, Confidence, Agribusiness, Porter Analysis, Relative Trade Advantage, South Africa INTRODUCTION In today's global economy, where agribusinesses worldwide face an increasingly competitive trade and production environment, many questions are being asked about the competitiveness of the South African agribusiness sector. For example: "What is competitiveness?"; "How competitive are the sector?"; and, "How can it be measured practically?" The competitiveness of the agribusiness sector in South Africa furthermore depends on a number of technological, socio-political and economic factors. One of the most pervasive influences is that of the external environment, and in particular, the set of policies which operate in the market for agricultural goods. These factors have also a direct influence on the business confidence of agribusinesses in South Africa. Appropriate adjustments could therefore contribute to changing negative situations into positive status. It will however, be important to identify the particular set of factors which needs to be adjusted. The main question to be answered by this paper is: "Can tbe South African agribusiness sector successfully compete on a sustainable basis within the global environment?" The result or outcome of being in a position to successfully compete will clearly be manifested in a number of propositions. These will include acceptable levels of profits and returns on resources invested in the South African agribusiness activities and the concomitant ability of such economic activities to consistently attract resources from other (non-agribusiness) economic activities to sustain the sector. Five secondary questions are locked into this main question. The first question to be answered is: "How is competitiveness defined and measured?" The second question to be answered is: "How competitive is the South African agribusiness sector globally?" The third question that needs to be examined is: "What are the key success factors and what are the main constraints impacting on the competitiveness of the South African agribusinesses sector?" The fourth question to be considered is: "How favourable is tbe decision-making environment in which South African agribusinesses operates?" Knowing the state of competitiveness and the factors impacting on competitiveness the last question can be answered: "How can the competitiveness of the South African agribusiness sector be enhanced?" (I.e. the strategic approach to achieve and sustain competitiveness). These questions are well motivated by Michael Porter (1998): "A firm must understand what (it is about its home nation that) is most crucial in determining its ability or inability to create and sustain competitive advantage in international terms." In order to meet the challenges imposed by this situation, economic analysis have an important contribution i.e. to pinpoint inefficiencies and weaknesses in the business systems, whilst emphasizing elements that could provide a sustainable competitive advantage to the agribusiness sector in South Africa with regards to both the challenge of global competition, the satisfaction of customer demand and the incorporation of socio-economic and equity considerations - and thus developing new competitiveness strategies to respond to these dynamic challenges. …

ABSTRACT Food insecurity is still remarkably high in the poorest areas of the KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa. Many rural households struggle to have sufficient access to the food they need or prefer. This article explores the extent of food access insecurity and assesses the perceived impact on food security of an Empowerment for Food Security Programme that was launched in the Province in 2007. One of the programme aims was to improve agricultural practices in community gardens, home gardens and broiler production. Data were collected among 390 beneficiary households involved in these agricultural projects in 2010. Findings confirmed that experience-based food insecurity levels were still high, despite the agricultural support programme and the government income transfers. Nevertheless, respondents attribute an improved dietary diversity and better access to resources to the programme.

Bien qu’il soit aujourd’hui établi la nécessité d’améliorer les méthodes de suivi-évaluation de projets et que des efforts dans ce sens aient été déployés les vingt dernières années, l’évaluation de l’impact des projets de développement sur les conditions de vie des bénéficiaires constitue un créneau dans lequel peu de travaux de recherche aient été menés en l’occurrence dans la région

ABSTRACT In Cuba there is a strong differentiation in types of farming systems that operate at very different levels of management intensity. The aim of this research was to characterize differences in soil quality caused by different agricultural management systems and the effects of seasonality on soil chemical and biological indicators within representative farming systems in Santa Clara municipality, Villa Clara Province, Cuba. Two state farms, two cooperative farms, and three private farms, all located on brown calcareous soils, which differed in soil management and technological complexity were selected. Soil samples from two fields of each farm were collected to a depth of 20 cm. Laboratory analysis were performed to determine physical (aggregate stability, plasticity, and permeability), chemical (pH and organic matter), and biological (dehydrogenase and β-glucosidase activities) indicators of soil quality. We found significant differences in soil quality among the three farming systems, which were most pronounced between private and state farms, with respect to physical soil properties (aggregate stability and plasticity) and the activity of enzymes. Seasonality also exerted an important influence on the activities of dehydrogenase and β-glucosidase, which were greater in the rainy season. As a conclusion, we can say that the differences in soil management between the farming systems were reflected in consistent differences in soil quality indicators, notably between the state and private farms.

ABSTRACT High rainfall variability in semi-arid Tanzania makes livestock production a risky enterprise and its marketing decisions highly stochastic. This paper discusses smallholders' production and marketing strategies in the Dodoma region based on responses from 498 farmers randomly selected from four purposely sampled villages in the semi-arid ecological zone of Tanzania. Qualitative characterization of marketing and production decisions is presented. Generally the timing, frequency and amount of rainfall do to a great extent determine farmers' production and marketing strategies. Results of the quantitative analysis, however, revealed that most strategies were correlated with low productivity and profitability levels and with high environmental degradation. The findings suggest that a gradual change in production and marketing strategies is necessary to increase efficiency in this agroecological zone.

Page 1. Outlook on AGRICULTURE Vol 29, No 2, 2000, pp 109–121 109 Small-scale cattle production in Eastern province, Zambia: objectives, productivity and constraints P. Chilonda, G. Van Huylenbroeck, L. D'Haese, EC Musaba, KL Samui and B. Ahmadu ...