Journal of the Austrian Society of Agricultural Economics (JASAE)

Abstract : Literature argued that investments in the health programs for labour to prevent sickness in farming operations enhances agricultural productivity. This paper estimates a stochastic production function using 240 primary data to analyze the relationship between farmers’ dietary-pattern, health-status and agricultural production efficiency. Study indicated that workdays lost to sickness influenced poor farm-income and productivity and the effect is considerable. Sound dietary-patterns and health status enhances human productivity and farm-profit levels. Moreover, the incapacitating effects of sickness on farm-labour leads to diminishing effects on farmer’s efficiency level. Average value of technical efficiency per-unit of input tends to be higher for healthy farmers than for those affected by sickness. About 79.1% of the respondents spent 85.6% of their farm-proceeds on medical expenses, while 66.8% of the respondents were unable to meet medical expenses from farm-proceeds. Hence, expenditures on health upsets affect the availability of disposable cash income as household financial resources are diverted to pay for medical treatment. Thus, deny farmers inability to procure agricultural inputs that can improve agricultural productivity. Regression results confirm the negative effect of health barriers on farmers’ agricultural production-efficiency. Results suggest that one workday lost to sickness increase farmers’ inefficiency by 0.4%..
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Abstract : This study was conducted to determine the effect on the laying performance and egg qualities of mallard ducks fed with commercial layer mash containing T.gigantea leaf meal and Golden kuhol meal. Experiment was set up in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) using 36 ducks with four treatments: T0 = 100 % commercial duck layer mash (CDLM), T1 - 90 % CDLM+ 10 % Golden kuhol meal (GKM), T2 = 90 % CDLM + 10 % Trichanthera gigantea leaf meal (TGLM) and T3 90 % CDLM + 5 % GKM + 5 % TGLM. The results of the study showed that supplementation of T.gigantea leaf meal and golden kuhol meal as part of the commercial duck layer showed significant differences on voluntary feed intake (p< 0.001), diet containing 10 % TGLM showed a very low feed intake compared to other treatment diets. Shell weight showed significant difference (p < 0.032) among treatments with T3 diet containing 5 % GKM and 5% TGLM exhibits heavier shell weight across all treatment. All other parameters; total weight gain, egg weight, egg shape index, shell thickness, yolk color, hen-day egg production and haugh unit did not differ significantly on all treatment. Even though voluntary feed intake and shell thickness shows significant difference on all treatments it potentially began to adjust to optimum level as the time progresses. Thus, it is recommended that supplementation will be tried in a much longer period..
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Abstract : Land use dynamic facilitates and spurs economic growth by enhancing productivity and efficiency. This study analyzed agricultural land use dynamics and conflicts among rural households in Ekiti and Osun States, Nigeria. A multi-stage sampling procedure was used to select 90 respondents used for the study. Data were obtained with the aid of structured interview schedule and analyzed using descriptive statistics, T-test and Pearson Product Moment Correlation (PPMC). Findings of the study shows that most of the farmers in Ekiti and Osun States were male, married with mean age of 59 and 57 years and an average household size of six and seven persons respectively, but with low levels of education. A majority of them derived their sources of livelihood from farming activities. The study established changes in land use from subsistence agriculture to commercial agriculture and the establishment of dams and educational institutions. The study affirmed the eruption of conflicts resulting from land encroachment and farm job displacement in which the affected people were neither adequately compensated nor provided alternative sources of livelihood. The PPMC established a significant relationship between land use conflict and the livelihood assets of the farmers in both States. However, the result of T-test analysis established differences in farm size, farm output and farm income before and after the land use conflict in both States. The study recommends the sensitization and involvement of all stakeholders in decision making regarding agricultural land use dynamics in their communities, and appropriate compensation of rural households whose sources of livelihoods were hampered by the development should be done on time..
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Abstract : This study was conducted to determine the physiological index and stress of washing chickens in the cement plant area of LAFARGE (Ewekoro) and Dangote (Ibese) in Ogun State. 100 adult eaten chickens consisting of 25 chickens from LAFARGE, Dangote and their respective neighboring communities (Imasaya and Wasimi) were used. Experimental birds were captured from roosts during the night and caged until the next morning. Data on rectal temperature, pulse and respiratory rate of the birds were collected. 5 ml of blood was also drawn via the chicken wing vein at each site using a sterilized needle and syringe and transported to the laboratory for analysis. Significantly (P<0.05) the highest heart rates (215.64 beats per minute) and respiratory rates (19.90 beats per minute) were recorded in LAFARGE (Ewekoro) range samples and the lowest (198.61 beats per minute and 16 .00 beats per minute).or 93 breaths/minute) in Imasaya. There was no significant difference (P > 0.05) in the rectal temperatures of the birds in the study area. Significant differences (P<0.05) were also found in hematocrit (PCV), hemoglobin (Hb), white blood cell count (WBC), monocytes and glucose levels in zone Dangote chickens. Study with the highest (P<0.05) .05) Thehematocrit (28.06%) and hemoglobin (4.01 g/dL) were recorded in Ibese, and the minimum hematocrit (22.00%) and hemoglobin (288 g/dL) in Imasaya. The maximum (P<0.05) Monocytes (4.28%) and glucose (256.53 g/dl) were detected in scavengers in Dangote (Ibese), while the lowest number of monocytes (0.00%) and glucose (194.53 g/dl) was found in chickens in Wasimi. The maximum (P<0>0.05) Difference in the ratios of heterophils, lymphocytes, basophils and heterophils/lymphocytes in the chickens of the study area. The study showed that chickens reared in LAFARGE (Ewekoro) were stressed and had health and welfare status compared to Dangote Cement Area (Ibese) and other farming communities. An effective environmental mitigation program should be implemented to improve the welfare of feed chickens at the LAFARGE cement factory..
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Abstract : This study is aimed at analyzing and evaluating the current status of the quality of public transport in Vinh Long province – one of the emerging provinces in the Mekong River Delta (MRD) Vietnam. The research employed the data set of direct interviews with 140 respondents who have and have not to experience in using public transport for analysis and comparison purposes. The contribution of this research is comparing the opinions of current and potential users of public transport and employing the conventional CVM approach and inferred valuation (IV) to compare the fees people are willing to contribute to current public transport improvement projects. The research results revealed that the current state of the transport system has not met the needs of users. The research results also clearly indicate the role of the IV estimation method in adjusting the WTP value elicited closer to reality. The interesting point is that people who have never used public transport are willing to pay more for better quality. In addition, respondents' gender and income influence this willingness to pay for both groups of observations. Based on the analysis results, the study proposes a number of solutions to stakeholders such as the government, public transport companies, and people to promote the development of public transport in the near future..
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