Journal of the Austrian Society of Agricultural Economics (JASAE)

Abstract : Woody climbers play an important role in overall plant diversity and carbon storage in a tropical forest. This study aimed at investigating woody climbers in tropical evergreen forests, in southern Vietnam. Forty-four survey plots of 2,500 m2 each were used for field data collection in four forest types experiencing different disturbances as rich (standing volume/SV>200 m3/ha), medium (100 Full article

Abstract : Cocoa Farming is a major income earner of the majority of the farmers in the areas of study. Past studies have revealed that these farmers are threatened by various types of production risk, such as drought, inconsistent production, low yield, pest and disease infestation, age of cocoa tree, natural disasters among others. This study examines the production risk factors influencing income generation on cocoa farming as well as the degree of effect of these production-risk factors on cocoa livelihood. A multi-stage sampling techniques was used to select 160 respondents. Method of data analysis used are descriptive statistics and multiple regression analysis. Descriptive analysis results revealed that the with mean of age of cocoa farmers in the area of study was 39 years. The study deduced that this is an active age that can be used to enhanced cocoa production, adoption of new technology and good agricultural practices. The study identified various level of production risk factors among which are Drought, Price Spike and Inconsistence in productions as the dominant ones. The study revealed that 96.3% of the cocoa farmers were aware and 75% of such farmers indicated the effect of these risks on their cocoa production with various level of degree. Multiple regression analysis results deduced the robustness of the independent variables considered in the equation. The result of the diagnostic revealed the multiple coefficients of determination of the dependent variable of income by the independent variables of 52%. Indicating that 52% of the explanatory variables explained the dependent variable, however, the 48% unexplained variables might be due to reason beyond the scope of this study and which might be considered in the future study. Based on the estimated results, 8 variables are found to have significant influences out of 14 variables considered in the equation to have influenced on cocoa farmers’ income. The study deduced that the dominant production risks of drought, price spikes and production inconsistences has mean effect of 66.7% on cocoa production in the study areas. This is significant; hence the study recommends the risk management strategies of crop insurance, access to timely credit facilities, training on the risk management strategies, efficient marketing policy delivery and government to be consistence on their policy on commodities particularly on cocoa marketing and grading and this study found out that these are the most dominant production risk factors confronting cocoa farmers from making commeasurable income from cocoa farming..
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Abstract : The governance is considered to be a very important component for good economic growth and wellbeing. Several econometric studies which have tested the relationship between good governance in the sense of market-enhancing governance, show a positive interrelationship between good governance economic growth and wellbeing. The main objective of this study is to determine the interrelationship between more significant governance indicators, the economic growth, and wellbeing. GDP per capita in constant prices and Human Development Index of 11 Balkan countries during the period 1996-2019 are taken as proxy variables for economic growth and wellbeing followed by six indicators developed by World Bank to measure the governance named: Political Stability (PS), Voice and Accountability (VA), Regulatory Quality (RQ), Government Effectiveness (GE), Rule of Law (RL) and Control of Corruption (CC). Multiple Regression and Robust Regression technics are used to carry out the objective. The quality of governance and human development are mutually reinforcing in the sense that the quality of governance has a significant impact on human development and vice versa. This implies that the quality of governance and human development are both important areas for improving the well-being of the residents of EU member countries. The quality of governance has a positive impact on economic growth and vice versa. The quality of governance has a more positive impact on economic growth and Human Development Index in Balkan’s EU Candidate Countries rather than EU member’s Balkan’s countries..
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Abstract : The research analyzes the current status of consumption of fresh and processed sea crabs in 3 big cities of Can Tho, Ho Chi Minh and Hanoi, and finds out the relationship among groups of factors affecting the customer intention of buying fresh and processed sea crabs by using Cronbach’s Alpha test and Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA). The analysis of 134 consumers shows that there is an average of 2.1 times/year of buying fresh crabs, 3.5kg/household/year of tomalley fat crabs, 5.1kg/household/year of male crabs, and 6kg/household/year of 1-pincer crabs (cua xô). Most consumers purchase fresh sea crabs from traditional markets to boil and cook hotpot. There are two groups of factors affecting the buy intention: perception of nutrition and perception of convenience of use. For processed sea crabs, 58.96% of the consumers have known, 17.16% have bought, and 68.6% have intended to buy. For canned crab meat, 43% of the customers have bought and supermarkets are the distribution channel that they buy the most, accounting for 47.83%. There are 3 groups of factors affecting the consumption intention of processed crabs: perception of health, perception of price and accessibility, and perception of convenience of use. These findings can help seafood processing companies introduce their processed sea crab products to market, thereby contributing to the effective of the development of the crab supply chain in the Mekong Delta..
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Abstract : From the importance of food security and sustainable agricultural production in the future, we are necessary to know the main determinants and to understand the future policy implications. This study examines the impact of financial development (financial depth and financial efficiency) on agricultural productivity growth in 3 groups of countries namely high, middle-upper, and middle-lower income classes. This study used a panel ARDL model with different lags in each variable from 1991 until 2017. Our results show that financial development is very important for the three groups of countries to increase their agricultural productivity. Especially, it was found that financial depth and efficiency have a bigger effect on agricultural productivity in middle-upper-income countries. Contrast to previous results, financial efficiency was found not to affect agricultural productivity in middle lower-income countries. In addition, agricultural productivity also is increased by several factors such as physical capital and human capital. Therefore, this research encourages governments and central banks to gradually improve financial depth to become one of the drivers of improvement in the agricultural sector. In addition, the financial efficiency must be improved to encourage agricultural productivity, especially in the high and middle-upper countries..
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