Journal of the Austrian Society of Agricultural Economics (JASAE)

Abstract : The recent performance of poultry industry in Nigeria has fallen below expectation due to high cost of feed arising from fluctuations in rising prices of ingredients, and inefficiency in production. This study is aimed at analysing the effect of coping strategies with rising feed costs as a determinant factor for poverty alleviation among poultry farmers in south-West, Nigeria. The study employed a quantitative research approach using a survey research design. Multistage sampling procedures were used in selecting three states (Lagos, Ogun, and Oyo) from South-West zone in Nigeria. In the second stage, 575 poultry farmers from all Poultry Association of Nigeria zones were selected using simple random sampling technique. Data were collected using structured questionnaire, and analyzed with the use of descriptive and inferential statistics. The results of the study showed that the adopted strategies used by the farmers were Use of Finished Feed (24.70%), Mixed Farming (48.00%), Downsizing of Flock Size (16.10%), No Change of Strategies (6.20%), Verge of Exiting the Venture (5.20%). It was observed that majority (70.7%) of the poultry farmers were living below the poverty line (₦48,500/month) which was estimated using mean per capita household monthly expenditure while 29.3% of them were living above the poverty line. The result also shows that an increase in the coping strategies will lead to 80% decrease of poverty level of the poultry farmers in the study area. The study therefore concluded that farmers should adopt the most suitable coping strategy available to reduce the effect of rising feed cost..
Full article

Abstract : A clone, in a viticultural context, is “a single vine or a population of vines all derived by vegetative propagation from cuttings or buds from a single “mother vine” by clonal selection. The aim of this paper was to evaluate how different clones of the autochthonous ‘Ceruja’ white grapevine variety express their productivity indicators and oenological characteristics and to recommend the best clone to be propagated and used in the vineyard variety structure in Albania. The study was conducted during three executive years (2020-2022). Nine clones (4, 13, 58, 124, 251, 367, 413, 489, and 582), grafted over 140Ru, with a plot size of 10 vines for each clone, were evaluated. Yield per plant, single bunch weight, berry weight, ten berries skin weight, ten berries seed weight, total soluble solids, total tartaric acid, pH of must and wine, alcohol fraction for volume, and total polyphenols in berry skin and seeds, were measured using specific tools, as described by the OIV, and were recorded for a 3-year period. There was found that different clones showed significant differences in terms of quantity and quality of grape and wine characteristics. Clone 413, followed by clones 58, 124 and 4, showed the highest productivity and wine quality characteristics and are recommended to be used in the varietal structure of the North and North-Eastern part of Albania as clones of perspective for white wine production, in context of rural tourism development in these areas and beyond..
Full article

Abstract : This study aims to identify the factors affecting import price of frozen shrimp from Thailand and Vietnam to Japan market by time-series monthly data from 2008 to June, 2019. The dataset of this study includes the monthly data covering from 2008 to June, 2019 about the imported price of shrimp products of Thailand and Vietnam in Japan market with total 138 observations. Error correction models was explored to estimate the factors influencing to the imported price of shrimp products of Thailand and Vietnam in Japan market. The explanatory variables includes in the models were determined based on the theory of demand and supply. Found results showed that, both in short and long run, the imported price of frozen shrimp from other countries such as Vietnam, China and India was indicated as the factors effect on the imported price of Thailand shrimp products (P < 0.01). Similar results were found for the case of Vietnam shrimp products imported to Japan (P < 0.01), suggesting Thailand, China, India and Vietnam were directly competitors for shrimp products in Japan market. Exchange rate between USD and JPY played an important role in the changes of import price for both Thailand and Vietnam frozen shrimp. In long run, the results of this research indicated that the implementation of quality assurance regulation caused of increasing in imported price of Vietnam frozen shrimp. Meanwhile, the application of new technology in shrimp cultured could improve the competition advantages of Thailand frozen shrimp..
Full article

Abstract : The study examined the effect of kidnapping and theft on the output of arable crops among households. A multistage random sampling technique was applied in sample selection. Data were collected through the aid of questionnaire and analysed using descriptive statistics, regression models and Likert scale. The findings of this study were summarized to include majority of the respondents were males while most of the respondents were between the age range of 21 to 31 years having household sizes of 5 persons. It was showed that majority of the respondents had primary educated and farming as their dominant source of income. Apart from land preparation, gender and marital status which were not significant, the other variables namely hired labour, farm size, family size, family labour, weeding labour, fertilizer used, herbicides used, planting materials, farming experience, household size and monthly income significantly affected the output of arable crops under kidnapping insecurity. The effect of kidnapping had a negative impact on productivity at 1% level and negatively related to production output. This implies that the higher the incidences of kidnapping the lower the production output. The coefficient of theft was statistically significant at 1% level and negatively related to the production output. This indicates that the higher the incidence of theft the lower the production output. It is recommended that government should make security of the people a priority, also religious and ethnic leaders should continuously educate and enlighten their ethnic groups against kidnapping and theft which have negative effects on production output..
Full article

Abstract : The tourism industry is considered one of the biggest industrial sectors in the world, which drives economic growth and creates jobs, especially in the developing countries. Saudi Arabia is known for its tourist attractions, especially the religious ones. Saudi Arabia has recently re-formed its tourism sector with the aim of increasing its economic contribution within the plan of economic diversification. The main objective of this paper is to examine the impact of the development of tourism sector on Saudi Arabia’s economic growth. The paper examined the impact of the main components of tourism (inbound and outbound) on economic growth, which captures the net effect of tourism on the economy, i.e., the positive impact of domestic tourism and the negative impact of out-bound tourism. To achieve the paper objective, a quarter data from 2015–2020 is used. The paper estimated two-stage least square model with instrumental variables. The study results showed that internal tourism (domestic and inbound) has a positive impact on economic growth, while outbound tourism has a negative one. The results show the importance of the impact of outbound tourism on GDP growth as its negative impact is significant and may outweigh the positive impact of domestic tourism. The paper recommends increasing the scale of investment in the tourism sector to enhance domestic tourism and reduce outbound tourism..
Full article