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    Factors affecting smallholder paddy rice farmer's choice of marketing channel in the northern region of Ghana : a thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of AgriCommerce at Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand
    (Massey University, 2018) Adu, Eunice
    The scientific community advocates that enhancing smallholder farmers’ access to reliable, ready and direct market channel is a prerequisite to the attainment of sustainable food supply and poverty reduction in the developing world including Ghana. However, the smallholder farmers' access to direct marketing channels in Ghana has been a critical challenge; therefore, this study aims to analyse the factors that influence smallholder paddy rice farmers’ decision to participate in either the direct marketing channel specifically processors or the indirect marketing channel specifically, middlemen in the Northern Region of Ghana. Purposive sampling was used to select farmers from three rice growing districts in the Northern Region of Ghana. The study employed the Binary Logit regression model in the analysis of the factors affecting farmers’ choices of marketing channel. A t-test was also used to compare the mean yields and revenues generated by farmers who marketed their paddy rice outputs in the direct and indirect marketing channels. A five-point Likert scale was used to rank the constraints that affect the production and marketing of rice output among rice farmers. The study revealed that a lower percentage of farmers sold their paddy rice output to processors (direct channel). The Logit model showed that farm size, the price of paddy rice output per 85kg bag, access to market information and access to credit increased the farmers' participation in the direct marketing channel whereas payment period and ownership of bicycle reduced farmers' their participation. The t-test result revealed that the participation in the direct marketing channel raised farmers' revenue. The study further showed that limited access to credit, poor climatic condition, the high cost of labour, the high cost of farm inputs and low mechanisation were the top five production challenges they encountered in their rice production. Low market prices, post-harvest losses, the high cost of transportation, limited market option and low demand for local rice were the top-ranked marketing constraints reported by farmers. The study concludes that it is more profitable for farmers to sell their paddy rice output to processors instead of middlemen. Therefore, policymakers need to incorporate the significant factors of farmers’ choices of marketing channels in the formulation of agricultural policy that seeks to promote farmers’ access to direct marketing channels in developing countries including Ghana.
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    Farmers' responses to VietGAP : a case study of a policy mechanism for transforming the traditional agri-food system in Vietnam : a dissertation presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Agricultural Systems and Environment at Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand
    (Massey University, 2018) Hoang, Hung Gia
    The VietGAP programme is one of a suite of policies used by the Vietnamese Government to transform the country into a more market-led economy. It was implemented in 2009 to help foster the development of a modern agri-food system in Vietnam. However, it has had limited success with less than 5% of farmers adopting the programme. Little is formally known about how the programme was implemented or why it was not adopted by the majority of farmers. This dissertation contributes to understanding farmers’ responses to VietGAP, a policy mechanism that is associated with an emerging socio-technical regime in the early stages of a transition to a modern agri-food system. A single-case study design was employed, and data was collected primarily through semi-structured interviews supplemented with relevant documents. Qualitative data analysis techniques were used to analyse the interview data and relevant documents. In this study, VietGAP was viewed as a policy mechanism used by the government to help it shift from a traditional to a modern agri-food system. Significantly, this study found that the social, cultural, and institutional dimensions that define the dominant traditional agri-food system determined farmers’ responses to VietGAP. Firstly, there was a lack of concern about food safety among value chain actors, particularly consumers and this limited demand for VietGAP-certified vegetables. Secondly, subjective rather than objective measures were used to assess vegetable quality by actors throughout the domestic vegetable value chain. Thirdly, the coordination of this vegetable value chain was dominated by informal, trust-based relationships between value chain actors rather than through formal written contracts. In addition, farmers’ responses to VietGAP were influenced by the broader transition from a centrally planned to a more market-led system that is occurring in the country. The implementation of VietGAP changed the roles and nature of relationships between value chain actors and this influenced how farmers responded to VietGAP. This study highlights that farmers’ uptake of VietGAP requires changes to the socio-technical regime of the traditional agri-food system. Many farmers did not adopt VietGAP because of: 1) a lack of market demand for VietGAP-certified vegetables, 2) the risks associated with breaking informal institutions between farmers and preferred collectors; and 3) a lack of capability in key value chain actors. In contrast, a small number of farmers adopted VietGAP because of: 1) the level of support they received from the local government; and 2) their political aspirations and loyalty to the government. This research re-conceptualizes a public VietGAP scheme as a policy mechanism for transforming the traditional agri-food system in Vietnam. It provides insights into farmers’ responses to such policy mechanism and provides a more systemic view of the determinants of GAP adoption by producers. The insights gained from this study into what shaped farmers’ responses to VietGAP highlight areas that need to be considered when designing policies to enhance the uptake of public GAP programmes in developing countries that are in the early stages of a transition from a traditional to a modern agri-food system.
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    Multiple barriers to technology change in rural Uzbekistan : a development perspective : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Development Studies at Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand
    (Massey University, 2004) Wall, Caleb Reid Luc
    Technology transfer in rural Uzbekistan is constrained by a complex of interrelated barriers. These barriers to technology transfer include the economic, political and social dependencies created during the period of Russian Soviet rule. These created dependencies are shown to coalesce with the repressive nature of the post-Soviet regime. This thesis examines the nature of the multiple barriers to technology transfer that exist for a specific development project working in Khorezm, Uzbekistan. By adopting a dependency theory perspective, complemented by Black feminism, three interconnected facets of technology transfer are discussed. Farmer priorities and preferences are analysed in light of the unique regulatory framework of agriculture in Uzbekistan. These preferences are compared to the opinions of farmers on acute problems in Khorezm. Finally the intersection of farm decision making autonomy, negative incentive systems and the economic system are considered. This is then positioned within a model of multiple barriers to technology transfer, which tests the ability of dependency and Black feminist theories to 'travel' beyond their intended locations. The field research conducted for this thesis adopted an ethnographic approach, placing a primacy on the locally articulated views of farmers in Khorezm. It was assumed that farmers had the best understanding of the manifold challenges to affecting change in the farming systems of Uzbekistan. To access these opinions a variety of individual and group-based methodologies were used, including focus groups, decision trees, informant-structured interviews and simplified H-Forms.
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    Factors shaping the operation of machinery hire services : case studies on the implementation of the Institution for Rental Service of Agricultural Machinery (IRSAM) programme in the special region of Yogyakarta, the Republic of Indonesia : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of AgriCommerce at Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand
    (Massey University, 2017) Winarno, Kodrad
    As part of the government initiative to improve the production of agricultural commodities, particularly the five major staples – rice, maize, soybeans, sugar and beef, the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) of the Republic of Indonesia launched the implementation of the Institution for Rental Service of Agricultural Machinery (IRSAM) programme in 1998. The programme aims to encourage the use of farm machinery at the farm level to improve agricultural production, and to promote farmers to develop a rural business unit by providing agricultural machinery services to other farmers. The IRSAM programme has been rolled out for more than 18 years. From this programme, many farmers have received machinery and started to provide services to other farmers. Nevertheless, the implementation of the IRSAM programme has been applied to different areas of the Republic of Indonesia, and showed various levels of success. Some IRSAMs have successfully developed the units into profitable businesses. However, the majority of the IRSAMs are still underdeveloped. This research is interested in gaining a deeper understanding of the factors that are shaping the operation of IRSAMs, especially in the Special Region of Yogyakarta and how they are working on those factors. By understanding the various factors, there would be a possibility for this research to provide recommendations on how the MoA will be able to improve the implementation of the IRSAM programme. A multiple case studies approach was used to explore factors and circumstances, which influence the operation of the IRSAM. Two cases were selected in the Special Region of Yogyakarta. One IRSAM was chosen in each of Gunungkidul Regency and Bantul Regency, respectively. This research applied purposive and snowballed sampling to select participants. Sixteen groups of participants were interviewed. This research analysed the data using qualitative data analysis method. The results revealed four significant factors influenced the operation of both IRSAMs. These were: 1) managers with good administrative and finance skills, 2) the availability of capable machinery operators, 3) the demand for machinery services from farmers (farmer group members and non-members), and 4) the availability of institutional support from the public and private sectors that enable the IRSAM to flourish, such as access to financial aid, the availability of spare parts, access to agricultural extension services, training for IRSAM employees, and rural infrastructure (rural road networks and irrigation networks). Although most of these factors have been identified in other literature, significantly, this research highlighted one factor that has previously not been identified. This factor was the availability of alternative private providers/other IRSAMs around the selected IRSAMs. Additionally, it was revealed that the formal organisation structure of the IRSAM seemed only to exist in the Republic of Indonesia. The formal structure has made the roles of manager and operators a significantly important factor in affecting the operation and success of the IRSAM. This research illustrates the complexity of the dynamic factors that affect the operation of small-scale machinery service providers. The local circumstances and different characteristics of situations are going to mean that the specific factors and settings that are shaping the performance of the machinery hiring group will vary. This research shows how the delivery process of the IRSAM programme using a blanket policy does allow the IRSAMs to perform well across different situations. This study highlights the value that could be had for the IRSAMs to perform better if the government better targets types of machinery to match specific needs of farmers in different areas. Besides, the research suggests that the government could develop a database management system of public and private machinery hire services to obtain information on the actual supply and demand of machinery services. Keywords: farm machinery hire services, small-scale farmers, agricultural mechanisation, IRSAM, custom hiring, the Special Region of Yogyakarta,
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    Adoption of cassava technology for sustainable livelihoods : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Applied Science in Rural Development at Massey University
    (Massey University, 2007) Azilah, Mary Esenam
    The RTIP was part of efforts to improve the livelihood security of resource poor farmers in Ghana. The focus of the programme included the introduction of the new cassava varieties, that have the potential to improve yields and consequently to improve household income levels. However, the low level of sustained adoption of the technology has raised questions relating to the project. A single case study was used to investigate the factors that influenced farmers' reasons for adopting and continuing or discontinuing the use of the new cassava varieties. Semi-structured interviews were used in the data collection, which was conducted between May and June 2006. Farmers who had adopted or not adopted the cassava technology and key informants, including opinion leaders and agricultural extension agents, were interviewed. A qualitative data analysis procedure was used in the analysis of the information gathered. The findings of this study revealed many interrelated factors, which influenced the initial adoption of the cassava technology and the sustained use of the new cassava varieties. The factors, which were identified as influencing the initial adoption decision of farmers, were related to the cassava technology, whilst other external factors relating to the farmers and their circumstances, in addition to situational factors and extension contacts, were found to have influenced the sustained use of the new cassava varieties. The new cassava varieties have a proven potential to improve the livelihood security of the farmers, through income generation, provided they have access to credit, processing and reliable markets. Inadequate institutional support with resources, for extension agents, influenced the effectiveness of service delivery. The findings suggest that development interventions, intended to improve the living standards of farm households, need to consider the complex nature of the farmers' circumstances, in their planning and implementation of the projects, if the needs of the target group are to be met.
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    The governance of sustainable agriculture in New Zealand : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Politics at Massey University, Manawatū, New Zealand
    (Massey University, 2012) Beecroft, Kate
    The externalities associated with agriculture mean that a turn to sustainable farming practices by farmers is essential. However, those at the centre of such a turn have complex relationships to the structures of governance that regulate, order and control socio-economic life. Governance signals a shift to a wide range of governance mechanisms that are not anchored in the sovereign state and the mechanisms that regulate agriculture and the agrifood sector have changed significantly in recent years. This thesis [and briefly restate thesis question]. Drawing on two constructs from the theoretical and applied governance literature and the agrifood literature I examine farmer perceptions of hierarchy, the market and networks and the spatial locations of these new forms of governance in regard to biological farming practices. I conclude by arguing that there is a strong case for considering governance as the new way in which agriculture is regulated, controlled and influenced. At the forefront of this devolution of power away from central government is market-based regulation and control. The implications of such restructuring for the proliferation of sustainable agricultural practices means the strengthening of market instruments is needed to bolster sustainable farming. Furthermore, funding by central government is considered necessary by farmers in order to establish a strong case for the success of sustainable farming practices.
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    An operational framework for improving decentralised agricultural extension : a Ghanaian case study : a thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirement for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (Ph. D.) in Agricultural Extension, Massey University, Institute of Natural Resources, Agricultural/Horticultural Systems & Management
    (Massey University, 2007) Okorley, Ernest
    The pressure on the public agricultural extension organisation in Ghana to improve its responsiveness to meet the needs of farmers has increased since the globalisation of trade in the early 1990s. To improve agricultural productivity and the livelihood security of farm households, the Ministry of Food and Agriculture in Ghana decentralised its extension service in 1997. Although this was a critical change in agricultural policy, the extension service has struggled to implement this policy effectively. Further improvement in the situation is hampered because there has been little research published in this area. To provide this understanding, a single-case study of a successful decentralised district level extension organisation in Ghana was used to identify the factors, processes and outcomes that contribute to its performance. The case organisation is an example of a district agricultural extension organisation that operates under a decentralisation system at the level of deconcentration, with a high farmer-to-extension agent ratio and limited and uncertain levels of Government funding. The results of the study emphasised the importance of the effects of both external and internal (or organisational) factors on the performance of the case organisation. The external factors included: (1) the political will to decentralise, (2) the level of decentralisation of other government departments, (3) the provision of a clear legal framework for decentralisation and (4) the existence of established institutions that are willing to support the decentralisation process. New external factors that were identified in this study were (1) the type and drivers of decentralisation, (2) stakeholders' willingness and commitment to support the decentralisation process and (3) the community characteristics in terms of land tenure arrangements and gender roles. The results confirmed the importance of the organisational factors prescribed in the literature: (1) stakeholder participation, (2) managerial and technical capacity, (3) operational funding and (4) accountability. However, the study also identified five other interrelated organisational factors that influenced the success of the case organisation that had not been previously reported in the literature. These included the needs to: (1) develop a needs-based extension programme, (2) expand the extension service focus and roles, (3) foster a cross-sector pluralistic extension approach (4) use needs-based groups for service delivery, and (5) extension staff attitudinal change. Multistakeholder (farmer and other organisations) participation was critical for the development of a needs-based extension programme. The case organisation had modified the traditional extension programme planning process to involve stakeholders at different levels of participation. Similarly, the case organisation involved stakeholders in its multilevel monitoring and evaluation processes. Stakeholder participation in planning and evaluation, although aimed ultimately at efficient and effective programme implementation and improvement, did enhance accountability. Because the case organisation had taken on a broader livelihood security focus to extension, the definition of farmer needs was extended to encompass on-farm and off-farm needs that have impact on the contribution agriculture makes to the livelihood security of farm households in the district. This broader livelihood security focus to extension required the case organisation to take on additional roles from those it traditionally held. In the study, a typology of such roles was developed and a role selection process used by the case organisation during its programme planning process was described. Similarly, because of this broader focus, the case organisation had to work both across sectors and with other extension providers from within the sector to meet the needs of farmers. Again, the multistakeholder programme planning process was central to fostering coordination and collaboration amongst the various extension providers in the district. Decentralisation has placed greater managerial responsibility on management staff of the case organisation. In addition, the livelihood security focus has required technical staff and attitudinal changes to develop and seek for a much broader range of skills and knowledge - meaning that the development of both managerial and technical capacity was important for the case organisation. Needs-based training, the development of a learning environment and the enhancement of staff motivation were critical for the development of staff capacity. As with other extension organisations in developing countries, the funding for the case organisation was limited and uncertain. To overcome these constraints, the case organisation had in place mechanisms to ensure its resources were used efficiently and that it could mobilise additional resources from outside the organisation. Resource efficiency was improved through an intensive monitoring system and the use of stable needs-based groups. Additional resources were mobilised by lobbying government and international donors for funds for projects that would meet the needs of farmers. Further resources were obtained through collaboration with other stakeholder organisations. Again, the multistakeholder planning process provided a platform for collaboration. Networking and special issue forums also provided mechanisms for enhancing collaboration within the district. Decentralisation was introduced into Ghana in 1997 with the aim of eventually developing a demand-driven extension system. Although viewed as successful, the case organisation has yet to achieve the level of farmer participation (i.e. self-mobilisation) that is required for a demand-driven extension system. Currently, after six years of decentralisation, the level of farmer participation can be classified as somewhere between consultation and collaboration. Therefore, the results of this study suggest that the transition from a top-down to a demand-driven extension system will take considerable time and resources.