This study investigates the impact of ICTs for agricultural development in the Alice rural community. The rationale for carrying out the study has to do with the limited access to ICTs by farmers residing in this rural community which in turn affects their productivity and increase in the volume of agricultural production. The core argument of the study is that the use of ICTs has positive spinoffs on agricultural development which leads to improvement in the quality and quantity of agricultural production. Conversely lack of access to ICTs can result in inability to enhance agricultural productivity in rural areas such as Alice. Furthermore, it is argued herein that technological information devices such as ICTs are essential communication and information tools; and as such, should be regarded as useful communication media for disseminating relevant agricultural information to farmers residing in rural communities. In conducting this study theoretical frameworks such as Rogers’ diffusion of innovation and development theories encompassing both the participatory approach and development support communication were presented and argued for as approaches suitable for the study. Triangulations of research methods, such as, qualitative and quantitative methods, were utilized for the collection of data for this study. As is common practice, the triangulation method was used in cross checking and supplementing data/information collected through the utilization of each of the methods. Interviews and questionnaires were used as data collection tools for this study owing to their ability to generate clear and precise responses or answers to the questions posed. The key findings of the study show that the limited access to ICTs in the Alice rural community was caused by factors such as low level of literacy, age and language barriers which in turn affected the adoption of ICTs amongst the Alice farmers. Amongst the recommendations emanating from this study is the idea that the adoption of ICTs for agricultural information can be fast-tracked through the implementation of telecentres/kiosk and information centers for easy access to information and communication services in the rural community.

Using data drawn from a sample of 80 farmers in the Kat River valley, this thesis presents the results of an assessment of the technical constraints affecting smallholder development and their implications for market access. A review of the relevant literature on the smallholder farm sector, technical change and technical constraints affecting smallholder farmers along with an overview of the agricultural marketing environment in South Africa has been presented. A critical review of the theoretical framework for consideration of technical change in agricultural development, with particular attention to the induced innovation model was undertaken. General information on the institutional set up was obtained by open-ended interviews of community leaders and focus groups. These interviews supplemented information obtained through literature study and document analysis. The other method of data collection employed was the single-visit household survey using structured questionnaires. The demographic and socio-economic characteristics of the surveyed farmers are described in this study. The selection process of the variables influencing market access was done by employing correlation and logistic regression analyses. Correlation analysis was conducted to ascertain the relationship among variables to find out the extent to which they mirror theory or intuition regarding their causation to constraints influencing market access. The logistic model was employed in the step-wise manner using each of key production inputs as response variables sequentially. On the basis of a binary logistic model, it can be concluded that the farmers still operate under a number of technical constraints. The most influential constraints are information, asset ownership, value of agricultural production and extension assistance. The study reflects the previous findings in South Africa that the legacy of apartheid continues to negatively impact on its agricultural economy. Key words: Technical Constraints, Technical Change,Market Access, Smallholder Farmers, Agricultural Development, Induced Innovation Model, Kat River Valley, Correlation analysis, Theoretical framework and Binary Logistic Model

Le Burkina Faso, avec plus de 20% de la population souffrant de sous-alimentation (FAO) est confronté à une forte insécurité alimentaire à l'instar d'autres pays d'Afrique subsaharienne. Ce pays a mis en place, depuis son accession à l'indépendance en 1960, des politiques contrastées, d'abord interventionnistes au lendemain de l'indépendance, puis libérales depuis les années 90 dans le cadre des programmes d'ajustement structurels avec le Fonds Monétaire International (FMI) et la Banque Mondiale. Différentes stratégies de lutte contre la pauvreté ont été mises en place depuis les années 2000 : des Cadres Stratégiques de Lutte Contre la Pauvreté entre 2000 et 2010 (CSLP) ont précédé à une Stratégie de Croissance Accélérée et de Développement Durable (SCADD) depuis 2011. Mais les résultats sont restés très mitigés en termes de réduction de la pauvreté et de l'insécurité alimentaire. Cette thèse tente d'analyser les dynamiques à l'œuvre expliquant la faiblesse des progrès au niveau des indicateurs sociaux, notamment la pauvreté et la sécurité en dépit des performances macroéconomiques enregistrées depuis quelques décennies. Un modèle d'Équilibre Général Calculable (EGC) est utilisé et calibré sur les grandes tendances de l'économie burkinabè. Il sert ainsi, d'une part, à analyser les mécanismes explicatifs à l'œuvre, et d'autre part, à tester deux types de scénarios, le premier supposant une dégradation de la productivité agricole qui découlerait d'une dégradation des ressources naturelles et du changement climatique, mis en évidence dans la littérature. Le second teste un vaste programme d'investissement public dans l'agriculture. Les résultats montrent que la dynamique actuelle est conforme aux analyses en termes de trappe à pauvreté : les contraintes naturelles (faible dotation en ressources naturelles) et la forte croissance démographique, renforcées par la faiblesse des biens publics se traduisent par une faible productivité du travail et donc des revenus et une épargne faibles impliquant peu d'investissement à l'origine de la faiblesse de la productivité du travail. La dégradation de la productivité agricole augmente considérablement l'insécurité alimentaire des pauvres et diminue fortement la croissance économique globale tandis que des investissements publics efficaces dans l'agriculture peuvent permettre des progrès importants et rapides et résoudre le dilemme de la politique agricole : ils sont bénéfiques aux ruraux et encore plus aux urbains pauvres. / Burkina Faso, with more than 20% of the population suffering from undernourishment (FAO), is facing severe food insecurity like other sub-Saharan African countries (FAO). This country has implemented, since its independence in 1960, contrasting policies, initially interventionist policies in the aftermath of independence, and then liberal policies since the 90s as part of structural adjustment programs with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank. Different strategies against poverty have been implemented since the 2000s: Poverty Reduction Strategy Plans (PRSP), from 2000 to 2010, preceded a Strategy for Accelerated Growth and Sustainable Development (SAGSD) since 2011. But the results remained much mitigated in terms of poverty and food insecurity reduction. This thesis attempts to analyze the dynamics at work behind the weak progress in social indicators, including poverty and food security, despite macroeconomic performance recorded in recent decades. A Computable General Equilibrium Model (CGE) is used and calibrated on the major trends of Burkina Faso economy. It serves thus, on the one hand, to analyze explanatory mechanisms at work, and on the other hand to test two types of scenarios, the first assuming a decline in agricultural productivity that would result from a degradation of natural resources and climate change as highlighted in the literature. The second tests a large program of public investment in agriculture. The results show that the current dynamics can be analyzed in terms of poverty trap: natural constraints (poor endowment in natural resources) and high population growth, reinforced by weak public goods result in low labor productivity causing low revenue, low savings and then low investments behind the low labor productivity. A degradation of agricultural productivity significantly increases food insecurity of the poor and greatly reduces overall economic growth, while efficient public investment in agriculture can provide significant and rapid progress and solve the dilemma of agricultural policy: they are beneficial to rural and much more to urban poor populations.

Cette thèse étudie le rôle des institutions dans la compréhension du processus de déforestation dans les pays en développement. L'approche retenue est celle de la nouvelle économie institutionnelle qui définit les institutions comme le cadre incitatif d'une économie, qui structure les interactions économiques des individus. Le cadre institutionnel est donc un élément à part entière du système économique, qui agit sur l'environnement humain à travers la modulation des incitations des agents. A ce titre, les institutions jouent donc un rôle majeur dans le processus de conservation ou de conversion des forêts. L'analyse de ce rôle est la problématique centrale de cette thèse et s'articule autour de trois grandes parties: (1) le rôle de la persistance des institutions ou rôle de l'histoire dans la compréhension de celui des institutions, (2) le rôle de la demande de bonne gouvernance, et (3) le rôle des institutions comme élément catalytique conditionnant l'effet de causes plus directes de la déforestation. La première partie conclut sur le rôle majeur de la prise en compte des legs légaux et coloniaux pour expliquer l' effet des institutions sur la déforestation. La seconde partie explique le rôle majeur de la demande de bonne gouvernance pour préserver la forêt, en étant un substitut (complément) d'une mauvaise (bonne) offre de bonne gouvernance. Enfin, la troisième partie de la thèse suggère de comprendre les institutions comme un facteur catalytique de la déforestation qui permet de comprendre l' effet des causes directes de celle-Ci telles que la productivité agricole des fermes de l'Amazonie Légale, ou les comportements stratégiques entre communes du Paraná dans la création de parcs municipaux. / This thesis investigates the role of institutions on deforestation within the framework of the New Institutional Economics. This theory states that institutions can be defined such as the incentive systm wich shape economic interactions throughout the modulations of the incentives of agents. This way, institutions are at stake in the process of deforestation and the analysis of this role is the core of this thesis, articulated around three parts : the role of institutional persistence (1), the importance of the deman for good governance (2) and the implications of institutions and governance system as an underlying framework shaping proximate causes of deforestation (3). The first part stresses the importance of taking into account colonial and legal legacies to understand the role of institutions on deforestation. The second part explains the leading role of the demand for good governance. the third part proposes two micro-Economics applications in Brazil. The role of institutions and governance systmem on forest cover is defined as a catalytic role precipitating the effect of proximate causes on deforestation such as agricultural productivity in the Legal Amazon, or strategic behaviors between counties in the creation of municipal conservation units in the state of Paranà.

The experiment was conducted at the Experimental Center of the Coastal Plains Agricultural Research - CPATC - Embrapa, in Frei Paulo - SE to evaluate the morphology, chemical composition and productivity of forage cultivars in different planting densities. The experimental design was a randomized block in factorial 3X4. The treatments consisted of a combination of three species of cactus pear (Palma Giant and Tiny Round), four planting densities (10,000, 20,000, 40,000 and 80,000 plants.ha-1), with three replications. The sample collection was performed at 24 months after planting, and evaluated the morphometric measurements, production and chemical composition in each treatment. The species of forage presented different behaviors regarding morphometry, productivity and chemical composition and independent of the kind denser planting increases productivity and provides greater accumulation of water and nutrients per hectare2 years. / O experimento foi instalado no Campo Experimental do Centro de Pesquisa Agropecuária dos Tabuleiros Costeiros - CPATC - Embrapa, em Frei Paulo SE objetivando avaliar a morfometria, produtividade e a composição química de cultivares de palma forrageira em diferentes densidades de plantio. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi em blocos casualizados, em esquema fatorial 3X4. Os tratamentos constituíram-se da combinação de três espécies de palma forrageira (Palma Gigante, Redonda e a Miúda), quatro densidades de plantio (10.000, 20.000, 40.000 e 80.000 plantas.ha-1), com três repetições. A coleta das amostras foi realizada aos 24 meses após plantio, sendo realizadas avaliações das medidas morfométricas, produção e composição química em cada tratamento. As espécies de palma forrageira apresentaram comportamentos diferentes quanto à morfometria, produtividade e composição química e independente da espécie o plantio adensado eleva a produtividade e proporciona maior acúmulo de água e nutrientes por hectare2 anos.

La presente investigación busca determinar el efecto de la infraestructura de riego sobre la productividad de los agricultores peruanos. El análisis se divide en dos etapas, la primera consiste en estimar las formas funcionales Cobb-Douglas y Translog con el fin de capturar la productividad de la firma agricultora (PTF); posteriormente al contar con la información de las productividades se analizaron sus determinantes en relación a su significancia y efecto respecto a la PTF estimada. La investigación concluye que la tenencia de infraestructura de riego para canalizar el recurso hídrico en la actividad agrícola supone un aumento de productividad en el productor agrícola, así como el uso de información agroclimática y el análisis de agua también mejoran los rendimientos de la firma. / This research project aims to determine the effect of irrigation infrastructure on the productivity of Peruvian farmers. The analysis is divided into two parts. First, the Cobb-Douglas and Translog functional forms are applied to gather information about the productivity of the agricultural firm (TFP). Afterwards, their determinants are analyzed for their significance and effect on the estimated TFP. The results conclude that the use of irrigation infrastructure to channel water resources in agricultural activities increases the productivity of the agricultural producer and that the use of agro-climatic information and water analysis further improve the yields of the firm. / Trabajo de investigación

This study examines the importance of public research and development (R&D) expenditures and innovations (prices) to U S agricultural productivity employing panel vector error correction econometric technique Specifically, time-series and panel unit root tests, panel cointegration procedures, panel causality tests, and vector error correction model are used in the analysis. Empirical application to U S state-level data for 1960-2004 suggests positive and statistically significant influence of both supply-side drivers, in the form of public R&D expenditures, and demand-side drivers, in the form of innovations (prices), on total factor productivity growth.

The aim of the study was to investigate the impact of agricultural infrastructure on agricultural productivity and agricultural income of smallholder farmers in the North West Province, South Africa. Factors that contribute to the availability, accessibility and satisfaction of smallholder farmers with regards to agricultural infrastructure were also assessed in the study. Using cross sectional data from the North West Province of South Africa, one hundred and fifty smallholder farmers were selected using stratified sampling to group farmers into those who had agricultural infrastructure and those who did not have. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire, divided into six sections as follows: personal socio-economic characteristics of farmers; characteristics of the land; agricultural infrastructure of smallholder farmers; agricultural production and markets; and production activities and financial support rendered to farmers. The data were coded, captured and analysed using STATA 14.0. Data were analysed through descriptive analyses, Principal Components Analysis (PCA), Stochastic Frontier Analysis, Heckman selection procedure and Tobit Regression Models. This result revealed that most of the farmers were male, aged between 41 and 60 years of age, had contact with extension services only occasionally and did not engage in non-farming activities. Most of the smallholder farmers had less than 10 years of farming experience, had household sizes of less than or equal to five members, had about one household member assisting in the day-to-day farming activities. Most of the farmers did not belong to any farmer organisation. Generally, the farmers were involved in dry land farming. Farmers who irrigated their farms, did so on approximately 15 and 45 hectares of land. Farmers also received agricultural support from CASP and used commercial seeds, fertilizers and animal vaccines as their production inputs. Furthermore, smallholder farmers in the study area received support for inputs and majority did not have to repay for the inputs. Majority of farmers indicated that infrastructure impacted on their farming enterprises through increases in both productivity and sizes of their farming enterprises. The study found that the factors influencing agricultural income for smallholder farmers with agricultural infrastructure were: Physical infrastructure index (Coef=0.78: P<0.01); Social infrastructure availability index (Coef=0.61: P<0.01); Institutional infrastructure availability index (Coef=1.05: P<0.01); Level of education of farmers (Coef=0.96: P<0.01); Access to extension services (Coef=1.05: P<0.01); Membership of farmers’ organisations (Coef=0.59: P<0.05); Age of smallholder famers in the study area (Coef=0.05: P<0.01); and Household members assisting in farming activities (Coef=0.24: P<0.05). In terms of farmers without agricultural infrastructure available, factors influencing agricultural income were: physical infrastructure availability index (Coef = 0.74; P<0.01); social infrastructure availability index (Coef = 0.77: P<0.01); institutional infrastructure availability index (Coef = 0.61: P<0.01); level of education (Coef = 0.89: P<0.01); access to extension services (Coef=1.24: P<0.01); age of farmers (Coef = 0.06: P<0.01) and assistance of household members in farming enterprises (Coef=0.33: P<0.01). In terms of smallholder farmers with accessible agricultural infrastructure, factors influencing agricultural income were: Physical infrastructure access index (Coef=1.29: P<0.01); Social infrastructure access index (Coef=0.38: P<0.1); Equipment infrastructure access index (Coef=0.62: P<0.01); Level of education for smallholder farmers (Coef=1.21: P<0.01); Access to agricultural extension services (Coef=1.64: P<0.01); Membership of Farmers’ organisations (Coef=0.77: P<0.05); Age of smallholder farmer (Coef=0.01: P<0.01); and Household members assisting in the farming enterprises (Coef=0.39: P<0.01). With regards to smallholder farmers without accessible agricultural infrastructure, factors influencing agricultural income were: Physical infrastructure accessibility index (Coef=0.92, P<0.01); Equipment accessibility index (Coef=0.43, P<0.05); Level of education (Coef=1.25: P<0.01P); access to extension services (Coef = 1.63; P<0.01); membership of farming organisations (Coef = 0.86; p<0.01); age of farmers (Coef= 0.07; P<0.01) and assistance of household members in farming enterprises (Coef = 0.34; P<0.05). In terms of satisfaction of smallholder farmers with agricultural infrastructure, factors influencing agricultural income were: Physical infrastructure satisfaction index (Coef=0.35: P<0.1); Social infrastructure satisfaction index (Coef=0.37: P<0.1); Institutional infrastructure satisfaction index (Coef=1.25: P<0.01); Equipment infrastructure satisfaction index (Coef=1.04: P<0.01); Level of education of respondents (Coef=1.24: P<0.01); Access to extension services (Coef=1.58: P<0.01); Age of smallholder farmers in the study area (Coef=0.05: P<0.01); Number of years farming (Coef = -0.57: P<0.1); and Number of household members assisting in farming (Coef=0.19: P<0.1). The results of the Heckman selection model revealed that the variables impacting on agricultural income were: agricultural infrastructure availability index (Coef=1.12: P<0.01); and access to extension services (Coef=0.62: P<0.05). With regards to farmers not satisfied with agricultural infrastructure, factors influencing agricultural income were: institutional infrastructure satisfaction index (Coef = 0.54: P< 0.05); level of education (Coef=1.25: P<0.01); access to extension services (Coef = 1.77: P<0.01); age of farmers (Coef = 0.06: P<0.01) and assistance of household members in farming enterprises (Coef = 0.34: P<0.01). Furthermore, those impacting on agricultural production were: infrastructure satisfaction index (Coef=-1.31: P<0.01); infrastructure accessibility index (Coef=-0.59: P<0.05); Level of education of smallholder farmers (Coef=0.64: P<0.01); access to extension services (Coef=1.29: P<0.01); and membership of farmers’ organisations (Coef=0.66: P<0.01). The results of the Tobit Regression Model showed that among others factors influencing availability of agricultural infrastructure, the following variables played a critical role: assistance of household members in farming enterprise (Coef=0.702: P<0.01); farm ownership (Coef=0.962: P<0.01); farm acquisition (Coef=0.323: P<0.01) farmer occupation (Coef=0.785: P<0.01); member of farmers’ organisations (Coef=2.066: P<0.01); sources of labour (Coef=1.283: P<0.01); farming experience (Coef=0.100: P<0.01); and agricultural production inputs (Coef=-0.763: P<0.05). In terms of accessibility to agricultural infrastructure, the following variables played a critical role: engagement in non-farming activities Coef=1.275: P<0.01); contact with extension services (Coef=1.205: P<0.01); farm ownership (Coef=0.403: P<0.01); farmer occupation (Coef=0.456: P<0.01); membership of farmers’ organisations (Coef=1.111: P<0.01); sources of labour (Coef=0.653: P<0.01); farming experience (Coef=0.045: P<0.05) and land tenure (Coef=0.156: P<0.01). In terms of satisfaction with agricultural infrastructure, among other factors influencing satisfaction with agricultural infrastructure, the following variables played a critical role: organisation for extension services (Coef=1.779: P<0.01); assistance of household members in farming enterprise (Coef=0.411: P<0.01); government agricultural support to farmers (Coef=0.419: P<0.01); farm ownership (Coef=0.464: P<0.01); membership of farmers’ organisations (Coef=1.011: P<0.01); age of farmer (Coef= 0.030: P<0.01); level of education (Coef= 0.483: P<0.01); marital status (Coef=0.290: P<0.01); and gender (Coef= -0.576: P<0.01). The results of the analysis were used to close the knowledge gap with regards to the impact of agricultural infrastructure, availability, accessibility and satisfaction on the productivity and agricultural income of smallholder farmers in the North West Province. In terms of recommendations, the study highlighted that agricultural industries and government should commit in assisting smallholder farmers to be productive and to participate in economic activities. This could be achieved through collaboration with industries in implementing initiatives that assist and accelerate the development of smallholder farming and also through assisting smallholder farmers access agricultural infrastructure. / Agriculture and  Animal Health / D. Litt et Phil. (Agriculture)

Este documento examina la relación entre el acceso a microcrédito formal y la tenencia de tierras agrícolas para hogares productores en Perú. El análisis empírico está basado en la regresión logística con data recolectada de la Encuesta Nacional Agropecuaria (ENA) del año 2019, la cual comprende a 2 327 hogares productores agrícolas. Adicionalmente, el estudio incorpora otros factores relevantes a nivel jefe de hogar y socioeconómico, tales como: la edad, sexo y estado civil del jefe de hogar prestatario y la productividad agrícola regional. Los resultados del estudio revelan que el 89.86% de hogares productores agrícolas accedieron al microcrédito que solicitaron. El estudio concluye que la relación entre la tenencia de tierras agrícolas y el acceso a microcrédito formal no es significativa a nivel nacional. No obstante, a partir de dividir la muestra se obtienen resultados significativos. Inicialmente, se plantea la división respecto del umbral de superficie total promedio. Posteriormente, se dividió la muestra por región natural. A partir de lo anterior, se obtiene que la relación entre el acceso a microcrédito formal y tenencia de tierras agrícolas es significativa y positiva para los hogares con superficie total menor al promedio y/o los hogares productores que pertenecen a la región Costa. Las diferencias en los resultados surgen a raíz del cambio marginal en la superficie total y productividad agrícola. En suma, la investigación establece que la productividad agrícola resulta fundamental para explicar el aumento de la producción y el acceso a microcrédito. / This document examines the relationship between access to formal microcredit and agricultural land tenure of producer households in Peru. The empirical analysis is based on the logit regression and data was obtained from the National Agricultural Survey (ENA), developed in 2019, which includes 2 327 agricultural producer households. In addition, this study incorporates others relevant factors at head household and socioeconomic level such as: age, gender and married status of head household and regional agricultural productivity. The study reveals that 89.86% of agricultural producer households accessed the microcredit they requested. The paper thus concludes relationship between agricultural land tenure and access to formal microcredit is not significant at the national level. However, significant results are obtained from dividing. At first, the division respect to the threshold of the average total surface. Subsequently, the sample was divided by natural region. Based of the above, it is obtained that the relationship between access to formal microcredit and agricultural land tenure is significant and positive for households with less than average total land area and/or producer households belonging to the Coastal region. The differences arise from marginal change in total land area and agricultural productivity. Finally, the research establishes that agricultural productivity is essential to explain the improving production and access to microcredit. / Trabajo de investigación

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