Thesis (M.A.)--Ohio University, June, 2004. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 81-85).

Thesis (M.A.)--Ohio University, June, 2004. / Title from PDF t.p. Includes bibliographical references (p. 81-85)

China faces enormous challenges in generating sustained and inclusive agricultural and rural development. However the rapid growth occurring both inside and outside the agricultural sector provides new opportunities to meet the challenges. The development of higher value agrifood chains may provide opportunities for rural households to increase their levels of specialisation, scale and incomes, and for rural areas to broaden their employment and tax revenues bases. Facilitation of these developments effectively forms an agricultural modernisation strategy that is becoming increasingly described and prescribed by Chinese policy makers, researchers and development agencies. Despite the attention that has been given to this agricultural modernisation strategy, it has not proceeded without problems in China and has been subject to little rigorous scrutiny. This thesis uses a detailed industry case study approach to examine the way that Chinese agriculture is modernising and, as an applied study, to identify areas where China’s agricultural modernisation strategy can be refined. China’s agricultural modernisation strategy is analysed through the window of a particular Chinese agricultural and rural industry, namely the beef industry. The beef industry resembles many other agricultural and livestock industries that are commercialising, modernising and segmenting with important implications for food safety, the environment and rural incomes. In addition to providing insights into developments in the broader agricultural and livestock sectors, the Chinese beef industry is also worth examining in its own right because of its significant place in the world beef industry and in China’s livestock sector, and because it is used as a “pillar industry” in the development of many poor areas. While the thesis focuses predominantly on the beef industry, differences and similarities with other livestock industries are noted throughout the analysis. The use of an industry case study allows for a detailed analysis of a cross section of China’s markets, agribusiness and production sectors, and the integration of the sectors that form the industry. One novel aspect of the thesis is that the industry modernisation process is seen as a movement from low to high value agrifood chains in all of these sectors and for the industry as a whole. The thesis examines the drivers of and constraints to the movement from low to high value agrifood chains, the sustainability of the development of the higher value agrifood chains, and the implications for industry participants. The study draws on multiple forms of data, including extensive interview and fieldwork data over a ten year period across China, budget and scenario analyses; and macro-level data and policy documents. The cross-verification of this data allows for a rigorous, multi-disciplinary and “grounded” form of analysis that can complement other studies which draw on fewer sources of data. The thesis also provides a longitudinal and diachronic perspective of the agricultural modernisation process in contrast to a shorter term snapshot. The thesis examines the reasons and the measures by which China is attempting to move the agricultural sector beyond its primary reliance on traditional, low value agrifood chains. While the logic of these reasons and measures can be discerned, it is argued that China has attempted to “skip” development stages by over emphasising the development of large scale modern high value agrifood chains. The attempt to force the pace of modernisation has led to significant distortions and detrimental impacts. The thesis argues the need for China to refine its agricultural modernisation development strategy to be both more market conforming and to bring more benefits to industry participants in rural areas. This is best done by taking a more incremental approach to agricultural modernisation with an increased emphasis on mid value agrifood chains and the development of market facilitating policies. The analysis, findings and recommendations of the thesis may be of interest to policy makers, development agencies and researchers working on China’s agricultural and livestock sectors.

<p>U radu se analiziraju agroekonomski faktori odrţivog razvoja na primeru regiona Fru&scaron;ke gore. Potreba za istraţivanjem ovih faktora polazi od ĉinjenice da je poljoprivreda najzastupljenija delatnost u ovom regionu, taĉnije u njegovoj za&scaron;titnoj zoni. Identifikovanje i kvantifikovanje agroekonomskih faktora putem relevantnih indikatora odrţive poljoprivrede pro&scaron;ireno je i na aspekt ruralnog razvoja. U radu je dat pregled vladajuće literature, kao i veći broj metodologija odrţivog razvoja, odrţive poljoprivrede i ruralnog razvoja. Prikazani su razliĉiti pristupi u regionalne ekonomije i oceni regionalne konkurentnosti ruralnih podruĉja u cilju sveobuhvatne analize posmatrane problematike. Date su karakteristike istraţivanog prostora na primeru Fru&scaron;ke gore (potencijala za odrţivi razvoj, profili op&scaron;tina/gradova koji ulaze u obuhvat ovog regiona, kao i prikaz odrţivih opredeljenja za sve delatnosti). Na osnovu dostupnih podataka analiziran je uticaj pojedinih agroekonomskih faktora odrţivog razvoja regiona Fru&scaron;ke gore, i data je procena njihovog daljeg delovanja u budućem periodu, uz uvaţavanje ostalih ekonomskih pokazatelja Republike Srbije i AP Vojvodine. U dokazivanju ili opovrgavanju hipoteza, osim identifikacije agroekonomskih faktora odrţivog razvoja, kori&scaron;ćeno je anketno istraţivanje svih zainteresovanih subjekata u regionu Fru&scaron;ke gore. Isto tako, izloţene su ideje i predlozi za buduća istraţivanja i predloţen je model koji bi na najoptimalniji naĉin valorizovao sve potencijale Fru&scaron;ke gore, a prvenstveno onih koji su u funkciji unapreĊenja poljoprivrede, ruralnog i odrţivog razvoja.</p> / <p>This paper analyses agrieconomics factors of sustainable development in the case of region of Fru&scaron;ka gora. The need for research on these factors comes from the fact that agriculture is the most common activity in the region, specifically in its protective zone. An identifying and quantifying agrieconomics factor through relevant indicators of sustainable agriculture has been extended to an aspect of rural development. The paper gives an overview of the actual literature, and a number of methodologies for sustainable development, sustainable agriculture and rural development. Different theoretical approaches of the regional economy and the assessment of regional competitiveness of rural areas are presented, in order a comprehensive analysis of the observed issues. The characteristics of the area in the case of Fru&scaron;ka gora are presented (potential for sustainable development, profiles of municipalities/cities which are located in the scope of this region, as well as the sustainable orientation for all business activity). Based on available data, was analysed the influence of the certain agrieconomics factors of sustainable development of the region of Fru&scaron;ka gora, and assessment of their impact in the following period, together with other economic indicators of the Republic of Serbia and AP Vojvodina. In proving or disproving the hypothesis, except the identification agrieconomics factors of sustainable development, the research by a survey questionnaire of all stakeholders in the region of Fru&scaron;ka gora was used. Also, the ideas and suggestions for future research are expressed and a model that would optimally valorised all potentials of Fru&scaron;ka gora is proposed, primarily those that are aimed at improving the agricultural, rural and sustainable development.</p>

The aim of the thesis was to introduce the principles of common agriculture policy and the farming processs of ecological farmer on the farm in the Klatovy region. Furthermore I wanted to point to the legal basis of this kind of business and to other options for possible activity diversification of a farmer due to the agriculture tourism. There are suggested three projects in the thesis that the farmer could ask for within the Rural development programme to extend his business. The first project for building own slaughter would support the partnership principle, the farmer will slaughter stock to other farmers in the neighbourhood. The second project deals with the present production enlargement and ensures the quality of stock life, the third project provides the diversificated activity in agriculture that should give support to enterprise revenues.