Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of California, Riverside, 2009. / Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 2287-298). Issued in print and online. Available via ProQuest Digital Dissertations.

Thesis (M.A.)--Humboldt State University, 2009. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 29-31). Also available via Humboldt Digital Scholar.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Montana, 2007. / Title from title screen. Description based on contents viewed July 16, 2007. Includes bibliographical references (p. 76-78).

O setor fumageiro no Brasil vem contribuindo expressivamente para o crescimento da economia nacional, em especial para o desenvolvimento da região do Vale do Rio Pardo, no estado do Rio Grande do sul. No entanto, os pequenos fumicultores desta região carecem de mais atenção no que se refere a sua saúde. Para atingir o nível de qualidade exigido, o trabalho desenvolvido nestas lavouras expõe estes trabalhadores a intempéries climáticas, a adoção de posturas desfavoráveis, exigindo também o emprego de grande esforço físico. A associação destes fatores de risco podem favorecer o surgimento de problemas de saúde, além de alterações no desempenho funcional, que em curto ou longo prazo podem levar ao afastamento do trabalho. Este estudo buscou levantar dados a respeito da situação atual de saúde dos fumicultores, bem como mapear o processo produtivo de fumo nestas pequenas propriedades e realizar uma análise ergonômica deste. Através da comparação dos dados coletados com os encontrados na literatura, foi possível verificar que as condições de trabalho podem estar influenciando nas condições de saúde e segurança desta população. A partir de então, foram formuladas propostas de ações que visam melhorar estas condições laborais, assim como diminuir sua influência na saúde e segurança destes trabalhadores. / The tobacco sector in Brazil has grown in recent years, contributing significantly to the growth of national economy, specially the development of Vale do Rio Pardo, in state of Rio Grande do Sul. However, the small tobacco growers in this region require further attention regarding to their health, because to achieve the required quality, the work developed in these crops exposes these workers to bad weather, the adoption of awkward postures and required the use of excessive physical efforts. The association of these risk factors can favor the appearance of health problems, changes in performance, that in short or long term can lead to a great absenteeism. This study aimed to collect data about the current health state of local tobacco growers, map the production process of tobacco in these smaller properties and perform an ergonomic analysis. By comparing the data collected with the data found in the literature it was concluded that working conditions can be influencing the health and safety of this population. From then, there were formulated proposals of actions that aim to improve the work conditions, as well as to reduce his influence in the health and security of these workers.

This study explored the role and effectiveness of a credit guarantee scheme targeting coffee farmers’ cooperatives in Ethiopia. The study, among other things, aims at exploring how provision of a credit guarantee influences supply of institutional credit to coffee farmers’ cooperatives as well as examines cooperatives guaranteed loan utilisation, the resultant changes/impacts and intervening factors. Credit guarantee schemes largely trace their roots in the liberal and neoliberal economic and social contexts. One of the key issues the current study tried to address is examining how a credit guarantee scheme operates in a partially liberal capitalist context where there is pervasive state intervention in the key sectors of the economy, including financial and coffee sectors. The study was conducted in eight zones of the two major coffee producing regions of Ethiopia – Oromia and Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples’ regions. A mixed method with structured questionnaires (at two stages), key informant interviews, focus group discussions and extensive observation were used to collect data from primary cooperatives, financial institutions, coffee extension and cooperative experts. Qualitative analytical methods, descriptive statistics and econometric model were used in analysing the data. The study reveals that most primary cooperatives have weak institutional, business and financial capacities, and limited access to institutional services including credit. The findings show that cooperatives generally have limited role in the coffee production end, but they play an important role in its marketing. The study suggests that coffee or multipurpose cooperatives are not ideally suitable to serve as intermediaries for bank loans. The study reveals that the vast majority of the study cooperatives have potential demand for loans, but revealed low actual demand. Different sets of internal (demand side) and external factors influence cooperatives’ potential and actual demand for loan in different ways. The assessment of the guarantee scheme under analysis shows that though most of its design and operational features are in line with international practices, there are some obvious limitations. Low risk coverage level, limitation in the total volume of the guarantee fund, lack of capital enhancement mechanism for the lending banks, short life span of the scheme, lack of flexibility and adaptation and reliance on a single lending bank are among the notable limitations. In terms of utilisation of the guarantee fund and outreach of the lending activity, the scheme attained limited achievements with a low leverage ratio. However, substantial financial additionality was attained among the borrower cooperatives, but the intervention had little impacts in improving the terms and conditions of loans. The positive effects on the economic/business activities of beneficiary cooperatives include acquisition of processing facilities, increase in member size, increased volume of coffee processed and dry cherry traded and improvement in the income generated from such business activities. However, the scheme had limited effects on cooperatives’ human resources and type of management. A number of internal and external factors appear to influence effectiveness of a credit guarantee targeting farmers’ cooperatives. Several recommendations were made. First, there is a need to integrate attractive features into the scheme that can be periodically revised and adapted. These may include raising the risk coverage level especially at the initial stage, including liquidity boosting mechanism, lowering guarantee fee level, devising longer-term arrangement, integrating strong capacity building and technical support and other incentive packages. Second, the lending banks need to develop suitable loan products, revisit and improve their lending terms, requirements and approaches. Third, if they are to effectively demand for and make proper use of such guaranteed loans, cooperatives need to be supported so as to enhance their organisational, business and technical capacities. Fourth, there is a need for the government to further strengthen provision of a more supportive and enabling legal and institutional environments and relax some of the regulatory frameworks so as to facilitate the lending-borrowing activities. / Development Studies / D. Litt. et Phil. (Development Studies)

O setor fumageiro no Brasil vem contribuindo expressivamente para o crescimento da economia nacional, em especial para o desenvolvimento da região do Vale do Rio Pardo, no estado do Rio Grande do sul. No entanto, os pequenos fumicultores desta região carecem de mais atenção no que se refere a sua saúde. Para atingir o nível de qualidade exigido, o trabalho desenvolvido nestas lavouras expõe estes trabalhadores a intempéries climáticas, a adoção de posturas desfavoráveis, exigindo também o emprego de grande esforço físico. A associação destes fatores de risco podem favorecer o surgimento de problemas de saúde, além de alterações no desempenho funcional, que em curto ou longo prazo podem levar ao afastamento do trabalho. Este estudo buscou levantar dados a respeito da situação atual de saúde dos fumicultores, bem como mapear o processo produtivo de fumo nestas pequenas propriedades e realizar uma análise ergonômica deste. Através da comparação dos dados coletados com os encontrados na literatura, foi possível verificar que as condições de trabalho podem estar influenciando nas condições de saúde e segurança desta população. A partir de então, foram formuladas propostas de ações que visam melhorar estas condições laborais, assim como diminuir sua influência na saúde e segurança destes trabalhadores. / The tobacco sector in Brazil has grown in recent years, contributing significantly to the growth of national economy, specially the development of Vale do Rio Pardo, in state of Rio Grande do Sul. However, the small tobacco growers in this region require further attention regarding to their health, because to achieve the required quality, the work developed in these crops exposes these workers to bad weather, the adoption of awkward postures and required the use of excessive physical efforts. The association of these risk factors can favor the appearance of health problems, changes in performance, that in short or long term can lead to a great absenteeism. This study aimed to collect data about the current health state of local tobacco growers, map the production process of tobacco in these smaller properties and perform an ergonomic analysis. By comparing the data collected with the data found in the literature it was concluded that working conditions can be influencing the health and safety of this population. From then, there were formulated proposals of actions that aim to improve the work conditions, as well as to reduce his influence in the health and security of these workers.

Durante las décadas de 1950 y 1960, varias comunidades, comoAcos y Huayopampa (valle del Chancay, Huaral), cambiaron susistema productivo de subsistencia por la fruticultura, más rentableeconómicamente. Esto no fue ajeno a Putinza, comunidad fruticultoraobjeto de la investigación. Alrededor de 1955 se orientaal cultivo de frutales, deja de lado el de panllevar, reemplaza elmulticultivo por el monocultivo y se articula a los mercados de lasciudades de Cañete y Lima.La presente investigación, que combina el trabajo de campo, unavisión diacrónica y sincrónica y los aportes de los estudios deeconomía campesina, tiene como objetivo explicar los factores queposibilitaron la articulación de Putinza a los mercados urbanos, ainicios de la década de 1960. Hemos encontrado que una ventajaecológica, una actitud abierta al cambio, la corta distancia geográfica,el uso de infraestructura vial y una situación favorableen el mercado urbano en cuanto a precios y creciente demanda deproductos frutícolas fueron factores que intervinieron en la articulaciónde los campesinos de Putinza a los mercados de las ciudadesde Cañete y Lima. / During the decades of the 1950’s and 1960’s, several communitiesof Peru’s central coastal area, well-known examples being Acos andHuayopampa (Chancay Valley, Huaral), converted from subsistenceproduction systems to fruit growing, economically more profitable.This occurred in Putinza, the community discussed in this paper.Around 1955 it shifted to cultivating fruit and replaced multicroppingwith monoculture, articulated to the urban markets of Cañete andLima. This research, which combines field work with a diachronicand synchronic vision and draws on comparative studies of peasanteconomies, seeks to explain the factors that facilitated this articulationin the early 1960’s. Among the factors that influenced thisprocess are the ecological advantages the community enjoyed, itsopenness to change, its relative closeness to large urban centers,the existence of roads and infrastructure, and market advantages interms of prices and the growing consumer demand for fruit.

GlobalGAP (previously EurepGAP) is a voluntary business-to-business standard for food audit that has recently achieved the greatest acceptance worldwide (Campbell, Lawrence & Smith 2006) boasting implementation numbers of over 80,000 farms in 80 countries. Compliance with the standard is verified by means of the third party certification (TPC) audit, and is designed to (GlobalGAP 2008) assure European retailers that exporting producers have met their criteria for safe and sustainable agriculture (GlobalGAP 2007b). In 2004, cherry growers in the Southern Interior of British Columbia became the first GlobalGAP certified producers in Canada. This novelty afforded a unique opportunity to observe the introduction of the standard in an industrialized country with well-established regulations and where the capacity of producers to undertake the process was relatively high. A qualitative methodology was used in case studies of two communities to inductively study the implementation of ‘safe and sustainable agriculture’ certification and generate relevant research questions for deeper examination. Sensitizing concepts emerging from observations of the TPC audits (n = 20) evolved into two primary research objectives; 1) to understand the practical application and diffusion of a TPC standard and 2) to explore the efficacy of the TPC standard as a mechanism to promote sustainable agriculture within certain pre-existing contexts. Forty-four follow up interviews were conducted with growers that chose to certify (n = 24), those that did not (n = 14), and other key actors (n = 3). This thesis examines the research objectives over three chapters. The introduction provides the local and global context along with a review of GlobalGAP, agri-food governance and the role of private certification and retailer power. Chapter two presents the technological and sociological factors that influenced the stages of the diffusion of GlobalGAP TPC and compares these factors and outcomes to the technological and sociological components of sustainable agriculture. In the conclusion, policy strategies are offered to maximize the potential for this tool to promote sustainable agriculture along with suggestions for future research on the topic. / Science, Faculty of / Resources, Environment and Sustainability (IRES), Institute for / Graduate

This paper presents an analysis of the relationship between the rural growers of Novo Cabrais/RS with agrotoxics. Through a qualitative investigation an attempt was made to reveal the paradigms implied in the discourse of agricultural agents regarding the usage and regulation of agrotoxic products in order to provide subsidies for more effective communication strategies in future projects of rural extension. Based on growers testimony, different declarations according to different types of plantations was something striking, which makes sense taking into account the link between the company and the farmers. Tobacco growers have a close relationship with tobacco companies, from the technical assistance to the commercialization of the product, whereas the rice and soybean growers are different. They do not establish contractual relationship with companies. Therefore, they have more freedom to choose inputs and equipment and commercialize their products, thus allowing greater profitability. Despite the differences, it is noticeable that great part of the knowledge farmers have about agrotoxics , from the type and dosage to the care to be taken, is information given by professionals linked to commercial institutions. This fact shows a situation that violates the legislation , once the agronomic prescription should be issued according to visits paid to the lands by professionals not linked to the commercial sector because it represents an implicit interest in increasing sales, applying greater dosages and even more toxic than needed. Thus, the lack of objective orientation and the lack of punishment are the main factors contributing to the indiscriminate use of agrotoxics in the municipality of Novo Cabrais. This will only change with the publication of new strategies of risk communication , public policies and educational programs focused on this issue, taking into consideration the growers view on each type of plantation. / Este trabalho apresenta uma análise da relação que os produtores rurais de Novo Cabrais/RS estabelecem os agrotóxicos. Por meio de uma investigação qualitativa, buscou-se revelar os paradigmas implícitos no discurso dos agentes envolvidos com o setor agrícola, frente à problemática do uso e regulamentação de produtos agrotóxicos, com vistas a fornecer subsídios para estratégias de comunicação mais efetivas em futuros projetos de extensão rural. Perante os testemunhos dos produtores rurais, chamou a atenção foi a diferença dos depoimentos em função do tipo de cultivo, o que pode ser compreendido a partir do vínculo que se estabelece entre as empresas e os agricultores. Os produtores de fumo possuem uma relação estreita com as companhias fumageiras, desde a orientação de base técnica até a comercialização da produção, o que não ocorre com os produtores de arroz e soja. Estes produtores não estabelecem relações contratuais com as empresas, por isso possuem liberdade de escolha tanto para adquirir insumos e equipamentos, quanto para a comercialização da produção, permitindo maior rentabilidade. Apesar dessas diferenças, o que se percebe é que a maior parte do conhecimento que os agricultores possuem em relação aos agrotóxicos, desde o tipo e a dosagem, até os cuidados a serem tomados, são informações emitidas pelos profissionais ligados aos estabelecimentos comerciais. Este fato retrata uma situação que fere a legislação, uma vez que o receituário agronômico deveria ser emitido a partir de visitas às propriedades por profissionais não vinculados ao setor de comercialização, já que isto representa um interesse implícito para aumentar as vendas, implicando na aplicação de dosagens maiores ou até mais tóxicas que as necessárias. Assim, o que se observa é que a ausência de atividades de orientação mais objetivas e a falta de uma fiscalização punitiva são os principais fatores que contribuem para o uso indiscriminado dos agrotóxicos no município de Novo Cabrais. Tal fato, só poderá ser modificado a partir da difusão de novas estratégias de comunicação do risco, de políticas públicas e de programas de educação bem direcionados a esta temática, considerando, principalmente, a visão dos produtores por tipo de cultivo.

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