Inaugural-Dissertation--Universität Basel, 1930. / Cover title. Vita. "Biographisches Register": p. 225-236. Bibliography: p. 237-247.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Florida, 1982. / Description based on print version record. Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 267-273).

Thesis(PhD.)(Plant Production)--University of Pretoria, 2005. / Includes summary. Includes bibliographical references. Available on the Internet via the World Wide Web

This study seeks to benchmark financial efficiencies for vegetable food crop production and to demonstrate that local vegetable food crop growing is a viable option. The work identifies techniques for communities to increase sustainability on small land plots in Wales [UK]. Initial research shows limited availability of systematic data on harvest quantities and financial returns for small scale growing of vegetable food crops. When interviewed, 37 growers from an initial total of 40 were either reluctant to provide, or had failed to keep, written records of vegetable production, their costs and sales statistics. The information provided by the 37 for comprehensive personal interview questionnaires is mainly derived from memory. Organic registered growers are notionally required to keep precise production and other details by the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs. Analysis of the memorised data showed in most instances that outputs generated were not sufficient to support inputs. This study highlights the difficulties of collecting and collating sufficient accurate data and systematic to establish reliable benchmarks for small agricultural enterprises. Data Envelopment Analysis software initially identifies efficient and inefficient producers from the data collected but a simpler more readily understandable analysis system is now used which identifies changes in input variables needed to gauge efficiency. This study is set against a theoretical examination of global economic events that combine to discourage localisation. The overall aim is to show that in a global production framework there are hidden, deferred and obscured costs that make those processes unsustainable. Study of the produce of smallholdings and allotments in Wales allows some tentative conclusions to be drawn about appropriate benchmarks for local vegetable food crop production. This study is more important however, for the light it sheds on the current quality of data available for analysing small scale agricultural production and the general difficulties of conducting a survey to collect robust data, the analysis of which has policy implications for production, consumption and lifestyle.

The current study aimed at investigating the sustainability of KwaZakhele's Permaculture Project and was conducted in the Eastern Cape Province within the Nelson Mandela Metro Municipality at Ward 22 according to Municipal Ward demarcations. The researcher was motivated to carry out this study due to the fact that many food production projects in the NMMM are not sustainable and thus contribute to food insecurity and a high rate of unemployment. The purpose of this study was to investigate the potential of permaculture projects in solving some of the food insecurity and unemployment issues in the NMMM. The KwaZakhele Permaculture Project (KPP) is a vegetable garden which produces different types of vegetables for marketing purposes and for household consumption. The KPP is supported financially by overseas-based organisations and have created ten direct work opportunities for KwaZakhele community. All the project members of the KPP are women. A qualitative research approach was employed in this study, with the emphasis of collecting primary data from the project participants as well as consulting secondary data from sources such as academic journals, books and government policy documents. The study reveals that permaculture design training and project monitoring are the most important developmental support permaculture projects need before and after implementation. The study also determined that the costs of establishing permaculture project can be higher or lower depending on the project size. Consultation and co-ordination fees account for a greater portion of the funding followed by permaculture infrastructure. The results of the study also indicate that permaculture design principles and ethics are seen as a strength for the sustainability of KPP.

No description available.

Commercial fresh vegetable production is one of the most rewarding and risky farming activities. The price and yield variations throughout the production year, the special characteristics of fresh vegetable produce (i.e. perishability), and the changing consumer demands are some of the factors contributing to the increased uncertainty faced by vegetable producers. This dissertation combined mathematical programming and econometric techniques to: 1) investigate the optimal production and marketing practices under different price distribution information scenarios, risk aversion levels and marketing outlets and 2) examine growers’ preferences as well the effect of risk aversion levels and growers’ risk perception on the choice of marketing contracts. Specifically, the following three modeling approaches were adopted in order to achieve the dissertation objectives: 1) quadratic programming under a mean-variance framework, 2) discrete choice experiments and 3) a combination of quadratic and integer programming embodied in a meanvariance framework. The findings indicate that optimal production practices and the resulting net returns are substantially influenced not only by the choice of marketing channel but also by growers’ risk aversion levels as well as price knowledge. Furthermore, regarding the choice of marketing contracts, the results highlight the existence of heterogeneity in preferences and illustrate the importance of certification cost, in line with the previous literature. Lastly, the findings indicate that risk aversion and risk preferences do not play a significant role in the choice of contractual agreements by farmers.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Hong Kong, 1971. / Accompanied by Supplement (1 v. 27 cm.) 1971. Copies of published papers by the author. Mimeographed. Also available on microfilm.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Texas at Austin, 2001. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 256-277). Available also in a digital version from Dissertation Abstracts.

No description available.