The objectives of the research was to critically analyse arguments for and against agricultural trade liberalization and its impact on food security, investigating the nexus between the three pillars of agriculture and food security, considering how the Agreement on Agriculture and the Food Aid Convention addressed the concerns that were raised by the different parties during the negotiation period, and finally it considered how the current multilateral negotiations in agriculture can provide a secure framework within which developing African countries can pursue effective policies to ensure their food security.

Agriculture forms the livelihood basis of several billion people around the world. Despite the increasing trend for rural to urban migration the problems associated with poverty are expected to remain predominantly rural for some time into the future. The challenges associated with rural poverty are particularly important in South Africa where the remaining effects of the oppressive apartheid regime are still vividly evident. The rural population are often stranded in areas of stagnant economic growth and minimal employment opportunities further compounded by low levels of education. The livelihoods of these rural communities, in the former homelands, are often confined to a heavy reliance on remittance incomes and agriculture. However, in the recent past the level of agricultural activity in these rural homelands appears to be declining. This has direct implications for the development agenda in these rural areas. This study is an examination of the various dynamics which have affected the subsistence agriculture sector within a specific community in the former homeland of KwaZulu in Southern KwaZulu-Natal. The responses of 12 respondents, representing independent households, were recorded along with four purpositive interviews with relevant role players in the agricultural sector and in the rural community. The responses shed some light on the multifaceted dynamics which have played an important role in how individual households and the community at large make livelihood choices and how subsistence agriculture fits into these decisions. An increasing reliance on money as the basis of livelihood decisions is resulting in the reliance on agriculture shifting away from a central foundation of household livelihood towards a more supplementary form of food source and risk diversion. Shifting cultural norms have resulted in women and the youth becoming less involved in farming practices in general, which may have been influenced by the expansion of social grants into the rural communities. The changes in dynamics which influence local community and household livelihood decisions are important to consider when determining a possible development initiative in these rural areas. / Thesis (M.Dev.Studies)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2012.

The study aimed to investigate the hygiene quality of fresh agricultural produce, irrigation water and compost from four cooperatives (Jabulani, Nungwane, Senzakahle and Siyazenzela) supplying the uMbumbulu Agri-Hub Non-Governmental Organisation. In addition, the influence that socio-economic characteristics such as age, gender, level of education and training had on the uMbumbulu farmers’ hygienic practices was investigated. Questionnaires, key informant interviews and laboratory analysis were used to collect data. The most probable number (MPN) method, a microbiological technique, was used to quantify selected hygiene indicators (i.e. total and faecal coliforms including Escherichia coli) from compost, irrigation water and leafy vegetables (spinach and lettuce) during the months of October, November and December 2011. Microbiological analysis on lettuce and spinach produced by the four Agri-Hub cooperatives confirmed that these vegetables were safe to eat and unlikely to cause sickness. The irrigation water sources, vegetables and compost faecal coliform levels met national standards with faecal coliforms of <1 000 MPN/100ml for irrigation and<200 MPN/g for the leafy salad vegetables. Compost faecal coliform levels were <1000/g and E. coli levels of <30 MPN/g, these levels decreased over the 3 months. Descriptive statistics such as the Chi-Square test using IBM SPSS and a logistic regression was performed using the STATA 11 software. The sample consisted of 60% female and 40% males, most of which (73%) were above the age of 40. A total of 60% of respondents received income from farming activities, receiving revenues of between R150- R250 a week. The logistic regression indicated that farmers already receiving some income from farming activities and those that had received training on hygienic farming practices were likely to wash hands and equipment prior to entering the field compared to those who had not. These variables influenced the hygienic practices with a probability of 26% and 32% respectively at 5% significance level. The logistic regression also showed that respondents with primary or no formal education were less likely to wash hands and equipment prior to entering the field compared to those who had a secondary level education. This unlikelihood had a probability of 35% for primary education and 43% for farmers with no formal education at significance levels of 5% and 10% respectively. This study indicates how training, education and farming experience are important and effective tools in implementing good hygienic practices in small-scale farming. The study’s main recommendations are that policies encourage farmer awareness on their responsibility of producing vegetables that are of good hygienic quality, especially if such produce is to reach the market. Furthermore policies should advocate for small-scale farmer training. This training should not be limited to subsistence farming but should also aim at preparing farmers towards accessing produce markets. Farmer training in hygienic practices should aid farmers to meet the stringent market standards allowing for better access, the regular income from such activities support farming as a livelihood and bearer of food security. It must also be noted that farmers require support in attaining the various resources needed in order to successfully and continually supply markets. / Thesis (M.Sc.Agric.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2013.

Chronic disease and unhealthy weight is an epidemic threatening the future wellbeing of Indianapolis. This study identifies how the City, and its partners, can improve fresh produce access and availability in high-risk neighborhoods through urban farming and gardening strategies. Recommendations for the City and allied organizations include: the degree of participation, food production and distribution, land policy and farm/garden location, educational programming, and economic sustainability. Target areas for new farms and gardens are identified through GIS overlay mapping and computational of indicators for chronic illness, food environment, and food insecurity. The intended outcome is a guide for the City of Indianapolis, and others facing similar problems, to implement and sustain City programs that address health in highrisk neighborhoods. / Department of Landscape Architecture

A pesquisa desenvolvida tem como objetivo analisar os conteúdos jornalísticos das rádios Cero Corá e FM Melodia e verificar se o meio, que atua como instrumento de divulgação, representa de forma simbólica a cultura e a identidade das comunidades fronteiriças. A análise foi desenvolvida na fronteira de Ponta Porã-Pedro Juan Caballero e Corumbá-Puerto Quijarro, e a seleção dos objetos de pesquisa, a saber, as rádios de fronteira, teve como fundamento o fato de caracterizarem-se as emissoras como binacionais. Por ser uma região limítrofe do Brasil, onde não existem barreiras geográficas, caracterizada pela conformação de fronteira seca, os municípios sul-mato-grossenses e paraguaio e boliviano representam uma área peculiar para pesquisa, uma vez que os intercâmbios entre as comunidades são cotidianos. Sendo assim, pretende-se identificar se os discursos e as vivências da população que mora na fronteira estão presentes nos relatos das emissoras radiofônicas. / The research aimed at analyzing the journalistic content of Cerro Cora and FM Melodia radio stations and certifying that the medium represents in a symbolic manner the culture and identity of the neighbouring communities. The analysis took place on the borders of Ponta Porã-Juan Caballero and Corumbá-Puerto Quijarro and the choice of the research objects, i.e. the neighbouring communities\' radio stations, happened thanks to their binational characteristic. Since it is a borderline region of Brazil, with countries separated by land borders and with no actual barriers between them, the exchange between communities is common-place and thus such municipalities of Mato Grosso do Sul, Paraguay and Bolivia are very peculiar subjects to research. Hence, the goal here is to identify whether the language and experiences of the population of the borders are present in the broadcast of the radio stations.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-04-25T18:39:54Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Douglas Tadeu de Oliveira Ribeiro.pdf: 1541516 bytes, checksum: 2cb9ac8db1dbc8cf1540dc5041634e7b (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013-06-24 / The present study contributed to establish a cash flow model to measure the fair value of any biological asset teaching through examples based on best practices in asset valuation used by the market. Although CPC 29 (equivalent to international financial reporting standard IAS 41) establishes a level of hierarchy for measuring fair value, many assessments are performed using the discounted cash flow, in the absence of an active market or in the absence of market for the asset in its present condition, even if there is an active market for the mature biological asset. Given this difficulty, the method of discounted cash flow for the present value is used to evaluate a wider range of biological assets. The main aspect discussed was how to translate the elements necessary for an asset valuation by the method of discounted cash flow applied to different crops and also livestock. The accounting effects are different for each type of entity, farming or agribusiness, as well as its effects on the distribution of dividends and tax treatment. This study also evaluate the need for modification of internal controls to account for the fair value of agricultural produce for industrial entities and its practical implications. Since it is a relevant estimate in the financial statements, the measurement must be accompanied by extensive disclosures of significant assumptions used, which has not yet happened in the disclosures analyzed listed Brazilian companies. In many cases the disclosure makes comparison between companies operating in the same sector, since important information is not disclosed. The study also considers the effects of fair value of biological assets on the financial statements of the public entities and if the notes are sufficient to provide user with enough information to allow comparison / O presente estudo contribuiu para estabelecer um modelo de fluxo de caixa para mensuração do valor justo para qualquer ativo biológico, por meio de exemplos didáticos, com base nas melhores práticas de avaliação de ativos utilizadas pelo mercado. Embora o Pronunciamento Técnico CPC 29 (equivalente à norma internacional IAS 41) estabeleça um nível de hierarquia para mensuração do valor justo, muitas avaliações são realizadas utilizando-se o fluxo de caixa descontado, seja pela ausência de um mercado ativo ou pela ausência de mercado para o ativo na condição em que ele se encontra, mesmo que exista mercado ativo. Diante dessa dificuldade, a metodologia de fluxo de caixa descontado para obter o valor presente é utilizada para avaliar a maior variedade de ativos biológicos. O principal aspecto analisado foi como traduzir os elementos necessários para uma avaliação de ativos pelo método do fluxo de caixa descontado, aplicado às diferentes culturas agrícolas e também à pecuária. Os reflexos contábeis são diferentes para cada tipo de entidade, seja agrícola ou agroindústria, bem como os seus efeitos sobre a distribuição de dividendos e tratamento fiscal. O estudo avalia, igualmente, a necessidade de alteração dos controles internos para considerar o valor justo do produto agrícola naquelas empresas agroindustriais e suas implicações práticas. Por se tratar de uma estimativa relevante nas demonstrações financeiras, a mensuração deve ser acompanhada de extensa divulgação das premissas relevantes utilizadas, o que ainda não se verifica nas divulgações analisadas das empresas brasileiras de capital aberto. Em muitos casos, a divulgação dificulta a comparação entre empresas que operam no mesmo setor, já que informações importantes não são divulgadas. O estudo também trata dos efeitos do valor justo dos ativos biológicos sobre demonstrações financeiras das entidades abertas e se as divulgações são suficientes para permitir a comparabilidade pelos seus usuários

Este trabalho busca contribuir no debate acerca dos movimentos sociais, especificamente no do movimento de moradia. Oferece uma análise das dinâmicas estatais de desenvolvimento das políticas e produções habitacionais em três esferas de governo: o Governo Federal, o Governo Estadual paulista, e a Prefeitura Municipal de São Paulo. O estudo aborda a atuação destes níveis de governo desde suas origens até 2002. Ele analisa os diferentes períodos do desenvolvimento desta atuação, examinando os modelos habitacionais que os caracterizaram. Esta análise focou-se na variação da distribuição das atividades fundamentais, à produção habitacional financiada por fundos públicos, presente nos diferentes programas habitacionais realizados ao longo do tempo. Assim ela procurou identificar as continuidades e descontinuidades da ação estatal. Expõe desta forma as preferências demonstradas pelo Estado em sua ação. Isto permitiu delinear o papel do movimento de moradia em alguns dos modelos habitacionais surgidos desde a Nova República. / This study intends to contribute to debate of social movements which gather dwellings. It approaches an analysis on State-oriented dynamics to develop policies and dwellings production into three branches of government: Federal, local State of São Paulo and São Paulo county level. The policies and action of these three levels are made accessible from its origins to 2002. An effort to analysis of different moments into the process of the public action is made. The models for habitation produce are under examination. The approach focuses changes in the distribution from the basic actions up to habitation produce financed by public funds. This has been found in different dwelling programs produced through all the time. The analysis attempts to identify continuities and discontinuities into the public action. It exposes by this way the preferences shown by the State performance. Such an approach allowed to outline the role of the gather dwellings movement in some of the habitation produce models that were developed since the New Republic arrival

Small islands developing states (SIDS) sustainability is a United Nations’ aim. Their markets are often influenced by external policies imposed by larger economies. Could an anti-competitive measure affect the food vulnerability of a SIDS? This research examines the effects of an external non-tariff measure (NTM) on Puerto Rico’s (PR) agribusinesses. It explores the effects of a maritime cabotage regulation (US Jones Act) on the affordability and accessibility of produce and grains. PR imports 100% of their needs of grain and over 85% of fresh produce. PR’s food imports are generally from the US and the trade service is restricted to the use of the US maritime transportation. As a result, the supply chain of these two sectors although different, are limited by the US Act that may impact the cost of food, its availability, firms’ efficiency and other structures of production. Using a mixed convergent design, PR’s agrifood supply chains were explored and analysed in relation to the maritime cabotage regulation. Oligopolistic structures and collusion between maritime transporters and local agribusinesses importers limit the access to data, but other internal factors also have a role. Fieldwork shows that while the cabotage regulation itself is a constraint, interaction with others NTM and the current political framework between US and PR are relevant. Factors such as lack of efficiency, poor innovation and a self-limitation of the agribusinesses firms were found. The novelty of this research is the use of mixed methods to evaluate the effects of cabotage on the agrifood supply chain.

Thesis (MA. Agricultural Management (Agricultural Economics)) -- University of Limpopo, 2014 / The role of agricultural exports to agriculture’s share of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in South Africa is of extreme importance and exhibits strong interest from all parts of the economy. Many believe that agriculture can salvage the declining economic growth under such global economic conditions. The decision to diversify and expand exports of these avocados, apples, mangoes and oranges will improve the South African economy’s unstable conditions. This study accounts for all the factors that are truly unique to South African’s economy. Therefore, the study will help to shift the focus of avocado, apple, mango and orange growers to export more due to the international market demand for such produce. The aim of the study was to analyse the link between avocado, apple, mango and orange exports and agriculture’s share of Gross Domestic Product in South Africa. The specific objectives are to determine the correlation between avocado, apple, mango and orange exports and the agriculture’s share of Gross Domestic Product in South Africa, investigate the contribution of avocado, apple, mango and orange exports and the agriculture’s share of Gross Domestic Product in South Africa, determine the growth rate (trends) of avocado, apple, mango and orange exports and determine the volatility of avocado, apple, mango and orange exports. The study used secondary time series data that covered a sample size of 17 years (1994 - 2011) of avocado, apple, mango and orange exports in South Africa. Two Stages Least Square models and Growth rate and Volatility models were used for data analysis. i Empirical results for agricultural exports equation revealed that agricultural economic growth in South Africa was significant with a positive coefficient. While a negative relationship between the Net Factor Income (NFI) and the agricultural exports in South Africa was noticed. Real Capital Investments had a significant positive coefficient. Consequently, results from agricultural economic growth equation revealed that agricultural exports were significant with a positive correlation. A relationship between NFI and agricultural GDP was also witnessed. Like other variables, Real Capital Investment was significant but negatively correlated. The results of growth rate and volatility models showed positive trends. Furthermore, results showed that the quantity of agricultural exports was positively related to agricultural economic growth. Another point of interest was that while these exports were positive and significantly related, the magnitude of its coefficient is smaller than the coefficients of Real Capital Investments. It is in this framework that the positive correlation exists between agriculture economic growth and agricultural exports. It is recommended that investment opportunities in the agricultural sector need to be investigated further because there is limited knowledge of the subject. The Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fishery and the private sector need to join hands and build a mutual relationship to aid develop an agricultural economy which can be able to exports more than what it imports. This can also be done by subsidising farmers with capital to relieve them of other expenses.

L’objet central de cette thèse est la valorisation des produits frais de la pêche avec d’une part la question des modes organisationnels adoptés par les acteurs de la filière pêche en France et d’autre part la question des facteurs explicatifs des préférences des consommateurs pour ces produits.La théorie néo-institutionnelle sur les structures de gouvernance est utilisée pour analyser les différents modes organisationnels adoptés dans la filière. La théorie de l’innovation est mobilisée pour étudier les apports des innovations organisationnelles à la valorisation de produits frais. Les résultats de l’étude des structures de gouvernance révèlent la complémentarité entre marché et formes hybrides pour l’approvisionnement des grandes et moyennes surfaces en France. Les formes hybrides observées sont principalement la sous-traitance et le partenariat. Les résultats portant sur les innovations organisationnelles mettent notamment en évidence différentes formes de réponses apportées par les acteurs sur la qualité, la fraicheur, la traçabilité et la disponibilité du produit. Enfin, cette thèse a mis en oeuvre la méthode des choix multi-attributs pour analyser les préférences du consommateur de deux produits, le filet de poisson frais et la langoustine fraîche. Grâce à différents modèles logistiques, les résultats ont mis en lumière l’existence de trois catégories de consommateurs. Ils ont aussi confirmé l’existence d’un consentement à payer pour les attributs de fraîcheur, de qualité ainsi que pour certains attributs liés à l’environnement. L’originalité de la thèse est d’avoir inclus parmi les caractéristiques du produit l’attribut empreinte carbone. Elle contribue ainsi à éclaircir le débat sur les critères pertinents de durabilité à mettre dans le référentiel commun relatif à la labellisation des produits de la pêche maritime en France. / The central purpose of this thesis is the development of fresh fishery products with on one hand the issue of organizational methods adopted by stakeholders in the fisheries sector in France and on the other hand the question of explanatory factors in consumer preferences for these products. The neo-institutional theory of governance structures is used to analyze different organizational methods adopted in the industry. The theory of innovation is mobilized to study the contribution of organizational innovations in the development of fresh products. The results of the study of governance structures reveal the complementarity between the market and hybrid forms concerning the supply of supermarkets and hypermarkets in France. Mainly observed Hybrid forms are subcontracting and partnership. The results on organizational innovations highlight in particular various forms of responses from stakeholders on quality, freshness, traceability and product availability. Finally, this thesis has implemented the method of multi-attribute choice to analyze consumer preferences for two products, fresh fish fillet and fresh lobster. Through various logistic models, the results highlighted the existence of three categories of consumers. They also confirmed a willingness to pay for attributes of freshness, quality and certain environment related attributes. The originality of the thesis is to have included among product’s characteristics include the carbon footprint attribute. It thus helps to clarify the debate on relevant sustainability criteria to include in the common reference for labeling of sea fishing products in France.