Climate change poses a significant risk to future crop productivity as temperatures rise, rainfal... more Climate change poses a significant risk to future crop productivity as temperatures rise, rainfall becomes more unpredictable, and patterns of disease and pest infestation change. The development of crop varieties better adapted to a changing climate will require new varieties with traits that are derived from genetic resources, such as better tolerance to heat, drought, or pests and diseases.
Based on theoretical considerations alone, it may soon be possible to determine the level of crop... more Based on theoretical considerations alone, it may soon be possible to determine the level of crop diversity that could be considered socially optimal for a particular geographical area. A productivity-based definition of the social optimum might be the level of diversity that maximizes expected aggregate productivity across a specified region, subject to a minimum acceptable level of protection against catastrophic crop losses from pests and/or diseases. A conservation-based definition would reflect other criteria, such as allelic diversity in a reference region.
INTERNATIONAL MAIZE AND WHEAT IMPROVEMENT CENTER (CIMMYT) CIMMYT® (www.cimmyt.org) is an internat... more INTERNATIONAL MAIZE AND WHEAT IMPROVEMENT CENTER (CIMMYT) CIMMYT® (www.cimmyt.org) is an internationally funded, nonprofit, scientific research and training organization. Headquartered in Mexico, CIMMYT works with agricultural research institutions worldwide to improve the productivity, profitability, and sustainability of maize and wheat systems for poor farmers in developing countries. It is one of 16 food and environmental organizations known as the Future Harvest Centers. Located around the world, the Future Harvest Centers conduct research in partnership with farmers, scientists, and policymakers to help alleviate poverty and increase food security while protecting natural resources. The centers are supported by the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) (www.cgiar.org), whose members includes nearly 60 countries, private foundations, and regional and international organizations. Financial support for CIMMYT's research agenda also comes from many other sources, including foundations, development banks, and public and private agencies. Future Harvest® builds awareness and support for food and environmental research for a world with less poverty, a healthier human family, well-nourished children, and a better environment. It supports research, promotes partnerships, and sponsors projects that bring the results of research to rural communities, farmers, and families in Africa, Asia, and Latin America (www.futureharvest.org). International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) 2002.All rights reserved. The opinions expressed in this publication are the sole responsibility of the authors. The designations employed in the presentation of materials in this publication do not imply the expressions of any opinion whatsoever on the part of CIMMYT or its contributory organizations concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city, or area, or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. CIMMYT encourages fair use of this material. Proper citation is requested.
Since the early 1980s, development experts and donor agencies have agreed on thc importance of st... more Since the early 1980s, development experts and donor agencies have agreed on thc importance of structural adjustment programs (SAPs) aimed at 'getting prices right'. Adoption of reforms were made preconditions for new loans or grants in many sub-Saharan African countries. In both Malawi and Cameroon, one such required reform was government's eliminating fertilizer subsidies to the small farm sector, previously used to increase the profitability of intensive agriculture while keeping food prices artificially low. The aim of this paper is to review fertilizer subsidy removal programs for their impact on farmers, who in sub-Saharan Africa are women, In theory, SAP programs should benefit women producers, because mueh emphasis is placed on renewing agricultural production and aligning farmgate prices with world prices. But in practice, will they benefit? Are SAPs gender-neutral and affect men and women equally, or merely gender-blind?
While the impact that climate change will have o n future gro wing co nditio ns in specific areas... more While the impact that climate change will have o n future gro wing co nditio ns in specific areas o f the co untry remains uncertain, the ability o f farmers to adapt to climate change-thro ugh planting decisio ns, farming practices, and use o f techno lo gy-can reduce its impact o n pro ductio n, farm co mmo dity prices, and farmer returns. Evidence suggests that the detrimental impacts o f climate change increase mo destly at the natio nal level by 20 30 under ho tter and drier weather co nditio ns; no netheless,
Gladwin's * * main contention is that women provide most of the agricultural labor in sub-Saharan... more Gladwin's * * main contention is that women provide most of the agricultural labor in sub-Saharan Africa and because much of this labor is oriented to food production for home consumption, the effects of structural adjustment programs on them and the children they work to feed are likely to be different than on men who produce crops for commercial and export production. Her specific hypothesis for Malawi is that the removal of the fertilizer subsidy affects women farmers more than men farmers because it reduces fertilizer use on local maize. As part of the structural adjustment program, a major purpose of removing the fertilizer subsidy is to reallocate resources from food production for domestic consumption to cash crop production for export. In Gladwin's analysis, men farmers produce hybrid maize and tobacco for export and women produce the subsistence food crop, local maize. Gladwin's main contention is probably correct. For the Malawi case, the presentation does not support the hypothesis because two of the major underlying assumptions are inappropriate and the evidence provided is inconclusive. This comment proceeds by discussing the two assumptions and corresponding evidence. The purpose of this comment is not to contradict the hypothesis, but to clarify the Malawi situation and to suggest that a different analytical approach is needed in that context. 1. Export, cash and food crops * * Gladwin, C.H., 1992. Gendered impacts of fertilizer subsidy removal programs in Malawi and Cameroon. Agric. Econ., 7: 141-153 [AGECON 133].
Amber Waves:The Economics of Food, Farming, Natural Resources, and Rural America, 2018
Public invesment in agricultural research and development (R&D) has been a major driver of long-t... more Public invesment in agricultural research and development (R&D) has been a major driver of long-term agricultural growth in high-income countries, such as the United States, Ausralia, and France.
Abstract (English) Efforts to improve the pace of varietal replacement will benefit from informat... more Abstract (English) Efforts to improve the pace of varietal replacement will benefit from information gathered at the farm level to determine where farmers get the wheat seed they use, where they get seed when they decide to change varieties, and how they manage ...
Climate change poses a significant risk to future crop productivity as temperatures rise, rainfal... more Climate change poses a significant risk to future crop productivity as temperatures rise, rainfall becomes more unpredictable, and patterns of disease and pest infestation change. The development of crop varieties better adapted to a changing climate will require new varieties with traits that are derived from genetic resources, such as better tolerance to heat, drought, or pests and diseases.
Based on theoretical considerations alone, it may soon be possible to determine the level of crop... more Based on theoretical considerations alone, it may soon be possible to determine the level of crop diversity that could be considered socially optimal for a particular geographical area. A productivity-based definition of the social optimum might be the level of diversity that maximizes expected aggregate productivity across a specified region, subject to a minimum acceptable level of protection against catastrophic crop losses from pests and/or diseases. A conservation-based definition would reflect other criteria, such as allelic diversity in a reference region.
INTERNATIONAL MAIZE AND WHEAT IMPROVEMENT CENTER (CIMMYT) CIMMYT® (www.cimmyt.org) is an internat... more INTERNATIONAL MAIZE AND WHEAT IMPROVEMENT CENTER (CIMMYT) CIMMYT® (www.cimmyt.org) is an internationally funded, nonprofit, scientific research and training organization. Headquartered in Mexico, CIMMYT works with agricultural research institutions worldwide to improve the productivity, profitability, and sustainability of maize and wheat systems for poor farmers in developing countries. It is one of 16 food and environmental organizations known as the Future Harvest Centers. Located around the world, the Future Harvest Centers conduct research in partnership with farmers, scientists, and policymakers to help alleviate poverty and increase food security while protecting natural resources. The centers are supported by the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) (www.cgiar.org), whose members includes nearly 60 countries, private foundations, and regional and international organizations. Financial support for CIMMYT's research agenda also comes from many other sources, including foundations, development banks, and public and private agencies. Future Harvest® builds awareness and support for food and environmental research for a world with less poverty, a healthier human family, well-nourished children, and a better environment. It supports research, promotes partnerships, and sponsors projects that bring the results of research to rural communities, farmers, and families in Africa, Asia, and Latin America (www.futureharvest.org). International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) 2002.All rights reserved. The opinions expressed in this publication are the sole responsibility of the authors. The designations employed in the presentation of materials in this publication do not imply the expressions of any opinion whatsoever on the part of CIMMYT or its contributory organizations concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city, or area, or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. CIMMYT encourages fair use of this material. Proper citation is requested.
Since the early 1980s, development experts and donor agencies have agreed on thc importance of st... more Since the early 1980s, development experts and donor agencies have agreed on thc importance of structural adjustment programs (SAPs) aimed at 'getting prices right'. Adoption of reforms were made preconditions for new loans or grants in many sub-Saharan African countries. In both Malawi and Cameroon, one such required reform was government's eliminating fertilizer subsidies to the small farm sector, previously used to increase the profitability of intensive agriculture while keeping food prices artificially low. The aim of this paper is to review fertilizer subsidy removal programs for their impact on farmers, who in sub-Saharan Africa are women, In theory, SAP programs should benefit women producers, because mueh emphasis is placed on renewing agricultural production and aligning farmgate prices with world prices. But in practice, will they benefit? Are SAPs gender-neutral and affect men and women equally, or merely gender-blind?
While the impact that climate change will have o n future gro wing co nditio ns in specific areas... more While the impact that climate change will have o n future gro wing co nditio ns in specific areas o f the co untry remains uncertain, the ability o f farmers to adapt to climate change-thro ugh planting decisio ns, farming practices, and use o f techno lo gy-can reduce its impact o n pro ductio n, farm co mmo dity prices, and farmer returns. Evidence suggests that the detrimental impacts o f climate change increase mo destly at the natio nal level by 20 30 under ho tter and drier weather co nditio ns; no netheless,
Gladwin's * * main contention is that women provide most of the agricultural labor in sub-Saharan... more Gladwin's * * main contention is that women provide most of the agricultural labor in sub-Saharan Africa and because much of this labor is oriented to food production for home consumption, the effects of structural adjustment programs on them and the children they work to feed are likely to be different than on men who produce crops for commercial and export production. Her specific hypothesis for Malawi is that the removal of the fertilizer subsidy affects women farmers more than men farmers because it reduces fertilizer use on local maize. As part of the structural adjustment program, a major purpose of removing the fertilizer subsidy is to reallocate resources from food production for domestic consumption to cash crop production for export. In Gladwin's analysis, men farmers produce hybrid maize and tobacco for export and women produce the subsistence food crop, local maize. Gladwin's main contention is probably correct. For the Malawi case, the presentation does not support the hypothesis because two of the major underlying assumptions are inappropriate and the evidence provided is inconclusive. This comment proceeds by discussing the two assumptions and corresponding evidence. The purpose of this comment is not to contradict the hypothesis, but to clarify the Malawi situation and to suggest that a different analytical approach is needed in that context. 1. Export, cash and food crops * * Gladwin, C.H., 1992. Gendered impacts of fertilizer subsidy removal programs in Malawi and Cameroon. Agric. Econ., 7: 141-153 [AGECON 133].
Amber Waves:The Economics of Food, Farming, Natural Resources, and Rural America, 2018
Public invesment in agricultural research and development (R&D) has been a major driver of long-t... more Public invesment in agricultural research and development (R&D) has been a major driver of long-term agricultural growth in high-income countries, such as the United States, Ausralia, and France.
Abstract (English) Efforts to improve the pace of varietal replacement will benefit from informat... more Abstract (English) Efforts to improve the pace of varietal replacement will benefit from information gathered at the farm level to determine where farmers get the wheat seed they use, where they get seed when they decide to change varieties, and how they manage ...
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