This study tests the new Swahili Lexicon (SWAHILILex.01 ) annotated by native Swahili speakers fo... more This study tests the new Swahili Lexicon (SWAHILILex.01 ) annotated by native Swahili speakers for polarity analysis using pre-tagged datasets. The testing is against existing methods for polarity analysis that use lexicon-based methods, pre-trained models with transformers, and supervised machine-learning tools. The metrics for overall classification performance were accuracy, recall, precision, and F1-Score. The performance of the new SWAHILILex.01 lexicon was similar to the results of supervised machine learning and outperformed other methods when classifying the regular Swahili dataset but underperformed when classifying the tweets dataset. These preliminary results emphasize the need for domain-based Lexicons or new techniques that account for the multidomain experience common in social media data. The future research plan will expand SWAHILILex.01 to include other Swahili dialectics, extend polarity levels that focus on the emotional context, and create a pre-trained model fo...
Impact of science on African agriculture and food security, 2007
The objective of this study was to estimate the economic return to public investment in livestock... more The objective of this study was to estimate the economic return to public investment in livestock research and development in Tanzania from 1966 to 1995. The supply response model was used to estimate supply elasticities for cattle and small ruminant meat and milk products. The results showed that on average, all commodities were equally responsive to investment in research and development as well as to market prices. All economic profitability measures were positive suggesting that the society gained through investing in livestock research and development. Policies to improve market incentives may increase productivity, reduce risk and encourage farmers to engage in livestock marketing activities.
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, Jul 7, 2023
This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative... more This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY
Journal of Agricultural and Applied Economics, Apr 1, 2000
This paper examines factors influencing the adoption of improved maize seeds and the use of inorg... more This paper examines factors influencing the adoption of improved maize seeds and the use of inorganic fertilizer for maize production by farmers in the intermediate and lowland zones of Tanzania. The results indicate that availability of extension services, on-farm field trials, variety characteristics and rainfall were the most important factors that influenced the extent of adopting improved maize seeds and the use of inorganic fertilizer for maize production. Farmers preferred those varieties which minimize field loss rather than maximizing yields. Future research and extension policies should emphasize farmer participation in the research process and on-farm field trials for varietal evaluation and demonstration purposes.
In this study, we use double-robust estimators (i.e., inverse probability weighting and inverse p... more In this study, we use double-robust estimators (i.e., inverse probability weighting and inverse probability weighting with regression adjustment) to quantify the effect of adopting climate-adaptive improved sorghum varieties on household and women dietary diversity scores in Tanzania. The two indicators, respectively, measure access to broader food groups and micronutrient and macronutrient availability among children and women of reproductive age. The selection of sample households was through a multistage sampling technique, and the population was all households in the sorghum-producing regions of Central, Northern, and Northwestern Tanzania. Before data collection, enumerators took part in a 1-week training workshop and later collected data from 822 respondents using a structured questionnaire. The main results from the study show that the adoption of improved sorghum seeds has a positive effect on both household and women dietary diversity scores. Access to quality food groups i...
ERN: Other Macroeconomics: Monetary & Fiscal Policies (Topic), 2012
Implementing a mix of micro and macroeconomics policy instruments to reduce poverty is fundamenta... more Implementing a mix of micro and macroeconomics policy instruments to reduce poverty is fundamental for all developing countries. In this study, we engage Liberians in ranking of potential pro-poor policy instruments to reduce poverty and promote entrepreneurial spirit. A purposeful survey was conducted in six markets in Monrovia and her vicinity using a structured questionnaire. In each single day, these markets attract diverse individuals from all over Liberia. Respondents were asked to rank twenty five pro-poor macroeconomics policies on a five-point Likert scale. The responses were analyzed using a nonparametric Mokken scale model. Results indicate that the survey instrument was well scaled. The respondent’s first three priorities were on agricultural research; export promotion and post primary education on entrepreneurship. The three low ranked instruments were: agricultural input subsidies; market access to small businesses; and primary education. However, the government of Lib...
Economic multipliers analysis results provide useful information to policy makers with a simple w... more Economic multipliers analysis results provide useful information to policy makers with a simple way to estimate potential impact of new policies. In this study, an economic multiplier model of Tanzania was estimated from an updated 2004 social accounting matrix. Results indicate that agro-processing industries have the highest economic multiplier (>3). Sectors with the lowest economic multipliers included export-oriented agricultural sectors. Low economic multipliers were associated with lack of backward and forward linkages within the economy. Poverty reduction in Tanzania can be achieved by focusing more on value adding and producing commodities that target the domestic market. This will generate more economic impact than focusing on exporting and importing raw materials. Introduction Tanzania’s economic growth and development highly depends on performance of the agricultural sector, which employs more than 80% of the workforce and generates more than 50% of the total export ea...
Journal of Agricultural Sciences – Sri Lanka, 2018
Purpose: The huge gap between actual and achievable yields in Ghana’s maize production threatens ... more Purpose: The huge gap between actual and achievable yields in Ghana’s maize production threatens Ghana’s household food security. Poor adoption of improved maize production technologies is often cited as the major cause of the low yields. This study examined the factors influencing adoption of improved production technologies by maize farmers in order to highlight the constraints and opportunities for improving adoption.Research Method: The data used were obtained through a cross-sectional survey of 576 maize farmers in Ghana using the structured questionnaire. Descriptive statistics and the multinomial logit model were the methods of analysis employed.Findings: The results showed that adoption of production technologies is influenced by age, educational level, initial capital outlay, agricultural extension contact, group membership, availability of ready maize market, access to credit, experience in maize farming, land fragmentation and previous year’s price of maize. For adoption ...
Abstract For more than three decades, the direction of agricultural research and extension effort... more Abstract For more than three decades, the direction of agricultural research and extension efforts have been toward developing improved seeds for agricultural transformation in Sub-Saharan Africa. Despite these efforts and substantial investment in physical and human capital, the adoption of improved seeds has remained marginal. One of the factors constraining adoption is limited choices among heterogeneous small-scale farmers often targeted by fit-for-all agricultural technologies. In this paper, we typify small-scale sorghum producers in Tanzania based on the socio-economic characteristics of farmers that include a propensity for adoption and intensity of adoption. The two variables are predicted using a deep learning neural network with back-propagation. The visualization of identified adopters and nonadopters groups is achieved using t-distributed stochastic neighbor embedding. Knowing the typology of farmers is a critical first step when the goal is scaling-up the adoption process through tailored advisory services. Results show that sorghum producers in Tanzania are heterogeneous, and there is a need for developing targeted agricultural innovations and public policies that serve specific groups of farmers. Since Tanzania agricultural policies are formulated at the national level, there must be room for adjustment by regional and district levels authorities to reflect local demand for services.
Journal of Development and Agricultural Economics, 2017
This study uses survey data collected in 2012/2013 farming season to determine the net-returns an... more This study uses survey data collected in 2012/2013 farming season to determine the net-returns and utility-efficient farm management practices for improved sorghum varieties adopted by small-scale farmers in Tanzania. The reference farm management practice was using JEMBE (handhole) for land cultivation and growing local varieties (landraces). Other farm management practices included using ox-plough for land cultivation with or without applying manure for soil amendment, and using JEMBE for land cultivation with or without applying manure. Improved sorghum Varieties included Tegemeo, Pato, Macia, Wahi, Hakika, Mtama-1, and Sila. We used simulation and bootstrapping to estimate yield distributions and net returns and stochastic efficiency with respect to a function to complement first and second degree stochastic dominance analyses to determine varieties and farm management practice that reduce production and price risk. Under profit maximization and risk reduction assumptions, main results show that Macia and Mtama-1 varieties have high mean yield and low yield variability. Even under low inputs and extreme risk averse farmers, Macia and Mtama-1 were superior choices. Value addition activities increased price offered to farmers, which also reduced price risk.
Impact of science on African agriculture and food security, 2007
Maize was introduced in Tanzania in the 16th century but research on appropriate varieties and ma... more Maize was introduced in Tanzania in the 16th century but research on appropriate varieties and management practices did not get underway until the 1940s. In 1974, a National Maize Research Program (NMRP) was established to co-ordinate maize research. During 1974-1994 the NMRP released 15 varieties. This study was conducted to assess the socio-economic impact of maize technology development and transfer investment from 1974 to 1994. Standard pre-tested questionnaire and multi-stage sampling procedures were used for primary data collection. Data were collected from 978 farmers in 53 sites across seven agro-ecological zones. The sample survey revealed that the adoption rate of the improved varieties for the various zones were 28%, 66%, 44%, 24%, 66%, 81% and 36% for the Central, Eastern, Lake, Northern, Southern, Southern Highlands and the Western Zones, respectively. The study demonstrated that farmers adopt the cheapest and low-risk technological components in a stepwise process refl...
Extant literature on education research focuses on evaluating schools’ academic performance rathe... more Extant literature on education research focuses on evaluating schools’ academic performance rather than the performance of educational institutions. Moreover, the State of Louisiana public school system always performs poorly in education outcomes compared to other school systems in the U.S. One of the limiting factors is the stringent standards applied among heterogeneous schools, steaming from the fit-for-all policies. We use a pairwise controlled manifold approximation technique and gradient boosting machine algorithm to typify Louisiana public schools into homogenous clusters and then characterize each identified group. The analyses uncover critical features of failing and high-performing school systems. Results confirm the heterogeneity of the school system, and each school needs tailored support to buoy its performance. Short-term interventions should focus on customized administrative and academic protocols with malleable interpositions addressing individual school shortcomin...
There is increased interest and policy support towards aquaculture development in Africa. Aquacul... more There is increased interest and policy support towards aquaculture development in Africa. Aquaculture development programs have the potential of creating new jobs, improving food security among poor households, removing variability in household income flow, and increasing farm level efficiency and sustainability. This study used computable general equilibrium models for Ghana, Kenya, and Tanzania to estimate the effects on poverty alleviation from aquaculture production activity and productivity growth in intermediate inputs and primary factors. Using the head count ratio measure of poverty, it was determined that, in Ghana, about 17% of agricultural farmers lived below the poverty line, and about 19% of public sector employees lived below the poverty line of 665,300 GHC. The percentages for the private sector employee, non-farm self-employed and miscellaneous households were, respectively, 8%, 21% and 20%. In Kenya, more than 50% of the population lived below the poverty line of 14...
There is increased policy support towards aquaculture development in Africa. In the region, aquac... more There is increased policy support towards aquaculture development in Africa. In the region, aquaculture expansion has potential to create new jobs and improve food security among poor households. This study used computable general equilibrium models to estimate the effects of aquaculture expansion and increased input productivity on poverty alleviation. The results of the study suggest that there will be positive effects in per capita income for all households in Ghana and Kenya. In Tanzania, some rich households will experience income loss due to resource shift from other sectors to aquaculture. Due to decreases in poverty lines associated with decreases in relative price, and increases in the minimum income associated with income expansion, the poverty gap decreased in all household groups. Sectoral linkages incorporated in the models suggest that aquaculture development is promising for sector-specific policy support to enhance poverty alleviation programs among poor households i...
Cost efficiency measures of a sample of catfish farms in Chicot County, Arkansas are estimated us... more Cost efficiency measures of a sample of catfish farms in Chicot County, Arkansas are estimated using a data envelopment analysis technique. A measure of overall efficiency is used to determine operator's characteristics, farm practices, and institutional support services that are likely to lead to higher farm level cost efficiency. Results indicate that live catfish production could increase by 55% using the same level of inputs if all farms were operating at the minimum average cost curve. Higher feeding rate and availability of extension services were associated with increased cost efficiency. Higher stocking density affected overall efficiency negatively. The marginal value of extension contacts in Chicot County was estimated to be $2988. This study was conducted when catfish prices were at the lowest level in ten years. Some of the results are indicative of farms struggling to meet short-run financial obligations rather than normal farm practices.
We use CGE model to assess the impact of free trade agreement on poverty. The study uses Tanzania... more We use CGE model to assess the impact of free trade agreement on poverty. The study uses Tanzania participation in AGOA (U.S.’s African growth and opportunity) as a case study. In this study, exogenous improvement in a household’s consumption and income are taken as an important source of welfare gain. The major results indicate that the welfare impact of AGOA on Tanzania is not well defined. Whereas AGOA creates incentives for exporters, rural households lose due to a decrease in production and increase in price of food crops such as sorghum, millet, and cassava. A fall in producers’ prices is accompanied with a fall in wages, capital return, and land rent. However, in the long-run and due to lower marketing margins, AGOA has the potential of developing internal markets for domestically processed goods and increasing export of traditional cash crops. Impact of trade agreement should be considered in a long term perspective rather than the short term impact.
Computable General Equilibrium (CGE) models are usually presented as a set of simultaneous equati... more Computable General Equilibrium (CGE) models are usually presented as a set of simultaneous equations that describe the economic activities of consumers, producers, government, and traders in the markets for factors of production (inputs), and for goods and services (outputs). The supply and demand in each market is equilibrated by a market-clearing price. The model is called computable because simulation is used to find the prices that clear the markets for inputs and outputs. The models allow for the establishment of a direct link between economic structures as embodied in a social accounting matrix and policy changes. The generic CGE model of Tanzania is presented based on the 2001 national social accounting matrix. The objective is to develop a detailed and suitable model for assessing impacts of new and potential macroeconomic policy options available for Tanzania. For illustration purposes, the model is used to endogenously determine tax rates and corresponding pareto optimum c...
This study tests the new Swahili Lexicon (SWAHILILex.01 ) annotated by native Swahili speakers fo... more This study tests the new Swahili Lexicon (SWAHILILex.01 ) annotated by native Swahili speakers for polarity analysis using pre-tagged datasets. The testing is against existing methods for polarity analysis that use lexicon-based methods, pre-trained models with transformers, and supervised machine-learning tools. The metrics for overall classification performance were accuracy, recall, precision, and F1-Score. The performance of the new SWAHILILex.01 lexicon was similar to the results of supervised machine learning and outperformed other methods when classifying the regular Swahili dataset but underperformed when classifying the tweets dataset. These preliminary results emphasize the need for domain-based Lexicons or new techniques that account for the multidomain experience common in social media data. The future research plan will expand SWAHILILex.01 to include other Swahili dialectics, extend polarity levels that focus on the emotional context, and create a pre-trained model fo...
Impact of science on African agriculture and food security, 2007
The objective of this study was to estimate the economic return to public investment in livestock... more The objective of this study was to estimate the economic return to public investment in livestock research and development in Tanzania from 1966 to 1995. The supply response model was used to estimate supply elasticities for cattle and small ruminant meat and milk products. The results showed that on average, all commodities were equally responsive to investment in research and development as well as to market prices. All economic profitability measures were positive suggesting that the society gained through investing in livestock research and development. Policies to improve market incentives may increase productivity, reduce risk and encourage farmers to engage in livestock marketing activities.
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, Jul 7, 2023
This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative... more This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY
Journal of Agricultural and Applied Economics, Apr 1, 2000
This paper examines factors influencing the adoption of improved maize seeds and the use of inorg... more This paper examines factors influencing the adoption of improved maize seeds and the use of inorganic fertilizer for maize production by farmers in the intermediate and lowland zones of Tanzania. The results indicate that availability of extension services, on-farm field trials, variety characteristics and rainfall were the most important factors that influenced the extent of adopting improved maize seeds and the use of inorganic fertilizer for maize production. Farmers preferred those varieties which minimize field loss rather than maximizing yields. Future research and extension policies should emphasize farmer participation in the research process and on-farm field trials for varietal evaluation and demonstration purposes.
In this study, we use double-robust estimators (i.e., inverse probability weighting and inverse p... more In this study, we use double-robust estimators (i.e., inverse probability weighting and inverse probability weighting with regression adjustment) to quantify the effect of adopting climate-adaptive improved sorghum varieties on household and women dietary diversity scores in Tanzania. The two indicators, respectively, measure access to broader food groups and micronutrient and macronutrient availability among children and women of reproductive age. The selection of sample households was through a multistage sampling technique, and the population was all households in the sorghum-producing regions of Central, Northern, and Northwestern Tanzania. Before data collection, enumerators took part in a 1-week training workshop and later collected data from 822 respondents using a structured questionnaire. The main results from the study show that the adoption of improved sorghum seeds has a positive effect on both household and women dietary diversity scores. Access to quality food groups i...
ERN: Other Macroeconomics: Monetary & Fiscal Policies (Topic), 2012
Implementing a mix of micro and macroeconomics policy instruments to reduce poverty is fundamenta... more Implementing a mix of micro and macroeconomics policy instruments to reduce poverty is fundamental for all developing countries. In this study, we engage Liberians in ranking of potential pro-poor policy instruments to reduce poverty and promote entrepreneurial spirit. A purposeful survey was conducted in six markets in Monrovia and her vicinity using a structured questionnaire. In each single day, these markets attract diverse individuals from all over Liberia. Respondents were asked to rank twenty five pro-poor macroeconomics policies on a five-point Likert scale. The responses were analyzed using a nonparametric Mokken scale model. Results indicate that the survey instrument was well scaled. The respondent’s first three priorities were on agricultural research; export promotion and post primary education on entrepreneurship. The three low ranked instruments were: agricultural input subsidies; market access to small businesses; and primary education. However, the government of Lib...
Economic multipliers analysis results provide useful information to policy makers with a simple w... more Economic multipliers analysis results provide useful information to policy makers with a simple way to estimate potential impact of new policies. In this study, an economic multiplier model of Tanzania was estimated from an updated 2004 social accounting matrix. Results indicate that agro-processing industries have the highest economic multiplier (>3). Sectors with the lowest economic multipliers included export-oriented agricultural sectors. Low economic multipliers were associated with lack of backward and forward linkages within the economy. Poverty reduction in Tanzania can be achieved by focusing more on value adding and producing commodities that target the domestic market. This will generate more economic impact than focusing on exporting and importing raw materials. Introduction Tanzania’s economic growth and development highly depends on performance of the agricultural sector, which employs more than 80% of the workforce and generates more than 50% of the total export ea...
Journal of Agricultural Sciences – Sri Lanka, 2018
Purpose: The huge gap between actual and achievable yields in Ghana’s maize production threatens ... more Purpose: The huge gap between actual and achievable yields in Ghana’s maize production threatens Ghana’s household food security. Poor adoption of improved maize production technologies is often cited as the major cause of the low yields. This study examined the factors influencing adoption of improved production technologies by maize farmers in order to highlight the constraints and opportunities for improving adoption.Research Method: The data used were obtained through a cross-sectional survey of 576 maize farmers in Ghana using the structured questionnaire. Descriptive statistics and the multinomial logit model were the methods of analysis employed.Findings: The results showed that adoption of production technologies is influenced by age, educational level, initial capital outlay, agricultural extension contact, group membership, availability of ready maize market, access to credit, experience in maize farming, land fragmentation and previous year’s price of maize. For adoption ...
Abstract For more than three decades, the direction of agricultural research and extension effort... more Abstract For more than three decades, the direction of agricultural research and extension efforts have been toward developing improved seeds for agricultural transformation in Sub-Saharan Africa. Despite these efforts and substantial investment in physical and human capital, the adoption of improved seeds has remained marginal. One of the factors constraining adoption is limited choices among heterogeneous small-scale farmers often targeted by fit-for-all agricultural technologies. In this paper, we typify small-scale sorghum producers in Tanzania based on the socio-economic characteristics of farmers that include a propensity for adoption and intensity of adoption. The two variables are predicted using a deep learning neural network with back-propagation. The visualization of identified adopters and nonadopters groups is achieved using t-distributed stochastic neighbor embedding. Knowing the typology of farmers is a critical first step when the goal is scaling-up the adoption process through tailored advisory services. Results show that sorghum producers in Tanzania are heterogeneous, and there is a need for developing targeted agricultural innovations and public policies that serve specific groups of farmers. Since Tanzania agricultural policies are formulated at the national level, there must be room for adjustment by regional and district levels authorities to reflect local demand for services.
Journal of Development and Agricultural Economics, 2017
This study uses survey data collected in 2012/2013 farming season to determine the net-returns an... more This study uses survey data collected in 2012/2013 farming season to determine the net-returns and utility-efficient farm management practices for improved sorghum varieties adopted by small-scale farmers in Tanzania. The reference farm management practice was using JEMBE (handhole) for land cultivation and growing local varieties (landraces). Other farm management practices included using ox-plough for land cultivation with or without applying manure for soil amendment, and using JEMBE for land cultivation with or without applying manure. Improved sorghum Varieties included Tegemeo, Pato, Macia, Wahi, Hakika, Mtama-1, and Sila. We used simulation and bootstrapping to estimate yield distributions and net returns and stochastic efficiency with respect to a function to complement first and second degree stochastic dominance analyses to determine varieties and farm management practice that reduce production and price risk. Under profit maximization and risk reduction assumptions, main results show that Macia and Mtama-1 varieties have high mean yield and low yield variability. Even under low inputs and extreme risk averse farmers, Macia and Mtama-1 were superior choices. Value addition activities increased price offered to farmers, which also reduced price risk.
Impact of science on African agriculture and food security, 2007
Maize was introduced in Tanzania in the 16th century but research on appropriate varieties and ma... more Maize was introduced in Tanzania in the 16th century but research on appropriate varieties and management practices did not get underway until the 1940s. In 1974, a National Maize Research Program (NMRP) was established to co-ordinate maize research. During 1974-1994 the NMRP released 15 varieties. This study was conducted to assess the socio-economic impact of maize technology development and transfer investment from 1974 to 1994. Standard pre-tested questionnaire and multi-stage sampling procedures were used for primary data collection. Data were collected from 978 farmers in 53 sites across seven agro-ecological zones. The sample survey revealed that the adoption rate of the improved varieties for the various zones were 28%, 66%, 44%, 24%, 66%, 81% and 36% for the Central, Eastern, Lake, Northern, Southern, Southern Highlands and the Western Zones, respectively. The study demonstrated that farmers adopt the cheapest and low-risk technological components in a stepwise process refl...
Extant literature on education research focuses on evaluating schools’ academic performance rathe... more Extant literature on education research focuses on evaluating schools’ academic performance rather than the performance of educational institutions. Moreover, the State of Louisiana public school system always performs poorly in education outcomes compared to other school systems in the U.S. One of the limiting factors is the stringent standards applied among heterogeneous schools, steaming from the fit-for-all policies. We use a pairwise controlled manifold approximation technique and gradient boosting machine algorithm to typify Louisiana public schools into homogenous clusters and then characterize each identified group. The analyses uncover critical features of failing and high-performing school systems. Results confirm the heterogeneity of the school system, and each school needs tailored support to buoy its performance. Short-term interventions should focus on customized administrative and academic protocols with malleable interpositions addressing individual school shortcomin...
There is increased interest and policy support towards aquaculture development in Africa. Aquacul... more There is increased interest and policy support towards aquaculture development in Africa. Aquaculture development programs have the potential of creating new jobs, improving food security among poor households, removing variability in household income flow, and increasing farm level efficiency and sustainability. This study used computable general equilibrium models for Ghana, Kenya, and Tanzania to estimate the effects on poverty alleviation from aquaculture production activity and productivity growth in intermediate inputs and primary factors. Using the head count ratio measure of poverty, it was determined that, in Ghana, about 17% of agricultural farmers lived below the poverty line, and about 19% of public sector employees lived below the poverty line of 665,300 GHC. The percentages for the private sector employee, non-farm self-employed and miscellaneous households were, respectively, 8%, 21% and 20%. In Kenya, more than 50% of the population lived below the poverty line of 14...
There is increased policy support towards aquaculture development in Africa. In the region, aquac... more There is increased policy support towards aquaculture development in Africa. In the region, aquaculture expansion has potential to create new jobs and improve food security among poor households. This study used computable general equilibrium models to estimate the effects of aquaculture expansion and increased input productivity on poverty alleviation. The results of the study suggest that there will be positive effects in per capita income for all households in Ghana and Kenya. In Tanzania, some rich households will experience income loss due to resource shift from other sectors to aquaculture. Due to decreases in poverty lines associated with decreases in relative price, and increases in the minimum income associated with income expansion, the poverty gap decreased in all household groups. Sectoral linkages incorporated in the models suggest that aquaculture development is promising for sector-specific policy support to enhance poverty alleviation programs among poor households i...
Cost efficiency measures of a sample of catfish farms in Chicot County, Arkansas are estimated us... more Cost efficiency measures of a sample of catfish farms in Chicot County, Arkansas are estimated using a data envelopment analysis technique. A measure of overall efficiency is used to determine operator's characteristics, farm practices, and institutional support services that are likely to lead to higher farm level cost efficiency. Results indicate that live catfish production could increase by 55% using the same level of inputs if all farms were operating at the minimum average cost curve. Higher feeding rate and availability of extension services were associated with increased cost efficiency. Higher stocking density affected overall efficiency negatively. The marginal value of extension contacts in Chicot County was estimated to be $2988. This study was conducted when catfish prices were at the lowest level in ten years. Some of the results are indicative of farms struggling to meet short-run financial obligations rather than normal farm practices.
We use CGE model to assess the impact of free trade agreement on poverty. The study uses Tanzania... more We use CGE model to assess the impact of free trade agreement on poverty. The study uses Tanzania participation in AGOA (U.S.’s African growth and opportunity) as a case study. In this study, exogenous improvement in a household’s consumption and income are taken as an important source of welfare gain. The major results indicate that the welfare impact of AGOA on Tanzania is not well defined. Whereas AGOA creates incentives for exporters, rural households lose due to a decrease in production and increase in price of food crops such as sorghum, millet, and cassava. A fall in producers’ prices is accompanied with a fall in wages, capital return, and land rent. However, in the long-run and due to lower marketing margins, AGOA has the potential of developing internal markets for domestically processed goods and increasing export of traditional cash crops. Impact of trade agreement should be considered in a long term perspective rather than the short term impact.
Computable General Equilibrium (CGE) models are usually presented as a set of simultaneous equati... more Computable General Equilibrium (CGE) models are usually presented as a set of simultaneous equations that describe the economic activities of consumers, producers, government, and traders in the markets for factors of production (inputs), and for goods and services (outputs). The supply and demand in each market is equilibrated by a market-clearing price. The model is called computable because simulation is used to find the prices that clear the markets for inputs and outputs. The models allow for the establishment of a direct link between economic structures as embodied in a social accounting matrix and policy changes. The generic CGE model of Tanzania is presented based on the 2001 national social accounting matrix. The objective is to develop a detailed and suitable model for assessing impacts of new and potential macroeconomic policy options available for Tanzania. For illustration purposes, the model is used to endogenously determine tax rates and corresponding pareto optimum c...
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