This paper proposes a methodological approach for eliciting farmers' utility functions. The methodology is non-interactive, in that the parameters defining the utility function are obtained by observing the actual behaviour adopted by farmers without resorting to the use of questions on random lotteries. The methodology recognises that the farmer attempts to achieve several objectives, most of ...

— This article investigates determinants and impacts of cooperative organization, using the example of smallholder banana farmers in Kenya. Farmer groups are inclusive of the poor, although wealthier households are more likely to join. Employing propensity score matching, we find positive income effects for active group members. Yet price advantages of collective marketing are small, and high-v...

An epidemiological and molecular investigation of a cutaneous suppurative infection with Staphylococcus aureus in a dairy farmer, occurring concurrently with an outbreak of clinical mastitis in his herd, was carried out. A common aetiology for the diseases in the farmer and his cows was established by combining clinical evidence with a molecular genomic analysis of the bacterial isolates using ...

This paper assesses the effectiveness of the traditional models of co-operation and analyses best practice in collaboration between farmers seeking to gain significantly greater scale and flexibility in an increasingly global food chain. By drawing upon broader strategic management thinking and relevant international practice, the study seeks to identify new models for farmer collaboration. The...

Timing nitrogen applications to the biological needs of a crop is an effective way to reduce nitrogen losses to the environment. However, this strategy may carry a production risk and conflict with farmers' economic objectives. A field-level production decision model was used to estimate on-farm costs associated with timing nitrogen applications for crop needs in Indiana. For a risk-neutral far...

Agricultural production faces diverse and often conflicting expectations, such as considerations related to environmental protection, food security risk management, well strengthening the profitability competitiveness of domestic production. In this study, we applied contingent allocation method a national agricultural budget analyse preferences farmers other citizens for allocating funds. Surv...

The main objective of this study was to assess the impact of farmer field schools on adoption of technical packages of wheat production in Gezira Scheme, Sudan. Field survey was used to collect data from 50 FFS-participants of two schools (25 from each school), and also equal number from Non-FFS participants were selected for comparison. Close ended questionnaire was used in data collection. Th...

Paul Farmer, physician, anthropologist, and author, spoke at the 2009 Society for Medical Anthropology Conference at Yale University in September.