No 4/2010, December Special | Agris on-line Papers in Economics and Informatics

An analysis of the Peruvian jungle cocoa farmers: Acopagro cooperative vs. intermediaries – a case of study

A. Higuchi M. Moritaka S. Fukuda No 4/2010, December Special

ABSTRACT

In the Peruvian jungle, there are two main cocoa marketing channels: the intermediaries and the cooperative. The Acopagro Cooperative, a Peruvian organization, for example, has contributed to the shift from illegal crops like cocoa to an alternative crop like cocoa which gives small scale farmers a sustainable welfare. A survey of 243 farmers in Juanjui, San Martin-which is the main cocoa production area in Peru-was carried out between December 2009-January 2010. This study analyzes Peruvian cocoa farmers’ socio-economic characteristics as these attributes affect their decision-making process in the cocoa commercialization for their self-improvement and evaluates if the farmers’ participation in Acopagro or not influences the increment of the cocoa production. Policy makers and farmers’ organizations should consider these results in order to contribute to improve the competitiveness of the farmers’ marketing channels not only towards the development of these organizations’ but also to that of their communities as a whole.

KEYWORDS

Cooperative, socio-economic characteristics, logistic model, multiple regression function, cocoa production, marketing channel, farmers’ organization.

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Valuing Socioeconomic Factors of Farmers´ Households and Economic Effects of Agroforestry System

J. Kalabisová Z. Křístková No 4/2010, December Special

ABSTRACT

The paper contains results of research realized in the rural area of Ucayali region in Peru, situated in the tropical zone in the Central East of the country. With the use of data acquired from agroforestry research on the demonstration plots and questionnaire survey on farmers´ households, the objective is to assess the economic effects of designed agroforestry multi-strata system by means of ex-ante approach. It was found out, that unfavorable financial results in first two years of the system, long production cycle of timber trees and low price of timber represent the principal challenges for adoption of agroforestry systems. The results drawn from the LP modeling described in this paper provided useful insight into the household’s economy which is based on agroforestry production system. The results were elaborated within the research intention IVZ MSM 6046070906.

KEYWORDS

Agroforestry System; Linear Programming Model; Ucayali.

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Limits of the applicability of the social structural model in Czech rural areas

R. Kopřiva No 4/2010, December Special

ABSTRACT

This article focuses on the voting behaviour of citizens in rural areas of the Czech Republic. Within the theoretical embodiment of the relationships between the individual in a social structure and voting behaviour, a so-called social-structural model for voting behaviour is often mentioned. However, when explaining the behaviour of the voting behaviour of citizens living under the conditions of the Czech Republic the applicability of this model is of course disputable. Due to the predominant inconsistencies of the social status of citizens of rural areas, it is not at all possible to determine the hypothesis of the applicability of a social-structural model of voting behaviour for citizens living in the conditions of the Czech rural countryside. The aim of this article is, through a case study of Zatec region, to prove the predominant (in)consistency of the social status of the given population.

KEYWORDS

Social structural model, voting behaviour, class identification, rural areas, social status, status (in)consistencies, left-wing right-wing continuum.

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Analysis of the Relationship between State Budget and Trade Balance of Libyan Economy (Period: 2000 – 2008)

M. Maitah A. der Ali No 4/2010, December Special

ABSTRACT

The subject of the relationship between state budget and trade balance is important as economic subject, not only at the level of developing countries, but also at of advanced ones, too. Such importance emerged clearly when 1980s witnessed in United States of America a deficit in both state budget and trade balance, which was called at that time as the twin or dual deficit. We can say that the analysis of relationship between state budget and trade balance states the extent of mutual effect between financial and trade policies of any economy, namely; any change in the outcome of either one may affect the other in the same degree. To put in other words, the instruments of financial policy represented by total incomes and total expenditures can affect the trade balance through the movement of exports and imports and vice-versa. One tracing properties and features of Libyan economy may remark its dependence greatly on the public sector in financing developmental projects and making development generally, as well as its dependence on incomes to supply consumer and investment goods. Further, it depends in collecting its incomes of foreign currency on exports of chief source which is crude oil. So, study and analysis of relationship between state budget and trade balance of Libyan economy means to study and analyze relationship of public sector through the state budget, with the external sector expressed as the external trade through trade balance. The paper was processed within the framework of the Research Project of MSM 6046070906 "The economics of Czech agricultural resources and their effective use within the framework of multifunctional agri-food systems".

KEYWORDS

State budget, trade balance, Libya, trade policy, fiscal policy.

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Econometric Analysis of Milk Value Chain

K. Matulová P. Bubáková O. Škubna T. Taussigová No 4/2010, December Special

ABSTRACT

This article deals with the basic analysis of price transmission in the milk agri-food chain. The analysis is aimed at deriving the fundamental relationships between milk prices at the individual levels of the chosen vertical. The results are then validated with the use of statistical hypotheses testing. From the derived single equation models, it is clear that there is a strong difference in the leverage of individual factors influencing the price at different levels of the milk value chain. The results were elaborated within the research intention IVZ MSM 6046070906.

KEYWORDS

Agri-food Chain, Milk, Price Transmission, Statistical Test.

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International Standards of Corporate Social Responsibility

L. Stanislavská K. Margarisová K. Štastná No 4/2010, December Special

ABSTRACT

The article deals with internationally acknowledged standards and norms in the sphere of corporate social responsibility. It introduces the concept of social responsibility, the so-called triple-bottom line, in terms of which the company focuses not only on the economic growth but it also takes into account environmental and social aspects of its business activities. The article presents five norms and standards which stem from the triplebottom line concept. The norms and standards are in the article briefly characterised, which is followed by their comparison based on four previously stated criteria. The results of the comparison show that there is no such norm which would meet current company requirements. This paper resulted from contribution to a research project IGA FEM CULS 201011140057 "Modern Management Approaches in the Field of Higher Education in the Czech Republic"

KEYWORDS

Corporate social responsibility, triple-bottom line, international standards and norms Anotace.

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Global trends in risk management support of agriculture

J. Špička No 4/2010, December Special

ABSTRACT

The aim of this paper is to make an international comparison of risk management policies in OECD countries as well as in selected emerging economies. The results are based on the data from OECD Producer Support Estimates Database and General Services Support Estimates Database, a study of agricultural insurance schemes carried out by the European Commission and an overview of risk-related policy measures formulated by the OECD. The results indicate that all OECD countries have the price stabilizing support for at least some commodities. Although the share of market price support in the producer support estimates has been decreasing for a long time, it still remains an important component in most countries around the world. The analysis also revealed the pilot experiences with index based insurance in developing countries whose economy is considerably dependent on agriculture.

KEYWORDS

Agriculture, agricultural policy, risk management, market price support, income stabilization.

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Possibilities of web-conferencing systems for disabled students

P. Benda M. Havránek V. Lohr Z. Havlíček No 4/2010, December Special

ABSTRACT

This paper deals with issues of web-conferencing systems accessibility and usability. These systems and applications are becoming increasingly popular in the educational process. Unfortunately, the majority of webconferencing systems are not designed for users with disabilities. The aim of this paper is to describe possibilities of web-conferencing system for teaching handicapped students and explain the benefits of using this solution for common education. The main part of testing the hypothesis and possibilities were carried out in the Adobe Acrobat Connect system which is commonly used in the educational process at CULS.

KEYWORDS

Accessibility, web-conferencing system, education, assistive devices Anotace.

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Interoperability of Knowledge Units in Plant Protection: Case Studies

M. Beránková M. Houška R. Kvasnička No 4/2010, December Special

ABSTRACT

In this work, we provide two case studies on interoperability and transfer of knowledge in the environment of a company dealing with plant protection. We find that the area of plant protection is highly oriented on working with knowledge. In this case interoperability of knowledge can play an important role in acquiring knowledge from different environments to solve specific problem in companies dealing with plant protection. Nevertheless, the concept of interoperability is well-developed on the level of data and information only.We stem from our previous works, where we defined a logical concept for the interoperability of knowledge on the level of knowledge units. The objective of this work is to show how to apply our process model of knowledge interoperability in a particular plant protection company. Two case studies are provided in order to demonstrate distinguishing between simple knowledge transfer and knowledge interoperability.

KEYWORDS

Interoperability, knowledge transfer, plant protection, knowledge unit, process model.

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ICT industry and resources based analysis of maintenance SME in the Central Europe

Š. Tesař Z. Havlíček V. Očenášek No 4/2010, December Special

ABSTRACT

Highly competitive situation in Information and Communication technology (ICT) maintenance industry requires a precise analysis of all important factors and carefully defined company strategy which addresses each of these aspects. This paper presents a resource based analysis of family run SME, operating in IT parts and consumables market. In order to understand this complex view, it first describes the company background. It briefly presents the industry key success factors and company strategy of the SME. The value chain analysis helps to name the main organization’s capabilities and evaluates them in terms of costs and customer willingness to pay. Resource audit provides an analysis of key company tangible, intangible and human resources. The outcome of this audit shows that most of SME resources are of an intangible nature. Contrary to the higher mobility of today’s resources, intangible resources of SME such as company reputation, culture and strategic business relations, are mostly immobile and inimitable. Based on the audit all key resources and capabilities are appraised by their strength and importance relative to closest rivals. Results are presented in graph which recognizes the key strengths (family run business related) and weaknesses (IT and finance). The results of the resourced based analysis lead to recommendations for changes in order to create and retain competitive advantage.

KEYWORDS

ICT, resource based analysis, resources, capabilities, strategy, SME.

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Map Resources – ECO Farms in the Czech Republic

J. Vaněk I. Brožová J. Jarolímek P. Šimek T. Vogeltanzová E. Červenková No 4/2010, December Special

ABSTRACT

The present paper deals with the creation of maps for the sake of a special map portal using the database of eco farms in the Czech Republic. The map output is being developed and implemented within the framework of the Research Program in mutual cooperation of the Department of Information Technologies, Information and Consulting Centre, other departments of the Faculty of Economics and Management CULS Prague with external partners, especially with the Ministry of Agriculture (Environment and Ecological Agriculture Section, Department of Ecological Agriculture) and the Institute of Agricultural Economics and Information (UZEI) - Division of Agro-environmental Policy in Brno. The maps are visualized by means of MPPR 1.0 system and have been processed – in the pilot stage - for the South Bohemian Region eco farms. The results represent initial data from 2009 (as at 31st December 2009) that have been processed, verified and complemented in the course of 2010.

KEYWORDS

Map portal, web browser, Google Maps, eco farm, ecological agriculture, Act No. 242/2000 Coll.

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