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This article discusses the relationship between political violence and the cocaine trade in Colombia since the 1980s. The author focuses on the northwest region of Colombia near the Gulf of Urabá as a particularly crime-ridden and violent area full of drug traffickers, paramilitary groups, and political disorder. He considers the lack of a strong government presence in the region, despite its seizure by the military in the late 1990s. The displacement of agricultural laborers and peasants from their land by drug traffickers and dealers is also described.

Background Several studies have documented poor housing conditions for farmworkers but none has focused on migrant farmworker housing, which is often provided as a condition of employment. Farmworker housing quality is regulated, but little documentation exists of compliance with regulations. Methods A 2007 survey of 43 randomly selected farmworker camps and a 2008 survey of 27 camps randomly selected from the 2007 sample documented housing conditions via interviewer administered questionnaire and housing checklist. Results Substandard conditions are common in migrant housing. All camps had at least one exterior housing problem; 93% had at least one interior problem. Housing conditions worsen across the agricultural season. Characteristics including no residents with H2A visa and 11 or more residents are associated with poorer conditions. Conclusions Housing standards are not adequately enforced. An increase in postoccupancy inspections and targeting camps with characteristics that place them at increased risk for substandard conditions are recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This paper examines the impact of non-farm work on household income and food security among farm households in the Northern Region of Ghana. We analyze the impact by employing propensity score matching method that accounts for self-selection bias. The matching results show that participation in non-farm work exerts a positive and statistically significant effect on household income and food security status, supporting the widely held view that income from non-farm work is crucial to food security and poverty alleviation in rural areas of developing countries. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The study explores the quality of housing of Latino farmworker families living in North Carolina. It also determines the relation of housing quality with individual and family characteristics. Findings indicate that majority of the households, which are often located adjacent to fields, are crowded, have structural problems and lacked facilities and appliances. It was also found out that most of the dwellings of Latino farmworker families did not meet the minimum criteria for health and safety of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Children of farmworkers can be exposed to pesticides through multiple pathways, including agricultural take-home and drift as well as residential applications. Because farmworker families often live in poor-quality housing, the exposure from residential pesticide use may be substantial. We measured eight locally reported agricultural pesticides and 13 pesticides commonly found in U.S. houses in residences of 41 farmworker families with at least one child < 7 years of age in western North Carolina and Virginia. Wipe samples were taken from floor surfaces, toys, and children's hands. We also collected interview data on possible predictors of pesticide presence, including characteristics of the household residents, cleaning practices, and characteristics of the home. All families were Spanish-speaking, primarily from Mexico. Results indicate that six agricultural and 11 residential pesticides were found in the homes, with agricultural, residential, or both present in 95% of homes sampled. In general, residential pesticides were more commonly found. Presence of both types of pesticides on the floor was positively associated with detection on toys or hands. Agricultural pesticide detection was associated with housing adjacent to agricultural fields. Residential pesticide detection was associated with houses judged difficult to dean. Although the likelihood of agricultural pesticide exposure has been considered high for farmworker families, these results indicate that residential pesticide use and exposure in this population merit further study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper uses cross-section data to examine the determinants of wages for agricultural craft workers over the period 1991–1994. Using limited dependent variable models to take account of the censoring in the data resulting from the minimum wage, we have investigated the degree to which agricultural and broader labour markets are integrated, the impact of tied housing on wages, and the extent to which the minimum wage truncates the wage distribution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Examines the churches and clerical work in improving housing conditions for Irish migratory potato workers in Scotland from the post-famine years of the mid nineteenth century until the late 1980s. Nature and standard of accommodation given to the potato workers; Chruches in Scotland and Ireland that were involved in assisting the workers.

The article discusses rural housing construction in Germany and the public housing shortage in rural areas. The issue has received little earlier attention owing to the emphasis on urban public housing. The shortage has also led to rural couples' moving off the land. Additionally noted is the discrepancy in styles of agrarian housing and the loss of 35% of housing owing to commuters not in agrarian employment.

Presents an abstract of the article `Safe, clean and affordable: California farmworker housing needs,' by Patricia Harrison, published in the `Journal of Architectural and Planning Research' dated 1995.