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The adoption of Sustainable Land Management (SLM) practices among smallholder farmers remains low, particularly among women farmers. Understanding the relationship between assets, gender, and SLM adoption and how their interaction impinges on household food self-sufficiency and livelihoods is essential for developing gender-responsive SLM programmes that effectively promote sustainable livelihoods and address household food insecurity. This study examines the effects of asset type on SLM practices adoption, women farmers, and their implications on household incomes and food self-sufficiency. Data was collected through a cross-sectional survey of 761 households selected from 11 chiefdoms across six districts in Eastern Zambia. Analysis involved Structural Equation System framework and Propensity Score Matching techniques to examine relationships between SLM adoption, food self-sufficiency, and household incomes, considering various socio-economic factors. Results showed marital status and household size as significant demographics, with education positively correlating with household income and SLM participation (p < 0.05). Gender disparities persisted, with male-headed households having higher incomes. Labour allocation analysis revealed women's involvement in labour-intensive tasks, while smaller farms showed higher income probabilities, supporting sustainable agricultural intensification. Social capital significantly influenced SLM participation, and access to financial capital. Livestock assets, land size, and crop diversity predicted food security, while male decision-making influenced food security and income. Incomes were higher for women participating in SLM projects. This study underscores the importance of SLM practices in influencing household incomes and food security, especially for women. Addressing gender disparities and promoting women's empowerment in agriculture are crucial for achieving equitable and sustainable rural development. Policymakers can foster sustainable livelihoods in rural communities by prioritizing SLM and empowering women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Agricultural insurance has emerged as an effective climate risk management strategy in many African countries, but its adoption is still low in Benin. This study seeks to understand farmers'access and perception of agricultural insurance, while analyzing the factors that affect its adoption in the municipality of Ouèssè in Benin. Methods: Using the method of snowball sampling, the research team collected data from 112 household heads, from six major maize-producing villages. With the data from focus group discussions and a structured questionnaire, we performed descriptive statistics and used the logistic regression model to analyze the factors influencing farmers' agricultural insurance adoption. Result: Our investigations revealed that almost all (95%) of the respondents have received agricultural insurance information at least once and about 94% of them found insurance useful for effective agricultural risk management. However, most of respondents (66.5%) lacked knowledge of loss assessment methods and 52% of them said that the insurance premium was too high for farmers. Most (95%) of the respondents who subscribed to agricultural insurance also received agricultural credit. The binomial logistic regression analysis revealed that adopting agricultural insurance is positively influenced by the farmers' perception of the insurance, educational level, household size andaccess to agricultural credit. Implementing strategies that consider these influencing factors andpromote awareness, while building capacity and trust, could facilitate farmers' adoption of agricultural insurance, especially in countries like Benin, where agricultural insurance is relatively new. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Enhancing agricultural productivity in developing countries is crucial for attaining the sustainable development goal 2.4 by 2030 through integrating information and communication technology (ICT) and renewable energy. Thus, this study investigates the role of ICT, renewable energy, and agricultural credit in enhancing agricultural productivity in developing countries from 2000 to 2021. This study has used the 'Driscoll-Kraay and the Method of Moments Quantile Regression' for robust empirical analysis. The estimated results indicate that renewable energy, ICT, and agricultural credit can enhance agricultural productivity in developing countries. The robustness analysis, however, indicates that the moderation effects of the interaction of ICT with renewable energy and agricultural credit with ICT and renewable energy have a weak and insignificant effect on agricultural productivity over the increasing quantiles. From a policy viewpoint, it is suggested that coherent and effective policies be implemented to encourage the advancement of formal credit institutions to bridge the gap between farmers and lending institutions offering flexible lending options to farmers. Thus, this helps farmers to access and deploy modern technologies and renewable energy in the agricultural field, which ensures sustainable agricultural practices to foster agricultural productivity while enriching environmental quality in developing countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Technology Economics is the property of Chinese Society of Technology Economics and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Trade credit (TC) is a more easily accessible financing source to the most small-scale aquaculture farms with limited access to institutional credit in the developing countries. However, it is often argued that TC is a drain, on one hand, and the gain, on the other hand, without quantifying and identifying sources of drain and gain. This study empirically examines the sources and size of benefits (gain) and costs (drain) of TC in aquaculture with a sample of 280 farms in Bangladesh using Stochastic Meta Frontier and Propensity Score Matching. Moreover, factors influencing the probability of having access to TC are explored using Probit regressions. TC enables financially constrained access to inputs, thereby avoiding production losses due to lack of capital. It also allows farms' to use improved production technology with a positive tradeoff between benefits and costs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agricultural loans are critically linked with agricultural productivity. Agricultural productivity has a significant dependency on climate contingencies. This motivates us to explore the impacts of the climate change on recovery of agricultural loans caused by losses in agricultural productivity. Using panel data from 82 districts of Pakistan over a period of 21 years, i.e., 2000–2020, we estimate the sensitivity of agricultural productivity to climate change in each district. Using these sensitivities, we then apply Panel-Corrected Standard Errors (PCSE) Regression to estimate whether climate change sensitivities of agricultural productivity have any impact on the recoveries of agricultural loans across the sampled districts. We find that the impact of climate change on agricultural loan recoveries is asymmetric. Specifically, negative sensitivities to climate change result in lower recoveries, while positive sensitivities led to enhanced loan recoveries. Our study is unique as it provides evidence of the impact of climate change on agricultural productivity as well as loan recoveries in a set of district-level data. We built a unique climate change index to measure the level of climate change and also introduced a framework to measure climate change sensitivities of agricultural productivity in our sample districts. We believe that this novel approach is an addition to the existing literature on climate change. We suggest that while devising agricultural and credit policies the governments and banks must consider investing in educating the farmer's on climate change adaptation strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The stability of rural credit cooperatives is closely linked to regional economic development in China's vast rural areas. This study aims to investigate how rural credit cooperatives in China can enhance their stability and achieve high-quality development using panel data from 87 county rural credit cooperatives in Shaanxi Province from 2008 to 2016. The Cov-AHP is employed to build an evaluation system and the effect of inclusive finance on the risk-taking capacity of rural credit cooperatives is analysed using a fixed effects model. Results demonstrate that inclusive finance can improve the risk-taking capacity of rural credit cooperatives and enhance their stability. This effect is more significant for rural credit cooperatives with a larger share of corporate shares, although property rights reform and the launch of community banks may weaken this effect. This study recommends vigorously promoting the development of inclusive finance, improving the operational mode of rural commercial banks, strengthening the corporate governance system of rural credit cooperatives, and enhancing the level of financial services for agriculture, rural areas, and farmers. These implications are important for promoting the further reform of rural credit cooperatives, especially in developing countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractUsing data from a multi-arm experiment among maize and bean smallholder farmers in Kenya, we evaluate the gender differences in credit rationing, and whether an insurance-bundled credit product, known as risk-contingent credit (RCC) could enhance credit access for both men and women. Using 3 years of household survey data, we find that female-headed households are significantly more risk-rationed (or demand-side rationed) than men. Post-intervention, we find that the impacts of RCC on credit uptake decisions are significantly larger than those of conventional credit. We also find that RCC impacts do not vary across the different gender categories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of the present study is to address child and maternal malnutrition in nine African countries located in the Western sub-region of Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) by incorporating three types of agricultural financing (domestic and external) along with energy poverty, human capital and corruption on malnutrition for the 1990–2019 period and present implications for Sustainable development goals (SDGs). This objective is realized by employing recently advanced panel techniques such as the second-generation panel econometrics techniques and the method of moments quantile regression (MMQR) approach. The estimated results reveal that agricultural credit and foreign aid in the agriculture sector significantly and negatively affect the malnutrition of children and mothers, while research spending in agriculture positively influences malnutrition. Energy poverty and human capital exert a negative and significant influence on child and maternal malnutrition, while corruption induces it. The study finally recommends several policy insights for the governments across the SSA region for tackling child and maternal malnutrition and advancing towards the achievement of SDG 3 through investment in SDG 4, SDG 7 and SDG 17. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using data from 360 smallholder farmers in Southeast Nigeria, the study creates the architecture for a new farmer's hybrid credit rating system used in classifying farmers who applied for microfinance loans based on their creditworthiness. We discovered new evidence that the hybridized credit scoring algorithm demonstrated unprecedented concordance in assessing the financial viability of farmers along gender lines. The discriminant analysis, in particular, closely aligned with the credit score model, with 34.4% and 46.7% of male and female farmers grouped as creditworthy, reflecting the model's estimates of 33.3% and 45.5%, indicating gaps of 12.3% and 12.2%, respectively, to the advantage of the female farmers. Our findings further suggest that annual income, marital status, and farm size strongly influence the separation between creditworthy and non-creditworthy farmers. While age, loan term, and a history of defaults had a negative impact on discrimination, in light of the findings, we recommend a collaboration between authorities, financial institutions, and extension workers in offering tailored trainings to both male and female farmers, assisting them in meeting up-to-date credit prerequisites, adopting modified farming techniques, and improving their general preparedness to be accepted for loans in this changing credit evaluation landscape so as to bridge the disparity and promote financial inclusion for farmers irrespective of gender affiliations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the effects of economic opportunities created by structural transformation, such as income from labor employment and income from nonlabor sources, on the incidence, depth, and severity of rural poverty using the 2018/2019 Ethiopian Socioeconomic Survey data. The effects of rural transformations in terms of nonfarm self‐employment and improved farming systems on poverty are also investigated. Ordinary least square, Probit, Instrumental Variable Probit model, and two stage least square estimation methods are used depending on the nature of outcome variables and the Wald test of exogeneity. The findings show that labor income (especially regular salaried income) and nonlabor income (especially remittance from international sources) are crucial in reducing the incidence of rural poverty. Improvements in crop and livestock practices, on the other hand, reduce the incidence as well as depth and severity of rural poverty. The findings suggest that more attention should be given to enhancing the modernization of crop and livestock sectors by expanding access to farm credit and improved extension systems, among other things. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lending to the agricultural sector by commercial banks in Ghana is characterized by high credit risk. Empirical evidence suggests that commercial banks in Ghana have credit risk management (CRM) challenges. This study explores the credit risk mitigation strategies adopted by commercial banks to minimize credit risk in agricultural finance in Ghana. The study adopted a mixed-method approach using a survey questionnaire and interview instruments. The findings indicate that some of the strategies used by commercial banks to mitigate credit risk in agricultural finance do not meet commercial banks' CRM needs. In addition, Ghanaian commercial banks have not fully adopted some of the recommended strategies that are used to mitigate credit risk associated with agricultural lending. The study unveils some appropriate strategies used to mitigate credit risk exposure in agricultural finance among commercial banks. These strategies include agricultural value-chain financing, collaboration with off-takers, incentive-based and risk-sharing schemes, adoption of a holistic agricultural value chain financing, policy interventions, use of agricultural insurance pool, and the proper structuring of agricultural loans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The study examines the efficiency and influence of bank loans on Zimbabwe's agricultural growth. The main objectives are to assess how bank lending affects agricultural output and identify the key factors affecting its effectiveness. Approach: This research uses the Vector Error Correction Model (VECM) approach to examine the long-term and short-term relationships between bank credit and agricultural output. Results: Extending credit availability may help agricultural development, as the study indicates a strong long-term positive association between bank credit and agricultural production. However, the short-term study yields inconsistent findings, with variations brought on by outside forces, including shifting policies, unstable economies, and unfavourable weather patterns. This suggests that structural problems in the banking or agriculture sectors impede quick recovery. While bank credit is critical in enhancing agricultural growth in Zimbabwe, its effectiveness is contingent upon a stable economic environment and supportive policies. Implication: Therefore, to maximise the impact of bank lending, policymakers should focus on improving financial infrastructure, mitigating external risks, and creating a conducive environment for agricultural investments. Value: This study uniquely examines the impact of bank credit on agricultural productivity in Zimbabwe using a comprehensive set of economic and non-economic variables and advanced econometric methods, providing new, context-specific insights and practical policy recommendations for enhancing agricultural growth in a challenging environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agricultural credit plays a crucial role in enabling smallholder farmers to increase farm output and reduce rural poverty. Despite this, access to credit remains a challenge to many smallholders. This study thus used cross-sectional data and Cragg's double-hurdle model to assess the factors affecting farm credit access and the determinants of loan size in the Sagnarigu municipal of northern Ghana. The study found that institutional factors played a significant role in the amounts borrowed. Furthermore, household characteristics had little influence on credit access, whereas farm characteristics played a major role in credit accessibility and loan size. These factors should be considered in designing credit policies for smallholder farmers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study was designed to analyse the impact of capital formation and investment sources on Nigeria's agricultural productivity from the period 1980 - 2021. The time series data were analysed with Malmquist Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) and the tobit regression models using DEA, the Total Factor Productivity Change, which quantifies the degree of productivity, was estimated at 1.022, which implies an average productivity progress of 2.2% annually. Again, since the value of technical efficiency change is less than technological change, it implies that the productivity gains are mainly attributable to technological progress instead of efficiency improvements in the periods under the study. The results of tobit regression indicate that domestic capital formation significantly influences agricultural TFP, highlighting the importance of government expenditure on agriculture (GEA) and gross fixed capital formation (GFCF) in enhancing productivity, although with minimal effects. Human capital formation (HCF) also showed positive impacts on Total Factor Productivity TFP, suggesting that improvements in workforce skills and knowledge are crucial for agricultural efficiency. However, FDI exhibited no significant correlation with TFP, implying that local investments are more beneficial than foreign aids in the context of Nigeria's agricultural sector. The findings emphasize the need for robust policy frameworks that align capital disbursements with agricultural production periods to optimize TFP. This study contributes to the discourse on agricultural productivity by providing empirical evidence on the critical role of capital investments in enhancing TFP within developing economies like Nigeria.

Gaining a comprehensive understanding of the carbon emissions cycle in the atmosphere resulting from agricultural activities is crucial for assessing its influence on environmental quality. This study used panel datasets covering the period from 1990-2022 to investigate the influence of wheat and rice production on environmental quality in the six mega agricultural provinces of China namely Anhui, Hebei, Hubei, Henan, Jiangsu, and Sichuan. Study employed several econometric approaches such as Cross-Sectional Dependency tests, unit root and cointegration tests, Panel Mean Group Autoregressive Distributed Lag (PMG-ARDL), Panel Quantile (PQ) and Panel Least Square (PLS) regression analysis for the robustness of the findings. The empirical findings of PMG-ARDL model reveal that rice production positively increases CO2 emissions in the long run. The variables fertilizers usage, agricultural water consumption and agricultural credit also have positive impact on CO2 emission in the long run. Further, short-term results reveal that all the concerned variables positively contribute to increase the CO2 emissions. The PQR results illustrate that rice and wheat production, fertilizer consumption, agricultural water usage, agricultural credit and agricultural GDP have positive and significant impact on CO2 emission across the quantiles. Additionally, PLS outcomes show positive and significant association between wheat productivity, agricultural credit, fertilizer and agricultural GDP on CO2 emissions. The Dumitrescu and Hurlin (D-H) panel causality show unidirectional association among: carbon emission → pesticides use, carbon emission → temperature, and carbon emission → agricultural GDP. A significant bidirectional causal association was found between: carbon emission ↔ rice production, carbon emission ↔ wheat production, carbon emission ↔ fertilizers use, carbon emission ↔ agricultural water use, and carbon emission ↔ agricultural credit. These findings contribute to the understanding of the drivers of CO2 emissions in agriculture and provide valuable insights for policymakers aiming to mitigate environmental impacts while promoting sustainable agriculture, resilience, financial support to encourage green technology and implement robust monitoring mechanisms to protect quality of environment and agricultural sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the determinants of life insurance ownership with a focus on rural areas and farming households in the United States. Utilizing data from online surveys conducted in 2019 and 2021, this paper explores how psychological factors, financial knowledge, and household characteristics influence life insurance ownership. Traditional indicators like wealth, income, and age were evaluated alongside less frequently discussed variables such as farm loans and rural residency. Machine learning techniques, including neural networks, Support Vector Machine modeling, Gradient Boosting, and logistic regression, were employed to identify the most robust predictors of life insurance demand. The findings reveal that farming-associated factors, particularly holding a farm loan and living in a farming household, significantly predict life insurance ownership. The study also highlights the complexity of life insurance demand, showing that financial education and management practices are critical determinants. This research underscores the need for tailored financial risk management strategies for rural and farming households and contributes to a nuanced understanding of life insurance demand in varying contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to analyze the effects of fiscal expenditures by the government on agricultural credit by considering the mediating role of sustainable agricultural growth and sustainable agricultural income. This study uses panel data from 31 Chinese provinces for the period 2009–2021. For in‐depth analysis, the sample is divided into different regions ‐ eastern, central, and western. For the empirical estimations, the ordinary least squares (OL), fixed effect (FE), random effect (RE), two‐way fixed effect (FE), and two‐stage least‐squares (2SLS) methods are employed. The results of the study demonstrate a significantly positive connection between governmental agricultural expenditures (GAEs) and agricultural credit (AC). The findings of the mediation analysis highlight a significantly positive mediating role of sustainable agricultural income in the association between GAEs and AC. The results of the regional analysis reveal a positive connection between GAEs and AC in all regions. It is recommended that government should increase its investment in the agriculture sector through both direct and indirect means of fiscal support, it can improve the agricultural income of farmers at a sustainable level and the repayment ability of farmers and rural households, and it can make their easy access to AC from banks and other financial institutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change poses a significant threat to agricultural productivity, necessitating a comprehensive understanding of its implications for both agricultural firms and capital lenders. This systematic literature review aims to elucidate emerging trends in addressing climate-related risks in agriculture and credit sectors. Drawing from a rigorous analysis of 39 articles sourced from Scopus and Web of Science databases, three key thematic dimensions have emerged: (i) agricultural lending and credit risk, (ii) green principles and sustainability, and (iii) the context of developing countries. From the impact of climate change on the recoverability of loans to the imperative of transitioning towards a greener and more sustainable economy, alongside the nuanced challenges faced by agriculture in developing countries, we analyzed prominent and recent literary approaches. The findings underscore the need to integrate climate change considerations into agricultural and credit policies. Policymakers and financial institutions should prioritize climate education for farmers and promote sustainable financial approaches. Anticipated climate risks will impact lenders' capital reserves, necessitating portfolio adjustments. A deep understanding of climate change's interplay with agriculture lending and credit risk is vital, urging proactive policy and practice. Addressing climate challenges in agriculture demands a multifaceted strategy encompassing tailored credit policies, improved access to credit, financial empowerment, and the mitigation of social inequalities. This review highlights the urgent need for proactive strategies to mitigate climate risks and ensure a resilient agricultural sector, emphasizing the crucial role of research and policy interventions in navigating the complex landscape of climate change impacts on agriculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Farmer producer organisations (FPOs) in India were introduced as farmer's cooperative society with the prime objective of enhancing the profitability and productivity of small and marginal farmers by cooperative action. The most crucial element which determines the establishment and success of the farmer producer companies (FPCs) is financial support. Thus, the government is providing direct funding in the form of various grants such as start-up grants, equity grants, mezzanine capital assistance, seed/pulse processing unit and so on. Despite getting huge credit support from the government in the form of various incentives, many companies are struggling and failing to sustain themselves in the long run. The present study evaluated the credit performance of FPCs in Tamil Nadu based on four financial ratio indicators named growth ability, profitability, debt ability/solvency and indicators of per share. The study result indicates that most of the companies fall under the average to low average performance category which highlights the inefficiency in the financial management of study FPCs. Comparatively FPCs' credit performance was found to be increasing. The results of the analysis shed light on the importance of credit management which is possible through capacity-building training and regular monitoring and guidance for the FPCs in credit handling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Agriculture is Ethiopia's principal economic activity, employing the vast majority of the population, however, smallholder farmers in the country face long-standing challenges, including low levels of production, low income, and less credit use. This study aimed to analyze the impact of access to credit on crop productivity and income among small-scale farmers in the study area. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study from January 1st to 30th, 2022. Primary data were collected from purposely selected seven (7) kebele of the district based on potential users of agricultural credit. Then the impact was investigated by applying the propensity score matching technique. A Probit regression model was used to determine factors associated with credit use. The significance of the variables was decided at a 5% level of significance. Results: In our study, a total sample of 347 smallholder farmers were randomly selected, out of which 42.9% were credit-users while 59.1% were non-users. Regarding sources of credit use, Vision Fund was the most commonly used source of credit with 67.8% of users, followed by the Omo Microfinance institution with 22.1%. Sex of the farmer, age of the farmer, existence collateral, farm size, attitude towards risk, extension service, membership in credit institutions, road access, and number of total livestock units in tropical livestock units (TLU) had significant effects on credit use at a 5% level of significance. Moreover, the estimates showed that utilizing credit resulted in a rise in crop productivity in current market value and total yearly income by 19,302.44 and 18,009.63 respectively. Conclusion: Our study suggested that credit use had a considerable impact on crop productivity and total annual income. As a result, the study recommended that the government's rural finance policy agenda should prioritize opening different branches near farmers, improving credit usability, and providing more training programs to smallholder farmers to improve their skills and help reduce the problems that impede their use of agricultural credit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article explores the impact of renewable fuel policies, specifically the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) and the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), on the agricultural industry. It focuses on the increased demand for corn and oilseeds, particularly soybeans, due to the production and consumption of biofuels like biodiesel and renewable diesel. This has the potential to affect soybean exports and domestic consumption. However, there are concerns about supply limitations and the volatility of crop prices. The article suggests further research is needed to understand the effects of renewable fuel policies on agricultural credit conditions and the stability of the crop sector. [Extracted from the article]

In the 1930s, rural Jiangsu was faced with financial exhaustion, which was manifested in the outflow of capital, widespread indebtedness and the prevalence of usury. Financial relief became a priority, and some private commercial banks were also involved in the financial relief of rural Jiangsu, among which the Shanghai Commercial and Savings Bank was the very representative. The bank not only set up an agricultural loan department, but also cooperated with the local government in Jiang鄄 su to establish a farmers' mortgage lending office. It issued agricultural loans through credit cooperatives, farm warehouses, and production and marketing cooperatives, offering relatively lower interest rates, which was positive in easing the pressure on rural capital. However, the nature of agricultural lending by private banks was actually to seek outlets for surplus funds, thus leaving obvious limitations for them to mediate financial flows. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study is to examine the factors that are thought to affect agricultural added value in Azerbaijan and other selected CIS member countries (Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan) between 2005-2022, using the panel data analysis method. As a result of the analysis, it was determined that the coefficients of fixed capital investments (SS), urbanization rate (KO) and the constant of the model in the model were insignificant at the 95% confidence level. According to the analysis results within the scope of the panel data method, it was found that there is a positive and significant relationship between the dependent variable, agricultural added value, and the independent variables, agricultural labor force rate (TİO), share of agriculture in government expenditures (TDH) and agricultural credit (TK). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agricultural financing plays a crucial role in enhancing agricultural productivity, profitability, and sustainability. These factors are essential for achieving food security, reducing poverty, and promoting economic growth in developing countries, such as Nigeria. However, agricultural financing faces various challenges, including high risks, low returns, inadequate infrastructure, weak institutions, and limited access to formal financial services. This study aims to examine the impact of agricultural financing on agricultural growth sustainability in Nigeria from 1985 to 2021, taking into account both domestic and international perspectives. Domestic agricultural financing is measured through commercial bank loans, interest rates, and the Agricultural Credit Guarantee Scheme Fund, while international financing is measured through agricultural foreign direct investment. The study utilizes the ARDL bonding test to analyze the short- and long-term effects of agricultural financing on agricultural growth sustainability in Nigeria. The findings of this study reveal that agricultural financing has both short-term and long-term impacts on agricultural growth sustainability. Domestic financing of agriculture significantly influences agricultural growth sustainability in Nigeria. Bank credit to the agricultural sector stimulates agricultural GDP. Similarly, the interest rates set by banks exhibit a negative relationship with agricultural growth sustainability in Nigeria, both in the short and long term. On the other hand, the Agricultural Credit Guarantee Scheme Fund (ACGSF) positively affects Nigeria's agricultural GDP in both the short and long term. However, international financing adversely affects agricultural GDP in the long run in Nigeria. The negative impact of foreign direct investment on agricultural output may be attributed to increased competition and conflicts over land and resources as foreign investors seek to secure large-scale and long-term land deals, often with the support or involvement of the host government. The significance of this study lies in its contribution to the existing literature on the influence of agricultural financing on agricultural growth sustainability, providing valuable insights for policymakers, researchers, and stakeholders interested in advancing the agricultural sector. By considering both domestic and international perspectives, this study assists the government and policymakers in effectively managing agricultural financing to stimulate agricultural growth and ensure sustainability for overall development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista de Economia e Sociologia Rural is the property of Sociedade Brasileira de Economia e Sociologia Rural and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

A number of factors can affect getting a loan. The aim of the study was to determine the possible influence of the following factors: interest rate, loan repayment term, user participation, VAT lending possibilities, agricultural equipment as a pledge, simplicity of the lending procedure, minimum loan amount, adjustment of repayment and total score in the period 2022-2024 on getting a loan. The application of the t-test revealed that there is a strong influence of all the mentioned factors on obtaining loans in agricultural holdings, that is, in the operations of medium-sized agricultural enterprises. The next conclusions would be that the mentioned factors affect the prediction of the interest rate in the business of agricultural farms (F=185.24, p<0.0005) but also in the business of medium-sized agricultural companies (F=106.51, p<0.0005) in the Republic of Serbia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Low coffee productivity has been linked to farmers’ limited use of agricultural financing due to credit rationing motivated by moral hazard and information asymmetry. As an intervention, the Kenyan government (GoK) established the Commodity Fund to provide financing to coffee growers to increase coffee productivity, alleviate poverty, and promote economic development. Despite this intervention, credit acceptance remains low; for example, agricultural credit made up only 4.3 percent of total private sector credit in 2016 and 3.62 percent in 2018. This low adoption of agricultural financing raises an important question: does the perception of credit’s influence on coffee output shape the current dismal trend in coffee production? As a result, this study aims to fill a research gap by exploring the impact of agricultural financing on coffee productivity in Kiambu County, Kenya. Primary data was gathered through farmers’ group discussions (FGDs) with twelve farmers’ cooperatives and fifteen key informants from five coffee value chain actors. A subsequent survey of 174 smallholder coffee farmers was conducted. Phenomenological explication and a logistic regression model were used to analyze data from key informants and focus group discussions. According to the study’s findings, farmers perceived agricultural credit as having a positive impact on demand for coffee inputs and returns while having a negative impact on demand for labor and coffee productivity efficiency. As a result, this study recommends that the GoK examine Commodity Fund policies to catalyze credit in order to stimulate increased coffee productivity and economic transformation among coffee producers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Agriculture & Nature / Kahramanmaraş Sütçü İmam Üniversitesi Tarım & Doğa Dergisi is the property of Kahramanmaras Sutcu Imam Universitesi and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Agriculture is crucial for the economy and individuals, and there is a pressing need to improve its quality, efficiency, and competitiveness in emerging countries. This study uses data from Chinese-listed companies to investigate the effect of trade credit on agricultural firms' total factor productivity. The results demonstrate that trade credit access and provision can increase agribusinesses' total factor productivity. Heterogeneity analysis reveals that access to business credit has a higher contribution to total factor productivity for agribusinesses in the primary sector, for firms in the versus maturity stage, and with low or medium supplier concentration. The provision of trade credit has a more pronounced positive impact on agribusinesses in the maturing stage and enterprises with low or medium customer concentration. This paper further validates the channels of action through which trade credit affects a firm's highquality development. This research makes a valuable contribution to enhancing the quality and productivity of China's agricultural sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article compares rural credit systems in Thailand and Cambodia in order to advance studies on financialization and rural development in South East Asia. In Thailand, the state remains a large provider of credit to farmers. In Cambodia, most farmers access credit from a globalized, private microfinance industry. Based on qualitative research carried out in 2021 and 2022, we argue that farmer debt has led to divergent outcomes in Thailand and Cambodia due to their opposing systems of rural credit developed over the past half-century. These systems were forged within historically specific conjunctures of international development policies, state–capital relations and domestic politics of debt. Consequently, Thailand's farmers access credit from the state at significantly lower costs and with more support in various forms. Over-indebtedness is a problem for some farmers, but not because state-controlled financial institutions charge excessive interest rates. In contrast, the cost of private credit is higher in Cambodia, with many farmers facing over-indebtedness with little to no support from the government. This article contributes to scholarship on financialization within South East Asia by demonstrating how the legacies and geopolitics of development, alongside the contentious politics of farmer debt, together shape the outcomes of rural credit systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Bingol University Journal of Economics & Administrative Science is the property of Bingol University Journal of Economics & Administrative Science and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

As the expected cost of conservation agriculture (CA) inputs becomes an issue for farmers, financial institutions (FIs) play an essential role in promoting CA, a set of agricultural management practices with multiple positive effects. This research aimed to determine influencing factors, to rank challenges, and identify mechanisms for farmers to access agricultural credit for adoption of CA management practices in Cambodia. It was administered by conducting a survey of 242 randomly selected households for face-to-face interviews and conducting key informant interviews from purposive samples of 28 participants in Battambang and Preah Vihear provinces. The results indicated that influencing factors, including the family, adult labor and total farm size, had a positive relationship with farmers' accessibility to agricultural credit, whereas age was negative. However, education year, farm size for main crops, on-farm income and farm experience were not significantly associated. High interest rates were the significant first-order challenge ranked, followed by document process complication, limited agricultural credit information, limited collateral security and a few other challenges. Support and improved process mechanisms to enhance credit accessibility are required to engage with multiple stakeholders, including farmers, FIs, non-government organizations (NGOs) and government officers. There has been a reduction in agricultural credit interest rates and incentives for importing CA inputs by the government, while provision of information support for agribusiness plans by NGOs which have implemented development project activities were considered as the main support mechanism. An improved process mechanism at the farmers' level needs to include access to credit with low interest rates and a straightforward documentation process, whereas the FI level requires a business plan for lending decisions. It is evident that high lending rates hinder access to agricultural credit and the improvement of support and improved process mechanisms are necessary to better promote CA practices among farmers in Cambodia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The adoption of Sustainable Land Management (SLM) practices among smallholder farmers remains low, particularly among women farmers. Understanding the relationship between assets, gender, and SLM adoption and how their interaction impinges on household food self-sufficiency and livelihoods is essential for developing gender-responsive SLM programmes that effectively promote sustainable livelihoods and address household food insecurity. This study examines the effects of asset type on SLM practices adoption, women farmers, and their implications on household incomes and food self-sufficiency. Data was collected through a cross-sectional survey of 761 households selected from 11 chiefdoms across six districts in Eastern Zambia. Analysis involved Structural Equation System framework and Propensity Score Matching techniques to examine relationships between SLM adoption, food self-sufficiency, and household incomes, considering various socio-economic factors. Results showed marital status and household size as significant demographics, with education positively correlating with household income and SLM participation (p

AbstractAgricultural credit and subsidies are crucial policies for improving agricultural productivity. The main objective of this study is to examine the effects of agricultural credit and subsidies on agricultural productivity in Ethiopia from 1990 to 2021, taking into account both short- and long-term relationships. We obtain secondary data from the Food and Agriculture Organization and the World Bank databases. The autoregressive distributive lag model to co-integration is applied to estimate the long- and short-run effects of agricultural credit and subsidies on productivity. The bound test results indicate that the variables have a long-term relationship. The findings revealed that in the short-run, credit provision affected productivity negatively but subsidies to agricultural sector showed a positive significant effect. However, in the long run, the effect of credit turned out to be positive and significant, whereas subsidies affected productivity negatively. It is recommended that the government design and implement policy measures that create better access to agricultural financing to enjoy long-run improvements in productivity. Similarly, the government should offer subsidies to the agricultural sector only during short-run periods and need to lift them gradually in the long run as their provision retards productivity in the long run.

ABSTRACTAgricultural finance plays a pivotal role in facilitating the modernization and commercialization of farming practices and bolstering global food security. However, the provision of sustainable financial services in remote regions poses a significant challenge within the developing and underdeveloped countries. Consequently, farmers often grapple with inadequate access to formal credit sources and essential productive assets due to diverse constraints. Although, several studies have investigated constraints to agriculture finance; the literature is divergent and a holistic framework of constraints to agriculture finance is missing. Therefore, this research explores the constraints to agriculture finance in 31 developing and underdeveloped countries using systematic review approach, and synthesizes a holistic framework of the constraints using Qualitative Evidence Synthesis (QES) method that can be used as dependable framework for conceptualization and policy formation. Moreover, it describes the interplay and mutual reinforcement between the challenges faced by different stakeholders to elaborate how they influence each other in complex ways. Additionally, this study suggests a collective and multi-faceted approach for overcoming barriers to agricultural financing, and highlights the limitations and unintended consequences of agricultural credit and its implications for agricultural sustainability.

Farmland transfer is a critical component in facilitating agricultural scale management and improving agricultural production efficiency. This study examines the spatial distribution of farmland transfer in China and identifies the factors influencing it, offering valuable guidance for advancing China's farmland transfer practices. Through the application of mathematical statistics and GIS spatial analysis, the study investigates changes in spatial patterns related to the scale, rate, mode, and recipients of farmland transfer across China's 30 provinces from 2015 to 2020. Geographical detectors are also employed to identify the key factors influencing the extent and pace of farmland transfer. The study reveals that between 2015 and 2020, China's farmland transfer area increased from 29,789 to 37,638 million hectares. Provinces with abundant farmland resources generally experienced larger farmland transfers, while economically developed regions and major grain-producing areas saw higher rates of farmland transfers. The predominant mode of farmland transfer in China was leasing (subcontracting), accounting for over 80% of the total transferred area. Large-scale grain growers and family farms were significant participants in farmland transfers, acquiring approximately 60.1% of the transferred lands, followed by professional cooperatives (21.5%), enterprises (10.4%), and other entities (7.9%). Key factors influencing the farmland transfer area include the "regional farmland area", the "proportion of family farms supported by loans", and the "proportion of non-agricultural population", with explanatory powers of 0.663, 0.319, and 0.225, respectively. Notably, there is a substantial interaction between the "regional farmland area" and factors such as the "proportion of family farms supported by loans" and the "grain yield per unit area", with explanatory powers reaching 0.957 and 0.901, respectively. These findings offer valuable insights for promoting farmland transfer in agriculturally rich regions. Factors affecting the farmland transfer rate include "grain yield per unit area", "GDP per capita", and the "proportion of non-agricultural population", each with an explanatory power above 0.500. Moreover, their interactive explanatory powers with other indicators exceed 0.600, indicating that provinces with high agricultural productivity or economic development levels are more likely to undergo farmland transfer. The paper concludes by proposing strategies and recommendations to promote farmland transfer in both "large agricultural areas" and "metropolitan suburbs." [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The relationship between agricultural credit and agricultural production as well as the impacts on sustainable development (i.e., poverty alleviation, reduction of inequalities, food and nutrition security, and stimulation of economic growth) have been widely documented. The objective of this study is to analyze the impact of credit on cattle production and deforestation in Colombia through spatial panel data models. For this purpose, a departmental data panel for the period 2011–2020 was built, based on available information from public entities. The results suggest that in Colombia, the relationship between access to credit and cattle production is significant and can be either negative or positive. In addition, there is evidence of spatial dependence, meaning that cattle production in one department is being affected by cattle production in a neighboring department or by all the departments that make up the national territory. Regarding deforestation, results show that, although the number of cattle present in a department does affect its annual deforestation rate due to a poor coverage of sustainably intensified cattle ranching systems, there is no relationship between deforestation and the access to credit nor any spatial correlations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study analyzed poultry farmers' utilization of agricultural credit in Jos South Local Government Area of Plateau State, Nigeria. The population for the study consists of all the registered poultry farmers in Jos South Local Government Area. Multistage sampling technique was used in selecting the respondents for the study. Primary data were collected through the use of questionnaires and interview schedule and were subjected to both descriptive and inferential statistics. Findings from the study showed that majority (86%) of the poultry farmers' were men, with a mean age of 42 years. Majorities (89%) were married and had five people on average per home. The study also showed that 51% of the farmers were educated beyond high school with a mean farming experience of 9 years and average stock size of 1658 birds. The responders received an average credit amount of ₦357224 while the average amount utilized for poultry business was ₦290164. About 75% of the farmers utilized the loan given to expand their existing farm business. Gender, household size, farming experience and flock size were the significant determinants of agricultural credit utilization by the poultry farmers. Inadequacy of the credit amount received (58.0) and competing family needs (32%) were the main obstacles to using agricultural credit among the poultry farmers. The study recommended more budgetary allocations and farmer's friendly policies by financial institutions to enable bigger volumes of disbursements to farmers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Agricultural cooperatives are pivotal in promoting agricultural industrialization but face capital shortages, needing strategic financing selection between bank loans and e-commerce. This paper uses Stackelberg game theory to examine cooperatives' and enterprises' optimal decision-making and motivations under different financing. It scrutinizes preferences for financing methods and explores bank credit policies and e-commerce interest rates in channel selection. Findings suggest that developing favorable policies, like encouraging green credit and e-commerce support for farmers, could significantly improve cooperatives' financing. Expanding digital initiatives in supply chains could also enable more sustainable models. This research illuminates cooperatives' complex decision-making and offers insights to bolster agricultural finance systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As is known, agriculture is considered one of the crucially important sectors of the economy. Therefore, ensuring food security is directly dependent on the continuous development of agriculture. It should be noted that in developing countries, especially for oil-exporting countries, the role of agriculture is significantly elevated in the development of the non-oil sector and the implementation of alternative export policies. Given all these considerations, the implementation of export promotion policies in agriculture plays a particularly significant role. Export promotion policies in agriculture are understood to involve measures aimed at stimulating producers domestically and providing practical assistance to agricultural producers for the increase of export sales. In general, the promotion of exports is directly dependent on the implementation of trade policies domestically and the enhancement of business attractiveness. The experience of developed countries indicates that measures aimed at promoting exports, such as providing export credits to agricultural producers and offering necessary guarantees to them, directly contribute to increasing the volume of purchases domestically, thus reflecting measures aimed at increasing the level of economic activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This work examines the impact of institutional agricultural credit on crop productivity of some major crops such as paddy, cotton, wheat and pulses for small and marginal farmers across various social groups. Design/methodology/approach: The cross-sectional field data on socio economic variables was collected from three Indian states from about 400 small and marginal farmers across various social groups using multi-stage stratified random and purposive sampling through a structured questionnaire by interviewing. The method of propensity score matching (PSM) was employed to calculate average treatment effect (ATE) and average treatment effect on the treated (ATET) by categorising sample farmers as treatment group and control group where crop productivity was considered as outcome variable and access to institutional credit was considered as treatment variable. Findings: The PSM estimates reveal that ATE and ATET for all the selected crops are found to be significantly higher for the treated group vis-à-vis non-treated group suggesting that institutional agricultural credit has a statistically and significant positive impact on the crop productivity. Research limitations/implications: Similar study can be extended for more crops and across regions in India for a universal coverage. Originality/value: The agricultural credit policy of India has been to increase the access and availability of institutional farm credit. This has led to in general increase in the flow of formal farm credit to agricultural sector. However, the impact of institutional credit and crop productivity especially for small and marginal farmers across social groups is not well recognized in India using field data. Accordingly, this field data study contributes to the existing research by providing fresh evidence from field across social groups for both kharif and rabi crops using recent survey data from small and marginal farmers which has important policy implications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change impact, food security concerns, and greenhouse gas emissions are pressuring agricultural production systems in developing countries. There is a need for a shift toward sustainable food systems. One of the concepts introduced to drive this shift is climate-smart agriculture (CSA), endorsed by international organizations to address multifaceted challenges. Despite widespread attention and support, the adoption of CSA among African farmers remains low. This systematic literature review aims to shed light on the factors influencing CSA adoption amongst African farmers. Within the articles identified as relevant, over 50 CSA practices and more than 40 factors influencing CSA adoption were distinguished. These influencing factors can be categorized as personal, farm-related, financial, environmental, and informational. The focus of this review is to identify and explain the overall impact (positive, negative, or mixed) of these factors on CSA adoption. Overall, many factors result in mixed effects, only some factors have an unambiguous positive or negative effect on CSA adoption. For instance, educational level emerges as a key personal factor, positively impacting CSA adoption, along with positive influences from farmers' experience and farm size among farm-related factors. Financial factors reveal distinct patterns, with income from farming and access to credit positively influencing adoption, while off-farm income exhibits a negative effect. Environmental factors, though less researched, indicate positive impacts related to changes in rainfall patterns, temperature, and droughts. Lastly, informational factors consistently exhibit a positive effect on CSA adoption, with training, access to extension, group memberships, climate information, and CSA awareness playing crucial roles. These findings provide valuable insights for policymakers seeking to enhance CSA adoption in Africa, offering a nuanced understanding of the multifaceted dynamics at play. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The research aimed to measure the role of administrative control tools (administrative inspection, supervision and observation, administrative reports, estimated budget, records and statistics) in improving job performance at the Cooperative and Agricultural Credit Bank (CAC Bank). A descriptive analytical approach was used, with a questionnaire as the data collection tool. The research population consisted of all employees at the CAC Bank (General Administration - in the capital Sana'a), totaling 610 employees at various administrative levels. A random sample of 270 individuals was selected. The research found a significant positive role for administrative control tools: supervision and observation, administrative reports, records, and statistics in improving job performance at CAC Bank. However, administrative inspection and the estimated budget showed no role in job performance. Job performance was rated high and is linked to the implementation of administrative control tools in general, but it is most influenced by administrative reports, followed by records and statistics, and then supervision and observation. The research recommends continuous enhancement and development of administrative control tools by the bank, developing control tools, involving employees in decision-making, improving relationships between employees, developing communication skills, and fostering teamwork. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]