Academic literature on the topic 'Strategic planning in agriculture'

Agricultural producers are currently experiencing difficulties in competitive production. As a result, strategic plans for agricultural development require constant adjustments. To improve the strategic planning in the local agriculture, the region needs an effective system that would ensure a continuous functioning process and competitive production. The research objective was to develop proposals in order to improve the strategic planning of regional agricultural development. The study was based on general scientific methods, i.e. synthesis, analysis, abstract-logical and economic-mathematical methods of economic research, etc. The author obtained materials from the Territorial Department of the Federal State Statistics Service and the Ministry of Agriculture and Food of the Republic of Buryatia for 2018. The article introduces an analysis of the current development of strategic planning in agriculture and socio-economic problems of agricultural development in the Republic of Buryatia. The author developed some recommendations on the process of strategic planning of agricultural development. Competitive agricultural development requires an integrated approach that could ensure effective development of strategic plans and agricultural producers. The proposed strategic planning process will allow farmers to develop effective strategic plans while producing competitive products.

Food security maintained with the least budget resources remains to be a topical issue at the current stage of the country’s development. Public support as a strategic planning tool can determine the production of goods which require the least agricultural resources and the minimum expenditures on the citizens’ side to achieve the food security targets. Therefore, there is a need to re-view the criteria for subsidies in agriculture as regards their utilization. The main methodological approaches to the evaluation of the public support efficiency were summarized and critically analyzed to reveal that their imitation capabilities fail to be applied in the strategic planning practices. The purpose of the study was to theoretically justify and to develop the methodological recommendations aimed to improve the evaluation and the planning of the subsidies efficiency in agriculture with regard to the regions’ agriculture potential. The proposed methodology defines the indicators of the profit, pay-off period, capacity and cost-efficiency of the subsidies with regard to the natural and economic conditions of the economic activities as the natural ground for the competitive advantages for the producers in different RF territories, which is seen to be a unique feature of the methodology. To test it, the RF regions are grouped by their cadastral values of 1 ha agricultural land into 5 units. The study found that this factor does not impact the efficiency of the public support, which means a low exploitation of the regions’ strategic potential to solve the food security tasks. Strategic planning tools applied to distribute the budget in agriculture with the focus on more products with the most profitable production output in the context of the particular region and their availability for the consumers will increase the efficiency of the budget spending. The development of these managerial decisions is seen to be the area of the author’s further research.

Strategic planning is a very crucial phenomenon in all organisations. It is the tool that determines the destiny of the firm. The objective of this study was to investigate the influence of financial resource strategic planning on firm performance, to determine influence of human capital strategic planning on firm performance, to analyze the influence of material resource strategic planning on firm performance and to determine influence of information resource strategic planning on firm performance in agriculture research based institutions of Kenya. Although there had been previous international studies in this field, no literature is evident on status of the same in agriculture based research institutions in Kenya. The study comprised of former 4 major agricultural based research institutes of Kenya, namely: Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (KARI), Coffee Research Foundation (CRF), Tea Research Foundation (TRF), and Kenya Sugar Research Foundation (KeSREF). The institutions had 2922 employees in the year 2015. The study employed descriptive research design. The sample size was 352 having been arrived at using Yamane’s (1967) formula. Results and conclusion of the study were that financial resources strategic planning, human capital strategic planning, material resource strategic planning and information resource strategic planning influence a firm’s performance in a great way.

Subject. The article examines the conformity of strategic planning tools and measures for agriculture with the current situation in the sector and national food security goals. Objectives. I determine agricultural planning tools, which appear most effective for food issues, referring to foreign countries’ practices. Methods. The study involves methods of expert assessment, generalization and sorting of leading scholars’ proceedings. I conducted the comparative analysis of advanced economies’ data, referring to the statistical database on the official website of the OECD. Results. I performed a scientific overview of strategic planning tools and measures for agriculture, which are widely used by advanced economies. The development of agriculture and food security are viewed as a comprehensive matter. Pursuing the high food independence and the development of the export potential, countries, like Russia, apply a variety of planning tools and measures, such as quotas, direct subsidies, guarantees, State aid, food aid. Using the above mechanisms, advanced economies try to address all aspects of the food security, thus ensuring the equilibrium of food demand and supply in terms of regional consumption rates and further. Conclusions. The use of such mechanisms in Russia may prove even more useful than abroad. If put on scientific grounds and approaches, planning mechanisms for agriculture will become even more result-oriented to address food security issues.

Subject. The article addresses the issues of synchronizing the strategic planning of agricultural development and harmonizing its documentation system with the national food security objectives. Objectives. The aim is to run diagnostics of strategic planning and its food security documentary system. Methods. The study employs methods of generalization of scientific works and systematization of expert assessments therein, critical analysis of strategic documents on agriculture and food security, abstract-logical method for building a model of strategic process. Results. The paper presents the results of strategic planning process and its documentary system in the field of food security, conclusions on the need to strengthen harmonization between the main strategic planning documents, key objectives and criteria for achieving them, planned results and resources, benchmarks and performance indicators to ensure physical and economic accessibility of products. I offer a fundamentally different conceptual model of the strategic planning process. It is supported by a system of interconnected documents. This model is based on production projects and quotas linking the production and consumption at the level of rational nutritional standards. Conclusions. The proposed model enables to logically incorporate the objectives set in the field of food security into the system of strategic planning documents. The findings may be useful for agro-industrial complex authorities to coordinate decisions on agricultural development and food security as a complex problem.

Formulation of the problem. The most modern and effective innovation in solving the socio-economic problems of the agricultural sector is strategic planning and forecasting. Now, both in Russia and in its regions, no strategies are being developed for the development of agriculture and other areas of the agri-food sector. The purpose of the article is to develop methodological and practical recommendations for the strategic management of sustainable socio-economic development of agriculture in the Komi Republic. The subject of research is the process of strategic planning and forecasting. Analysis and synthesis, deduction and induction, abstract-logical, historical, statistical, SWOT analysis, expert assessments were used as research methods. Research hypothesis. The current tactical approach should be replaced by the strategic management of the development of the agrarian sector. Presentation of the main material. The content is disclosed and methodological approaches to the strategic management of agricultural development are proposed. The trends in the development of the agricultural industry, its problems and risks are investigated. A strategic analysis is given, strengths and weaknesses, opportunities and threats to the development of the agricultural sector are assessed. The goals of the Strategy have been determined, a scenario forecast of the results has been made. The priority directions of the Agriculture Development Strategy have been substantiated. The mechanism of the Strategy has been developed. The originality and practical significance of the study lies in the possibility of using the results in the preparation of strategies and programs for the development of the agricultural sector in the regions of the North. Conclusions of the study. The conducted research will ensure a steady growth in agricultural production, an increase in the living standards of peasants.

The essence of the “strategic planning” is explored and the peculiarities of strategic planning in the agricultural sector are defined. Global climate change as a factor stimulating the formation of new approaches to strategic planning of agricultural development is considered, and the impact of climate change on the agricultural sector of Ukraine is evaluated. A predictive model of changes in the parameters of agricultural production under expected climate change conditions is constructed, and organizational, socio-economical and environmental components of the strategy of agricultural development are outlined and the conceptual bases for improvement of strategic planning for the development of the agricultural sector in the face of climate change are substantiated.

The purpose of the research is to substantiate the directions for improving program and target planning in the implementation of state programs based on the principles of project management. The article considers methodological aspects of development and implementation of program planning based on the principles of project management in agriculture in Russia. The article describes the domestic practice of program and target planning in the market conditions of management. The main drawbacks of the software planning tools used in the system of state regulation of agricultural production and development of rural territories are investigated. Special attention is paid to the target orientation of budget allocation. A model of program-target planning based on the principles of project management in agriculture has been developed, which includes a system of elements of strategic state planning. It is proved that the new management tools of state regulation of the agricultural sector, based on the project approach, will allow not only to focus the efforts of authorities at all levels on achieving specific results in the implementation of state programs, but also to transfer agricultural producers of various forms of management to the same level of development.

In the current conditions of economic development for many organizations operating in the field of agriculture, there are a number of uncertainties due to the lack of strategic planning of activities. On the other hand, it is the long-term goal setting that allows organizations to conduct highly effective activities and be competitive in the market. The main areas of the strategic planning of activities that ensure competitiveness include: branding (creating mental structures in the consumer’s mind), the development of a model of marketing relations with consumers and the management of distribution channels. However, strategic planning in the organization is possible only on the basis of high-quality situational analysis, which is a difficult task for many enterprises due to the significant financial and labor costs. An equally important aspect is the unwillingness of managers of organizations to invest in marketing assets, 95 primarily due to their unability to determine the effectiveness of these investments, as well as the lack of resources themselves. The authors believe it is necessary to provide significant support to organizations of small and medium-size forms of ownership in order to increase their competitiveness, which can be carried out by establishing regional marketing centers, the main task of which is to provide assistance in conducting a situational analysis of the organization’s activities, in particular the macro – and micro-environment of the organization, and determining strategic areas of activity. Equally important is the assistance in the preparation of business plans, in particular, the possibility of obtaining funding for the implementation of state program activities, training in the aspects of conducting effective activities, organizing contests, exhibitions and other events.

Thesis (MPA.) --University of Limpopo, 2013
The importance of achieving governmental goals within the spheres of government is a valuable dimension of service delivery through which communities realise the fulfilment of promises made by government. The strategic management process is one of the tools to be used to achieve governmental goals. This study shows the importance of using strategic management process in achieving governmental goals: A case study of Limpopo Department of Agriculture. The problems and challenges identified during the process are highlighted for probing. There is a need for the department to acknowledge and recognise the strategic management function by fully utilising the process thereof in order to see its positive contribution to service delivery. The following areas were investigated by the researcher; demographics profile of therespondents; the challenges in the development, implementation and evaluation of strategy; the importance of proper management of strategy; the role of strategy in achieving governmental goals, the mechanisms of communicating departmental strategies. The collected data was categorised into themes and subthemes to accommodate proper analysis and interpretation. In conclusion the study gave recommendations on how strategic management processes can be improved through proper consultations both internally and externally, effective communication processes, and bottom-up approach as part of the consultation processes. It also indicated the importance of management team taking ownership of the strategic management processes. However, the recommendations given are not cast in stone towards improving strategic management process. The senior management team of Limpopo Department of Agriculture should consider recommendations in this study together with other solutions to improve service delivery to the citizens of Limpopo in the agricultural sector.

This study is based on the premise that it is important to understand how niche marketers manage the process of farm level adaptive change. A review of the relevent literature revealed the limitations of research on the strategic planning process pertaining to small business. A normative model of the strategic planning process was synthesised and used as an anyalystical framework to assess the planning behaviour of agricultural niche marketers in the study. On completion of a review of research methodologies for the social sciences, the multiple-case holistic design was selected. Data was collected and analyzed. The principal analytical method used was pattern matching. The technique of explanation building was applied in order to draw conclusions about the correspondence between the normative model and the actual planning practices of agricultural niche marketers. A revise model of the planning process is then proposed.
viii, 100, vi leaves : ill. ; 29 cm.

Thesis (PhD(Agric) (Agricultural Economics))--Stellenbosch University, 2008.
The planning processes involved in the design and development of strategic land information systems in a semantic context require a logical approach. An array of efficacy problems associated with the relevance of the information required and the data to be provided must be dealt with in terms of this logical approach so that wise decisions can be made about future land resource use options. This study applies the aforementioned statement to strategic decision-making regarding information management in the provision of accurate and relevant information about the characteristics of the land resource for use by both the public and private sectors in South Africa. With ever evolving human needs that increase pressure on the limited land resource, the need for accurate and relevant information for strategic purposes is increasing. However, even at the present time, land information systems design and development is characterised by a technical design orientation and a narrow cost-efficiency focus, with a lack of strategic envisioning. Strategic decisions require effective choices regarding what data should be collected and how this should be stored and processed to support landresource- use decisions in the future. Information systems can, however, not cater for too many variables due to cost implications. Hence, strategic choices in generating only the required information and data for storage and processing become necessary.

Thesis (MScAgric (Agricultural Economics))--University of Stellenbosch, 2010.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The South African table grape industry has evolved significantly in the last two decades. Ever improving supply chain technologies, post-harvest technology innovation, and more efficient production inputs have all stimulated the production of table grapes in all five South African production regions. While the industry in general is well developed, from the late 1990s the competitiveness status of the South African table grape industry has been negative as far as international competitiveness is rated. Prior to this, from 1961 to 1998, the industry had recorded positive trends in competitiveness. The recent decline, from as early as the 2000s, in the competitiveness of the industry can be attributed to rising competition from alternate Southern Hemisphere suppliers, increasing production costs and export costs, as well as inadequate market diversification. As a result of its negative competitiveness status, the table grape industry wants to diversify its export markets in order to improve and protect the industry‟s position in the global table grape markets. The objective of this study is to investigate the viability of specific export market diversification scenarios. The aim is to evaluate the potential impact on the table grape industry if export volumes were to be relocated from traditional to emerging markets, and the potential risk if the industry were to maintain the current market distribution. The study developed a deterministic farm-level model based on accounting principles as a tool for simulating and analysing the impact of changes in markets on the financial viability of farms under different scenarios. A scenario development process is adopted in this study as it offers the possibility of integrating various kinds of data in a consistent manner, and it can represent the views and expectations of several stakeholders simultaneously. Three scenarios were developed: (i) Scenario 1 presents the continuation of current market distributions (i.e. 85% of South African exports are marketed in Europe and another 15% are distributed to other global markets); (ii) Scenario 2A depicts a situation where export volumes are slowly redistributed to emerging markets; and (iii) Scenario 2B presents a situation where export volumes are rapidly redistributed to emerging markets. The targets for both Scenarios 2A and 2B are to market 60% of South African exports to Europe and 40% to other global markets. Scenarios 2A and 2B are driven by similar factors, including improving industry information, globalisation, increasing competition, and table grape prices An analysis of factors shaping the table grape export sector shows that the industry can no longer afford to send large export quantities predominantly to its traditional markets, due to increasing competition and diminishing market prices. Furthermore, the analysis shows that continuing with the current market diversification will have a negative impact on the industry, as farm returns, employment and farm units will decline under this scenario. The results suggest that the industry would be better off if export volumes were redistributed away from Europe to other markets.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Gedurende die laaste twee dekades het die Suid Afrikaanse Tafeldruif Industrie met rasse skrede vooruitgegaan. Dit kan grootliks toegeskryf word aan verbeterde tegnologiese ontwikkeling en innovasie in die voorsieningsketting en na-oes tegnologie arenas, asook aan meer doeltreffende produksie insette wat produksie toenames in al vyf die Suid Afrikaanse produksie areas gestimuleer het. Alhoewel die industrie relatief goed ontwikkeld was sedert sy ontstaan, was die kompeterende status daarvan meestal negatief sedert die 1990‟s, gemeet aan internasionale kompetisie. Daar was egter tussen 1961 en 1998 ook positiewe mededinging tendense. Die onlangse verlaagde vlakke van mededingendheid van die industrie (veral sedert die vroeë 2000‟s) kan toegeskryf word aan verhoogde kompetisie vanaf ander Suidelike Halfrond verskaffers, verhoogde produksie- en uitvoerkoste, asook aan onvoldoende mark diversifisering. As gevolg van die negatiewe mededingendheid status, wil die tafeldruif industrie sy uitvoer markte diversifiseer om te verseker dat die industrie sy posisie in die globale tafeldruif mark kan beskerm. Die doel van hierdie studie is dus om die lewensvatbaarheid van spesifieke uitvoer mark diversifisering scenario‟s te ondersoek. Daarmee saam is die potensiële impak op die industrie ook bepaal vir (a) „n hoë persentasie uitvoer volumes wat verskuif vanaf tradisionele markte na ontluikende market, of (b) wat die risiko sal wees indien die huidige markverspreiding vlakke behou word. Die studie ontwikkel „n deterministiese plaasvlak model, gebaseer op rekeningkundige beginsels, om as hulpmiddel te dien vir die simulering en analise van die impak van verandering van teikenmarkte op die fnansiële lewensvatbaarheid van plase onder verskillende omstandighede. „n Scenario intwikkelings proses word in hierdie studie aangeneem aangesien dit toelaat vir die integrasie van verskillende tipes data op „n eenvormige wyse, terwyl dit ook die sieninge en verwagtinge van verskeie rolspelers terselfdertyd kan verteenwoordig. Drie scenario‟s word ontwikkel naamlik (i) Scenario 1: Dit verteenwoordig die huidige mark verspreiding (85% van Suid Afrikaanse uitvoere word in Europa bemark terwyl 15% versprei word na ander globale markte); (ii) Scenario 2A: Hier word die situasie uitgebeeld indien uitvoer volumes stadig herverdeel word na ontluikende markte; en (iii) Scenario 2B: Hier word die situasie uitgebeeld indien uitvoer volumes vinnig herverdeel word na ontluikende markte. Die teikens vir beide Scenario 2A en 2B is om 60% van die Suid Afrikaanse uitvoere in Europa te bemark en 40% in ander globale markte. Beide scenario‟s word deur dieselfde faktore gestu wat onder andere verbeterde industrie inligting, globalisering, verhoogde kompetisie en produk pryse insluit. „n Ontleding van die vormende faktore van die tafeldruif uitvoer sektor toon dat die industrie nie langer kan bekostig om hoë uitvoer volumes na die tradisionele markte te stuur nie, as gevolg van sterker kompetisie en krimpende markpryse. Die ontleding toon ook verder dat, indien voortgegaan word met die huidige mark diversifiserings model, die industrie negatief beïnvloed sal word in terme van verlaagde plaas inkomste, werkverskaffing en die aantal boerdery eenhede. Die uitslae dui dus daarop dat die industrie beter daaraan toe sal wees indien die huidige uitvoer volumes herverdeel kan word na ander (nie-Europese) markte.

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2011.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die besigheidsomgewing van die landbou industrie ondervind huidiglik baie veranderinge op makro sowel as teikenmarkomgewing met faktore wat nie noodwendig in die nabye toekoms gaan verbeter nie. Gebeure op die makro en teikenmarkomgewing het gelei tot meer onsekerheid en verhoogde mededinging binne die industie. Die doel van hierdie studie is om 'n perspektief te gee van 'n volhoubare besigheidsmodel vir Denau Boerdery, 'n familebesigheid, primêr betrokke in die produksie van tafeldruiwe en sagtesitrus. Met 'n analise van die eksterne en interne omgewing waarbinne Denau Boerdery opereer poog hierdie studie om die besigheid strategies kompeterend te posisioneer vir die langtermyn. Die navorsingsvraag van die studie is: Wat is die optimale besigheidsmodel vir Denau Boerdery om volhoubaar kompeterend geposisioneer te wees oor geslagte heen? Die ondersoekvelde wat op hierdie probleem impakteer is die rigting waarin die globale sagtevrugtebedryf neig ten opsigte van produksie, verpakking, verkoeling, distribusie en die dinamika binne die bemarkingswêreld vir tafeldruiwe en sitrus. 'n Kombinasie van interpretivisme (interpretivism) en subjektivisme (subjectivism) is as navorsingsfilosofie in hierdie studie gebruik. 'n Induktiewe benadering is in hierdie studie gebruik. Die resultaat van die induktiewe benadering sal wees om 'n teoretiese model te formuleer. Die benadering van hierdie studie is om 'n gevallestudie te doen met Denau Boerdery as die onderwerp van die gevallestudie. Kwalitatiewe data is ingesamel deur relevante literatuur en semi-gestruktureerde onderhoude. Vir die doel van hierdie studie is strategie gedefinieer as die kompeterende aksies en bestuursbenadering wat bestuurders gebruik om die besigheid te groei en om klante te trek en te bevredig. Hierdie kompeterende aksies en bestuursbenadering het ten doel om suksesvol mee te ding en operasionele aktiwiteite so uit te voer dat geteikende vlakke van organisatoriese prestasie bereik word. Waar tradisionele strategie gefokus het op die pas van bestaande hulpbronne op ontwikkelende geleenthede, probeer 'n dinamiese strategiese benadering om gapings vir organisasies sigbaar te maak tussen hulpbronne en aspirasies. Hierdie geidentifiseerde gapings skep die energie en motivering vir bestuur om aksie te mobiliseer wat die balans herstel. Die studie toon dat strategiese argitektuur beskryf kan word as 'n hoëvlak bloudruk vir die ontwikkeling van nuwe funksionaliteite, die verkryging van nuwe vaardighede of die migrasie van bestaande vaardighede en 'n omvorming van die interaksie tussen besighede en kliënt. Die strategiese argitektuur is 'n organisasie se kern logika om waarde te skep op 'n volhoubare basis en vorm daarom die grondslag van 'n organisasie se kompeterende potensiaal. Dit beïnvloed ook die huidige kompeterende optrede van 'n onderneming en kan daarom verduidelik hoekom 'n onderneming dalk nie kompeterend in huidige omstandighede is nie. Die strategiese argitektuur van 'n besigheid is nie dieselfde as die besigheidsmodel nie. Die strategiese argitektuur van 'n besigheid is 'n meer uitgebreide en omvattende strategiese beskrywing. Die besigheidsmodel is 'n integrale onderafdeling van die strategiese argitektuur. Volgens die litratuurstudie bestaan die hoofkomponente van 'n strategiese argitektuur die analise en ontwikkeling van: - beskrywings van kern aspirasie of 'n strategiese filosofie bestaande uit die missie, visie en organisasie waardes; - die eksterne omgewing - 'n konteksanalise wat die kompetisie in die industrie asook verbruikersneigings en -patrone reflekteer; - die interne omgewing - 'n konteks-analise bestaande uit 'n finansiële analise, interne waardeketting, kernvaardighede, produk posisioneringsanalise en strategiese kwessie-analise -'‟n besigheidsmodel-beskrywing wat die volgende insluit: o deelnemingstrategie o hulpbronstrategie o kompeterende strategie o winsstrategie - die scenarios en vooruitsigte; - die strategie-uitvoeringspraktyke wat die volgende insluit: o strategiese temas of fokusareas o strategiese padkaart wat strategiese doelwitte verteenwoordig o gebalanseerde telkaart wat strategiese metings verteenwoordig - 'n strategiese innovasiesiklus wat insluit: o besigheidsmodel-innovasie o interne en eksterne begrip o konvergerende en divergerende strategiese gesprekke. Die studie beklemtoon die belangrikheid van die implimentering van 'n strategie. Gesofistikeerde beleggers het tot die gevolgtrekking gekom dat uitvoering van strategie selfs belangriker is as visie. Navorsing toon dat twee woorde gereeld opduik waar deurbrake by uitvoering van strategie gemaak is naamlik: 'belyning' en 'fokus'. Strukture word ontwerp om die uitvoering van die strategiese plan te dryf. Strukture maak dit vir mense moontlik om verwagtinge waaraan hulle moet voldoen op so 'n wyse te definieer dat dit altyd fokus om die kapasiteit van die sisteem te verbeter en sodoende die bestaande verbruikers gelukkig te hou en nuwe verbruikers te trek. Om dit te bereik definieer die organisasie baie duidelik wat van mense op alle verantwoordelikheidsvlakke verwag word om hierdie doel te bereik. Volhoubaarheid van 'n besigheid beteken om besigheidsbedrywighede so uit te voer dat dit nie die vermoë van toekomstige geslagte om na hulself om te sien, benadeel nie. Vir hierdie studie is die term volhoubaarheid in 'n strategiese ekonomiese konteks gebruik en het nie op die natuurlike en sosiale aspekte gefokus nie. Uit die literatuur kan korporatiewe bestuur soos volg gedefinieer word: dit is die gepaste samestelling van die raad van direkteure se strukture, prosesse en waardes om te voldoen aan die vinnig veranderende vraag van aandeelhouers en belangegroepe oor hul besigheid Die King III verslag poog om aan die spits van internasionale korporatiewe bestuur te bly. Die filosofie van die verslag handel oor leierskap, volhoubaarheid en korporatiewe eienaarskap. Die onderwerp van studie in hierdie tesis is 'n gevallestudie van 'n familiebesigheid. Vir hierdie studie is 'n famliebesigheid soos volg definieer: - ten minste 51 persent van die besigheid besit; - ten minste twee familielede betrokke is by die bestuur van die besigheid; en - die oorgee van bestuur en eienaarskap na die volgende generasie in die familie in die vooruitsig gestel word. Uit die literatuur is dit duidelik dat in diepte kennis van 'n besigheid se eksterne en interne omgewing 'n voorvereiste vir bestuurders is om daarin te slaag om 'n strategie te formuleer en te belyn met die besigheid se situasie en omgewing om sodoende te bou op die mededingende voordeel en die besigheid se prestasie te verbeter. Dit is duidelik dat Denau Boerdery in 'n baie mededingende omgewing besigheid doen. Faktore in Denau Boerdery se makro-omgewing wat nie ignoreer kan word in hul strategiese posisionering is die onsekerheid wat 'n gebrek aan 'n groenskrif vir grondhervorming te weeg bring, die wisselvallige wisselkoers, MIV/Vigs se gevolge en klimaatsverandering se potensiele negatiewe gevolge. Faktore in die teikenmarkomgewing wat die grootste invloed op Denau Boerdery se strategiese posisionering kan uitoefen sluit in: - nuwe geleenthede en markte as gevolg van globalisering, - verandering in die koopkrag van supermarkte, - meer gesofistikeerde verbruikers, - intergrasie moontlikhede in die waardeketting, en - verhoudinge met sleutel besluitnemers in die mark. Denau Boerdery se interne analise toon dat die besigheid finansieel gesond is en oor 'n sterk balanstaat beskik. Denau Boerdery weeg goed op teen die meeste van die industrie se KSF'e, maar produksievolumes per hektaar kan verbeter. Voorwaardse integrasie van die besigheid deur as 'n produsente uitvoerder geposisioneer te wees pas in by huidige marktendense. Denau Boerdery volg 'n gefokusde gedifferensieerde strategie en die waardeproposisie is in opsomming op die volgende elemente gebou: - Effektiewe waardeketting na verbruikers. - Die Hoekstra Superfruit Handelsmerk. - Hoekstra Fruit Exporters se vermoë om druiwe vanaf November tot April te lewer. - Persoonlike identifisering met die Hoekstra handelsmerk en die deurlopende ontwikkeling van die handelsmerk. - Die lewering van 'n diens aan supermarkte om produkte op die regte tyd, in die gevraagde kwalitiet, in die ooreengekome hoeveelheid met die korrekte dokumentasie te voorsien. - Goeie, direkte verhoudinge met sleutel besluitnemers in die mark. - Voldoening aan alle internationale etiese en voedselveiligheidsakreditasies.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The business environment of the agricultural industry is currently experiencing many changes on macro level as well as in the target market environment, with factors that may not necessarily improve in the near future. Events in the macro- and target market environments lead to more uncertainty and increased competition within the industry. The goal of this study is to give a perspective of a sustainable business model for Denau Farms, a family business involved mainly in the production of table grapes and soft citrus. With an analysis of the external and internal environments within which Denau Farms operates, this study aims to position the business for strategic competitiveness in the long term. The research question of this study is: “What is the optimal business model for Denau Farms to be positioned in a sustainable and competitive way over a number of generations?” The research fields that impact on this problem relates to the direction in which the global deciduous fruit industry tends regarding production, packaging, cooling, distribution and the dynamics within the marketing world of grapes and citrus. A combination of interpretivism and subjectivism is used as research philosophy in this study and an inductive approach was used. The result of the inductive approach will be to formulate a theory. The strategy is to do a case study with Denau Boerdery as the subject of the study. Qualitative data was collected through relevant literature and semi-structured interviews. For the purpose of this study, strategy is defined as the competitive action and management approach that managers use to grow a business and to draw and satisfy client's needs. These competitive actions and managment approach aims to compete successfully and perform operational activities in such a way that targeted levels of organisational performance can be reached. Where traditional strategy focuses on fitting existing resources to developing opportunities, a strategic aim points out gaps between resources and aspirations. The study shows that strategic architecture can be described as a high level blueprint for the development of new functionalities, the acquiring of new skills or the migration of current skills and the transformation of the interaction between businesses and clients. The strategic architecture is an organisation's core logic to create value on a sustainable basis and, therefore, forms the foundation of an organisation's competitive potential. It also influences the current competitive behaviour of an organisation and can, therefore, explain why an organisation is not currently competitive. The strategic architecture of a business is not the same as the business model. The strategic architecture of a business is more expanded and an extensive strategic description. The business model is only one subdivision of the strategic architecture. According to the literature, the main components of a strategic architecture is the analysis and development of: - descriptions of core aspirations of a strategic philosophy existing of the mission, vision and organisation's values; - the external environment – a context analysis reflecting the competition in the industry as well as the consumer trends and patterns; - the internal environment – a context analysis existing of a financial analysis, internal value chain, core skills, product positioning analysis and strategic issue analysis; - a business model description including the following; o participation strategy o resource strategy o competitive strategy o profit strategy - the scenarios and prospects; - the strategy implementation practices consisting of the following; o strategic themes of focus areas o strategic roadmap representing strategic goals o balanced scorecard representing strategic measures - a strategic innovation cycle including; o business model innovation o internal and external understanding o convergent and divergent strategic talks The study accentuates the importance of implementing a strategy. Sophisticated investors have come to the conclusion that the execution of a strategy is even more important than vision. Research shows that two words often surface where breakthroughs are made in the execution of a strategy, namely alignment and focus. Structures are designed to drive the execution of the strategic plan. Structures make it possible for people to define the expectations they must adhere to in such a way that it always focuses on improving the capacity of the system in order to keep the current consumers happy and to draw new consumers. To achieve this goal, the organisation clearly defines what is expected of people on all levels of responsibility. Sustainability of a company means to execute business activities in such a way that it doesn't disadvantage the ability of future generations to look after themselves. For this study, the term sustainability is used in a strategic economic context and doesn't focus on the natural and social aspects. From the literature, corporate management is defined as: the appropriate composition of the board of directors' structures, processes and values to comply with the fast changing demand of shareholders and interest groups about their business. The King III report aims to stay on the cutting edge of international corporate management. The philosophy of the report concerns leadership, sustainability and corporate ownership. The subject of the study in this thesis is a case study of a family business. For this study, a family business is defined as follows: - at least 51 percent of the business is owned by the family; - at least two family members are involved in the management of the business; and - there is the prospect of handing over the management and ownership to the next generation in the family. From the literature, it is clear that in-depth knowledge of a business' external and internal environment is a prerequisite for managers to be able to successfully formulate a strategy and to align it with the business situation and environment in order to build upon the competitive advantage and improve the business‟ achievement. It is clear that Denau Farms is doing business in a very competitive environment. Factors in Denau Farms' macro environment that cannot be ignored for their strategic positioning is the uncertainty that a lack of a green paper for land reform brings about, the fluctuating exchange rate, the effects of HIV/Aids and climate change's potential negative effects. Factors in the target market environment that can have the greatest influence on Denau Farms' strategic positioning include: - new opportunities and markets that is a result of globalisation, - changes in the buying power of supermarkets, - more sophisticated consumers, - integration possibilities in the value chain, - relationships with key decision makers in the market. Denau Farms' internal analysis shows that the business is financially sound and has a strong balance sheet. Denau Farms weigh up well against most of the industry's critical success factors (CSFs) but production volumes per hectare can improve. Forward integration of the business through being positioned as a producer-exporter fits in with current market trends. Denau Farms follow a focused, differentiated strategy and the value proposition is built on the following elements: - Effective value chain to consumers - Access to the Hoekstra Superfruit trademark - Hoekstra Fruit Exporters' ability to deliver grapes from November to April - Own interest - Good, direct relationships with key decision makers in the market - Compliance to all international ethical and food safety accreditation

Thesis (Master of Community Planning)--University of Cincinnati, 2009.
Advisor: David J. Edelman. Title from electronic thesis title page (viewed Feb. 22, 2010). Includes abstract. Keywords: agricultural land loss;strategic plan;urban planning. Includes bibliographical references.

Climate change caused by green house gas emissions, mainly carbon dioxide, is today’s most debated environmental issue. The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, with the legally binding Kyoto protocol, is the emission regulatory framework. Tanzania has ratified both the conventions supporting carbon reductions.

Tanzania has a very varied climate with two rainfall regimes dominating the country, bimodal and unimodal. Scientific literature predicts a 2,2-4°C average increase in temperature for Tanzania, all studies also predict a higher increase in the cooler period and lower in the warm period. Rainfall predictions are less certain but in general a 10 % average increase is expected but the distribution uneven, both between rain periods and geographically. Tanzanian reports estimate a 5-45 % increase in rainfall in bimodal regions and a 5-15 % decrease in unimodal regions. The distribution of increase in bimodal regions will be uneven, with an increase in the long rain period and a decrease in the short rain period.

Agriculture is indisputably the most important source of income in Tanzania standing for 80% of employment and 50% of GNP. Climate change will therefore inevitably affect the economy and livelihood of people. Developing countries are also more vulnerable due to lower adaptation capacity. Effects on Tanzania are predicted to be both positive and negative. Maize production, the major staple, is predicted an average 33% decline while cash crops like coffee and cotton are predicted to increase. To be able to adapt there first has to be a perception of need to adapt, adaption strategies then have to be developed and barriers worked through. The purpose of this thesis is to investigate the level of awareness, strategies and barriers existing for adaption to climate change on national, regional and local level, Tanzania nationally and Babati regionally and locally. The research questions are; How do people perceive climate change? What are the strategies for adapting to climate change? What are the barriers for adaption to climate change? At national level policy framework and strategies were used to answer the research questions. At regional and local level a field study was conducted in Babati to answer the research questions at these levels.

The study showed that Tanzania nationally has declared their conviction in climate change and state that the issue has to be addressed. Agriculture is identified as one of the most vulnerable areas however climate change is not mainstreamed into agricultural and environmental policy framework. In Babati district no policy was found on climate change and official perception varied. Concerns were related to timing and amount of rainfall, the results were the same for farmers. Global climate change was also known for both studied groups and existed as a parallel truth with the local reason for changes. A number of adaption strategies are also identified nationally, both used and potential, where small scale irrigation is the primary adaptive step. Switching to draught resistant crops is also prioritized in the North eastern region. In Babati adaption strategies were promoted, even though there was not a general policy or perception, by officials to switch to short-term crops and planting of trees. Switching cops was also the most commonly used strategy by farmers along with traditional diversification. Nationally a large number of barriers are also identified including, lack of funding, poverty, HIV, lack of infrastructure and analytic capacity. Officials in Babati also mentioned the lack of money, deforestation, lack of clouds, education, irrigation and seeds. The farmers in Babati were not so clear about what they needed to adapt, irrigation, livestock backup, diversification and switching crops were mentioned, not differing much from used strategies.

Os distribuidores de insumos têm desempenhado um papel importante na comercialização e distribuição de insumos aos consumidores finais (agricultores). Além de vender os insumos, essas empresas são fornecedores de serviços importantes e também participam no processo de desenvolvimento de novas tecnologias, conhecimento de mercado e, especialmente, de fornecimento de crédito. O planejamento é necessário para que o futuro seja levado em consideração, e o sistema de gestão é essencial na organização, tornando-se um diferencial competitivo e uma ferramenta de sucesso na implementação de estratégias. O diagnóstico das práticas de gestão nos canais de distribuição de insumos permite identificar os principais pontos de melhoria, e esses merecerão todos os esforços de tempo e investimento dos gestores. O presente trabalho busca responder à seguinte pergunta: como fomentar o processo de planejamento estratégico de um canal de distribuição de insumos agrícolas utilizando projetos previamente estruturados que podem ser aplicados dependendo do nível de gestão encontrado no canal? Para tanto, lança mão de uma pesquisa exploratória qualitativa que analisa cinco estudos de casos. Como resultado, foi proposto um modelo de classificação do nível de gestão de canais de distribuição de insumos agrícolas que subsidiou as análises dos projetos estratégicos relacionados com o nível de gestão existente no canal; e também uma gama de projetos estratégicos previamente pensados em função do nível de gestão. Percebe-se uma lacuna na proposição dos projetos estratégicos e o nível de gestão, sendo importante que no exercício do planejamento estratégico, tenha-se o conhecimento prévio desse.
Agricultural input dealers play an important role in the commercialization and distribution of the inputs to final users (growers). Besides selling inputs, these companies supply important services and participate in the development of new technologies, in sharing market knowledge and specially in funding growers\' activities. Planning is necessary to bring light to the future while the management system is essential for the organization, becoming a competitive advantage and a successful tool for the implementation of the strategy. The diagnosis of management practices in input dealers allows identifying the main improvement points which should deserve time spending and investment by the firms\' managers. This research aims to address the following question: how to promote the strategic planning process of an agricultural input dealer by using previously structured projects that could be applied based on the level of management standard? In order to do so, this qualitative and exploratory research analyzed five case studies. It resulted on a framework for classifying the level of management standard of agricultural input dealers, which was used to analyze the strategic projects related to the existing management standard of each dealer. It also resulted on a range of strategic projects previously thought according to the level of management standard. It became evident that there is a gap between the proposed strategic projects and the level of management standard, being important that managers have a previous knowledge of such level for planning the firm\'s strategies.

This topic will talk about the application of fleet robotics in agriculture. It will discuss the need for communications and the different strategies that could be implemented. It will also take a close look at how multi-robot systems are managed and supervised, as well as explain different planning strategies. The differences of centralised vs decentralised decision making will be explained, and an explanation of a graphical user interface will also be discussed.

AbstractThe use of biomass and biofuels, such as wood, charcoal, petroleum, kerosene, and gas, is becoming competitive based on the level of development of each nation. However, charcoal production (CP) and marketing now tends to be a major business among many households in both rural and urban communities with no consideration of its effects on climate change adaptation. While the research question considers the various definition of climate change adaptation, and the importance of charcoal production in Nigeria, the manuscript speaks mainly of the problems of charcoal production, the lack of planning to address these problems, and the lack of planning to move the communities away from this practice and out of poverty. It addresses the impacts of charcoal production on agriculture, such as lack or loss of labor and destruction of arable lands. The paper discusses the effect of charcoal production on health. Also, the environmental problems of CP are highlighted in the manuscript. The policy frameworks on forestry by the Federal Ministry of Environment 2006 with its flaws will be included. Remedy such as the establishment of a Land Use Planning Agency (LUPAG) and panacea for greening the charcoal value chain issues will be discussed. Lastly, attention is given to the agricultural adaptation strategies to climate change which are capable of reducing charcoal production, such as mixed cropping.

While production and markets have been becoming more integrated since barriers to the international trade reduced, capital movements and the speed of spreading of technology increased with the progress of globalization, issues regarding to agriculture, environment, women, employment, and education became more critical. In this research, “by which functions and missions can agricultural cooperatives sustain their assets under globalized conditions” is the major research question. In the research, 19 cooperatives were chosen among 308 cooperatives, depending on their distance to Kastamonu, foundation year, and the amount of member. Subjects were determined by their traits and occupations. 164 subjects were interviewed via survey questions in 2014-2015. In research, “The situation-specific approach” model, developed by Hartmut Albrecht was applied. Because of the progress of change in organizational values, agriculture cooperatives have to undertake new functions in addition to maintaining agricultural production. The functions can be classified into 4 categories as socio-economic (taking local goods to international markets, recording incomes in the agriculture sector, and creating new employment positions to reduce migration to urban), international relations (developing new projects toward internationalizing to collaborate with other cooperatives), planning (making long-term strategic plans), and education (training women in rural areas, and obtaining their collaboration in cooperative campaigns, and educating future's cooperative managers).

China's urban and rural development has entered a new stage of comprehensive transformation. The advent of the era of metropolitan development and the strategy of Rural Revitalization are two important national strategic backgrounds of this study. As the highest urbanization rate in Southern Jiangsu, rural and urban development needs synchronous resonance. Rural areas, as an important role in the integration of the Yangtze River Delta and the development of Shanghai Metropolitan Area, play an important role in regional cohesion and complementary functions, and are an important part in the overall construction of the metropolitan area. Jinxi Town is located in the southern end of Jiangsu Province, bordering Qingpu District of Shanghai, and between Suzhou and Shanghai. In ancient China, Jinxi was a traditional town of fish and rice and water culture. During the period of reform and opening-up, Jinxi worked closely with surrounding cities to create a brilliant chapter of "Sunan Model" and "Kunshan Model". In the new stage of development, Jinxi Town shoulders the heavy responsibility of more ecological functions and reduction of construction land indicators. It is not only more responsible for ensuring food production safety and protecting ecological functions, but also more demanding for rural revitalization. It is also more urgent to study its development path and strategy. Firstly, this paper takes Jinxi's contemporary mission as the starting point, secondly, through the analysis of Jinxi's function orientation, population, industry and space, and then puts forward the general strategic requirements of Rural Revitalization according to these four aspects. Thirdly, it demonstrates several different types of villages in Jinxi town, respectively. The cases of upgrading agriculture, industrial integration and development, demonstration of rural community and industrial retreat to build Jinxi Town to revitalize villages in the countryside. Finally, through the follow-up revision and improvement of planning formulation, to help the effective implementation of Jinxi Town's Rural Revitalization strategic planning. Through this study on the Rural Revitalization of Jinxi Town, on the one hand, it comprehensively implements the national deployment and the task of Jiangsu as a benchmark; on the other hand, it earnestly follows the law of rural selfdevelopment, and in the theoretical category of regional economy, it is based on the development of metropolitan area and the background of Rural Revitalization era, with Chinese characteristics, Shanghai. The road of Rural Revitalization in metropolitan area. At the same time, this paper expects to provide ideas and methods for the compilation of strategic planning for Rural Revitalization in metropolitan areas.

We present a multilayer image segmenter adapted to be used for Precision Agriculture (PA). PA depends strongly on the application of information technologies to divide and group geographic areas based on land use, soil data, metrological data and agricultural resources for planning and implementation of activities to increase output by using optimal strategies for each segment. We implemented a modified Baatz algorithm in the statistical language R and speed sensitive code was implemented in C++. The code will be made publicly available under the GNU Lesser Public License. We show the merit of our approach at the hand of a landscape and discuss the obtained segments generated by our tool.

Kotler's 2002 definition of place marketing is as follows: "Place marketing means designing a site to meet the needs of its target markets. The development of places means the development for a place of a systematic long-term marketing strategy, directed towards the identification and development of the natural and potential attributes of an area”. The elaboration of a marketing mix for the tourist destination is the main tool for marketing planning and for adopting the most appropriate strategies. Given that each tourist destination has its specificity, the marketing mix must contain its own elements, adapted to the objectives set. In this paper we chose to exemplify a way to apply and combine the components of the following marketing mix: product, price, distribution, promotion, staff, partnerships, packaging, security, process management for the tourist destination Brasov Area.

t.The development of global agricultural production and food trade in recent decades implies a digital transformation and the transition to a new technological order, which is an essential factor for sustainable development. Digitalization of agriculture and the food sector is carried out on the basis of IT 2 platforms, the Internet of Things, cloud computing, big data, artificial intelligence, and blockchain technology. Fragmented and unclear legal mechanisms, slow updating of legal regulation hinder the introduction of digital solutions. A modern regulatory framework based on digital strategies should strengthen the confidence of farmers in "smart agriculture". In Russia, the legal mechanism of strategic planning covers the development of the national platform "Digital Agriculture". Digital strategies also include updating basic legislation.