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1
Williams, Brett Gerard. "The importance of disciplining the choice of policy instrument to the effectiveness of the GATT as international law disciplining agricultural trade policies /." Title page, contents and abstract only, 1999. http://web4.library.adelaide.edu.au/theses/09PH/09phw72122.pdf.
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Chigavazira, Farai. "The regulation of agricultural subsidies in the World Trade Organization framework : a developing country perspective." Thesis, University of Fort Hare, 2015. http://hdl.handle.net/10353/1874.
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The Agreement on Agriculture (AoA) was adopted to eliminate the illegitimate use of tradedistorting agricultural subsidies and thereby reduce and avoid the negative effects subsidies have on global agricultural trade. However, the AoA has been fashioned in a way that is enabling developed countries to continue high levels of protectionism through subsidization, whilst many developing countries are facing severe and often damaging competition from imports artificially cheapened through subsidies. The regulation of subsidies in the World Trade Organisation (WTO) has been a highly sensitive issue. This is mainly due to the fear of compromising food security especially by developed countries. Developing countries have suffered negatively from the subsidy programmes of developed countries who continue to subsidize their agricultural sector. This position of the developing countries in the global trade system which has been described as weak, has drawn criticism that the WTO as it currently operates does not protect the interests of the weak developing nations, but rather strengthens the interests of the strong developed nations. The green box provisions which are specifically designed to regulate payments that are considered trade neutral or minimally trade distorting has grossly been manipulated by developed countries at the mercy of the AoA. Developed countries continue to provide trade distorting subsidies under the guise of green box support. This is defeating the aims and objectives of the AoA. The study examines the regulation of WTO agricultural subsidies from the developing countries’ belvedere. It looks at the problems WTO member states face with trade distorting subsidies, but focuses more on the impact these have on developing states. It scrutinizes the AoA’s provisions regulating subsidies with a view to identify any loopholes or shortcomings which undermine the interests and aspirations of developing countries. This is behind the background that some of the provisions of the AoA are lenient towards the needs of developed countries at the expense of developing countries.
3
Wong, Ka-yu Aileen. "An exploratory study on the structural change of fresh produce industry in Hong Kong and its implications on business opportunities /." Hong Kong : University of Hong Kong, 1997. http://sunzi.lib.hku.hk/hkuto/record.jsp?B18836100.
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Rigdon, Leah Rachel. "Linking rural vendors with urban public markets institutional constraints and possibilities in the evolution of urban food systems /." Auburn, Ala., 2007. http://repo.lib.auburn.edu/2007%20Spring%20Theses/RIGDON_LEAH_25.pdf.
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Dehghannya, Jalal. "Mathematical modeling of airflow, heat and mass transfer during forced convection cooling of produce in ventilated packages." Thesis, McGill University, 2008. http://digitool.Library.McGill.CA:80/R/?func=dbin-jump-full&object_id=115663.
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Forced convection cooling process is the most widely used method of cooling to extend shelf life of horticultural produce after harvest. However, heterogeneous cooling of produce inside different parts of ventilated packages is a serious problem. Therefore, it is essential to design packages that facilitate air circulation throughout the entire package to provide uniform cooling. Selection of appropriate combinations of air temperature and velocity for a given vent design is currently done largely by experimental trial and error approach. A more logical approach in designing new packages, to provide uniform cooling, is to develop mathematical models that would be able to predict package performance without requiring costly experiments.<br>In this study, mathematical models of simultaneous airflow, heat and mass transfer during forced convection cooling process were developed and validated with experimental data. The study showed that produce cooling is strongly influenced by different ventilated package designs. Generally, cooling uniformity was increased by increasing number of vents from 1 (2.4% vent area) to 5 (12.1% vent area). More uniform produce cooling was obtained at less cooling time when vents were uniformly distributed on package walls with at least 4.8% opening areas. Aerodynamic studies showed that heterogeneity of airflow distribution during the process is strongly influenced by different package vent configurations. The highest cooling heterogeneity index (108%) was recorded at 2.4% vent area whereas lowest heterogeneity index (0%) was detected in a package with 12.1% vent area.<br>The magnitudes of produce evaporative cooling (EC) and heat generation by respiration (HG) as well as the interactive effects of EC, HG and package vent design on produce cooling time were also investigated. Considerable differences in cooling times were obtained with regard to independent and simultaneous effects of EC and HG in different package vent configurations. Cooling time was increased to about 47% in a package with 1 vent compared to packages with 3 and 5 vents considering simultaneous effects of EC and HG. Therefore, the effects of EC and HG can be influential in designing the forced-air precooling system and consequently, in the accurate determination of cooling time and the corresponding refrigeration load.
6
Ndembe, Elivs. "Derived Demand for Freight Transportation: A Case Study of the Long-Run Implications of Structural Changes in the U.S. Grain Supply Chain." Diss., North Dakota State University, 2016. http://hdl.handle.net/10365/25993.
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Video summarizing a Ph.D. dissertation for a non-specialist audience.<br>Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute (UGPTI)<br>Transportation and Logistics<br>Transportation and Logistics<br>College of Business
7
Lowe, Mecca Jackson Molnar Joseph J. "Collaborative marketing enterprises local food exchange and the promise of sustainability /." Auburn, Ala., 2009. http://hdl.handle.net/10415/1950.
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Hui, Ka Po Catherine 1976. "Air circulation inside refrigerated semi-trailers transporting fresh produce." Thesis, McGill University, 2001. http://digitool.Library.McGill.CA:80/R/?func=dbin-jump-full&object_id=32834.
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In North America, refrigerated semi-trailers are commonly used to transport large volume of produce. They are equipped with refrigeration and air circulation systems to provide an optimum transit enviromnent for the produce. Air circulation plays a vital role in maintaining produce temperature during transport. Its performance is greatly affected by the availability of air channels through and around the load.<br>This study is an attempt to evaluate the performance of the air circulation system. Air temperature data was gathered from 20 mixed loads of produce transported in trailers having a variety of accessories and using different loading patterns. Pearson correlation coefficient was used as an indicator to describe the air distribution inside the semi-trailers. The results showed that the air distribution inside semi-trailers is generally not uniform. In most cases, the areas that received little amount of airflow were the middle section along the length and width, and the middle and bottom sections along the height of trailers. The variability in the results precluded any determination of the effect of trailer accessories and loading patterns on the air distribution.
9
Davila, Luis A. "Government participation in pricing farm products." Thesis, Kansas State University, 1985. http://hdl.handle.net/2097/9830.
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Hallam, D. "An econometric analysis of the UK egg market." Thesis, University of Reading, 1985. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.353464.
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Figueroa-Armijos, Maria A. Valdivia Corinne B. "Strategies to develop market access in the Bolivian highlands two case studies for Chuño and Tunta /." Diss., Columbia, Mo. : University of Missouri--Columbia, 2009. http://hdl.handle.net/10355/6456.
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Title from PDF of title page (University of Missouri--Columbia, viewed on Feb 17, 2010). The entire thesis text is included in the research.pdf file; the official abstract appears in the short.pdf file; a non-technical public abstract appears in the public.pdf file. Thesis advisor: Dr. Corinne Valdivia. Includes bibliographical references.
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Lee, Randall C. "Integration of analytical and consumer sensory data in cross-cultural studies for the prediction of consumer acceptance /." free to MU campus, to others for purchase, 1999. http://wwwlib.umi.com/cr/mo/fullcit?p9953875.
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Gandee, Jesse E. "Modeling direct farm marketing in West Virginia a spatial, policy, and profitability analysis /." Morgantown, W. Va. : [West Virginia University Libraries], 2003. http://etd.wvu.edu/templates/showETD.cfm?recnum=2842.
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Thesis (M.S.)--West Virginia University, 2003.<br>Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains ix, 87 p. : ill. (some col.). Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references (p. 84-87).
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Fino, Viviana R. "Ultraviolet inactivation and optimized recovery strategies for viruses on fresh produce." Access to citation, abstract and download form provided by ProQuest Information and Learning Company; downloadable PDF file, 102 p, 2007. http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?did=1338870521&sid=2&Fmt=2&clientId=8331&RQT=309&VName=PQD.
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Jiang, Haiyan. "Japanese willingness to pay for agricultural products with the "U.S.A." label a choice-based conjoint analysis for pork /." Access to citation, abstract and download form provided by ProQuest Information and Learning Company; downloadable PDF file, 98 p, 2009. http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?did=1889099061&sid=3&Fmt=2&clientId=8331&RQT=309&VName=PQD.
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Cui, Lina Molnar Joseph J. "Growing naturally in Alabama needs and possibilities /." Auburn, Ala., 2008. http://hdl.handle.net/10415/1408.
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Cromwell, Jeff B. "Chaotic price dynamics of agricultural commodities." Morgantown, W. Va. : [West Virginia University Libraries], 2004. https://etd.wvu.edu/etd/controller.jsp?moduleName=documentdata&jsp%5FetdId=3625.
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Thesis (Ph. D.)--West Virginia University, 2004.<br>Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains vi, 166 p. : ill. Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references (p. 142-160).
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Wong, Ka-yu Aileen, and 汪嘉瑜. "An exploratory study on the structural change of fresh produce industry in Hong Kong and its implications on business opportunities." Thesis, The University of Hong Kong (Pokfulam, Hong Kong), 1997. http://hub.hku.hk/bib/B31268353.
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Feenstra, Gail Whiting. ""Quality" factors affecting the price of selected fresh produce at Hunt's Point Terminal Market in New York City /." Access Digital Full Text version, 1986. http://pocketknowledge.tc.columbia.edu/home.php/bybib/10648045.
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Thesis (Ed. D.)--Teachers College, Columbia University, 1986.<br>Typescript; issued also on microfilm. Sponsor: Joan Dye Gussow. Dissertation Committee: Isobel Contento, Robert C. Feenstra. Bibliography: 182-191.
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Plasse, Robert. "Vegetable storage, respiration and design criteria in a membrane storage system." Thesis, McGill University, 1986. http://digitool.Library.McGill.CA:80/R/?func=dbin-jump-full&object_id=65519.
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Othman, Nasuddin bin. "Factors affecting cocoa productivity among the smallholders in West Malaysia." Thesis, University of Stirling, 1990. http://hdl.handle.net/1893/3501.
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The principal objectives of this study are to identify the production factors that influence cocoa productivity at the smallholder's level and to examine resource allocation and technical efficiency in cocoa production. Cross-sectional data collected from 260 cocoa smallholders were used for the study. Both the average production function estimated by the Ordinary Least Squares techniques and the frontier production function estimated by the Linear Programming methodology were employed in the analysis. The results indicated that the input factors which had a significant impact on the production of cocoa were land size, labour, living capital, farm implements and fertilisers. Among the management proxies, only farmer's age, extension contact, farmer's education and the practice of keeping farm records and accounts were important. The data presented in this study 1end support to the hypothesis that the cocoa smallholders were highly inefficient allocatively. Inputs comprising land, fertilisers, and farm implements were underused while labour and living capital were overused. Technical inefficiencies were also present in the study area. The study revealed that a large proportion of the farmers have output levels below their potential. Output could be increased between 18 to 52 per cent if all the least efficient farmers attained those levels of technical efficiency that were achieved by the best farmers in the sample. The variations in technical efficiency in this area were explained by differences in land size, farmer's educational level, their age and the practice of keeping farm records and accounts. This study emphasises the need that increasing efforts must be directed at the least efficient farmers through better and effective management practices and better organization of farm activity without major new investments, at least in the short-run.
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Makhura, Moraka Thomas. "Overcoming transaction costs barriers to market participation of smallholder farmers in the Northern Province of South Africa." Pretoria : [s.n.], 2001. http://upetd.up.ac.za/thesis/available/etd-09012001-131116/.
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Han, A. Reum. "Effectiveness of aerosolization as a novel disinfection method to inactivate foodborne pathogens on fresh produce." Pullman, Wash. : Washington State University, 2009. http://www.dissertations.wsu.edu/Thesis/Spring2009/ar_han_1041609.pdf.
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Jones, Danielle Yvonne. "Farmer Participation in the Conservation Reserve Program and the Environmental Quality Incentives Program." Fogler Library, University of Maine, 2007. http://www.library.umaine.edu/theses/pdf/JonesDY2007.pdf.
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Ejiasa, Cyprian Onyeogadirimma. "The exchange rate and the competitiveness of U.S. agricultural commodity trade /." The Ohio State University, 1985. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1487259125220352.
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Kazmierczak, Tamra Kirkpatrick. "The Horticultural Producers Federation : a comprehensive approach for addressing the problems of small-scale vegetable marketing cooperatives /." Thesis, This resource online, 1990. http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/theses/available/etd-03122009-040752/.
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Mosoma, Khutsi Peace Wellington. "International comparison of agricultural exports : South Africa and the Cairns Groups." Thesis, Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2004. http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/49994.
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Thesis (MScAgric)--Stellenbosch University, 2004.<br>ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The study addresses two important research questions which are in essence motivated by the
trade policy reform that took effect in the 1990s to reverse decades of inward industrialisation
strategies towards outward industrialisation strategies to promote economic growth and
development. This raised the expectation that a movement away from low-demand growth
products towards commodities with stronger demand growth and buoyant price trends would
be encouraged.
The first central question that this study addresses is the extent to which South African
agricultural exports are moving up the value chain relative to the agricultural exports of the
other members of the Cairns Group. The second research question that the study addresses is
to determine whether South Africa's movement up the value chain (value adding activities) in
agricultural exports is more competitive than the other members of the Cairns Group. To
adequately address the first research question data from the Food and Agricultural
Organisation (FAO), Trade and Industrial Policy Strategies (TIPS) and World Trade
Organisation (WTO) databases were used to examine their trade perspectives. The second
research question was addressed by applying Relative Comparative Advantage (RTA) using
data from the FAOSTAT 2002 to determine each country's competitive status in selected
agro- food chains.
The results show that South Africa managed to surpass all other members of the Cairns
Group, except Chile, Philippines and Bolivia, whose export structures are highly dominated
by high-value products relative to South Africa in terms of the movement up the value chain
in agricultural exports. This is the case despite the fact that countries such as Argentina,
Australia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Indonesia, New Zealand, Thailand and Uruguay have
managed to increase their percentage export value of high-value agricultural products and that
South Africa has experienced a decrease in the percentage export value of high-value
products. The results also clearly show that the food chains in Costa Rica, Paraguay, Thailand
and South Africa are generally marginally competitive, whilst the food chains in Canada,
Chile, Colombia, Indonesia and Uruguay are only just marginally competitive as many of
their RTA values are situated around zero. The food chains in Guatemala, Malaysia, New
Zealand and Philippines are internationally uncompetitive. And the food chains in Argentina,Australia and Brazil are internationally competitive. The analysis also reveals that
competitiveness decreases in all these countries when moving from primary to processed
products in the agro-food chains which implies that value-adding opportunities are
constrained.<br>AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie studie spreek twee belangrike navorsingvraagstukke aan wat in wese gemotiveer is
deur die handelsbeleidshervormingsproses wat in die 1990s 'n aanvang geneem het. Dekades
van intern-gerigte industrialisasiestrategieë is na ekstern-gerigte industrialisasiestrategieë
omgeskakel om sodoende groei en ontwikkeling aan te moedig. Hierdie proses het die
verwagting geskep dat 'n beweging weg van produkte met lae groei in vraag, na goedere met
'n sterker groei in vraag en veerkragtige prystendense sal aanmoedig.
Die eerste sentrale probleem waarop in hierdie studie gefokus word is die mate waartoe Suid-
Afrikaanse landbou-uitvoere in die waarde-ketting op beweeg het relatief tot die landbouuitvoere
van die ander lede van die Cairns Groep. Die tweede vraag wat die narvorsig
aanspreek is an vas te stelof Suid Afrika se waardeletting oktiwiteite in landbou uitvore meer
kompeterend is as die van onder lede van die Cairns Groep. Om die eerste
navorsingsprobleem voldoende aan te spreek, is data van die Voedsel en Landbou
Organisasie, Handel en Industriële Beleidstrategieë en die Wêreldhandelsorganisasie gebruik.
Hierdie organisasies se databasisse is gebruik om handelsperspektiewe te bepaal. Die tweede
navorsingsprobleem is aangespreek deur die toepassing van die Relatiewe Vergelykende
Voordeel (RVV) op die data bekom van die FAOSTAT 2002. Hierdeur is elke land se
mededingende status in sekere geselekteerde agri-voedselkettings bepaal.
Die resultate wys dat Suid Afrika daarin geslaag het om die ander lede van die Cairns Groep
verby te steek, met die uitsondering van Chilli, die Filippyne en Bolivië, waar uitvoerstrukture
gedomineer word deur hoë waarde produkte relatief tot Suid Afrika. Hierdie tendens is ten
spyte daarvan dat lande soos Argentinië, Australië, Brasilië, Colombië, Costa Rica, Indonesië,
New Zealand, Thailand en Uruguay daarin geslaag het om hul persentasie uitvoerwaarde van
hoë waarde landbouprodukte op te stoot, en dat Suid Afrika, daarenteen, ervaar het dat die
uitvoere van hierdie produkte afgeneem het. Die resultate toon duidelik dat die
voedselkettings in Costa Rica, Paraguay, Thailand en Suid-Afrika oor die algemeen marginaal
kompeterend is, terwyl die voedselkettings in Kanada, Chile, Colombië, Indonesië en
Uruguay tot 'n mindere mate marginaal kompeterend is aangesien hul RVV-waardes rondom
nul lê. Die voedselkettings in Guatemala, Maleisië, Nieu-Seeland en die Filippyne is
internasionaal nie-kompeterend, met die voedselkettings in Argentinië, Australië en Brasilië
wel internasionaal kompeterend.
Die analise wys ook dat die mededingendheid afneem in al hierdie lande wanneer hulle van
primêre na geprosesseerde produkte beweeg in agri-voedselkettings, dit impliseer dat waarde
toevoeging geleenthede tot produkte beperk is.
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Cowee, Margaret W. "Do consumers value destination of origin labeling? : the case for native plants and seeds in Nevada." abstract and full text PDF (free order & download UNR users only), 2005. http://0-gateway.proquest.com.innopac.library.unr.edu/openurl?url_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:dissertation&res_dat=xri:pqdiss&rft_dat=xri:pqdiss:1433405.
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Madevu, Hilton. "Competition in the tridimensional urban fresh produce retail market : the case of the Tshwane metropolitan area, South Africa." Diss., Pretoria : [s.n.], 2006. http://upetd.up.ac.za/thesis/available/etd-08212007-150102.
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Kerin, Paul D. "A spatial economic analysis of the Eyre Peninsula grain handling and transportation system." Title page, abstract and contents only, 1985. http://web4.library.adelaide.edu.au/theses/09ECM/09ecmk39.pdf.
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Johnson, Larry A. "A comparison of optimum grain hedging strategies using commodity options and futures contracts: an application of portfolio theory." Diss., Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 1986. http://hdl.handle.net/10919/49803.
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Sinkel, Daniel J. "Farm-To-Fork Fresh Produce Food Safety: An Evaluation of Perceptions, Knowledge, and Implementation of Good Agriculture Practices in Kentucky." TopSCHOLAR®, 2016. http://digitalcommons.wku.edu/theses/1751.
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Farmers’ markets have increasingly become a popular venue for purchase of fresh, locally-grown produce, with the number of farmers’ markets in Kentucky reaching an all-time high of 159 in 2016. Good Agriculture Practices (GAPs) is a program created by the USDA’s Agriculture Marketing Service to function as a food safety audit for small-scale fresh produce growers, such as those who sell fresh produce at local farmers’ markets. However, under the provisions of the Food Safety Modernization Act of 2011, small-scale farmers who sell an average of $25,000 in annual fresh produce sales across the span of three years are exempt from mandatory food safety certification. Many smallscale farmers in Kentucky fall below this threshold, and do not hold food safety certification.
This study had two objectives: to investigate the practices, perceptions, and implementation of GAPs among small-scale Kentucky farmers who sell at farmers’ markets; and to create and evaluate the effectiveness of commodity-specific informational factsheets to disseminate food safety knowledge among small-scale Kentucky farmers. Data from the perceptions, practices, and implementation survey were analyzed from 160 completed surveys of small-scale fresh produce growers on-site at farmers’ markets in 21 counties across the state of Kentucky (see Appendix A). The results were mixed, with 90% of participants indicated familiarity with GAPs, but only 47% opting to practice water quality GAPs and 55% choosing to observe soil amendment GAPs. Participants did report slightly higher compliance with field sanitation (71%) and sanitary facilities (73%) GAPs, but indicated that cost (67%) and time (68%) were significant perceived barriers to completing a GAPs audit on their farm. Participants also failed to identify many sources of potential microbiological contamination, with soil only being identified as a source of pathogenic contamination by 41% of participants and irrigation water identified by 51% of participants. Even fewer participants believed that contamination could result from ice (26%) or refrigeration and cooling (28%). However, most respondents indicated a desire to undergo further GAPs education, and the factsheet evaluation data indicated that the factsheets were highly effective and had resulted in significant GAPs knowledge increases for participants.
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Bruno, H. Raven. "Farm to school an exploration of purchasing local foods for school cafeterias in southeastern North Carolina /." View electronic thesis (PDF), 2009. http://dl.uncw.edu/etd/2009-1/brunoh/hbruno.pdf.
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Ndou, Khangale Seth. "Marketing of agricultural produce with particular reference to vegetables:the case of small-scale farmers in the Northern Province." Thesis, University of Limpopo, 2001. http://hdl.handle.net/10386/2104.
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Suárez, II Gómez William. "Cabotage: The effects of an external non-tariff measure on the competitiveness of agribusiness in Puerto Rico." Thesis, University of Bradford, 2016. http://hdl.handle.net/10454/13464.
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Small islands developing states (SIDS) sustainability is a United Nations’ aim. Their markets are often influenced by external policies imposed by larger economies. Could an anti-competitive measure affect the food vulnerability of a SIDS?
This research examines the effects of an external non-tariff measure (NTM) on Puerto Rico’s (PR) agribusinesses. It explores the effects of a maritime cabotage regulation (US Jones Act) on the affordability and accessibility of produce and grains. PR imports 100% of their needs of grain and over 85% of fresh produce. PR’s food imports are generally from the US and the trade service is restricted to the use of the US maritime transportation. As a result, the supply chain of these two sectors although different, are limited by the US Act that may impact the cost of food, its availability, firms’ efficiency and other structures of production. Using a mixed convergent design, PR’s agrifood supply chains were explored and analysed in relation to the maritime cabotage regulation.
Oligopolistic structures and collusion between maritime transporters and local agribusinesses importers limit the access to data, but other internal factors also have a role. Fieldwork shows that while the cabotage regulation itself is a constraint, interaction with others NTM and the current political framework between US and PR are relevant. Factors such as lack of efficiency, poor innovation and a self-limitation of the agribusinesses firms were found. The novelty of this research is the use of mixed methods to evaluate the effects of cabotage on the agrifood supply chain.
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Izumi, Betty Tomoko. "Farm to school programs in public K-12 schools in the United States perspectives of farmers, food service professionals, and food distributors /." Diss., Connect to online resource - MSU authorized users, 2008.
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Thesis (Ph.D.)--Michigan State University. Dept. of Community, Agriculture, Recreation and Resource Studies, 2008.<br>Title from PDF t.p. (viewed on July 7, 2009) Includes bibliographical references (p. 175-183). Also issued in print.
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Baloi, Rebecca Tshilambilu. "Technical efficiency in maize production by small-scale farmers in Ga-Mothiba, Limpopo Province, South Africa." Thesis, University of Limpopo, 2011. http://hdl.handle.net/10386/486.
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Thesis (MSc. (Agriculture)) --University of Limpopo, 2011<br>Maize is the most important cereal crop grown in South Africa. This crop is
produced throughout the country under diverse environments. The study only
focuses on the technical efficiency because it is an important subject in
developing agriculture where resources are limited, but high population growth is
very common. Technical efficiency is the ability of a farmer to obtain output from
a given set of physical inputs. Farmers have a tendency of under and/or overutilising
the factors of production.
The main aim of this study was to analyse the technical efficiency of small-scale
maize producers in Ga-Mothiba rural community of Limpopo Province. The
objective of the study was to determine the level of technical efficiency of smallscale
maize producers and to identify the socio-economic characteristics that
influence technical efficiency of small-scale maize producers in Ga-Mothiba.
Purposive and Snowball sampling techniques were used to collect primary data
from 120 small-scale farmers. Cobb-Douglas production function was used to
determine the level of technical efficiency and Logistic regression model was
used to analyse the variables that have influence the technical efficiency of
maize production.
Cobb-Douglas results reveal that small-scale farmers in Ga-Mothiba are
experiencing technical inefficiency in maize production due to the decreasing
return to scale, which means they are over-utilising factors of production. Logistic
regression results indicate that out of 13 variables included in the analysis as
socio-economic factors, 10 of them (level of education, income of the household
on monthly basis, farmer`s farming experience, farm size, cost of tractor hours,
fertiliser application, purchased hybrid maize seeds, membership to farmers`
organisation, is maize profitable) were found to be significant and 3 (gender, age
and hired labour) are non-significant. However, farm size was found to be the
vi
most significant variable at 99% level, showing a positive relationship to smallscale
maize producer`s technical efficiency.
Therefore, it is recommended that government should do the on-farm training
since farmers mainly depend on trial and error and farmers` should have access
to enough arable land and tractor services. However, farmers need to be trained
on matters relating to fertiliser application, on the amount of seeds a farmer
should apply per ha, and the importance of using hybrid seed.
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Suárez, Gómez William. "Cabotage : the effects of an external non-tariff measure on the competitiveness of agribusiness in Puerto Rico." Thesis, University of Bradford, 2016. http://hdl.handle.net/10454/13464.
Full textAbstract:
Small islands developing states (SIDS) sustainability is a United Nations’ aim. Their markets are often influenced by external policies imposed by larger economies. Could an anti-competitive measure affect the food vulnerability of a SIDS? This research examines the effects of an external non-tariff measure (NTM) on Puerto Rico’s (PR) agribusinesses. It explores the effects of a maritime cabotage regulation (US Jones Act) on the affordability and accessibility of produce and grains. PR imports 100% of their needs of grain and over 85% of fresh produce. PR’s food imports are generally from the US and the trade service is restricted to the use of the US maritime transportation. As a result, the supply chain of these two sectors although different, are limited by the US Act that may impact the cost of food, its availability, firms’ efficiency and other structures of production. Using a mixed convergent design, PR’s agrifood supply chains were explored and analysed in relation to the maritime cabotage regulation. Oligopolistic structures and collusion between maritime transporters and local agribusinesses importers limit the access to data, but other internal factors also have a role. Fieldwork shows that while the cabotage regulation itself is a constraint, interaction with others NTM and the current political framework between US and PR are relevant. Factors such as lack of efficiency, poor innovation and a self-limitation of the agribusinesses firms were found. The novelty of this research is the use of mixed methods to evaluate the effects of cabotage on the agrifood supply chain.
39
Jordaan, Marlize. "The prevalence and characterisation of Escherichia coli on fresh produce from selected farms, retail outlets and markets in the Western Cape." Thesis, Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2013. http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/95469.
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Thesis (MSc Food Science)--Stellenbosch University, 2013.<br>ENGLISH ABSTRACT: South Africa is a water scarce country and farmers are forced to irrigate crops with river water. Contamination of South African rivers has been reported and the carry-over of bacteria from river water to produce has been confirmed. Foodborne outbreaks linked to fresh produce are increasing world-wide.
A total of 151 fresh produce samples (lettuce, tomatoes, beans, peas, coriander, basil, mint, rocket, thyme, spinach, cabbage, parsley and sprouts) were sourced from small-scale and commercial farms, farmers’ markets and retail outlets. Total coliforms (TC) and E. coli loads on the produce were determined with Colilert-18. Isolates were phenotypically characterised and identified with the API system and the E. coli identification confirmed with uidA PCR. Sixty-three E. coli isolates were identified. Three were not identified as E. coli with the API system but were positive for the uidA gene.
The TC loads for the produce from the farms, farmers’ markets and retail outlets were all in the range of log 3 to log 8.38 MPN.100 mL-1. Escherichia coli was found to be most prevalent on produce samples from farmers’ markets with the highest E. coli load (log 7.38 MPN.100 mL-1) on cabbage sampled from a commercial farm. Escherichia coli were present on 8% of the produce samples. The maximum TC and E. coli loads found on the fresh produce were log 8.38 and log 7.38 MPN.100 mL-1, respectively. The lowest risk in terms of TC and E. coli presence and load was observed on fresh produce from retail outlets and the highest risk was on fresh produce from farmers’ markets.
Phenotypic dendrograms and a PCA plot were statistically constructed to determine similarity groupings of the isolates and three main E. coli clusters were formed. These three clusters could not be directly linked to a specific produce type or source type. A larger variation E. coli phenotypes was observed present on fresh produce within the three clusters.
All E. coli isolates were also subjected to triplex and multiplex PCR analysis to identify their phylogenetic groups and the presence of INPEC and ExPEC strains. Fourteen isolates belonged to genotypic group A0, 11 to A1, 20 to B1, 7 to B23 and 11 to D2. Thus a large variation E. coli genotypes are present but it cannot be linked to a specific source type or produce type. Multiplex PCR testing for INPEC revealed that none of the E. coli isolates were carriers of the INPEC genes. The isolates were also tested for the presence of ExPEC gene sequences: papA, papC, sfa/foc, iutA, kpsMT II and afa/dra. None of the isolates were classified as ExPEC (which required the presence of two or more genes) but three of the isolates did test positive for the presence of the kpsMT II gene. The latter could indicate that potentially pathogenic E. coli can be evolving in the environment and increase the risk of pathogenic E. coli occurring on fresh produce.
In conclusion, the presence of E. coli (commensal or pathogenic) on fresh produce is unacceptable according the South African Department of Health. According to this study the identification of E. coli types could not be correlated with the presence of E. coli on the different produce types and thus the presence of E. coli on fresh produce is unpredictable. It is recommended that extensive safety precautions should be in place throughout every step in the production chain from harvest to the consumer’s kitchen to reduce the probability of contamination of fresh produce.<br>AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Suid-Afrika is ‘n waterskaars land en boere word gedwing om rivier water te gebruik vir gewas besproeiing. Kontaminasie van Suid-Afrikaanse riviere is al telkemale aangemeld en die oordrag van bakterieë vanaf rivierwater na vars produkte is al voorheen bevestig. Voedselverwante uitbrake wat gekoppel is aan vars produkte is besig om wêreldwyd toe te neem.
‘n Totaal van 151 vars produk monsters (blaarslaai, tamaties, boontjies, ertjies, koljander, basilie, kruisement, roket, tiemie, spinasie, kool, pietersielie en spruite) was verkry van klein-skaalse en kommersiële plase, plaasmarkte en kettingwinkels. Totale kolivorme (TK) en E. coli tellings op die vars produkte is bepaal deur middel van Colilert-18. Isolate word fenotipies gekarakteriseer en geïdentifiseer met die API sisteem en die E. coli identifikasie is bevestig met uidA PKR. Drie-en-sestig E. coli isolate is geïdentifiseer. Drie is nie met met die API sisteem as E. coli geklassifiseer nie, maar was wel positief vir die uidA geen.
Die TK tellings vir die vars produkte van die plase, plaasmarkte en kettingwinkels was almal in die reeks van log 3 tot log 8.38 MPN.100 mL-1. Escherichia coli teenwoordigheid was die meeste op groente monsters van plaasmarkte, maar die hoogste E. coli telling (log 7.83 MPN.100 mL-1) was op ‘n kool monster van ‘n kommersiële plaas. Escherichia coli was teenwoordig op 8% van die vars produk monsters. Die maksimum TK en E. coli wat teenwoordig was op die vars produkte was log 8.38 en log 7.38 MPN.100 mL-1 onderskeidelik. Die laagste risiko in terme van TK en E. coli teenwoordigheid en tellings is waargeneem op vars produkte van kettingwinkels en die hoogste risiko is op vars produkte van plaasmarkte.
Fenotipiese dendrogramme en ‘n PKA plot is statisties gekonstrueer om ooreenstemende groepe van isolate te identifiseer en drie hoof groepe is gevorm. Daar kon geen direkte verband gevind word tussen hierdie drie groepe en ‘n spesifieke produk-tipe of ‘n spesifieke bron-tipe nie. ‘n Groter variasie in E. coli fenotipes teenwoordig op die vars produkte is waargeneem binne die drie groepe.
Alle E. coli isolate was onderworpe aan tripleks en multipleks PKR analise om die filogenetiese groep van elke isolaat te bepaal en of enige INPEC of ExPEC stamme teenwoordig is. Veertien isolate behoort aan genotipiese groep A0, 11 aan A1, 20 aan B1, 7 aan B23 en 11 aan D2. Dus is ‘n groot variasie E. coli genotipes teenwoordig maar dit kan nie gekoppel word aan ‘n spesifieke produk-tipe of bron-tipe nie. Multipleks PKR analise vir INPEC het gewys dat geeneen van die E. coli isolate enige INPEC gene dra nie. Die isolate is ook getoets vir die teenwoordigheid van ExPEC geen volgordes: papA, papC, sfa/foc, iutA, kpsMT II en afa/dra. Geeneen van die isolate is geklassifiseer as ExPEC (wat die teenwoordigheid van twee of meer gene vereis) nie, maar drie van die isolate het wel positief getoets vir die teenwoordigheid van die kpsMT II geen. Laasgenoemde kan ‘n aanduiding wees dat potensiële patogeniese E. coli in die omgewing kan ontwikkel en dus dan die risiko van die teenwoordigheid van patogeniese E. coli op vars produkte sal verhoog. Ter afsluiting, die teenwoordigheid van E. coli (nie-patogenies en patogenies) op vars produkte is onaanvaarbaar volgens die Suid-Afrikaanse Departement van Gesondheid. Volgens hierdie studie kan die identifisering van E. coli tipes nie gekorreleer word met die teenwoordigheid van E. coli op verskillende produk-tipes nie en dus is die teenwoordigheid van E. coli op vars produkte onvoorspelbaar. Dit word aanbeveel dat ekstensiewe voorsorgmaatreëls in plek moet wees in elke stap dwarsdeur die produksie ketting, vanaf oestyd tot in die verbruiker se kombuis, om die moontlikheid van vars produk kontaminasie te verminder.
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White, Lauren Randolph. "Environmental Factors and Management Practices that Influence Salmonella and Listeria Prevalence at the Sub-Field Level on an Eastern Shore of Virginia Farm." Thesis, Virginia Tech, 2017. http://hdl.handle.net/10919/86531.
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Prior research has shown pathogen prevalence on-farms is not uniformly distributed, instead pathogen prevalence is highly dependent on environmental factors and management practices. A study was performed to determine environmental factors (e.g., landscape features, meteorological events) and management practices (e.g., date of last irrigation, pesticide application) that may impact the prevalence of Salmonella spp. and Listeria spp. at the sub-field level (0.2 ha grids) on an Eastern Shore of Virginia farm. Virginia Tech's Eastern Shore Agricultural Research and Extension Center (ESAREC) farm was used due to the liability of testing for pathogens in commercial produce fields; however, production practices used at the ESAREC farm are similar, if not the same, to production practices used on commercial farms. Fifteen drag swab, one water, and up to five fecal samples were collected every two weeks per sampling occurrence from August to December 2016 (thus up to 21 samples may be collected during one sampling occurrence. Samples were collected from randomized field plots that were picked during each sampling occurrence. Salmonella spp. and Listeria spp. were isolated and confirmed using modified versions of the Food and Drug Administration's Bacteriological Analytical Manual. Environmental factors were retrieved by remotely-sensed data for the sample location or date. Management practices were recorded by an observational survey for each sample occurrence.
Two hundred and seventy-four samples (210 drag swab, 50 fecal, and 14 water samples) were collected during the late summer, fall, and winter. Listeria spp. and Salmonella spp. was detected in 8.3% (23/274) and 1.8% (5/274) of samples, respectively. Neither pathogen was detected in any of the fourteen water samples tested. Findings from this study will support the development of mitigation strategies to reduce pathogen contamination on-farm, with emphasis at the sub-field level. For instance, mitigation strategies include growers electing to not harvest near edges of fields or directly after precipitation events to minimize contamination events. Additionally, management practices were found to be associated with pathogen prevalence; therefore, management practices should be carefully tailored for each unique farm landscape.<br>Master of Science in Life Sciences
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Norman, Grant. "A comparative analysis of the pre-1996 marketing control board system and the post-1996 free market system, with reference to the South African fruit and vegetable industry." Thesis, Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch, 2009. http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/4579.
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Thesis (MBA (Business Management))--University of Stellenbosch, 2009.<br>ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This research report is a comparative analysis of the pre-1996 marketing control board system and the post-1996 free market system in the fruit and vegetable industry in South Africa. The report investigates and discusses the advantages and disadvantages of both systems and their effect on the stakeholders of the industry. The control boards had both positive and negative effects on the producer within the fruit and vegetable industry. The free market system is currently also having an effect, both positive and negative, on the producer. In this research report these divergent effects are explored, the objective being to obtain a better understanding of their impact on the industry stakeholders. On reaching a clearer understanding, strategy recommendations have been designed and are presented for all producers operating within the fruit and vegetable industry. The fresh produce industry is large, with many stakeholders. The information potentially available is vast, but, given the fact that time was too limited to do a complete research study on the entire industry, it was decided to focus on four sectors of the industry, namely bananas, deciduous fruit, citrus and potatoes. To give the report more credibility in terms of the data acquired, a number of interviews were conducted with producers and producer organisation leaders, from whom first-hand, ground level information was obtained. In this research it was found, among other things, that in general there was an imbalance in both the producer and consumer surplus in South Africa. Despite regulation, the marketing control boards had, through the pooling of prices, provided benefits only to certain producers. This, in effect, meant that quality improvement was largely negated, as the return to the producer did not provide an incentive to produce a better quality product. Contrary to the control board system, the free market system provides industry stakeholders with many opportunities, while the role of producers is also evolving to incorporate aspects of marketing. Producers consider service excellence, and culture and diversity to be important. Furthermore, in terms of available channels for marketing, many producers view the fresh produce markets as a desirable means of marketing their produce, as these outlets are still considered to be the price-determining mechanism for the fresh produce industry.<br>AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie navorsingsverslag is 'n vergelykende studie van die bemarkingsbeheerraadstelsel voor 1996 en die vryemarkstelsel ná 1996 in die vrugte- en groentebedryf in Suid-Afrika. Die verslag ondersoek en bespreek die voor- en nadele van albei stelsels en hul uitwerking op die bedryf se belangegroepe. Die beheerrade het ’n positiewe sowel as negatiewe uitwerking op die produsent in die vrugte- en groentebedryf gehad. Die vryemarkstelsel het tans ook ’n positiewe sowel as negatiewe uitwerking op die produsent. Hierdie uiteenlopende gevolge word in hierdie navorsingsverslag verken om só ’n beter begrip van die impak daarvan op die bedryf se belanghebbers te verkry. Strategie-aanbevelings is op grond van groter begrip ontwerp en aan produsente in die vrugte- en groentebedryf voorgelê. Varsprodukte is die grootste bedryf in vrugte- en groentebedryf, en daar is talle belangegroepe. Die inligtingsmoontlikhede is enorm, maar gegewe die feit dat tyd te beperk was om ’n volledige navorsingstudie van die hele bedryf te onderneem, is daar besluit om vier sektore te beklemtoon, naamlik piesangs, sagtevrugte, sitrus en aartappels. Om die verslag meer geloofwaardigheid te gee ten opsigte van die data wat verkry is, is ’n aantal onderhoude met produsente en die leiers van produsentorganisasies gevoer om eerstehandse, voetsoolvlakinligting te bekom. Die verslag het onder meer bevind dat daar oor die algemeen ’n wanbalans in die produsente- sowel as verbruikersurplus in Suid-Afrika is. Die bemarkingsbeheerrade het ondanks regulasie voordele slegs aan sekere produsente gebied deur die saampot van pryse. Dit het in werklikheid beteken dat gehalteverbetering grootliks ontken is omdat die opbrengs nie die produsent aangespoor het om die gehalte van hul produkte te verbeter nie. Die vryemarkstelsel bied, in teenstelling met die beheerraadstelsel, talle geleenthede aan die bedryf se belangegroepe terwyl die rol van produsente ook ontwikkel word om aspekte van bemarking te inkorporeer. Produsente beskou voortreflike diens, en kultuur en diversiteit as belangrik. Daarby beskou produsente die varsproduktemark, wat een van die beskikbare bemarkingskanale is, as ’n wenslike manier om hul produkte te bemark omdat dié afsetpunt steeds as die prysbepalende meganisme vir die varsproduktebedryf gesien word.
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Coskeran, Helen Mary. "Farm talks and the new quad : an analysis of agriculture negotiations in the Doha Round between the established and the rising powers." Thesis, University of Cambridge, 2013. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.608082.
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SPEECE, MARK WILLIAM. "MARKETING IN THE AGRICULTURAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OF KORDOFAN, SUDAN." Diss., The University of Arizona, 1987. http://hdl.handle.net/10150/184164.
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Although Sudan is a country with enormous agricultural potential, agriculture has not prospered over the last two decades and Sudan now finds itself a bankrupt net importer of food. Much of the country's agricultural resource base is found in the rainfed agricultural region of Western Sudan, which includes Kordofan. This study focuses on Kordofan, and reports on data gathered during work for the Western Sudan Agricultural Research Project. Rather than following the production orientation usually employed by economists, it addresses issues related to the role of marketing in agricultural economic development. Marketing in Kordofan, as well as production, is subject to disruption because of climatic variations characteristic of arid and semi-arid regions. Extended annual dry periods and droughts distort price performance for agricultural commodities and cause shifts in marketing channel structure. Risk levels are substantially increased for producers and small traders, while at the same time they must take on increased responsibility for many channel functions. Marketing also suffers from infrastructure deficiencies: roads are often impassable during the rainy season, and storage losses become huge over the course of a year. The private marketing system in Kordofan has adapted to these conditions, and is performing quite effectively, efficiently, and equitably, given the adverse conditions. Competition is extensive, farmers have many alternatives when selling crops, and merchants operate on fairly modest profit margins. A widespread bias against the private sector has led to extensive government intervention into marketing spheres. These policies include direct operation of some marketing channels, manipulation of price structures through artificial exchange rates and price controls, and restrictive licensing practices. Wherever such policies have been applied in Kordofan, they have led to declining production of government controlled crops, they have restricted competition in marketing channels, and they have lowered living standards for producers and consumers. Sudan has not successfully identified areas where private channels in Kordofan cannot solve problems, and which therefore require public intervention. The government seems to have based its economic decisions upon ideological considerations and intervened in areas which it cannot perform as well as the private market.
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Green, Kris R. "Recruiting and maintaining dairy cooperative members : a strategy for reducing the free rider problem /." Thesis, This resource online, 1992. http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/theses/available/etd-05042010-020208/.
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Grant, Cerkia. "Geographical indications and agricultural products investigating their relevance in a South African context /." Diss., Pretoria : [s.n.], 2005. http://upetd.up.ac.za/thesis/available/etd-02122007-173415.
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Faour-Klingbeil, Dima. "The microbiological safety of fresh produce in Lebanon : a holistic 'farm-to-fork chain' approach to evaluate food safety, compliance levels and underlying risk factors." Thesis, University of Plymouth, 2017. http://hdl.handle.net/10026.1/8654.
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The consumption of unsafe fresh vegetables has been linked to an increasing number of outbreaks of human infections. In Lebanon, although raw vegetables are major constituents of the national cuisine, studies on the safety of fresh produce are scant. This research employed a holistic approach to identify the different stages of the food chain that contribute to the microbiological risks on fresh produce and the spreading of hazards. A thorough analysis of the institutional and regulatory framework and the socio-political environment showed that the safety of local fresh produce in Lebanon is at risk due to largely unregulated practices and shortfalls in supporting the agricultural environment as influenced by the lack of a political commitment. Microbiological analysis showed that the faecal indicator levels ranged from < 0.7 to 7 log CFU/g (Escherichia coli), 1.69-8.16 log CFU/g (total coliforms) and followed a significantly increasing trend from fields to the post-harvest washing area. At washing areas, Salmonella was detected on lettuce (6.7% of raw vegetables from post-harvest washing areas). This suggested that post-harvest cross-contamination occurs predominantly in the washing stage. At retails, a combination of observation and self-reported data provided an effective tool in assessing knowledge, attitudes and practices. It showed that the food safety knowledge and sanitation practices of food handlers were inadequate, even among the better trained in corporate-managed SMEs. Overall, the microbiological quality of fresh-cut salad vegetables in SMEs was unsatisfactory. The link between Staphylococcus aureus and microorganism levels on fresh salads vegetables and the overall inspection scores could not be established. On the other hand, inspection ratings on individual components, e.g., cleanliness and cross-contamination preventive measures showed significant correlation with Listeria spp. levels. Together, results confirmed that inspection ratings don’t necessary reflect the microbiological safety of fresh vegetables and that the application of control points of risk factors that likely to contribute to microbial contamination in the production environment are essential. The washing methods were limited in their effectiveness to reduce the contamination of parsley with Salmonella. In general, the pre-wash chopping and storing of parsley at 30ºC reduced the decontamination effect of all solutions, including sodium dichloroisocyanurate which was reduced by 1.3 log CFU/g on both intact and chopped leaves stored at 30ºC. In such conditions, the transfer rate of Salmonella from one contaminated parsley to subsequently chopped clean batches on the same cutting board(CB) recorded 60%-64%. Furthermore, the transmission of Salmonella persisted via washed CBs stored at 30°C for 24 h. It is recommended to keep parsley leaves unchopped and stored at 5ºC until wash for an optimum decontamination effect and to apply vigilant sanitation of CBs after use with fresh produce. This research presented important data for quantitative risk assessment for Salmonella in parsley and useful descriptive information to inform decision-makers and educators on microbial hazards associated with fresh produce in Lebanon. It also highlighted the risks areas that require urgent interventions to improve food safety. Considering the complex institutional and political challenges in Lebanon, there is an obvious need to direct development programs and support towards local agriculture production, effective education strategies and growing awareness of consumers and stakeholders on food safety related risks.
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Raphala, Balefilwe Solomon. "Contract-farming : a case study of sunflower farming in the Bojanala district of the North West Province." Thesis, University of Limpopo (Turfloop Campus), 2007. http://hdl.handle.net/10386/938.
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Rampokanyo, Lepolesa Michael. "Impact of animal traction power on agricultural productivity: case of lowlands of Mohale's Hoek district of Lesotho." Thesis, University of Fort Hare, 2012. http://hdl.handle.net/10353/483.
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Most farming at subsistence level is located in rural areas where the majority of smallholder farmers have low productivity which results in high rate of food insecurity. The areas are characterised by animal traction and poor farming practises, and monoculture is mostly preferred. In light of this, this study analyzed the impact of animal power on agricultural productivity. Smallholder farmers in the lowlands of Mohale’s Hoek district of Lesotho were investigated by means of a case study methodology. The aim of the study was to inform agricultural policy about the level and key determinants of inefficiency in the smallholder farming system so as to contribute to policy designed to raise productivity of smallholder farmers. The sampling frame comprised farmers and extension workers in the lowlands of Mohale’s Hoek district. From this frame, 118 farmers and 4 extension workers were randomly selected from four villages, namely‘Mapotsane, Potsane, Tsoloane and Siloe. The four groups of farmers include; the farmers owning and using cattle for ploughing, farmers owning tractor and cattle and using them for ploughing, farmers owning tractor only and using it for ploughing, and farmers who owned neither cattle nor tractor and normally hire these when ploughing operations are to be done on the farm. The interviews of these farmers and extension workers were conducted by means of semi-structured questionnaire which consisted of both open and close ended questions. The study used the stochastic frontier production model for the production efficiencies and linear regression model for the impact of animal traction on agricultural productivity. Both procedures provided insights into the relative contributions of animal power and traditional systems to poverty alleviation and food security in the project areas. Descriptive statistics were employed for farming systems and challenges facing small scale farmers. Gross Margins analysis was conducted for the animal power and tractor power yield levels for maize crop to compare the two types of power. Some diagnostic tests to detect serial correlation and heteroskedasticity and t-tests were also performed. The significant variables include the area of sorghum ploughed, members of the household that assist with family labour, education, quantity of fertilizer applied, time taken by the farmers in farming, members who are formally employed, household size, area of land ploughed, old age, costs of tractor and animal, marital status, income, area of maize ploughed, area of sorghum ploughed, quantity of fertilizers applied, costs of seeds and fertilizers applied, maize and sorghum yield and amount sold and consumed. The study revealed that monoculture is mainly practised and many smallholder farmers used traditional technologies that fail to replace nutrients in the soil. Nonetheless family labour was not a problem. During the farming season, tractors were used as the main source of power for ploughing. Most farmers hired these for maize production as it is a staple food crop even where animal power is available. It was noted that the tractors were few and in most cases old and malfunctioning. The cost of using animals in farming obviouslyplayed a role in the production of both maize v and sorghum in the lowland areas of Mohale’s Hoek district. Smallholder farmers who owned both tractors and animals produced more but they were mainly affected by high costs of maintaining the aging tractors, generally purchased on the used-equipment market. The increased challenges resulted in lower productivity of the smallholder farmers, including: unhealthy animals, drought, marketing problems, late ploughing, poor soils, lack of extension services, low yields, low income, lack of information, lack of appropriate implements, lack of support services, nutrition inadequacy, inappropriate farming systems. The study recommended the adoption and promotion of low-cost mechanization in the lowlands of Mohale’s Hoek district so as to increase the production of the smallholder farmers. Increased productivity will in turn improve household food security.
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Bronkhorst, N. J. "Developing an integrated marketing communication strategy for the MGK Group." Thesis, Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2010. http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/80495.
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Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2010.<br>ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The Marketing of Agricultural Products Act 47 (No 47 if 1996) led to the dilution of single-channel marketing in the agricultural sector. Hence, marketing boards such as the Maize Board were dismantled. New legislation forced agricultural businesses to adapt to the changing environment and turn co-operatives into companies. The new developments also implied that these companies had to reposition themselves to be more competitive in a deregulated market.
MGK Group Operating Company Pty (Ltd) is a prominent role player in the agricultural sector in the North West, Limpopo, Mpumalanga and Gauteng provinces in South Africa. Unexpected growth in the company as well as the deregulation of the industry necessitated a bona fide marketing communication department to manage and coordinate all advertising, promotional and communication efforts. After establishing this department all marketing communication efforts were still fragmented. Consequently, the cost-effectiveness of this department was questioned by the company’s board of directors.
The MGK Group’s the board of directors received a mandate to follow a holistic approach and formulate a strategy to enhance the impact of its marketing communication efforts while cutting costs. This study sets out to establish whether the implementation of an integrated marketing communication programme can ultimately satisfy the board of directors’ requirements for marketing communication that is more accountable, effective and efficient.
This study starts with a literature review of the practices and theories underpinning integrated marketing communication. This is followed by testing the applicability of the various approaches and methodologies in the MGK Group environment. The study is concluded with the formulation of a marketing communication strategy and recommendations based on the needs of the MGK Group.<br>AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die Wet op die Bemarking van Landbouprodukte (Nr 47 van 1996) het eenkanaal-bemarking in die sektor verwater. Dit het daartoe gelei dat bemarkingsrade soos die Mielieraad afgeskaf is. Nuwe wetgewing het landbou-ondernemings genoop om in 'n veranderende sake-omgewing aan te pas en koöperasies in maatskappye te omskep. Die aanpassing het ook beteken dat maatskappye hulself in 'n meer mededingende en gedereguleerde mark moes herposisioneer.
Die MGK Groep Bedryfsmaatskappy Edms Bpk is 'n vooraanstaande rolspeler in die landbousektor in die volgende provinsies in Suid-Afrika: Noordwes, Limpopo, Mpumalanga en Gauteng. Onverwagse groei asook die deregulering van die bedryf het meegebring dat dié maatskappy 'n bona fide bemarkingskommunikasie-afdeling nodig gehad het om alle reklame-, promosie- en kommunikasie-aktiwiteite te bestuur en te koördineer. Nadat die afdeling op die been gebring is, het bemarkingskommunikasie-aktiwiteite steeds los van mekaar gestaan. Dit het daartoe gelei dat die kostedoeltreffendheid van die funksie op divisievlak bevraagteken is.
Die direksie van die MGK Groep het 'n mandaat gehad om 'n holistiese benadering te volg en 'n strategie te formuleer om die impak sowel as die kostedoeltreffendheid van die maatskappy se bemarkingskommunikasie te verbeter. Hierdie studie poog om vas te stel of die implementering van 'n geïntegreerde bemarkingskommunikasieplan uiteindelik in die direksie van die MGK Groep se behoefte aan verantwoordbare, doeltreffende en doelmatige bemarkingskommunikasie kan voorsien.
Die studie begin met 'n literatuuroorsig van die praktyk en teorie van geïntegreerde bemarkingskommunikasie. Daarna word die toepaslikheid van die onderskeie benaderings en metodologieë ten opsigte van die MGK Groep getoets. Die studie word afgesluit met 'n bemarkingskommunikasiestrategie en aanbevelings wat op die behoeftes van die MGK Groep gegrond is.
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Ouellette, Eric. "Volatile profiles for disease detection in stored carrots and potatoes." Thesis, McGill University, 1988. http://digitool.Library.McGill.CA:80/R/?func=dbin-jump-full&object_id=63898.
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