Ike, Chinweoke Uzoamaka (author), Tranter, Richard (author), and Gadanakis, Yiorgos (author)
Format:
Conference paper
Publication Date:
2021-03-29
Published:
UK: Agricultural Economics Society, The
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 207 Document Number: D13166
Notes:
14 pages, To diversify the Nigerian economy and reduce dependency on food import, the Agricultural
promotion policy (APP) was developed and implemented in 2016. This policy aims to move
Nigerian agriculture to a commercial sector to ensure the creation of sustainable jobs and
wealth. However, little is known about the effects of the policy on biodiversity, dietary
diversity, and employment and income of the small-scale farmers who form the greater
proportion of the food producers. The study aims to assess the effectiveness of APP in
achieving social justice particularly for small-scale farmers, environmental sustainability and
economic viability through sustainable agriculture. To assess the effectiveness of APP, focus
groups discussions were held in six local governments in the North East geopolitical zone of
Nigeria. APP food security thrusts of strategic national food reserve, proper use of
agrochemicals and tractors, focus on forest food harvest and government support for large
scale and specialised farms are very effective for securing food price stability. Moreover, food
crop fortification is very effective in providing income support for households as it is the focus
on forest food harvest, and access to credit and labour subsidies for small farmers.
Encouraging organic farming is very effective in securing access to and availability of diversity
of food, biodiversity and employment. Food diversity, soil fertility, biodiversity and
employment also benefited from the provision of credit and labour subsidies. The outcome
of this discussion is important for shaping the Nigerian food system. Though the APP thrusts
are geared towards achieving sustainable development, Nigerian policy authorities should
focus more on encouraging organic farming, credit and labour subsidies for the smallholder
farmers, creating balance diet awareness, and forest preservation and food harvest to achieve
food security, environmental sustainability and employment.
13pgs, Sufficient access to and utilization of broadband is an ongoing concern for rural economic development. Using a rural region in Northern New York (USA), we consider the investment and operational costs of a broadband cooperative and determine service prices for which it is financially viable. Service prices need to increase 75%–131%, depending on grant restrictions, relative to existing market prices for a new broadband cooperative to become financially feasible. Put differently, the cooperative would not cash flow at market prices unless there was at least 14 potential subscribers per mile at a 62% take rate. For a cooperative, the grant restriction that providers offer a minimum level of speed at a maximum price results in a high level of subsidization by high-speed to low-speed members to support the business. Given grant funding and member equity investments, financial infeasibility has little to do with construction costs, than with annual operational and maintenance costs required to sustain the system long term. More reasonable feasibility scenarios occur for existing utility cooperatives expanding services into broadband, particularly areas with a high proportion of high-speed, year-round users and strong take rates. Consideration of public benefits of broadband arguably needs to be added to the equation, particularly surrounding access to healthcare and educational purposes, and as a prerequisite to supporting taxpayer-funded public-private partnerships to expand broadband services. Policy levers to eliminate or subsidize property taxes and pole rental costs reduce cash flow prices considerably; however, feasibility is highly sensitive to assumed take rates.
