Even though farming accounts for only about 1 percent of the total national workforce, it is at the core of the food and fiber system. The system is one of the largest sectors in the U.S. economy, and is comprised of industries related to farming, including feed, seed, fertilizer, machinery,...

Low skill levels among rural workers put rural manufacturing at a competitive disadvantage, according to the "skills shortage" theory. Data from the ERS Rural Manufacturing Survey, conducted in 1996, suggest that is not happening. Skill requirements are rising, but manufacturers who reported...

A dynamic programming model is developed to identify barriers to the adoption of long-run control programs for the parasitic weed Striga. The model is applied to Sirakorola in northwestern Mali. The ability of national and village-level institutions to overcome the barriers to adoption is explored.

Growing international attention has focussed on the potential role of urban agriculture in poverty alleviation. The aim in this paper is to analyse the existing challenge of urban poverty in South Africa and examine the potential role of urban agriculture as a component of a pro-poor urban...

In South Africa a recent government study laid the foundations for improving access to financial services for rural people. More is however needed than simply stating the policies. It is argued that policies do not differentiate target groups adequately. This can result in inefficient...

Many rural communities have benefited from the attraction of retirees in recent years. With the baby boom generation beginning to make retirement decisions, many other rural communities might consider economic development strategies based on attracting and retaining retirees. This report reviews...

Using a 5,000 household panel from Zambia, we find that asset ownership, but not access to fertilizer, has an extremely important impact on output and that investment in oxen would yield returns above the market rate. Policies should thus focus on asset ownership more than on short term working...

Rural decision makers use taxes and other resources to encourage growth. The session begins with an evaluation of rural employment patterns, then evaluates three economic development policy levers. Moderator: Daniel Rainey, Clemson University. Rural Employment Growth in the "New Economy:" A Test...

The Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) project ANREI/90/20 assisted in the establishment of a number of protected areas in Vanuatu by improving information flows and by establishing appropriate institutional structures. The total research benefit from this project...

Resultados das investigações do Projecto de Segurança Alimentar em Moçambique MAP-Direcção de Economía