On the agricultural growth and structural changes in Suzhou Wuxi Changzhou region

s—Suzhou Wuxi Changzhou Region (Su Xi Chang) is a famous prosperous agricultural region in China. Since the early 1980s agriculture in Su Xi Chang has got constant developed, but its growth rate is lower than the provincial average level of Jiangsu, and its structure has not changed much. Therefore it lost many in the position of agricultural areal division of labour within Jiangsu Province. The authors of this paper suggest that Su Xi Chang agriculture should perform multiple social, economic and ecological functions with the suburban and export oriented farming as the main development direction. It is also necessary to improve management and organization structure for enhancing Su Xi Chang agricultural vitality.

The Effects of Input Factors on the Growth of the Agricultural Economy Empirical Study of Syria

This paper analyzes the effect of input factors on the growth of the agricultural sector in Syria. It estimates the relationship between input factors and agricultural economic growth in Syria using cointegration analysis and Granger causality analysis. The results of the analysis show that： （1） The increase of agriculture labor force and financial support played a vital role in the agricultural economic growth in the long term; （2） The increase in agricultural land and capital investment is significant in promoting agricultural economic growth in the short term; （3） Agricultural capital investment and agriculture labor force are the Granger causes of the agricultural economic growth.

Economic Growth, CH₄and N₂O Emissions in Sudan: Where Should the Policy Focus Be?

This study aimed to investigate the effect of economic growth, agricultural growth and energy use on methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions in Sudan. Within the context of the EKC, the study applies the OLS, cointegration, vector error correction modelling (VECM) and Granger causality methods. The study has established a long run equilibrium relationship for both CH4 and N2O in their relation to economic growth, agricultural growth and energy use in presence of trade openness (TOP) and inflows of foreign direct investments (FDI). The estimated VECM shows that emissions of CH4 are significantly affected by economic growth, TOP, and FDI with no effect of agricultural growth in the short run while CH4 is found to be significantly affected by economic growth, agricultural growth, TOP and FDI in the long run. The estimated VECM for N2O shows that N2O emissions are more significantly affected by energy use, agricultural growth and FDI with no effect of economic growth in the short run, while N2O is found to be significantly affected by economic growth, agricultural growth, TOP and FDI in the long run. Consistently, findings from the estimated OLS and VECMs show that the EKC does not hold for either CH4, or N2O emissions, and that N2O emissions are more significantly affected by economic growth, agricultural growth and energy use than emissions of CH4. Findings from impulse response and variance decomposition analysis confirm that emissions of N2O are more responsive to economic growth, agricultural growth and energy use than emissions of CH4. Granger causality analysis shows existence of bidirectional relationship between CH4 and agricultural growth, but a unidirectional relationship from CH4 to FDI. For N2O, the study finds a unidirectional relationship running from agricultural growth to N2O, while N2O emissions are found to cause GDP per capita, the squared GDP per capita, OIL consumption and FDI. In terms of causality, these results suggest that emissions of CH4 and N2O have been generated more by agricultural activities than by overall economic activity, and that activities generating N2O emissions in particular have been contributing significantly to economic growth. Within the context of the country’s intended nationally determined contributions, the findings of this study suggest that policies should be directed cautiously but more effectively to control N2O than CH4 emissions. Economic growth could be pursued without significant environmental harm from both CH4 and N2O emissions. However, Sudan should expand adoption of energy efficiency measures, expansion of renewable energy use, place restrictions on production and use of fuel woods and charcoal for low carbon economy and green growth.

Productivity Growth in China's Agriculture During 1985-2010

This paper made an empirical analysis of China＇s agricultural growth path and influential factors using the province-level panel data of agricultural inputs and outputs during 1985-2010.The findings indicate that the increase in agricultural inputs and TFP contributed 40.6 and 55.2% to the agricultural output growth,respectively;China＇s agriculture had jumped out of the pattern which output growth was mainly driven by increasing input.Of the total inputs,chemical fertilizer had the most important contribution to the output growth,followed by mechanical inputs.The contribution of land and labor was negative.China＇s agricultural output growth belonged to the type of induced technology innovation.China＇s agricultural TFP growth had characteristics of fluctuations over time and unbalanced between regions,but the gap between the eastern,the middle,and the western regions has been narrowed.

Agriculture Key to Nigeria’s Growth

THERE are two growing schools of thought when it comes to developing the agricultural sector of Africa, a continent which holds about 60 percent of global uncultivated land. Both have the same goal, to ensure that the small farmer is part of the sector＇s growth. The first, headed by the Africa Progress Panel （APP）, believes that the sector will succeed and grow if it is developed from the ground up - in other words by raising the productivity of small- holder farmers. This is particularly supported by Kofi Annan and requires government action.

Achievements and Challenges in China's Rural Development

China's grain output has been growing steadily since the 1980 s.After reaching equilibrium of supply and demand with the subsequent moderate surplus in the late 1990 s,the output of major agricultural products entered a period of growth deceleration,output stability,and continued increase in per-capita possession of agricultural products.The household contract responsibility system is a major factor contributing to the phenomenal growth in agriculture in the early 1980 s.After entering the stage of regular growth rate,crop yield is mainly driven by the selection of superior crop varieties,machinery,irrigation,fertilization,use of ground cover film,and concentration of agricultural production into advantageous areas.Under the combined effect of these factors,the contribution of agricultural total factor productivity(TFP) to agricultural growth has been on the increase.With an expanded scope of employment,farmers are contributing more and more to economic growth.Their income and welfare are improving rapidly as well.In the recent decade,China has made much headway in its policy on the countryside,agriculture and farmers,and the environment for rural development has improved to some extent.However,rural development is still confronted with such challenges as weakening agricultural competitiveness,reduced tillage intensity,difficulties in large-scale farming and lack of cooperation among farmers.

A Future with Hope:China Agriculture Outlook 2007

China's macro economy has remained in a good and stable condition overall,experiencing an annual GDP growth of over 10% for several consecutive years.Under this basic condition, the main focus of the Outlook was China's current grain and oil supply,and the demand market with its probable future prices.