Agricultural Policy Simulation Based on Computable General Equilibrium Model

[Objective] This study aimed to examine the simulated effect of Computable General Equilibrium （CGE）-based agricultural policy simulation system. [Method] The policy simulation platform based on CGE model was constructed by integrating policy simulation, CGE model and Decision Supporting System （DSS）. The scenario analysis method was used to analyze the agricultural subsides policy simulation through empirical analysis. [Result] Farmers were the main beneficiaries of increasing agricultural production subsidies, which increased farmers＇ income and improved the export of agriculture products. The prototype system could solve the problems in actual policy simulation. [Conclusion] The results lay the foundation for the quantitative study on agricultural subsidy policy in China.

Enlightenment of EU New Common Agricultural Policy on Protection and Sustainable Utilization of Cultivated Land in China

EU common agricultural policy is a guiding policy implemented by European member states for nearly 60 years and continuously reformed according to the international situation.At present,its reform direction is consistent with the requirements of cultivated land protection and sustainable utilization in China's"14^(th) five-year"plan,which could provide reference for China.Based on analyzing protection and sustainable utilization of cultivated land in China and the reform process of EU common agricultural policy,referring to main measures of the new common agricultural policy with advanced nature and superiority,and combining actual situation of China,three suggestions on promoting the implementation of cultivated land protection and sustainable utilization strategy in China are proposed:perfecting legal system of cultivated land protection and sustainable utilization in China,agricultural subsidies inclining to young farmers to stimulate the new vitality of cultivated land protection,taking green development as goal orientation and scientifically carrying out ecological construction of cultivated land,to provide better system guarantee for maintaining China's food security.

Empirical Analysis of Agricultural Policy Impacts of Senegal for food Self-sufficiency： The Stochastic Frontier Production of Rice and Maize in Senegal River Valley

The stochastic production function estimates of rice and maize in Senegal River Valley demonstrate the possibility to reach self-sufficiency of rice in Senegal. Nonetheless, its fulfillment requires many accompanying measures in rice and maize production. These measures include all upstream and downstream activities related to agricultural production for their efficiency and sustainability in rice and maize production to maintain the country＇s comparative advantages and competitiveness. Then priorities should be given to agricultural infrastructure building, establishment of credit markets, and providing an easy access of production factors （e.g., improved land, fertilizers, improved and certified seeds, as well as agricultural machines）. Furthermore, policy makers should provide a larger incentive in terms of producer price to encourage farmers to increase considerably their outputs, thereby farmers face smaller risk of having non-sold outputs. And during an early harvesting period, appropriate policy measures are in need to prevent farmers from dumping their products under severe social and economic pressures such as children schooling and loan payment, etc

Present Situation of Rural Regional Development and Agricultural Extension Policy

The formulation of agricultural extension policy and the development of rural regional economy present the relationship of mutual existence,mutual influence and mutual promotion.Therefore,it is necessary to study the agricultural extension policy according to the current situation of rural regional development.Agricultural technology extension system is an organization set up at county and township levels to provide farmers with scientific research achievements and practical technical services on planting,animal husbandry,fishery,forestry,agricultural machinery and water conservancy,and it is an important carrier for implementing the strategy of developing agriculture through science and technology.On the basis of expounding the value and significance of rural regional economic development,this paper analyzes the problems existing in China s rural regional development from the aspects of rural infrastructure and public services,rural labor force s cultural and scientific level,rural grass-roots extension system,etc.,and puts forward corresponding measures against the problems.This study has certain theoretical reference value for promoting the all-round development of China s rural economy and realizing the great strategy of rural revitalization in China.

Present Situation, Problems and Strategies of Agricultural Credit Policy in Dingxi City

This paper analyzes the current situation of agricultural credit policy in Dingxi City,and further studies the problems in the implementation of credit policy in Dingxi City,and puts forward strategies and suggestions according to these problems.

The temporal and spatial evaluation on China＇s agricultural policy output since 1978

Since reform and opening up, how much contribution has China＇s implementation of new agricultural policy made to agricultural output？ This paper is trying to establish an agricultural policy output econometric model for doing a quantitative analysis of China＇s new ag- ricultural policy. The results show that China＇s agricultural policies on agricultural output have an average contribution rate of about 7% since 1978, which is consistent with the OECD＇s basic forecast. There are obvious temporal and spatial differences. Generally speaking, we can divide the contribution of agricultural policy into three periods, which are the start-up phase from 1978 to 1991 （14 years）, the stationary phase from 1992 to 2002 （11 years） and the rising phase from 2003 to 2008 （6 years）. In space, the contribution of agricultural policy underwent a process from the all-low in the start-up phase, the gradual increase in the sta- tionary phase to the all-high in the rising phase. Northern and western regions are more sen- sitive to policies. There are three major factors that can affect the contribution of regional agricultural policies, which are the process of national industrialization strategy, terrain and the level of local finance.

China's Agricultural Development: Structural Contradictions and Policy Transition

The primary contradiction facing China's agricultural development has shifted from the previous undersupply to structural contradictions. This paper dissects these structural contradictions in terms of sectoral structure, product structure, organizational structure, technical structure, trade structure and spatial structure. Since reform and opening-up in 1978, China has followed a growth-oriented agricultural policy to ensure steady yield increase. Indeed, this policy has effectively increased the output of agricultural produce, safeguarded national food security, and enhanced agricultural production capabilities. However, China's agriculture is yet to become internationally competitive, increase efficiency and farmers' income, and improve the quality and safety of agricultural produce. As China's agricultural development enters into a new stage of comprehensive transition and upgrade, it is essential for China's agricultural policy to shift from the progrowth policy characterized by the dependence on chemical fertilizers and pesticides to an efficiency and quality-oriented policy that pursues green agriculture.

The impacts of agricultural and rural economic policy system on agricultural non-point source pollution in China

Agricultural and rural economic policy system is one main driving force for the evolvement of agricultural Non-Point Source （NPS） pollution. In this paper, the main policies that influence agricultural NPS pollution are chosen, and a method to evaluate the impacts of agricultural and rural economic policy system on agricultural NPS pollution is brought forward. According to this, the questions about how and to what degree the policy system influence on agricultural NPS pollution are discussed.

Comparative Analysis of Agricultural Budget in the European Union and China

With rapid development, the agriculture in the European Union （EU） is al- ways in the wodd＇s leading ranks, and with relatively complete systems, the devel- opment of agricultural budget in EU also has achieved a lot. China＇s agricultural budget has been improved gradually with the rapid economic development, but also has exposed a series of problems. Therefore, countermeasures and suggestions are proposed through the comparative analysis on the agriculture budgeting, budget en- forcement, budget supervision between Europe and China.

Agricultural Support Policies and Public Budgeting in Turkey

Agriculture is a leading strategic sector in Turkey as it is in entire world. Despite this strategic significance, risks, and uncertainties, the dependence on natural conditions turns agriculture into a disadvantaged sector. Just because of these disadvantages, agriculture is protected by various support policies throughout the world. Agricultural policies of Turkey have initiated with institutionalization policies of the Republican period and progressed through product supports, input supports, and low-interest credit implementations of the planned period. These policies experienced serious reforms at the beginning of 2000s. Within the scope of Agricultural supports and Reforms Implementation Project （ARIP）, agricultural supports tried to be gathered under a single roof and Direct Income Support （DIS） implementations started. The DIS implementations lasted for eight years and terminated in 2008. The aim of this study is to examine agricultural supports in Turkey and their shares in the public budget. As material, macroeconomic data are used in this study. The data consist of transfers from the ministry of food, agriculture, and livestock to agriculture and budget numbers. The results of the study reveal that current agricultural policy tools are implemented as area-based supports, subsidiary payments, rural development, and agricultural insurance supports. The budget allocated to agriculture and the share of agricultural supports in Gross Domestic Product （GDP） of Turkey does not exhibit much change in years. Considering the policies and supports provided in developed countries and especially in European Union （EU） countries, it recommend for Turkey that the share of agricultural supports in total budget should be increased to levels in those countries.

China＇s Shifting Agricultural Development Policies：An International Comparative Research Perspective

The chronic problems of having a large population versus limited land resources and an urban-rural dual system are the premise for discussing China ＇s agricultural ontology. According to its natural properties, there are three main types of agriculture systems： large-farm agriculture, small-farm agriculture and household-based agriculture. China cannot pursue agricultural modernization based on the developed countries＇experiences with large-farm models regardless of its national conditions. Otherwise, it will suffer double negative externalities on the environment and food safety. In 2007, China made the policy shift towards modern agriculture. Current theoretical studies need to further explore new incentives and compensation mechanisms that are compatible with this new policy shift.

Agricultural Sector and HIV/AIDS Pandemic in Africa: The Economic Retrogression Model

Objective: Agricultural activities in most African countries demand human labour, the supply of labour to agriculture may be threatened if humans could no longer farm because of HIV/AIDS pandemic. Past studies have identified the alarming situation and challenges the spread of HIV/AIDS endemic poses to human existence and agricultural growth. Examining these interactions, and their direction, is useful for informing policy directives. Therefore, the general objective of this study is to examine interactions between HIV/AIDS pandemic and agricultural growth in Africa using a model of retrogression. Methods: Twenty countries in Africa identified as HIV/AIDS ravaged countries were taken as the areas of study. These countries are spread over four zones of the Northern Africa, the Eastern, the Southern and the Sub-Saharan Africa. A combination of analytical tools was employed to meet the study objectives. Results: The results revealed that long run economic cost of HIV/AIDS had a statistical positive significant relationship with agricultural/economic growth. The results suggest that there is a curvilinear relationship between the course of the HIV/AIDS epidemic and agricultural/economic growth in terms of human capita development. Conclusions: HIV/AIDS pandemic interactions and agricultural growth have demonstrated that a more balanced approach is necessary for effective policy.

Development Stage and Evolution Cause of European Union Agriculture and Suggestions for Chinese Agricultural Development

Agriculture is a basic industry related to national economy and people’s livelihood,and is also the cornerstone of national economic development. European Union(EU) is the second largest exporter of agricultural products in the world,and its agricultural production change has international influence. In this paper,starting from two angles of EU agricultural development scale and target,development stage of its agricultural production is explored,and development and evolution causes of EU agriculture are analyzed: efficiency and benefit targets cause change of EU agricultural management model; change of agricultural product supply-demand pattern leads the evolution of EU agricultural development idea; the reflection of agricultural development target impels the transformation of EU agricultural development. On this basis,the below conclusions are obtained: agricultural development could evolve according to the changes of economic and social conditions; it is a necessary requirement of promoting internal market stability and international market harmony to actively use agricultural support policies adapting to agricultural development at each stage; it is an important measurement of impelling agricultural modernization process to promote innovation of agricultural management model and development of market integration; it is an inevitable road of realizing sustainable development of agriculture to develop ecological agriculture and emphasize equal development of agriculture and countryside. On this basis,it could provide the reference for agricultural development of China based on EU agricultural development experience.

The Poor Agricultural System in Africa, Who Is to Blame?

Although agriculture is the backbone of the African economy, it has faced considerable challenges in the past sixty years. Africa has moved from being a self-sufficiency continent before the 1960s, to net food importers, with a handful of countries facing severe food shortages from drought, desertification, climate change and wars. In this article, we use the case of Northern Ghana to explore some of the salient dynamics that have resulted in the current crisis in the African agricultural sector over time. Using historical and contemporary evidence gathered from Northern Ghana during several field trips from 2013 to 2015, we argue that practices adopted as a result of colonial influence in combination with socio-economic and biophysical factors and ineffective economic policies have contributed immensely to the poor state of agriculture in Africa. Note should be taken that most of these economic policies have origins from the Structural Adjustment Policies and the Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers. We conclude that our agricultural systems can be improved if policies are inclusive, equitable and sustainable and also if there are synergies between international or government organisations implementing agricultural projects over time and space.

Optimal Groundwater Irrigation Allocation of Al-Wajid Aquifer in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Groundwater is the primary water source in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. As result of lack of basic knowledge on irrigation practices, massive abstractions of groundwater occurred in 1980＇s. A Decision Support Linear Goal Programming （LGP） model was developed to determine optimal groundwater irrigation levels, to assess the implications for water management policies, and to estimate welfare impact on producer surplus. Due to the reductions of groundwater in 1980＇s, the Al-Wajid aquifer water levels have dropped in agricultural areas by more than 200 m. Results from this study estimate that the total groundwater of the Al-Wajid aquifer that can be saved is equal to 66 MCM for the first scenario, 147 MCM for the second scenario, and 229 MCM for the third scenario. Regarding the welfare analysis impacts, it is clear that the total gross margin is decreasing up to 7.7% at the end of the year of scenario Ⅲ. Therefore, the third scenario with a water saving increase to 18.1% is recommended as a directive for agricultural policy formation in the future.

Legal and Economic Aspects of the Operation of Cooperatives in Polish Agriculture

The article presents the legal and economic issues connected with the formation and operation of Polish agricultural cooperatives. Additionally, it shows a brief history of cooperative development on Polish lands and statistical data on agriculture and cooperatives. Most attention is given to dairy cooperatives, cooperative groups of agricultural producers and agricultural production cooperatives. These types of cooperatives are the most popular in Polish agriculture. The fundamental law regulating the issue of cooperatives in Poland is the Cooperative Law Act of September 16, 1982. Other laws, however, also have a big influence on the business activity of agricultural cooperatives, especially the EU legal regulations. Poland membership in the European Union has created new possibilities of development for the cooperative movement.

Small Farm Households’ Vulnerabilities in South Cotabato, Philippines

Low-productivity subsistence agriculture still prevails in many areas in the Philippines such as in the Municipality of Lake Sebu in the Province of South Cotabato in Mindanao. This study employs primary data collection methods, namely key informant interview (KII), focus group discussion (FGD) and a household survey to assess the conditions and problems constraining farming households in Lake Sebu. The study finds that constraints on sourcing and financing of farm inputs and on marketing of produce have perpetuated the dominating role of middlemen in agricultural financing and marketing that result in high input prices and low farm-gate output prices, and hence minimal net income for the farmers. The paper concludes with specific policy and program recommendations to achieve maximum and sustainable farming benefits, namely, an expansive farm-to-market infrastructure program, an institution and business support intervention program to link farmers and markets, conditional cash farming subsidies in lieu of direct provision of farm inputs, and crop diversification promotion and support programs.

Measure of Multifunctional Agriculture-Syrian Experts’ Perception

Multifunctionality, as a feature of agriculture, is subject to different interpretations, depending on the state and context. The core concept of Multifunctionality of Agriculture (MFA) is that the agricultural sector has multiple roles. These roles are not confined to food and fiber production, but also to the provision of several non-market commodities. In this study, we have interviewed 30 Syrian experts from different fields of sciences so as to examine their understanding of the concept of multifunctional agriculture and its elements and look closely into the importance of the elements of MFA in Syrian agricultural policy context from an expert’s point of view. The results show that wider roles of agriculture are highly acknowledged among the chosen experts but few of them are working on it. In its broadest sense, no undivided acceptance of the concept of multifunctionality has been found. The Syrian agriculture policies have elements which support and improve MFA, but it is not clearly recognized as such.

Increasing China's Agricultural Labor Productivity: Comparison and Policy Implications from Major Agrarian Countries

China's low agricultural labor productivity has become the key weakness of its agricultural competitive- ness and sustainable development,and strategies for improving China's agricultural labor productivity lack clear and consistent theory and empirical support.To address this issue,the current study uses the methods of convergence index,correlation coefficient,and nonparametric test,to analyze the characteristics and influencing factors of agricultural labor productivity among 32 major agrarian countries during 1961-2013.This analysis shows that the development gap among countries has been narrowing.The USA takes the leading position among all the countries, while some countries with scarce land like Japan have succeeded in achieving transcendence,and other countries like India have experienced relatively slow speed.The agricultural labor productivity is significantly driven by agricultural labor surplus,agricultural product processing,and agricultural industrial structure.The effects of land resource endowment,agricultural mechanization,and biochemical inputs have been declining and in some cases are no longer even significant.It is therefore necessary to shift attention to marketization,diversification,and high quality,instead of the former focus on agricultural intensification,concentration and large-scale operations,and this shift is probably more closely aligned with current practices.There are more people and less land in China,and the agricultural labor force in China still accounts for nearly 30% of the total population.Considering these national conditions,it is very important to simultaneously improve the efficiency of agricultural production of small farmers and promote the successful urbanization of the agricultural labor force.In the medium and long term,it is imperative to improve the competitiveness of Chinese agriculture by adopting related policy arrangements such as induced agricultural technological innovation,production factor substitution,and multifunctional agriculture development.

Analysis of the System of Direct Subsidy for Grain Production in China

This paper introduces the status quo of the system structure of direct subsidy for grain production in China,and analyses the function and essence of direct subsidy for grain production in China as follows:the function of direct subsidy for grain production in China is to protect and promote the development of food industry,ensure food supply and national food security,protect grain growers' interests,and maintain the dominant position of national food trade;the essence of direct subsidy for grain production is the compensation for grain producers' reasonable interests,the compensation for positive externality of grain production,and social costs of adjusting equilibrium between food supply and demand.We discuss the problems existing in the system of direct subsidy for grain production in China and put forward corresponding countermeasures as follows:first,adhere to improving synergetic system of direct subsidy for grain production;second,adjust the direct subsidy method of grain production;third,establish long-term mechanism of subsidy for grain production;fourth,promote the information-based service level of the system of direct subsidy for grain production.