Factors Influencing Large-scale Operation of Large Grain Farmers in Northeast China

With the grain yield accounting for 20% of the whole country, the north- east China is a strategic region for ensuring national grain security and also a most centralized region of large grain farmers. Through a sampling survey of large grain farmers in 15 counties and cities of northeast China, with the aid of SPSS and AMOS software, using multiple regression analysis and structural equation modeling, this paper made a quantitative analysis on the influence of the subjective and ob- jective factors of large grain farmers on their large-scale management. The results showed that the age structure, educational level, family operating capital, yield ex- pectation and protective farming awareness of large grain farmers are the positive factors influencing their large scale operation due to agricultural subsidy policy. By comparison, the number of agricultural machinery and equipment owned by family, regional labor force, expectation for future income, and expectation for contractual scale become negative factors influencing large-scale operation of large grain farm- ers because of agricultural policies. When the future expectation, self conditions, family endowment, and operation conditions of large grain farmers increase one unit, their large scale operation motivation will increase by 0.692, 0.689, 0.487 and 0.363 units respectively. Thus, increasing the future expectation and self conditions of large grain farmers is a key factor for promoting large scale operation of farmland.

Characterization of Small-Scale Farmers and Assessment of Their Access to Crop Production Information in Selected Counties of Kenya

Small-scale farming accounts for 78% of total agricultural production in Kenya and contributes to 23.5% of the country’s GDP. Their crop production activities are mostly rainfed subsistence with any surplus being sold to bring in some income. Timely decisions on farm practices such as farm preparation and planting are critical determinants of the seasonal outcomes. In Kenya, most small-scale farmers have no reliable source of information that would help them make timely and accurate decisions. County governments have extension officers who are mandated with giving farmers advisory services to farmers but they are not able to reach most farmers due to facilitation constraints. The mode and format of sharing information is also critical since it’s important to ensure that it’s timely, well-understood and usable. This study sought to assess access to geospatial derived and other crop production information by farmers in four selected counties of Kenya. Specific objectives were to determine the profile of small-scale farmers in terms of age, education and farm size;to determine the type of information that is made available to them by County and Sub-County extension officers including the format and mode of provision;and to determine if the information provided was useful in terms of accuracy, timeliness and adequacy. The results indicated that over 80% of the farmers were over 35 years of age and over 56% were male. Majority had attained primary education (34%) or secondary education (29%) and most farmers in all the counties grew maize (71%). Notably, fellow farmers were a source of information (71%) with the frequency of sharing information being mostly seasonal (37%) and when information was available (43%). Over 66% of interviewed farmers indicating that they faced challenges while using provided information. The results from the study are insightful and helpful in determining effective ways of providing farmers with useful information to ensure maximum benefits.

Multi-Time Scale Operation and Simulation Strategy of the Park Based on Model Predictive Control

Due to the impact of source-load prediction power errors and uncertainties,the actual operation of the park will have a wide range of fluctuations compared with the expected state,resulting in its inability to achieve the expected economy.This paper constructs an operating simulation model of the park power grid operation considering demand response and proposes a multi-time scale operating simulation method that combines day-ahead optimization and model predictive control(MPC).In the day-ahead stage,an operating simulation plan that comprehensively considers the user’s side comfort and operating costs is proposed with a long-term time scale of 15 min.In order to cope with power fluctuations of photovoltaic,wind turbine and conventional load,MPC is used to track and roll correct the day-ahead operating simulation plan in the intra-day stage to meet the actual operating operation status of the park.Finally,the validity and economy of the operating simulation strategy are verified through the analysis of arithmetic examples.

Stakeholders’ Participation in Agricultural Farmers’ Extension Services Programmes in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Case of the Operation Wealth Creation (OWC) Programme in Uganda

The paper presents findings from a study carried out to assess the contribution of stakeholders’participation on the performance of the national agricultural farmers’extension services programme in Uganda known as Operation Wealth Creation(OWEC).Specifically,the study sought to establish how participatory planning,budgeting,monitoring and evaluation(M&E)respectively contributed to the performance of OWC in selected district in central Uganda.The study adopted a cross-sectional survey design using both quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis techniques and employed both questionnaires and interview guides on key participants in the programme.Findings of the study indicated positive relationships between stakeholders’participation and programme performance with participatory planning,budgeting and M&E all having positive significant effects on the performance of OWC programme.The study concluded that indeed stakeholders’participation contributed to improved performance of the OWC programme.The study recommends increased funding and M&E of the agricultural extension programmes for improved performance.

Do large-scale farmers use more pesticides? Empirical evidence from rice farmers in five Chinese provinces

It is of great theoretical and practical significance to understand the rules of the differences in pesticide use behaviors between large-scale and small-scale farmers,so as to regulate the behavior of farmers differently and improve the quality and safety of rice.The overall pesticide use behavior of large-scale farmers was characterized by large doses and high application frequency,while that of small-scale farmers was characterized by small doses and low application frequency.The econometric test showed that(i)the proportion of staple food ration has a significant negative impact on the single dose exceeding the standard and pesticide application frequency of small-scale farmers,and the increase of the proportion of staple food ration will reduce the demand among small-scale farmers for pesticides;(ii)yield effect has a greater impact on the frequency of pesticide application by large-scale farmers,and the large yield effect will increase the frequency of pesticide application among large-scale farmers.Therefore,in pesticide use behaviors,large-scale farmers should reduce pesticide quantity and increase efficiency,while small-scale farmers improve the level of plant protection.

Comparative Analysis on Farmers' Specialized Cooperatives from the Perspective of Agricultural Industry Chain

Taking three typical farmers' specialized cooperatives in Jingyuan County of Gansu Province as example,this paper compared with the operating mode of three cooperatives and their position in the agricultural industry chain,and analyzed operating characteristics,problems,and similarities of three cooperatives and their functions in the agricultural industry chain.The study indicated that the farmers' specialized cooperatives can accurately find their position in the agricultural industry chain.This is helpful for raising their comprehensive competitiveness and it is very important to manage the survival and development of farmers' specialized cooperatives,which is of utmost importance to their effective operation.According to this study,the government should strengthen its support,speed up the cultivation of new-type professional farmers,while farmers' specialized cooperatives should grasp the operating characteristics,locate themselves and integrate multi-resources.These are effective measures for promoting healthy operation of farmers' specialized cooperatives.

Appropriate Scale of Breeding Cows in Family Operation of Yanbian Cattle

Family operation of breeding cow is the only way to realize modernization of animal husbandry. Through field survey of Yanbian cattle farmers, the main input indicators were analyzed, including number of breeding cows, number of breeding bulls, input of cattle house, feed cost, production equipment investment, and grazing rent. The slaughter number of store cattle per year was selected as the output index. The efficiency of family operation scale of Yanbian cattle was analyzed using BCC model of DEA. The results showed that the moderate scale of breeding cows in family operation with half grazing and half housing pattern was around 50 -60 cattle.

Exploration of New Financing Mode of Farmers' Co-operatives——A Case of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region,China

Based on the overview of the role played by farmers' co-operatives in developing rural economy and existing problems,the thesis has introduced the factors which influence the development of farmers' co-operatives including five aspects,namely conditions of scale economy,popularization and application of agricultural production technology,comparative advantage,market expectancy and government support.By analyzing typical cases of three co-operatives in Guangxi(Heng County Dadi Growing Co-operatives,talents-leading share-holding co-operatives;Long'an County Guixiniu Co-operatives,co-operatives led by leading-enterprise;Nanning City Tanluo Town Jinguang Fruits and Potatoes Co-operatives,co-operatives led by leading-enterprise),the way to develop farmers' co-operatives by dint of the external capital has been discussed.The results demonstrate that conditions of scale economy,popularization and application of agricultural production technology,comparative advantage,excellent market expectancy and government support,are conducive to absorbing external capital.Under China's existing economic conditions,the government should normalize the use and allocation procedure of program fund.

Exploration of Problems in Developing Jilin Farmers' Professional Cooperatives

Establishment of farmers' professional cooperatives is an effective approach of settling conflicts between small-scale production of rural households and great market, however, there are still many problems such as low level of standardization, unscientific market positioning, poor capacity of mitigating risks, and unfavorable ecological benefits. This study, based on field investigation data and successful support experience, further explored operation and management problems existing in Jilin Farming Cooperative, and proposed pertinent solutions so as to enhance the high-efficiency and standard operation of farmers' professional cooperatives in Jilin Province and even China.

A Study of the Moderate Scale Operation of China's Agriculture

In order to promote the development of agricultural large-scale operation in China,this paper constructs a calculation model for agricultural moderate large-scale operation to estimate moderate operation scale of China's major crops and different agricultural varieties in different regions based on the analysis of present situation of agricultural moderate large-scale operation. The results show that the national average moderate operation area of grain is 7. 3 ha; the average moderate operation area of vegetable,cotton and apple is 0. 61,21. 42 and 0. 37 ha,respectively; the average moderate scale of hog and sheep is 388 and 234. 8,respectively. In addition,for different varieties of agricultural products,we estimate their moderate scale in different provinces. The study provides a scientific basis for speeding up agricultural land transfer and realizing moderate large-scale operation,and sets forth corresponding recommendations on this basis.

Research on the Moderate Scale Operation of Food

Ensuring food security has always been an important and enduring strategic project. However,the contradiction between a large population and little land,the shortcomings of the household contract responsibility system and the current rapid development of industrialization and urbanization,make problems concerning farming increasingly prominent. To build a new agriculture business entity,the development of agricultural moderate scale operation is imperative. Based on this,this paper analyzes the insecure moderate scale of food and the impact of moderate scale operation of food,and puts forth recommendations for promoting moderate scale operation of food.

An Outlook on Agricultural Modernization Path with Chinese Characteristics from Scale Agricultural Operation

First of all,this paper discusses the scale agricultural operation of China from the aspects of practical exploration and rational thinking. Later,it puts forward the concept of further promoting scale agricultural operation according to the present conditions of China,which includes encouraging large household pattern and scale breeding,developing various forms of socialized agricultural services,promoting agriculture industrialization,accelerating regional distribution of advantageous agricultural products and promoting the progress in agricultural science and technology comprehensively.

Profitability Analysis of Small Scale Irrigation Technology Adoption to Farmers in Nasho Sector, Rwanda

The study aims to assess the effect of small scale irrigation adoption to farmers in Nasho sector, Kirehe District in Rwanda. The average yield was 12,309.73 Kg/2.62 ha or 4698.73 Kg/ha for adopters with the mean difference between adopters and non adopters ranged from 2819.63 Kg to 4766.59 Kg per unit area of production. For food security status, the average mean quantity of maize consumed at home level was 615.54 Kg with the mean difference ranged from 377.29 Kg to 474.68 Kg. For market participation, the average treatment effect of the treated (ATT) of quantity of maize sold was 11,694.24 Kg while the mean difference ranged from 7165.98 Kg to 9015.60 Kg. The Average Treatment Effect of the Treated market price was 213 Frws/Kg while the mean difference ranged from 44.51 Frws/Kg to 48.3053 Frws/Kg. The Average Treatment Effect of the Treated of farmer’s revenues for the users was 938,772 Frws/ha, however, the mean difference between adopters and non adopters ranged from 1,732,942 Frws to 2,007,039 Frws. The Average Treatment Effect of the Treated of farmer’s net farm income was 1,066,393 Frws while mean difference between users and non users ranged from 803,967 Frws to 854,141 Frws. For profitability analysis, the cost benefit ratio (CBR) was taken into account. The total benefit per unit area was 2,434,509 Frws and total average mean cost of 1,382,313 Frws and CBR = 1.761 > 1. The findings of this study will help the policy makers for deeper sector planning and also, it will facilitate other stakeholders to invest in irrigation technology to improve the livelihoods of Rwandan farmers and other surroundings.

Factors Limiting Centralized Land Circulation in China from the Perspective of Farmers' Property Right

At present,there are many factors limiting large area centralized,rapid development,and moderately large-scale land operation in China.These factors include(i) the existing land utilization system is still at adaptation stage,and it lacks universal agreement of people on large-scale land operation;(ii) farmers' dependence on land is great;(iii) it is difficult to transfer surplus labor;(iv) there is no positive connection between promotion of moderately large-scale land operation and realization of increase of farmers' income;(v) it remains to be proved whether large-scale operation can become a stable rural occupation and whether big farming households can grow to professional farmers;(vi) large-scale land operation in rural areas may lead to waste of resources;(vii) the promotion of large-scale land operation may cause other social contradictions.

Deriving Operational Origin-Destination Matrices From Large Scale Mobile Phone Data

A method is presented in this work that integrates both emerging and mature data sources to estimate the operational travel demand in fine spatial and temporal resolutions.By analyzing individuals’mobility patterns revealed from their mobile phones,researchers and practitioners are now equipped to derive the largest trip samples for a region.Because of its ubiquitous use,extensive coverage of telecommunication services and high penetration rates,travel demand can be studied continuously in fine spatial and temporal resolutions.The derived sample or seed trip matrices are coupled with surveyed commute flow data and prevalent travel demand modeling techniques to provide estimates of the total regional travel demand in the form of origindestination(OD)matrices.The methodology is evaluated in a series of real world transportation planning studies and proved its potentials in application areas such as dynamic traffic assignment modeling,integrated corridor management and online traffic simulations.

Risk Management Strategy for Agricultural Operation Subjects in Simple Scale Expansion Mode

Agricultural operation subject is a main body of the market economy. At present,the simple scale expansion mode is a major mode of agricultural operation in China. According to some hypothesis,scale expansion will inevitably bring high income,but such hypothesis has serious defects. The operation mechanism of the simple scale expansion mode includes farmer operation mechanism,professional farmer operation mechanism,and " company + farmers" operation mechanism. In the production and operation,they will be faced with different natural risks,technical risks,market risks and policy risks. Besides,their risk control ability is also varied. Therefore,it is required to take different agricultural risk management strategies. The " company + farmers" production and operation subjects have the highest ability of risk management. Other subjects should learn their experience.

Organic Connection between Small Farmers and Modern Agriculture Development Based on Farmers'Cooperatives in China

As socialism with Chinese characteristics enters a new era,China's agricultural and rural development has also made remarkable achievements.However,the shortcomings of modernization are still in the field of agriculture,rural areas and farmers.The report of the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China proposes a strategy of rural revitalization.It is pointed out that the organic connection between small farmers and modern agricultural development should be promoted.In the development of modern agriculture,small farmers face the problems of scattered production factors,aging labor force and low labor quality,low industrialization,and low market position.This paper compares the characteristics of farmer cooperatives with other new business entities.Combined with the relevant contents of the Law of the People's Republic of China on Farmers'Professional Cooperatives newly revised in 2017,this paper analyzes the organizational,service,and intermediary functions of farmers'cooperatives to promote the organic connection between small farmers and modern agriculture development and reveals the role of farmers'cooperatives in China's agricultural development.

Analysis on Irrational Decision Making of Tobacco Family Farmers from the Perspective of Optimal Scale of Efficiency

The larger the difference between the willingness scale of tobacco family farmers and the optimal scale of efficiency,the greater the degree of irrationality,and the higher the decision making risk.With the aid of DEA model,this study calculated the optimal scale of efficiency of Guiyang tobacco family farms.Using the ratio of willingness scale and efficiency optimal scale,it measured the degree of irrationality of family farmers.In addition,with the help of multiple linear regression model,it explained the irrational decision making mechanism of family farmers.Finally,it made a portrait of farmers who tend to make irrational decisions,to find specific farmers and guide them in their production and operation,reduce the risk of planting scale decision making and stabilize the sustainable development of the tobacco industry.

Evaluation on Optimal Scale of Rural Fixed-asset Investment-Based on Microcosmic Perspective of Farmers' Income Increase

The rural fundamental and productive fixed-asset investment not only makes active influence on the changes of farmers' operational,wages and property income,but it also has an optimal scale range for farmers' income increase. From the perspective of farmers' income increase,this article evaluates the optimal scale of rural fixed-asset investment by setting up model with statistic data,and the results show that the optimal scale of per capita rural fixed-asset investment is 76. 35% of per capita net income of rural residents,which has been reached in China in 2009. Therefore,compared with the adding of rural fixed-asset investment,a better income increase effect can be achieved through the adjustment of rural fixed-asset investment structure.

Research on Safety Risk Assessment Method for Large Scale Field Operation Project

By applying man-machine-environment system engineering theory, safety risks on large scale field operation project have been evaluated in this article. The factors concerning with the man, machine and environment in system were proposed separately. The value for lowest indexs was determined by decision-making of expert group. The weights were calculated based on AHP, and then safety risk assessment in different layers was made. The results show that the assessment method is reasonable, and it is significant for large scale field operation project safety managerment.