Sustainability Assessment of Banana (Musa spp.) Yield Gap Reduction through Value Chain Development Interventions in Smallholder Farming Systems in Manicaland, Zimbabwe

This study evaluated the effectiveness of donor supported agricultural value chain development projects in sustainably narrowing yield gaps for banana smallholder farmer producers in Manicaland, Zimbabwe. The study used a mixed methods research design that relied on farmers records for the quantitative analysis and focus group discussion and in-depth interviews for key experts for the qualitative aspects. A mix of regression analysis, t-tests, Pearsons’s correlation and analysis of variance statistical methods were used for the quantitative analysis while thematic response analysis was used for the qualitative engagements. The findings showed that by the end of the activity, the project had successfully narrowed the banana yield gaps to 18.66 tons per hectare working with a potential yield base of 40 tons. However, 5 years after the project closure the yield gap had fallen to 24.7 tons indicating a lack of sustainability of yield gap reduction. However, the yield gap slump does not override the fact that farmers on average were still able to sell approximately 5 tons per every 6 months after 5 years from the project closure which is beyond any poverty threshold. This suggests genuine upward economic mobility. Additionally, in analyzing what factors had the greatest influence on yield gap reduction, the access to fertilizer ranked highest where genetics, irrigation and improved agronomy followed in that respective order. The study further showed that farmers who receive value chain development support whilst at an already commercialized state tend to maintain productivity thresholds higher in comparison to those who are at a pre commercial state. This is evidenced by the fact that the pre commercial farmers had a yield reduction of 30.83 percent after 5 years of the project closure whereas the former realized a productivity growth of 7.84%. In conclusion, whilst the intervention was successful in transitioning farmers out of poverty, more investment should be made towards transitioning smallholder farmers to integrated soil fertility management practices and improvement of agronomic efficiency through stronger on field collaboration between research institutions, the government and development institutions.

Establishment of Regional Green Innovation Value Chains:A Case Study on Tackling the Impeded Diffusion of Green Products

The green innovation value chain is a key step in transforming green,innovative scientific,and technological achievements into productive forces.The establishment of green innovation value chains based on value distribution rather than technical conditions can effectively overcome the common bottleneck faced by different nations during their green innovation endeavors,namely,the substitution of conventional products with green alternatives.This study investigates the impeded diffusion of green products and their underlying causes,analyzes the internal structure and mechanism of the green innovation value chain,and explores the establishment of regional green innovation value chains and the models available for value chain upgrading.

The evolution analysis of agricultural global value chains

With the Uruguay Round bringing agricultural trade into multilateral regulation,the major countries have actively participated in agricultural global value chains(AGVC)and occupied an important position according to their comparative advantages.Utilizing bilateral agricultural trade data of 66 countries based on the OECD Inter-Country-Input-Output Tables(OECD ICIO)from 2010 to 2018,this study applies social network analysis indicators to measure each country’s eigenvector centrality within AGVC and to examine the current global agricultural trade patterns,with particular attention to the changes in the status of world powers within AGVC.The main findings are as follows:first,with the multilateral and regional trade liberalization,growing numbers of developing nations,including China and India,are engaging in international agricultural trade,which contributes to its diversification;second,as AGVC develops,the structure of global agricultural trade networks has become more decentralized and balanced.This is evidenced by the emergence of additional central nodes,and large nations like the United States,which formerly held the most central position as indicated by a drop in its centrality,are becoming less dominant.

Cross-border Urban Networks Based on Manufacturing Global Value Chain:A Study of Listed Companies in Western China

Cross-border investment is essential for western China’s globalization.Global value chain(GVC)forms cross-border investment networks between industries in western China and overseas cities.Focusing on GVC,this study uses the social network analysis method,entropy method,multi-index comprehensive evaluation method,and quadratic assignment procedure analysis method to examine the characteristics and influencing factors of the urban networks of research and development(R&D),production,and sales formed as a result of the overseas investments of listed manufacturing companies in western China.Results showed that the three types of investment networks involved multiple industry types and multiple central cities with differentiated diversity and multicentrality.The R&D urban network’s leading sub-industries were the mechanical equipment and instruments,medicine and biological products,and metal and nonmetal industries.The destination cities were mostly those home to educational and scientific research centers.The production urban network’s leading sub-industries were the mechanical equipment,instrument,and food and beverage industries.The destination cities were mostly regional central cities in developing countries.The sales urban network’s leading sub-industries were the mechanical equipment and instrument,metal and nonmetal,and petrochemical and plastics industries.The destination cities were numerous and scattered.In addition,the R&D urban network easily formed specialized clusters,core nodes easily controlled the production urban network,and individual nodes did not easily control the sales urban network.Technological and economic system advantages greatly impacted the three network types.Considering the different influencing factors,this study suggests optimizing the institutional investment environment to narrow the institutional gap,adjusting and optimizing the investment layout to expand overseas markets,and increasing R&D funds to stimulate technological progress and overseas investments in western China.

Small ruminant value chain in Al-Ruwaished District,Jordan

This study aims to assess the small ruminant value chain in Al-Ruwaished District,Jordan,to identify the potential intervention areas that could improve the production efficiency and guarantee the sustainability of the small ruminant sector in this area.Sheep breeding is the source of livelihood for most of the people in Al-Ruwaished District,which is characterized by the large number of sheep and goats.We surveyed 5.0% of the small ruminant holders in the study area and conducted individual interviews and surveys with the potential actors in the value chain to undertake a small ruminant value chain analysis.From the survey,we found that the small ruminant value chain consists of five core functions,namely,input supply,production management,marketing,processing,and consumption.Despite the stable impression given by the large number of holdings in the small ruminant sector,the surveyed results show a clear fragility in the value chain of small ruminants in this area.The small ruminant production system is negatively impacted by climate change,especially continuous drought.In addition,the high prices of feed that the farmer cannot afford with clear and real absence of the governmental and non-governmental support activities also impact the development of the value chain.The results of strengths,weaknesses,opportunities,and threats(SWOT)analysis reveal that the major constraints faced by this value chain could be divided into external and internal threats.Specifically,the most prominent external threats are the nature of the desert land and continuous drought,while the major internal threats are the absence of appropriate infrastructure,shortage of inputs,and weakness in the production management and marketing.We proposed solutions to these challenges to ensure the sustainability and effectiveness of the sector,such as the formulation of emergency response plans to severe weather,qualifying farmers’skills,and establishment of agricultural cooperative societies.

A Study on the Factors Influencing Value-Added in the Cruise Ship Value Chain Based on the DEMATEL-ISM Model

Cruise value chain is to take the exchange of cruise products and services as the core in a certain spatial scope,and enterprises with core advantages within or between different industries establish associations in accordance with certain technical and economic conditions,so as to realise the multi-dimensional extension and value appreciation of the cruise value chain in the vertical and horizontal links,and ultimately establish a chain-network type of enterprise strategic alliance.This paper tries to analyse the value-added factors of the cruise industry chain by constructing a multi-level hierarchical structural model with reference to the influencing factor analysis methods of relevant literature-DEMATEL(Decision Making Experiment and Evaluation Experiment)and ISM(Interpretative Structural Model).The study shows that the innovation and scale value-added module in the upstream of the cruise industry chain is the core module of value-added of the whole cruise industry chain,and the value-added mainly originates from the design and manufacturing of cruise ships.The middle reaches of the cruise industry chain are mainly cruise operation enterprises,and the specificity of cruise operation determines that its brand value-added is mainly accomplished through the global layout of multinational corporations,and the cruise brand is able to drive the consumption demand and has value-added ability.The downstream value-added of the cruise industry chain is mainly realised through the increase in profits of cruise tourism service products.

Production Chain Length and PPI-CPI Divergence:Analysis Based on the Global Input-output Price Model

Productivity and international energy price shocks are reflected in PPI and CPI via industrial chains.China’s in-depth participation into the global value chains has increasingly lengthened its industrial production chains.The question is how the changing length of production chains will affect CPI and PPI,as well as CPI-PPI correlation?By constructing a global input-output price model,this paper offers a theoretical discussion on the impact of production chain length on the CPI-PPI divergence.Our findings suggest that the price shock of international bulk commodities has a greater impact on China’s PPI than that on CPI.The effects on both China’s PPI and CPI estimated by using the single-country input-output model are higher than the results estimated with the global input-output model.However,the difference between CPI and PPI variations estimated with the global input-output model is greater than the result estimated with the single-country input-output model,which supports the view that the lengthening of production chains,especially international production chains,leads to a divergence between CPI and PPI.Empirical results based on cross-national panel data also suggest that the lengthening of production chains has reduced the CPI-PPI correlation for countries,i.e.the lengthening of production chains has increased the PPI-CPI divergence.That is to say,policymakers should target not just CPI in maintaining price stability,but instead focus on the stability of both PPI and CPI.Efforts can be made to proactively adjust the price index system,and formulate the industrial chain price index.

Production and Innovation in Supply Platforms:Insights from the Innovation Systems and Value Chain Approaches

This paper introduces the term ＇supply platform＇ as a tentative and open-ended concept that captures characteristics of central importance for the study of export-oriented producers. As regional concentrations of export-oriented suppliers in China and India are maturing, many firms are now striving to build up innovation capabilities. How do we study the transition from production capabilities to innovation capabilities in supply platforms？ This paper reviews the insights from the innovation systems and global value chain literatures and discusses how we may build on these approaches for empirical studies of transition. It is found that these literatures provide important hypotheses for empirical research but more conceptual work is needed in order to address adequately the question of interest.

Spatial Interaction Between the Industrial Undertaking Capacity and Global Value Chain Position of East Asian Countries

A comprehensive understanding of the spatial interaction between the industrial undertaking capability and the position of the global value chain of the 12 East Asian countries is conducive to strengthening regional cooperation, gaining a say in foreign trade and becoming the dominant player in the global division of labor system. The article reveals the operating rules of the interaction between the industrial undertaking capacity and the global value chain position of East Asian countries by calculating the Global Moran Index(Moran’s I), coupling coordination degree and other indicators. The results show that: in time, the values of industrial undertaking capacity and the positions of global value chain in East Asian countries showed a sustained and stable growth trend, and have a consistent trend of change. Spatially, both of the two indexes had significant positive spatial correlation, with Moran’s I showing an ‘inverted U’pattern, and the spatial aggregation distribution of global value chain position lagged behind the spatial aggregation distribution of industrial undertaking capacity by one year. In terms of spatial coupling coordination, the coupling coordination values of the two indicators show a steady upward trend. Combined with the comparative advantage of each country, this paper provides suggestions for promoting the positions of Chinese and other East Asian industries in the global value chain from the perspectives of enhancing independent innovation capability and upgrading industrial structure.

Global Value Chain Restructuring:Challenges,Opportunities and Strategies for China

Global value chains(GVCs)have entered a new stage of restructuring characterized by trends towards localization,regionalization and diversification.These trends can be attributed to the evolution of the international division,irrational responses to crisis shocks,and trade protectionism.In this context,China’s industrial and supply chain upgrades face both opportunities and challenges which require navigating the adverse effects of industrial re-shoring,unfair technology competition,and changes in the global industrial layout.Yet,such challenges may create pressures for China to accelerate innovation,overcome the low-end lock-up effect by creating regional value chains,and broaden international cooperation.China needs to explore an effective strategy to defuse risks and seize opportunities.On one hand,China should influence the restructuring of GVCs evolution and strengthen its supply chains by playing an active role in economic globalization and the international division.On the other hand,China should proactively respond to GVCs restructuring amid rising trade protectionism,defuse risks from trade protectionism by opening wider to the outside world,and strive to upgrade industrial and supply chains while enhancing the security and stability of their nation.

Does strict environmental regulation enhance the global value chains position of China's industrial sector?

Given the vital importance of global value chains(GVCs)position for a country's international competitiveness,this paper tries to investigate the impacts of environmental regulation on the GVCs position of China's industrial sector.Using the latest value-added decomposition method,we first measure the GVCs position of China's industrial sector from 2003 to 2014.Subsequently,both two-stage least squares(2 SLS)method with panel data and mediating effect model are employed to empirically examine the effects of environmental regulation on China's position in GVCs.The results indicate that environmental regulation has significantly upgraded the GVCs position of China's industrial sector,and the effect is more evident for the sub-sectors with originally lower GVCs position.The mediation effect test shows that increasing R&D investment is an important channel through which environmental regulation affects the GVCs position of China's industrial sector,which verifies the existence of the Porter hypothesis.Further analysis finds that the enhancement of GVCs position of China's industrial sector caused by environmental regulation is mainly achieved through reducing the backward GVCs position.

Does the Belt and Road Initiative Promote Value Chain Connection Between China and the Silk Road Countries?

The global value chains have become the core skeleton of the global economy.As a large-scale international cooperation initiative,the Belt and Road Initiative(BRI hereafter)may have a significant impact on the global economic landscape.In this context,the spatiotemporal pattern and evolution of the value chain connection of the Silk Road countries and whether the BRI will promote the value chain connections between China and these countries are important research questions for understanding the changing global economic landscape.This paper employs input-output analysis,network analysis and difference-in-differences based on Propensity Score Matching(PSM-DID)to conduct an in-depth quantitative study of these questions.The results show that,first,the overall value chain connection between China and the Silk Road countries has been rising since 2001.From the perspective of geographical distribution,Southeast Asia is the highest value chain connection region with China,and the growth in the central and eastern Europe is the most significant,whereas the central Asia is the lowest value connection region.From the perspective of complex network analysis,China’s position in the network of value flow among the Silk Road countries has been increasing continuously,and it has been in the lead position since 2008.Besides,the implementation of the BRI has had a significant positive influence on the overall value chain connection between China and the Silk Road countries,but this positive influence is limited to the central and eastern Europe region,whereas it is not significant in other regions.Finally,this paper suggests that to promote the development of value chain connection,the Silk Road countries need to develop more specific policies related to value chains.Policymakers need to be able to correctly identify the comparative advantages of the region and the types of value chains that are compatible with them and then find suitable partners and formulate targeted promotion policies.

The Impact of Outsourcing on Local Industry Upgrading: a Case of China from a Global Value Chain Perspective

This paper develops a conceptual model to assess effect of outsourcing by integrating the theories of industrial upgrading and global value chain (GVC) governance. Contrary to the widely accepted perception that outsourcing is expected to generate positive spillover in particular, the findings indicate that outsourcing has different effects in different GVC governance modes. Excess outsourcing could structurally inhibit technology and management spillovers to subcontractors within the emerging economy context. Based on a case study of the Chinese textile and apparel (T & A) industry, it is found that the Chinese T & A industry has been trapped in the captive governance relationship with foreign buyers, and at the same time is capped below the function upgrading level. Consequences of the situation and implication are then discussed.

Re-Evaluation of China＇s Service Trade Competitiveness： A Global Value Chain Perspective

Based on the Worm Input-Output Database （WIOD）, this paper conducts a forward-linkage decomposition of value-added in trade to estimate China＇s service value-added exports and its service sector＇s international competitiveness during 2000- 2014. Result indicates that during the sample period, China＇s service exports measured by forward-linkage decomposition method accounted for around 35% in its total export. While the value of services exported directly through the service sector accounted for a falling share, the value of services exported through other sectors represented an increasing share. China ranks second in the world in terms of market share of service exports. However, the revealed comparative advantage （RCA） of China＇s service exports and export sophistication remains limited.

Parameterless Pruning Algorithms for Similarity-Weight Network and Its Application in Extracting the Backbone of Global Value Chain

Purpose:With the availability and utilization of Inter-Country Input-Output(ICIO)tables,it is possible to construct quantitative indices to assess its impact on the Global Value Chain(GVC).For the sake of visualization,ICIO networks with tremendous low-weight edges are too dense to show the substantial structure.These redundant edges,inevitably make the network data full of noise and eventually exert negative effects on Social Network Analysis(SNA).In this case,we need a method to filter such edges and obtain a sparser network with only the meaningful connections.Design/methodology/approach:In this paper,we propose two parameterless pruning algorithms from the global and local perspectives respectively,then the performance of them is examined using the ICIO table from different databases.Findings:The Searching Paths(SP)method extracts the strongest association paths from the global perspective,while Filtering Edges(FE)method captures the key links according to the local weight ratio.The results show that the FE method can basically include the SP method and become the best solution for the ICIO networks.Research limitations:There are still two limitations in this research.One is that the computational complexity may increase rapidly while processing the large-scale networks,so the proposed method should be further improved.The other is that much more empirical networks should be introduced to testify the scientificity and practicability of our methodology.Practical implications:The network pruning methods we proposed will promote the analysis of the ICIO network,in terms of community detection,link prediction,and spatial econometrics,etc.Also,they can be applied to many other complex networks with similar characteristics.Originality/value:This paper improves the existing research from two aspects,namely,considering the heterogeneity of weights and avoiding the interference of parameters.Therefore,it provides a new idea for the research of network backbone extraction.

Value chain financing and plantain production in Nigeria:an ex-ante approach

Value chain finance(VCF)represents the aligning and structuring of finance within a value chain or as a result of its existence.Given the growing need to explore innovative approaches to rural and agricultural finance in Nigeria,such financing solutions have become imperative.However,few studies on the ex-ante impact of financing innovations exist.Therefore,to ascertain the benefits derivable from VCF,this paper analyzes the potential impact of VCF on plantain production in Nigeria.The expected benefits are estimated based on the economic surplus model,using the Dynamic Research Evaluation for Management(DREAM)software.Results from a 25-year simulation period at a 15%discount rate and an innovation cost of USD 1,300,000,show that,in the least optimistic scenario,the economy is expected to have an overall net gain(economic surplus)of USD 3256,800,with a net present value of USD 3406,880,benefit-cost ratio of 3.83,and an internal rate of return or break-even discount rate of 36.80%.These results indicate the positive impact of VCF,measured in terms of net present value and net benefit,expressed as producer and consumer surplus.This suggests VCF is a viable and beneficial financing innovation for food production in Nigeria.Finally,it is recommended that a value chain financing agency be established to make finance available to farmers to boost food production in Nigeria.

China's Position in Global Value Chains Compared with the EU,U.S.and Japan

By creating a five-country I-O model of China, EU, US, Japan and other countries, this paper decomposes gross export into nine parts and investigates the GVC positions and competitiveness of China and the other three economies for different sectors using real domestic trade in value-added and GVC position indices. In addition, valueadded trade is taken into consideration to identify the labor division characteristics of the four economies in the GVC, which led to the following findings: China participates primarily in the single links of the GVC at the downstream yet shows a significant tendency to move upstream in technology-intensive sectors; Japan participates primarily in the single links of the GVC at the upstream and boasts an advantage in technology-intensive sectors; the US participates in the multiple links of the GVC at the upstream with superiority in hightechnology sectors; the EU participates in the production and export of intermediate goods and final goods at both ends.

The Sesame (<i>Sesamum indicum L.</i>) Value Chain and Microbiological Quality of Crude Sesame Oil, a Case Study in Western Tigray, Ethiopia

Crude sesame oil (CSO) is the widely used unrefined edible oil. Storage instability, off-flavour, and discoloration are, however, challenges in the industry. The purpose of this study was to map the sesame value chain, assess the suitability of CSO extraction plant, and analyze the microbial quality of CSO and premises environment. A structured Questionnaire and checklist were used to assess the sesame value chain and evaluate the suitability of the CSO extraction plant. Microbiological quality assessment was conducted using standard analytical methods. Stakeholders in the sesame value chain were inclusive of farmers, market mediators, traders, regulatory, extension workers and researchers. Though, illiteracy, inadequate technology, and infrastructure were the drawbacks. The CSO extraction plant was suitable apart from inadequate ingredients and CSO handling and unhygienic practices. Total aerobic bacteria (4.34 - 5.06 log10 CFU/m2 on swap surfaces, 2.44 log10 CFU/g in CSO), total Coliforms (5.81 log10 CFU/g of animal manure and 1.36 log10 CFU of indoor air after extraction), yeasts and moulds (2.31 log10 CFU/g of sesame seed and CSO and 4.47 log10 CFU/m2 of swap sample), Aspergillus species (1.17 - 1.33 log10 CFU/g of sesame seed/CSO, 3.37 - 3.50 log10 CFU/m2 of swap samples), and Staphylococcus aureus (2.09 log10 CFU/g of CSO, 2.56 - 3.22 log10 CFU/m2 of surface swaps, 3.26 - 3.77 log10 CFU/protective clothing, 0.74 - 1.82 log10 CFU of the indoor and outdoor air) were detected. Escherichia coli, Salmonella and Shigella were not detected. In conclusion, potential microbial pathogens were detected to impose food safety problems and economic loss. To improve the sesame value chain and CSO quality workers training on good handling and hygienic practices and thoughtful regulatory implementation are significant.

The Study of the Application of the Gray Relevancy Analysis to the Value Chain Based Cost Control

Cost problem is always a bottleneck which ties to the development and the competition ability in the enterprise of our country, especially in state-owned enterprise. Practice proves that traditional cost control can not satisfy the needs of enterprises. Enterprises are seeking better cost control approach with great efforts in order to calculate and control cost more accurately, and require cost control system has more strong functions. This paper analyzes value chain based cost control approach, and applies the gray relevancy analysis to the approach rightly.

Cost control based on value chain paying equal attention to earning more income and cutting down expense

According to the idea of cost control based on the value chain, several important factors are necessary. Firstly, it is necessary to have enough resources, which must be invested to create advantageous value chain based on customer value. It is also necessary to be sure of the cost advantage of the value chain. Secondly, the consumption of resources must be reduced as much as possible to enable the smallest operating cost for the value chain and make sure of the cost advantage based on maximum business value or profit. It is a kind of cost control from the whole view of creation and supply of value. In practice, it is also a kind of cost control system based on the value chain. It includes enough control and necessary resource investment from the view of the value creation, and keeps consumption of resources to a reasonable level from the view of the value supply. The main object of the first factor is to construct the advantageous value chain from creating customer value; and the second factor is to strengthen the advantageous value chain from supplying or producing customer value. Therefore it is a new kind of idea to explore this cost control from the whole view of creation and supply of value. It is more profitable for businesses to gain sustainable competitive advantage.