Environmental policy and management
Maryam Ziaabadi; Mohammadreza Zare Mehrjerdi
Volume 9, Issue 4 , Autumn 2019, , Pages 293-305
Abstract
Given the unlimited needs of mankind and the limited resources available, human beings have always been thinking about how to use the available resources and facilities optimally. Energy plays an important role in economic activities and it is of great importance in agriculture. Over the past four decades, ...
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Given the unlimited needs of mankind and the limited resources available, human beings have always been thinking about how to use the available resources and facilities optimally. Energy plays an important role in economic activities and it is of great importance in agriculture. Over the past four decades, energy consumption in the agricultural sector has increased tremendously. In Iran, energy used to be provided with subsidies to various economic sectors like agriculture in order to support the production. In this study, the ARDL- FUZZY method is used to study the effect of various factors on energy consumption in Iran's agricultural sector. The data on energy consumption by the agricultural sector, the share of the agricultural sector in the economy, the ratio of capital to labor, energy intensity, and energy prices were collected for the period 1974-2015. The results indicate that the share of the agricultural sector has a positive and significant effect on energy consumption over the studied period. The capital/labor ratio has a positive effect on energy consumption. Energy intensity in the studied period eventually has an irregular trend and has a positive effect on energy consumption in this sector. Energy prices (fossil fuels and electricity) have a negative effect (a low level of significance) on energy consumption. Therefore, it is suggested to give more consideration to energy consumption and its underlying factors in policymaking due to the importance of energy and the problem of pollution.
Environmental policy and management
Mohammadreza Sasouli; Abdul Rashid Jamnia
Volume 9, Issue 3 , Summer 2019, , Pages 229-236
Abstract
Energy carriers are one of the most important inputs in the agricultural sector. These inputs have been the foundation of the development and transition of the agricultural sector from the traditional stage to the industrial stage. The energy per capita marginal consumption in Iran’s agricultural ...
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Energy carriers are one of the most important inputs in the agricultural sector. These inputs have been the foundation of the development and transition of the agricultural sector from the traditional stage to the industrial stage. The energy per capita marginal consumption in Iran’s agricultural sector is 3.2 times greater than its global average. Therefore, it is essential to save and optimally use energy carriers in this sector. Price liberalization is known as the most important pricing tool. The present study analyzes the effect of the prices of energy carriers on the productivity of their consumption in the agricultural sector by using the hidden cointegration method. The results show that the productivity of electricity and oil products display an asymmetric behavior in response to energy price variations so that electricity productivity decreases by 1145.04 units as the prices of electricity carriers rise and increases by 1254.32 units when the prices of electricity decrease. Also, when the price of oil products increases, productivity shows an increase of 22.18 units. In addition, the productivity of oil product carriers is improved by increasing their prices. Therefore, price correction is inevitable in the energy carrier sector. Given the asymmetric effect of the price of electricity on its productivity, the type of electricity price correction process should be considered along with non-price policies. The pricing tool only provides an incentive for productivity growth through the substitution of production factors. Given these conditions, if there is no economic structure and facilities to improve productivity, it cannot be expected that the pattern of energy consumption is corrected.
Strategic planning
Ali Sardar Shahraki; Javad Shahraki; Seyed Arman Hashemi Monfared
Volume 9, Issue 1 , Winter 2019, , Pages 25-35
Abstract
Due to the frequent drought periods, water consumption increase, and competition of different water-using sectors, the Hirmand catchment is in a critical water status in the Sistan region. This threat has been intensified in recent years. To cope with this problem, we must pay more attention to different ...
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Due to the frequent drought periods, water consumption increase, and competition of different water-using sectors, the Hirmand catchment is in a critical water status in the Sistan region. This threat has been intensified in recent years. To cope with this problem, we must pay more attention to different types of water use such as virtual water as a water saving method. The present study calculates virtual water demand of agricultural products in the Sistan region in the cropping year of 2013-2014 using water evaluation and planning (WEAP) system. Furthermore, impacts of the implementation of the virtual water scenarios are predicted on water resources and consumption over the 2015-2030 period. Results show that tomato and alfalfa have less virtual water demand despite their high water requirements due to their high production yield. Furthermore, wheat and barley have the highest virtual water demand. Also, the results of the WEAP model reveal that in the virtual water scenario, the mean annual water demand is lower than the current account (61% for net efficiency, 17% for current efficiency). Consequently, unmet demand will be reduced about 383 million m3. Therefore, given the prevalence of drought in the region, it is appropriate to implement this scenario to protect water resources. Hence, it is highly recommended to orient planning and investment in agricultural development projects of the Sistan region with the concept of virtual water.
Farming Systems
Majid Ghanbari Nezhad; Seyed Mojtaba Sajadi; Ali Badizadeh
Volume 8, Issue 3 , Summer 2018, , Pages 397-407
Abstract
Agriculture is one of the pillars of economics and its development requires a particular attention to all production factors. This paper aims to provide a systematic and conceptual model that is based on a conceptualization of the field. For this purpose, the theory and methodology based on data derived ...
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Agriculture is one of the pillars of economics and its development requires a particular attention to all production factors. This paper aims to provide a systematic and conceptual model that is based on a conceptualization of the field. For this purpose, the theory and methodology based on data derived from field observations and interviews drawn from a systematic conceptual model of key informants, was extracted. The current model shows that original category of agriculture business i.e. business growth is originated from causal conditions including personal features, supportive roles, and production factors and based on evaluation strategies and the exploitation of opportunities leads to new value based on business growth as a result of the process. Underlying conditions, such as individual factors, and geographical conditions as well as environmental conditions, including the government, the legislature, and banks are effective in this process. Understanding the aspects of business growth is effective in formulating policies to support and promote entrepreneurship. Moreover, designing a growth model to help business owners select a definition for firm growth is essential. It is noteworthy that until now, the majority of the proposed models have been ineffective in some aspects and more attention is needed for future growth modeling in research areas.
Decision-making
Zeinab Moinoddini; Hamid Mohammadi; Hosein Mehrabi Boshrabadi
Volume 8, Issue 3 , Summer 2018, , Pages 433-439
Abstract
The economy of Iran is dependent on many variables that play a role in its growth and development. On the other hand, rainfall is one of the important factors of climate change that has affected economic strategic programs including those of the agricultural sector. Rainfall variations ...
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The economy of Iran is dependent on many variables that play a role in its growth and development. On the other hand, rainfall is one of the important factors of climate change that has affected economic strategic programs including those of the agricultural sector. Rainfall variations impact many economic variables, some of which are explored here. The aim of this study was to evaluate rainfall shocks on some economic variables using a general equilibrium model that included the best scenario representing the highest rainfall, the worst scenario representing the lowest rainfall, and normal scenario considering average rainfall. To check the effect of these changes on the agricultural sector, a set of commodities produced by this section is considered separately, and other sections are considered in general. The results showed that the production of these commodities has been increased by about 14% in the best rainfall scenario. All commodities have been faced with reduced consumption from 0.3% to 10.3% in the worst rainfall scenario; this was the greatest loss of products related to the agricultural commodities. Rainfall increased the price of all commodities by 0.25-28.7%, except for industry. Both private and public investments were influenced by rainfall change.
Mojtaba Nabizadeh Zolpirani; Hamid Amirnejad; Ali Shahnazari
Volume 8, Issue 1 , Winter 2018, , Pages 35-46
Abstract
Water pricing is considered as one of the most important management tools of water resources, which can result in optimized allocation in the agricultural sector. In this regard, this study estimated the cost of water and the value of water in the farmlands covered by the selected manmade ponds (MMPs) ...
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Water pricing is considered as one of the most important management tools of water resources, which can result in optimized allocation in the agricultural sector. In this regard, this study estimated the cost of water and the value of water in the farmlands covered by the selected manmade ponds (MMPs) within the Alborz project area in Mazandaran Province using the engineering economics methods and production function calculation. The required data were collected via a survey conducted in 2013-2014 growing season. Sample size was estimated to be 198 people. After studying various production functions, transcendental production function was chosen as the best functional form. Next, the economic value of water for rice in the basin covered by the selected MMPs was calculated to be 19,065 IRR per m3 using an estimation of the production function. In addition, the cost of water per m3 in the selected MMPs was obtained as to be 868 IRR at the interest rate of 22% and 394 IRR at the interest rate of 12%. Comparing the cost of water with the economic value of water demonstrated that the economic value of water is higher than the cost of water in the selected MMPs, and that both of them had great difference with the price paid by farmers. The implication is that the existing gap between the real price and the price paid by farmers should be filled by the economical pricing of water.
Nader Barani; Mohammad Hossein Menhaj; Esmaeil Ramezanpoor; Mahmud Ahmadpoor Borazjani
Abstract
One of the obstacles that has caused agricultural sector not to reach significant and expected growth is shortage of short, medium and long–term funds to finance various activities of this sector. This study aims at investigating the economic impacts of credits granted by Agricultural bank on farmers ...
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One of the obstacles that has caused agricultural sector not to reach significant and expected growth is shortage of short, medium and long–term funds to finance various activities of this sector. This study aims at investigating the economic impacts of credits granted by Agricultural bank on farmers on Hirmand region. The statistical population of the survey included 4691 farmers of Hirmand region and the sample size were 117 farmers who had received loan from agricultural bank at least once during 2006-2011. The Sample was selected using simple random sampling and questionnaires were distributed among them. The results from t-Test showed that significant level for income manufacturing variants was 0.000 and for investment and livelihood variants were 0.014 and 0.077, respectively. This significantly levels suggest that received loan from bank has increased income and production, the living conditions of borrowers, economic profitability and increased productivity.
Mohsen Salehi Komroudi; Esmaeil Pishbahar; Hossein Raheli
Volume 4, Issue 3 , Summer 2014, , Pages 219-226
Abstract
From the perspective of new growth models and new international trade theories, both exports and imports play an important role in a dynamic economy. Economically, we cannot merely emphasize on a positive trade balance and we ignore the benefits of imports, and also we cannot advise negative trade balance. ...
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From the perspective of new growth models and new international trade theories, both exports and imports play an important role in a dynamic economy. Economically, we cannot merely emphasize on a positive trade balance and we ignore the benefits of imports, and also we cannot advise negative trade balance. But the main concern of policy makers about international trade should be making stability and equilibrium of trade balance in the long run. Especially, deficit agricultural trade balance can be a great danger for food security. Hence, the main objective of this study was to test the sustainability of Iran's agricultural trade balance during the period 1961-2011 (1340-1390). For this purpose, After confirming the existence of cointegration by Gregory-Hansen Test, Hasted and Arize models was estimated with OLS, FMOLS and DOLS methods and it released we can verify sustainability of agricultural trade balance during the period of the study. Also, the estimation of error correction model showed that there is a bidirectional causality relationship between import and export in long-run while in short-run export only cause import in agriculture sector.
Yaser Feizabadi
Volume 4, Issue 1 , Winter 2014, , Pages 1-5
Abstract
This paper aims to analyze tariff protection policies in the agricultural sector of developing countries. The agricultural tariff structure in developing countries is characterized by: i) high average tariffs, ii) the existence of tariff escalation, iii) dispersion of nominal tariffs across tariff lines, ...
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This paper aims to analyze tariff protection policies in the agricultural sector of developing countries. The agricultural tariff structure in developing countries is characterized by: i) high average tariffs, ii) the existence of tariff escalation, iii) dispersion of nominal tariffs across tariff lines, and iv) a wide gap between average nominal tariffs and import-weighted average tariffs. Consequently, some features can be extracted that are consistent with the observed patterns of tariff protection in developing countries: i) escalation of nominal tariff rates with the degree of processing, ii) higher average tariffs in the agricultural sector compared to agriculture in developed countries, and iii) higher non-agricultural than agricultural tariff protection. Here the Theory of Political Tariff Protection for Agricultural Sector in developing countries is described. This theory allows us to identify two sets of products. Agricultural products for which tariffs are higher than their political fitted values, therefore, tariff cuts should occur in a long period of time and for which tariffs are higher than their political fitted values therefore tariff reductions would not be politically costly.
