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In this book, Leslie Small and Ian Carruthers examine in detail the potentials and limitations of user fees for financing irrigation operation and maintenance. Both authors have extensive field experience in irrigation in developing countries and have combined this experience with simple concepts of economics to examine possible institutional and financial reforms that would not simply ask farmers to pay for an inadequate irrigation service, but would create the potential for significant improvements in the quality of the service provided.The proposed elements of any such reform are discussed in depth--a system of user fees covering the recurrent costs of irrigation; a financially autonomous irrigation agency that can retain and use the fees to operate and maintain the irrigation facilities; and a macro policy environment that is not unduly skewed against the agricultural sector. ... Read more

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`This is an insightful book of ideas offering an alternative conceptualisation of the problems of international agricultural trade, which are seen as polycentric and so must be managed rather than resolved. It demonstrates that where there is convergence without genuine agreement on the meaning no specific resolution can be achieved. The author is to be commended for offering a valuable springboard for further reflection on the management of the problems of international agricultural trade.'
- Joseph McMahon, University College Dublin, Ireland

International agricultural trade regulation remains problematic despite the creation of the WTO and a specific Agreement on Agriculture in 1995. Fiona Smith challenges this orthodoxy and presents a new conceptual method by which the problem of international agricultural trade in the WTO can be understood.

Attempts to revise the rules in the Doha Development Round of multilateral trade talks have repeatedly stalled as negotiators grapple with what is perceived to be the problem of international agricultural trade. Issues such as how best to address the contemporary challenges to market liberalisation whilst preserving the environment, difficulties of biofuels, development, human rights and the demands of the changing nature of global governance are all examined in this timely book.

Challenging convention and introducing new concepts, Agriculture and the WTO will strongly appeal to academics working in the fields of international agricultural trade, international relations, international economic law, agriculture law and policy. It will also be warmly welcomed by policymakers and graduate students with a special interest in international agricultural trade. ... Read more

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Introduction to Agricultural Accounting offers an approach for compiling and analyzing accounting information specific to agricultural operations. Unlike typical accounting books, this text addresses the issues and situations unique to the agricultural industry, and offers relevant examples of accounting applied to agricultural operations. The accounting procedures offered build on current practice in agriculture. Cash-basis accounting, prevalent in many farm operations is explained in the text through an accrual-adjusted system. This system provides more accurate information for the measurement of profitability of the farm operation. Figures and tables are presented throughout for easy reference, and to simplify accounting practices. The easy-to-understand approach is appropriate for learners without any accounting background. ... Read more

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This looks good
I work in the farming busness and this looks much better than the books available in the library. ... Read more

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The fifth and last volume in the Distortions to Agricultural Incentives series focus on distortions to agricultural incentives from a global perspective. Distortions to Agricultural Incentives series brings together analytical narratives of the evolution over the past half-century of policy-imposed distortions to farmer incentives and food prices in 80 countries, drawing on new, consistent set of estimates spanning 90 percent of the world's agricultural markets. The first two titles in the series focus on Europe's transitional economies and Latin America. Other forthcoming titles in this series will focus on Africa and Asia. ... Read more

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PREFACE THE present volume was undertaken in the hope of accom plishing two distinct but closely related aims to provide a text book in agricultural economics suitable for the use of be ginning students and one also adapted to the needs of the large class of general readers whose interest in the economic problems of agriculture is being awakened. The fulfillment of these two aims seemed to require on the one hand simplicity of treatment and of style, together with the mechanical features requisite for a text adapted to use in the schools, arid on the other hand comprehensiveness of scope. With the latter idea in mind the book has been made to cover the important phases of agricultural economics with reasonable completeness. Chapters are devoted to the subjects commonly included in the field of farm management as well as to those considered to belong to agricultural economics in the narrow sense. In some respects the order of treatment may be considered a little unusual, and a few remarks may be offered in justification. Following the introductory chapter, attention is first directed to the idea of systems of farming as determined by physical, economic, and social conditions In this connection the opportunity is afforded the teacher to devote some time to the study of agricultural geography. The next ten chapters are devoted to those aspects of the subject usually classified under farm management. Because the point of view is largely that of yiii PREFACE the individual farm it seems desirable that these chapters precede the more generalized topics connected with the con sideration of the collective economic phenomena of agri cultural production and marketing. It is said that value and price are the central themes of economics. Nevertheless the chapters on value and price are near the end of the book. This is due to the writers belief that value and price cannot be adequately discussed without a previous knowledge of the mechanism of purchase and sale and of the various facilities for price deter mination discovery. Consequently the discussion of value and price is made to follow the chapters on marketing. One would be rash indeed to write a book in so new a field without drawing heavily on the pioneer work of others. For the most part no attempt has been made in the present book to give specific credit for these obligations. In fact, the obligation in many cases is not easily traceable to a particular source. It is proper, therefore, that the present opportunity be em ployed to acknowledge the present writers indebtedness to the writings or oral suggestions of H. C. Taylor, G. F. Warren, R. T. Ely, W. J. Spillman, B. H. Hibbard f. N. Carver, and E. Jouzicr, as well as to many other writers on the subject of agricultural economics and . to numerous writers in the field of general economics. A close intellectual association of nearly fifteen years with Doctor II. C. Taylor and Professor R. T. Ely has made their influence especially potent. I am obliged to the following for generous aid in reading various parts of the manuscript and making valuable sugges tions Professor John D. Black, of the University of Minnesota G. W. Forster, C. R. Chambers, Charles L. Stewart, Bertha Henderson, 0. E. Baker, John S. Cotton, H. R. Tolley, L. A. Rcynoldson, H. W. Hawthorne, S. W. Mendum, O. A. Juve, R. R. Spafford, and L. A... ... Read more

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Hardbound. ... Read more

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This book answers the questions: what is happening to American agriculture, and why? Steven C. Blank uses portfolio theory to analyze both macro- and microeconomic data that paints a clear picture of the trends in agriculture, and explains why these trends are consistent with market evolution and global economic development. He clarifies agriculture's specific role in economic development with a focus on the current and future globalizing commodity markets. The book features empirical research that demonstrates the link between farm-level investment decisions and regional and national economic trends. It shows how the dynamic environment of industrialization and globalization of agriculture is part of a continuing development that is driven by technological innovation. This all points to a future with a very different agricultural production sector and some extremely important policy choices that will face the entire country. ... Read more

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Edited by a recognized leader in the field, Herbicide-Resistant Crops is the first book to cover all of the issues related to the controversial topic of herbicide-resistant crops. It provides extensive discussions of the modern biotechnological methods that have been used to develop such crops, and reviews the implications - both positive and negative - of developing crops that are resistant to herbicides. The creation and anticipated applications of specific herbicide-resistant crops are also discussed. In addition, the book covers the potential impact of herbicide-resistant crops on weed management practices and the environment, and presents issues related to the regulation and economics of these crops. The editor has brought together a diverse group of professionals, representing the several distinct areas impacted by the new technology of herbicide-resistant crops. The wide range of viewpoints presented in this book creates a balanced and complete survey, providing a notable contribution to the literature. ... Read more

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This book addresses the continuing controversy over the potential impact of genetically modified (GM) crops in developing countries. Supporters of the technology claim it offers one of the best hopes for increasing agricultural production and reducing rural poverty, while opponents see it as an untested intervention that will bring corporate control of peasant farming. The book examines the issues by reviewing the experience of GM, insect-resistant cotton, the most widely grown GM crop in developing countries.

The book begins with an introduction to agricultural biotechnology, a brief examination of the history of cotton production technology (and the institutions required to support that technology), and a thorough review of the literature on the agronomic performance of GM cotton. It then provides a review of the economic and institutional outcomes of GM cotton during the first decade of its use. The core of the book is four country case studies based on original fieldwork in the principal developing countries growing GM cotton (China, India, South Africa and Colombia). The book concludes with a summary of the experience to date and implications for the future of GM crops in developing countries.

This review challenges those who have predicted technological failure by describing instances in which GM cotton has proven useful and has been enthusiastically taken up by smallholders. But it also challenges those who claim that biotechnology can take the lead in agricultural development by examining the precarious institutional basis on which these hopes rest in most countries. The analysis shows how biotechnology’s potential contribution to agricultural development must be seen as a part of (and often secondary to) more fundamental policy change. The book should be of interest to a wide audience concerned with agricultural development. This would include academics in the social and agricultural sciences, donor agencies and NGOs.

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Volume 3 of this series of the Handbooks in Economics follows on from the previous two volumes by focusing on the fundamental concepts of agricultural economics. The first part of the volume examines the developments in human resources and technology mastery. The second part follows on by considering the processes and impact of invention and innovation in this field. The effects of market forces are examined in the third part, and the volume concludes by analysing the economics of our changing natural resources, including the past effects of climate change.
Overall this volume forms a comprehensive and accessible survey of the field of agricultural economics and is recommended reading for anyone with an interest, either academic or professional, in this area.

*Part of the renown Handbooks in Economics series
*Contributors are leaders of their areas
*International in scope and comprehensive in coverage ... Read more

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The Second Edition of Economics of Water Resources: FromRegulation to Privatization updates and expands theexposition of the authors' central theses concerning: 1.the integration of water quantity--quality issues, andthe treatment of water as a multi-product commodity, with the marketplaying the major role in the determination of waterquality--discrimination pricing;2.the drawbacks of publiccontrol, regulation and enforcement, and the need to expandprivatization of water supply and of water and wastewater treatmentfacilities to ensure their appropriate, adequate, development andmodernization through increased reliance on private capital;3. the unification and centralization of water management at river basinlevel in order to handle effectively the expanding pressures for wateravailability, for the evaluation of waterborne disease, for extensiveand effective pollution abatement as well as for coping with therelated issues of soil erosion, siltation in streams, channels andreservoirs, protection against stress from drought and floods, andwith myriad problems relating to the environment, recreation andnavigation.While expanding and updating the underlying data, the authors maintainthe basic division of the book into four parts. Part I presents theconceptual framework within which are examined the interactingelements in the management of water resources and the role of marketin water pricing and in quality-graded quantity of water. Part IIfocuses on water quality control, on the nature and impact ofpollution, on water recycling and reuse, and on the prevailing policyinstruments. Part III points to the deficiencies of engineeringsolutions in the choice of public expenditures needed for theconstruction of water systems and stresses the role of privatizationand of centralization at the level of river basins. Part IV underlinesthe need for coordinating all supply programs, projected demand,recycling and reuse. Economics of Water Resources: From Regulation to Privatizationprobes the fundamental concepts concerning the regulation andprivatization of water resources, of water pricing, of public policiesconcerning the allocation of water supplied to users, and examines allof the issues involved in a truly market-determined framework.It aims to inform and prepare all persons interested in the study andmanagement of water problems. The book can be used in courses on waterresource management and planning, economics of water resources, or asa basic reference work on water resources in general. ... Read more

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Volume 4 focuses on regional diversity, farm structure, agricultural policy, and aid to agriculture. ... Read more

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This book explores the broad issues and essential topics involved in international agricultural trade: agricultural policy, foreign direct investment, technical barriers, macroeconomics, the environment, preferential trade agreements. It presents this fundamental material as part of a complete treatment that offers students an understanding of how the current trade regime works, and which parties benefit and lose as the regime changes.Chapter topics include gains from trade, policies of importing and exporting companies, multilateral trade negotiations, European agriculture, and international marketing.For individuals with a background in intermediate microeconomics, ready for an extensive graphical analysis of trade issues. ... Read more

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Globalization& Trade in Agricultural products in LDCs
No doubt that the new economic order will cause some negative effects on the economies of the LDCs. The main effect is related to the prices of the agricultural products which will increase according to theGATT.Therefore this book highlights the international Trade trends in this field.Also, this book may help scholars and researchers in this field of study. ... Read more

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There are currently many controversial socioeconomic issues concerned with the development and implementation of agricultural biotechnology. This book presents selected revised and edited papers from the fourth and fifth meetings of the International Consortium on Agricultural Biotechnology Research, held in Italy in 2000 and 2001. ... Read more

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Drawing from economics, anthropology, statistics, and history to examine large samples of foraging (hunting, gathering and fishing), agricultural and industrial societies, Frederic L. Pryor isolates their economic systems.He explores why certain societies or nations have one system rather than another, examines the impact of these economic systems on the societies' welfare and studies their development and changes. The book presents a broad framework for understanding economic systems and provides considerable evidence on both preindustrial and industrial systems. ... Read more

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A growing concern for environmental quality and resource scarcity has led to numerous policy debates regarding resource utilization around the world. This is especially true when it comes to agriculture. This textbook brings together economic theory and resource-specific problems of agriculture, and includes aggregate- and micro-level models and examples for most resource and environmental issues. Although the book's emphasis is on cropland agriculture, there are also examples from livestock, poultry, grazing, fisheries, orchards, and forestry. Students and professionals in resource economics, management, and policy as well as economists and planners in government agencies will benefit from the valuable lessons presented here. ... Read more

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By incorporating recent advances in economics that are indispensable to underdstanding how agricultural markets operate and how prices are determinded, this book helps users learn to think rigorously and analytically about real-life economic phenomena, that is, to think like economicst. It helps readers gain a holistic and coherent understanding of the complexity, interdependency, and synthesis within the production/marketing/policy mix that is involved in agricultural pricing.Offers extremely comprehensive coverage (in both breadth and depth) that provides an integrative approach to agricultural economics—cutting across production, marketing, foreign trade, and policy. Analyzes price-affecting phenomena such as production lags, uncertainty, price expectations, hedging, marketing costs, product heterogeneity, demand for exports, inter-regional trade, storage, noncompetitive markets, and farm programs. Explores and rigorously analyzes the special characteristics of agricultural markets in light of the recent results of economics research—offering new insights into agricultural price determination. Shows that real-world observations point to the need for, and analysis of, new sets of assumptions as well as how to apply the tools of analysis learned in intermediate microeconomic courses to real-world markets—and develop new tools ... Read more