A case study of cash cropping in Nepal: poverty alleviation or inequity?

Agricultural commercialization as a mechanism to alleviate rural poverty raises concerns about small land-holders, non-adopters, and inequity in the distribution of benefits within transforming economies. Farm gross margins were calculated to assess the economic status and impact of cash cropping on...

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Autores principales: Brown, S., Kennedy, G.
Formato: Journal Article
Lenguaje:Inglés
Publicado: Springer 2005
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/42517
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author Brown, S.
Kennedy, G.
author_browse Brown, S.
Kennedy, G.
author_facet Brown, S.
Kennedy, G.
author_sort Brown, S.
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description Agricultural commercialization as a mechanism to alleviate rural poverty raises concerns about small land-holders, non-adopters, and inequity in the distribution of benefits within transforming economies. Farm gross margins were calculated to assess the economic status and impact of cash cropping on the economic well-being of agrarian households in the Mid-hills of Nepal. On an individual crop basis, tomatoes and potatoes were the most profitable. On a per farm basis, 50 of the households with positive farm gross margins grew at least one vegetable crop, while only 25 of households with negative farm gross margins included vegetable crops in their rotation. Farmers have been hesitant to produce primarily for the market given the rudimentary infrastructure and high variability in prices. Farmers reported selling more crops, but when corrected for inflation, gross revenues declined over time. The costs and benefits of developing markets have been unevenly distributed with small holders unable to capitalize on market opportunities, and wealthier farmers engaging in input intensive cash cropping. Farms growing vegetables had an average gross margin of US$137 per year compared to US$12 per year for farms growing only staple crops. However, the area under production is small, and while vegetable production is likely to continue increasing, sensitivity analysis and scenarios suggest high variability and limited short-term impact on poverty alleviation.
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spelling CGSpace425172024-05-01T08:19:18Z A case study of cash cropping in Nepal: poverty alleviation or inequity? Brown, S. Kennedy, G. gender cash crops gross margins home economics markets poverty case studies nepal cultivos comerciales beneficio bruto economía del hogar mercados pobreza estudios de casos prácticos Agricultural commercialization as a mechanism to alleviate rural poverty raises concerns about small land-holders, non-adopters, and inequity in the distribution of benefits within transforming economies. Farm gross margins were calculated to assess the economic status and impact of cash cropping on the economic well-being of agrarian households in the Mid-hills of Nepal. On an individual crop basis, tomatoes and potatoes were the most profitable. On a per farm basis, 50 of the households with positive farm gross margins grew at least one vegetable crop, while only 25 of households with negative farm gross margins included vegetable crops in their rotation. Farmers have been hesitant to produce primarily for the market given the rudimentary infrastructure and high variability in prices. Farmers reported selling more crops, but when corrected for inflation, gross revenues declined over time. The costs and benefits of developing markets have been unevenly distributed with small holders unable to capitalize on market opportunities, and wealthier farmers engaging in input intensive cash cropping. Farms growing vegetables had an average gross margin of US$137 per year compared to US$12 per year for farms growing only staple crops. However, the area under production is small, and while vegetable production is likely to continue increasing, sensitivity analysis and scenarios suggest high variability and limited short-term impact on poverty alleviation. 2005-03 2014-09-24T07:58:08Z 2014-09-24T07:58:08Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/42517 en Limited Access Springer Brown, S, Kennedy, G. 2005. A case study of cash cropping in Nepal: poverty alleviation or inequity? Agriculture and Human Values. 22 (1), 105-116.
spellingShingle gender
cash crops
gross margins
home economics
markets
poverty
case studies
nepal
cultivos comerciales
beneficio bruto
economía del hogar
mercados
pobreza
estudios de casos prácticos
Brown, S.
Kennedy, G.
A case study of cash cropping in Nepal: poverty alleviation or inequity?
title A case study of cash cropping in Nepal: poverty alleviation or inequity?
title_full A case study of cash cropping in Nepal: poverty alleviation or inequity?
title_fullStr A case study of cash cropping in Nepal: poverty alleviation or inequity?
title_full_unstemmed A case study of cash cropping in Nepal: poverty alleviation or inequity?
title_short A case study of cash cropping in Nepal: poverty alleviation or inequity?
title_sort case study of cash cropping in nepal poverty alleviation or inequity
topic gender
cash crops
gross margins
home economics
markets
poverty
case studies
nepal
cultivos comerciales
beneficio bruto
economía del hogar
mercados
pobreza
estudios de casos prácticos
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/42517
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AT browns casestudyofcashcroppinginnepalpovertyalleviationorinequity
AT kennedyg casestudyofcashcroppinginnepalpovertyalleviationorinequity