Other Agriculture Study

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    Mongolia : Livestock Sector Study
    (Washington, DC, 2009-09-15) World Bank
    The purpose of this synthesis report is to try and draw together recent work on the sector to understand in greater detail what is driving the sector, and how these drivers and trends may play out in the future and what options are available in response. This is not a strategy for the sector, but rather an attempt to provide some clarity to the development of the sector as a basis for stimulating discussion to inform strategy and specifically, to inform government policy and expenditure in the sector. The report draws upon five working papers (WPs) that were commissioned by the Ministry of Food and Agriculture in 2006 and 2007 . These papers tried to fill gaps in current knowledge of drivers in the sector rather than provide a comprehensive study of the sector, and their findings have been supplemented by other work in the sector.
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    Assessment of Innovative Approaches to Flood Risk Management and Financing in Agriculture : The Thailand Case Study
    (Washington, DC, 2009-05) World Bank
    The World Bank recently conducted research and concept-testing activities to investigate the expansion of the index approach from drought to flood. The main objective was to assess prerequisite conditions, as well as practical and efficient methods, to conceptualize and potentially implement index-based insurance for agricultural flood losses. In addition, the work assessed how modern technologies such as flood modeling and remote sensing-which are widely used to support flood risk mapping, and flood detection, warning and control-could be harnessed to support the design of such flood insurance programs for rural clients. This paper summarizes the findings from work carried out from September 2005 to April 2008 in the Muang Petchaboon District of the Petchaboon province in Thailand. The next section illustrates the importance of flood risk in agriculture and challenges in providing flood insurance. The following section describes the flood index insurance concept and methodology that were tested during the feasibility study. Section four highlights the findings from the Petchaboon province of Thailand, and the final section synthesizes lessons learned and recommends areas for future research and applications. Finally, it is important to recognize that the process of quantifying weather risk, and of creating an operational system which combines risk and asset information, have much broader applications than simply for index-based weather insurance or other risk transfer solutions.
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    Lao People's Democratic Republic - Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures : Enhancing Trade, Food Safety, and Agricultural Health
    (World Bank, 2009-01-01) World Bank
    Lao People's Democratic Republic (PDR) is making effort to integrate itself into the regional and international economy. It is seeking membership in the World Trade Organization (WTO); participating in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN); the ASEAN free trade agreement (AFTA), and the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS); and working to attract foreign investment and to expand its foreign trade. In recent years Lao PDR has been successful in rapidly expanding its export and import of agricultural food, and forestry products. Most trade is with neighboring China, Thailand, and Vietnam. Improved infrastructure in the GMS and availability of good land in Lao PDR offers potential for further growth of agricultural production and exports. Commercialization of agriculture will lead to further import of seed, planting material, breeding stock, pesticides, veterinary drugs, fertilizer, and animal seed. Further increases in income and changes in consumer demand will lead to greater imports of consumer goods. Increased foreign trade raises exposure to risks of also importing animal and plant pests and diseases, and foods that are unsuitable for consumption. Import of seeds, planting material, breeding stock, pesticides, and veterinary drugs pose particularly increased risks. Lao PDR needs in general to strengthen protection against an influx of pests and diseases, and to assure safety of food, that is, to strengthen sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures.
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    Sustainable Management of Agricultural Research and Technology Dissemination (SMARTD) : A Strategic Framework
    (Washington, DC, 2008-06) World Bank
    Revitalizing agriculture is critical for rural Indonesia's economic prosperity. Historically, Indonesia's dramatic poverty reduction was driven by progress in agriculture and agriculture continues to be a potent driver of growth and poverty alleviation. Agricultural sector growth strongly induces non-agricultural sector growth in rural areas, particularly through demand for locally produced and services. Agricultural sector productivity growth (along with price changes) has remained the most important way out of poverty. To shift agriculture along these dimensions, Indonesia needs to transition from its current and ineffective public stance, growing subsidies and selective output protection, to a more aggressive provision of public goods and services that build support systems for farmers to achieve continuous productivity gains. This will require an enabling agriculture policy environment, significant improvement in the delivery of services, agricultural research and extension in particular, and supporting enabling investments, which will encourage small farmers to move to high value agricultural activities. This will boost employment and raise incomes in rural areas while creating a bigger rural market with greater trade and investment opportunities.
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    Sustainable Management of Agricultural Research and Technology Dissemination (SMARTD) : A Strategic Framework
    (World Bank, Washington, DC, 2008-06) World Bank
    Revitalizing agriculture is critical for rural Indonesia's economic prosperity. Historically, Indonesia's dramatic poverty reduction was driven by progress in agriculture and agriculture continues to be a potent driver of growth and poverty alleviation. Agricultural sector growth strongly induces non-agricultural sector growth in rural areas, particularly through demand for locally produced and services. Agricultural sector productivity growth (along with price changes) has remained the most important way out of poverty. To shift agriculture along these dimensions, Indonesia needs to transition from its current and ineffective public stance, growing subsidies and selective output protection, to a more aggressive provision of public goods and services that build support systems for farmers to achieve continuous productivity gains. This will require an enabling agriculture policy environment, significant improvement in the delivery of services, agricultural research and extension in particular, and supporting enabling investments, which will encourage small farmers to move to high value agricultural activities. This will boost employment and raise incomes in rural areas while creating a bigger rural market with greater trade and investment opportunities.
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    Lao People's Democratic Republic : Policy, Market and Agriculture Transition in the Northern Uplands
    (Washington, DC, 2008-05) World Bank
    This report presents policy, market, and agriculture transition in the Northern Uplands of Lao People's Democratic Republic aims to contribute to such a dialogue by providing: (a) a policy-relevant typology of the structural characteristics and transition patterns of the principal small-holder agriculture systems in the Northern Uplands; and (b) recommendations to strengthen Government's facilitation of a more sustainable and equitable upland transition. The report also provides input into the ongoing dialogue under the umbrella of the joint Government-donor working group on uplands. Chapter two sets out a typology of traditional and emerging agriculture production systems in the Northern Uplands as a starting point of the report. Chapter three summarizes the Government's upland and agriculture development-related policy framework. Chapter four provides an overview of the market impacts currently at work in the Northern Uplands. Chapter five discusses the transition dynamics and pathways of individual agricultural production systems and outcomes. It also includes some considerations on the winners and losers in the upland transition and on the sustainability within the emerging production patterns. Chapter six concludes with recommended options for policy adjustments and support interventions to help facilitate the transition process.
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    Optimizing Fisheries Benefits in the Pacific Islands : Major Issues and Constraints
    (World Bank, Washington, DC, 2008-05) Gillett, R. ; van Santen, G.
    In the last 10 years, World Bank activity in the fisheries sector of the Pacific Islands region has been limited to two regional economic reports, a study of coastal resources management, and a few technical assistance missions. The purpose of this study was to conduct a brief internal review of the Pacific fisheries sectors past performances, based on the existing literature and experience of the individuals involved. The report's main aim is to identify key constraints and past mitigating activities in fisheries in the Pacific Islands region, and activities supported by past donor, regional and national fisheries programs. In addition, the report examines the potential future role of the World Bank in the Pacific Islands region fisheries sector. This report's findings are intended as a starting point in this analysis. The next step is to facilitate a frank discussion about the potential World Bank role with key donors, regional institutions, and national government authorities currently involved in the sector. The record of past donor support suggests that while single donors have successfully implemented technical assistance and investment projects, they have, as a group, been less effective in addressing core sector issues such as: (a) the economically lopsided relationship between Pacific Island countries (PICs) and Distant Water Fishing Nations (DWFNs); (b) the economically sub-optimal management of tuna fisheries; and (c) enhancing PICs' share of the value added created by the region's tuna fishery.
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    China : Innovations in Agricultural Insurance
    (Washington, DC, 2007-06) World Bank
    This report explains why agricultural insurance is expensive to deliver to small farm households, details risk assessment in four provinces, and recommends China put more resources in developing products that are more suited to an agricultural economy that is dominated by small farm households. The report discusses the important role of government in supporting the legal and regulatory environment, access to data for new product development, risk sharing, and broader education of all stakeholders about the benefits of agricultural insurance. It also explains why this form of subsidy could provide improved incentives versus a direct subsidy for farmer premium. The report concludes with principle recommendations involving scalable product solutions, risk financing strategy, intuitional capacity building and technical assistance, legal and regulatory framework, and government support and public subsidies.
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    China : Innovations in Agricultural Insurance, Technical Annexes
    (Washington, DC, 2007-06) World Bank
    This report explains why agricultural insurance is expensive to deliver to small farm households, details risk assessment in four provinces, and recommends China put more resources in developing products that are more suited to an agricultural economy that is dominated by small farm households. The report discusses the important role of government in supporting the legal and regulatory environment, access to data for new product development, risk sharing, and broader education of all stakeholders about the benefits of agricultural insurance. It also explains why this form of subsidy could provide improved incentives versus a direct subsidy for farmer premium. The report concludes with principle recommendations involving scalable product solutions, risk financing strategy, intuitional capacity building and technical assistance, legal and regulatory framework, and government support and public subsidies.
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    Agenda for Water Sector Strategy for North China : Summary Report
    (Washington, DC, 2002-05-09) World Bank
    The acute water shortage, and pollution problems in North China have been exacerbated by the continued population growth, and the accelerated industrial expansion over the past half-century, conducive to increasingly severe freshwater shortages, and catastrophic consequences for the future. Significant commitments need to be made to rapidly implement strategies to bring water resource utilization back into a sustainable balance. The report reviews past and present situations, focusing on the future impacts of various social, and economic growth scenarios within the context of water management, where preconditions for its success are the combined requirements of complementary pricing, management, and regulatory reforms in water resources (including groundwater, water pollution, and wastewater reuse). Findings suggest a water demand management as proposed in the action plan - with further water price increases, and improving irrigation efficiency. Agricultural productivity depends on irrigation efficiency, thus water management calls for water-savings measures, low-yield land improvement, and, large-scale systems rehabilitation. Structural water pollution remedy measures, should focus on industrial wastewater pretreatment, and internal reuse of processed water, pollution prevention programs, and combined industrial, and municipal treatment plants, to include as well artificial groundwater recharge (wastewaters and floodwaters). Institutional aspects will require further strengthening, regarding water resource allocation, protection, and financing.