Economic and accounting evaluation of rice milled production chains in Rio Grande do Sul (Brazil) and Uruguay with application of the Policy Analysis Matrix / Avaliação econômica e contábil das cadeias produtivas do arroz beneficiado no Rio Grande do Sul (Brasil) e Uruguai com aplicação da Matriz de Análise de Políticas

ABSTRACT: Rice is the basis of diet for almost half of the world population, and its culture is one of the strategic agroindustrial production chains in the agribusiness environment, in both economic and social levels. Thus, the comparative analysis between the production chains of rice milled in Rio Grande do Sul (RS), Brazil, and Uruguay was mainly motivated by the interest in knowing the differences in the business environment and public policies that impact the competitiveness of this chain in both study regions. Therefore, the objective of this study was to assess the economic efficiency, competitiveness, and effects of public policies of the rice production chain of milled rice in RS (Brazil) relative to Uruguay. The data collected in this study are from the 2011-2012 harvests and indicators were calculated by applying the concepts of the policy analysis matrix (PAM). Results showed that the chains in both study regions were competitive under the existing market and policy conditions, revealed comparative advantage, transferred a high load of resources to other sectors of the economy, and satisfactorily remuneration of the domestic production factors. However, the competitiveness and comparative advantage shown in this study were not due to the encouraging intervention policies, as both production systems pay high taxes.

RESUMO: O arroz é a base da alimentação para quase metade da população mundial, e sua cultura se situa como uma das cadeias produtivas agroindustriais estratégicas no ambiente do agronegócio, tanto no nível econômico como no social. Assim, a análise comparativa entre as cadeias produtivas do arroz beneficiado no Rio Grande do Sul (RS), Brasil e no Uruguai foi motivada, principalmente, pelo interesse em conhecer as diferenças no ambiente de negócios e nas políticas públicas que afetam a competitividade desta cadeia nas respectivas regiões. Portanto, o objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a eficiência econômica, competitividade, e efeitos de políticas públicas da cadeia produtiva de arroz beneficiado no RS (Brasil) em relação ao Uruguai. Os dados coletados neste estudo são das safras de 2011-2012 e, os indicadores foram calculados aplicando os conceitos da matriz de análise de políticas (MAP). Os resultados mostraram que as cadeias em ambas as regiões de estudo foram competitivas sob as condições de mercado e políticas existentes, evidenciaram vantagem comparativa, transferiram alto volume de recursos para outros setores da economia, remunerando satisfatoriamente os fatores domésticos de produção. Entretanto, tal competitividade e vantagem comparativa demonstrada não se deveram às intervenções políticas de incentivo, pois ambos sistemas de produção pagam elevados tributos.

Evaluating second year cropping on jhum fallows in Mizoram north-eastern India: Energy and economic efficiencies.

Energy and economic efficiencies were evaluated on young (6 year) and old (20 year) jhum fields in Mizoram, north-eastern India during second year of cropping, and were compared with those in the first year. The effect of auxiliary measures such as tilling the soil or application of fertilizers (chemical or farm-yard manure or both in combination) was also examined on energy and economic efficiencies. The results indicated that traditional jhum cultivation is labour intensive and energy efficient, producing almost 15-20 times of energy invested. Energy and economic efficiencies decline with shortening of jhum cycle. These efficiencies decline further from first to second year of cropping. Tilling is not useful to improve either energy or economic efficiency. Fertilizer application, which is though profitable from the point of view of economic efficiency, is highly energy inefficient. Application of fertilizers during second year cropping can be encouraged. Organic manuring may be a better option than others to alleviate energy efficiency. However, a combination of organic and inorgamic manuring could be the best option to enhance economic efficiency.

Evaluating second year cropping on jhum fallows in Mizoram, north-eastern India—Phytomass dynamics and primary productivity.

Cropping on jhum fallows in north-eartern India is predominantly done for one year in a jhum cycle. If second year cropping is done, expanse of the forest land required for slashing and burning could be reduced significantly. We tested this hypothesis in a young (6 yr) and an old (20 yr) jhum fallow. We also evaluated if the productivity during second year cropping could be alleviated by auxiliary measures such as tilling the soil or application of fertilizers (chemical or farm-yard manure or both in combination). The results demonstrate that the ecosystem productivity (total dry matter production) and economic yield (rice grain production) decline with shortening of jhum cycle. Second year cropping causes a further decline in ecosystem productivity in old jhum field, but not in young jhum field. Economic yield from second year cropping in its traditional form (without any fertilizer treatment) is not much lower than that in the first year, and can be improved further by manuring the soil. Tilling of soil improves neither ecosystem productivity nor economic yield. Different fertilization treatments respond differently; while inorganic manuring enhances ecosystem productivity, a combination of inorganic and organic manuring improves economic yield.