ABSTRACT
Growing differentiation among developing countries, declining capital flows and remittances, uncertain external aid, weakening global architecture, and rising China are reviewed. In 2021, developed countries, led by the United States, had begun a recovery. Considerable progress was achieved in developing countries prior to the COVID-19 pandemic in reducing poverty;infant and child mortality, stunting, wasting, anemia;increasing food security and nutrition;and improving gender empowerment. Impacts of the pandemic on the poverty-food security-nutrition-health nexus and implications for action are described. Agricultural total factor productivity growth across regions and countries shows huge differences in aggregate productivity growth performance. Countries with low growth also lagged in structural transformation. Premature deindustrialization in developing countries peaks at earlier levels of per capita GDP than for industrialized countries. All farm sizes can achieve productivity growth and success, but smallholders require the functioning of factor and product markets, with strong public policy. Productivity growth measures have not included changes in the quality or quantity of natural resources, but that is changing. Overall, the issue of low financial flows to developing countries needs to be addressed, and available resources need to be used strategically to leverage greater public and private investments to food and agriculture. Substantial investments are needed in human and institutional capital and physical infrastructure for new technologies. The G20's contribution to the global architecture for food and agriculture has not met its potential relative to a promising early start. For 54 industrial and emerging countries monitored by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, changes in their agricultural policies offer scope for improvement in the overall policy environment and investment climate at the global level, including release of valuable resources for building better. © Uma Lele, Manmohan Agarwal, Brian C. Baldwin, and Sambuddha Goswami 2021.
ABSTRACT
The coronavirus pandemic has emphasized the strategic importance of the domestic agriculture sector, by disrupting the usual food chains and forcing countries to turn to domestic producers. Croatia has a great potential, but issues such as the size of farms, land ownership and lack of financing opportunities have led to a constant increase in imports of agricultural products and decrease in the percentage of cultivated land. The focus of this paper is on financing opportunities of agriculture companies in Croatia. Companies can benefit from using financial leverage if they have high enough return on assets to be able to borrow funds at interest rates that are lower than return on assets. Successful using of financial leverage will result in increasing return on equity above the level of return on assets. The main objectives of the paper are to investigate: (1) the level of profitability of agriculture companies in Croatia, (2) if companies are successful at using financial leverage, (3) if the size of the company is an important factor when it comes to using financial leverage, (4) if there is a difference between the potential of agriculture companies to use financial leverage when compared to other non-financial sectors. By analyzing the period 2015-2019, research results showed that a certain number of agricultural companies in Croatia is limited from expanding their operations due to low profitability and unfavorable borrowing. A positive aspect is that small agriculture companies are generally not in a disadvantage when compared to medium and large companies. However, a negative aspect is that companies from other non-financial sectors are in a more favorable position due to higher return on assets, making it easier for them to use financial leverage successfully.
ABSTRACT
A farm-level survey and a market survey were conducted in China to study the impact of the COVID-19 on the shellfish supply chain in the early stage of the pandemic in 2020. 114 farms of 36 cites participated in an online survey from mid-July to late August, and 23 markets in five cities were investigated from June to November. The series results are expected to provide an insight for the fisheries and aquaculture sector to mitigate the impact of the pandemic on participants in the shellfish supply chain and to improve of the ability of the government to respond to such events in the future. Shellfish farmers and sellers have experienced a sharp drop in profits, largely due to shrinking demand. Relying on local employees and suppliers, shellfish farming activities have rapidly resumed since the gradual reopening from February. Nevertheless, demand has been slow to recover due to public concern about contamination of seafood with the virus. Additionally, we analyzed the ability and attitude of farms of different size to cope with the pandemic and the plight of shellfish sellers, and discussed government supports for different size farms and improvements in seafood distribution channels.