Search

Search Results

• The competitiveness of rural areas in the Republic of Tatarstan

  89-96

  Landysh Sitdikova

  Wim Heijman

  Johan van Ophem

  Views:

  262

  This paper analyses the main factors influencing the regional competitiveness of rural areas in the Tatarstan Republic. Firstly, 19 variables related to the socio-economic situation in the Tatarstan Republic were analysed, these having been taken from the Statistics Committee of the Tatarstan Republic. Principal component analysis (PCA) was then used to determine the weights of 10 indicators that have an effect on the level of regional competitiveness. Factor weights are used as weights in the summation of the standardised scores of variables that have an impact on competitiveness. The major factors influencing the level of regional competitiveness are the level of economically active population, investment in housing and the level of education. The following results were obtained: one of the 44 regions is very highly competitive and two are highly competitive; two of 44 regions have a medium level of competitiveness and 39 regions have a low level of competitiveness.

• Farmers’ experience in adoption and usage of ICT solutions for agriculture in the Republic of Macedonia

  25-30

  László Vasa

  Nikola Trendov

  Views:

  439

  The adoption of new of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) in farming activities becoming crucial for developing countries in order to meet the challenges of rapidly growing populations, urbanization and arable agricultural land declination. Because of it, each farmers’ organization or farmer has to concern their agricultural products and services more towards modernized and ICT related routine. The attempt has been made to analyze the reaction of the Macedonian farmers towards ICTs as a source of reliable and timely information about e-banking, online purchasing/selling, marketing, input and output optimization, increased revenue, remote farm management process etc. Semi-structured questionnaire was used for interviewing 132 semi-experienced and experienced farmers that use ICTs as sample for the research. The data were analyzed using appropriate statistics tool like correlation and Rank Based Quotient (RBQ). The findings showed that farmers stressed the cost of ICTs, lack of training, trust level in the government institutions, and lack of ICT infrastructure are thresholds for ICTs adoption and use in agriculture. This research contributes to understand the adoption and use of ICT, identify the constraints associated with ICT use and propose recommendations towards the improvement of ICTs for agriculture in the Republic of Macedonia.

• CONSUMERS’ PERCEPTION AND WILLINGNESS TO PAY FOR ORGANIC TOMATOES IN OFORIKROM MUNICIPAL, ASHANTI, GHANA

  Fred Nimoh

  Alexander Annor Frimpong

  Ambrose Azenyinkajigi Adama

  Enock Kwame Tham-Agyekum

  Views:

  192

  Although conventional tomatoes are often preferred by consumers, organic tomatoes are thought to be safer and healthier. This is because some customers do not fully comprehend the advantages of organic tomatoes. The purpose of this study was to investigate how customers perceive and are willing to pay for organic tomatoes. 399 systematically chosen respondents provided the data, which was collected. The data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics such the Perception Index, Contingent Valuation Method, and Tobit Regression Model. The findings indicated that the majority of respondents were familiar with organic tomatoes. A perception rating of 1.24 indicates that respondents had a favorable opinion of organic tomatoes. Organic tomato buyers were willing to spend at least GHC 9.63 per kilo. Consumers' willingness to pay for organic tomatoes was influenced by their view of the health benefits, their level of education, their income, and their knowledge of and familiarity with organic tomatoes. As a result, the study advises producers or farmers to inform their customers about the health advantages of organic tomatoes and to focus on consumers with high incomes and educational levels since these factors greatly influenced their willingness to pay.