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• Protected geographical indication recognition and willingness to pay: A case of grojec apple

  73-80

  Bruce L. Ahrendsen

  Edward Majewski

  Views:

  413

  The Grojec region of Poland is an important region for apple production and accounts for 40 percent of domestic apple production. Apple growers from the region made an attempt to strengthen their competitive position through registering their apples as Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) products. The European Commission’s PGI allows food producers to obtain market recognition and a premium price for their products. Although the Grojec Apple received PGI registration in 2011, little has been done to promote apples with the PGI label. Two important research questions are addressed: 1) Does the Polish market recognize Grojec Apple PGI, and 2) Does the market value Grojec Apple PGI? Logit and regression models are estimated using survey data collected during an International MBA in Agribusiness and Commerce study week in Warsaw. Only 22% of consumers recognize Grojec Apple PGI. Yet, 70% of consumers indicate they are willing to pay more for the product and their average willingness to pay (WTP) premium is 32%. Results indicate use of the PGI label may be effective in improving sales and profit margins for Grojec Apple producers and their affiliated cooperatives. Older consumers are more likely to indicate a WTP premium. Males, smaller households, and consumers less sensitive to apple price indicate a higher WTP premium. An advertising campaign promoting Grojec Apple PGI as a better product may be effective at increasing consumer likelihood to pay more and WTP premium. Although “Grojec” is already familiar to most consumers in central Poland as a region for apples, a Grojec Apple with PGI label would assure consumers they are purchasing apples from the Grojec region and the apples are high quality.

  JEL Code: D12, Q13, Q18

• Use of methods and tools for an effective small and medium-sized enterprise in Szabolcs-Szatmár-Bereg county in Hungary

  Dalila Nouar

  Péter Popovics

  Views:

  443

  Small and medium-sized enterprises form the engine of the Hungarian economy, both in terms of their number and their employment rate. Therefore, the efficient operation of this sector is in the interest of many economic actors. However, experience shows that today's SME sector still needs to develop in many ways to become efficient. This study aimed to analyze whether SMEs use the necessary methods and tools to be efficient. Planning and the development of strategy are very important methods and tools for efficient and organized work, as it defines and clarifies the direction taken by an enterprise. However, the survey and the in-depth interview showed that they are not necessarily considered important for the participating SME leaders. According to the interview, one of the reasons is that SME leaders have a better understanding of everyday tasks and their implementation than the managers of large companies. Furthermore, in most cases, the SME leader is personally involved in everyday work. This provides the advantage of having the opportunity to fully understand the enterprise, thus managing, and developing it more effectively, as he or she can intervene more flexibly, faster, and more accurately if necessary. However, due to the small size of the organization, the manager also must perform the tasks of several functions (marketing, management, finance, etc.), which require multidisciplinary knowledge and skill. In SMEs, due to their specificities, it is difficult to apply best practices in large enterprises in both management and various functions.

  JEL code: M21

• Quality-satisfaction-loyalty: consumer behaviour in catering

  5-11

  Mária Rudolfné Katona

  Nándor Komáromi

  Views:

  437

  Our study is the result of the initial research of a qualitative and quantitative research consisting of more stages. The survey was made between 2007 and 2013 and specially focused on the satisfaction of Hungarian customers of catering enterprises with hot kitchen as well as on factors influencing satisfaction and customer loyalty. The results proved that a well planned, central strategy cannot be prepared for the whole catering industry as even enterprises with the same profile (warm food kitchen) show significant differences. The most important task for an enterprise is to establish and know its appropriate clientele well in order to suit its services, selection to their requirements. Our assumption that customers of fast food restaurants, canteens have lower expectations from selection, personal relations, quality of services than customers of restaurants, public houses, wayside inns, brasseries with traditional methods of selling was proven. In the lattest, the main aspect of choosing a 'favourite place' was the quality of human relations, with the special role, besides other customers, of the staff. Establishing unique atmosphere to the liking of customers can be regarded as an important point of the operational strategy. It was also proven that the majority of regular customers of restaurants are men, coming from the economically active population. Other active users are youngsters, they mainly go to fast food restaurants. More impersonal advertisements hardly have any effect, while successful word of mouth propaganda can be achieved by consequent, high level work. Regular customers can be characterized by rather emotional than market-based attachment. Favourite units are mainly preferred because of their atmosphere, relationships with acquaintances and friends, not because of measurable features, selection or prices. Those visiting catering enterprises with hot kitchen more frequently are more critical and less satisfied, in spite of this, they are reluctant to part from their regular places.

• The influence of employment modes on employee turnover and agri-business performance: a case for Hunyani farm in the Zvimba district, Zimbabwe

  17-27

  Kudakwashe Svotwa

  Ezekia Svotwa

  Thandiwe Rugube

  Views:

  477

  The labour intensive nature of Zimbabwean agriculture demands that farmers meet excessive labour requirements, at the same time keeping labour costs as low as possible to guarantee profits and achieve maximum business performance. This study, carried through a questionnaire survey, at the Hunyani Matura Farm, in the Zvimba district of Zimbabwe between from October 2017 to March 2018, investigated the effect of employment mode on turnover and agri-business performance. Data collected from the participants, was compared with the information from secondary source documents. From the results temporary workers performed better than permanent workers and they cited problems of low wages, poor working conditions, high work targets, inequality in work allocation, job insecurity and constant shuffling. Temporary workers had higher turnover and turnover intentions than permanent workers. Temporary employment mode had a positive
  effect on agri-business performance. This study recommends the use of permanent employment mode on key positions like forepersons, stores persons and supervisors, and temporary employment mode on general farm tasks, while seasonal contracts were seen good for skill demanding operations such as tobacco seedbed establishment, tobacco reaping and curing and grading. A ccareful selection of employment modes reduces inequalities and unhealthy attitudes at work and improves on farm business performance.

  JEL Classification: Q12

• Guest satisfaction survey at the Aquaticum Debrecen Thermal and Wellness Hotel

  53-56

  Gábor Hevessy

  Katalin Vargáné Csobán

  Views:

  489

  Aquaticum Debrecen Thermal and Wellness Hotel is one of the most successful hotels in the North Great Plains region as well as in Hungary. The key to success lies in high level customer satisfaction. On the one hand only the satisfied guests will return to the hotel, on the other hand the guests’ positive or negative opinions will be shared with thousands of potential customers immediately by means of the Internet. Consequently, exploring the main factors of guest satisfaction has never been so important as nowadays. An online questionnaire system was introduced to the hotel in 2010, which resulted in an increased number of customer responses, thus it became possible to analyse the various aspects of customer satisfaction in a greater detail. In the present study the critical factors of guest satisfaction are analysed. We investigated the guests’ willingness to return to the hotel, and found that there is no significant difference between the guests’ gender, age, permanent place of residence and the fact if they travel alone or with a company and their willingness to return to the hotel, i.e. guest satisfaction. However, business travellers’ opinion significantly differs from the recreational travellers’ views concerning their return to the hotel. Business travellers are less satisfied and less willing to return. Furthermore, we investigated whether the problems experienced by the guests in the hotel influence the guests’ willingness to return to the hotel. We found that the guests who experienced problems are less willing to return. However, we also concluded that there was no significant difference in their willingness to return among those guests who experienced problems during their stay and these were efficiently handled, and those guests who did not experience any problem.

• LAND CONTROL AND POVERTY STATUS OF FARMING HOUSEHOLDS IN NIGERIA

  Olubunmi O. Alawode

  Views:

  350

  Poverty is pervasive among the majority of farming households in Nigeria, particularly affecting small-scale farmers. Having gained access to land, control over the land held is very important in improving the quality of life as it plays a vital role in poverty reduction among small scale farmers. This study examined the relationship between land control and poverty status of farming households in Nigeria. The Nigeria General Household Survey (GHS) 2018 was used. Analytical tools used include descriptive statistics, Land Control Index (LCI), Ordered probit regression and Logit regression models. From the results, majority of the Nigerian farmers were male (84.6%) with a mean age of 50±15years, and 81.1% were married, having a mean household size of 7±4 persons. The mean farm size held by the households was 4.42±14.9ha. Farming households had access to the highest proportion (62.79%) of their plots by inheritance, still showing the dominance of inheritance as a means of land access in Nigeria. Also, households had access to 11.80% of the plots by outright purchase, 11.20% by rent in cash or kind (farm produce), and 0.64% by sharecropping; these underscore the growing rural land market in Nigeria. Majority (88.8%) of the households had no control over all the plots of farmlands held (LCI=0) while 6.03% had total control of the plots of farmlands held (LCI=1). This implies that majority can only carry out farming activities (having use right) on the farmland and did not possess legal documents for the land (not able to dispose of the land). The mean household expenditure on food and non-food were ₦8,609.37 and ₦12,587.08, respectively. The mean total expenditure was ₦18,809.20(±10444.45) and the poverty line was ₦8,433.34. The poverty incidence was 41.03%; 41.03% were poor while 58.97% were non-poor. Location of household in the rural sector, especially in the North East, South West, and South East, was significantly positive in determining the level of land control by farming households at 1%. At 10% level of significance, low land control (HCI≤0.25) and medium land control (HCI=0.51-0.75) would significantly increase the likelihood of the household being non-poor by 27.4% and 33.6%, respectively. Land control positively influences the poverty status of the farming households in Nigeria; farming households with low land control can increase their chances of being non-poor. Rural farmers should be encouraged to obtain legal documents on their land to facilitate higher level of control.

• The analysis of costumer satisfaction in recreational tourism

  57-61

  Éva Kozmáné Csirmaz

  Károly Pető

  Views:

  409

  Due to increased health awareness and the growing amount of assistance to boost it, health tourism research has gained significance in our days. The present study focuses on the analysis of customer needs for recreational tourism and their habits; moreover, it interviews the guests of 15 Hungarian wellness hotels through a questionnaire survey. Next we attempt to explore the rate of guest satisfaction with healthpreservation services. The study presents the findings of this research activity until now, whereas the results of further data processing will be published in the future.

• The Role of „Handball At School” Program in Ability Development and Replenishment Training

  53-60

  Anetta Müller

  István Juhász

  Eszter Boda

  Melinda Biró

  Zsuzsa Nagy

  Views:

  475

  In Hungary the undisputable merit of TAO subsidy is realized in replenishment training, human resource development and development of sports infrastructure. The other important base of replenishment development is „Handball at School” programme managed by Hungarian Handball Federation. „Handball at School” programme was launched in relation to every-day physical education and we undertook the skills-building role of its impact assessment. A survey programme was organised by us in the autumn and spring semesters of 2015/ 2016 academic year aiming to prove that project has positive effect on aiming accuracy and performance stability results of pupils, as well as their precision of technical implemetation. 183 pupils were examined who had two sponge-handball lessons a week out of their 5 physical education lessons. When choosing the pilot scenes it was considered important to get Budapest, Easternand Western Hungary also involved. To examine aiming accuracy two tests were applied. One is „throwing at a target from throwing straddle without previous swing” performed by the pupils. The children were expected to hit the small box five times with right technical implementation meaning that it was done with lifted elbow. After the first implementation they were given some time to relax and the the shots were repeated five times again. The children were asked another task to perform, a similar one to the first, but it had to be performed from running up, that is they ran back from a line, took the sponge ball, ran back to the line and had to hit the small box again with lifted elbow. At this task several aspects were noted and measured again: the time needed for implementation, target accuracy and also whether the technical implementation of the throw was accurate.

  JEL Classification: I21, Z28

• Somatic development and some motor performances of young girls based on age and birth season

  117-123

  Eszter Szabó

  Danica Keczeli

  István Farmosi

  Sándorné Gaál

  Katalin Keresztesi

  Views:

  311

  There are numerous publications in the literature reporting physical development and motor performances of children of different ages based on sex and various environmental factors. However, there are not many publications on the birth season effect. The aim of the study was to evaluate the differences among children in physical development and motor performances based on age and birth season. Physical development described by body height and body weight, in addition to motor performance indicators including the twenty-metre dash, standing broad jump, six minutes of continuous running, throwing with a stuffed ball, and obstacle race-tests were studied. The survey included the participation of 426 girls. From the group the seven-, eight-, and nine-year olds numbered 148, 191, and 87 respectively. The group of girls who were born in winter, spring, summer and autumn numbered 114, 110, 89 and119 respectively. The tested data were evaluated with unitrate analyses of variance using SPSS statistical package. Mean value, standard error, standard deviation and coefficient of variation were calculated. The significance of differences between mean values was evaluated using “t” test. Differences with an error below 5% were considered to be significant. Furthermore, a correlation analysis was used to evaluate the relationship between season of birth, body development and motor-related performance data. Age, body height, body weight, throwing a stuffed ball in one hand, twenty-metre dash, six minutes of continuous running, and obstacle race-test are interdependent variables of development and motor performances of young girls of this age. Data from the study results show that the children group included in the tests was quite homogenous in body height, but heterogeneous in body weight and motor performances. Physical development and four of the five evaluated sport skills were affected by the birth season. Development and motor performances of the summer- and autumn-born girls are generally better than those born in winter or spring. Differences are significant except for the obstacle race-test. Age, body height, body weight, throwing with a stuffed ball in one hand, twentymetre dash, six minutes of continuous running, and the obstacle race-test seem to be interdependent variables of development and motor performances of young girls of this age.

• Is it worth being socially responsible?

  73-80

  Tünde Csapóné Riskó

  Ádám Péntek

  Troy Wiwczaroski

  Views:

  423

  Several definitions for corporate social responsibility (CSR) exist and these vary greatly as to the activities it should cover and their motivators. Among the benefits of CSR are positive marketing/brand building, brand insurance and employee loyalty. Numerous arguments against CSR prevail, e.g. social responsibility is not a problem that belongs in the sphere of activities a corporation should be addressing or even that CSR distracts businesses from addressing the primary need to concentrate on sales. Thus, the strong economic question: is CSR worth it? In 2014, we carried out a representative survey in Hungary, in which the effects of responsible business practices on consumer purchase behaviour were studied. With our research results, we could show that there is a considerable gap between the apparent interest of consumers in CSR and the limited role of CSR in purchase behaviour.

  JEL classification:M104

• EXPLORING THE MEDIATION EFFECT OF PERCEIVED USEFULNESS ON CROP DIVERSIFICATION DRIVERS AMONG SMALLHOLDER COCOA FARMERS IN TANZANIA

  Godfrey Molela

  Views:

  136

  The living standard of smallholder cocoa farmers in Tanzania was still low despite the recent transformation in marketing structure which led to the sharp rise in price. This study aimed at examining the drivers for smallholder cocoa farmers in Kilombero, Tanzania to engage in multiple crops farming as the means of poverty alleviation. Based on the cross-sectional survey design, primary data were collected from 501 cocoa farmers obtained through a random selection process that was conducted in their respective 162 agricultural marketing and cooperative societies (AMCOS) found in Kilombero. Results from covariance-based structural equation modeling (SEM) revealed that, cocoa market price, payment waiting time, farm size and cocoa farm income played significant roles in cocoa farmers’ decisions to invest while taking into account their perceptions of success. It was only the off-farm income factor that was found to have no statistical significance on farmers’ decision to invest while considering the mediation effect of perception. The study just assessed the investment decisions by smallholder cocoa farmers in Tanzania. Policy makers need to enhance the marketing factors such as cocoa price and payment time to boost farmers’ financial muscles. Meanwhile, farmers themselves are advised to take measures to boost production by increasing farm sizes while adopting better agronomic as per extension officers’ training.This study contributed to knowledge gap by exploring the cocoa-related factors that affect the stallholders’ decision to invest in crop diversification other than the non-cocoa factors that were investigated in previous studies.

• The role of the time factor in the manager functions

  101-108

  Éva Bácsné Bába

  Views:

  304

  The role of the time factor in management is increasing. Change directs attention to the time factor from the point of view of the organisation,and management does the same from that of the person. I examined the time management practice of managers of organisations related to agribusiness, and the reaction time characterising the adaption ability of the organisations through a questionnaire survey. I analysed the collected data with scientifically established statistical methods. During studying resources, managing tasks, change, reaction time and effect I explored the features of time as resource, the significance of the time factor, the improvability of time efficiency in the different managing functions, the factors supporting and hindering the quick reaction of organisations, and what rearrangements can be seen in management work nowadays.

• Reasons for and obstacles to cycling in opinions of residents of Debrecen, Hungary

  53-59

  Nikolett Kosztin

  József Tőzsér

  László Csernoch

  Ildikó Balatoni

  Views:

  359

  It is a basic aim of the European Union that due to the developments in 2014-2020 the bicycle would become one of the most often used transportation, touristic, and sports equipment. We were interested to see to what extent is bicycling present in the transportation system of Debrecen and what are the most important reasons for its residents to use the bicycles. The dedication of Debrecen to promote cycling is clearly proven by the number of newly built or resurfaced bike paths and by the fact that the University of Debrecen has introduced – alone in the region – UniBike which is a bicycle renting system brought forth by the need of its students. Here we present the developments that took place in the North Plain Region in the past few years. We have also analyzed the national and European strategies and reports on bicycling. A survey was conducted among the youth of Debrecen to explore their cycling habits. The data were evaluated using the EvaSys program. Until the end of 2011 with the help of different funds 862 km of bike paths had been built in Hungary. In the North Plain Region due to funds totaling 777 million HUF 15.7 km long bike paths had been constructed until 2015. The development of tourism in this direction is promoted by the web-pages and brochures offering bicycle-tours around Debrecen. Nevertheless, bicycling in the neighboring townships is present not as an instrument for sports and/or tourism, rather as a mean of transportation. It is a clear goal in Europe and thus in Hungary to have bike paths that can provide the means of safe cycling. In parallel, it is also important to promote the benefits of bicycling, including positive physiological effects, cost-effectiveness, and environment-friendliness to increase the proportion of those who select bicycling as an alternative.

  JEL Code: I15

• Analysis of household crop commercialization in Nigeria

  Olubunmi Olanike Alawode

  Olumuyiwa Lekan Makinde

  Views:

  517

  Nigeria is experiencing a gradual shift from subsistence to commercialized agriculture, thereby increasing involvement and activities at different nodes of agribusiness. Participation of farmers in markets is an important determinant of well-being and development, and one of the pathways towards economic growth. This study analysed household crop commercialization in Nigeria. The secondary data used were the General Household Survey (GHS, 2018) Wave 4. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, household crop commercialization index (HCCI) and ordered probit regression model.

  Mean age of Nigerian farmers was 50.04 years (±15.22), majority (85.68%) were male, married (82.51%), and 72.14% had formal education. Farming is viable in all the geopolitical zones and majority (87.64%) of the farmers were from the rural sector, holding a mean total plot size of 12.61(±15.63) hectares, and planted 3 crops on the average. The most produced crop categories are cereals (46.75%), tubers (20.70%) and legumes (19.00%); legumes and cereals are highest in the North, and tubers in the South. Subsistence households were 32.81% (HCCI=0), only 1.71% of the households were fully commercial (HCCI=100), while semi-subsistence households (0≤HCCI≤100) constitute 65.48%. Years of education (p<0.05) and crop production in North East and North West zones (p<0.01) constrain commercialization, while at p<0.01, crop production in the rural sector and the South zones, and increased land holding are the drivers of household crop commercialization in Nigeria.

  Nigerian farming households are mainly semi-subsistence and are diversified in crop production. Nigeria relies more on market participation of the semi-subsistence households, through their marketable surplus, to feed her teeming population and for exports. Further attention on rural infrastructure development in all geopolitical zones and awareness creation on producing market oriented products will increase agribusiness activities. This will generate green decent jobs that will take unemployed youths off the streets of urban centres. This is in tune with the economy diversification bid and the new Nigeria Economic Sustainability Plan of the Federal Government of Nigeria.

  JEL CODE – Q13

• Impacts and externalities of agricultural modernization in Brazilian states

  53-61

  Caio César de Medeiros Costa

  Paulo Ricardo da Costa Reis

  Marco Aurélio Marques Ferreira

  Views:

  327

  This study aimed to analyze the relationship between the levels of agricultural modernization and socioeconomic indicators of the Brazilian federation units. A multivariate approach to data analysis led to the creation of the Index of Agricultural Modernization (IAM). The Spearman correlation test was used to verify the relationship between levels of agricultural modernization and a set of economic and social indicators. As a result of the survey, we obtained the Index of Agricultural Modernization (IAM) which allowed the ranking of Brazilian states in terms of level of modernization. The correlation analysis demonstrated the existence of significant and positive correlation between the agricultural modernization and the following indicators: per capita GDP, trade balance per capita and IFDM. This means that agricultural modernization contributes to increased production, exports and the levels of socioeconomic development of the states. For the variable urbanization rate, test results showed a negative correlation with the IAM, which suggests a contribution of agricultural modernization for fixing people in the countryside. Indicators of inequality in income distribution showed no significant correlation. In conclusion, it can be inferred that the positive relationship of the IAM with indicators of production, exports and socioeconomic development shows the presence of positive externalities and impacts of the agricultural modernization process
  for the Brazilian states.

• Analysis of the leisure sport activities in University of Debrecen

  75-80

  Christa Pfau

  Views:

  311

  The sports program of the professional higher education focusing on the leisure sports opportunities. New needs, change in taste and new leisure habits of the young generation should be taken into account to design the University’s leisure sports program. In my study I was dealing with a questionnaire survey investigating the attitude of the students of the University of Debrecen to leisure sports, and the students’ opinions about their own physical status. Data collection was completed on a paper based questionnaire, 42 closed-type questions were included and a total of 213 students completed it. In conclusion I found that the students are satisfied with their physical states although not many of them do sport on a regular basis. I revealed the primary excuses for neglecting sports: lack of time, laziness and timetable discrepancies. These findings make it imperative that by avoiding the existing discrepancies the students be provided the widest range of time in their time tables available for physical activities.

  JEL code: Z20

• The direct and indirect costs associated with food hypersensitivity in households: A study in the Netherlands, Poland, and Spain

  107-117

  Jantine Voordouw

  Gerrit Antonides

  Margaret Fox

  Inma Cerecedo

  Javier Zamora

  Belen de la Hoz Caballer

  Ewa Rokicka

  Judith R. Cornelisse-Vermaat

  Maciej Jewczak

  Pawel Starosta

  Marek Kowalski

  Monika Jędrzejczak-Czechowicz

  Sonia Vázquez-Cortes

  Sara Cano-Escudero

  Bertine M.J. Flokstra-De Blok

  Anthony E.J. Dubois

  Miranda Mugford

  Lynn J. Frewer

  Views:

  445

  Background: Recent studies show that food hypersensitivity, such as food allergy or food intolerance, has the potential to affect direct, indirect and intangible economic costs experienced by individuals and their families. This research assesses the direct and indirect economic costs of food hypersensitivity at the household level in the Netherlands, Poland, and Spain.
  Methods:  A self-administered postal survey was conducted (n=1558). Respondents with food hypersensitivity were clinically diagnosed cases recruited through clinical centres in Poland and Spain. In the Netherlands, food hypersensitivity cases were recruited through hospitals, patient organisations and advertisements. The controls formed the baseline sample and were obtained from households in which none of the members had food hypersensitivity. The monetary value of indirect costs, forgone time, was calculated using the opportunity cost method. The indirect and direct costs were expressed in purchasing power parity. Analysis of co-variance on the cost items was used to test the within-country differences between respondents with food hypersensitivity and respondents without food hypersensitivity, as well as across the three countries.
  Results: The average total direct and indirect costs across all countries for families with food hypersensitive family members are not higher than for households without food hypersensitive members. However, the intangible costs for food hypersensitive individuals appear to be higher than for individuals in the control group.
  Conclusions: These results do not support the hypothesis that all food allergies incur high costs to the individual. However, being hypersensitive to foods may have a negative impact on quality of life compared to people who are not food hypersensitive.

• EXPLORING CONSUMER INTENTION FOR FUNCTIONAL FOOD PRODUCTS IN HUNGARY: THE ROLE OF HEALTH CONSCIOUSNESS, NUTRITIONAL KNOWLEDGE AND ATTITUDES

  Abrar Ghaith

  Views:

  612

  Background: The potential health advantages of functional food products have increased their appeal. Their reception and implementation are greatly influenced by consumer attitudes and purchasing intentions. The Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) is used in this study to examine how attitudes toward and intentions to buy functional food products in Hungary are influenced by health consciousness (HC) and nutritional knowledge (KN).

  Methods: From March to May 2023, 396 adult Hungarian volunteers took part in an online survey. The poll measured respondents' intentions to buy functional food products as well as their health consciousness, nutritional knowledge, attitudes, and subjective norms (SN). Through pilot research, the questionnaire's reliability and validity were determined. Multiple regression analyses, one-sample t-tests, and Cronbach's alpha were all included in the statistical analysis.

  Results: The majority of participants were female, working students. In support of hypotheses H1 and H2, health consciousness significantly influenced attitudes and purchase intentions. H3 and H4 are supported by the findings that nutritional knowledge strongly influenced attitudes and purchase intentions. Both perceived behavioral control and subjective standards had a beneficial impact on purchase intentions supporting H5 and H6.

  Conclusion: This study provides important insights into Hungarian consumers' preferences for functional food items. It highlights the beneficial effects of health awareness, information, attitudes, arbitrary standards, and perceived behavioral control on buying intentions. It was discovered that attitudes play an important role in mediating the link between nutritional knowledge, health consciousness, and purchase intentions.

  It was discovered that attitudes play an important role in mediating the link between nutritional knowledge, health consciousness, and purchasing intentions. The dynamic functional food market's marketers and legislators should take these findings seriously. The subtleties of these attitudes and their implications for promotional tactics can be explored in greater detail in future research. Promoting healthier food options and informing policy and marketing decisions require an understanding of consumer perceptions and behaviors.

• Knowledge needs in rural tourism in Czech Republic

  111-114

  Ludmila Dömeová

  Rudolf Zeipelt

  Views:

  234

  Rural tourism has gone through an important development, but in the Czech Republic has only been possible to run a private business only in last 18 years. In Czech Republic that form of tourism is not very widespread, although there is great potential in it and the neighboring countries such as Austria or Germany are on a much higher level. For more intensive development and better competitiveness on the marker a proper education is necessary especially on the secondary level. An inquiry investigation has been provided. The responders were owners and operators of small businesses in rural tourism. The first part of the questionnaire was focused on the matters of ownership, running the business, promotion, internet services, etc.The subsequent part of the questionnaire gathered the information about the capacity of the places, the types and prices of accommodation, and the facilities. It also surveys the surroundings of the place – both natural and cultural sights.The survey has brought interesting facts about the level of the rural tourism of selected regions.The inquiry investigation was made by trained persons who gathered much information above the framework of the questionnaire. Many demands and complains were concerned with lack of specialized education, needs of new study programs and branches. There are many specifics of this branches, the most important is that there are more than 90% of micro firms. If we want to keep the special features of the rural tourism we have to prepare future entrepreneurs and employees in completely different way than those for big hotels, spas or congress centers.The contribution deals with the present status of rural tourism in Czech Republic and the educational need of the people involved.

   

• Resource use efficiency among rice farmers around fragile ecosystems: evidence from Kilombero Wetland, Tanzania

  77-88

  Philip Kamau

  Daniel Willy

  Lucy Ngare

  Views:

  437

  Farmers have been encroaching fragile wetlands as a strategy to increase their rice production thus threatening wetlands’ existence and capacity to other critical ecosystem services. This calls for efficient production to strike the balance between food rice production and wetlands’ sustainable existence. The current study sought to provide assess rice farmers’ technical efficiency of resource use by detecting the determinants of rice yield and further identify the determinants of technical efficiency of the resources used by rice farmers in Kilombero wetland. A cross-sectional survey of 145 randomly sampled farmers aided in achieving the study objective. A stochastic frontier analysis (SFA) model was used to analyze data. The mean technical efficiency among farmers was at 60.54% level. The positive determinants of rice yield were land and fertilizers while labor influenced it negatively. Age, education, farming experience, group membership, and credit access reduced inefficiency while the distance to the extension agent and off-farm income increased farmers’ inefficiency. The study concludes that there is a possibility of expanding rice production without threatening the wetland’s existence. It recommends that government and other stakeholders to ensure that rice farmers are up-to-date with optimal use of fertilizers in rice production since it will assist in improving rice yield while the rate of expansion of rice lands in the wetlands will lower. Policy implementers ought to establish initiatives that inspire rice farmers to capitalize on farmer groups and join education programs to take full advantage of their potential efficiency and might participate in community development activities.

  JEL code: Q15

• Factors of success. Attitude differences of one Hungarian and one Serbian team’s youth handball players

  113-116

  Róbert Paic

  Gyöngyvér Prisztóka

  Attila Kajos

  Views:

  300

  Results of the Hungarian and the Serbian handball teams are similar on the international level (IHF rankings: Serbia 4. Hungary 5. IHF-10.03.2012.), however the general supposition is that the Serbian handball players are more successful and more acknowledged. This is confirmed by numerous Serbian internationals that play at high level in Hungary and other European countries and the results of the youth national teams. In this article we were searching for the influential factors behind the success of the Serbian team. While there are no considerable differences in physical performance and anthropometric parameters so we assume the main differences are in their relation and stance to coach and to training. In our study we support an explanation for the reasons of the differences in the results between two nations youth handball players with an analysis of the attitude to the head coach and players relation to work and physical training. Our sample was chosen from one Serbian (Crvenka) and one Hungarian (Komló) youth team. The measurement was completed with a standard survey according to Hagger et al. (2007) Passes questionnaire. The results show that the Serbian youth players have better relations with their head coach and have better stance for work and training, which might be an explanation for their better success.

• ENHANCING AGRICULTURAL MARKET EFFICIENCY THROUGH THE INTEGRATION OF VALUE CHAINS INTO TANZANIA’S AGRICULTURAL COMMODITY EXCHANGE AND WAREHOUSE RECEIPT SYSTEM

  Godfrey Molela

  Views:

  183

  Enhancement of small-scale agricultural performance is undoubtedly one of the Tanzanian government’s initiatives toward an industrialized economy as stipulated in “Intergrated Industrial Development Strategy 2025”. The coordination of agricultural commodity exchange market operations with those of warehouse receipt system was aimed at improving the forward market linkages for agricultural products from small-scale farming. However, due to the growth of the sector, it became imperative to review the marketing structure in place to align with the new changes. This study was conducted to assess a need of upgrading the marketing structure for small scale agribusinesses by focusing on sunflower sub-sector. Primary data were collected from 399 sunflower farmers from Kondoa and Itigi district councils based on cross-sectional survey design. The gross margin analysis revealed that, smallholder farmers engaged in sunflower oil business earned 5.085 times more than those who just sell unprocessed seeds. The secondary data from Tanzania corporation development commission (TCDC), Tanzania mercantile exchange (TMX) and warehouse receipt regulatory board (WRRB) showed that, the current marketing structure did not support the trading of processed agricultural products. It was therefore recommended to upgrade that system in place to have a designated window for trading the value added agricultural products for improved performance.

• Consumption habits of “Free range chicken” in Hungary

  69-73

  Ildikó Edit Tikász

  István Szűcs

  László Stündl

  Views:

  381

  Poultry is highly ranked in theWorld meat production and consumption (it accounted for 32% in 2007), and, in the past 20 years it was growing with an annual rate of 3–6%, higher than in case of any other meat-types. This tendency is also valid for Hungary: poultry has the largest share (29.8 kg/person/year, 47%) in the domestic meat consumption since 2000, which is among the EU top (KSH, 2007). As the result of the animal health and nutrition scandals, the EU animal welfare and quality requirements and the advancements in health consciousness the Master-Good group launched the production, processing and trade of free-range poultry under the brand “Free-range chicken”. The new products had good consumer responses, because at present 1.5% of the processed chicken in Hungary (25 tons/week) is under this brand. As it regards the future of this product, we can expect the decrease of the current 1.5 times higher production price over broiler chicken, due to the increasing energy, labour and other cost items, thus the increase of the domestic consumption by 25–30% per annum can be foreseen. Besides the growth in domestic demand, increasing foreign consumer demand can also be expected because of the space requirement of the production. Summarising the above mentioned: „Free range chicken” can be one of the most successful products of the Hungarian poultry industry. In order to realise the prognosis mentioned above, it is inevitable to learn the consumer attitudes towards the brand. A primary market research programme supported by the Master Good group has been launched to study the main features of the domestic chicken meat consumption – including the „Free-range chicken” as highlighted brand. The primary aim of the research was the complete assessment and evaluation of the Hungarian chicken consumption habits and the identification of the possible take-off points. The research undertaken resulted basic information concerning the internal structure of the Hungarian poultry consumption (including that of the „Free-range chicken”), the potential consumer groups and their requirements, provided information on the consumers’knowledge of the products and identified the elements of the consumers’ judgements. This will serve as basis for a marketing communication programme to increase the domestic „Free-range chicken” consumption.

• Defining the strategic objectives of Hungarian mutton product chain and elements of marketing strategy in the beginning of the second decade of the century

  119-132

  András Nábrádi

  Béla Cehla

  Orsolya Szigeti

  Zoltán Szakály

  Views:

  556

  The sheep sector is regarded to be a “black sheep” in Hungary, both in terms of economy and marketing. On one hand, the sector is not easily traceable as available relevant data are partial and infected by the effects of black market or underground economy; on the other hand, there are no clear, concrete statistical data or surveys on consumption either.
  The present study attempts to dissolve the above anomalies and present findings by fact-based model calculations and actual marketing surveys. The fact-based model developed and used for more than 200 variables verifies the correctness of economic calculations. Original examinations were performed by Béla Cehla, doctoral candidate, in 2000–2011. The marketing survey, although not in full accordance with statistical requirements, was carried out in 2012 and it processed relevant data authentically.
  The main conclusions are the following: It is clear so far that genetic basis should primarily be evolved in the industry, as it is the factor that mainly contributes to profitability and price-type factors come only following it. Genetic modification is achievable by changing breeds or crossbreeding. The findings of product chain level sensitivity analysis have provided clues that the added value generated in the sector is already determined during slaughter lamb production and progeny influences this value in approximately 80%. Critical points are feed conversion ratio and the relating price of lamb feed, which influence added values by 2.7–2.9%. The remaining factors affect added value through feeding costs, although not considerably.
  The following activities can boost interest in the market of sheep products:
  • Comprehensive market research
  • Stimulation of cultural development by product-tasting, exchanging information and recipes
  • Development of supply in accordance with demand
  • Identification of target markets, positioning products
  • Diversification of product range
  • Community trade mark to guarantee excellent quality and Hungarian origin
  • Selection of credible poster faces, organization of advertising campaigns

• Factors affecting acceptance of smart retail solutions in Hungary: an empirical study using UTAUT2 model

  Eszter Szabó-Szentgroti

  Gábor Szabó-Szentgróti

  Views:

  622

  In today's digitalisation process, retail is also undergoing a transformation, with the emergence of new smart solutions. Integrating intelligent solutions into a business model means new strategic challenges for retailing companies. The aim of the research is to examine the factors influencing the behavioural intention and use behaviour of smart retail solutions (SRS). The proposed model was based on the extended Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT2). Data was collected by conducting a questionnaire of 302 Hungarian respondents. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and partial least squares (PLS-SEM) estimation were implemented. The results showed that behavioural intention is significantly and positively influenced by effort expectancy and it is significantly and negatively influenced by facilitating conditions. Most of the respondents are not yet regular users of SRS, and the market penetration of front-end intelligent solutions in retail is considered as rather low.

  JEL code: M10, M31, O14