| Autor: |
Curtis M. Jolly, Neil R. Martin, Constance Ileko Mugalla |
| Rok vydání: |
1996 |
| Předmět: |
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| Zdroj: |
Journal of Production Agriculture. 9:283-288 |
| ISSN: |
0890-8524 |
| DOI: |
10.2134/jpa1996.283 |
| Popis: |
Farmers and policymakers have recognized the need for alternative technologies for reducing costs and increasing profit for limited resource farmers. Plastic mulch has been evaluated as an alternative technology on experimental stations in the Southeast but its use has not yet gained wide acceptance among limited resource vegetable producers in the area. In this study, the economic feasibility of plastic mulch was evaluated as a profit enhancing technology for limited resource farmers. A farmer survey and farm simulation model were used in the evaluation of this technology. It was noted in the survey that most of the farmers in the research area were part-time and were above 50 years old. The average age was 60, with a minimum of 29 and maximum of 88. Plastic mulch resulted in increased output and farm revenue. The capital turnover ratio for production with plastic mulch was higher than for production without plastic mulch. Each hour of labor used with plastic mulch generated six times more net revenues than without plastic mulch. The total investment required for plastic mulch more than doubled, indicating that it might be difficult to encourage this age group of farmers to adopt the technology without easy credit arrangements. The diffusion of this technology may be difficult unless the alternative of renting vs. buying the necessary equipment is presented to this age group of farmers. |
| Databáze: |
OpenAIRE |
| Externí odkaz: |
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