Hildo Meirelles de Souza Filho

Plural forms of governance in the beef industry: a case study in Brazil

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to describe the forms of coordinating transactions used by a large beef slaughterhouse and processing companies and their suppliers of beef cattle, and to identify the reasons for the adoption of plural forms of governance for their transactions with cattle suppliers. Design/methodology/approach – A case study format was selected for this investigation. The focal company selected offers a large number of products derived from beef for different commercialisation channels in the domestic and foreign market. A non-probability sample of 30 suppliers (cattle farmers) of the focal company provided data on finished steers sold in 2010, according to the three types of governance used in the transactions (spot market, forward contracts and long-term contracts). Findings – The simultaneous use of more than one type of governance structure to coordinate similar transactions has been termed plural forms of governance in the literature. In Brazil, new forms of governance, such a...

C&T e I para a produção agropecuária brasileira: mensurando e qualificando gastos públicos

Few researches in Brazil have undertaken the issue of quantification and qualification of public expenditure in S&T and Innovation devoted to agriculture and livestock. This paper presents an innovative evaluation and provides inedited information for public and private decision makers. Expenditure undertook by 48 Brazilian research organizations was evaluated. This set of organizations comprised the universe of federal and state institutes and agencies, as well as some other non-profit organizations, which gave support to research in agriculture and livestock. The results showed that the role played by Embrapa is of primary importance to the National System of Agricultural Research. Some deficiencies and barriers to scientific and technological development in this sector are also revealed. Expenditure allocation in this area should consider the results presented in this paper.

Farm Management Information Systems (FMIS) and technical efficiency: An analysis of citrus farms in Brazil

Abstract This study aims to investigate the impacts of personal aspects and aspects of the decision-making process (Rougoor et al., 1998) on the technical efficiencies of citrus farms in Brazil. A variable that measures the adoption of Farm Management Information Systems (FMIS) was created, which is an innovative aspect of this paper. Primary data for the crop year of 2013/14 (cross sectional data) were collected from a sample of 98 farms located in the State of Sao Paulo, one of the largest citrus regions in the world. The single stage model developed by Battese and Coelli (1995) was used to estimate the stochastic production frontier translog and the determinants of the efficiency of farms. The results showed that the technical efficiency scores across citrus farms range from 28% to 97%, with a mean of 75%. The expectation formation (personal aspect), the use of long-term contracts and the adoption of Farm Management Information Systems (aspects of decision-making processes) were significant determinants of technical efficiency. This result confirms the hypotheses built around these variables.

Fatores determinantes do uso de instrumentos de gestão de risco de preço por pecuaristas de corte do Estado de São Paulo

The beef cattle price volatility is one of the main risks of this activity. To manage this risk, forward and futures contracts can be used by beef cattle farmers. However, the use of these contracts is quite restricted. The reasons are based on the characteristics of farmers and his business. In this context, this study aimed to identify the determinants factors of adoption of risk management mechanisms by beef cattle farmers in the State of Sao Paulo, Brazil. A logit model was used to analyze data from a sample of 86 beef cattle farmers. The results showed that the factors that significantly affected the adoption of the risk management tools were farm income, technological intensity and business leverage.

Determinantes da demanda de crédito rural por pecuaristas de corte no estado de São Paulo

The aim of this paper is to identify determinants of demand and access to rural credit by beef cattle farmers in the Sao Paulo State. Primary data were collected from 86 beef cattle farmers through a questionnaire survey. The empirical analysis of the survey data is performed with the estimation of a logit model. The results show that all farmers who demanded credit in 2010 had access to it. The logit model results showed that farmers who own more farms are more intensive in production technology, receive non-farm activities income, are younger, adopt price risk management and are members of organizations related to rural production have higher probability to demand and access rural credit. Finally, some suggestions were presented for the rural credit policy for beef cattle in Sao Paulo State.

Barreiras às novas formas de coordenação no agrossistema do caju na região nordeste, Brasil

Although the Brazilian production of cashew nuts has increased in the years 2000, its international market-share has decreased revealing competitiveness loss of this agri-system. Agricultural yields are low and a traditional governance structure among farmers, intermediaries, and cashew nut processing industries still subsists. New coordination forms have been tested, but they have not been able to substitute the old one. The objective of this article is the identification of barriers to the changes of this structure. The Economy of Transaction Cost is the theoretical approach adopted. For empirical investigation, a rapid appraisal method was adopted comprising interviews with stakeholders in the states of Ceara, Piaui, and Rio Grande do Norte. The results showed that resilience is remarkable in the old structure, which is underpinned in the functionality and capacity of reaction of intermediaries. Therefore, the cautious strategy adopted by the cashew nut processing industries is, on one hand, rational in the face of uncertainties, and, on the other hand, slow in the face of the international market changes. Resumo: Embora a producao brasileira de amendoa de castanha-de-caju tenha crescido nos anos 2000, sua participacao no mercado internacional reduziu-se, revelando perda de competitividade desse agrossistema. A produtividade na producao rural e baixa e subsiste uma antiquada estrutura de governanca das relacoes entre produtores, intermediarios e processadores de castanha em casca. Novas formas de coordenacao estao sendo testadas, mas ainda nao foram capazes de substituir a antiga. O objetivo desse artigo e identificar o conjunto de barreiras a transformacao dessa estrutura. O referencial teorico adotado encontra-se fundamentalmente na Economia de Custos de Transacao. Para investigacao empirica, adotou-se o metodo de pesquisa rapida (rapid appraisal), compreendendo entrevistas junto a uma amostra nao probabilistica de agentes da cadeia nos estados do Ceara, Piaui e Rio Grande do Norte. Os resultados mostram que ha resiliencia da estrutura de governanca antiga, a qual esta assentada na funcionalidade e capacidade de reacao dos intermediarios. Assim, a estrategia de mudanca cautelosa das empresas processadoras e, por um lado, racional diante de grandes incertezas, e, por outro, lenta diante das transformacoes do mercado internacional. Palavras-chave: Sistemas agroindustriais. Coordenacao. Castanha de caju. Brasil.

Factors influencing the adoption of Farm Management Information Systems (FMIS) by Brazilian citrus farmers

We analyzed the determining factors on adoption of computers and FMIS.The effects of personal, social and behavioral factors were analyzed.The institutional environment and characteristics of farms are also considered.The results of econometric models confirmed our main hypotheses.Suggestions to increase the diffusion of computers and FMIS were discussed. This paper examined the determining factors in decisions of citrus farmers on adoption of computers and Farm Management Information Systems (FMIS). Primary data were collected from a random representative sample of 98 citrus farmers from the state of So Paulo, Brazil. The data was analyzed using logit and count data (Poisson regression) models, which enabled testing hypotheses on the effect of ten variables on the decisions of farmers. The results of the logit model showed that education and production size had a positive and statistically significant effect on the adoption of computers, while experience had a negative effect. The adoption and intensity of use of FMIS were influenced positively by overconfidence in management, production size and use of technical assistance. Contract adjustments and farmers experience have a negative impact on the adoption of FMIS. The results confirmed the main hypotheses and can contribute to the development of new strategies for greater diffusion of FMIS in Brazilian citrus industry, which is relevant to increasing farm efficiency.

Complementarity in the adoption of traceability of beef cattle in Brazil

Complementarity is an interesting approach to explain technology adoption. Taking account the other activities the farm performs in its production strategy can help understanding the decision on the adoption of new agricultural technology. This paper aims to evidence the existence of synergic effect resulting from the joint adoption of feedlot and traceability certification of beef cattle in Brazil. A sample of 84 beef cattle farms provided data to test hypotheses by using an OLS regression model. A measure of performance – revenue – is regressed on variables representing both isolated and joint adoption of capital-intensive production system and traceability. The results suggest the existence of synergic effect when joint adoption takes place. Joint adoption is influenced by a set of management practices, such as forward contracts, training of employees and zootechnical performance control, which are shared by both capital-intensive production systems and traceability.

Determinants of recognition of TRACES certification as valuable opportunity at the farm level in São Paulo, Brazil

TRACES (Trade Control and Expert System) is a veterinary health network created by the European Union to certify and monitor trade of animal products. This research aims to identify the factors that explain why few Brazilian farmers recognized adoption of the TRACES certification as a valuable opportunity. A farm is required to adopt traceability and a set of associated technologies to obtain certification. A sample of 84 beef cattle farms provided data for the testing of the hypotheses by means of a bivariate logit model. The recognition of the opportunity is positively correlated with previous experience with other quality programs, access to up-to-date information, a more diversified life experience, and active participation in relationship networks.

Factors influencing hedging decision: evidence from Brazilian citrus growers

The purpose of this study was to analyse the hedging behaviour of 98 citrus growers from the State of Sao Paulo, Brazil. Marketing behaviour was modelled as a choice between spot market, short and long‐term forward contracts. A multinomial logistic regression model was used to evaluate the role of behavioural, personal and managerial variables in the choice. Results indicated that the factors which explain the use of forward contracts by citrus growers are the following: risk propensity; trade with juice processing companies; farming diversification; overconfidence in management; participation in pools; use of management tools; and technical assistance. The results can be useful for farmers, policymakers, government agencies, traders and extension agents.