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Abstract Recently, due attention was given to the commercialization of smallholder agriculture through contact farming, hoping that it would bring the positive impact on the income of smallholder producer in Ethiopia. This article presents the results of data analysis conducted to generate empirical data required to inform the smallholder agricultural commercialization policy using data collected from 424 (194 participants and 230 non-participants) randomly selected vegetables producer farmers from the 2 districts of the East shewa zone of the Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia. The propensity score matching was used to assess the impact of contract farming (CF) on smallholder farmers’ income in the study area. The probit model result shows that, the proportion of total crop area allocated to vegetables, access to credit, frequency of extension contacts, market information, and distance of the market center havepositive and significance effects on decision of vegetable producers to participate on the CF. The impact assessment result using PSM reveals that, gross annual income of the contract participants were lower by the 3.8% (Birr 2942) as compared to the non- participants. This implies that, local context matters for the success of CF and improves their livelihood. However, some of the CF participants would like to continue for access of production inputs, access to credit, technical advice and to reduce marketing risks and uncertainty. In conclusion, CF is a useful institutional arrangement which increases smallholders’ income and benefit from remunerative value chains agriculture, but it is not a panacea that works in different contexts. Hence, policy makers should base their choices on empirical evidence and local context to consider alternative and complementary intervention options to enhance smallholder commercialization and ensure sustainable livelihood in the research area.

Recently, due attention was given to the commercialization of smallholder agriculture through contact farming, hoping that it would bring the positive impact on the income of smallholder producer in Ethiopia. This article presents the results of data analysis conducted to generate empirical data required to inform the smallholder agricultural commercialization policy using data collected from 424 (194 participants and 230 non-participants) randomly selected vegetables producer farmers from the 2 districts of the East shewa zone of the Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia. The propensity score matching was used to assess the impact of contract farming (CF) on smallholder farmers' income in the study area. The probit model result shows that, the proportion of total crop area allocated to vegetables, access to credit, frequency of extension contacts, market information, and distance of the market center havepositive and significance effects on decision of vegetable producers to participate on the CF. The impact assessment result using PSM reveals that, gross annual income of the contract participants were lower by the 3.8% (Birr 2942) as compared to the non- participants. This implies that, local context matters for the success of CF and improves their livelihood. However, some of the CF participants would like to continue for access of production inputs, access to credit, technical advice and to reduce marketing risks and uncertainty. In conclusion, CF is a useful institutional arrangement which increases smallholders' income and benefit from remunerative value chains agriculture, but it is not a panacea that works in different contexts. Hence, policy makers should base their choices on empirical evidence and local context to consider alternative and complementary intervention options to enhance smallholder commercialization and ensure sustainable livelihood in the research area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examined how forest has contributed to rural households’ livelihood in Da river basin, the northwest mountainous region of Vietnam. The results revealed that forest predominantly contributes to the total income of rural residents in the region. Specifically, forestry land area, access to non-timber forest products, and payment for forest environmental services significantly affected household’s income in the region. However, rural people in the region have still faced several difficulties that constrain household’s livelihood. Of these difficulties, lack of financial capital, epidemic diseases in animal husbandry, limited access to market information and natural disaster are popular barriers to livelihood of people in the region. This paper also recommended several policies to improve rural livelihood in Da river basin. These includes: (i) integrating issues regarding payment for forest environmental services and REDD+ into socioeconomic development plan; (ii) improving awareness of local people on sustainable natural capital use through ecosystem conservation policy; (iii) providing preferential credit and training on agricultural production techniques; and (iv) encouraging market-oriented agriculture.

The aim of the paper was to identify the determinants of the state of poverty using logistic regression. The analysis focused on economic poverty considered through the prism of income. Three states of poverty were considered: poverty, near poverty (household's income from 100% to 125% of the adopted poverty threshold) and above near poverty (income higher than 125% of poverty threshold), using the ordinal logit model and - after the rejection of the proportional odds assumption - the multinomial logit model. The analysis was preceded by a presentation of the basic facts concerning three states of poverty. Based on the conducted analysis it can be stated that the education of the household's head, place of residence, labourforce status and socio-economic group were very important factors of the state of poverty, and they change the odds of being in above near poverty relative to poverty and the odds of being in near poverty relative to poverty. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: This study investigated the distribution of body mass index (BMI) and the prevalence of overweight and obesity among Taiwanese adolescents. In addition, we explored the influence of socioeconomic status on the prevalence of obesity and overweight changes with age. Methods: Nationally representative data was obtained from Taiwan School Physical Fitness Database and the survey of family income and expenditure. A sample of 31,669 adolescents was drawn from Ministry of Education databases of physical fitness test whose body mass index was recorded from age 12 to 17 years. Furthermore, descriptive statistic and Pearson correlation coefficients were computed. Results: The findings showed that the structure among obesity and overweight adolescents was slightly changed, but an increase in BMI was found among obesity and overweight adolescents. There was gender differences in the prevalence of obesity and overweight and then a negative relationship was found between the average of family income per household in each district region and the rate of obesity among adolescents. Conclusion: This study revealed the distribution of BMI and the prevalence of overweight and obesity among Taiwanese adolescents. Moreover, socioeconomic status was negatively linked to adolescent obesity in Taiwan. This study proposed relevant suggestions based on the findings. In addition, it could be a formal reference for preventing adolescent obesity in the future of educational programs and interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]