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Determinants of Risk-Dependent Agricultural Field Behaviours in Bhutan

Received: 3 April 2019    Accepted: 9 May 2019    Published: 5 June 2019
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Abstract

This article investigates the power of individual risk preference in combination with socio-economic and demographic characteristics to predict ten agricultural field behaviours in a developing country. A sample of 163 farmers from western-central Bhutan was interviewed regarding their farm management practices. Their risk preference was then experimentally elicited using a modified Multiple Price List. The results show farm size as being a primary determinant of income diversification, nitrogenous fertiliser application, and pesticide use. Farm diversification is most dependent on the household head’s level of education and the quantity of farm labour available. Finally, both income diversification and farm diversification are shown to have an inverse relationship with loss risk aversion. On the basis of the findings of this article, agricultural policy and programmes can increase their efficacy and efficiency by targeting agrarian Bhutanese households based on their characteristics.

Published in International Journal of Agricultural Economics (Volume 4, Issue 3)
DOI 10.11648/j.ijae.20190403.14
Page(s) 109-119
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This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Farm Diversification, Farmers’ Risk Preferences, Income Diversification, Nitrogenous Fertiliser Use, Pesticide Use

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Cite This Article
  • APA Style

    Bryan Gensits, Rekha Chhetri, Tshotsho. (2019). Determinants of Risk-Dependent Agricultural Field Behaviours in Bhutan. International Journal of Agricultural Economics, 4(3), 109-119. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijae.20190403.14

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    ACS Style

    Bryan Gensits; Rekha Chhetri; Tshotsho. Determinants of Risk-Dependent Agricultural Field Behaviours in Bhutan. Int. J. Agric. Econ. 2019, 4(3), 109-119. doi: 10.11648/j.ijae.20190403.14

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    AMA Style

    Bryan Gensits, Rekha Chhetri, Tshotsho. Determinants of Risk-Dependent Agricultural Field Behaviours in Bhutan. Int J Agric Econ. 2019;4(3):109-119. doi: 10.11648/j.ijae.20190403.14

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  • @article{10.11648/j.ijae.20190403.14,
      author = {Bryan Gensits and Rekha Chhetri and Tshotsho},
      title = {Determinants of Risk-Dependent Agricultural Field Behaviours in Bhutan},
      journal = {International Journal of Agricultural Economics},
      volume = {4},
      number = {3},
      pages = {109-119},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ijae.20190403.14},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijae.20190403.14},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijae.20190403.14},
      abstract = {This article investigates the power of individual risk preference in combination with socio-economic and demographic characteristics to predict ten agricultural field behaviours in a developing country. A sample of 163 farmers from western-central Bhutan was interviewed regarding their farm management practices. Their risk preference was then experimentally elicited using a modified Multiple Price List. The results show farm size as being a primary determinant of income diversification, nitrogenous fertiliser application, and pesticide use. Farm diversification is most dependent on the household head’s level of education and the quantity of farm labour available. Finally, both income diversification and farm diversification are shown to have an inverse relationship with loss risk aversion. On the basis of the findings of this article, agricultural policy and programmes can increase their efficacy and efficiency by targeting agrarian Bhutanese households based on their characteristics.},
     year = {2019}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Determinants of Risk-Dependent Agricultural Field Behaviours in Bhutan
    AU  - Bryan Gensits
    AU  - Rekha Chhetri
    AU  - Tshotsho
    Y1  - 2019/06/05
    PY  - 2019
    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijae.20190403.14
    DO  - 10.11648/j.ijae.20190403.14
    T2  - International Journal of Agricultural Economics
    JF  - International Journal of Agricultural Economics
    JO  - International Journal of Agricultural Economics
    SP  - 109
    EP  - 119
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2575-3843
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijae.20190403.14
    AB  - This article investigates the power of individual risk preference in combination with socio-economic and demographic characteristics to predict ten agricultural field behaviours in a developing country. A sample of 163 farmers from western-central Bhutan was interviewed regarding their farm management practices. Their risk preference was then experimentally elicited using a modified Multiple Price List. The results show farm size as being a primary determinant of income diversification, nitrogenous fertiliser application, and pesticide use. Farm diversification is most dependent on the household head’s level of education and the quantity of farm labour available. Finally, both income diversification and farm diversification are shown to have an inverse relationship with loss risk aversion. On the basis of the findings of this article, agricultural policy and programmes can increase their efficacy and efficiency by targeting agrarian Bhutanese households based on their characteristics.
    VL  - 4
    IS  - 3
    ER  - 

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Author Information
  • College of Natural Resources, Royal University of Bhutan, Lobesa, Punakha, Bhutan

  • College of Natural Resources, Royal University of Bhutan, Lobesa, Punakha, Bhutan

  • College of Natural Resources, Royal University of Bhutan, Lobesa, Punakha, Bhutan

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