Katarzyna (Kate) Pankowska, PhD

Maize and wheat are the most important staple crops grown and consumed domestically in Ethiopia. With Ethiopia being the third-largest producer of maize in Africa, maize yields are relatively high compared with those of other East African producers but low compared to those other major maize producers in Africa and Asia. Domestically produced wheat is generally grown on smallholder farms, with majority being reserved for on-farm use. The biggest current challenge in terms of improved maize and wheat seeds in Ethiopia is the scaling-up of production and discrimination of high yielding hybrid maize verities and rust-resistant wheat varieties. Other major challenges to increasing the quantity of maize and wheat marketed in Ethiopia is losses due to poor post-harvest management and storage conditions. Using the cost-benefit approach of the integrated investment appraisal, this project aims to increase the availability of improved maize varieties, particularly of high-yield hybrids; improved storage facilities for cooperatives and unions to reduce postharvest losses; professionalization training, capacity building, and business-plan development for cooperatives and Farmers' Cooperative Unions. This is done by integrating the financial, economic, stakeholder, and risk outcomes of the Ethiopian cereal value chain.

Purpose This paper aims to analyze the significance of British Columbia Vintners Quality Alliance (BC VQA) certification that constitutes BC’s wine appellation and its influence on wine prices, the volume of wine sales and winemakers’ revenues. Design/methodology/approach A three-stage endogenous dummy variable specification that addresses the endogeneity of the VQA certification is used. The data used in this research come from the BC liquor distribution branch, and it is composed of a monthly scanner wholesales data of all wines sold by the BC estate wineries located in the Okanagan and Similkameen Valleys of BC in 2011-2015. Findings The obtained results suggest that VQA certification has a positive and marginally significant effect on the average volume of sales of BC produced wines, but it seems not to influence the average wine prices and the average revenue share. The results imply then that VQA certification allows rent dissipation via over-certification, which, in turn, all...

The main objective of the study is to estimate an annual income increase of land constrained Ethiopian households, now growing maize, from either shift to the mono-cropping of red haricot beans or to the intercropping the beans with maize. The study revealed that mono-cropping of red haricot beans is more profitable for the households compared to either maize production or intercropping. The households, however, are reluctant to shift to the mono-cropping practice of red haricot beans production. This can be explained by the level of risk faced by the households in case of crop failure. The Ethiopian households with the limited land holding are generally reluctant to mono-cropping of any commodity. The economic net benefits of the red haricot beans production arising to the different stakeholders, including the government of Ethiopia, were also estimated. A sensitivity analysis was used to determine the main risk factors of the activity.

The aim of this study is to evaluate the profitability of white pea beans production in the context of a pro-poor intervention. The aim of the intervention is to graduate chronically food-insecure households from poverty through an increase of their annual income by US$365. The households have a limited land holding of only 0.25 ha and are currently growing maize. The assistance is coming from a loan enabling mechanism allowing the households to benefit from a subsidized interest rate. The interest rate on the loans is set at 15 percent as compared to the approximately 48 percent free market interest rate. The study revealed that the main risk factor is the international price for white pea beans. The commodity is traditionally perceived as a “food for donkeys” has a very limited demand in the local market. Ethiopia already exports white pea beans, hence, there is a ready market for the commodity. As in case of any internationally tradable commodity, however, the market price of whi...

Terroir and collective reputations are two principal and interconnected elements believed to influence wine price and sales. In this dissertation, I examine the role of terroir (measurable features of the grape land) and collective reputation (eligibility for Vintners Quality Alliance, VQA) in determining the price, volume, and revenue of wine sales in British Columbia (BC). My research is highly relevant because this New World wine producing region is currently altering its terroir-based geographical organization and subregional collective reputation, and plans to introduce new appellations and sub-appellations. My first chapter provides an empirical overview of the BC wine industry including market structure, market shares, and regulations. My first analytical chapter on terroir consists of using hedonic regression to connect wine prices and terroir. By matching grape and wine production at a micro level, I examine how agronomic characteristics of grape land affect the price of wi...

Maize and wheat are the most important staple crops grown and consumed domestically in Ethiopia. With Ethiopia being the third-largest producer of maize in Africa, maize yields are relatively high compared with those of other East African producers but low compared to those other major maize producers in Africa and Asia. Domestically produced wheat is generally grown on smallholder farms, with majority being reserved for on-farm use. The biggest current challenge in terms of improved maize and wheat seeds in Ethiopia is the scaling-up of production and discrimination of high yielding hybrid maize verities and rust-resistant wheat varieties. Other major challenges to increasing the quantity of maize and wheat marketed in Ethiopia is losses due to poor post-harvest management and storage conditions. Using the cost-benefit approach of the integrated investment appraisal, this project aims to increase the availability of improved maize varieties, particularly of high-yield hybrids; improved storage facilities for cooperatives and unions to reduce postharvest losses; professionalization training, capacity building, and business-plan development for cooperatives and Farmers' Cooperative Unions. This is done by integrating the financial, economic, stakeholder, and risk outcomes of the Ethiopian cereal value chain.

Purpose-This paper aims to analyze the significance of British Columbia Vintners Quality Alliance (BC VQA) certification that constitutes BC's wine appellation and its influence on wine prices, the volume of wine sales and winemakers' revenues. Design/methodology/approach-A three-stage endogenous dummy variable specification that addresses the endogeneity of the VQA certification is used. The data used in this research come from the BC liquor distribution branch, and it is composed of a monthly scanner wholesales data of all wines sold by the BC estate wineries located in the Okanagan and Similkameen Valleys of BC in 2011-2015. Findings-The obtained results suggest that VQA certification has a positive and marginally significant effect on the average volume of sales of BC produced wines, but it seems not to influence the average wine prices and the average revenue share. The results imply then that VQA certification allows rent dissipation via over-certification, which, in turn, allows arbitraging away of producers' rents. Originality/value-The research constitutes the first attempt of the use of three-stage endogenous dummy variable modeling approach to correct for the endogeneity of the VQA certification in BC. The analysis is essential for BC winemakers as it can inform them about the current role of the VQA certification in BC. This knowledge is especially important now when the BC wine region is developing its collective, regional reputation and is in the process of introduction of new appellations and sub-appellations.