Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: M. Lošťák Author-Workplace-Name: Faculty of Economics and Management, Czech University of Life Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic Author-Name: H. Hudečková Author-Workplace-Name: Faculty of Economics and Management, Czech University of Life Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic Title: Agriculture and farming related activities: their actors and position in the LEADER approach Abstract: The paper aims to fill in the gap existing in the Czech Republic as for the research about the nature and impacts of the LEADER approach. The focus of the paper is to show how farming and agriculture related activities are addressed under the LEADER scheme in the European context and how does the LEADER influence the position of farming and related industries in rural development. Such outline is considered as the starting point for in-depth research in the LEADER in Czechia. To achieve such goal, the paper analyses the reports about the corresponding projects published in the Leader+ Magazine (edited by Leader+ Observatory). The analysis documents that LEADER supports collaborative actions. It is obvious that the farmers mostly participate in projects aiming at adding value to local product but they are not too active in improvement of the quality of life in rural areas. It opens the room for non-farming actors for their higher participation in rural development and thus it supports the reformulation of Common Agricultural Policy. Keywords: LEADER, farmers, farming related activities, rural development projects Journal: Agricultural Economics Pages: 245-262 Volume: 54 Issue: 6 Year: 2008 DOI: 10.17221/280-AGRICECON File-URL: http://agricecon.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/280-AGRICECON.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/age-200806-0001.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlage:v:54:y:2008:i:6:id:280-AGRICECON Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: V. Jeníček Author-Workplace-Name: University of Economics, Prague, Czech Republic Author-Name: V. Krepl Author-Workplace-Name: Czech University of Life Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic Title: All-human social, humanitarian, cultural and security problems of the world Abstract: The common denominator of all rather different names and understandings of it (the problem of the "model of man and society development", problem of the "lack of the civilisation concept" etc.) is that there is no clear understanding regarding the question of the perspective approach (or approaches), the relevant basic development trends of humankind in the material as well as non-material sphere, i.e. in the basic question of many philosophers "Who are we, whence and where are we going". We mention only some of the problems, which are at present directly connected to the "problem of the future of man". These are the problems from the sphere of all-human social, ethical, humanitarian and cultural aspects of the human civilisation development, which are today (but need not be already in the near future) in the centre of attention: the problem of social inequality extension, the problem of spreading epidemics and drug abuse, the problem of the uncontrollable migration and city agglomerations growth, the problem of terrorism. Keywords: problem of the future of man, social inequality, spreading epidemics, drug abuse, uncontrollable migration, terrorism Journal: Agricultural Economics Pages: 263-268 Volume: 54 Issue: 6 Year: 2008 DOI: 10.17221/281-AGRICECON File-URL: http://agricecon.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/281-AGRICECON.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/age-200806-0002.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlage:v:54:y:2008:i:6:id:281-AGRICECON Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: C.J. Arene Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Agricultural Economics, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria Author-Name: G.I.O. Mbata Author-Workplace-Name: Federal Capital Territory Agricultural Development Programme, Gwagwalada, Abuja, Nigeria Title: An analysis of the profitability and choice of metropolitan waste-use in urban agriculture of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Nigeria Abstract: The study attempts to analyse the profitability of urban agriculture using metropolitan organic waste in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory of Nigeria. The results show that the enterprise is profitable, and that output price is the most important determinant of the maximum variable profit. Other price factors, specifically planting materials, labour, and metropolitan waste (organic manure), account for less. Further analysis shows that level of education, age of farmers, per capita farm income, and household size are important determinants of choice of urban agriculture for food security and improvement of environmental quality. The chances of farmers willing to pay for urban agriculture will increase when their level of education and per capita income increase, while the chances of not willing to pay for such venture will increase when their ages and household size increase. The creation of more market outlets for urban produced foods is recommended, among others. Keywords: profitability, metropolitan waste-use, urban agriculture, Nigeria Journal: Agricultural Economics Pages: 269-275 Volume: 54 Issue: 6 Year: 2008 DOI: 10.17221/284-AGRICECON File-URL: http://agricecon.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/284-AGRICECON.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/age-200806-0003.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlage:v:54:y:2008:i:6:id:284-AGRICECON Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: J. Stávková Author-Workplace-Name: Faculty of Business and Economics, Mendel University of Agriculture and Forestry, Brno, Czech Republic Author-Name: L. Stejskal Author-Workplace-Name: Faculty of Business and Economics, Mendel University of Agriculture and Forestry, Brno, Czech Republic Author-Name: Z. Toufarová Author-Workplace-Name: Faculty of Business and Economics, Mendel University of Agriculture and Forestry, Brno, Czech Republic Title: Factors influencing consumer behaviour Abstract: The main aim of the article is to understand the influence of factors biasing purchase decisions connected with measurement of consumers' involvement. Consumption expenditures are purposefully subdivided according to the classification made by the Statistical Office of the European Communities. The performed survey showed that the most important factors biasing purchases of all commodity groups are products' characteristics and the perceived quality. Together with these goes the factor price, nevertheless for example for the commodity group health price did not appear in the scale of the perceived importance at all. Factor necessity of need proved to be significant for decision making about the purchase of all commodities with the exception of alcoholic drinks and tobacco and recreation. Former experience compared to that is not crucial for clothing and footwear and housing equipment and contents. For alcoholic drinks and tobacco, there has notably approved also the factor brand. These analyses enable disclosure of rules of consumer decision making and thereby definition which factors for individual commodities should be targeted by the help of the marketing doyens or where the gradual changes should be achieved. Keywords: consumer behaviour, purchase decision making, commodity groups, interference factors Journal: Agricultural Economics Pages: 276-284 Volume: 54 Issue: 6 Year: 2008 DOI: 10.17221/283-AGRICECON File-URL: http://agricecon.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/283-AGRICECON.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/age-200806-0004.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlage:v:54:y:2008:i:6:id:283-AGRICECON Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: M. Putićová Author-Workplace-Name: Research Institute of Agricultural Economics, Prague, Czech Republic Author-Name: J. Mezera Author-Workplace-Name: Research Institute of Agricultural Economics, Prague, Czech Republic Title: Food industry in the Czech Republic - with regard to labour force development Abstract: The submitted paper analyses the development of food industry in the Czech Republic in 2000-2006, its position (in 2006) and development trends of main economic indicators compared to the development of manufacturing industry. In comparison with the dynamic development of Czech manufacturing industry, key position of food industry has decreased. The monitored food sector has heterogeneous structure with regard to branches. In connection with these differences, development trends of separate branches are fluctuating but labour productivity of the food sector as a total has markedly accelerated. Keywords: food industry, main economic indicators, receipts from sales of own products and services, number of employees, value added, labour productivity from value added, labour costs Journal: Agricultural Economics Pages: 286-292 Volume: 54 Issue: 6 Year: 2008 DOI: 10.17221/282-AGRICECON File-URL: http://agricecon.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/282-AGRICECON.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/age-200806-0005.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlage:v:54:y:2008:i:6:id:282-AGRICECON