Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Shamim Akhtar Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Business Administration, Faculty of Management and Administrative Sciences, University of Sialkot, Pakistan Author-Name: Yi Cui Author-Workplace-Name: School of Economic and Management, Communication University of China, Beijing, P. R. China Author-Name: Stephanie Efua Frimpong Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Finance, School of Business, University of Cape Coast, Ghana Author-Name: Nosheen Rafi Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Business Administration, Faculty of Management and Administrative Sciences, University of Sialkot, Pakistan Title: Unlocking sustainable competitive performance in agro-based small and medium enterprises in South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation countries Abstract: Agro-based small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are currently receiving top priority among policymakers of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) nations  due to their great contribution to employment and GDP growth. This study examines the impact of financial literacy on the sustainable competitive performance of agro-based SMEs, with a focus on the mediating role of access to digital finance and the moderating role of business experience. Using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM), we analysed data from 345 SME owner-managers. The results indicate that financial literacy positively affects sustainable competitive performance, with access to digital finance serving as a significant mediator. However, business experience does not moderate the relationship between financial literacy and access to digital finance. These findings suggest that improving financial literacy and enhancing digital finance access are critical for the sustainable development of agro-based SMEs in the SAARC region. Keywords: access to digital finance, agricultural businesses, business experience, financial literacy, sustainable performance Journal: Agricultural Economics Pages: 309-319 Volume: 70 Issue: 6 Year: 2024 DOI: 10.17221/264/2023-AGRICECON File-URL: http://agricecon.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/264/2023-AGRICECON.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/age-202406-0001.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlage:v:70:y:2024:i:6:id:264-2023-AGRICECON Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Rina Nuryati Author-Workplace-Name: Faculty of Agriculture, Siliwangi University, Tasikmalaya, West Java, Indonesia Author-Name: Lies Sulistyowati Author-Workplace-Name: Faculty of Agriculture, Padjadjaran University, Sumedang, Indonesia Author-Name: Trisna Insan Noor Author-Workplace-Name: Faculty of Agriculture, Padjadjaran University, Sumedang, Indonesia Author-Name: Iwan Setiawan Author-Workplace-Name: Faculty of Agriculture, Padjadjaran University, Sumedang, Indonesia Title: Innovation for development of sustainable integrated plantation polyculture on dry land: Using Structural Equation Modelling Abstract: The land in the South Tasikmalaya Regency is dominated by dry land with a steep and hilly land contour. In addition, the area has a shallow soil solum, so it has a high potential for erosion and landslides. Therefore, it is necessary to innovate an integrated cultivation system that is economically feasible, but still maintains environmental sustainability. In this research, the aim is to formulate a model for the development of integrated plantation polyculture farming (IPPF) for the welfare of farmers. The method in this study uses a mixed method design. The location of the research carried out is in the Tasikmalaya Regency. The data used are the results of interviews and questionnaires to 250 IPPF farmers. The data used were obtained by multistage cluster random sampling. The sustainable IPPF development model was analysed using Structural Equation Modelling (SEM). This analysis is used to determine the various potential capital factors for agricultural development on the sustainable development of the IPPF and farmers' welfare. The results of the study show that the potential development capital [natural resources (SDA) capital, economic capital, socio-cultural capital, physical capital, and multifunctional IPPF], jointly or partially affect the IPPF sustainability. Human resource capital has no effect on the sustainable IPPF development, while the sustainable IPPF development affects the farmers' welfare levels, and the potential agricultural development capital and its multifunctionality affect the sustainable IPPF development and farmers' welfare. The IPPF development model that improves the welfare of farmers is carried out through the development of specific local superior commodities, increasing the added value and cooperation, developing access to credit, regenerating farmers, sustainable assistance and infrastructure improvements. The results of this study are expected to be a reference for the government in improving IPPF sustainability to achieve the welfare of its farmers. Apart from that, the model that has been developed can make a contribution to science in the form of a comprehensive analysis of the factors that influence the sustainability of IPPF. Keywords: development potential capital, farmers, integrated polyculture, multifunctionality Journal: Agricultural Economics Pages: 291-308 Volume: 70 Issue: 6 Year: 2024 DOI: 10.17221/287/2023-AGRICECON File-URL: http://agricecon.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/287/2023-AGRICECON.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/age-202406-0002.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlage:v:70:y:2024:i:6:id:287-2023-AGRICECON Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Eva Matejková Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Statistics, Operations Research and Mathematics, Faculty of Economics and Management, Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra, Nitra, Slovakia Author-Name: Mária Májek Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Statistics, Operations Research and Mathematics, Faculty of Economics and Management, Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra, Nitra, Slovakia Author-Name: Artan Qineti Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Economic Policy and Finance, Faculty of Economics and Management, Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra, Nitra, Slovakia Author-Name: Zlata Sojková Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Statistics, Operations Research and Mathematics, Faculty of Economics and Management, Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra, Nitra, Slovakia Title: Comparative analysis of European Union countries based on selected aspects of food security Abstract: This study assesses 24 European Union countries in terms of food security in 2021. In this paper, we develop a composite food security index considering various weights of indicators. The data were obtained from the FAOSTAT and Eurostat databases. The weights of 10 input indicators were estimated using a principal component analysis-based factor analysis model. The results showed that the harmonised index of consumer prices - food had the greatest impact on the food security index, while the impact of median equivalised net income and moderate or severe food insecurity had the lowest impact. Ireland achieved the highest ranking according to the Food Security Index. Bulgaria experienced the most unfavourable situation among EU countries. Slovakia ranked 22nd out of 24 countries due to its lowest protein supply, including animal-derived proteins. As part of the analysis, our research compared the food security index with the official Global Food Security Index. The Spearman's rank correlation coefficient of 0.84 indicated a robust correlation between the two indexes. Consequently, this newly developed Food Security Index is appropriate for assessing the food security status of European Union countries. Furthermore, it broadens the assessment of food security by including countries that are not in the commonly used Global Food Security Index (GFSI). Keywords: composite index, Europe, factor analysis, food security pillars, sustainability Journal: Agricultural Economics Pages: 265-278 Volume: 70 Issue: 6 Year: 2024 DOI: 10.17221/16/2024-AGRICECON File-URL: http://agricecon.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/16/2024-AGRICECON.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/age-202406-0003.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlage:v:70:y:2024:i:6:id:16-2024-AGRICECON Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Yuqun Dong Author-Workplace-Name: School of Economic and Management, Southeast University, Nanjing, P. R. China Author-Name: Yaming Zhuang Author-Workplace-Name: School of Economic and Management, Southeast University, Nanjing, P. R. China Title: How does single- or double-cropped rice policy influence spatially irrigated land value in China? Abstract: Rice cropped policy has been constantly changing, affecting the value of irrigated land. This study aims to examine distribution patterns of irrigated land value from a new perspective of uncertainties in single- and double-cropped rice policies in China. The real options approach was employed to calculate irrigated land value under policy uncertainty, and Moran's index was applied to identify the spatial distribution characteristics of irrigated land value at the provincial level. The empirical results were as follows: significantly positive spatial correlations existed between the land value under two cropped rice policies. The northeast region of China had a low-value clustering effect based on geographical characteristics. In contrast, the southern provinces of China had a high-value clustering effect based on the criteria of administrative regions. This study considered policy uncertainty when evaluating the economic effect on irrigated land when revealing spatial correlation in land value. We provide a theoretical and empirical basis for the formulation of cropped rice policies. Keywords: cropped rice policy, land economic value, real options approach, spatial correlation Journal: Agricultural Economics Pages: 279-290 Volume: 70 Issue: 6 Year: 2024 DOI: 10.17221/49/2024-AGRICECON File-URL: http://agricecon.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/49/2024-AGRICECON.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/age-202406-0004.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlage:v:70:y:2024:i:6:id:49-2024-AGRICECON