Local food security and principle of organic farming (from farm to fork) in context of food culture in Indonesia: Minangkabau's case study

The basic idea behind improving local food security consists of two paths; first, accessibility (price, stock) and second, availability (quantity and biodiversity); both are perquisites to the provision of nutrients and a continuous food supply with locally available resources. The objectives of this thesis are to investigate if indigenous knowledge still plays an important role in traditional farming in the Minangkabau`s culture, thus supporting local food security. If the indigenous knowledge still plays a role in food culture in the Minangkabau`s culture which is linked to the matrilineal role and leads to a sound nutrition. Further, it should be tested if marantau influences traditional farming and food culture in Minangkabau`s, and if the local government plays a role in changing of traditional farming systems and food culture. Furthermore this thesis wants to prove if education and gender are playing a role in changing traditional farming system and food culture, and if the mass media affects traditional farming systems and food culture for the Minangkabau. The study was completed at four locations in West Sumatera; Nagari Ulakan (NU) (coastal area), Nagari Aia Batumbuak (NAB) (hilly area), Nagari Padang Laweh Malalo (NPLM) (lake area), Nagari Pandai Sikek (NPS) (hilly area). The rainfall ranged from 1400- 4800 mm annually with fertile soils. Data was collected by using PRA (Participatory Rural Appraisal) to investigate indigenous knowledge (IK) and its interactions, which is also combining with in depth-interview, life history, a survey using semi-structured-questionnaire, pictures, mapping, and expert interview. The data was collected from June - September 2009 and June 2010. The materials are; map of area, list of names, questionnaires, voices recorder, note book, and digital camera. The sampling method was snowball sampling which resulted in the qualitative and quantitative data taken. For qualitative data, ethnography and life history was used. For quantitative, a statistical survey with a semi-structured questionnaire was used. 50 respondents per each site participated voluntarily. Data was analyzed by performing MAXQDA 10, and F4 audio analysis software (created and developed by Philip-University Marburg). The data is clustered based on causality. The results show that; the role of IK on TFS (traditional farming system) shown on NPLM which has higher food crop biodiversity in comparison to the other three places even though it has relatively similar temperature and rainfall. This high food crop biodiversity is due to the awareness of local people who realized that they lived in unfavourable climate and topography; therefore they are more prepared for any changes that may occur. Carbohydrate intake is 100 % through rice even though they are growing different staple crops. Whereas most of the people said in the interviews that not eating rice is like not really eating for them. In addition to that, mothers still play an important role in kitchen activities. But when the agriculture income is low, mothers have to decide whether to change the meals or to feel insecure about their food supply. Marantau yields positive impact through the remittances it provides to invest on the farm. On the other hand, it results in fewer workers for agriculture, and therefore a negative impact on the transfer of IK. The investigation showed that the local government has a PTS (Padi Tanam Sabatang) programme which still does not guarantee that the farmers are getting sufficient revenue from their land. The low agricultural income leads to situation of potential food insecurity. It is evident that education is equal among men and women, but in some cases women tend to leave school earlier because of arranged marriages or the distances of school from their homes. Men predominantly work in agriculture and fishing, while women work in the kitchen. In NAB, even though women work on farmland they earn less then men. Weaving (NPS) and kitchen activity is recognized as women’s work, which also supports the household income. Mass media is not yielding any changes in TFS and food culture in these days. The traditional farming system has changed because of intensive agricultural extension which has introduced new methods of agriculture for the last three decades (since the 1980’s). There is no evidence that they want to change any of their food habits because of the mass media despite the lapau activity which allows them to get more food choices, instead preparing traditional meal at home. The recommendations of this thesis are: 1) The empowerment of farmers. It is regarding the self sufficient supply of manure, cooperative seed, and sustainable farm management. Farmers should know – where are they in their state of knowledge – so they can use their local wisdom and still collaborate with new sources of knowledge. Farmers should learn the prognosis of supply and demand next prior to harvest. There is a need for farm management guidelines; that can be adopted from both their local wisdom and modern knowledge. 2) Increase of non-agricultural income Increasing the non-agricultural income is strongly recommended. The remittances can be invested on non-agricultural jobs. 3) The empowerment of the mother. The mother plays an important role in farm to fork activities; the mother can be an initiator and promoter of cultivating spices in the backyard. Improvement of nutritional knowledge through information and informal public education can be done through arisan ibu-ibu and lapau activity. The challenges to apply these recommendations are: 1) The gap between institutions and organizations of local governments. There is more than one institution involved in food security policy. 2) Training and facilities for field extension agriculture (FEA) is needed because the rapid change of interaction between local government and farmer’s dependent on this agency.

La comunidad migrante colombiana como factor de cambio de las relaciones internacionales entre Colombia y España: reflexiones jurídico financieras 1996 -2009

La comunidad migrante colombiana en España ha tenido un papel importante en las recientes relaciones trasnacionales, interestatales e intergubernamentales entre los dos países. A nivel trasnacional se han creado importantes vínculos sociales, políticos y económicos entre las dos naciones; A nivel interestatal, se está configurando un marco jurídico migratorio y a nivel intergubernamental, los Gobiernos han ejecutado políticas y creado instituciones especializadas con el fin de regular los efectos de la migración y las remesas.

Confianza inversionista. Inversión extranjera directa en Colombia. Periodo 2002–2010

Desde el surgimiento de las doctrinas económicas sobre el crecimiento endógeno, se ha determinado que la inversión extranjera es un factor que contribuye al crecimiento económico, ya que facilita la transferencia de tecnología y conocimientos en técnicas de producción, de mercadeo y de gestión en mercado extranjeras donde la competencia permite la existencia de incrementos en la productividad de los factores. Hacia el año 2000 la política de IED en Colombia, contemplaba unas políticas de gobierno centradas en la paz, reformas estructurales y promoción a las exportaciones. Dadas estas condiciones, los retos concernientes a aumentar la inversión extranjera eran bastante exigentes al momento de iniciar el periodo de gobierno de Álvaro Uribe Vélez (2002 – 2010), razón por la cual el objetivo de esta investigación es analizar los resultados al finalizar los dos periodos consecutivos de mandato del Presidente Uribe. Durante su gobierno, el Presidente Uribe Vélez, logró que la inversión extranjera directa alcanzara un notable incremento en sectores específicos como el minero y el petrolero, acompañando el proceso de crecimiento económico, sin embargo, este crecimiento no figura generalizado y contrariamente los índices de desempleo se incrementaron y las utilidades generadas se convierten en remesas al exterior conllevando baja reinversión en el país y estancamiento de otros sectores. Centraré la investigación en las situaciones inicial y final del periodo presidencial, en los aspectos concernientes a los niveles de inversión captados en Colombia, los sectores más favorecidos con dicha inversión, el origen de los recursos y la relación que estos flujos han tenido en los resultados de indicadores de crecimiento económico, productividad, competitividad, empleo y reinversión de utilidades.

Los intereses políticos detrás de la mediación de Burkina Faso en el conflicto de Costa de Marfil en el año 2007

Este estudio de caso tiene como finalidad evidenciar los intereses políticos detrás de la mediación de Burkina Faso en el Conflicto de Costa de Marfil en el año 2007. En ese orden de ideas, este trabajo de grado analiza cómo la situación interna y externa de Burkina Faso, incidió en su decisión de mediar en el conflicto marfileño. Para lograr esto, en esta investigación se recurre a los conceptos de Interés Nacional y Poder Político propios de la Teoría del Realismo Político de Relaciones Internacionales, desarrollada por Hans Morgenthau, y al concepto de Seguridad del Régimen expuesto por John Clark. Además de las fuentes teóricas mencionadas anteriormente, se emplearon artículos y publicaciones de diversa índole sobre el fenómeno a estudiar.

Remesas y desarrollo económico. Un análisis empírico del caso mexicano

El objetivo de este trabajo es contribuir a identificar el efecto de las remesas que envían los emigrantes a sus comunidades de origen en México. Del mismo modo, se estudia el efecto que la participación de la mujer tiene en este proceso. La fuente de información es el Consejo Nacional de Población de México CONAPO y contiene variables a nivel estatal y municipal para el año 2000. La base de datos contiene índices de desarrollo humano, intensidad migratoria y remesas para los 2443 municipios mexicanos. La evidencia empírica sugiere que las remesas tienen un impacto positivo sobre los niveles de desarrollo de las comunidades receptoras. No obstante, la relación entre remesas y desarrollo es no lineal. Adicionalmente, se en contró que el efecto positivo que tienen las remesas sobre el desarrollo es más alto cuando la cabeza de familia de los hogares receptores es mujer.

Echoes of the crises in Spain and US in the Colombian labor market : a differences-in-differences approach

This paper presents evidence of the effect of the recent phases of the business cycle in Spain and United States, proxied by their respective unemployment rates, on the labor market of Colombian cities with high migration tradition. These countries are the main destination for labor Colombian migrants. Using information from the household survey between 2006 and 2011 for urban areas in Colombia and a differences-in-differences approach we find that unemployment rates of those countries negatively affect the probability and the amount of remittances received by Colombian households living in areas with high and moderate migration tradition. At a second stage we provide evidence that unemployment rates of those countries positively affect the labor force participation decisions in Colombian regions with the highest migration tradition.

Compromisso do retorno - remessas de emigrantes brasileiros

O objetivo deste projeto é contribuir para viabilizar propostas que possam agilizar e diminuir os custos das remessas individuais, por um lado, e analisar o impacto das remessas nos locais de origem dos imigrantes, através da realização de uma pesquisa de campo a ser feita na cidade norte-americana de Boston (Massachusetts) e outra em Governador Valadares, cidade mineira que concentra o maior número de emigrantes brasileiros nos Estados Unidos (Martes, 2000).

Um imperialismo possível: fluxos migratórios e estratégias colonialistas na Europa mediterrânea (1870-1914)

Este artigo analisa algumas das diferentes implicações do fluxo migratório nos principais países fornecedores de contingentes, durante o período conhecido como new emigration: Itália, Espanha e Portugal. Considerando suas especificidades, o objetivo é identificar as estratégias de cada um para transformar esse movimento em fator de desenvolvimento econômico: conquista de mercados, criação e fomento de colônias, incorporação e tutela das remessas dos emigrados. Reino em formação e maior fonte de emigrantes, a Itália seguiu naturalmente os caminhos que identificavam a emigração como um dos agentes de prosperidade da nação, contrastando com Portugal e Espanha.

Preliminary Overview of the Economies of Latin America and the Caribbean 2006

Includes bibliography

Preliminary Overview of the Economies of Latin America and the Caribbean 2007

Includes bibliography

Preliminary Overview of the Economies of Latin America and the Caribbean 2008

Includes bibliography

Preliminary Overview of the Economies of Latin America and the Caribbean 2011

Incluye Bibliografía

Economic Survey of Latin America and the Caribbean 2009-2010: The distributive impact of public policies

Includes bibliography

Economic Survey of Latin America and the Caribbean 2010-2011: Internacional integration and macroeconomic policy challenges amid global economic turmoil

Includes bibliography

Foreign Investment in Latin America and the Caribbean 2003

Includes bibliography