ISSN 2284-7995, ISSN Online 2285-3952
 

Published in Scientific Papers. Series "Management, Economic Engineering in Agriculture and rural development", Vol. 25 ISSUE 3
Written by Sunday B. AKPAN, Ini-mfon V. PATRICK, Udoro J. UDO

The study delves into the extent and various factors influencing the drive for farm income diversification among small-scale oil palm fruit (Elaeis guineensis) farmers in Akwa Ibom State, Southern Nigeria. A structured questionnaire was utilized to gather data from 300 oil palm fruit farmers in the area. Descriptive tools, the Herfindahl index, and the Tobit model were employed to analyze the collected data. It was observed that the majority of oil palm fruit farmers were married women, educated but with limited social interactions, and had an average family size of 7 members. The research indicates that the average farm income diversification index was 0.73, suggesting that income diversification among oil palm fruit farmers in the region is a matter of concern.In addition, the results showed that oil palm fruit farmers’ formal education, farming experience, socialization, household size, farmers’ age, distance from the farm gate to the market and household expenditure were significant positive determinants of income diversification index; while land size and farmers’ sex were negative determinants. For the improvement of farm income in small-scale oil palm fruit production in the southern region of the country, it is advised that stakeholders collaborate to allocate land for oil palm farmers. Furthermore, it is important to motivate youths to engage in oil palm fruit production in the region.

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AKPAN S.B., PATRICK I.M.V., UDO U.J. 2025, EXPLORING THE DRIVERS OF INCOME DIVERSIFICATION AMONG OIL PALM FRUIT (Elaeisguineensis) FARMERS IN SOUTHERN NIGERIA. Scientific Papers. Series "Management, Economic Engineering in Agriculture and rural development", Vol. 25 ISSUE 3, PRINT ISSN 2284-7995, 27-40.

Published in Scientific Papers. Series "Management, Economic Engineering in Agriculture and rural development", Vol. 25 ISSUE 3
Written by Cătălin Răzvan VÎNTU, Bianca Antonela UNGUREANU, George UNGUREANU, Cosmina SMEDESCU

This paper analyses a series of relevant aspects regarding food security as an integral part of sustainable development, with a particular focus on Romania in 2024, as well as the factors influencing food security both nationally and globally. All these elements are addressed to identify future steps, perspectives, and specific challenges for regional and global food security in the coming years. Currently, Romania faces a range of emerging risks, while global issues increasingly impact sustainable development and food security. It is crucial to approach food security as an essential aspect of social stability, capable of preventing significant imbalances within communities. Sustainable development, in this context, involves finding a balance between the current needs of the region and the preservation of resources for future generations. This process includes short- and long-term objectives, addressing economic and environmental challenges, and leveraging local agri-food potential, all of which are closely interconnected. The methodology employed in this study focuses on a SWOT analysis, examining the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats related to food and nutritional security in Romania. This analysis is grounded in the four essential dimensions of food security: availability, stability, economic access, and utilization. Additionally, the study examined the Global Food Security Index (GFSI) in Europe, reflecting levels of food access and the population’s ability to secure adequate, safe, and nutritious food. The aim was to identify the most precise and statistically valid forecasting method.

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VINTU C.R., UNGUREANU B.A., UNGUREANU G., SMEDESCU C. 2025, FOOD SYSTEM SUSTAINABILITY AND SAFETY IN ROMANIA: BETWEEN CONSUMER EXPECTATIONS AND STRATEGIC CHALLENGES . Scientific Papers. Series "Management, Economic Engineering in Agriculture and rural development", Vol. 25 ISSUE 3, PRINT ISSN 2284-7995, 881-892.

Published in Scientific Papers. Series "Management, Economic Engineering in Agriculture and rural development", Vol. 25 ISSUE 3
Written by Viorela Gabriela CIOBOTEA (PETRESCU), Elena TOMA (DIACONU)

The present paper examines the current stage of HACCP compliance in the public catering sector in Romania, based on data collected from 392 HoReCa establishments located in the country’s main historical regions. The research employed a structured questionnaire developed in accordance with Regulation (EC) 852/2004. Responses from both employees and managers provided insights into organizational characteristics, staff training, equipment, procurement, storage, food preparation, service, sanitation, and event management. Descriptive statistical methods, including frequency distributions, were applied to analyze the data. Findings reveal that while most respondents are aware of HACCP guidelines, their application remains inconsistent across establishments. Differences in educational background, insufficient training, and unclear responsibilities hinder the effective implementation of food safety regulations. Technical barriers, such as inadequate equipment and substandard storage facilities, further undermine compliance. Hygiene standards are acknowledged but often practiced irregularly, suggesting that HACCP is followed formally rather than functionally. The conclusions emphasize the need for targeted interventions to improve infrastructure, strengthen training, clarify responsibilities, and promote a preventive, safety-oriented culture within the Romanian HoReCa sector.

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CIOBOTEA (PETRESCU) V.G., TOMA (DIACONU) E. 2025, HACCP BETWEEN THEORY AND PRACTICE: MAPPING THE COMPLIANCE OF PUBLIC CATERING ESTABLISHMENTS IN ROMANIA . Scientific Papers. Series "Management, Economic Engineering in Agriculture and rural development", Vol. 25 ISSUE 3, PRINT ISSN 2284-7995, 291-300.

Published in Scientific Papers. Series "Management, Economic Engineering in Agriculture and rural development", Vol. 25 ISSUE 3
Written by Dana Elena MURARIU, Daria LOGINOVA, Jonas INDERBITZIN, Stefan MANN

This study intends to determine the evolution of the attitudes to “vegetarian”, “vegan”, and “meat” between 2012 and 2022. For this purpose, cloud plots and qualitative and regression analysis employing 162,000 tweets between 2012 and 2022 were used. The comparison showed patterns such as “chicken” vanishing from meat-related tweets but remaining in vegan tweets. Also, the results showed that the discourse around meat was shaped by hedonism, first emphasizing enjoyment and then sympathy, followed by the strong matter-of-factly will for its enjoyment. The discourses around vegan and vegetarian food were much more shaped by promoting healthy diets and, particularly in the early phase of the period examined in the analysis, by exchanging recipes. Unlike previous studies that focused on short-term trends or limited data sets, our work offers a decade-long perspective, highlighting the dynamic nature of food-related attitudes toward dietary choices.

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MURARIU D.E., LOGINOVA D., INDERBITZIN J., MANN S. 2025, HEDONISM VERSUS HEALTH: A COMPARATIVE AND DYNAMIC ANALYSIS OF DISCOURSES ON MEAT, VEGETARIAN, AND VEGAN FOOD BASED ON TWITTER DATA . Scientific Papers. Series "Management, Economic Engineering in Agriculture and rural development", Vol. 25 ISSUE 3, PRINT ISSN 2284-7995, 683-690.

Published in Scientific Papers. Series "Management, Economic Engineering in Agriculture and rural development", Vol. 25 ISSUE 3
Written by Cristina Teodora BĂLĂCEANU, Elena COFAS, Anca BRATU

In the context of the scarcity of conventional resources and an irrational use of resources which, combined with the arbitrariness of agricultural policies in Romania, have generated waste and impoverishment, it becomes necessary to develop mechanisms through which the economy aligns itself with the laws of nature that govern it, to sustainably use natural resources, to devise strategies through which the use of free goods confers balance and limits in the production process, generated in particular by the natural, sustainable degree of absorption of products in the environment. This natural approach to economic processes is closely associated with the concept of eco-economy. The paper essentially aims to apply the principles of sustainability and sustainable development at the group level and to transpose them into the community, thereby reinforcing the perception of the indissoluble link between the natural environment and the rational use of natural resources. At the same time, the paper aims to raise awareness among young people about the importance of preserving and protecting the natural environment. Environmental education exerts a significant influence on the outcomes achieved, with cascading effects on the overall performance of the economy. Through a questionnaire addressed to a representative sample of rural areas, we sought to identify the relationship between agricultural policy instruments applicable to rural areas and their concrete results, measured in terms of the well-being of the farming population.

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BALACEANU C.T., COFAS E., BRATU A. 2025, HOW TO ILLUSTRATE THE CONCEPT OF SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE IN THE ROMANIAN ECONOMY. Scientific Papers. Series "Management, Economic Engineering in Agriculture and rural development", Vol. 25 ISSUE 3, PRINT ISSN 2284-7995, 65-76.

Published in Scientific Papers. Series "Management, Economic Engineering in Agriculture and rural development", Vol. 25 ISSUE 3
Written by Mihaela Ilieva GEORGIEVA-PETROVA, Tzvetelina BORISOVA BORISOVA

This study examines local initiative groups as influential structures that can initiate a sequence of changes taking place in a given community (e.g., a transition from the phase of agrarian development to the creation of businesses and activities that assume high efficiency and indicate ways and means to achieve the goals. The purpose of this study is to analyze and assess the role of local initiative groups in the development of rural areas of the Republic of Bulgaria. The main methods used in the study are the survey method and the focus group method. Based on the various aspects of regional development, strategic planning, the LEADER program and business management in rural areas, effective regional policies can be implemented through LAGs that emphasize the importance of integrated approaches and local initiatives for achieving sustainable development.

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GEORGIEVA-PETROVA M.I., BORISOVA BORISOVA T. 2025, IMPORTANCE AND ROLE OF LOCAL INITIATIVE GROUPS (LAGS) FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF RURAL AREAS IN THE REPUBLIC OF BULGARIA. Scientific Papers. Series "Management, Economic Engineering in Agriculture and rural development", Vol. 25 ISSUE 3, PRINT ISSN 2284-7995, 445-458.

Published in Scientific Papers. Series "Management, Economic Engineering in Agriculture and rural development", Vol. 25 ISSUE 3
Written by Liliana CIMPOIEȘ, Diana COȘALÎC

This study investigates the technical efficiency of organic farms in the Republic of Moldova, aiming to assess how efficiently certified organic farms utilize available resources to produce economic outputs. The research draws on primary data collected through a structured survey conducted between March and June 2023, covering 63 farms managing a total of 19,456 hectares, including 5,320 hectares under certified organic farming. Due to data consistency requirements, 35 farms with complete and non-zero input-output records were selected for the technical efficiency analysis. To evaluate efficiency, a non-parametric methodology was applied using an input-oriented Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) under Variable Returns to Scale (VRS). The results reveal a low average technical efficiency (TE) score of 0.32 indicating that most farms operate significantly below their potential. Only 8.6% of farms were found to be highly efficient (TE > 0.7), while over 60% fell into the low-efficiency category (TE ≤ 0.4). High-efficiency farms tend to exhibit leaner input structures, better cost control, and more consistent revenue streams, while low-efficiency farms often manage substantial organic land without generating proportional output. Spatial disparities were also observed in certain districts (Falesti, Telenesti, and Singerei) outperforming others (Riscani and Edinet). The findings suggest that technical efficiency in Moldova’s organic farming sector is constrained not by land area or subsidies, but by managerial practices, input-output alignment, and market integration. A shift from uniform subsidy programs to performance-based support, combined with peer learning from high-performing farms and targeted training for underperforming districts, is essential to improve technical efficiency across the organic farming sector.

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CIMPOIES L., COSALIC D. 2025, INEFFICIENCY AMID SUSTAINABILITY? EVALUATING TECHNICAL EFFICIENCY IN MOLDOVA'S ORGANIC FARMING SECTOR . Scientific Papers. Series "Management, Economic Engineering in Agriculture and rural development", Vol. 25 ISSUE 3, PRINT ISSN 2284-7995, 235-242.

Published in Scientific Papers. Series "Management, Economic Engineering in Agriculture and rural development", Vol. 25 ISSUE 3
Written by Mirela STANCIU, Cristina-Anca DANCIU, Anca POP-DAVID, Iuliana ANTONIE

This study examines Local Gastronomic Points (LGPs) as instruments for sustainable rural development in Romania, with a focus on Sibiu County, using literature review, statistical processing of official data, field observations. The article analyze the rapid growth of LGPs—small, family-run dining units serving traditional dishes made from local ingredients. Since 2018, LGP numbers have increased by 282%, reflecting their popularity and economic impact. Concentrated in mountain regions with established tourism infrastructure, LGPs enhance destination image, preserve intangible culinary heritage, and support local producers. Findings show that LGPs stimulate rural economies, reduce depopulation, and contribute to sustainable food practices by linking agriculture with tourism. They also highlight the need for marketing strategies, digital engagement, and youth education to maximize their potential within Romania’s rural development framework.

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STANCIU M., DANCIU C.A., POP-DAVID A., ANTONIE I. 2025, LOCAL GASTRONOMIC POINTS-A TOOL FOR SUSTAINABLE VALUE CHAIN IN RURAL TOURISM FROM ROMANIA. Scientific Papers. Series "Management, Economic Engineering in Agriculture and rural development", Vol. 25 ISSUE 3, PRINT ISSN 2284-7995, 817-828.

Published in Scientific Papers. Series "Management, Economic Engineering in Agriculture and rural development", Vol. 25 ISSUE 3
Written by Tarek FOUDA, Adel Hamed EL-BAHNASAWY, Nourhan KASSAB

The aim of this study the effect of respiration rate and ventilation rate in the fruit ripening models and estimate the oxygen consumption and CO2 production. In this investigation, with three banana ripening models .Model 1's have 72 m³ space had thermally insulated cement walls that were 30 mm thick; Model 2's 60 m3 area was similarly insulated with cement walls, but these walls were 12.5 mm thick; and Model 3's 38 m3 area was insulated with ceramic walls, 24 mm thick. The measurement indicators were the oxygen consumption, CO2 production, Ventilation Rate, Temperature-Dependent Respiration Rate, heat production during respiration and energy balance. The findings demonstrated that the three ripening models' data were considerably impacted by temperature, model size, and banana ripening stages, where ripe bananas in model 1 (the largest) recorded the highest values in respiration rate, ventilation requirements and respiration temperature of bananas, where the values reached 187.556 g CO2/kg/h, 2.55 m3/h and 82.57 kW, respectively. The economic impact of banana storage reflects an increase in the profit period and thus a shortened investment Payback period.

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FOUDA T., EL-BAHNASAWY A.H., KASSAB N. 2025, MEASUREMENT AND MODELLING OF RESPIRATION RATE AND ENERGY BALANCE OF BANANAS AND ITS ECONOMIC IMPACT DURING THE STORAGE . Scientific Papers. Series "Management, Economic Engineering in Agriculture and rural development", Vol. 25 ISSUE 3, PRINT ISSN 2284-7995, 401-412.

Published in Scientific Papers. Series "Management, Economic Engineering in Agriculture and rural development", Vol. 25 ISSUE 3
Written by Sunday B. AKPAN, Ini-mfon V. PATRIC, Udoro J. UDO

The study examined consumption trends in beef, chicken meat and Chevon and provided evidence of its correlation with some macroeconomic factors in Nigeria. Secondary data were obtained from official sources and covered the years from 1991 to 2022. The Engle Granger two–step technique of cointegration and autoregressive model were used to analyze the data. The findings indicated that the consumption rates of beef and chicken experienced annual declines of -2.27% and -0.99%, respectively, whereas Chevon consumption exhibited a slight annual growth of 0.74%. The empirical analysis revealed a significant negative correlation between the inflation rate and nominal exchange rate with the consumption of Chevon, chicken meat, and beef. Conversely, the per capita GDP, credit to the agricultural sector and the capacity utilization of the meat industry have a significant positive correlation with beef, chicken meat and Chevon consumption. To increase meat consumption in the country, it is strongly recommended that the country should developed its local inputs system/machineries and introduce input subsidies to ameliorate the negative effect of inflation and exchange rate volatility in meat production. Also, the provision of sufficient incentives to boost capacity utilization of the meat industry and expanded channels to inject credit to the agricultural sector would help to increase meat consumption in the country.

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AKPAN S.B., PATRIC I.M.V., UDO U.J. 2025, MEAT CONSUMPTION IN NIGERIA: TREND ANALYSIS AND MACROECONOMIC VARIABLES DETERMINANTS . Scientific Papers. Series "Management, Economic Engineering in Agriculture and rural development", Vol. 25 ISSUE 3, PRINT ISSN 2284-7995, 15-26.

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© 2019 To be cited: Scientific Papers. Series “Management, Economic Engineering in Agriculture and Rural Development“.

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