Comparative marketing performance between the Peruvian Cooperatives and the Intermediaries: Acopagro cooperative vs. Intermediaries- a Case Study

In the Peruvian jungle, there are two main cocoa marketing channels: the intermediaries and the cooperative. For example, the Acopagro Cooperative, a Peruvian organization, has contributed to the shift from illegal crops like coca to an alternative crop like cocoa which gives small scale farmers a sustainable welfare. Despite the fact that the Acopagro cooperative benefits their members by paying a fair price, supplying technical assistance and credit, many farmers still prefer commercializing their cocoa via the intermediaries. A further analysis of cocoa prices was carried out through personal interviews and a survey made between December 2009 and January 2010, of 243 farmers in Juanjui, San Martin, Peru's main cocoa production area. The outcomes demonstrate that there is not so much difference between the cocoa price that the farmers receive from the Cooperative versus through the intermediaries. The main difference is that Acopagro cooperative divides its surplus income among its members at the end of each fiscal year. These results are consistent with previous analysis1 that proved participant farmers are better paid for their product than non-participants. Moreover, there are significant differences in the agri-marketing functions performed by each marketing channel. Farmers who prefer to commercialize via the intermediaries do not choose this marketing channel mainly due to their desire to be independent in the market or their low cocoa production. Because high economies of scale are required for large volumes of produce, the cooperative should attract small scale farmers who distribute cocoa through intermediaries to become Acopagro members in order to satisfy international market demands.Acopagro cooperative, Peruvian jungle, intermediaries, cocoa, price, agri-marketing channel, marketing channel., Agribusiness,

The Suppression of Radiation Reaction and Laser Field Depletion in Laser-Electron beam interaction

The effects of radiation reaction (RR) have been studied extensively by using the ultraintense laser interacts with the counter-propagating relativistic electron. At the laser intensity at the order of $10^{23}$ W/cm$^2$, the effects of RR are significant in a few laser period for a relativistic electron. However, the laser at such intensity is tightly focused and the laser energy is usually assumed to be fixed. Then, the signal of RR and energy conservation cannot be guaranteed. To assess the effects of RR in a tightly focused laser pulse and the evolution of the laser energy, we simulate this interaction with a beam of $10^9$ electrons by means of Particle-in-Cell (PIC) method. We observed that the effects of RR are suppressed due to the ponderomotive force and accompanied by a non-negligible amount of laser field energy reduction. This is due to the ponderomotive force that prevents the electrons from approaching the center of the laser pulse and leads to the interaction at weaker field region. At the same time, the laser energy is absorbed through ponderomotive acceleration. Thus, the kinetic energy of the electron beam has to be carefully selected such that the effects of RR become obvious.Comment: 6 pages, 3 figure

Depth Dependency of Hardness Change of Ti-Mo Alloys

We investigated the effects of resolved interstitial oxygen or nitrogen atoms and of quenched-in strain on the hardening of the single crystals grown from molten Ti-14 and 20wt pct Mo alloys. The aging treatment at 623K in atmosphere much more increased in the hardness of specimen surface than that in argon atmosphere. The quenched-in compressive stress enhanced age hardening due to omega formation. We surveyed in detail the hardness changes toward the center of plate-shaped single crystal

New Approach to Short-Range Ordering in GP(2) Zones in Al-3.82wt. % Cu Alloy

X-ray diffuse scatteing intensity measurement has been carried out for the Al-3,82% Cu single crystal in which GP (2) zones are found. The two dimensional equiintensity contour maps in h(1) h(2) 0 plane are obtained from surveying around several reflections. The diffuse intensity around 2 1 0 reflection, which shows a cross like streak, is carefully examined. Warren-Cowley short-range order parameters, a(i), are estimated from the diffuse intensities around 2 1 0 reflection. The component of the intensities coming from atomic displacements was subtracted from the total diffuse intensity. It is found that the equi-intensity contours after the correction of the atomic displacements shows an anisotropic distribution and the GP(2) zone is an ellipsoid with a modified layer structure

Fine Particles of Ti and Ti-Mo Alloy Prepared by Gas Evaporation

Fine particles of Ti-Mo alloy were prepared by evaporation. When Ti-40at % Mo alloy was evaporated on tungsten filament, fine particles of Ti contaminated with W were obtained. These particles were polyhedron in shape and 10～250nm in diameter. Average diameter and size distribution increased with pressure of argon gas (100～600 Torr). When pure Ti was placed on the Mo filament and evaporated from melt down of heated Mo filament in helium gas, fine particles of pure Ti and of Ti-Mo alloy were obtained. In this case, Ti particles were of indeterminate form and of several tens nm in diameter, and their diffraction pattern was of common α-Ti. On the other hand, composition of the Ti-Mo particles was determined to be 18at % Mo by an analysis of EDX. Structure of Ti-Mo particles could not be determined because their diameters were more than 600nm. The temperature of Mo filament, for the most part, was about 1800℃, and there pure Ti particles were produced. The temperature of the fused part of the filament was locally higher than 2600℃, and there Ti-Mo particles were produced. Fine structures of contact region among some Ti particles were observed with HRTEM

Simulation of Deformation of Ni Twinned Nanocrystal Model by Molecular Dynamics

Molecular dynamics simulation of nickel crystal under uniaxial tensile and compressive deformation was performed for single nenocrystal model and twinned nanocrystal model composed of 1550 atoms using EAM (embedded atom method) potential with the object of investigating deformation induced phase tranformation (especially twin deformation). In the case of single nanocrystal model, the evolution and development of twin deformation, (111)[11(2)], is observed under compressive loading in [001] direction, whereas either slip or twin deformation is not recognized under tensile loading. In the case of twinned nanocrystal model, twin, (111)[11(2)], decreases and disappears under tensile loading, and develops under compressive loading, It is suggested from the difference of results between single nanocrystal model and twinned nanocrystal model that it is easy for twin to induce local deformation