Strategy Implementation, Structure, Systems and Process - Essay Example

Name: Dated: October 31, 2009. Title: Research Essay, Food security Table of contents: Serial number Subject Page number 1 Executive Summary 3 2 Major objectives of the case study 5 3 Central Arguments 6 4 The case study 7 5 Land reforms 8 6 The workers and the agricultural practices 9 7 Conclusion 11 8 References 12 1. Executive Summary The environmental organizations in the Global South (third world) are working for addressing the issues like food security, conservation of environment in the region, promotion of relevant technologies for the achievement of the outlined objectives and through capacity building of all the stakeholders as on sustainable basis( Pimentel, 1995). The physical and natural characteristics in Cuba during last decade of the twentieth century were against the promotion of agriculture sector as the sector was heavily based on monoculture agriculture practice as to export the crops for earning foreign exchange and similarly, the climatic conditions were primarily based on tropical and unsuitable conditions for the production of feed grain crops has motivated the relevant authorities to take appropriate measures for the promotion of the agriculture sector in Cuba(Cramer & Craig 1994 )(1). Special emphasis of the policy makers was on more productions, few imports and earnings of foreign exchange in the shape of US dollars for the purchase of essential imports for stabilizing the food position in the country(Galbraith & Kazanijan ,1986)(2). The government organization and all other relevant organizations are regularly updating their target groups through their focused publications including the case studies as to conserve the environment for the betterment of human society and for the future generations. The practices have stabilized the food position in the country with the utilization of both supply side and demand side of the economic activity with special focus on the agriculture, tourism and trade sectors for earning sufficient revenues in the period of food crisis as Cuba has witnessed in the post-1990 phase of the Soviet Union disintegration (Joseph et al, 2000) (3). Food Security in Cuba by Sinan Koont, 2005 is selected for illustrating the theme as related with the food security and conservation of the environment in the region (Options to Improve Live Hoods and Protect Natural Resources in Dry Environments, 2009). Food security as defined by the FAO includes three major components for proper handling of the issue as the production of adequate food supplies for its consumption by the general consumers, to promote stability in the flow of food supplies with adequate reserves of food and finally to secure excess both in economic and physical terms for the promotion of and environment with sufficient supply of food items for all the inhabitants of a geographic entity as on equal and without any type of discrimination(Kateregga Sterner ,2009) )(4). Three major sectors were focused with a primary target to handle the issue food security in Cuba. These three sectors include agriculture with special focus on the use of indigenous inputs as in the shape of raw materials for the production of conventional crops including rice and potato in Cuba, conversion of sugar cane crops into ordinary normal crops for the rapid completion of the crop cycle and use of minimum imported items like diesel and petrol for the cropping and harvesting techniques in agriculture and finally through the use of other the exploration of other sectors like tourism and trade for earning revenues as in the shape of US dollars for stabilization of the Cuban currency in the international money market(Pimentel, et al.1995)(5). A stable and balanced monitory status extends strengths to the government machinery for the formulation of just and practicable policies so as promote the cause of the government for a specific time period. All these steps with their synergetic impact has resulted in the shape of sufficient food for its consumption by the local population as on affordable rates and the practices as were utilized by the Cubans during food security crisis are available for their replication in any other part of the world with similar geographic and climatic conditions. Via Campesina, an international organization as was established in 1996 has worked at the grassroots levels for the activation of the peasant groups through the introduction of the term food security and has sensitized all the stakeholders to work together for the establishment of sustainable agricultural practices as through inward looking(James ,2002) (6). The case study " Food Security in Cuba " by Sinnen Knoot is selected for the illustration of the administrative and economical reforms as were introduced in Cuba for addressing the issue and the results have demonstrated that the measures as taken by the relevant authorities were successful and were taken by all the stakeholders with caution and as a policy instrument for the promotion of food security through an entirely new practice as was purely based on the economic principles for the protection of environment through the new agricultural practices and for the creation of a stable food security status in the country(Murphy et al,2005)(7). 2. Major Aims of the case study Major aim of the case study is to introduce the term food sovereignty among the stakeholders1 including the grassroots peasant groups, the rights of the states and the peoples to decide their own food and agricultural policies for the production of the required food in their respective territories through the practices reinforcing and promoting cultural values of the people along with the protection of environment as on sustainable basis (Craig, 1994). Broadly speaking major aims of the case study can be summarized as in order of their preferences as, (1) Establishment of food security in Cuba during post Soviet integration of 1990 with the introduction of economic reforms purely based on indigenous raw materials with minimum utilization of the mechanical machinery for the production of crops including food crops for their consumption by the local population and if available for their export so as to earn foreign exchange for import of essential equipment and raw materials, (2) Protection of environment with the introduction of agricultural practices with minimum dependency on the fossil fuels without any compromise on the production levels, (3) To study the role of non-agricultural practices like trade and tourism for earning foreign exchange with the utilization of non-conventional practices as for example, foreign remittances and, (4) To demonstrate the case study with its managerial and administrative tools so as to replicate such type of instruments in any other part of the world with similar geographic and physical conditions for the conservation of natural environment without any compromise on the production of the food and non-food crops for their domestic and international consumption. 3. Central Arguments: The central arguments as included in the case study include the promotion of the concept of food security as to provide adequate food to fulfill the nutritional requirements of the inhabitants as on affordable prices with the protection of environment through the adoption of agricultural practices(Delang ,2006) (8). The term food security has been defined by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO2) including the concepts like stability in the flow of food supplies, the production of sufficient food as per the requirements of the masses, secure access to the produced food both in economic and physical terms and availability of the produced food to all the stakeholders as on regular basis for the fulfillment of the objectives as on satisfactory basis (Mot et al. 2001) (9). 4. The case study The case study has demonstrated the causes and the background which has resulted in the conduction of the case study in the geographical location like Cuba as to secure food in the region with the adoption of environmental friendly technologies (Kazanijan et al, 1986). A number of approaches have been adopted to put the strategies into their practical shapes including the conservation of soil in the region for the production of much needed food during last decade of the twentieth century(Singer,1997) (10). These strategies include identification of the idle lands for its usage through the modified moods, to develop new programs and schemes for the work organizations, introduction of incentives as to stimulate all the stakeholders for their effective contribution for enhance production of agricultural products and to promote the methods for the increased yields both in quantitative as well as qualitative patterns (Mark et al 2004 (11). These strategies were primarily targeted to ensure food security and food sovereignty with the reinforcement of agricultural policies and patterns for better yields. The strategies as discussed in the case study include utilization of all available resources with their full and efficient utilization for the production of food directly using available domestic inputs(Brown & Funk )( 2008) (12). These inputs were primarily based on the available raw materials which were utilized as on optimum basis for their conversion into valuable finished goods in the shape of final crops. The country has utilized a policy framework so as to earn foreign exchange with the export of food items and other cash crops such as coffee, sugar and tobacco and finally to produce previously imported inputs as were required in the food production prices like patrol and petroleum products so as to utilized the importation resources for example powered milk and all the steps have resulted in the shape of availability of food supplies and their flow into the market as in a stable form. 5. Land reforms Agricultural is a discipline based on the utilization of available resources land and water as inputs for the production of crops as their outputs in the shape of fruits, vegetables, food grains and cash crops in addition, disciplines like life stalk and dairy development are also essential components of the overall agricultural mechanism policy makers and the administrator are designing their policies with a special focus on the maximization of the yields and therefore, the economic output for their consumption by the formers and all other stakeholders for their respective benefits. Agricultural machinery with latest agricultural practices plays a significant role in overall production process. Land reforms is one of the significant steps for ensuring crop productivity adequate food supply and continuity of the agricultural process for the benefit of the peasants and the policy makers at the government levels. In the instant case study land reforms option was also exercised at the first stage idle land was identified for its utilization in the agricultural process through indigenous mechanism. At the second stage new schemes were formulated for the introduction of specific work assignments within the organizations regarding pricing mechanisms with special incentives so as to stimulate the workers as in the shape of efficient agricultural labor. 80% of Cuban's population is urban and only a small portion of 20% live in rural centers. The authorities have introduced the land reforms with the names like organoponicos, growing of crops at every available land and to use new lands for the purpose of cultivation. All these steps have promoted agricultural production in Cuba and a sustainable food security position was achieved in the country. The land use plans as utilized for the crop production in Cuba were primarily implemented through environment friendly mechanism as these plans have resulted in the shape of more food with little damages to the physical environment of the country (Naylor et al 2008) (13). The plans and programs are implemented with the utilization of human resources as in the shape of inputs for the completion of the production process. 6. The workers and the agricultural practices The workers were motivated with proper incentives so as to enhance their efficiency. A new type of management process was introduced with a special emphasis on to maintain a record of the workers for the determination of their wages on the basis of the work done. These workers were paid in accordance with the level of their participation in the production process. Some of the workers were paid in the shape of US dollars so as to provide them an excess to the imported items like bicycles, shoes and work cloth as were available in dollar only stores. The necessary steps were taken for the promotion of sale of goods to the tourists with a specific purpose to earn foreign currency in the form of dollars. It was a legal practice since 1993 that Cubans can hold currencies in the shape of US dollars. There were two basics mechanisms for earning dollars in Cuba as (a) as through remittances from the relatives as were living in foreign countries especially in the Unites States of America, and (b) from the tourists through offering goods of Cuban origin or through the acceptance of tips from the visiting tourists as in the shape of US dollars. All these steps have accumulative US dollars in the Cuban economy and these earned dollars were utilized for the purchase of necessary inputs for their further utilization in the agricultural mechanism. These agricultural products were utilized at the domestic level as food items and to export the products for import of essential items including oil that is petroleum products for running the state machinery including the industrial sectors (Maznevski et al, 2000). The study was conducted in Cuba has resulted in the production of more food as well as non-food items as the products for local consumption and for the export purposes like coffee, tobacco and other similar items. The study has also contributed in strengthening the local economy during the time of crisis as was witnessed by Cuba during that period of the Cuban history. The case study can also be used as a model practice with some modification for the production of food security as through the protection of the environment. The case study has included tourism and trade as a source of revenue for the country. Initially most of the inputs as were required for the tourists were imported by the country however, later on the ministry of agriculture through innovative practices3 had some success in shape of enhanced quality and reliability of the food delivery for the tourists, for example in the year 2001, 61% of the tourist's requirements were fulfilled from the goods of Cuban origin. 7. Conclusion: The case study has provided a unique example of food security in Cuba during last decade of twentieth century and in the first decade of the current century through the utilization of refined agricultural practices for the production of food crops so as to meet the requirements of the local as well as of the visiting tourist in Cuba. The agricultural practices were supplemented with the utilization of business and managerial tools as in the shape of better services to the visiting tourists basic element of change as was reinforced by the Via Campesina was the peasant and the farm worker with a modified vision along with an articulated approach as to earn dollars and to spent dollars for purchase of necessary goods. All these practices have ensured adequate food supply without any damage to the environment as to promote sustainability of the system. The case study is a classic example of good environment friendly practices with the security of food as its primary objective and simultaneously conservation of environment as on sustainable basis for avoidance of hunger and starvation from the nations of the world as on equitable basis(Travis et al)( 2008) (14). References: 1. Cramer, Craig. 1994. Test your soils' health—first in a series. The New Farm. January. p. 17-21. 2. Jay R. Galbraith and Robert K. Kazanijan, Strategy implementation, Structure, Systems and Process, 2d ed (St: Paul, Minn: West, 1986). 3. Joseph J. Distefno and Martha L. Maznevski, “Creating Value with Diverse Teams in Global Management,” Organizational Dynamics 29, no.1 (Summer 2000), 45-63. 4. Kateregga, E. and T. Sterner (2009), Lake Victoria Fish Stocks and the Effects of Water Hyacinth" Journal of Environment and Development, March, Vol 18:1 pp 62-78. pdf 5. Pimentel, D.,et al.1995.Enviromental and economic cost of soil erosion and conservation benefits.Science . Vol. 267, no.24.p 1117-1122. 6. Post, James (2002), Redefining the Corporation: Stakeholder Management and Organizational Wealth, Stanford University Press, 7. Sophia Murphy, Ben Lilliston and Mary Beth Lake, February 2005, "WTO Agreement on Agriculture: A Decade of Dumping", Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy 8. Claudio O. Delang (2006). "The role of wild food plants in poverty alleviation and biodiversity conservation in tropical countries". Progress in Development Studies 6 (4): 275–286. doi:10.1191/1464993406ps143oa 9. Cox, P. G., S. Mak, G. C. Jahn, and S. Mot. 2001. Impact of technologies on food security and poverty alleviation in Cambodia: designing research processes. pp. 677–684 In S. Peng and B. Hardy [eds.] “Rice Research for Food Security and Poverty Alleviation.” Proceeding the International Rice Research Conference, 31 March–3 April 2000, Los Baños, Philippines. Los Baños (Philippines): International Rice Research Institute. 692 p. 10. Singer, H. W. (1997). A global view of food security. Agriculture + Rural Development, 4: 3-6. Technical Center for Agricultural and Rural Development (CTA). 11. Von Braun, Joachim; Swaminathan, M. S.; Rosegrant, Mark W. 2004. 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