Dear Colleagues,
May I please ask for some data, or suggestions as to where I might get it ?
I need some examples of the returns from typical small farm projects. Buying a cow, growing a new crop or variety, digging a well, buying a irrigation pump, using more or better fertiliser, whatever.
Rough figures, for the amount invested, and the returns, net of costs, including family labour which can be valued at what the same person would earn for the same hours as a day labourer at that season.
Really small farms, the average in India is under two acres, and really small incremental investments on such farms, not the farm itself, as above. And the cost of land can be ignored unless it is leased for the purpose, or unless there is an obvious opportunity cost, such as leasing it to a neighbour.
I have lots of examples for non-farm enterprises. Buy $50 worth of bananas, sell them for $70 in two days, cost two days work at $5 a day opportunity cost, $1 bus fare, $2 bribe to the market police, $2 storage fee overnight, net return $10.
But I want some for farmers, typical microfinance investments.
The more the merrier, all I need is the nature of the 'project', the country where it is done, and the investment amount , income, costs, return and period. Any currency.
Many thanks
Malcolm Harper
