Agricultural Economics, Rural Appraisal and Agricultural PolicyModule Agricultural Policy
Academic Year 2023/2024 - Teacher: Giuseppe TIMPANAROExpected Learning Outcomes
The course aims to provide basic theoretical knowledge to understand the role of agriculture in economic systems and public intervention for agriculture.
1) Knowledge and understanding
The student will be able to know the theoretical, methodological and applicative tools for analysing the agricultural production context, sector policies and the entire agro-food chain
2) Ability to apply knowledge and understanding
The student will be able to know the main tools for the definition of business and territorial development projects
3) Autonomy of judgement
The student will acquire the ability to assess and choose the most useful policy tools for improving business economic performance
4) Communication skills
The student will have the ability to explain and motivate the choices made in the context of the evolution of the agri-food system
5) Learning skills
The student will have the ability to learn the tools to support the retrieval and management of economic aid from public institutions
Course Structure
Lectures, exercises, practical applications
The course is structured in 42 hours of which 14 hours of lectures and 28 hours of exercises. The exercises consist of individual and group work and/or in-depth seminars.
Tools to support teaching
Blackboard, videoprojector, computer, internet access. All lessons are held with the help of presentations in ppt
If teaching is given in a mixed formula or remotely, necessary changes may be introduced to what was previously stated in order to comply with the provided and reported syllabus.
Learning assessment may be done remotely if necessary.
As a guarantee of equal opportunities and in compliance with current laws, interested students can ask for a personal interview in order to plan any compensatory and/or dispensatory measures, based on their specific needs and on teaching objectives of the discipline.
It is also possible to ask the departmental contacts of CInAP (Center for Active and Participatory Integration - Services for Disabilities and/or DSAs), in the persons of professors Giovanna Tropea Garzia and Anna De Angelis.
Required Prerequisites
Attendance of Lessons
Detailed Course Content
Textbook Information
1. Iacoponi L., Romiti R., Economia e Politica Agraria, Edagricole Bologna.
2. Santeramo F.G., Di Gioia L., La gestione del rischio in agricoltura, Edagricole Bologna.
3. Publications distributed during the course
Course Planning
| Subjects | Text References | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Object and method of agricultural policy (3 hours) | Text 1: ch. 18 Teacher's material available on studium |
| 2 | Agrarian policy goals (3 hours) | Teacher's material available on studium |
| 3 | Agriculture and economic development (2 hours) | Text 1: ch. 19. Teacher's material available on studium |
| 4 | Agricultural policy and company (2 hours) | Text 1: ch. 26. Text 2: ch. 1. Teacher's material available on studium |
| 5 | Agrarian policy and labour (2 hours) | Teacher's material available on studium |
| 6 | Land policy and land (2 hours) | Text 1: ch. 21 Text 3: ch. 7 Teacher's material available on studium |
| 7 | Exercise on sources of statistical information: classification, field of observation, methods, tools and their use in professional practice (4 hours) | Teacher's materials available on studium |
| 8 | Exercise on ISMEA, instruments for promoting entrepreneurship in agriculture, land intervention and enterprise risk management (3 hours) | Teacher's materials available on studium |
| 9 | Exercise on the organisation, structures of the Region of Sicily and technical assistance methodologies in agriculture (3 hours) | Teacher's materials available on studium |
| 10 | Exercise on EU agricultural governance structures (3 hours) | Teacher's materials available on studium |
| 11 | Exercise on business networks (3 hours) | Teacher's materials available on studium |
| 12 | Exercise on the credit market and the role of credit consortia in agriculture (3 hours) | Teacher's materials available on studium |
| 13 | Exercise on insurance for risk management in agriculture (3 hours) | Text 2: ch. 2. Teacher's material available on studium |
| 14 | Exercise on labour market typologies, INPS and types of agricultural workers (3 hours) | Teacher's materials available on studium |
| 15 | Land access tools exercise (3 hours) | Teacher's materials available on studium |
Learning Assessment
Learning Assessment Procedures
The examination will be carried out by means of:
- written in itinere test (S)
- final oral examination with possible presentation of a case study (O)
The learning assessment may also be conducted electronically, should the conditions require it.
The learning assessment is conducted by means of an oral interview. The assessment of the student's preparation will be based on the following criteria: the student's ability to learn and the level of in-depth study of the topics covered, the student's ability to summarise and expound, and the student's reasoning ability.
The grading follows the following scheme:
Unsuitable
Knowledge and understanding of topic: Significant deficiencies. Significant inaccuracies
Ability to analyse and synthesise: Irrelevant. Frequent generalisations. Inability to summarise
Use of references: Completely inappropriate
18-20
Subject knowledge and understanding: At threshold level. Obvious imperfections
Capacity for analysis and synthesis: Barely sufficient capacity
Use of references: Barely appropriate
21-23
Knowledge and understanding of the subject matter: Routine Knowledge Ability to analyse and synthesise: Is able to analyse and synthesise correctly. Argues logically and coherently
Use of references: Uses standard references
24-26
Knowledge and understanding of subject matter: Good knowledge
Analysis and synthesis abilities: Has good analysis and synthesis abilities. Arguments are expressed coherently
Use of references: Uses standard references
27-29
Knowledge and understanding of the subject: Knowledge more than good
Capacity for analysis and synthesis: Has considerable capacity for analysis and synthesis
Use of references: Has deepened the arguments
30-30L
Knowledge and understanding of the subject: Very good knowledge
Capacity for analysis and synthesis: Has considerable capacity for analysis and synthesis.
Use of references: Has significant in-depth knowledge.
Examples of frequently asked questions and / or exercises
1 The candidate illustrates the goals of agricultural policy using some explanatory examples
2 The candidate illustrates the ISTAT Census of Agriculture and its main fields of application
3 The candidate illustrates the role of agriculture in the economic system
4 The candidate illustrates the main risk management tools in agriculture