Prejudice By John Steinbeck And The Great Depression

In both Lee and Steinbeck’s novels, prejudice is a key theme portrayed in a variety of different forms and is used as a way to degrade and discriminate the innocent characters. Lee’s title quotation ‘mockingbird’ represents those who are victims of prejudice, which is a large amount of characters as the novel is set in 1930 America, where the only properly respected people were white, mentally stable males. This is also shown by Steinbeck who uses the hopelessness of the Great Depression to put across how people were affected in their views and lives during that time. Both novels create prejudice against black people, those with mental disabilities or health issues and women, ostracising these people was not uncommon in this period, probably because these people were misunderstood by others due to lack of communication. Both Lee and Steinbeck use these minorities to portray how far prejudice is to blame for the misery and pain which develop as the novels pr ogress. Innocence is presented in the opening of the novels through nature and the previous actions of others. In Of Mice and Men, innocence is depicted through the beauty of nature and ‘giant sycamores’ Steinbeck uses colour to connote the elegance and wonder of the surroundings, such as ‘golden’ and the repetition of the word ‘green’. This contrasts with the destruction through words like ‘flamed’, ‘many fires’ and ‘ash’. This indicates that innocence, no matter how beautiful, can be destroyed easily, and will not lastShow MoreRelatedEssay about John Steinbeck: Interview Transcript703 Words   |  3 PagesJohn Steinbeck: Interview Transcript 1. Denton: National Scot poet: Robert Burns had a poem which had similar ideas to your Of Mice and Men noel, what were they? Steinbeck: Yes I had read that poem, in the story the mouse is can be okay or a pest. This would be just like the character since they can be very moody; Lennie is kind to George but is a pest because he does bad things. That mouses home is destroyed as an accidental consequence, this has similarities to events that occur in OfRead MoreThe Grapes Of Wrath By Kathi Appelt1434 Words   |  6 Pagesone long breadline, desperate for even the barest essentials. It was a crisis of monumental proportions. It was known as the Great Depression.† (Appelt) As author Kathi Appelt describes, the Great Depression was an enormous economic recession that affected countless people all across the country. One of the most vivid depictions of the Great Depression is found in John Steinbeck’s The Grapes of Wrath. Some may argue that while vivid, Steinbeck’s portrayal may not be completely accurate. HoweverRead MoreLife of Americans in the 1930s in John Stienbecks of Mice and Men/Original Writing856 Words   |  4 PagesLife of Americans in the 1930s in John Stienbecks of Mice and Men/Original Writing What does John Stienbecks Of Mice and Men tell us about life in America in the 1930s? John Steinbecks novels can all be classified as social novels dealing with the economic problems of rural labour in America during the 1920s and 30s. Steinbeck uses setting, theme, characterisation, and a modernist simple style to portray a 1930s American society, which was isolating, alienatingRead MoreJohn Steinbeck s Of Mice And Men1319 Words   |  6 Pages To most, John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men is a revered novel on racial segregation in the United States. This text has been remarkably controversial because of the way it deals with difficult issues regarding race and the American dream; however, despite its disputable history, it is an incredibly important book that is used to study many aspects of race relations in the United States in the early to mid twentieth century, more specifically during the Great Depression. The purposeRead MoreThe Grapes Of Wrath : The Great Depression1748 Words   |  7 PagesJamie LoConte Mrs. Viscosi AP Lang. Per. 4 5 April 2017 The Grapes of Wrath: The Great Depression â€Å"Man, unlike any other thing organic or inorganic in the universe, grows beyond his work, walks up the stairs of his concepts, and emerges ahead of his accomplishments† (Steinbeck). The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck is a classic book read by millions in high school due to its simple prose, clear symbolism, and its heartwarming story of perseverance against the odds. However, this novel is far moreRead MoreUnderstanding Steinbeck, His Work, And The Criticism. Many1693 Words   |  7 PagesUnderstanding Steinbeck, His Work, and The Criticism Many writers throughout history have endured both positive and negative criticism of their works. Just as John Steinbeck introduced to us â€Å"Of Mice and Men† in 1937, he faced both biographical and historical Criticism. Mr. Steinbeck was on point with his writing in the ways that he made clear to the reader just what he was talking about. He made it possible for the reader to sink deeply into the story and feel as though they are walking right alongsideRead MoreThe World and Literature Changes in the 1930s823 Words   |  3 PagesDuring, the 1930’s the world was in a time of great depression, with economic and political uncertainty fueled after the stock market crash in 1929. Many US banks failed, mortgages were foreclosed on homeowners. Croplands in the Midwest lost their topsoil and were ruined during the Dust Bowl drought, with many farmers relocating to California. Unemployment affected a large part of the work force, leaving a population of long-term joble ssness. Ultimately, the stock market crash left a dramaticRead MoreDiscrimination And Prejudice By Harper Lee And Of Mice And Men1238 Words   |  5 PagesDiscrimination and prejudice were very common acts in the early and middle 1900’s. In To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee and Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck prejudice is displayed by the acts of hate towards someone’s color of skin. People of color were the majority, that were treated unfairly. During this time in the southern states, black people had to use separate drinking fountains, bathrooms, churches, and even go to separate schools. Even though much of discrimination was driven towardsRead MoreAnalysis Of John Steinbeck s Of Mice And Men Socratic Seminar 1873 Words   |  8 PagesOf Mice and Men Socratic Seminar Responses to Questions 1. Steinbeck has his characters use racially derogatory terms. Why do you think he uses this language? Given the context of the story, are these terms necessary? Is there any evidence to suggest that Steinbeck shares his characters’ bigoted views of minorities? I think Steinbeck has his characters use racially derogatory terms to show that prejudice based on race was still a prevalent issue, even though slavery and racial discrimination hadRead MoreJohn Steinbeck s Of Mice And Men1296 Words   |  6 Pagesand trapped and enslaved and tortured by their sexuality’ – John Steinbeck illustrated that in this male dominated society women were prevented to bring to the table that which would have benefited all. ‘Of Mice and Men’ written by Nobel Prize-winning author John Steinbeck in 1937, was set around the time of The Great Depression; a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in

Learn the German Lyrics to 99 Luftballons

You may have heard the 1980s pop song 99 Red Balloons, but you may not know that it was originally a German tune. The German pop singer and group, Nena, released the international hit song in 1983 and the English version a year later. Nena was the stage name of the groups lead singer (Gabriele Susanne Kerner) as well as the group itself. Though Nena (the band and singer) had a few hits after this song, 99 Luftballons was by far its most significant success and remains a favorite in both languages. Balloons Soar, Nena Fades 99 Luftballons was an antiwar protest song written by the bands guitarist Carlo Karges. Karges had attended a Rolling Stones concert in 1982 in what was then West Berlin, where that band released hundreds of helium-filled balloons. He  wondered how East German or Soviet forces might react if  balloons crossed the  Berlin Wall, which still stood at the time. The song was composed by the bands keyboardist,  Jà ¶rn-Uwe Fahrenkrog-Petersen. After the massive hit, whose English-language version reached No. 1 in the U.S. in 1984, Kerners career, as well as that of the band, leveled off, especially in the non-German-speaking world. The group broke up in 1987. Karges never joined another band and passed away in Germany at age 50. Fahrenkrog-Petersen moved to New York, formed another band, worked with the American punk group The Plasmatics and wrote several Hollywood movie soundtracks. Kerner made a comeback in 2005 when she released a new album that returned her to the spotlight. Several songs from her Willst du Mit Mir Gehn?  (Will You Go With Me?) album shot up  the German radio charts. But she, Karges, and  Fahrenkrog-Petersen never had another success that soared as high as the balloons, though Kerner continues to record and tour. It can be a great German language lesson to learn the lyrics of this catchy tune, which still holds up decades after its release in both languages. 99 Luftballons Lyrics in German and Translation The song, released in Germany in February 1983, soon had a sister version in English, written by Kevin McAlea, which was released in North America in 1984. That song (also sung by Nena) loosely follows the German lyrics, though it is not the same as the direct English translation printed here for learning purposes. German Lyrics Direct Translation Hast du etwas Zeit fà ¼r michDann singe ich ein Lied fà ¼r dichVon 99 LuftballonsAuf ihrem Weg zum HorizontDenkst du vielleicht g'rad an michDann singe ich ein Lied fà ¼r dichVon 99 LuftballonsUnd dass so was von so was kommt Do you have you some time for me,if so I'll sing a song for youabout 99 balloonson their way to the horizon.Maybe you're thinking about me right nowif so I'll sing a song for youabout 99 balloonsand that such a thing comes from such a thing. 99 LuftballonsAuf ihrem Weg zum HorizontHielt man fà ¼r Ufos aus dem AllDarum schickte ein General'ne Fliegerstaffel hinterherAlarm zu geben, wenn es so wà ¤rDabei war'n da am HorizontNur 99 Luftballons 99 balloonson their way to the horizonPeople think they're UFOs from spaceso a general sent upa fighter squadron after themSound the alarm if it's sobut there on the horizon wereonly 99 balloons. 99 Dà ¼senjà ¤gerJeder war ein großer KriegerHielten sich fà ¼r Captain KirkDas gab ein großes FeuerwerkDie Nachbarn haben nichts gerafftUnd fà ¼hlten sich gleich angemachtDabei schoss man am HorizontAuf 99 Luftballons 99 fighter jetsEach one's a great warriorThought they were Captain Kirkthen came a lot of fireworksthe neighbors didn't understand anythingand felt like they were being provokedso they shot at the horizonat 99 balloons. 99 Kriegsminister -Streichholz und Benzinkanister -Hielten sich fà ¼r schlaue LeuteWitterten schon fette BeuteRiefen Krieg und wollten MachtMann, wer hà ¤tte das gedachtDass es einmal soweit kommtWegen 99 Luftballons 99 war ministersmatches and gasoline canistersThey thought they were clever peoplealready smelled a nice bountyCalled for war and wanted power.Man, who would've thoughtthat things would someday go so farbecause of 99 balloons. 99 Jahre KriegLießen keinen Platz fà ¼r SiegerKriegsminister gibt's nicht mehrUnd auch keine Dà ¼senfliegerHeute zieh' ich meine RundenSeh' die Welt in Trà ¼mmern liegenHab' 'nen Luftballon gefundenDenk' an dich und lass' ihn fliegen 99 years of warleft no room for victors.There are no more war ministersnor any jet fighters.Today I'm making my roundssee the world lying in ruins.I found a balloon,think of you and let it fly (away). The German and English lyrics are provided for educational use only. No infringement of copyright is implied or intended. The literal, prose translations of the  original German  lyrics by Hyde Flippo are not from the English version sung by Nena. Popular Songs by Nena (Kerner) If you find that you liked 99 Balloons, you might enjoy hearing and learning the lyrics to other songs by Kerner, released both before, during, and after her years with the band that rose from its German roots and strode so dramatically onto the world stage with its politically charged, early 1980s song.

Window Treatments Essay - 1172 Words

The window treatment business is a multi million dollar industry that dates back to the 17th century around the time of the Industrial Revolution. Even during economic down times consumers frequently replaced window treatments rather than redoing an entire room. There are over 3500 establishments that sell window coverings. Window treatments can be very important purchase considering all the benefits they have to offer. A homeowner will have to consider what their needs are for window treatments and if ready made or custom made treatments will meet their needs. A homeowner will have the option to purchase either ready made or custom made treatments and each situation will differ but the homeowner will find benefits and one will be†¦show more content†¦Ready made window treatments are mass produced, prefabricated treatments that can be easily found at most major retailers, discount stores, and a large number of catalog and online stores. This makes them easily accessible and convenient allowing them to be brought home and hung the same day for instant gratification. Custom made treatments are a little more involved than driving to a store and taking the window treatments home. The homeowner will have to decide if they are going to hire a professional designer or recruit the help from an associate at a retail store that specialize in custom made treatments. The whole process can take months with more decisions to be made and time to make them. Another thing a homeowner will have to consider is the size and shape of a window. Ready made draperies will be available in a limited number of lengths the most common being eighty four and ninety six inches long which would mean that these would not work well for taller windows where the draperies would not be long enough to touch the floor. Most ready made panels are offered in only one width which is usually only sufficient to close over a thirty six inch wide window or smaller or would be fine if they were meant to be stationary. If a wider width is desired, multiple panels that are not sewn together would have to be purchased. When pursing the custom avenue one would find out that custom windowShow MoreRelatedBenefits Of Tpa Outside Standard Treatment Window For Ischemic Stroke1464 Words   |  6 Pages â€Æ' Benefits of tPA Outside Standard Treatment Window for Ischemic Stroke Treatment of stroke, in general and ischemic stroke specifically, in particular, is aone of the most pressing issues in both nursing and medical science today. This is due to the fact that there are very few available treatment options for the various kinds of stroke. Acute ischemic stroke carriesis a prominent medical issue with a high risk of death or morbidity (Kakma, Stofko, Binning, Liebman Veznedaroglu, 2014). 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Heart of Darkness Essay - 2840 Words

Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness does not explicitly deal with a struggle between war and peace: the conflict is a psychological, moral one; however, the text’s implications that society is a thin veil over our innate savagery, the darkness at the roots of Western civilization, reveals disturbing truths about the peaceful, orderly lives we take for granted. The key to understanding Conrad’s novella lies in ascertaining the metaphorical significance of the â€Å"heart of darkness,† a search which may yield an answer as complex and obscure than any geographical, sociological or psychological solution. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Since its publication, several critics have categorized Heart of Darkness as a travelogue, or, at the least, a†¦show more content†¦At the start of the novel†¦[use of â€Å"dark†]†¦also at the end†¦[use of â€Å"shadow†, â€Å"blackness†] After evaluating these examples, it is possible to assume with little doubt that Conrad considers the very bastions of Western civilization breeding places of a dark malady. It may be an overgeneralization to extend the reaches of this â€Å"darkness† to mankind as a whole since the areas â€Å"afflicted† with it are considered civilized, limiting it essentially to the Western world. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp; The Congo in Africa is home to dark native peoples that are portrayed with a natural, primal quality, a stark contrast to the civilizations in Europe. This is the setting for British imperialism at work. It is therefore the setting where the supposed sophistication of civilized men is deconstructed, and all men are revealed to share a common darkness. Africa and its inhabitants show an external darkness, while it is revealed that the colonizers contain darkness within. Heart of Darkness is a criticism of imperialism that uses the metaphor of darkness in the human heart to show the similarity between cultural groups perceived as different; elements of racism are used inside the darkness metaphor to emphasize anti-imperialism. 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A Tale Of Two Cities Essay - 1471 Words

Charles Dickens wrote A Tale of Two Cities in order to enlighten the average Briton about the events of the French Revolution. The novel compares and contrasts cities of London and Paris, which represent French and British society, through the eyes of Dickens’ human characters. The two cities play such a large part in the novel that they become characters themselves, and the contrasting societies of the two cities become a conflict. In Charles Dickens’ classic, A Tale of Two Cities, the individualistic society of London champions the first feudalistic and later socialistic society of Paris. Dickens writes this novel without bias; he makes that clear in the first chapter, â€Å"In England, there was scarcely an amount of order and protection†¦show more content†¦The elites treat the people with less respect than their dogs. Doctor Manette’s prison account clearly demonstrates the class gap, â€Å"The speaker [the Marquis] seemed to acknowledge that it was inconvenient to have that different order of creature [the peasant] dying there, and that it would have been better if he died in the usual obscure routine of his vermin kind† (Dickens 329). Not only is there an extreme difference in lifestyle, but the upper class also treats the lower class with extreme disdain. The treatment of the people at the hands of their â€Å"betters† and the class gap catalyzes the French Revolution. The first conflict between the two cities occurs during Dr. Manette’s imprisonment. Lucie’s secret escape to London by Mr. Lorry and Charles Darnay’s parallel refusal to accept his inheritance in France represent the victory of London’s individualist society over the unjust, feudalistic society of Paris. Post-revolutionary Paris should be an entirely different society than pre-revolutionary Paris. In many ways it is, but the result remains the same: the innocent man is still â€Å"proven† guilty. The common people have the power now, but that power does not result in good reasoning. In the socialistic society of Paris, there are two ways to rule. In the first way, the people rule themselves with a mob-like mentality. In the second a ruling elite rises to the top by taking a populist approach and manipulating the people. AShow MoreRelated A Tale Of Two Cities Essay553 Words   |  3 Pages Capitol Punishment: Toy of Evil Men nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;One might believe that because capital punishment plays such a large role in Charles Dickens’ A Tale Of Two Cities, that Dickens himself is a supporter of it. This just simply is not true. Dickens uses capitol punishment as a tool to define the evil embodied in both the French ruling class, and the opposing lower class during the French Revolution; as well as comment on the sheep-like nature of humankind. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;InRead MoreA Tale of Two Cities Essay894 Words   |  4 PagesA Tale of Two Cities Jarvis Lorry, an employee of Tellsons Bank, was sent to find Dr. Manette, an unjustly imprisoned physician, in Paris and bring him back to England. Lucie, Manettes daughter who thought that he was dead, accompanied Mr. Lorry. Upon arriving at Defarges wine shop in Paris, they found Mr. Manette in a dreadful state and took him back to London with them. Mr. Manette could not rember why he had been imprisoned, or when he was imprisoned. 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Charles Dickens, author of A Tale of Two Cities, creatively foreshadows future events using suspenseful topics: A forbidden declaration of love, a tragically beautiful sunset streaked with crimson, echoing footsteps of a past that will not be forgotten, and wine stained streets soon toRead MoreA Tale Of Two Cities Allusions Essay1634 Words   |  7 PagesDickens’ also uses allusions to the Bible in the novel A Tale of Two Cities in order to emphasize events, his opinions, and themes. Dickens’ compares the Storming of the Bastille to the Last Day in order to emphasize that the peasants are unqualified to take justice into their own hands it is Jesus’/God’s position in order to determine who will be severely punished. Dickens’ allusion to the Last Day (Judgment Day) in A Tale of Two Cities is a biblical reference. In Anglicanism (the common formRead MoreA Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens Essay1393 Words   |  6 Pagescritical acclaim, A Tale of Two Cities occupies a central place in the cannon of Charles Dickens’ work. A Tale of Two Cities, published in serial form starting on April 30, 1859, is a historical fiction novel. A dominant theme in this historical novel is the duality found in many of Dickens’ characters. Dickens’ A Tale of Two Cities is somewhat autobiographical; emphasizes the key elements of theme, plot, and character; and has received extensive criticism. A Tale of Two Cities is told in three partsRead MoreEssay about A Tale Of Two Cities2268 Words   |  10 Pages There are no characters that the reader see as good and turn out to be evil at the end or vica versa. Their goodness or evilness is clearly shown from the beginning. amp;#9; amp;nbsp; A Tale of Two Cities takes place in England and France, during the time of the French Revolution. A Tale of Two Cities is a classic novel, where Charles Dickens presents to the reader archetypal main characters. From the beginning of the novel, the reader can know whether the characters are evil or not. In the

The Adventures of an IT Leader.

Question: Discuss about the Adventures of an IT Leader. Answer: Introduction The Adventures of an IT Leader is a research article that presents the various areas that are associated with the IT leadership. The article has been written on the IT leadership of the organization, IVK Corporation and its CIO, Jim Barton. The duties and responsibilities of an IT leader are extremely significant for the success and reputation of the organization. It is these responsibilities that make the job of the CIO and other leader a high volatile and high turnover job in the field. The article covers the information on the CIO leadership, cost and value of IT along with emerging technologies, risk management and several other areas (Austin, 2016). Scanning and Analyzing New Technologies Technology is something that keeps on changing and upgrading with each passing day. Information technology is a dynamic field in which there are new entries made to the list of technologies and it becomes necessary to adapt these emerging technologies in the architecture. As per the scenario of IVK Corporation as mentioned in The Adventures of an IT Leader, it is necessary to devote at least 10 percent of the overall revenue for scanning and analyzing the emerging technologies. It would allow the organizations to be at pace with the technology and would also provide it a competitive edge over the other organizations in the same field (Frontiera, 2010). Actions on Blog Issues at IVK IVK Corporation experienced blog leak that led to the violation of the confidentiality and privacy of its information. There are various techniques and processes that may be followed in order to avoid such a situation. Steps to take on the blog entry The blog entry that was made in association with the IVK Corporation should be moved to a restricted page and should be made visible to only the compliant and authorized readers. The blog consisted of some of the private and confidential information and therefore making it available to the public would bring in a lot many security risks for the organization. There shall be a disclaimer uploaded on the blog link of the organization and the blog entry that has already been made should therefore be moved to the restricted links (Marks, Rezgui, 2011). General Policy about Blogging It is necessary to have a restrictive policy on the blogging in general. However, putting restrictions and constraints would not serve the purpose alone. There are a lot many additional steps that shall be involved in associated with the information that is associated with a particular organization. First and the foremost is the knowledge about the legal implications and ethical conduct that must be known to the users and the employees associated with an organization. The employees must be aware of the legal consequences of the violation of the information properties and any sort of misuse associated with the same. There shall also be activity monitors and authentication steps that shall be installed in association with the blogs. For instance, any of the blog entry that is made shall first go to the senior manager for approval and once the approval is made, then only it should be made visible for the rest of the readers. A registration policy along with the restriction on the conten t of the blogs should also be installed (Simpson, 2006). Process for Spotting and Analyzing Emerging Technologies The most applicable process for spotting and analyzing of the emerging technologies shall include the formation of the special groups and teams dedicated for the purpose. These groups shall carry out frequent researches and shall also seek to find out the latest trends in the field of technology. The finding should then be analyzed as per the organizational policies and requirements. The groups shall also include the other departments and employees of the organization through the medium of brainstorming sessions and group discussions to find out their ideas and perspectives (Testa, 2002). Process for Enforcing Infrastructure Technology Standards In order to enforce the infrastructure technology standards, it is extremely necessary to make sure that the overall service delivery model that is followed in the organization is enhanced and strengthened. There can be three options that can be applied in order to enforce the infrastructure technology standards which include the option of doing nothing or making strict enforcements or the last option can be a gradual migration. The option that would suit the best in case of IVK Corporation and with most of the other cases would be a gradual migration of the technology and the standards. It would provide the opportunity to gradually adapt the new technologies and decline the ones that are no longer in use of application (Hutchinson, 2008). Standardization and Innovation Organizations make use of a number of different processes, products, platforms and methods. For example, in case of IVK Corporation, Microsoft is the primary platform that is in used. However, there are services and applications that make use of Linux or Unix. Also, there are various third parties and vendors that are associated with the organization that has their own set of policies and standards. The lack of standards in an organization such as IVK Corporation can therefore lead to a lot of ambiguity. Following and applying the standards is therefore necessary in order to make sure that all of the procedures and components are at the same pace. The process of standardization and innovation can appear as a conflict in case of the involvement of the third parties and therefore the contract management practices shall be used in order to avoid any of the conflicts (Rothberg, 2005). Kids Toolkit Approach to Management As per the kids toolkit approach to management, it was observed that there are known methods, policies and steps for action that are often stored in the toolkits that we use in terms of the projects and decision making activities on a personal and professional level. However, it shall be made sure that instead of sticking to the known facts and beliefs, efforts are made to find out the new forms of methods and policies as applicable to a specific project. The strategy and approach is applicable to the field of management as well (Hartman, 2000). It is often seen that the managers and leaders tend to stick to the know approach and methods of action in case of managing the projects. However, the scenario and the situations of the projects vary from one another. The policies that are applicable in a particular project may not be applicable for the other project. For instance, there are various project management methodologies that have been defined such as PRINCE2, PMBOK, Agile and many more. Managers that are well versed to PMBOK guidelines often refrain from adapting the agile practices and likewise. However, it should be made sure that the management practices and policies are based upon the nature of the project and the project factors instead of the known policies and factors. There shall also be exploration and research activities done by the managers in order to find out the applicable set of practices (Ding, Li, George, 2014). The toolkit approach as described by the kid in the article therefore applies to the field of management as well. Also, in the field of technology and the design and development methodologies that are followed in an organization, a similar approach shall be followed for better strategy and decision making activities (Davis, Dykman, 2009). References Austin, R. (2016). The Adventures of an IT Leader, 1. Retrieved from https://www.hbr.org Davis, C., Dykman, C. (2009). The Managerial Dilemma in CIO Leadership - Part I. The International Journal Of Knowledge, Culture, And Change Management: Annual Review, 9(1), 187-202. https://dx.doi.org/10.18848/1447-9524/cgp/v09i01/49674 Ding, F., Li, D., George, J. (2014). Investigating the effects of IS strategic leadership on organizational benefits from the perspective of CIO strategic roles. Information Management, 51(7), 865-879. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.im.2014.08.004 Frontiera, J. (2010). Leadership and Organizational Culture Transformation in Professional Sport. Journal Of Leadership Organizational Studies, 17(1), 71-86. https://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1548051809345253 Hartman, L. (2000). Group process in executive leadership teams. Strategy Leadership, 28(6). https://dx.doi.org/10.1108/sl.2000.26128fab.001 Hutchinson, A. (2008). Laughing at the CIO: A parable and prescription for IT leadership. Journal Of The American Society For Information Science And Technology, 59(10), 1694-1695. https://dx.doi.org/10.1002/asi.20869 Marks, A., Rezgui, Y. (2011). IT Leadership in Higher Education: The CIO Candidate. IT Professional, 13(3), 52-56. https://dx.doi.org/10.1109/mitp.2010.102 Rothberg, G. (2005). Accessing ideas to develop leadership and organization. Leadership Organization Development Journal, 26(6), 476-491. https://dx.doi.org/10.1108/01437730510617672 Simpson, P. (2006). Negative Capability and the Capacity to Think in the Present Moment: Some Implications for Leadership Practice. Leadership, 2(2), 245-255. https://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1742715006062937 Testa, M. (2002). A model for organization based 360 degree leadership assessment. Leadership Organization Development Journal, 23(5), 260-268. https://dx.doi.org/10.1108/01437730210435974

E-Services in Cambodia free essay sample

The day length varies from 11 hours 29 minutes to 12 hours 48 minutes without twilight. Mean maximum and minimum temperature range among 30 to 36 °C and 21 to 25 °C respectively. Annual rainfall is 1,343 mm mostly during May to November. The national economy of Cambodia similar to many other developing countries are largely based on agriculture and income-earning opportunities. 90% of Cambodian population makes its living from agriculture. Agricultural development becomes important not only for food and livelihood security of the rural families, but also as a support for industrial progress. Most of Cambodian farmers are poor and live under extreme agroecological, socioeconomic constraints and fear of unrest of war. The poor farmers with small and scattered holdings are surviving on rain fed, mono cropped and rice based farming. Cambodia is rice exported country of mid 1960s has now annual shortage of about 50 000-70 000 tons. Out of exported rice, Cambodia has also exported many agricultural products such as timbers, fish, maize, rubbers, soybean, ground nuts, sesame, jute, cotton and tobacco. These products have been used very low by Cambodian people, because of lacking technology and facilities to improve qualities for food consumption. Agricultural sector in Cambodia contributes about 45 percent to the GDP, and more than 80 percent of the population earns their livings from the agriculture. Apparently, a process of agricultural development is considered to be an effective approach to promote the economic growth with a broadest possible base. Nonetheless, the development of this sector is mainly constrained due to the exceptionally low productivity if compared with the neighboring countries. Research on agricultural development in developing countries has clearly shown that the fundamental problem of agricultural growth is an agricultural education as it plays a vital role in providing qualified manpower for agricultural requirements and conducting agricultural research, thus providing farmers with new techniques of production and new input. Indeed, innovation of technology and management capacities for more intensive and modernized griculture becomes paramount to maximize agricultural output to ensure food security and to alleviate rural poverty in the country. Needless to say, this can be accomplished through the upgrading of human resources employed in the sector at a ll levels from the basic education to higher education. Cambodia has two rice crops each year, a monsoon-season crop (long-cycle) and a dry-season crop. The major monsoon crop is planted in late May through July, when the first rains of the monsoon season begin to inundate and soften the land. Rice shoots are transplanted from late June through September. The main harvest is usually gathered six months later, in December. The dry-season crop is smaller, and it takes less time to grow (three months from planting to harvest). It is planted in November in areas that have trapped or retained part of the monsoon rains, and it is harvested in January or February. The dry-season crop seldom exceeds 15 percent of the total annual production. The per-hectare rice yield in Cambodia is among the lowest in Asia. The average yield for the wet crop is about 0. 95 ton of unmilled rice per hectare. The dry-season crop yield is traditionally higher, 1. 8 tons of unmilled rice per hectare. New rice varieties (IR36 and IR42) have much higher yields, between five and six tons of unmilled rice per hectare under good conditions. Unlike local strains, however, these varieties require a fair amount of urea and phosphate fertilizer (25,000 tons for 5,000 tons of seed), which the government could not afford to import in the late 1980s. The main secondary crops in the late 1980s were maize, cassava, sweet potatoes, groundnuts, soybeans, sesame seeds, dry beans, and rubber. According to Phnom Penh, the country produced 92,000 tons of corn (maize), as well as 100,000 tons of cassava, about 34,000 tons of sweet potatoes, and 37,000 tons of dry beans in 1986. In 1987 local officials urged residents of the different agricultural regions of the country to step up the cultivation of subsidiary food crops, particularly of starchy crops, to make up for the rice deficit caused by a severe drought. Animal husbandry has been an essential part of Cambodian economic life, but a part that farmers have carried on mostly as a sideline. Traditionally, draft animals water buffalo and oxen have playe a crucial role in the preparation of rice fields for cultivation. In 1979 the decreasing number of draft animals hampered agricultural expansion. In 1967 there were 1. 2 million head of draft animals; in 1979 there were only 768,000. Cambodias preferred source of protein is freshwater fish, caught mainly from the Tonle Sap and from the Tonle Sab, the Mekong, and the Basak rivers. Cambodians eat it fresh, salted, smoked, or made into fish sauce and paste. A fishing program, developed with Western assistance, was very successful in that it more than quadrupled the output of inland freshwater fish in three years, from 15,000 tons in 1979 to 68,700 tons in 1982, a peak year. After leveling off, output declined somewhat, dipping to 62,000 tons in 1986. The 1986 total was less than half the prewar figure of some 125,000 tons a year. Saltwater fishing was less developed, and the output was insignificant, less than 10 percent of the total catch. According to the First Plan, fisheries were projected to increase their annual output to 130,000 metric tons by 1990. II. Potentiality of paddy production in Cambodia Paddy Production Wet rice is a unique crop in many ways: It is a traditional, reliable and appreciated stable food †¢ It provides a livelihood for many people (for example some 75 percent of the people living in the Lower Mekong Basin) †¢ It can grow in places that are unsuited for other crops, including waterlogged or inundat ed areas †¢ It can be stored for months or years, if need be †¢ It is rather robust towards pests, and very robust towards weeds †¢ It can be raised within the period of a monsoon rainfall Water for cultivation Having developed in a context of abundant water availability, traditional wet rice cultivation is not water-efficient at all. Production of 1 kg milled rice can require the availability (if not consumption) of 3-6 m3 of water, including various losses and return flows. The monsoon rainfall in Cambodia, where most paddy fields are rain fed, with others supplied by seasonal flood water, and/or from irrigation. The seasonal variation is rather predictable, but the cultivation has adapted so closely that small deviations from the normal pattern can have a significant effects. This is particularly the case for the small dry season, a dry spell of perhaps around a couple of weeks not long after the onset of the wet season. A protracted and severe small dry season after transplanting can seriously affect the annual rain fed crop. 2. The traditional cultivation systems a. Rain fed rice cultivation -The cropping system Rain fed rice cultivation is linked to the rainfall. Over the centuries, the timing and duration of the cultivation cycle have adjusted accordingly, depending on local soil conditions. Due to uncertain rainfall, risk aversion is a strong consideration in choice of technology and in technological innovation for rain fed lowland rice. Traditionally, seeds are produced simply by retaining a portion of the harvest. Better seeds can make a visible difference, both regarding yield and robustness, but must be bought from the good seed keepers in the local area at intervals of a few years. Also, fertilizers can highly improve both the yield and the resilience of the crops. However, the opportunity for its application depends on the rainfall. The size of the land holding is important to the viability of cultivation of rice as well as many other crops. Land holdings in Cambodia tend to be minimal. One among other reasons is the increasing population combined with generation shifts. The farming system Traditional farming systems provide a balance between the availability of land, water and labor, in response to household needs and market demands. Paddy cultivation is highly labor-intensive during transplanting and harvest, but less so in other periods, and not at all outside the cultivation season. Therefore, it can conveniently be combined with other occupations. A traditional Cambodian farming system would comprise paddy cultivation, livestock and palm sugar production. Todays farming systems can be more diverse. Examples of their elements are, A typical Cambodian cultivated landscape is recognised by its sugar palms. A sugar palm can produce 25-50 kg sugar per season (which is 5-7 months), providing a supplementary occupation and cash income. Trees that are unproductive for sugar can supply leaves for thatch-making, mats or rice bins, and can eventually be used for construction and fuelwood. Sugar production is labor-intensive and can compete with Labor for other purposes. Also, it requires fuelwood. It is regarded as a hard way to earn an income and is now in decline. The agricultural value generation Cultivation generates a substantial value upstream and downstream of the farm level, in connection with production and supply of inputs, and processing and distribution of outputs. Rice milling is capital-intensive and is provided by speciali zed operators outside the village. The millers often serve as wholesale buyers. They may provide loans to the farmers with the next crop as collateral, or the rice can simply be sold some time before it is harvested. Few Asian paddy farmers have direct access to (or exposure to) an open market. Some countries see a rather monopolized distribution at the wholesale level. Many governments try to square the circle between appropriate revenue at the farm level and affordable food to the urban poor, applying gentle or more strict regulation of trade and/or prices. Conditions can be quite different for crops other than rice an aspect that can favor a certain crop diversification. b. Irrigated rice cultivation The cropping system Small parts of rain fed rice areas have irrigation or supplementary irrigation. A higher reliability of access to water reduces a major risk and provides opportunities for innovation, provided that technology, skills and inputs are available. This requires coordination of the development of irrigation services and agricultural education and services. Where raw water is available for dry season irrigation, it becomes possible to raise two (or perhaps even three) crops per year an obvious opportunity, so much more because the dry season yield is much higher that the wet season yield (due to the higher sunlight radiation from clear skies). A shift from one to two crops require a shift from long-duration to medium- or short duration varieties. For example, a medium-duration variety can be grown in the wet season and a short-duration variety in the dry season. The farming system Sharing an irrigation system requires an even stronger collaboration than rain fed cultivation, and ability to collaborate is one of the several success criteria for new systems. Farmers Water User Communities (FWUCs) are promoted by Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology (MOWRAM) in support of de-central support to operation and maintenance. Some of these work well, while many others are in need of consolidation, faced with complex new challenges and a need of close collaboration. If water is available but sparse in the dry season, a part of the land can be cultivated with crops other than rice. The soil quality, taken as a given without irrigation, get a new significance in connection with the new potential cropping opportunities. Soil conditioning becomes a new requirement in connection with crop diversification in areas that are not immediately suited for crops other than rice. Land becomes an even more precious production factor when irrigation is available, as reflected by a higher price. This makes sense, because of the higher revenue that can be generated, but it also imposes a pressure on the land ownership in case of social shocks, such as failed crops or illness in the family, where households risk to lose their land and turn to sharecropping. This is a visible tendency in newly irrigated areas. The need for supplementary occupations remains, one reason being the moderate income generated from rice cultivation. Households that combine paddy cultivation and livestock will typically earn more from the latter. Cattle and buffaloes can feed on marginal lands unsuited for cultivation, and on by-products such as straw, husk and bran. They provide manure, and draft animals can generate a cash income from transport and ploughings. Further, cattle and buffaloes provide capital for emergencies (such as medical treatment costs in case of illness in the family). The agricultural value generation A second annual crop will highly benefit from more external inputs seeds and fertilizer- and will in turn supply much more rice to the market, considering that a substantial part of the first crop from a small land holding is consumed by the household. This amplifies the value (and livelihoods) generated before and after the cultivation hopefully to the benefit of the farmers as well as society as a whole. 3. Traditional gender roles There are some traditions in connection with the task allocation between the household members. These traditions are not strictly observed, however, and all hands are at work during busy periods. 4. Trends Traditional paddy cultivation is developing in response to challenges, such as for example: †¢ A stronger market demand for crops other than rice including vegetables and biofuel crops, as well as a stronger demand for meat; †¢ a stronger competition for raw water in the dry season, related to development of irrigation infrastructure and intensified cultivation; and/or †¢ a stronger exposure to competition, related to improved transport infrastructure, porous borders, and regional and international promotion of lower trade barriers. Also, inevitably, modern lifestyles will reach even remote, traditional farming households. A cash income is needed for clothes and kerosene (or electricity where available), and every household strives to achieve a TV, a hand phone, and a motorbike. In many cases, this requires paid off-farm employment by one or several household members typically young adults, who migrate to the towns in search of work. III. Quality a. Milling and reprocessing plants Milling and reprocessing plants are being upgraded with high capacity and modern technology to ensure quality of rice. The global milled rice trade in 2010 has been estimated at around 31. 3 million tons, compared to 29. 7 million tons in 2009. However, the demand for the import of medium and low-quality milled rice has been on the increase in Asia, due to the weather problems in the Philippines, crops failure and reduced subsidy on fertilizers in Indonesia, as well as the requirement by some countries in the region to fill in reserve stock. It is estimated that milled rice trade in Asia may reach 14. 5 million tons in 2010, and at the same time, the milled rice price may increase and fluctuate. Overall, the regional and global milled rice trade has high growth potential for the medium and long term, but there are some down-side risks, due to factors such as changes in prices resulted from changing economic and political landscape in every country across the globe. The potential for increasing milled rice trade could be attributed to factors such as population and economic growth and globalization that imply changes in lifestyle and taste in rice consumption. However, the global milled rice markets are protected and highly subsidized because of its political sensitivity and paddy rice growing tradition being important in the context of national religion and food security. Nevertheless, such developments provide an opportunity for Cambodia’s milled rice export into the global markets. Milling Rice Cambodian farmers take immense pride in having commenced construction of International standard rice mill in Cambodia. The state-of-the-art high capacity paddy-to-white rice mill in the Udon region is anticipated to be commissioned in Q3 2012 and represents the first of multi-phase investment strategy and deep-rooted commitment to the country. Significantly larger milling lines are planned for commissioning throughout 2013-2015. The complete milling operations are being designed from the ground up by world-renowned rice experts with unparalleled expertise in advanced rice milling process and technology currently used by the world’s most successful rice millers. The advanced mill design will provide immense flexibility in processing capacity enabling us to handle large scale paddy in short harvesting periods without affecting quality. All mills will be fully equipped with state of the art rice milling, grading, sortexing equipment from Japan and modern packing facilities to ensure consistent production of products to the highest standards whilst meeting the highest stringent quality and safety requirements of the national and international food and retail industries. Utilising multipass technology consisting of whitening and polishing, we can ensure efficient removal of bran and an extremely clean white appearance to the individual rice grains. Our optical sorters look at each individual grain of rice detecting shape, length and colour which guarantees uniformity and an average grain length. Reprocessing plants Until recently, Cambodian farmer didnt have access to high-quality rice seed. For years, the farmer did what most Cambodians do when it’s time to plant their fields: use leftover seed from a past harvest. But the quality of the resulting crops tended to be poor, producing rice that was often pale brown, small, and lacking in aroma. As a result, buyers and rice millers offered low prices, and his sales and income suffered. Almost of Cambodian farmer finally has access to high-quality seed. On the advice of program agronomists, since 2000 they planted a small test plot of the Phka Rumdoul variety to be used exclusively for re-planting. Phka Rumdoul is one of 10 rice varieties recommended by the Cambodian government for their high productivity, quality, and market value. Cambodian farmer harvested the test plot four months later to great success. Though the initial plot was small at 1,500 square meters, the harvest provided enough seed to plant his entire farm of five hectares next season. Program agronomists estimate that the improved seed – combined with Ministry of Agriculture Forestry and Fisheries of Cambodia planting methods – will save them an estimated 70 percent on seed inputs and increase their sales by roughly 100 percent, both through increased production and higher prices when he sells. Lack of high-quality seed is a major hindrance to Cambodia’s rice industry. If the country hopes to reach the government’s target of exporting 1 million tons by 2015, Cambodian farmers must improve the quality of their product to make it more desirable to overseas markets. Increasing access to high-quality seed – in addition to good agricultural practices and improved marketing techniques, both of which Ministry of Agriculture Forestry and Fisheries of Cambodia is addressing – is crucial to this happening. About 5,352 rice Cambodian farmer receiving technical assistance from Ministry of Agriculture Forestry and Fisheries of Cambodia, a number that will grow to 30,000 over the life of the program. They have no doubt that Phka Rumdoul can find a market outside of Cambodia. â€Å"These seeds are high quality. You can tell just by looking,† they said one recent afternoon, sifting the grain through his fingers. â€Å"With good seeds and Ministry of Agriculture Forestry and Fisheries of Cambodia techniques, I’m confident that I can produce high-quality, tasty rice. † b. Good and fertile soil condition and fertilizer usage Farmer use limited chemical fertilizer and natural fertilizers to its actuality: produce high yield and good quality paddy and good tasted rice. Fertile soil condition At the time of writing this report there were no data available on the degree of erosion in Cambodia. But because of the high vulnerability of soils to erosion in Cambodia and the accumulated impact on agriculture and the environment, attention urgently needs be given to the problem. That need is underscored by the following facts: Some 63 per cent of Cambodia’s forests are located in mountainous watershed areas (Ministry of Environment, 1994), much of which has been extensively logged, deforested or degraded. Loss and reduction of the vegetation cover leads to exposure of the soil to sunlight and heavy rainfall, which speeds up the decomposition rate and therefore decreases organic matter in the soil. The process also brings about changes in the physical and chemical soil structure. Consequently, the soil undergoes crusting, and the water filtration, and water and nutrient retention capacity are reduced. The end result is intensive run-off and erosion; Some provinces in Cambodia, sheet erosion can be seen as silt which has collected behind cut logs and stumps in the fields, while rill erosion occurs in some fields only three months after clearing and burning the forest for farming. When that occurs, the actual amount of top soil being lost, measured from the top of the remaining grass and tree stumps to the soil surface, is an estimated 1 to 1. 5 cm. The fact that rill erosion has already begun in some places suggests that the yearly top soil loss is very serious. Farmers have reported that yield decreases about 20-25 per cent in the second year of cultivation, and about 40-50 per cent in the third year on wards. Soil loss through erosion can be observed at coffee and hevea farms where the natural vegetation cover has been completed cleared, leaving the soil surface uncovered between the rows of young seedlings. Erosion occurs not only in the upland areas but also in the lowland areas. In practice, water run-off occurs on all land, and the top soil is lost when no protective and conservation measures are in place. In Cambodia, however, few people understand that erosion is a serious problem in the rain fed lowland areas. In addition, population pressure in the rain fed lowlands is triggering a chain of events which will lead to intensive run-off, erosion and a reduction in the groundwater recharge. Those events include: Excessive collection of fuelwood from woodland and forest areas; Overstocking and overgrazing (although the number of animals is increasing, the fodder supply is decreasing); Increased run-off of water from rice fields. Because dikes in some areas, for example, in Svay Rieng, are not high enough to contain rainwater, the run-off contains a great of nutrient. Fertilizer usage The average rice yields in Cambodia over the past five years have been relatively constant, varying between 1. 2 and 1. tons/ha in the monsoon season and 2. 5 to 2. 7 tons/ha in the dry season. During 1995/ 96 a considerable increase in rice yield was recorded: 1. 64 tons/ha in the monsoon season and 3. 0 tons/ha in the dry season (Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, 1995). That rise in yield has b een linked to good weather conditions, increased use of fertilizer and the expanding cultivation of high-yielding varieties in the dry season1 . For other important secondary crops the yield has remained relatively constant. The average yield of cassava is 6. 61 tons/ha, sweet potatoes 4. 16 tons/ha, mung beans 0. 78 tons/ha, sugar cane 27. 29 tons/ha and soybean 1. 7 tons/ha (Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, 1995). Soil fertility depends on the agro-ecosystem. There are four important rice agro-ecosystems in Cambodia: rainfed lowland rice; rainfed upland farming; deep-water or floating rice; and dry-season (mostly flood recession) rice. While declining soil fertility is increasingly affecting the rainfed lowland agro-ecosystem, the soil fertility in the other systems can be restored through yearly siltation or through the clearing of forest areas. Unfortunately, the rainfed lowland agro-ecosystem is the most important in Cambodia because that area covers about 85 pe r cent of the cultivated area of the country. Rice in that ecosystem is commonly grown on Ultisols and Alfisols (Reyes and others, 1995). Those soils, especially Ultisols which comprise the most common rainfed lowland soil, are sandy, acidic, extremely infertile and low in organic carbon and cation exchange capacity. The rainfed lowland areas are badly degraded, especially where land settlement has continuously occurred over hundreds of years (for example, Oudong in Kampong Speu province, and Bati in Takeo province). In those areas, the soils are very sandy and the top soil has been seriously depleted or eroded. IV. Price, Tax-free and Market of Cambodian rice a. Cambodian rice price in the market Cambodian rice’s price is competitive, especially fragrant rice. Cambodian milled rice is becoming more popular throughout Asia, particularly in Malaysia, which is the number one importer of milled rice from the Kingdom. The price of Cambodian paddy rice is 30% to 40% cheaper than its neighbors Thailand and Vietnam. This low profit margin is a competitive advantage but unofficial fees, high transportation costs and high processing costs make this less significant. Exporting paddy rice is a lost. If processed domestically, some byproducts such as broken rice, husk and bran can be used as important inputs for aquaculture and animal breeding that enable farmers to earn extra income. With more investment in modern rice mill facilities, Cambodia can increase its production of quality milled rice for the growing international market and boost the reputation and international recognition of the Cambodian milled rice standards. In this connection, the Royal Government must address the following issues to increase domestic value-added: High electricity price Electricity represents 25% of the total processing costs. This fades Cambodia’s competitive advantage and the situation can be worse taking into account high and volatile oil price. High energy price is an obstacle to the expansion of the irrigation systems. In the low land Mekong plain, petroleum products are used to pump water into irrigation canals. Therefore, high energy prices limit the ability of farmers to plant two paddy crops a year and to increase yields. For instance, urban dwellers pay 18 20 cents per kWh, while those living in the rural areas are forced to pay up to 30 90 cents, compared to 10 cents in Vietnam. Unreliable supply and high electricity price force rice mills to use their own diesel generators which cost them 12. 60 dollars or 2. 2% per ton of rice, compared to 23. 38 dollars or 4. 1% per ton if electricity is used instead. High transportation cost Poor transport infrastructures such as roads, railways, warehouses, and handling equipment increase rice price. To transport one ton of rice on 100-km road, Cambodian farmers must spend 15 dollars, while this costs only 4 dollars and 7. dollars in Thailand and Vietnam respectively. Moreover, the number of handling equipment and port-nearby warehouses are not adequate, a major challenge for rice export especially during rainy season. Lack of access to and high cost of credit Lack of access to and high cost of credit decrease domestic value-added and hinder milled rice expor t. Limited access to credit, both for working capital and investment outlays, represents an obstacle for rice millers to stockpile paddy rice and modernize their processing machineries. However, given the sound and vibrant banking system and a large amount of available credit lines, the capital and the costs of financing should not be a problem. The problem is that bank intermediaries do not clearly understand the risks and the expected returns from agriculture investments, as the majority of bankers believe that agriculture is a high risk and low return sector. Moreover, lack of borrowers’ financial information and records make it more difficult for the banks to assess the repayment capacity and the status of the borrowers. b. Tax-Free for Cambodian rice export Nowadays, Cambodian rice can export to some countries in the world is tax? free, e. g. , the EU Countries, Russia and China. However, the Ministry of Economy and Finance has issued a prakas that will exempt rice producers from a 1 per cent tax in a bid to stimulate rice production and exports. The prakas, or edict – dated October 11 and signed by Minister of Economy and Finance – rescinds the tax on rice production and milled rice sales for three years. The move comes as the Cambodian government attempts to close in on its goal of exporting 1 million tonnes of milled rice by 2015. President of Loran Import-Export Company, said was not aware of the prakas, but added that the tax relief would help the countrys rice exports as soon as it was implemented. Rice exporters have long insisted that Cambodia remove domestic rice production taxes, Minister said. Thailand and Vietnam do not have such taxes, and the removal of the tax would put Cambodia on a more equal playing field, he said. It would encourage exporters, including me, to be more motivated to export. General director of Rural Development Bank, said he was not sure of the significance of the prakas yet but he supported the ministrys attempt to push milled rice production. The ministry had tried to facilitate milled rice production very much. They have pushed hard for tax exemption of export,. As a relatively new player in the milled rice market, Cambodia faces a steep learning curve. However, with a surplus of 3. 5 million tons of paddy rice (equivalent to 2 million tons of milled rice), Cambodia has the potential to soon be among the top five milled rice exporters in the world. More importantly, growth in the agricultural sector will translate into more economic opportunities for Cambodia’s vast rural population. While not a silver bullet, the success of the rice sector is an exciting and potentially crucial driver in Cambodia’s prosperous and equitable development. c. Market Milled rice market is heavily protected and import procedures vary from one country to another. As Cambodia is a new player in milled rice market, it must face a steep learning curve and improve its export capacity to penetrate the international market. According to data from the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Malaysia imported over 7,000 tonnes of a total 25,700 tonnes exported. Poland is the second-largest importer, importing 5,880 tonnes in the first month of the year, and France the third largest, importing over 4,300 tonnes. The of Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries and director of the single-window secretariat for facilitating milled rice exports, said though Malaysia ranked highest for milled rice exports, Cambodia could further capitalist on Malaysian demand for fragrant milled rice. Cambodia needs to diversify its exports to better take advantage of the Malaysian market, Vanhorn added. But Cambodia also still faces challenges in managing the use of different seeds grown in different areas, adding that officials could not always control the quantity of these unspecified seeds â€Å"According to these figures, we hope we reach our target, but anything can happen in the future,† Minister said, adding that â€Å"rice exports can be affected by many other factors†. The Asian market is huge for rice exporters, with Malaysia importing from Thailand and Vietnam as well. Malaysia imports a lot of rice to supply its market demand from Thailand and Vietnam, and now they also turn to Cambodia because of competitive prices. Cambodia announced two major bilateral trade agreements last month, with the Philippines and Thailand, that are expected to further expand the country’s rice export sector. Over the last few years, Cambodia has emerged as a major rice exporter in the region, due in large part to the Royal Government of Cambodia’s recent expansion of its agricultural sector. Agriculture, led by rice farming, contributes to roughly a third of the country’s GDP and has immense potential for strengthening Cambodia’s economic growth, accelerating poverty reduction, and improving the living standard of its citizens. As part of this agenda, in 2010, the RGC adopted a new Policy Paper on Paddy Production and Rice Export, better known as the Rice Policy, to promote diversification of Cambodia’s economic sectors by catalyzing growth in paddy rice production and milled rice export to match the growth seen in the garment and service sectors. In his keynote address at the policy’s launch, Prime Minister said: â€Å"The policy aims to ensure that we grab the rare opportunity to develop Cambodia in the post global financial and economic cataclysm. † If Cambodia’s rice export sector were to reach its full potential, it could produce 3 million tons of milled rice, with the total export value amounting to $2. 1 billion (approximately 20% of the GDP) and an estimated additional $600 million (approximately 5% of the GDP) to the national economy. It would also boost employment and income for agricultural farmers who make up more than 70 percent of the population living in rural area s. To better understand the bottlenecks in the rice sector, The Asia Foundation, in partnership with the AusAID-funded program, â€Å"Cambodia Agricultural Value Chain† (CAVAC), hosted a series of consultative forums last year in three provinces – Kampong Thom, Kampot, and Takeo – with stakeholders from the private sector (farmers, seed producers, agro-business owners, exporters) and the public sector (Ministries of Agriculture, Commerce, and Water Resources Management, provincial governors, provincial departments of line ministries, and local authorities). Approximately 370 participants attended the workshops and discussed how to create business-friendly environments (i. e. competitiveness and productivity, access to finance, access to markets), and the technical aspects of rice production (use of fertilizers and insecticides, seed categories, and availability of water sources). The insights were frank and eye-opening. Although the challenges are significant, the o pportunities for the sector are greater. Secretary of State for the Ministry of Economy and Finance, optimistically predicted that the RGC can achieve its target for milled rice: â€Å"With regards to RGC’s rice export target in 2015, we may achieve up to 80 percent of the 1 million tons planned. This should include the milled rice to Vietnamese, Thai, and non-EU markets. † Implementing a strategic framework like the Rice Policy is just the beginning. To increase the paddy rice production to meet market demand and promote the export of milled rice, the government must initiate and support a host of reforms in partnership with the private sector. For instance, to solve the issue of credit shortages for buying and processing paddy rice, the government can provide incentives to commercial banks to increase the loan portfolio for agriculture. At the end of the day, the RGC must keep the farmers themselves in mind. Introducing new technologies or improving agricultural practices can only go so far if they are not accepted and adopted by farmers. Donors and NGOs can play a pivotal role in providing support and facilitating the successful implementation of new policies and projects aimed at improving the agricultural value chain. V. Conclusion Though the current global milled rice market is highly protected, Cambodia is blessed with opportunity to export milled rice in the future thank to the increase in domestic paddy rice production and the potential in the world milled rice trade. So far, the performance of agriculture is outstanding especially in terms of productivity improvement and diversification, due to steadfast efforts of the Royal Government and all stakeholders including the participation of farmers. Rice will mainly mean the stunning landscapes of rice fields, yellow at harvest time, bright and liquid during the rainy season, with shades of green meanwhile. But to a Cambodian consumer and to a Cambodian farmer, as well as to their Government (and to the French economist), rice is the staple crop, a possible â€Å"white gold† as the Prime Minister once put it, and a major part of a poverty reduction strategy. Through, the Prime Minister launched a â€Å"policy paper on the promotion of paddy production and rice exports†. This is a good and promising example of a cluster approach to Cambodias growth strategy. Cambodia is an important but still small rice exporter. Cambodia has been an exporter of rice since 2004, but a large part of the exports was unprocessed (paddy) or even smuggled through the border. Yet Cambodia has abundant land and sits in a region that is both fertile for and in high demand of rice. So far the potential comparative advantage for rice was diluted by various costs, official (e. g. electricity) or unofficial (e. g. llegal check points). Poor coordination of public and private actors was also undermining the potential. For instance weak land titling systems and weak sanitary controls were a constraint that led to limited access to finance, itself contributing to limited value addition. However the significant increase in price in 2008 and again a rebound in the past few weeks has drastically changed the economics of the sector. The policy includes a range of actions, from helping farmers to organize in associations and use better seeds, to improving irrigation systems, developing certification systems, strengthening logistics, and facilitating access to finance. Although I did not get a chance to consult Paul the Octopus as my colleague in Thailand did, the policy makes a strong case for the rapid development of rice exports in Cambodia. Potentiality of Cambodian rice, Cambodia has great potentialities and prospects in paddy and rice production promotion for the supply. Cambodia will be able to produce large quantity of paddy in response to the increasing demand of the world markets. In the future, Cambodia necessarily need to export milled rice in large quantity rather than selling as paddy rice. In fact, high growth in agricultural sector will benefit most Cambodian people who are farmers with their living standard improved. Thus, the Royal Government is committed to promoting paddy rice production and removing all constraints to milled rice export from Cambodia. Indeed, the success of this policy will depend on actual implementation; and the task is complex and hard to achieve, yet it really requires cooperation, coordination and strong commitment especially by way of improving the leadership and management of all concerned ministries/agencies and stakeholders. The new policy recognizes this new environment and promotes: coordination of various actors along the value chain, from the rice fields to the export market; shift from production increase to commercial agriculture; and Organic rice should be promoted country wide Link all producer group into cluster and union Farmers should involved in this industry and form themselves into network Local and national authority support the industry NGO should provide more capacity building training related to value added Government should re-check the policy of land investment ( esp. land concession) Government should rehabilitate the existing irrigation system and build the new ones where the re is lack of irrigation system Government should facilitate to find the loan or provide loan to farmers with low interest rate to ensure that farmers will have enough financial resource to invest in this industry. Both government and NGO must try to look for and expand the market for organic rice products. Recognition of the leading role of the private sector and the critical facilitating role of the State. The Royal Government is strongly convinced that all ministries/agencies of the Royal Government and other stakeholders, including the private sector and development partners, and particularly Cambodian farmers across the country, will join hands in pursuing this mission to bring about development, progress, and prosperity to the Kingdom of Cambodia. Reference 1. Cosslett, Tuyet L. The Economy. Cambodia: A Country Study (Russell R. Ross, editor) Library of Congress Federal Research Division (December 1987) 2. Cambodian Environment Management Project, 1996. Summary report of Phnom Penh and provincial working group meetings on pesticide information and education (Ministry of Environment). 3. 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