Improving farm-to-market linkages through contract farming: A case study of smallholder dairying in India

Contract farming is emerging as an important form of vertical coordination in the agrifood supply chain in India, and its socioeconomic consequences are attracting considerable attention in public policy debates. This study is an empirical assessment of the costs and benefits of contract farming in...

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Autores principales: Birthal, Pratap Singh, Jha, Awadhesh K., Tiongco, Marites, Narrod, Clare
Formato: Artículo preliminar
Lenguaje:Inglés
Publicado: International Food Policy Research Institute 2008
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/161661
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author Birthal, Pratap Singh
Jha, Awadhesh K.
Tiongco, Marites
Narrod, Clare
author_browse Birthal, Pratap Singh
Jha, Awadhesh K.
Narrod, Clare
Tiongco, Marites
author_facet Birthal, Pratap Singh
Jha, Awadhesh K.
Tiongco, Marites
Narrod, Clare
author_sort Birthal, Pratap Singh
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description Contract farming is emerging as an important form of vertical coordination in the agrifood supply chain in India, and its socioeconomic consequences are attracting considerable attention in public policy debates. This study is an empirical assessment of the costs and benefits of contract farming in milk using information generated through field surveys in the western state of Rajasthan. Contract farming is found to be more profitable than independent production. Its major benefits come from a reduction in marketing and transaction costs, which are otherwise much higher in the open markets. Contract farming also contributes toward improving milk yield and reducing production costs, albeit not significantly. Dairy producers also benefit from provision of services and technical advice by integrators/firms who secure milk supplies from farmers through contract. The benefits of contract farming vary by scale of operation. Economies of scale are also important determinants of competitiveness, in which large farms (both contract and independent) have lower per unit cost due to buying of inputs in bulk and greater access to markets. Smallholders, on the other hand, derive significant benefits from a reduction in marketing and transaction costs due to their participation in contract farming.--Authors' Abstract
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spelling CGSpace1616612025-11-06T06:42:41Z Improving farm-to-market linkages through contract farming: A case study of smallholder dairying in India Birthal, Pratap Singh Jha, Awadhesh K. Tiongco, Marites Narrod, Clare contract farming smallholders dairies market structure milk supply chains Contract farming is emerging as an important form of vertical coordination in the agrifood supply chain in India, and its socioeconomic consequences are attracting considerable attention in public policy debates. This study is an empirical assessment of the costs and benefits of contract farming in milk using information generated through field surveys in the western state of Rajasthan. Contract farming is found to be more profitable than independent production. Its major benefits come from a reduction in marketing and transaction costs, which are otherwise much higher in the open markets. Contract farming also contributes toward improving milk yield and reducing production costs, albeit not significantly. Dairy producers also benefit from provision of services and technical advice by integrators/firms who secure milk supplies from farmers through contract. The benefits of contract farming vary by scale of operation. Economies of scale are also important determinants of competitiveness, in which large farms (both contract and independent) have lower per unit cost due to buying of inputs in bulk and greater access to markets. Smallholders, on the other hand, derive significant benefits from a reduction in marketing and transaction costs due to their participation in contract farming.--Authors' Abstract 2008 2024-11-21T09:57:07Z 2024-11-21T09:57:07Z Working Paper https://hdl.handle.net/10568/161661 en Open Access application/pdf International Food Policy Research Institute Jha, A. K.; Tiongco, Marites; Narrod, Clare A.; Birthal, Pratap Singh. 2008. Improving farm-to-market linkages through contract farming. IFPRI Discussion Paper 814. https://hdl.handle.net/10568/161661
spellingShingle contract farming
smallholders
dairies
market structure
milk
supply chains
Birthal, Pratap Singh
Jha, Awadhesh K.
Tiongco, Marites
Narrod, Clare
Improving farm-to-market linkages through contract farming: A case study of smallholder dairying in India
title Improving farm-to-market linkages through contract farming: A case study of smallholder dairying in India
title_full Improving farm-to-market linkages through contract farming: A case study of smallholder dairying in India
title_fullStr Improving farm-to-market linkages through contract farming: A case study of smallholder dairying in India
title_full_unstemmed Improving farm-to-market linkages through contract farming: A case study of smallholder dairying in India
title_short Improving farm-to-market linkages through contract farming: A case study of smallholder dairying in India
title_sort improving farm to market linkages through contract farming a case study of smallholder dairying in india
topic contract farming
smallholders
dairies
market structure
milk
supply chains
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/161661
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