Transaction costs and the marketable surplus of milk in smallholder farming systems of The Gambia

The neoclassical economic paradigm views market linkages as efficient mechanisms for trading. However, the validity of this position is questionable, as markets frequently do not possess the structural conditions necessary for perfect competition. In subsistence-farming systems, factors that prevent...

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Main Authors: Somda, Jacques, Tollens, E.F., Kamuanga, M.
Format: Journal Article
Language:Inglés
Published: SAGE Publications 2005
Subjects:
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/29317
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author Somda, Jacques
Tollens, E.F.
Kamuanga, M.
author_browse Kamuanga, M.
Somda, Jacques
Tollens, E.F.
author_facet Somda, Jacques
Tollens, E.F.
Kamuanga, M.
author_sort Somda, Jacques
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description The neoclassical economic paradigm views market linkages as efficient mechanisms for trading. However, the validity of this position is questionable, as markets frequently do not possess the structural conditions necessary for perfect competition. In subsistence-farming systems, factors that prevent greater participation of smallholders in markets can be found from the production level to the access to markets themselves. This study investigates the transaction-cost factors operating in smallholder dairy farms in The Gambia. The results indicate that access to market at the farm gate, the number of local cows and the distance to the nearest city increase the likelihood of market participation by producers and the marketing of surpluses of dairy products. Increases in home consumption lead to decreases in sales and of farmers' participation in milk marketing. To achieve pro-poor rural growth, it is therefore essential to address explicitly the low productivity of dairy cattle, low capital endowments and market accessibility for smallholder farmers.
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spelling CGSpace293172023-07-03T15:47:52Z Transaction costs and the marketable surplus of milk in smallholder farming systems of The Gambia Somda, Jacques Tollens, E.F. Kamuanga, M. milk markets small farms participation costs farming systems The neoclassical economic paradigm views market linkages as efficient mechanisms for trading. However, the validity of this position is questionable, as markets frequently do not possess the structural conditions necessary for perfect competition. In subsistence-farming systems, factors that prevent greater participation of smallholders in markets can be found from the production level to the access to markets themselves. This study investigates the transaction-cost factors operating in smallholder dairy farms in The Gambia. The results indicate that access to market at the farm gate, the number of local cows and the distance to the nearest city increase the likelihood of market participation by producers and the marketing of surpluses of dairy products. Increases in home consumption lead to decreases in sales and of farmers' participation in milk marketing. To achieve pro-poor rural growth, it is therefore essential to address explicitly the low productivity of dairy cattle, low capital endowments and market accessibility for smallholder farmers. 2005-09 2013-06-11T09:23:09Z 2013-06-11T09:23:09Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/29317 en Limited Access SAGE Publications Outlook on Agriculture;34(3): 189-195
spellingShingle milk
markets
small farms
participation
costs
farming systems
Somda, Jacques
Tollens, E.F.
Kamuanga, M.
Transaction costs and the marketable surplus of milk in smallholder farming systems of The Gambia
title Transaction costs and the marketable surplus of milk in smallholder farming systems of The Gambia
title_full Transaction costs and the marketable surplus of milk in smallholder farming systems of The Gambia
title_fullStr Transaction costs and the marketable surplus of milk in smallholder farming systems of The Gambia
title_full_unstemmed Transaction costs and the marketable surplus of milk in smallholder farming systems of The Gambia
title_short Transaction costs and the marketable surplus of milk in smallholder farming systems of The Gambia
title_sort transaction costs and the marketable surplus of milk in smallholder farming systems of the gambia
topic milk
markets
small farms
participation
costs
farming systems
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/29317
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AT kamuangam transactioncostsandthemarketablesurplusofmilkinsmallholderfarmingsystemsofthegambia