Central Wholesale Research Articles

Innovative system to maximize methane production from fruit and vegetable waste.

Anaerobic digestion of fruit and vegetable waste (FVW) offers an environmentally friendly alternative for waste disposal, converting it into methane for energy recovery. Typically, FVW digestion is conducted in a continuously stirred tank reactor (CSTR) due to its ease of use and stability with solid concentrations between 5 and 10%. However, CSTRs are limited to organic loading rates (OLRs) of about 3kg COD/m3.day, resulting in large reactor volumes, low methane productivity, and costly wet digestate handling. This work introduces a novel method for methane production from FVW using a high-rate reactor system. The proposed approach involves grinding, centrifuging, and/or pressing the FVW to separate it into liquid and solid phases. The liquid phase is then digested in an up-flow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor, while the solid phase undergoes digestion in a dry methanization reactor. A model incorporating all biological reactors was implemented in the Anaerobic Digestion Model 1 (ADM1) to provide a theoretical basis for the experimental development of this system. The current simulation scenarios offer initial references for operating the experimental system, which will, in turn, generate data for further model refinement. For instance, constrained liquid-gas mass transfer was considered for dry fermentation, with additional potential biochemical kinetic limitations to be incorporated following on experimental evidence. The success of this system could enable energy recovery in 72 Central Wholesale Markets across Brazil, offering a critical tool for planning, operating, and optimizing such systems.

E-Commerce Platforms, Social Commerce on Decreasing Visits to the Traditional Market of Cirebon Wholesale Center

This study uses quantitative research methods to analyze the effect of e-commerce and social commerce platforms on the decline in visits to the Cirebon Wholesale Center Traditional Market, with a focus on the Tiktok Shop case study. The sampling technique used by researchers is non-probability sampling with purposive sampling technique and the data analysis used in this researcher is validity test, reliability test, determination coefficient test, hypothesis testing. Therefore it is important for the government to take more concrete steps to help them deal with this situation, namely by helping to create promotional efforts that can build a positive image for traditional markets, conventional business owners want traditional markets to be known as unique shopping places with quality local products and the friendliness of traders who are the main attraction. with the existence of e-commerce, social commerce and tiktok shop has a significant effect on the decline in interest in visiting the Cirebon Wholesale Center traditional market. As we know in today's modern era, consumer interest in online shopping has a major influence on the marketing management of a company's products and services. Services in e- commerce and social commerce are an alternative for the millennial generation to increase sales turnover compared to offline stores.

Theorising and analysing the forest-based bioeconomy through a global production network lens

There is a multiplicity of bioeconomies and transition pathways, many of which are radically different from the biotechnological approach dominating in Western and Northern Europe. While the empirical basis for understanding this diversity is growing, also in the Global South, there is a lack of bioeconomic learning from existing allied theories. This paper applies global production network theory to the forest-based bioeconomy. Specifically, we focus on internationally traded renewable environmental products and identify an analytical framework for empirical investigation of the forest-based bioeconomy. We then apply the approach to the case of commercial medicinal plants in Nepal, using the example of the trade in air-dried bulbs of the Himalayan herbaceous plant Fritillaria cirrhosa in 2014–14 and 2021–22 with empirical data from structured interviews with traders (n = 65 and n = 79 for the two observation years) supplemented with interviews in the first period with harvesters (n = 540), central wholesalers (n = 73), processing industries (n = 79), and regional wholesalers in India and Tibet (n = 78). We find that global production network theory, and the associated array of analytical devices, can inform empirical investigation of the forest-based bioeconomy by operationalising the bioeconomy concept and grounding findings within an established theoretical frame and its associated emerging body of literature. The empirical application also demonstrated the possible policy outcomes from such empirical analyses.

Global production networks and medicinal plants: Upstream actor dynamics in Nepal

AbstractKnowledge of spatial and temporal actor dynamics in global production networks (GPNs) based on renewable natural resources remains rudimentary. This article contributes to reducing this knowledge gap by showing how upstream actors shape the territorial embeddedness and value dynamics (creation, enhancement, and capture of value) of GPNs. Empirically, we present a fine‐grained analysis of the upstream section of the global production network for commercial medicinal plants harvested in and traded from Nepal. In particular, the paper investigates the within‐group and between‐group dynamics of key actors (traders and wholesalers). Empirical data was generated through 257 quantitative and 121 qualitative interviews with harvesters, sub‐local traders, local traders, central wholesalers and regional wholesalers, supplemented with focus‐group discussions. Analysis focuses on three key areas of interaction: infrastructural and ecological variations; territorial embeddedness and development; and institutional power and network reconfiguration. The findings help to understand the role of upstream actors in reconfiguring GPNs and enhancing the explanatory power of the GPN approach by adding organizational supply‐side insights, thereby facilitating identification of pro‐poor interventions.

Shifts in Vegetable Supply and Demand from 2010–2019 to the 2020–2021 COVID-19 Period at the Tokyo Metropolitan Central Wholesale Market

コロナ禍期間にあった2020–2021年における野菜の需給動向を，2019年以前の過去10年間と比較しながら確認した．東京都中央卸売市場に出荷されている144品目を月ごとに分析し，1657月別品目の需要と供給，並びに価格の動向を確認した．その結果，野菜の需給動向は，月別品目によって異なり多様であることが再認識されたが，あえて全体的な傾向を指摘すれば，需要と供給が減退している月別品目が多く，その傾向が直近の変動においてより強まっている．コロナ禍との関連では，家庭内需要が多い指定野菜で需要が増加した月別品目が見られた．これに対して業務需要が多い輸入野菜と香辛つま物類で需要が減退した月別品目が多かった．季節的には春から夏にかけて需要が減退した月別品目が多かった．こうした需要の減退に比べて価格が低下した月別品目が少なかったが，これは供給が減らされたためで，出荷者の損失は大きかったと推測される．

PENGARUH PENETAPAN HARGA PRODUK TERHADAP LOYALITAS PELANGGAN STUDI KASUS PADA PUSAT GROSIR BANDUNG

Customer loyalty needs to understand the buying cycle. The purchase cycle starts from the consumer making a purchase for the first time then the consumer will conduct a post-purchase evaluation on the product, after which the consumer will decide to buy the product again or not. This research is stated in the hypothesis that there is a positive influence between pricing on customer loyalty (Study at Bandung Wholesale Center). The population in this study are customers who make purchases at the Bandung Wholesale Center which are unlimited (infinite). In determining the number of samples will be used based on the calculation of the Lamshow formula. Then the size of the sample based on the number of populations who buy products at the Bandung Wholesale Center is the result of calculations obtained by the value of n = 68, the number of respondents studied is 68 people. Based on the results of calculations using Pearson Product Moment correlation coefficient analysis partially Product Pricing (X) has an effect on Customer Loyalty (Y) can be obtained the result is 0.855 which indicates a very strong influence between Product Pricing and Customer Loyalty. The correlation value which is between 0.800-1000 is in a strong interval, so it can be said that Product Pricing is a priority role for Customer Loyalty.

Analisis Performance Elevator Studi Kasus Di Pasar Grosir Tanah Abang (Blok A) Menggunakan Metode Dan Graphic Mechanical And Electrical Equipment (Mee) Dan Perhitungan Empiris

Tanah Abang Blok A Wholesale Market is a modern wholesale center in Jakarta that has more than 10floors and to make it easier for visitors to carry out activities that move the first floor j another floor, a verticaltransformation is needed, namely an elevator. Elevators are needed to streamline the time, mileage, and userpower to reach the first floor to other floors in a high-rise building. So in this Tugas Akhir the author takes thetitle Analisis performance elevator case study in Pasar grosir Tanah Abang block A. The method used is to usethe method of literature, observation, and interviews so that it is hoped that the author will be able to make iteasier to analyze it. In this study, the problems that will be discussed are the carrying capacity of the elevator,the waiting time of the elevator, the power of the motor, and the number of units. From this study, the followingresults were obtained for the elevator carrying capacity of 118 people for passenger elevators and 120 people forfreight elevators, waiting times for passenger elevators for 43.4 seconds and for freight elevators for 62.9 seconds,motor power for passenger elevators of 15 KW and freight elevators of 18 KW, and the number of units as manyas 4 units for passenger elevators and as many as 3 units for freight elevators.

Peran Ekonomi Kreatif Dalam Meningkatkan Pendapatan UMKM Pusat Grosir Solo di Masa Pandemi Covid-19

This study aims to determine the role of the creative economy in increasing the income of MSMEs at the Solo Wholesale Center during the Covid-19 pandemic. This study applies a qualitative descriptive approach. Data collection techniques apply interview, observation, and documentation techniques. The data analysis method uses an interactive model consisting of four steps of analysis, namely data collection, presentation, data reduction, and drawing conclusions. The results of the study show that the creative economy implemented by traders at PGS Solo has a positive influence on business continuity, although the increase in income obtained has not been able to cover the decrease in income felt during the Covid-19 pandemic. The creative economy is able to foster enthusiasm and optimism to survive and rise in running a business during the Covid-19 pandemic.

ANALISIS PERBANDINGAN METODE EXPONENTIAL APPROACH DAN METODE IMPROVED ZERO POINT UNTUK MEMINIMUMKAN BIAYA PENDISTRIBUSIAN

The purpose of this study is to do a comparative of the minimum cost of distributing mountea drinks using the exponential approach and the improved zero point method. The exponential approach method is a direct method where the allocation in this method depends on the number of zeros that appear in the transportation table. In the case of an unbalanced transportation problem, a dummy line (column) will appear where the cost on the line (column) is zero, which will greatly affect the optimum results of the given exponential approach method. The improved zero point method is an improved method from the zero point method, which is very useful for solving all types of transportation problems. This method provides an optimal solution without the help of other modified methods. Based on the results of the research, it was shown that the distribution cost of mountea drinks from the wholesale center in the Lunyuk sub-district using an exponential approach and an improved zero point obtained a cost of 10,392,276 Rupiah before the optimization, while the while the comparative distribution cost of the mountea drinks from the wholesale center in the Lunyuk sub-district after the optimization using an exponential approach and an improved zero point obtained a cost same of 8.552.560 Rupiah.

Pengaruh Tingkat Pendidikan, Pengetahuan dan Locus Of Control terhadap Perilaku Keuangan: Studi Kasus pada Pelaku Usaha di Pusat Grosir Solo

The purpose of the study was to determine the effect of an education level, knowledge, and cus of control on the financial behavior of business actors at the Solo Wholesale Center.This research is included in quantitative descriptive with a population of 88 people, all of which were research samples. The sampling technique used is simple random sampling. Data collection techniques using observation, interview, and questionnaire. The data analysis in this study uses multiple linear regression analysis. Based on the results of the study, it can be concluded: There is a simultaneous and significant influence between the level of education, knowledge, and a locus of the control on the finance behavior of business actors at the Solo Wholesale Center. The level of education has a positive and significant effect on the financial behavior of business actors at the Solo Wholesale Center. The knowledge has a positive and significant effect on the financial behavior of business actors at the Solo Wholesale Center. A locus of control has a positive and significant effect on the financial behavior of business actors at the Solo Wholesale Center.

Kebijakan Pemerintah Daerah dalam Penanganan Pandemi Virus Corona (COVID-19) di Kota Surabaya

Right on March 16, 2020, this virus has started to enter the Surabaya area. This study wants to see about the Covid-19 pandemic in Indonesia. There are two problems examined in this study. First, regarding the policies issued by the local government in overcoming the Covid-19 pandemic, especially in the city of Surabaya. Second, researchers want to see the impact of the policies issued by the Surabaya city government in dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic on the people's economy. The theory used to analyze these problems is Merilee S. Grindle's theory of public policy implementation. The research method is descriptive qualitative and the type of research is a case study. From the data analysis, it can be seen that the first finding, there are several policies issued by the Surabayacity government in dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic, namely, 1) Circular of the Mayor of Surabaya to Increase Alertness Against Covid-19 in Surabaya. 2) Population Mobility Control Protocol Based on Surabaya Mayor Circular. 3) Regulation of the Mayor of Surabaya Number 16 of 2020 concerning Guidelines for Large-Scale Social Restrictions in Handling Covid-19 in the City of Surabaya. 4) Decree of the Mayor of Surabata regarding the Task Force for the Acceleration of Handling Covid-19 in the city of Surabaya. 5) Regulation of the Mayor of Surabaya Number 28 of 2020 concerning Guidelines for the New Normal Order in the Conditions of the Covid-19 Pandemic. Second, regarding the impact of the policies issued by the Surabaya city government in handling the Covid-19 pandemic on the economy of the people of the city of Surabaya. With the implementation of large-scale social restriction policies and the temporary closure of several lower, middle and upper class shopping centers such as traditional markets, kapasan markets, Surabaya Wholesale Center (PGS), and several large malls, it has had a major impact on the economy of the community, especially the people of Surabaya who are in second place. the highest rate of covid-19 cases after Jakarta.

Kebijakan Pemerintah Daerah dalam Penanganan Pandemi Virus Corona (COVID-19) di Kota Surabaya

Right on March 16, 2020, this virus has started to enter the Surabaya area. This study wants to see about the Covid-19 pandemic in Indonesia. There are two problems examined in this study. First, regarding the policies issued by the local government in overcoming the Covid-19 pandemic, especially in the city of Surabaya. Second, researchers want to see the impact of the policies issued by the Surabaya city government in dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic on the people's economy. The theory used to analyze these problems is Merilee S. Grindle's theory of public policy implementation. The research method is descriptive qualitative and the type of research is a case study. From the data analysis, it can be seen that the first finding, there are several policies issued by the Surabayacity government in dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic, namely, 1) Circular of the Mayor of Surabaya to Increase Alertness Against Covid-19 in Surabaya. 2) Population Mobility Control Protocol Based on Surabaya Mayor Circular. 3) Regulation of the Mayor of Surabaya Number 16 of 2020 concerning Guidelines for Large-Scale Social Restrictions in Handling Covid-19 in the City of Surabaya. 4) Decree of the Mayor of Surabata regarding the Task Force for the Acceleration of Handling Covid-19 in the city of Surabaya. 5) Regulation of the Mayor of Surabaya Number 28 of 2020 concerning Guidelines for the New Normal Order in the Conditions of the Covid-19 Pandemic. Second, regarding the impact of the policies issued by the Surabaya city government in handling the Covid-19 pandemic on the economy of the people of the city of Surabaya. With the implementation of large-scale social restriction policies and the temporary closure of several lower, middle and upper class shopping centers such as traditional markets, kapasan markets, Surabaya Wholesale Center (PGS), and several large malls, it has had a major impact on the economy of the community, especially the people of Surabaya who are in second place. the highest rate of covid-19 cases after Jakarta.

A Study on the Market Integration of Agricultural Product Wholesale Markets in Korea: A Focused Relation Analysis of Prices in Agricultural Product Wholesale Market

Purpose – In this study, we investigate the market integration function of agricultural product wholesale markets by analyzing the price determination power of individual markets that play a pivotal role in the distribution of agricultural products in Korea, and the relationship between prices among these markets. Design/Methodology/Approach – We analyzed nine central wholesale markets that play a key role in 32 agricultural product wholesale markets in Korea using the daily price data of six major items. For the analysis, the stability of time series data was reviewed through the Unit Root test, and the ability to determine their own prices was checked through variance decomposition, forecast error variance decomposition. Findings – The results show that the prices in the Garak Agricultural Product Wholesale Market, which accounts for 33.6% of all trade volume in all 32 agricultural products wholesale markets, have a remarkable impact on the prices in major central wholesale markets; thus, these markets, except for the Garak Market, lack their own price determination power for most items. Research Implications – Agricultural product wholesale markets in Korea are achieving market integration due to the relatively small land area, a trade method focusing on auctions in wholesale markets, and the real-time sharing of agricultural trade information owing to advancements in information and communication technology. Therefore, this study’s results are distinct from those of previous studies claiming that distance affects market integration.

Feeding the Urban Leviathan

Mexico City, a crowded and sprawling metropolis of 22 million residents, is not only one of the world’s most populated urban settlements but also one of the most vulnerable. Overburdened by a centuries-long series of compounding crises, Mexico City has always lived on the verge of an imminent and irreversible collapse. Water scarcity, floods, earthquakes, pollution, violence, traffic, overpopulation, and health issues have all taken their toll on a city that has, nonetheless and against all odds, managed to survive. When the first wave of COVID-19 hit in early 2020, Mexico City faced a hitherto overlooked threat: food insecurity. One of the communities hardest hit by the pandemic was the central wholesale market, Central de Abasto, which controls 80 percent of the food bought, sold, and consumed throughout the Metropolitan Area of the Valley of Mexico. This article takes a close look at the political, economic, and ideological causes and effects of Mexico City’s over-centralized model of food supply and distribution and how it has added to its state of permanent crisis.

Assistance of the Tanah Abang Traders Association (HIPTA) in dealing with the Covid-19 Pandemic

The prolonged crisis due to the Covid-19 pandemic that hit Indonesia had a significant impact on various sectors, including the goods and services trade sector. Traders in the wholesale center of textiles and textile products in Tanah Abang are one of the parties who really feel the impact. The declining purchasing power of the people coupled with the necessity to close shops during the Implementation of community activity restrictions led to a decrease in income, while the obligation to pay operational costs still had to be carried out. This forced quite a number of traders to decide to close their businesses. The purpose of this activity is to find the best solution for the business continuity of traders. The method used is the focus group discussion. The conclusion obtained is the need for the application of digital marketing at the Tanah Abang wholesale center. The steps that need to be taken are socializing about the importance of digital marketing, training on social media creation and creating a market place or website that provides marketing access for all traders.

Cluster analysis of agricultural products storage infrastructure in Kazakhstan: directions and development prospects

Purpose - the article is devoted to identifying the needs of the economy of Kazakhstan in infrastructure facilities for storing agricultural products and the prospects for its further development. Methods - statistical, factorial and k-mean cluster analysis. Results - the influence of an efficiently functioning network of storage facilities for agricultural products on the stability of providing the population with food, reducing the volatility of prices and supplies in the off-season is justified. The authors revealed that modern premises for warehousing and preserving the quality of agricultural products in foreign countries combine the functions of storage and marketing by creating logistics wholesale distribution centers (WDC), which allow the use of modern information technologies and computer systems aimed to form consumer applications for formulating commodity groups and delivery of the required product volumes to the consumer with minimal costs. Based on the analysis of indicators of harvesting and use of the main types of agricultural products in the republic (stocks at the beginning of the year, gross harvest, imports, industrial use and domestic consumption, losses, exports, personal consumption by the population, reserves at the end of the year, availability of storage facilities, shortage), the need in the storage infrastructure has been determined. The clustering of warehouse buildings was carried out according to the main features: the volume of one-time preservation, level of losses, availability of climatic warehouses and transport mechanism, on the basis of which five clusters have been identified. Conclusions - cluster analysis of storages showed their uneven and irrigation distribution across the regions of the country. It is necessary to modernize and build new such facilities of various capacities on the basis of the WDC - large hubs concentrated in various regions of Kazakhstan, depending on their needs.

Waste assessment in distribution and marketing logistics of horticultural products: evidence from Brazil

Worldwide, one-third of the food produced is inconsumable due to marketable quality losses. Parallelly, and given the growing world population, levels of waste have become unacceptable. Supply channels play a fundamental role in establishing strategies for food waste mitigation. The objective of this research was to analyze if good operational practices with different dimensions of distribution and commercialization logistics may contribute to reduce fruit and vegetable waste. The studied dimensions were: logistics, operations, technology, trade and management. Several questionnaires were administered to 83 specialized wholesale merchants from a large supply center in Brazil, for lettuce, potato, orange, papaya and tomato. The results indicated that for papaya and potato, low and high waste generation are associated with a greater number of anti-waste actions (p = 0.0071 and p = 0.0469 respectively). For tomato, lettuce and orange, no significant differences for found. These results represent a first approach to understanding the reasons for food waste at wholesale centers. Highlights: Worldwide, one-third of the food produced is inconsumable due to marketable quality losses. In Brazil, about 40 thousand tons of food is wasted per year. Food waste in the fruit and vegetable supply chain is associated with the following dimensions: logistics, operation, technology, trade and management. For papaya and potatoes, low levels of residues are associated with a greater number of anti-waste actions such use of a cold chamber and use of promotional pricing, respectively. For tomato, lettuce and orange, no significant differences was found for high and low levels of waste in relation to the number of actions undertaken in these chains.

Determinants of formation of agro-food chains in the environment of households of Ukraine

The article is devoted to the study of the determinants of the formation of agri-food chains in the households of Ukraine and the substantiation of the directions of their integration into competitive supply chains. It is argued that the developments in both scientific and practical aspects of creating conditions and prerequisites for the integration of PF in the competitiveness of the supply chain and increasing value added at each level of its participants are relevant. It is highlighted that local supply chains in foreign practice are considered as tools for generating income of the rural population, the implementation of the principles of sustainable development of rural areas, as well as considered as short, local and "smart chains". It is substantiated that it is the promotion of the development of local agricultural chains with the involvement of PF in domestic practice that will contribute to the sustainable development of rural areas, ensuring food security of the country. It is argued that in order to create preconditions and conditions for the development of rural households for crop production, it is necessary to develop measures to streamline sales channels and include them in competitive supply chains. It is established that a significant part of agricultural products grown by households is used for self-sufficiency of the family, feed for farm animals and poultry, and surplus products, especially in remote rural areas, are lost due to spoilage and unclaimed. It is clear that the informal relationship between the distribution and exchange of crop products produced in PF is not a tool to maximize the profits of their members. and, therefore, it is advisable to create favorable economic conditions for their inclusion in the supply chain of agricultural production. The characteristic properties of commodity parties, PF are systematized, namely: small volumes of production, low technological standards, limited production resources, which limits the opportunities to use the potential opportunities to return capital on a scale. It was found that a certain part of the grown crop products is sold by PF through a network of retail food markets, the sale of fruits and vegetables and potatoes is carried out through retail organizations, wholesale markets for agricultural products and trade intermediaries. Measures are proposed to integrate PF into value chains on the basis of creating a network of regional wholesale and distribution centers and organizing units for purchasing surplus agricultural products, deepening the development of agricultural cooperation. Key words: agricultural sector, employment, rural households, small farmers, competitive supply chains.

Features of formation of distribution marketing channels of agricultural production of personal peasant economy (PF)

The article considers the peculiarities of the formation of marketing channels for the distribution of agricultural products PF and identifies strategic directions for their development. The urgency of studying this issue is due to ambiguity in the development of sales activities of PF, on the one hand, their role in shaping the supply of agricultural products, and on the other - complicated sales process and lack of appropriate distribution infrastructure, which does not contribute to their effective development. It is proved that the absence of a single conceptual apparatus for the definition of the distribution channel and the composition of its functions significantly complicates the interaction of scientific developments and practical approaches to the organization of distribution of agricultural products. It is reasonable to consider under the marketing channel an orderly sequence of organizations that perform one or more functions necessary to ensure the ability to purchase products by the end consumer in a convenient place, time, in the required quantity and quality at minimal cost. The main difficulties in organizing the supply of agricultural products PF on the basis of a survey of rural households, including the following: lack of planning in production and marketing activities, episodic and spontaneous trade, its toning, lack of long-term cooperation with processing enterprises, lack of civilized infrastructure and distribution. The peculiarities of the functioning of the main channels of distribution of agricultural products of PF - trade and intermediary structures, retail and food markets, places of spontaneous trade, dairy and meat processing enterprises, procurement organizations are highlighted. The main difficulties in the development of economic relations of farms with processing enterprises and procurement organizations are substantiated: low prices, lack of partnerships that would provide "supplier development", not an objective definition of quality, and so on. In order to support targeted sales activities by peasant households, tools have been proposed to stimulate the development of sales marketing cooperatives, local wholesale and distribution centers with units for the organization of agricultural products from PF and to establish scientific and advisory support for business-type sales activities. higher agricultural education and a network of regional research centers. Key words: marketing distribution channels, personal peasant economy, agricultural products, elements of distribution infrastructure.

Cointegration and spatial price transmission among rice markets in Tanzania: implications for price stabilisation policies

ABSTRACT In an effort to increase agricultural production, promote regional specialization and stabilize domestic food prices, the Tanzanian government has implemented several market-enhancing policies. The success of these measures depends, among other factors, on the cointegration and degree of price transmission across spatial markets. This study uses the vector autoregressive procedure of the Toda-Yamamoto causality test, dynamic ordinary least squares cointegration tests, and the asymmetric error correction model to examine the performance of Tanzania's domestic wholesale rice markets (lead-lag price relationship and long-run price adjustment process) during the post-agricultural market liberalization period. In response to changes in the marketing-enhancing policies during the investigation period, the presence of multiple structural breaks in the long-run equation is allowed. The results show that the Dar es Salaam market influences prices in all the rice markets examined, thus acting as a price leader. Furthermore, the price adjustment process results demonstrated the absence of asymmetric price adjustment between the central and regional wholesale rice markets, suggesting improved integration and efficiency of inter-regional rice markets. On the other hand, a central market's presence implies that interventions aimed at the central market can buffer regional markets to withstand adverse price shocks caused by food price spikes and volatility.