Reliable Market Information Research Articles

Challenges Faced by the Paddy Farmers during COVID-19 Regime in Andhra Pradesh

Rice is the main food for about 800 million people in India, which constitutes about 65% of its population. The unexpected imposition of lockdown with very little preparation obstructed farming and the food systems in numerous different ways. Rice was majorly affected by the restrictions during COVID-19; hence the present study was designed. A multistage sampling design was adopted the for selection of the sample. Garrett’s ranking method was used to prioritize challenges and the results revealed high input cost, high wage rate of labour, high transportation cost, and non-availability of farm labour were major challenges faced by paddy farmers to cope with these challenges we suggested that Government should provide adequate inputs to the farmers at a judicious time on a need basis through RBK’s, high need to encourage farmers towards mechanization, labour scarcity should be reduced by employing MGNREGA workers in operations, Government should provide required inputs at lower/ judicious prices by establishing the manufacture industries and also should ensure that correct and reliable market information to reach the farmers.

Are common bean traders efficient? An empirical evidence from Malawi

Efficient agricultural markets can be a bedrock for diverse economy-wide benefits ranging from improvements in resource use to price stabilisation. However, as is the case with most developing and agrarian countries, Malawi's agricultural markets are still developing. This is mainly the case in the country's legume markets, especially the bean marketing system. The current study assessed the market efficiency of common bean traders in Malawi using a multiple linear regression model. By focusing on the bean traders in the major markets in Malawi, the study departs from earlier research on bean marketing, which has placed greater emphasis on the farmer. The findings reveal that traders in bean markets mostly use informal sources of market information. Again, transaction costs such as transportation, storage, handling and distance to sources of bean reduce marketing efficiency. The scale of the operation portrayed a positive influence on marketing efficiency. Access to credit significantly increased marketing efficiency for both wholesalers and retailers. In addition, markets that are located in rural areas had a negative effect on marketing efficiency as compared to markets in urban areas, further agreeing with the focus of the National Agriculture Policy (NAP) to introduce structured markets in rural areas. The study recommends adjustments in policies in the NAP that would promote smooth access to reliable market information, especially in rural areas. The upgrading of the rural road system and warehousing facilities should be promoted in order to lower transaction costs. This will enable bean traders to expand their operations on a larger scale while also lowering expenses and increasing profits.

Assessing the Performance of Farmer Producer Organizations: A Study in Prakasam District of Andhra Pradesh, India

Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) are need for the hour to empower the agrarian community in various dimensions. Farmers are organized into FPOs for tackling marketing problems, productivity issues, collective farming and challenges arising from small farm sizes. In view of reality the present study was carried out to assess the performance of FPOs. The present study was conducted in the Prakasam district of Andhra Pradesh. The findings of the study revealed that there was a provision of input services like quality seeds, custom hiring centers, fertilizers and micronutrients to members of FPO. Timely information on crop production and protection was easily accessible to members. The findings also revealed that FPO members got reliable market information, through collective procurement of produce got more remunerative prices and transparent payments. These aspects built trust among the members towards FPO. Like-wise in networking facilities improved knowledge and skill of farmers through contact with SAUs and KVKs were observed. The financial services offered to FPO farmers enhanced their access to government schemes and subsidies. Hence, improvements were observed in revenue generation, profit attainment, social recognition and self-confidence. FPO needs further improvements to compete with corporate enterprises and international markets. So the concept of collectivization should be promoted, nurtured and supported by the government to improve the farmer's share in rural enterprise. Through consistent efforts by the government for FPOs will be reached in near future for the concept of a farmer to Agri entrepreneur.

Roots and Tubers Market Expansion and Inclusion through Marketing Extension Services: A Conceptual Framework

This study developed a conceptual framework for the expansion of markets and inclusion of farmers in the marketing processes through agricultural marketing extension services in Nigeria It identified the role of marketing extension services towards market expansion and inclusion of farmers, effects of marketing extension of market expansion and inclusion, of root and tuber crops farmers and developed a framework for market expansion and inclusion of root and tuber crops farmers through marketing extension. According to the framework, it is expected that when the intervention is properly implemented on the roots and tuber value chain actors there will be an intermediate outcome (increased market awareness, access to market reliable market information and increased market participation). The intermediate outcome will further lead to the final outcome which are demand driven production, easy and fast means of disposal, market access), expanded market, farmers inclusion, increased income, and increased food security. It is therefore concluded that agricultural extension is no longer confined to agricultural production alone but includes other task such as marketing of agricultural and rural products, consultants, advisors and facilitators of the farmer learning process. It is therefore recommended that government should develop, support and promote training in marketing skills and services for agricultural marketing extension workers. Key Words: Roots and Tubers; Market Expansion; Market Extension; Conceptual Framework DOI: 10.7176/JMCR/85-07 Publication date: May 28 th 2022

Measuring Rice Price Volatility and Its Determinants in Tanzania: An Implication for Price Stabilization Policies

High price volatility in agricultural food markets has a greater impact not only on smallholder farmers but also can affect the incomes and purchasing power of a substantial proportion of the Tanzanian population and decrease food security, especially to the lower middle class. This study applies the ARCH-GARCH and the VAR/VECM models to examine the dynamics and factors influencing price volatility in the domestic rice market. The results of the price volatility analysis show that the volatility of rice prices tends to be low and persistent over the long run. This is supported by the estimation results of factors affecting price volatility, which showed that supply variables play an important role in the short and long run in influencing rice price volatility. The prices in the producing regions (large surplus areas) turned out to be more volatile than the prices in the main consuming regions (large deficit areas). This means that producers are exposed to a much higher price risk than consumers. Thus, a favorable marketing environment for traders and farmers, transparent trade policies, reliable market information, and organized market infrastructure are essential to reduce food price volatility which has a wider impact on economic growth.

A Study of Various Constraints in Lentil Production and Marketing in District Lakhimpur (Kheri) of Uttar Pradesh

Background: Lentil pulse crop on account of their vital role in nutritional security and soil ameliorative properties have been an integral part of sustainable agriculture since ages. The decrease in production and shrinkage in the area of pulse crops in Lakhimpur (Kheri), Uttar Pradesh is a cause of great concern. Keeping in view the importance of lentils, the study was carried out to examine the various constraints faced by the different groups of farmers.
 Aims: To study the various Constraints in lentil production and marketing.
 Place and Duration of Study: Lakhimpur (kheri) district of Uttar Pradesh, between year 2020 and 2021.
 Methodology: A total of 100 respondents were selected randomly from the Mitauli block of Lakhimpur (kheri) district, Uttar Pradesh and a pre-structured questionnaire was used to collect the data from the farmers. Respondents were classified into three ccategories based on their size of land holdings.
 Results: It is revealed by the Garrett scores that the major production constraint faced by most of the farmers was unfavorable weather condition (score of 66.39) and major marketing constraint faced was small quantity of marketable surplus (score of 61.98).
 Conclusion: From the findings of the study, it has been stated that there was a high level of constraints associated with production and marketing of lentils. Highly responded constraints for production were unfavorable weather condition(rank I), non-availability of quality water for irrigation(rank II),inadequate knowledge of recommended packages and practices (rank III).Similarly small quantity of marketable surplus(rank I),availability of reliable market information system (rank II) and price fluctuation(rank III)were the major constraints in case of marketing of lentils. Due to having these constraints, farmers faced a lot of troubles which hampered agricultural activities, increased quantum of credit assistance and led to selling of agricultural crops at low prices.

Profitability and market performance of smallholder vegetable production: evidence from Ethiopia

Regardless of the fact that the vegetable crop is crucial for Ethiopia's economy, public research on vegetable crops was negligible, and limited attention has been given to the sector. The main objective of the study was to analyze profitability of vegetable production, market performance and identify major constraints of smallholder vegetables production, specifically potato, tomato and cabbage. A multi-stage sampling procedure was employed to select 420 sample households randomly from nine kebeles, and 139 traders were selected purposively. Both qualitative and quantitative data were collected from primary and secondary sources by using structured questionnaires. Descriptive statistics, gross profit formula and structure-conduct-performance model was applied to analyze the data. The result of profitability analysis showed that potato, tomato and cabbage production in the study area was profitable. The result of structure analysis indicated that the market structure for potato, tomato and cabbage was characterized by weak oligopolistic market. The analysis of market conduct showed that the price of vegetables was determined by traders. Performance analysis demonstrated that the total gross marketing margin and profit margin was highest when producers sold vegetables to consumers and the lowest when they sold vegetables to collectors across the channel. Shortage of inputs, pests and diseases, lack of improved storage, post-harvest loss, brokers' interventions, low price of the product, poor transportation facility and information flow were the major constraints. Therefore, policy initiatives aiming at increasing farmers' access to quality vegetables inputs, strengthen vegetable extension services, improving infrastructure, disseminating reliable market information, reducing unfair profit distribution and increasing bargaining power of farmers to accelerate rural economic growth and poverty reduction. In addition, research institutes and universities should significantly contribute in releasing high yielding and disease resistant varieties to improve production and productivity of vegetables sector.

MOBILE PHONE TECHNOLOGY FOR ENHANCING SMALL-SCALE FISHING IN TANZANIA. A CASE OF NYASA DISTRICT

 Information and communications technology is a catalyst to the development of socio-economic sectors in Tanzania including the fishing sector. However, despite the contribution made by mobile phone technologies as one of the ICT modern gears in the development of fishing industry, most small-scale fishers are poor, and their working environment is of great risks due to various challenges. This being the case, the current study investigated the extent to which smallscale fishermen use mobile phone technology for enhancing safety and increase of fishery production through the access to reliable market information. The study employed interviews, focus group discussion, documents review, and observation in collecting data. Purposive and snowball sampling techniques were used to obtain 70 respondents from Nyasa District Council which is found in Ruvuma Region, Tanzania. Content analysis technique was employed in data analysis. The findings indicate that although mobile phone technology is used by small-scale fishermen such as marketing of fishery products and sharing information about where to get big cashes, to a great extent, mobile phone technologies do not help them to improve safeties due to various challenges such as poor cell phone network, high costs of purchasing airtime and low quality of mobile handset which in turn hindering an effective communication. It was further observed that drowning, poor knowledge on weather forecast, poor fishing equipment, sexual transmitted diseases, stressful life, and family separation are key challenges that affect the lives of small-scale fishing practitioners in Lake Nyasa. This study contributes knowledge to the already existing literature on the role of mobile phone technology in the development of small-scale fishing sector in Tanzania and it lays down basis for development mobile virtual platform for improving safety and increase fishing productivity of the target users

Sales-Orientation and Customer-Orientation on Performance of Direct Sales Executives of Fidelity Bank, Ghana

This study focused on sales-orientation and customer-orientation of Direct Sales Executives (DSEs) on sales performance at Fidelity Bank, Ghana; which was a cross-sectional study. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, Kendall’s coefficient of concordance, cross tabulation and chi-squared test of independence. The result showed a strong association between prior sales experience and employment status. DSEs customer orientation was influenced by customer information while the sales orientation was on convincing customers to buy. The customer-oriented culture was based on reliable market and customer information. DSEs sales performance were influenced by complete knowledge of the bank’s products and services, listening skills and empathy. The study suggests that Fidelity Bank must sensitize its DSEs on the bank philosophy on its customer orientation culture. This study appears to be the first of its kind to explore the connection between sales orientation and customer orientation on performance in the Banking Industry in Ghana, thus providing empirical evidence for academics and practitioners.

Trends in Quinoa Adoption in Marginal Areas: An Assessment of Economic Viability and Policy Outlook

Global demand for quinoa has substantially grown seemingly due to the rich nutritional ingredients in quinoa grain and its resilience to unfavorable and harsh biotical stresses and environmental factors prevalent in marginal environments. Research evidence suggest that global quinoa production as well as the number of quinoa-producing countries have been substantially increased throughout the last few years. With intensive research trails and tests underway in new countries across the world, especially in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, researchers and policymakers are determined to upscale its commercial production. However, little is known about its economic viability to substantiate the adoption and ultimately the sustainability of quinoa production. The economic analysis carried out in this study suggests that quinoa can be highly profitable, but its economic viability largely depends on the availability of high-yielding verities, best management practices through demand-driven extension services, and reliable market information on local demand and prices. Under the most-likely production scenario, estimated net profit can reach up to AED 6,059 ($1,651) per hectare. Given the lack of quality data, the estimated net gains are simulated to assess the level of sensitivity due to potential uncertainties and volatility in key variables and assumptions. After 10,000 iterations, the results from Monte Carlo simulation reveals that the average value of simulated net gains is about AED 8,265 per hectare with no significant chances of negative profits.

Production and Marketing Constraints of Cotton Under Smallholders: The Case of Arbaminch Zuria District, Southern Ethiopia

The study focused on the analysis of production and marketing constraints of cotton among rural farmers in Arbaminch Zuria district of Southern Region of Ethiopia. A total of 68 respondents were interviewed using questionnaire. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics to describe the socio-economic characteristics of the farmers and to identify major production and marketing constraints. The main production constraints noticed were inadequate knowledge of recommended packages and practices, non-availability of improved seed both in quality and quantity, lack of technical knowledge regarding the crop and insects, pests and disease attack. The main marketing constraints that hampered smallholder cotton producers were non-availability of reliable market information, price fluctuation, involvement of large number of intermediaries/ brokers in marketing, smallness of quantity to be sold, product absence of cooperatives among producers and lack of value addition in the seedcotton product. Given the high local demand for cotton and the potential for expansion, it is important to address these challenges for producers to benefit from market opportunities and increase their income. However, dealing with these challenges will require a whole value chain approach. Keywords : Cotton, Production, Marketing, Constraints, Smallholder producers, Arbaminch Zuria DOI: 10.7176/JMCR/67-01 Publication date: April 30 th 2020

Review on Live Animal and Meat Value Chain in Ethiopia: Challenges, Opportunities and Intervention Strategies

Livestock and meat products are among the fastest growing components of the global agriculture and food industry and one of a few agricultural commodities in Ethiopia from which the country earn foreign currency. Even though the country is ranked first in Africa and tenth in the world by livestock population, its share in global export market is quite small. This review paper is aimed to compile the existing literature on live animal and meat value chain; opportunities and challenges along the chain; and identify the leverage points and suggest upgrading strategies for live animal and meat value chain in Ethiopia. The Ethiopian meat and live animal value chain is characterized by series of complex constituents involving various actors including input suppliers, producers, collectors, fatteners/feedlots, middlemen, cooperatives, traders, live animal exporters, abattoirs, butchers, hotels and individual consumers. The country has a number of opportunities for livestock and meat market due to its strategic location, sound climatic condition, huge livestock resources and increase in domestic and foreign demand. Despite the emerging opportunities, the existing livestock and livestock products value chain are under developed due to different challenges. The main challenges faced by live animal and meat value chain actors are shortage of feed, diseases, low technology uptake, weak policies, weak financing, price fluctuation, non-market orientation, lack of weighing facilities, late payment in transactions, unreliability of supply and low quality of meat, illegal trade, lose across value chain and poor linkages between value chain actors. From this review it has been recommended that improving infrastructure specially opening secondary market at potential fattening areas, providing awareness for pastoralists on market-oriented production, supporting cooperatives, introducing a standard unit in livestock market, provision of reliable market information for pastoralists, strengthening market linkage, creation of regulatory mechanism for livestock brokers and illegal trade, value addition, innovative product development, cost-effective marketing channels and improving competitiveness of the products in export markets are important along Ethiopian live animal and meat value chains. Keywords : Challenges, Live Animal, Meat, Opportunities, Value Chain DOI : 10.7176/IEL/9-3-04 Publication date : April 30 th 2019

Factors Hindering Use of Standard Weights and Measures along Irish Potato Supply Chain in Njombe Region, Tanzania

Non-compliance with standard weights and measures in agricultural marketing in Tanzania compelled this paper to examined factors hindering use of standard weights and measures along Irish potato supply chain. To address this challenge a cross section research design was used to develop data collection plan and probability sampling was used to draw a representative sample from a sampling frame. The findings revealed that weak enforcement of the regulations governing compliance to standard weights and measures, weak extension services that failed to provide reliable market information to farmers, lack of negotiation skills among smallholder farmers against local brokers / traders coupled with inadequate market infrastructure with appropriate weights and measure facilities provide incentives for local brokers and traders to exploit smallholder farmers. For the sake of fair deals in transactions associated with Irish potato along the supply chain this paper recommends the best practices to ensure responsible business practices among actors.

English

Pulses on account of their vital role in nutritional security and soil ameliorative properties have been an integral part of sustainable agriculture since ages.The decrease in production and shrinkage in the area of pulse crops in Haryana since inception, as a consequence of green revolution and is a cause of great concern. Therefore, an attempt has been made in the present study to identify major constraints in the production and marketing of pulses. To derive the inferences of the study, the primary data were collected from 90 farmers i.e. 45 each from Bhiwani and Hisar district. The main production constraints noticed were inadequate knowledge of recommended packages and practices, unfavorable weather condition and non-availability of quality water for irrigation. The main marketing constraints were price fluctuation, small quantity of marketable surplus, non-availability of reliable market information system and involvement of large number of intermediaries in the marketing.

Forecasting Farm-gate Catfish Prices in Uganda Using Sarima Model

Stabilization of prices of essential agricultural commodities continues to remain an area of major concern for policy makers; given that price instability affects both producers and consumers, and has macroeconomic implications. This paper examines farm-gate price behavior in the African catfish markets in Uganda, and develops a forecasting model that adjusts for the seasonal fluctuations in the price series. The analysis utilizes monthly catfish real price series for the period January 2006 to December 2013. The model provides good in-sample and out-of-sample forecasts for the eight-year time period. The out-sample predictions based on SARIMA (1, 1, 1) (0, 1, 1)<sub>12</sub> model suggest that the stochastic seasonal fluctuations depicted in the price series are successfully modeled, and that catfish real prices follow an upward trend. The findings can assist policy makers and major stakeholders to gain insight into more appropriate economic and sectorial policies that can lead to the development of reliable market information systems and up-to-date data on catfish supply, demand and stocks.

Forecasting Farm-gate Catfish Prices in Uganda Using Sarima Model

Stabilization of prices of essential agricultural commodities continues to remain an area of major concern for policy makers; given that price instability affects both producers and consumers, and has macroeconomic implications. This paper examines farm-gate price behavior in the African catfish markets in Uganda, and develops a forecasting model that adjusts for the seasonal fluctuations in the price series. The analysis utilizes monthly catfish real price series for the period January 2006 to December 2013. The model provides good in-sample and out-of-sample forecasts for the eight-year time period. The out-sample predictions based on SARIMA (1, 1, 1) (0, 1, 1)<sub>12</sub> model suggest that the stochastic seasonal fluctuations depicted in the price series are successfully modeled, and that catfish real prices follow an upward trend. The findings can assist policy makers and major stakeholders to gain insight into more appropriate economic and sectorial policies that can lead to the development of reliable market information systems and up-to-date data on catfish supply, demand and stocks.

Socio- Economic Factors Influencing the Probability of Market Participation among the Cattle Farmers in Adamawa State, Nigeria

The study examined Socio- economic factors influencing the probability of market participation among the cattle farmers in Adamawa state, Nigeria. Multistage sampling procedure was employed to sample the respondents. Structured questionnaires were used to collect data from 400 respondents in the study area. Descriptive statistic was used to analysed the socioeconomic characteristics of the respondents and logit regression analysis was employed to estimate the determinants market participation among the market participants. The result of the findings shows that cattle market participants were averagely aged 43 years, they are predominantly male (95.04%), (83.48%) were married, while (77.96%), (57.02%) had formal education and are full-time cattle farmers respectively. the result of logit regression analysis indicates that five variables (gender, education, distance to market, prior market information and seasonality) were significantly found to influence the farmers' decision to participate in the market. The marginal effects were used to interpret the results. Recommendations were made such as to encourage more formal education among the farmers, the more the participant is educated, the better the chance of participation in the cattle market and also to encourage female and those that are unmarried to participate in cattle marketing activities. Provision of reliable market information through mass media or extension services is paramount important in improving market participation and to provide adequate pasture land and water supply so as to curb the problems of exposure to avarice of weather, creates more additional sales point at farming communities is paramount important in the intensity of cattle market participation.

Kriging of financial term-structures

Due to the lack of reliable market information, building financial term-structures may be associated with a significant degree of uncertainty. In this paper, we propose a new term-structure interpolation method that extends classical spline techniques by additionally allowing for quantification of uncertainty. The proposed method is based on a generalization of kriging models with linear equality constraints (market-fit conditions) and shape-preserving conditions such as monotonicity or positivity (no-arbitrage conditions). We define the most likely curve and show how to build confidence bands. The Gaussian process covariance hyper-parameters under the construction constraints are estimated using cross-validation techniques. Based on observed market quotes at different dates, we demonstrate the efficiency of the method by building curves together with confidence intervals for term-structures of OIS discount rates, of zero-coupon swaps rates and of CDS implied default probabilities. We also show how to construct interest-rate surfaces or default probability surfaces by considering time (quotation dates) as an additional dimension.

Market Information Access Capability of Rural Farmer in Nga Son, Thanh Hoa, Viet Nam

This research analyzes the impact of farmers’ capability to access market information on the improvement of farmer household livelihood. For this purpose, a fieldwork was conducted in Nga Son district with specific objectives: (i) To describe the market information system in Nga Son, Thanh Hoa; (ii) To identify the farmers’ capability of access, understanding and use of market information; (iii) To explore the influence of access and use of market information on the change of farmer household economic condition; and (iv) To determine farmer’s advantages and disadvantages of access to market information in Nga Son. The results show that: (i) The system provides MI service has initially formed in Nga Son district, in which the extension station and staff play as key roles; (ii) The farmers’ capability of access in the district still remain at average level and farmers are sluggish in access to market information service; (iii) The farmers’ capability of access to market information closely related to their annual incomes; (iv) Factors that impact on the farmers’ capability of access to market information including educational background, economic condition of household and effective supports and interventions of local government, of which the economic conditions of households is the main factor. Based on empirical results mentioned, our proposed suggestions are: (i) Strengthen the market information system; (ii) Improve the capability to access market information of farmers through training courses; and (iii) Increase public awareness and investment within refurbishing the transportation systems, restructuring the marketing system, promoting the development of cooperatives, enhancing the application of high technologies such as Internet, mobile phone, radio and newspaper to provide reliable market information services.

Channel Management for Household Products Companies in Nigeria

If the nature of a product is not properly considered, wrong distribution network and channel management may be adopted which will make the channel ineffective and the objectives will not be achieved. Efficient distribution of goods and services in Nigeria is a major problem especially as it relates to household goods. This problems are mainly due to non-availability of adequate and reliable market information on the taste, demand pattern and preferences of consumers to the producers and partly due to inadequate infrastructural facilities that should facilitate an efficient channel system which leads to locational surpluses of some of these household goods and services in some areas and short supply in other locations. However, the main objective of the paper is to highlight the problems associated with the channel distribution management of household products and recommend appropriate solutions. The method used for data collection is secondary data and the paper is majorly a theoretical explanation. In the final analysis, determining which mode of channel management approach to employ depends greatly on the level of sophistication that obtains in any market place and the resources at the disposal of the organization concerned.