Cooper, G.S. orcid.org/0000-0001-6268-6608, Rich, K.M., Shankar, B. orcid.org/0000-0001-8102-321X et al. (1 more author) (2022) The challenges of aligning aggregation schemes with equitable fruit and vegetable delivery: lessons from Bihar, India. Journal of Agribusiness in Developing and Emerging Economies, 12 (2). pp. 223-246. ISSN 2044-0839
Abstract
Purpose
Agricultural aggregation schemes provide numerous farmer-facing benefits, including reduced transportation costs and improved access to higher-demand urban markets. However, whether aggregation schemes also have positive food security dimensions for consumers dependent on peri-urban and local markets in developing country contexts is currently unknown. This paper aims to narrow this knowledge gap by exploring the actors, governance structures and physical infrastructures of the horticultural value chain of Bihar, India, to identify barriers to using aggregation to improve the distribution of fruits and vegetables to more local market environments.
Design/methodology/approach
This study uses mixed methods. Quantitative analysis of market transaction data explores the development of aggregation supply pathways over space and time. In turn, semi-structured interviews with value chain actors uncover the interactions and decision-making processes with implications for equitable fruit and vegetable delivery.
Findings
Whilst aggregation successfully generates multiple producer-facing benefits, the supply pathways tend to cluster around urban export-oriented hubs, owing to the presence of high-capacity traders, large consumer bases and traditional power dynamics. Various barriers across the wider enabling environment must be overcome to unlock the potential for aggregation to increase local fruit and vegetable delivery, including informal governance structures, cold storage gaps and underdeveloped transport infrastructures.
Originality/value
To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first critical analysis of horticultural aggregation through a consumer-sensitive lens. The policy-relevant lessons are pertinent to the equitable and sustainable development of horticultural systems both in Bihar and in similar low- and middle-income settings.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
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Authors/Creators: |
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Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | © 2021 Gregory S. Cooper, Karl M. Rich, Bhavani Shankar and Vinay Rana. Published by Emerald Publishing Limited. This article is published under the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY 4.0) licence. Anyone may reproduce, distribute, translate and create derivative works of this article (for both commercial and non-commercial purposes), subject to full attribution to the original publication and authors. The full terms of this licence may be seen at http://creativecommons.org/licences/by/4.0/legalcode |
Keywords: | Horticulture; Value chain; Markets; Trade-offs; Mixed methods |
Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of Sheffield |
Academic Units: | The University of Sheffield > Faculty of Social Sciences (Sheffield) |
Funding Information: | Funder Grant number BILL & MELINDA GATES FOUNDATION UNSPECIFIED |
Depositing User: | Symplectic Sheffield |
Date Deposited: | 23 Jun 2021 09:44 |
Last Modified: | 26 May 2022 16:31 |
Status: | Published |
Publisher: | Emerald Publishing Limited |
Refereed: | Yes |
Identification Number: | 10.1108/jadee-11-2020-0275 |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:174951 |