Transforming Agriculture in South Asia: The Role of Value Chains and Contract Farming

Debates about public expenditure in the agricultural sector have reopened in developing and emerging economies due to high budget deficits and changes in public opinion. This book explores the policy issues around contract farming and its transformative potential in South Asia, particularly India, Bangladesh, and Nepal. It examines the effects of contract farming on productivity, food security indicators, employment, and input usage and draws lessons from the South Asian case studies on the impact of institutional changes on income and food security of smallholder households. The book also includes case study chapters on various commodities produced under contract farming, contracts, storage, input usage, and technical efficiency. It serves as an essential guide for academics, researchers, students, legislative liaisons, and think tank groups interested in agrarian issues, agricultural economics, and agricultural policy in emerging economies, particularly in South Asia.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 402 pages
Publication date: 01 August 2022
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

Debates about public expenditure in the agricultural sector have reignited in numerous developing and emerging economies due to significant budget deficits and shifts in public opinion. Consequently, agricultural policy in many of these countries is adopting a more market-oriented approach to address agrarian challenges, particularly through the introduction of contract farming. This comprehensive book delves into the policy issues surrounding contract farming and its transformative potential, while also addressing the lack of empirical research in this field, with a focus on South Asia.

The book begins by examining the effects of contract farming (vertical coordination) on productivity, food security indicators (yield, consumption expenditures, prices), employment, and input usage. It then draws valuable lessons from the South Asian case studies on the impact of institutional changes, such as contract farming, on the income and food security of smallholder households.

The core of the book comprises case study chapters on various commodities produced under contract farming, including vegetables and fisheries in Bangladesh, low-value crops in Nepal, and coffee in India. Other chapters explore contracts, storage, input usage, and technical efficiency in these cases.

This book serves as a valuable resource for academics, researchers, students, legislative liaisons, and think tank groups interested in agrarian issues, agricultural economics, and agricultural policy in emerging economies, particularly in South Asia. It provides a comprehensive understanding of the challenges and opportunities associated with contract farming in this region, offering insights into its potential for improving productivity, enhancing food security, and promoting sustainable agricultural development.

Weight: 800g
Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367696337