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Quality control in nonstaple food markets: evidence from India
Author(s) -
Fafchamps Marcel,
Hill Ruth Vargas,
Minten Bart
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
agricultural economics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.29
H-Index - 82
eISSN - 1574-0862
pISSN - 0169-5150
DOI - 10.1111/j.1574-0862.2008.00297.x
Subject(s) - tamil , unobservable , agricultural economics , business , agriculture , value (mathematics) , quality (philosophy) , control (management) , sanitation , agricultural science , market price , economics , geography , finance , philosophy , management , archaeology , epistemology , machine learning , environmental engineering , computer science , engineering , econometrics , linguistics , environmental science
Using original survey data collected on growers, traders, processors, markets, and village communities, we will compare the situation in four states: Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Orissa. We examine the way that information about crop attributes is conveyed (or not) along the value chain. We find that little information circulates about unobservable crop characteristics. Growers receive a price premium when they dry, grade, and pack their produce, but we find no evidence that information about crop salubrity or agricultural practices circulates through the value chain or that growers are encouraged to follow specific agricultural practices for quality purposes. Market infrastructure is deficient regarding sanitation, with few public toilets, inadequate drainage, and no coordinated pest control.