IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/ags/auagre/262478.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Improving sweetpotato marketing in Papua New Guinea: Results from a value chain analysis

Author

Listed:
  • Chang, Hui-Shung (Christie)
  • Spriggs, John
  • Anjen, Jesse
  • Dowa, Eleo
  • Kewa, John
  • Hehona, Donald

Abstract

Sweetpotato is the most important food crop in the Highlands of Papua New Guinea (PNG). In recent years, sweetpotato has become a cash crop for smallholder farmers driven by the need to generate income in a market economy. Marketing opportunities exist for Highland sweetpotato, especially in coastal markets, because of income growth and urbanisation. Despite this , long distance sweetpotato marketing has been problematic. The objective of this research was to identify socio - economic constraints to, and opportunities for, improving the marketing efficiency of the long distance sweetpotato value chain in PNG. The results from the value chain analysis suggested that although there was a demand for high quality Highland sweetpotato in coastal markets, the long distance sweetpotato value chain was underdeveloped . This was due to several constraints : lack of access to sup port services (credit , extension and market information); poor infrastructure (roads and the transport system and storage and market facilities) ; inadequate postharvest management ; lack of business skills , financial literacy and marketing planning ; unclear price signals; lack of trust among chain players , uncoordinated value chain activities; and declining demand. The main conclusion was that to transition from subsistence farming to semi - commercial/commercial farming, s mallholder farmers need to become more market - oriented and better equipped with business skills . Furthermore, they need to be prepared to change their current marketing and postharvest practices in order to supply high quality products to the right markets at competitive prices. Government also has a key role to play in terms of providing an appropriate enabling environment , including a reliable transport system , business development services and a locally appropriate pricing and grading system . This environment is necessary to support the effort of farmers in adopting improved marketing and postharvest practices.

Suggested Citation

  • Chang, Hui-Shung (Christie) & Spriggs, John & Anjen, Jesse & Dowa, Eleo & Kewa, John & Hehona, Donald, 2016. "Improving sweetpotato marketing in Papua New Guinea: Results from a value chain analysis," Australasian Agribusiness Review, University of Melbourne, Department of Agriculture and Food Systems, vol. 24, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:ags:auagre:262478
    DOI: 10.22004/ag.econ.262478
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://ageconsearch.umn.edu/record/262478/files/Chang_et_al.pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://ageconsearch.umn.edu/record/262478/files/Chang_et_al.pdf?subformat=pdfa
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.22004/ag.econ.262478?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Blaine Bickel, 1975. "Seasonality of agricultural prices," Economic Review, Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, vol. 60(Jun), pages 10-16.
    2. Scott, Gregory J. & Rosegrant, Mark W. & Ringler, Claudia, 2000. "Roots and tubers for the 21st century: trends, projections and policy options," 2020 vision briefs 66, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
    3. Unknown, 2000. "Proceedings of the Papua New Guinea Food and Nutrition 2000 Conference, PNG University of Technology, Lae 26–30 June 2000: Food Security for Papua New Guinea," ACIAR Proceedings Series 135368, Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Timothy L. M. Sharp & Mark Busse & R. Michael Bourke, 2022. "Market update: Sixty years of change in Papua New Guineaʼs fresh food marketplaces," Asia and the Pacific Policy Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 9(3), pages 483-515, September.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Nwabueze Peter Okolie & Memunat N Brai & Oluwaseun M. Atotebi, 2012. "Comparative Study On Some Selected Garri Samples Sold In Lagos Metropolis," Journal of Food Studies, Macrothink Institute, vol. 1(1), pages 33-46, December.
    2. Sanzidur Rahman & Basanta Kumar Barmon, 2018. "Total Factor Energy Productivity and Efficiency Changes of the Gher (Prawn-Carp-Rice) Farming System in Bangladesh: A Stochastic Input Distance Function Approach," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(12), pages 1-17, December.
    3. Bang, Sergie K. & Sitango, Kud, 2003. "Indigenous Drought Coping Strategies and Risk Management against El Nino in Papua New Guinea," Working Papers 32687, United Nations Centre for Alleviation of Poverty Through Secondary Crops' Development in Asia and the Pacific (CAPSA).
    4. Stephen Pratt, 2014. "The challenge of betel nut consumption to economic development: a case of Honiara, Solomon Islands," Asia-Pacific Development Journal, United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), vol. 21(2), pages 103-120, December.
    5. Nweke, Felix, 2004. "New challenges in the cassava transformation in Nigeria and Ghana:," EPTD discussion papers 118, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
    6. Gregory J. Scott & Athanasios Petsakos & Henry Juarez, 2019. "Climate change, food security, and future scenarios for potato production in India to 2030," Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, Springer;The International Society for Plant Pathology, vol. 11(1), pages 43-56, February.
    7. Agerie Nega Wassihun & Tigabu Dagnew Koye & Abebe Dagnew Koye, 2019. "Analysis of technical efficiency of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) production in Chilga District, Amhara National Regional State, Ethiopia," Journal of Economic Structures, Springer;Pan-Pacific Association of Input-Output Studies (PAPAIOS), vol. 8(1), pages 1-18, December.
    8. Forson, Joseph Ato & Baah-Ennumh, Theresa Yaaba & Mensah, Sampson Obed, 2014. "Women’s Contribution to Local Economic Development: A Study of Women in Cassava Production and Processing in Central Tongu District of Ghana," MPRA Paper 102430, University Library of Munich, Germany, revised 08 Mar 2016.
    9. Pingali, Prabhu, 2007. "Westernization of Asian diets and the transformation of food systems: Implications for research and policy," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 32(3), pages 281-298, June.
    10. Cobon, David H. & Ewai, Maureen & Inape, Kasis & Bourke, R. Michael, 2016. "Food shortages are associated with droughts, floods, frosts and ENSO in Papua New Guinea," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 145(C), pages 150-164.
    11. Acheampong, Patricia Pinamang & Owusu, Victor & Nurah, Gyiele K., 2013. "Farmers Preferences for Cassava Variety Traits: Empirical Evidence from Ghana," 2013 Fourth International Conference, September 22-25, 2013, Hammamet, Tunisia 161633, African Association of Agricultural Economists (AAAE).
    12. B.C. Okoye & A. Abass & B. Bachwenkizi & G. Asumugha & B. Alenkhe & R. Ranaivoson & R. Randrianarivelo & N. Rabemanantsoa & I. Ralimanana, 2016. "Effect of transaction costs on market participation among smallholder cassava farmers in Central Madagascar," Cogent Economics & Finance, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 4(1), pages 1143597-114, December.
    13. Hanson, Luke W. & Bourke, Richard Michael & Allen, Bryant J. & McCarthy, Tess J., 2001. "Mapping Land Resource Potential and Agricultural Pressure in Papua New Guinea: An Outline of New Methods to Assist Rural Planning," Technical Reports 113919, Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research.
    14. Balié, Jean & Magrini, Emiliano & Morales Opazo, Cristian, 2016. "Cereal price shocks and volatility in Sub-Saharan Africa: What does really matter for farmers' welfare?," DARE Discussion Papers 1607, Georg-August University of Göttingen, Department of Agricultural Economics and Rural Development (DARE).
    15. Scott, Gregory J. & Rosegrant, Mark W. & Ringler, Claudia, 2000. "Global projections for root and tuber crops to the year 2020," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 25(5), pages 561-597, October.
    16. Kadaja, Jüri & Saue, Triin, 2016. "Potential effects of different irrigation and drainage regimes on yield and water productivity of two potato varieties under Estonian temperate climate," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 165(C), pages 61-71.
    17. David Pimentel, 2009. "Energy Inputs in Food Crop Production in Developing and Developed Nations," Energies, MDPI, vol. 2(1), pages 1-24, January.
    18. Kleinwechter, Ulrich, 2012. "Global impacts of targeted interventions in food security crops – the case of potatoes in developing countries," 2012 Conference, August 18-24, 2012, Foz do Iguacu, Brazil 125735, International Association of Agricultural Economists.
    19. Bell, Johann D. & Allain, Valerie & Allison, Edward H. & Andréfouët, Serge & Andrew, Neil L. & Batty, Michael J. & Blanc, Michel & Dambacher, Jeffrey M. & Hampton, John & Hanich, Quentin & Harley, She, 2015. "Diversifying the use of tuna to improve food security and public health in Pacific Island countries and territories," Marine Policy, Elsevier, vol. 51(C), pages 584-591.
    20. Nyairo, Risper & Onwonga, Richard & Cherogony, Kipruto & Luedeling, Eike, 2014. "Applicability of Climate Analogues for Climate Change Adaptation Planning in Bugabira Commune of Burundi," Sustainable Agriculture Research, Canadian Center of Science and Education, vol. 3(4).

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:ags:auagre:262478. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: AgEcon Search (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.agrifood.info/review/ .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.