The New and Changing Roles of Cold Storages in the Potato Supply Chain in Bihar

Economics & Political Weekly, Vol. XLIX, No. 52, Dec. 27, 2014.

37 Pages Posted: 6 Jan 2015

See all articles by Bart Minten

Bart Minten

International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) - CGIAR Consortium

Thomas Reardon

Michigan State University - Department of Agricultural Economics

Krishna M. Singh

Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University

Rajib Kumar Sutradhar

Jawaharlal Nehru University

Date Written: December 27, 2014

Abstract

There have been dramatic increases and rapid up-scaling of modern cold storages in Bihar, one of the poorest states in India and an area where smallholders dominate. These investments have been triggered by market reform, investment subsidies, and better overall public service provision and governance. Almost all potato farmers, small and large, participate in cold storages, the availability of cold storages is associated with improved efficiency in value chains because of lower wastages, and a number of these cold storages have become involved in input, output, and especially credit markets. The increasing availability of modern cold storages has therefore led to important changes in potato value chains, with significant implications for smallholders.

Keywords: Agri-food, Value chains, Cold storages, Bihar, India

JEL Classification: O1, O13, O33, O38, Q13, Q16, Q18

Suggested Citation

Minten, Bart and Reardon, Thomas A. and Singh, Krishna M. and Sutradhar, Rajib Kumar, The New and Changing Roles of Cold Storages in the Potato Supply Chain in Bihar (December 27, 2014). Economics & Political Weekly, Vol. XLIX, No. 52, Dec. 27, 2014., Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2545194

Bart Minten

International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) - CGIAR Consortium ( email )

1201 Eye St, NW,
Washington, DC 20005
United States

Thomas A. Reardon

Michigan State University - Department of Agricultural Economics ( email )

East Lansing, MI 48824
United States
517-355-1521 (Phone)
517-432-1800 (Fax)

Krishna M. Singh (Contact Author)

Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University ( email )

Pusa
Samastipur
Pusa-Samastipur, Bihar, Bihar 848125
India
+91-9431060157 (Phone)

HOME PAGE: http://www.rpcau.ac.in/

Rajib Kumar Sutradhar

Jawaharlal Nehru University ( email )

Vasant Vihar
Jawaharlal Nehru University
New Delhi, DE Delhi 110067
India

Do you have negative results from your research you’d like to share?

Paper statistics

Downloads
164
Abstract Views
1,069
Rank
327,446
PlumX Metrics