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Food value chain analysis: A review of selected studies for Pakistan and guidelines for further research

Published by:
Online Location
https://www.ifpri.org/publication/food-value-chain-analysis
Publication date
21/06/2012
Number of Pages
30
Language:
English
Type of Publication:
Working Papers & Briefs
Focus Region:
Asia and the Pacific
Focus Topic:
Agricultural Value Chains / Agri-Businesses
Type of Risk:
Managerial & operational
Type of Risk Managment Option:
Risk assessment
Commodity:
Crops
Author
Zahoor ul Haq
Organization
International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI)

The study of value chains comprises of two key concepts: value and chain. The term value is synonym to “value-added” in the Value Chain Analysis (VCA) as it characterizes the incremental value of a resultant product produced from the processing of a product. For agricultural products, value addition can also take place through the differentiation of a product based on food safety and food functionality. The price of the resultant product shows its incremental value. The term chain refers to a supply chain indicating the process and the actors involved in the life cycle (from conception to disposal) of a product (Hawkes and Ruel, 2011). Hence, Kaplinsky and Morris (2001, pg. 4) define VCA as a study of the “full range of activities which are required to bring a product or service from conception, through the different phases of production (involving a combination of physical transformation and the input of various producer services), delivery to final consumers, and final disposal after use”. Sanogo (2010) in addition to the movement of a product from one stage to another and identification of the actors, firms, and their services, also adds analysis of the institutional support to production at various stages to VCA.