Muhammad Asad Ur Rehman Naseer

For adequate farm management and an efficient value chain approach, properly managed transportation is the key element. Transport plays a very important role in every industry, including agriculture. In Pakistan fruit and vegetables are being transported to the city centers, i.e., Fruit and Vegetable Markets every day from the remote/rural area and sometimes from the other provinces, where it is sold out through the process of open auction. Hence, transportation also plays an important role in the competitive prices of fruit and vegetable commodities. A slight delay in the commodities in the market distorts the supply/arrival in the market and causes price fluctuations. Therefore, it is imperative to explore the relationships/role of transporters with the other stakeholders of the value chain. Another aspect of the study was to highlight the issues of post-harvest losses because it is reported in the literature that almost 25-30 percent of post-harvest losses occurred in fruit and vegetables. Therefore, it is again needed to explore the quality of transportation facilities. For the reasons recorded above the said study was carried out using – at first, a desk review and secondary sources about the overview of the sector. Secondly, to delve into the highlighted issue a field survey was carried out in the seven major Markets of Punjab. A sample of at least three and the maximum transport companies was interviewed. The results of the Logistic Performance Index (LPI) showed that Pakistan is only above Afghanistan in the region stating the poor condition and it is ranked 122 out of 160 countries in the International LPI results. The results of the field survey showed that in the agriculture supply chain, only 1% of reefers were used during transportation, and most of the transport facilities were traditional trucks. It was found that the transportation sector is governed by the commission agents indicating manipulation of the supplies in the market for price determination. The results of the study showed interesting facts to be noted by the policymakers that can support the development of the industry in Punjab and enhance the overall productivity and profitability of the agricultural sector in Pakistan.

This study is significant as it provides insights into the factors influencing the adoption of hybrid maize, which is crucial for enhancing agricultural productivity and food security in rural Punjab, Pakistan. Using information from a 400-hybrid maize farmer survey conducted in 2020, the study examined the results with the negative binomial regression model. The findings indicate that characteristics of farms and farmers, including educational level, farming experience, access to credit, interaction with extension agents, and sources of off-farm income, significantly influence the rate of adoption of hybrid maize varieties. Adoption is progressing more rapidly among larger farms, farmers with higher schooling levels, and those with access to credit. In addition, farmers with more farming experience are more likely to adopt hybrid maize earlier. The study also found that access to information and extension services played a critical role in the adoption process. In addition, government policies and regulations, market dynamics, and socio-cultural factors also play important roles in shaping the adoption of hybrid maize. Based on these findings, the study suggests several policy interventions to promote the adoption of hybrid maize in Pakistan, including targeted extension services, subsidies for hybrid seed, and public-private partnerships to improve seed supply chains. These interventions may facilitate the accelerated adoption of hybrid maize in Pakistan, thereby enhancing the agricultural output and ensuring adequate nutrition within Pakistan.

Maize, the third-largest cereal crop in Pakistan after wheat and rice, exhibits a noteworthy upward trajectory in both yield and production, distinguishing itself from other major crops. Its significance stems from the global demand for value-added maize products. Despite progress, barriers persist in the maize value chain, particularly in Punjab's conventional marketing system. This study focuses on Southern Punjab, investigating the maize value chain dynamics, with an emphasis on smallholder farmers. Through qualitative data from focused group discussions and quantitative data from a detailed survey, the study examines farmers' participation in value chains, revealing a prevalent preference for commission agents in grain markets. Analysis of gross margins and benefit-cost ratios (BCR) based on farm size and value chain participation shows higher BCR values for large farmers, followed by small and medium farmers. Notably, engagement with modern supply chain actors yields superior BCR values compared to traditional actors. This research identifies critical production and marketing constraints impeding efficient maize value chain management. Addressing these constraints is vital for optimizing the value chain and ensuring sustainable maize production growth in Southern Punjab, Pakistan.

Potato is amongst most important vegetables being used in kitchens of ordinary and common men. The income elasticity of demand of potato is relatively high as compared with other vegetables. In Pakistan, the traditional fruit and vegetable markets and considered to be the places of pure competition and farmers are linked to these markets via different marketing channels. This study delves into the analysis of optimal marketing channels within the vegetable supply chain, with a focus on understanding the factors that influence the selection of these channels. The study used cross-sectional primary data gathered from different supply chain actors, including 120 potato growers, 20 retailers, 20 consumers, 16 commission agents, and 16 wholesalers from two districts of Punjab, namely Okara and Chinote. This research employs a two-fold methodology. First, it involves the identification of the optimal marketing channel among five alternatives using a unique ranking technique methodology. Second, it employs regression analysis with binary endogenous treatment to discern the factors affecting the choice of marketing channels. The study sheds light on the intricacies of marketing channel decisions in the vegetable supply chain, offering insights into the preferences and considerations of stakeholders in the Okara and Chinote districts of Punjab, Pakistan. The findings of the study contribute not only to the understanding of optimal channel selection but also to the broader knowledge of the factors that influence these decisions. These insights are valuable for practitioners, policymakers, and researchers aiming to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of marketing strategies within the agricultural sector, benefiting farming communities and the country as a whole.

Recent evidence suggests that Modern Supply Chains (MSC) in the agrifood industry have the potential to improve production efficiency and scale. However, the inclusion of smallholders for Sustainable Supply Chain Development (SSCD) is a growing concern for policymakers aiming to increase the profitability of farming communities. This study investigates the efficiency and inclusiveness of farmers in the citrus supply chain at the upstream level and factors responsible for SSCD using survey data from the Punjab province of Pakistan. The study employs endogenous treatment effect and principal component analysis apart from the descriptive analysis to explore study objectives. Results indicate that large farmers with abundant resources tend to participate in MSC, whereas smallholders are more likely to be inclined to Traditional Supply Chain (TSC) networks. The study also finds that participating in MSC has a positive impact on farmers' efficiency, and factors such as off-farm income, orchard size, education level, and access to extension services significantly affect profitability. The results of the principal component analysis revealed that for SSCD, six sets of factors, such as performance and quality, risk and climate, economics and market exploitation, knowledge and information, geographic and transportation, and innovation capability, are addressable. Therefore, these results suggest that policymakers should provide training programs, agriculture extension services, improved infrastructure, and educational facilities in rural areas to help smallholders alleviate poverty by creating sustainability in the agri-food industry.