Title: Securing access of small-scale Badia producers in restructured agro-food market in Jordan

Authors: Salem S. Al-Oun; George Thomas

Addresses: Department of Business Administration, Al Al-Bayt University, Mafraq 25113, Jordan. ' Marketing Department, College of Business Administration, Prince Sultan University, P.O. Box 53073, Riyadh 11586, Saudi Arabia

Abstract: The present study addresses securing access of small-scale producers to the cheese supply chain in the Badia of Jordan. It diagnoses criteria and requirements of governance mechanisms and coordination in the supply chain that challenges small-scale farmers in getting access to restructured market. It investigates key determinants of small-scale farmers' access to the chain. The data was elicited from semi-structured interviews, PRA, and survey with 118 subjects. Further, descriptive qualitative analysis was used to tabulate and index events and history in time for the chains. Farmers' access was facilitated through collective action of Badia farmers represented by a local NGO. Findings suggested evidence of entry barriers constructed by the chain, market volatility, and legislative rules. Recommendations suggest emphasis on management skills in the lower part of the chain; increase in small farmers' incentives like cash flow in the winter; and provision of higher prices for small farmers.

Keywords: small-scale producers; sheep cheese; restructured; market access; agro-food markets; procurement management; Jordan; cheese supply chains; supply chain management; SCM; governance mechanisms; supply chain coordination; small-scale farming; small farmers; entry barriers; market volatility; legislative rules; incentives.

DOI: 10.1504/IJPM.2012.048876

International Journal of Procurement Management, 2012 Vol.5 No.5, pp.543 - 566

Published online: 16 Aug 2014 *

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