Potential impacts of desiccant-based drying and hermetic storage on the value chain for onion seeds in Nepal
Journal of Agribusiness in Developing and Emerging Economies
ISSN: 2044-0839
Article publication date: 4 June 2018
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to analyze the potential returns to value chain actors from employing desiccant bead drying and hermetic storage technology.
Design/methodology/approach
Information was collected from 175 different onion (Allium cepa L.) seed value chain actors in Nepal. Four different business models for the introduction of new bead drying and hermetic storage technology were compared to current practices through use of partial budgeting.
Findings
The increase in net income throughout the chain was quite similar in all four models, ranging from US$28.86 to 29.61 per kg of onion seed, making it difficult to say that any single model is best for all situations. However, there are differences in sharing of positive net income and negative net income for different actors in different models. Moreover, about US$5.85 million incremental return could be earned per year in Nepal from improved preservation of onion seed alone.
Research limitations/implications
This research assesses how to introduce a new technology, the dry chain concept to maintain seed quality, into the existing marketplace.
Originality/value
This paper focuses on the economics of a novel technology and compares different business models and scenarios.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors would like to express sincere thanks to all the farmers, traders, seed companies and related stakeholders who participated in the Field Survey. This study was made possible by the generous support of the American people through the USA Agency for International Development (USAID) under Award No. EPP-A-00-09-00004 (Horticulture Collaborative Research Support Program Award No. 09-002945-50). The contents are the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID or the USA Government. Last but not least, we would like to thanks Dr Ram Chandra Bastakoti for his valuable inputs during preparation of this manuscript.
Citation
Timsina, K.P., Bradford, K.J., Dahal, P., Shivakoti, G.P., Kunusoth, K., Van Asbrouck, J., Bajracharya, J. and Pandey, I.R. (2018), "Potential impacts of desiccant-based drying and hermetic storage on the value chain for onion seeds in Nepal", Journal of Agribusiness in Developing and Emerging Economies, Vol. 8 No. 2, pp. 363-390. https://doi.org/10.1108/JADEE-12-2015-0056
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2018, Emerald Publishing Limited