Tag: Markets & Value Chains
Building India’s First FPO Data Dashboard
“How many FPOs are there in India?” This seemingly simple question marked the beginning of an unexpected challenge when I began working on the Tata-Cornell Institute’s project on FPO-Led Small Farm Market Access Models in 2019.
Farmer producer organizations (FPOs)…
Money Matters: Understanding the Complexities of India’s Digital Payment Journey
Digital payment platforms have emerged as an integral component of modern India’s financial landscape. These platforms offer convenient and quick ways for individuals and businesses to complete cash-free transactions. From the user-friendly interfaces of mobile wallets to the innovative simplicity…
Pandemic-Era Disruptions Linked to 14% Increase in Underweight Children
This policy brief presents the findings of a TCI study that examined the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on children’s nutrition in India. Using TARINA survey data, researchers found a 14% increase in underweight children after pandemic-related lockdowns. Based on these results, TCI recommends that...
COVID-19 Pandemic Linked to 14% Increase in Underweight Children in India
The nutrition of Indian children suffered dramatically during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to new research from the Tata-Cornell Institute for Agriculture and Nutrition (TCI) that found a sharp rise in underweight children.
In a study published in Economic and Political…
Promoting Millets in the Public Distribution System
This special policy brief provides cost-saving estimates associated with the potential introduction of millets into India’s Public Distribution System (PDS), which provides subsidized food to more than 800 million people. This analysis provides policymakers and other stakeholders with valuable information that can be used to...
Urban Farms Co. and the Potential for Social Enterprises to Catalyze Food Systems Change
Today, 56% of the global population resides in urban areas. This proportion is expected to increase to 70%, with the change driven largely by Asian countries. In India alone, it is estimated that by 2050 the number of people living…
TCI Researcher Comments on Skyrocketing Tomato Prices
Jocelyn Boiteau, a postdoctoral associate at the Tata-Cornell Institute for Agriculture and Nutrition (TCI), was quoted by CNN on India’s recent spike in tomato prices. The cost of tomatoes rose more than 400% due to crop failures, leaving many unable…
How Soybean FPOs Can Use Futures Contracts to Manage Risk
Price volatility affects all members of the agricultural value chain, but smallholder farmers in developing countries are particularly vulnerable to adverse prices. In general, price hedging mechanisms for smallholder farmers are limited and, in many cases, not used. With appropriate…
Soybean Value Chains and Market Efficiency: Lessons from a Field Visit to FPOs in Latur
In a recent visit to Latur, a district in Maharashtra, India, we gained an understanding of the marketing channels and infrastructure available for local soybean producers. In India, Latur is a significant agricultural hub for soybean cultivation, with the second-highest…
A Tale of Two Aggregation Models: FPO Promotion in India and Mexico
This is the first in a series of blog posts exploring the experiences of farmer producer organizations (FPOs) and FPO promotion in India and Latin America. The next post will examine soy bean value chains and FPOs in Maharashtra, India.…