ACTIVITIES OF AGENTS IN THE LITCHI COMMODITY CHAIN IN THANH HA DISTRICT

Abstract

This study's aim is to identify agents and their activities in litchi commodity chain in Thanh Ha district. Five main agents participating in litchi commodity chain include producers, producers and dryers, collectors, collectors and driers and litchi processing enterprises. This study determines the value-added distribution for each agent in the litchi commodity chain. For fresh litchi channel, there are three agents: producers, collectors and litchis processing enterprises. There are not important changes from this year to others on the value-added distribution between agents. The producer's value-added represents 39%, 2% for collectors and 59% for enterprises. In the case of dried litchi channel, there are only two principle agents: producers & dryers and collectors. There is a big difference on the value-added distribution between agents from this year to others. In the good harvest year, the producers & dryers' valued-added represents 57% and 43% for collectors, but in the bad harvest year, it is 44% for producers and dryers and 56% for collectors.

The study also shows some challenges which are need solving in order to run better the Litchi commodity chain in the future.