2019, Volume 22, Paper 10

ISSN: 2209-6612

Improving Farm Gate Returns and Reducing Reliance on Exports for the Australian Pulse industry

Benjamin Smith – Postgraduate student, Masters of Agribusiness, University of Adelaide, Adelaide.

Abstract

Pulse grain crops play an important role in the Australian agriculture industry. However, for producers there is a substantial risk associated with growing pulses in the form of low production and inconsistent prices. The latter is caused in part by import restrictions introduced by foreign governments, highlighting the industry’s overreliance on export markets. Domestic processing and value adding provides an opportunity to alleviate this issue to capitalise on the growing ability of the Asian middle class to purchase processed and premium food products as well as satisfying the increasing presence of health conscious consumers. Small and medium enterprises will play a significant role in adding flexibility and coordination to the supply chain while increasing overall chain surplus.

Key words: Pulses, value adding, developing markets, small and medium enterprises, flexibility

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