Bibliography: p. 400-416. / xiii, 416 p., [1] p. of plates : ill., maps (chiefly col.) ; 30 cm. / Title page, contents and abstract only. The complete thesis in print form is available from the University Library. / Despite the hegemony of economic rationalism in contemporary public policy circles public financial institutions, charged with the support of agricultural and other small business development at the regional level, are a necessary intervention to help maintain the family farm production base. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Adelaide, Dept. of Geography, 1998

This study was designed to compare the price levels of the Northern and Southern marketing areas and to determine if the returns to Virginia vegetable growers would be increased if more shipments were made to the Southern area. Six crops, snap beans, cabbage, sweet corn, cucumbers, peppers, and tomatoes, were studied during 1954, 1955, and 1956. Eighteen consecutive weeks beginning near the first of June were studied during each year. Price and quantity data were collected from the daily market reports of New York, Baltimore, and Atlanta. Additional data on shipments of the six crops from Virginia were collected from Eastern Virginia vegetable producers. The prices which Virginia vegetable growers received for their produce in the terminal markets were found to be within a 25 percent range of the weekly terminal market median prices for 74 percent of the shipments where comparisons could be made. The price level in the Southern market was significantly higher than in the Northern market for snap beans, cucumbers, peppers, and tomatoes. There was no difference between the Northern and Southern market price levels for cabbage and sweet corn at the desired confidence level, but the Southern market price level was found to be higher at the 20 percent confidence level. The analysis of the two Northern markets indicates that no significant difference existed in the price levels of these markets for any of the crops. This relationship could not be accepted at the desired confidence level for cabbage, peppers, and tomatoes because the price variances were not homogeneous. After deducting transportation costs from Virginia to the respective markets, the highest net price to Virginia vegetable growers for most crops was available more often from the Southern market than in the Northern market. The study of these net prices in conjunction with the shipments by Virginia growers during the same period indicated that even though higher returns could have been realized from shipments to the Southern marketing area, Virginia growers generally did not take advantage of them. Some significant relationships between price and quantity arriving on the market were found. However, a few of the relationships did not conform to the traditional inverse relationships of the factors as expressed economic theory. Such results indicate that the data may not have been suitable for this type analysis. Complete data on the price of each unit and the total number of units in the markets should give a more reliable supply and demand relationship. Although the weekly period proved satisfactory for determining the differences in price levels of the markets, the use of such a period imposes serious limitations on the analysis of price and quantity relationships. If marketing decisions generally are made on the basis of the relative prices of the previous day or two days on the markets, the weekly period may average out many of the pertinent differences. Even though the demand in the Southern market was usually more elastic than in the Northern market, the price in the Southern market was found to generally be more responsive to a given change in quantity arriving on the market. This responsiveness of price to varying quantities arriving on the market was primarily a function of the difference in the size of the markets. The elasticity of demand of the markets was found to be of secondary importance in determining the responsiveness of price. The greatest difference in price responsiveness between the markets was for peppers. They were much more responsive to changes in the quantity arriving in the Southern market than in the Northern market. The prices of snap beans, cucumbers, and tomatoes are also more responsive to quantity changes in the Southern market. The price of sweet corn was found to be more responsive to additional carlot arrivals in the Northern market. Cabbage was not used in the calculations because the preliminary results did not conform to economic theory. / Master of Science

Thesis (M. A. Agricultural Science (Agricultural Economics) -- University of Limpopo, 2019 / The relationship between farm and retail prices provides insights into marketing efficiency, consumer and farmer welfare. In light of this, much focus has been given to price transmission studies. Thus, price transmission studies have become increasingly important in Sub Saharan Africa because of its nature of providing clear insights information into our markets. Despite its importance in markets, there are a few studies analysing the mechanism through which prices are determined and transmitted from farm gate to retail markets in dairy markets in South Africa. The aim of the study was to investigate and analyse the nature of price transmission mechanism of pasteurised liquid milk and cheese in South Africa. The specific objectives were to determine the correlation between the milk production and quantity of milk processed in South Africa. Furthermore, there was a need to determine the direction of causality between the farm gate, processor and retail prices of cheese and pasteurised liquid milk in South Africa. It was also necessary to determine whether the price transmission of pasteurised liquid milk and cheese was symmetric or asymmetric in South Africa. The study used secondary time series data that covered a sample size of 17 years (2000 -2016) of pasteurised liquid milk and cheese in South Africa. Pearson correlation coefficient, Granger causality test and Vector Error Correction Model were used for data analysis. Pearson correlation results revealed that milk produced is perfectly correlated with the quantity of milk processed and it was positive. The Granger causality tests revealed that there was a no causal relationship between farm gate and processor, retail and processor and also between farm gate and retail for cheese. However, signs of independent causal relationship from farm gate to retail prices were visible. It also suggested a bidirectional causal relationship between processor and farm gate prices and also between retail and processor prices of pasteurised liquid milk. On the other hand, a unidirectional causality was found from retail to farm gate prices. The VECM results for pasteurised liquid milk showed asymmetric price transmission implying that retailers and processors react quicker to price increases than to price decrease. ii It is recommended that more focus be placed on investment in emerging dairy farmers in order to increase production. This can be done through the input price subsidies, grants and education on modern technologies. The government should also implement the price monitoring cell in order to protect the consumers from unfair prices passed on by the retailers. / Services SETA and National Agricultural Marketing Council (NAMC)