Journal of Food Processing & Technology

Abstract

Price Flexibility and Seasonal Variations of Major Vegetables in Sindh Pakistan

Sanaullah Noonari, Irfana NM, Raiz AB, Muhammad IK and Shahbaz Ali

Vegetable cultivation is the most important strategy to reduce poverty as well as to overcome food security problems due to small landholdings and sufficient labour force availability in the rural areas of Pakistan. The results showed that the demand was almost elastic for potato, tomato and onions while there was flexible price trend appeared in the production. Prices on agricultural products are mostly determined by supply and demand. The results of the study showed that erratic price fluctuations both cyclical and seasonal are observed every year. The effect of over-all economic fluctuations are overlaid on a pattern of good and bad harvests, so that an analysis of the effect of a fall in demand on price and output must take account of variations in crop size due to solely the weather. Price fluctuation of these four vegetables is its seasonal character. In the post-harvest period the prices are considerably at lower side whereas in the lean season these are quite high. Thus, from the farmers’ point of view they are denied of reasonable prices for their produce during post-harvest period on the consumer’s side they are to pay high prices during lean season. Hence, while making a policy towards prices of the vegetables Government should increase the supply in the market by import that commodity from other markets or neighboring countries in non-harvesting seasons as well as the area and production may also increase by using new technology, high yielding seed varieties.