FRUITS VALUE CHAIN AND DISTRIBUTION CHANNELS IN KOSOVO

Dr. Ekrem Gjokaj, Muje Gjonbalaj, Valon Xhabali, Drini Imami, Kapllan Halimi

Abstract: The objective of this study is to analyse, for the first time, raspberry and strawberry value chain in Kosovo. The study aims to address a series of research objectives and questions related to value chain organization and using a set of datasets (both secondary sources and primary data), instruments, methods and set of indicators to provide analytical information about the selected value chain trends. The primary data consists of a structured farm survey (sample = 200) developed during December 2015 – January 2016, and semi-structured interviews carried out with value chain stakeholders. The paper analysis the value chains structure and actors’ profile and it describes the main channels of distributions. It analyses nature of relations between actors, governance in the agro-food value chain, particularly, implications for market access. The paper combines quantitative analysis (eg. statistical analysis of the structured farm survey using SPSS) with qualitative analysis (eg. findings from semi-structured interviews). We analyse opportunities, constraints and challenges that characterise this value chain, and provide recommendations how they can be tackled by policy-makers and private sector actors.

Keywords: Value chain coordination, distribution channels, strawberries, raspberries, Kosovo

Date published: 2017-02-24