Value Chain Analysis of Custard Apple in Rajasthan

Abstract

newline The present study entitled Value Chain Analysis of Custard Apple in Rajasthan was carried out with specific objectives of studying the socio economic profile of tribal people collecting custard apple from forest area; performance of key players involved in each stage of custard apple collection and marketing; value chain structure of custard apple in Rajasthan and its role in generating income and employment of tribal people along with the case study of organized processing unit of custard apple in Rajasthan. The study was based on primary data carried out during the year 2019. For value chain analysis of custard apple two processing units, using the technology developed by scientist of MPUAT Udaipur for value addition, were purposively selected each from Udaipur district and Pali district. The data pertaining to stated objectives was collected from 180 tribal respondents which included direct sellers of custard apple to the ultimate consumers, tribals marketing custard apple through processing units and tribals engaged in processing activities. Value chain analysis was done by using policy analysis matrix which served as quantitative research tool for analysis the effect of policy transfers. Further the efficiency of existing custard apple marketing channels was analysed by using the Acharya s approach. The study revealed that 65.5 per cent of the tribal households were either literate or they could read or write only whereas 34. 5 per cent were not able to either read or write. More than 40 per cent of the respondents were engaged in agricultural activities along with custard apple selling. Further it was observed during study that adult females were actively involved in custard apple collection followed by adult males (17.65 %) and children (6.47 %). More than 50 per cent of tribal respondents were possessing good experience of 8 to 25 years in collection of custard apple. Custard apple marketing served as good source of income generation for tribal households as observed in the study that 59.4