An Application of Spatial Equilibrium Analysis to the Paddy Postharvest System in Tanjong Karang, Peninsular Malaysia
Paddy postharvest losses in Malaysia range between 10 percent to 37 percent. These losses occur during manual handling in harvesting of paddy, threshing, drying, storing and milling. The major cause of these losses is attributed to improper handling methods and inadequate handling facilities. I...
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| Main Author: | |
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| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | English English |
| Published: |
1988
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/8013/1/FEP_1988_4_%281%29.pdf |
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| Summary: | Paddy postharvest losses in Malaysia range between 10
percent to 37 percent. These losses occur during manual
handling in harvesting of paddy, threshing, drying, storing and
milling. The major cause of these losses is attributed to
improper handling methods and inadequate handling facilities.
In addition, the industry also faces problems of deterioration
in paddy quality, low quality rice and high transportation
cost. In the present postharvest system, paddy is handled in
gunny bags. Besides being costly, this type of handling method
also causes delays in processing the paddy resulting in discoloration of paddy and rice , development of moulds and
fungus causing loss of value .
A spatial equilibrium model was used to analyse the
existing paddy postharvest system in Tanjong Karang as well as to determine measures to improve the industry. The model is basically a linear programming model with the objective
function of maximizing net industry revenue. The model
constraints consist of twenty nine set of equations relating to
paddy and rice flows, capacity, queuing, handling, pricing,
supply and demand. The short-run economic situation is
simulated in the model to find the optimal solution. Results
obtained from the model show the optimal flows of paddy and
rice from production areas to procurement centres, mills and
final markets, together with the costs involved in each of the activities. |
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