Root crops, starch and agro-industrialization in Asia.

From:
Department for International Development
Published
1 January 2006
Document Type:
Working Paper
Theme:
Agriculture
Authors:
Fuglie, K.O., Oates, C.G., Xie, J.

Abstract

Starch is a heterogeneous commodity used in the manufacture of many food and non-food products. Market demand for starch is strongly and positively correlated with average per capita income. In Asia, root and tuber crops (cassava, sweetpotato and potato) supply most of the starch used by industries. Because starch processing of root and tuber crops is usually done in rural areas due to their perishability and bulkiness, starch processing is an important rural agro-industry. Small firms coexist with large starch mills to provide intermediate processing despite diseconomies of scale. Policies also influence trade in starch and industrial organization of starch processing.

Citation

Social Sciences Working Paper No. 2006-3. International PotatoCenter (CIP), Lima, Peru. 2006. 28 pp.

Root crops, starch and agro-industrialization in Asia.

Updates to this page

Published 1 January 2006
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