Navigating Agricultural Contracts: Types, Drivers, And Outcomes in Mango Grower-Collector Agreements
by

Mango stands as a cherished fruit globally, renowned for its exquisite flavor and widespread consumption. The harvesting of mangoes faces a significant challenge due to labor shortage, compounded by the labor-intensive nature of mango harvesting, which strains available resources. In response to these challenges, contract agreements have emerged as a pragmatic solution, gaining popularity in modern agricultural practices. This study seeks to examine the various contract agreements between mango growers and collectors, with a specific emphasis on their impact on price dynamics, fruit loss and occurrence of tree damage. Additionally, the study aimed at exploring the strategies employed by growers to mitigate mango losses at farmer level. The data collection through a questionnaire was extended across a total of 68 mango growers in Anuradhapura and Kurunegala districts in Sri Lanka. The study identified four different types of Grower-Collector contracts as Tree-based, Volume-based, Weight-based, and Fruit-based. Descriptive statistics were used to illustrate the diverse outcomes associated with various contract types and statistical analysis, using multiple linear regression and binary logistic regression, were implemented to identify the factors influencing price fluctuations, fruit loss, and tree damage. The findings indicated that a major proportion of mango growers (41.2%) are engaged in weight-based contracts, and that they are the ones who receive the highest average price as well (201.79 LKR/kg). Furthermore, it was identified that tree-based contract types showed the highest average fruit loss (23%) in comparison to the other contract types. Variety and season were identified as factors affecting price while land size, variety, and harvesting methods were identified as factors influencing fruit losses. Findings further implied that the measures taken to reduce losses and maintain good relationships with collectors have a significant impact on damage to the tree. Finally, the study suggested that by facilitating knowledge sharing initiatives, exploring value adding opportunities for less popular varieties and encouraging mango growers to obtain quality assurance credentials can improve the link between mango growers and collectors.