Analysis of Different Benefit Level of Potato Market in Iran

Marketing margin and production and price fluctuations are the main subjects in potato market that producers, consumers and policy makers are faced with. production and price fluctuations and its increasing trend and also decreasing the price in some months specially in harvest season, increasing the price of wholesale and retail sale in different months led to dissatisfaction of producers and consumers. This paper analyzes the different benefit level of potato market during 2007- 2009 monthly. According to the results, during the 3 years, potato producers have received 1900 rials per kilogram on average, but consumers have paid 4600 rials. Over 3 years, average of retail sale margin, wholesale margin and total margin were 2100, 600 and 2700 rials respectively while average of producer share from final price and the share of marketing margin were 40% and 60% respectively. Marketing margin had been increasing in Iran while marketing services didnt improved as required. Incoherent management of market, price fluctuations, the problem of producers cash, and finally multiplicity of middleman are the main factors affecting on increasing the potato marketing margin.