Efficiency Analysis of Walnut Marketing Chanels: Case Study: Balkh and Samangan Province

Abstract

This study aims to identify the most efficient marketing channels for almond producers in the Samangan and Balkh provinces of Afghanistan. Almond marketing plays a significant role in providing income and sustainable livelihoods for small-scale farmers in these regions. A stratified sampling method was employed to collect data from 125 almond producers, 15 middlemen, 12 retailers, 8 wholesalers, 8 support service providers, and 7 exporters, resulting in a total of 175 respondents. Descriptive statistics and marketing efficiency analysis methods, such as those developed by Acharya and Aggarwal, were employed to analyze the data. The results indicate that wholesalers (Channel 2) had the highest marketing efficiency, followed by middlemen (Channel 1) and retailers (Channel 3). Furthermore, the study investigates challenges within the almond value chain in these regions and proposes recommendations to improve the performance of marketing channels. Given the significant potential for almond market development in Samangan and Balkh, almond production has become a major cash crop, contributing positively to the welfare of producers and intermediaries.