Contract continuity in broiler supply chains in Northern Bangladesh
- 1 Faculty of Animal Science & Veterinary Medicine, Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Bangladesh
- 2 Department of Law, Jagannath University, Bangladesh
- 3 Department of Health Science & Informatics, Bangladesh Institute of Innovative Health Research, Bangladesh
* Author to whom correspondence should be addressed. Md. Asib Abdullah Al Razi
Abstract
Contract farming has become an important mechanism for integrating smallholders into modern agri-food supply chains, particularly in emerging economies. In Bangladesh, the rapid expansion of broiler contract farming is driven by increasing demand for poultry products, enhanced market coordination, and reduced production risk for farmers. However, maintaining long-term farmer participation poses a significant challenge due to concerns about payment delays, limited transparency, inconsistent input quality, and weak relationship management. This study examines the determinants of farmer satisfaction and their impact on contract continuity in broiler supply chains in northern Bangladesh. A mixed-methods approach was employed, incorporating survey data from 200 contract broiler farmers and qualitative interviews with field officers and managers. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, correlation, and multiple regression analysis, while thematic analysis was applied to the qualitative evidence. The results indicate that technical support, communication quality, payment timeliness, and transparency of cost deductions significantly influence farmers’ intentions to continue with their current integrator. Notably, technical support emerged as the strongest predictor of continuity intention, highlighting the strategic importance of field-level service relationships. Conversely, delayed payments and unclear deductions were major sources of dissatisfaction. The findings suggest that farmer retention relies not only on profitability but also on trust, service responsiveness, and procedural fairness. This study contributes to the contract farming and agribusiness literature by emphasizing the role of relational governance in sustaining supply-chain partnerships. It recommends that poultry integrators enhance extension support, improve settlement systems, and adopt farmer-centered relationship strategies to promote long-term contract sustainability.
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