Acknowledgement
First, I should express my indebtedness to Fulbrigh Program which made possible my stay and study in the USA. I am
very thankful to Prof. Dr. R. W. Cotterill for not only providing an excellent opportunity to study at the Food Marketing
Policy Center, but also for his beneficial cooperation and encouragement since the beginning of this project. I would like to
extend my special thanks to the Head of Department, Prof. Dr. Emilio Pagoulatos and all faculties and other staffs in the
Department for their hospitality. Finally, I would like to thank Research Assistant Andrew Franklin for his kind help and
friendship during my study at the Center. I do also appreciate his sincere assistance editing this report.
Affiliation
Erkan Rehber is Professor at the Faculty of Agriculture, Head of Department of Agricultural Economics at the University
of Uludag, Bursa, Turkey.
Preface
In this study, first, vertical coordination theory is briefly reviewed focusing on contract farming. Principle reasons for
contracting, failures in contractual relationship as well as different approaches to contract production are examined in the
light of coordination theories. Second, practical applications of contract farming are investigated, based on comparative
analysis of experiences in Turkey and the USA, to point out related problems and required conditions for successful
implementation, especially for the Turkish Food Industry.
This project was started in 1997 and later affiliated to the Regional Research Project NE-165 Private Strategies, Public
Policies and Food System Performance. This research report is prepared at the end of a six month study (between the 1st of
September 1999 and 29th of February 2000) sponsored by Fulbright at the Food Marketing Policy Center, in the Department
of Agricultural and Resource Economics at the University of Connecticut.
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