ABSTRACT
In Maoist China, the State used planning, pricing and procurement mechanisms to co-ordinate production and consumption. This chapter focuses on exchange processes, and whether changes in these processes have led to greater industry integration. Industry participants have notional freedom to choose and use any of these marketing channels. The chapter discusses marketing channels in the cattle and beef industry and how they relate to industry and rural development. Non-State marketing structures have arisen to dominate the trade of most agricultural commodities, especially livestock products and vegetables. The chapter outlines some of the structures used for group marketing. These include co-operatives, specialised villages and townships, collectives and networks. In many Western countries, marketing co-operatives are an important mechanism for farmers to distribute and sell agricultural commodities. In turn, buyers - usually processors or retailers - are better able to source consistent supplies of specified raw material supplies.
