Review of Literature on Contract Farming and Contract Relationships and Directions for Future Research

The literature on contract farming from various disciplines was analyzed and research gaps were presented for further study. In-depth studies are required to analyze the impact of contract farming on the well-being of farmers in addition to the existing studies that focus on increased revenue, profits, and other advantages. The studies from the perspective of contact firms and on the problems of developing and managing long-term relationships with farmers are scarce. There is a need for research in different contexts with different crops to find the determinants of relationships in contract farming. More studies on practical implications of legislations on contract farming may help policy makers to formulate or amend the rules which would help in the growth of contract farming. Studies can also be conducted to analyze the impact of the emergence of contract farming on soil health, traditional crops and cropping systems and the resulting influence on food habits of farmers.