access to markets

The poultry sector in Eastern Africa has been growing rapidly for the past five years driven by various factors. As a result, poultry production has gradually grown from a mainly backyard keeping system to a more professional and commercial value chain. A study and learning trajectory of NABC and WUR analyse the way in which national poultry value chains in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and Rwanda are influenced by the dependency on inputs from and market outlets in other countries in the region.   »

This article explores the relationship between farming diversity and food security and the diversification potential of African agriculture on household and continental scale. The study has demonstrated that diversification does have an essential role to play in ensuring food security and stabilizing food production. »

For the last two years and half, the consortium ”Ananas Mitongnon” has been implementing the DAPIS project in Benin. Pineapple producers have realized that they can engage in more lucrative markets and to meet the expected quantity on a regular basis, they have decided to organize themselves into a cooperative which they named: “Nonvignon Mihinmidé” meaning “Brotherhood is good, let’s take care of each other”.  »

The ARF project “Designing appropriate agronomic and processing practices for pineapple supply chains in Benin (DAPIS)” fits very well with the Beninese Government Action Plan and aims at improving the access of fresh pineapple and pasteurised pineapple juice produced in Benin to local, regional and international markets. On September 21, the first pineapple experiment has been visited by farmers and consortium members of this ARF project in Benin. »

This article assesses the usefulness, constraints, and factors likely to influence farmers’ decisions to patronize mobile phone-based weather and market information. The rapid growth of mobile phones in Ghana has opened up the possibility of delivering timely and useful weather and market information to farmers at costs lower than traditional agricultural extension services. »

This analytical guide by CSM shows in what way policy recommendations illuminate the relationships of smallholders to markerts. The guide examines how small-scale food producers’ organisations and allied civil society can use the recommendations in their national and international advocacy and how they can work together with their governments to apply them in the context of national and regional policies and programmes. The authors argue that the policy recommendations illuminate the relationships of smallholders to markets in two main ways. »