Direct access to markets by farmers and the role of traders: insights from Kenyan and Tanzanian leafy vegetables markets

Abstract

The research literature shows that agriculture has potential for development, job creation and structural change if agricultural value chains are considered in their entirety: from inputs, to farm, through processing, until marketing. This is particularly important in the case of Africa, where agriculture contributes in a major way to GDP and employment. However, this focus on value chains does not seem to have been accompanied by attention to the diversity of actors operating along value chains. Based on an extensive literature review on access to markets by farmers and on participatory research with farmers, traders, and sectoral stakeholders of leafy vegetables value chains in Kenya and Tanzania, this study argues that the role played by traders in local fresh produce markets in Africa is poorly understood and supported. It is argued that powerful narratives about the benefits of direct access to market by farmers, which are also present in academic literature, are sometimes overoptimistic, or interpreted beyond their scope and applied regardless of the specific features of actors and produce. The study shows that the leafy vegetables trade provides self-employment for many women, and that it has positive impacts on other groups, notably farmers.

Perspective Chapter: Traditional African Vegetables Agrobiodiversity – Livelihood Utilization and Conservation in Tanzania Rural Communities

“…High physical capital coupled with financial capital supported agricultural intensification hence food security [21]. TAV species despite having the potential to improve dietary requirements of households in Tanzania, 30% -40% of the produce is lost after harvest due to inadequate handling skills, poor infrastructure, lack of appropriate processing technology and poor market information, lack of storage facilities and supporting system [33,34]. Musebe et al, [35] recommended that it is necessary to provide processing and market infrastructure to the processors of African indigenous vegetables.…”

Distribution, transportation, and coordination in African indigenous vegetables value chains: A scoping review

“…Effective coordination of transport services thus requires networking among actors (Issa et al, 2021). This could, however, be limited by delayed exchange of information, especially in remote areas where the accessibility to appropriate infrastructure including roads, connecting bridges, and network signals is limited (Marson, 2022). It is crucial to note that in AIVs value chains; durations for the exchange of information could be different in various geographical locations (Chagomoka et al, 2014).…”