Author:

Overcoming the limitations of membership based organizations

Posted on by

Like other arrangements that make sense on the surface, African agriculture and rural development efforts are characterized by membership-based organizations. These range from farmer unions and diverse sizes of cooperatives to chambers of commerce. While coming together for collective bargaining purposes makes a lot of sense, members should be aware of several blind spots. After Read more about Overcoming the limitations of membership based organizations[…]

Responding to narrow margins and slow growth in African agriculture

Posted on by

The fact that African agriculture is beset by narrow margins and slow growth elevates the need to invest in data and evidence. People who get into agriculture expecting quick returns are often disappointed because African agriculture is no longer a one-step dance. Obsession with quick returns is one reason why opportunists tend to congest one Read more about Responding to narrow margins and slow growth in African agriculture[…]

How and why relationships move more food than markets

Posted on by

As containers of knowledge, African agricultural markets continue to inspire, clarify and reorient our awareness. Latest evidence gathered by eMKambo shows how and why the movement of food from farming communities to urban markets is based mostly on relationships as opposed to money. Agricultural markets are not just an endless parade of stories and examples Read more about How and why relationships move more food than markets[…]

How informal food markets disrupt and correct the notion of staple foods

Posted on by

For a very long time, each country has had what it considered a staple food for its citizens.  However, climate change, globalization and changes in consumption patterns are disrupting traditional staple foods. My word web describes staple food as a necessary commodity for which demand is constant. Rather than continue promoting a few staple commodities, Read more about How informal food markets disrupt and correct the notion of staple foods[…]

How market price is not a major determinant of profit in agribusiness

Posted on by

A keen interest by African farmers to know the price of commodities on the market is understandable. However, tracking activities in informal agricultural markets by eMKambo over the past few years has proved that price is not a major determinant of profit-making in agribusiness. Profit-making is a result of creatively managing production costs, quality, losses Read more about How market price is not a major determinant of profit in agribusiness[…]

Mastering the benefits of adding value to agricultural commodities

Posted on by

Like many well-intentioned phrases, ‘value addition’ is not just an expression. It is a practice whose dynamics are yet to be fully understood and embedded, especially in African agriculture. More than 80 percent of agricultural commodities in developing countries are consumed in a raw state. Lack of modern value addition technology makes it difficult to Read more about Mastering the benefits of adding value to agricultural commodities[…]

From Corporate Social Responsibility to Sustainable Agribusiness Modelling

Posted on by

The failure of donor-funded programmes to transform African agriculture is resulting in more attention turning to the private sector as a potential source of better agricultural outcomes. Several multi-million dollar donor programmes have been launched with pomp and media saturation but the end has often not been as loud as the beginning.  At the end Read more about From Corporate Social Responsibility to Sustainable Agribusiness Modelling[…]