Category: health and agriculture

Indigenous Knowledge Systems have their own data collection methods

Posted on by eMKambo

Whereas imported western methods of collecting data focus on scientific questionnaires, in African communities and mass markets conversations and stories are the highest form of data. while the formal education system in most African countries continues to promote the view that to be objective researchers must be detached from what they are studying, in African Read more about Indigenous Knowledge Systems have their own data collection methods[…]

The underrated value of knowing your customer and knowing your market

Posted on by eMKambo

There are times when the market is more important than inputs like seed, fertilizer and capital but very few farmers invest in understanding the market and knowing their customers. The situation is worse in African territorial markets where customers are as diverse as the commodities such that knowing your customer may not mean keeping that Read more about The underrated value of knowing your customer and knowing your market[…]

What would a funding model ideal for African mass markets look like?

Posted on by eMKambo

What would a funding model ideal for African mass markets look like? African territorial mass markets have been quietly evolving into unique institutions for decades. However, one of the big gaps has remained the absence of relevant formal financial models dedicated to these important socio-economic institutions.  For instance, Zimbabwe produces more than 100 agricultural commodities Read more about What would a funding model ideal for African mass markets look like?[…]

Who really sets prices in the open market?

Posted on by eMKambo

No matter how many times this question is answered, it continues to be asked again and again.  One of the reasons is that the answer may be correct but unbelievable. As in all other markets, rules of supply and demand influence pricing of agricultural commodities in open markets that are powerful ecosystems in developing countries.  Read more about Who really sets prices in the open market?[…]

Why linking farmers to the market is not enough

Posted on by eMKambo

In spite of millions of dollars that have gone into market linkage initiatives in developing countries over the past few years, farmers still struggle to sell their commodities profitably. Post-harvest losses have not gone down, gluts continue to alternate with shortages and relationships between farmers and processors have not improved. This suggests market linkages is Read more about Why linking farmers to the market is not enough[…]

Questions that must be answered before poor countries import or export food

Posted on by eMKambo

In the absence of evidence-based agricultural policy formulation and implementation, most developing countries always rush to import food without sufficiently understanding their national contexts. During gluts, farmers in areas where fruits are produced in abundance do not benefit from selling nationally compared to when there are shortages.  On the other hand, when the price of Read more about Questions that must be answered before poor countries import or export food[…]

Balancing gender with technology and rural industrialization

Posted on by eMKambo

Developing countries that have made commendable strides in using formal education to avail equal opportunities to men and women still have a lot of work to move beyond white collar opportunities. While scores of women are now occupying managerial positions that used to be monopolized by men, a formula is yet to be found for Read more about Balancing gender with technology and rural industrialization[…]

Differentiating specialization from monocultural knowledge pathways

Posted on by eMKambo

While monoculture is mostly understood as the cultivation of a single crop on a farm, area or country, the other half of its definition is the dominance of a single culture, worldview, mindset, set of tools as well as one way of gathering and sharing knowledge. Farmers who think success comes from producing one commodity Read more about Differentiating specialization from monocultural knowledge pathways[…]

More reasons for decolonizing banking systems in developing countries

Posted on by eMKambo

While some developing economies are evolving rapidly, local banks are clutching onto colonial identities. For instance, in most African countries banking as a practice has kept colonial labels such as Commercial Bank, Merchant Bank and Building Society, among other categories whose meaning and differences are not clear to ordinary people. This identity crisis, with colonial Read more about More reasons for decolonizing banking systems in developing countries[…]

The character-building role of African ‘informal’ economies

Posted on by eMKambo

People who co-exist with Kombi drivers in Zimbabwe, Matatu drivers in Nairobi’s traffic jammed roads, boda-boda motorcyclists in Kampala and similar situations in African cities have always wondered if those drivers are from the same mother. This is due to their character which is exactly the same. ‘Informal’ traders and MSMEs also share the same Read more about The character-building role of African ‘informal’ economies[…]