Category: eMKambo

Learning from Invisible CoPs: The role of informal actors and relationships in African food systems

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Background Climate change-induced food insecurity and global socio-economic instability compels us to continuously revisit   food demand and supply models, especially in developing countries. Conventional approaches like the notion of formal value chains are no longer enough to fully understand food systems. In many African countries, it seems invisible Communities of Practice (CoPs) such as informal Read more about Learning from Invisible CoPs: The role of informal actors and relationships in African food systems[…]

From Corporate Social Responsibility to Sustainable Agribusiness Modelling

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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[…]

How the market can inform better farmer characterization

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In a rapidly changing knowledge economy, it no longer makes sense to continue characterizing farmers in developing countries by the size of land on which they produce agricultural commodities. Informal agriculture markets provide various ways through which African farmers can be characterized beyond the smallholder, communal, commercial and other forms which are becoming inadequate. For Read more about How the market can inform better farmer characterization[…]

How developing countries over-rate foreign currency

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Many African developing countries have a deliberate bias towards exports in the hope that this can bring foreign currency that is expected to stimulate economic development. However, it seems foreign currency is a preserve of the elite who have developed a taste for foreign toys like large vehicles, expensive furniture, clothes, wine and other expressions Read more about How developing countries over-rate foreign currency[…]

How African Agriculture is under-rated due to narrow notions of evidence

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When economists and policy makers in developing countries talk about evidence, in most cases they mean numbers or statistics. For instance in African countries, statistics dominate the language used to describe fiscal policies and budgets in monetary terms. Factors like contribution to GDP, production outputs per hectare and export earnings are all about figures. However, Read more about How African Agriculture is under-rated due to narrow notions of evidence[…]

Which country has achieved economic growth through micro finance?

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If you answer the above question correctly, a ton of pearl millet is waiting for you at eMKambo. When many organisations across the globe are merging in order to sustain some level of competitiveness, why are developing economies finding it sensible to take the micro finance route? There is enormous evidence showing that companies that Read more about Which country has achieved economic growth through micro finance?[…]

ANALYSIS:What has gone wrong with the groundnut market in Zimbabwe?

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Groundnut has traditionally been a famous cash cow in Zimbabwe. Many Cabinet ministers, captains of industry, academics and bankers can testify to have gone to school because their parents were able to raise school fees through groundnut production and marketing. From those who knew him, the founder of Zimbabwe’s largest poultry company Irvine’s Day Old Read more about ANALYSIS:What has gone wrong with the groundnut market in Zimbabwe?[…]

The joys and benefits of learning directly from plants and animals.

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In spite of the current obsession with formal learning approaches where people are encouraged to learn from each other, many African farmers remain convinced they can learn more from plants and animals. That is how, over generations, they have acquired knowledge from plant and animal medicines. Every rainy season provides farmers and every curious person Read more about The joys and benefits of learning directly from plants and animals.[…]

How to be a catalyst for better agricultural outcomes in 2017

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Developing countries which embrace a business – as – usual approach to agricultural development will take more than a century to eradicate food insecurity. Continuing with 2016 patterns implies 2017 will not be an improvement of what happened in the past years. It is no longer enough to be an agricultural change agent. All value Read more about How to be a catalyst for better agricultural outcomes in 2017[…]

How can farmers and agribusinesses prepare themselves for success in 2017?

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Most agricultural interventions into African communities do not sufficiently prepare farmers and local agribusinesses for growth and success. That is why as soon as support dries up, most agricultural actors struggle to stay on their feet.  There are many cases where those looking for a market often fail to satisfy it once they find it.  Read more about How can farmers and agribusinesses prepare themselves for success in 2017?[…]