Category: Agricultural Markets

Why farmers should understand consumers and the pains of knowledge sharing

Posted on by eMKambo

In a world increasingly driven by ICTs, farmers should not be satisfied with feedback from supermarkets and contract companies. Nothing stops them from speaking directly to consumers who are the final end users of what they produce.  A majority of consumers particularly those in urban markets have more information than producers.  That means farmers have Read more about Why farmers should understand consumers and the pains of knowledge sharing[…]

How agriculture markets are more than just memorizing facts and figures

Posted on by eMKambo

A close look at informal agriculture markets across Africa shows they thrive on implicit knowledge that cannot be manipulated through software or codified into a manual. Cooperation is the default behaviour rather than competition. Robust information is shared even between actors who are supposed to be furious competitors.  Peers are more influential than experts.  That Read more about How agriculture markets are more than just memorizing facts and figures[…]

Principles of demand-driven agricultural practice

Posted on by eMKambo

A significant portion of billions of dollars that have gone into agriculture in developing countries have been absorbed by supply-driven information systems.  With each organisation beating its own drum, tons of publications, videos, manuals and websites continue to be produced. All these are directed at telling farmers what to do and how to do it. Read more about Principles of demand-driven agricultural practice[…]

How digital technology purifies demand and experiences through agriculture markets

Posted on by eMKambo

Given the disparate nature of smallholder production in developing countries, it is often very difficult for buyers, development actors and policy makers to get an accurate sense of the scale and demand for agricultural services including inputs. Equally difficult is estimating the volume of commodities that can be consistently supplied to the market by a Read more about How digital technology purifies demand and experiences through agriculture markets[…]

Making knowledge needs visible through agricultural markets

Posted on by eMKambo

One of the biggest challenges besetting African smallholder agriculture is the fact that agricultural knowledge is invisible. By looking at a farmer or a trader, you cannot tell what knowledge these people possess or need. Two farmers can pass each other in the market, one possessing the solution to a problem that is taxing the Read more about Making knowledge needs visible through agricultural markets[…]