Using territorial markets to scale what is working in African food systems

Posted on by eMKambo

One of the most persistent challenges for African governments and development agencies has been how to spread good practices by scaling what is working in one community to several communities. Several well-meaning pilot interventions have remained isolated islands of success. The way African territorial markets harness horizontal knowledge exchange between actors could provide useful practical Read more about Using territorial markets to scale what is working in African food systems[…]

Tapping into the voices and wisdom of people doing the hard work

Posted on by eMKambo

Instead of depending on extractive models that focus on exploiting natural resources like land, water and minerals, every African country can benefit from tapping into the voices and wisdom of people who are doing the hard work of preserving African indigenous food. Many rural communities are convinced that achieving food and nutrition security is a Read more about Tapping into the voices and wisdom of people doing the hard work[…]

Making sense of how some African communities define indigenous food

Posted on by eMKambo

Every community has elders with vivid memories of how they ended up consuming colonial food. They use these memories to tell stories around their indigenous food and indigenous knowledge systems (IKS) in which traditional structures and totems are also part of the story. The elders have also witnessed the impact of external inputs on their Read more about Making sense of how some African communities define indigenous food[…]

Uncoordinated agricultural programs undermine efforts to build business

Posted on by eMKambo

Across Africa, uncoordinated agricultural programs by government and development organizations have continue to increase food losses and undermine efforts to build strong business cases. At national level, there is often no connection between government and donor-driven programs that focus on the same value chains. Commodities from diverse similar interventions often converge in the same market Read more about Uncoordinated agricultural programs undermine efforts to build business[…]

In African territorial markets, every commodity is controlled by specialists

Posted on by eMKambo

In African territorial markets, every commodity is controlled by specialists Among several characteristics that make African territorial markets different from markets in other parts of the world is that most food commodities are controlled by specialists. These specialists are passionate traders who stick with a commodity through thick and thin. While opportunists may switch from Read more about In African territorial markets, every commodity is controlled by specialists[…]

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?[…]

African food markets thrive on undocumented knowledge and systems

Posted on by eMKambo

The way agricultural commodities and natural food products move through African territorial markets demonstrate how food distribution is largely driven by undocumented knowledge and distribution systems.  Key questions include: How do territorial markets reach a price when there is no business analyst? How do they use marketing strategies like discounts without a credit controller?  Why Read more about African food markets thrive on undocumented knowledge and systems[…]

Why crop and livestock assessments should not just end at production level

Posted on by eMKambo

Why crop and livestock assessments should not just end at production level For several years, many African countries have become obsessed with conducting crop and livestock assessments during the rainfall-driven summer cropping season. However, such assessments have only ended at production with no systems for tracking what happens to crops after they are harvested. A Read more about Why crop and livestock assessments should not just end at production level[…]

What prevents formal education systems from cultivating attention to detail

Posted on by eMKambo

Most of the products and innovations currently used in the world originated from schools, colleges and universities in the Global North, China and Japan. These countries have demonstrated how learning institutions can be fertile grounds for generating totally new solutions for society through cultivating attention to detail within learners. Why has it remained difficult for Read more about What prevents formal education systems from cultivating attention to detail[…]

The role of indigenous food in celebrating heroes and ancestral wisdom

Posted on by eMKambo

The role of indigenous food in celebrating heroes and ancestral wisdom In addition to a national flag and a national anthem, almost all countries have heroes and founding ancestors who are celebrated religiously as part of rooting current generations to their source and sense of identity.  Indigenous food may not be mentioned in the same Read more about The role of indigenous food in celebrating heroes and ancestral wisdom[…]