Structure Conduct And Performance Of Maize Markets In Malawi Synopsis
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Structure Conduct And Performance Of Maize Markets In Malawi Synopsis
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Author : Ochieng, Dennis O.
language : un
Publisher: Intl Food Policy Res Inst
Release Date : 2019-08-29
Structure Conduct And Performance Of Maize Markets In Malawi Synopsis written by Ochieng, Dennis O. and has been published by Intl Food Policy Res Inst this book supported file pdf, txt, epub, kindle and other format this book has been release on 2019-08-29 with Political Science categories.
This policy note summarizes Working Paper 29 (Ochieng et al., 2019), which investigates the SCP of Malawi’s maize market during the 2018/19 main marketing and lean seasons and provides policy suggestions on how to improve Malawi’s maize marketing system.
Structure Conduct And Performance Of Maize Markets In Malawi
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Author : Ochieng, Dennis O.
language : en
Publisher: Intl Food Policy Res Inst
Release Date : 2019-08-21
Structure Conduct And Performance Of Maize Markets In Malawi written by Ochieng, Dennis O. and has been published by Intl Food Policy Res Inst this book supported file pdf, txt, epub, kindle and other format this book has been release on 2019-08-21 with Political Science categories.
Seasonal analysis of the structure, conduct, and performance (SCP) of markets for staple crops has received relatively little attention in food policy analysis yet it has important implications for food and nutrition security. This study employs a mixed methods approach to analyze the SCP of maize markets in Malawi in the 2018/19 main harvest and lean seasons. We interviewed 749 traders from 74 markets across 8 districts, held 28 focus group discussions (FGD) with a total of 480 farmers and analyzed daily and weekly price data from 13 regional markets. The structure of maize markets was explored by examining marketing channels, barriers to entry and the competitiveness of different tiers of the marketing chain. Inequality in sales revenues, switches in trader types between seasons, quality and weights standardization, and the behavior of traders were used to examine market conduct. Performance was assessed by examining traders’ costs and margins, and the spatial and temporal integration of maize markets. We find that Malawi’s maize market is pyramidal in structure and highly competitive at lower tiers of trade but ‘oligopolistic’ at higher tiers. The market channels vary across seasons with switches between trader types and instances of rural-urban trade reversals. There is considerable inequality of sales revenues among traders of similar capacities, and a widespread lack of structured trading despite existing institutions. A high ratio of marketing costs to revenue suggests marketing inefficiencies. Malawi maize prices were highly seasonal and more volatile than neighboring countries. In contrast to previous studies, our findings show weak spatial integration of markets and slow price adjustments to long-run equilibrium values even among short-distance market pairs. The study highlights five pathways to improving Malawi’s maize marketing system: (1) increased policy predictability to promote private-sector investment; (2) institutionalization of quality grades and standardization of weights and measures; (3) increased commercialization of smallholder maize production; (4) investment in enabling infrastructure; and (5) the promotion of structured trading.
Ending Hunger Is Possible An Income Generating Approach Through Value Addition
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Author :
language : en
Publisher: Food & Agriculture Org.
Release Date : 2024-11-14
Ending Hunger Is Possible An Income Generating Approach Through Value Addition written by and has been published by Food & Agriculture Org. this book supported file pdf, txt, epub, kindle and other format this book has been release on 2024-11-14 with Social Science categories.
The most expensive way to end hunger is through social protection programmes such as cash transfers. Another way is through job creation and income generation. The two approaches are not mutually exclusive. But an income-generating approach to ending hunger can simultaneously enable productive investments in agrifood systems and facilitate a redistribution of production and consumption to where it is needed most. It will also accelerate the adoption of new and cleaner technologies, aimed to increase productivity sustainably. Addressing the imbalances of the system while ensuring that the world is free of hunger in an economically, socially and environmentally sustainable way is at the core of the global challenges faced by agrifood systems. This report identifies effective interventions to support the agro-industrialization process, emphasizing the critical role of skilled labour to meet the demands of an industrial sector. The biggest challenge to achieving this agenda is access to finance, particularly for the “missing middle” – small-scale producers and agrifood SMEs looking for loans or collaterals. Here is where social protection programmes can support the income-generating approach. Cash plus programmes have a strong body of evidence supporting their impact on income. They provide regular cash transfers in combination with economic programmes to boost growth and production, particularly to increase the productivity and build infrastructure. The Productive Safety Net Programme (PSNP) of the Ethiopian Government is one of the most successful interventions to date. Finally, trade and competition policy, together with stronger regional integration are essential to ensure that the benefits of growth are equitably distributed to those who need it most.
Market Information And Access To Structured Markets By Small Farmers And Traders Evidence From An Action Research Experiment In Central Malawi
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Author : Ochieng, Dennis O.
language : en
Publisher: Intl Food Policy Res Inst
Release Date : 2020-03-12
Market Information And Access To Structured Markets By Small Farmers And Traders Evidence From An Action Research Experiment In Central Malawi written by Ochieng, Dennis O. and has been published by Intl Food Policy Res Inst this book supported file pdf, txt, epub, kindle and other format this book has been release on 2020-03-12 with Political Science categories.
Small farmers and traders often lack the market information they need to earn the most from their crop sales. This paper analyzes the effects of an action research experiment in central Malawi, in which four groups of smallholder farmers were provided with maize and soybean price information from a local commodity exchange during the 2019 marketing season, while four other groups of smallholder farmers did not receive this information. Using data from a panel survey of 399 farmers and 78 traders conducted before and after the main marketing season and using kernel propensity score matching approach to account for possible differences between the treated and non-treated farmers, we estimate the effects of the intervention on a number of outcome indicators. A before versus after analysis was also employed to evaluate changes in traders’ marketing outcomes. We find positive but statistically insignificant effects on maize and soybean selling prices, sales through structured markets and levels of commercialization after the intervention. We also find a negative and statistically significant effect on the quantity of maize sold by farmers, suggesting paradoxically that providing farmers with price information reduced their sales volumes. The proportion of traders aware of structured markets and their share of sales through structured markets also increased significantly after the intervention. The quantity of maize sold by traders as well as the selling prices for maize and soy-bean also increased significantly, although this may be due to factors other than the intervention. The study concludes that provision of price information alone is not enough to facilitate small farmers’ and traders’ use of structured markets. Greater effort is needed to sensitize farmers and traders on the quality and quantity requirements as well as the operations of structured markets.
Primary Agricultural Cooperatives In Malawi Structure Conduct And Performance
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Author : Davis, Kristin
language : en
Publisher: Intl Food Policy Res Inst
Release Date : 2023-05-23
Primary Agricultural Cooperatives In Malawi Structure Conduct And Performance written by Davis, Kristin and has been published by Intl Food Policy Res Inst this book supported file pdf, txt, epub, kindle and other format this book has been release on 2023-05-23 with Political Science categories.
Primary agricultural cooperatives in Malawi, in contrast to other farmer-level organizations, have legal status and can own assets, borrow money for their operations, and sign contracts, making it easier for them to do business for the profit of their members. Conceptually, such cooperatives enable their member-farmers to achieve economies of scale for their commercial activities. By joining together in a cooperative, members can obtain commercial inputs at lower prices closer to wholesale prices than if they purchased the inputs as individuals. In selling their output, by aggregating their crops and other products into larger lots that the cooperative then negotiates to sell on their behalf, buyers can achieve greater efficiency in buying from them and can be expected to offer a premium over the prices that they would offer farmers selling those products individually. Cooperatives can also serve farmers in providing an important channel for obtaining information and advice to increase their productivity and the profitability of their farming. Moreover, by joining together to achieve common objectives in primary agricultural cooperatives, member-farmers can exercise greater influence on local and national policy issues of concern to them, while also building social cohesion, solidarity, and trust within their communities.
Disentangling Food Security From Subsistence Agriculture In Malawi
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Author : Benson, Todd
language : en
Publisher: Intl Food Policy Res Inst
Release Date : 2021-05-24
Disentangling Food Security From Subsistence Agriculture In Malawi written by Benson, Todd and has been published by Intl Food Policy Res Inst this book supported file pdf, txt, epub, kindle and other format this book has been release on 2021-05-24 with Political Science categories.
"Many rural Malawian households cannot reliably obtain enough food to meet their needs, even though most have access to arable land for food production. This book calls for three critical changes to promote sustainable food security in Malawi: 1) government support for a significantly more diversified and commercially oriented agriculture sector; 2) increased agricultural productivity of rural farmers; and 3) strengthened food markets"--
Commodity Exchanges And Warehouse Receipts In Malawi Current Status And Their Implications For The Development Of Structured Markets
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Author : Baulch, Bob
language : en
Publisher: Intl Food Policy Res Inst
Release Date : 2018-11-08
Commodity Exchanges And Warehouse Receipts In Malawi Current Status And Their Implications For The Development Of Structured Markets written by Baulch, Bob and has been published by Intl Food Policy Res Inst this book supported file pdf, txt, epub, kindle and other format this book has been release on 2018-11-08 with Political Science categories.
This study examines the landscape in which Malawi’s two agricultural commodity exchanges (Comex) and warehouse receipts systems (WRS) operate and makes recommendations on how to improve their performance and benefits to key stakeholders. A mixed methods approach was adopted, involving semi-structured interviews with key market participants, compilation and analysis of secondary data from Malawi and other African Comex, and a review of existing literature. A review of international experience indicates that historically Comex often develop hand-in-hand with warehouse receipt systems (WRS), which help stimulate demand from off takers for standardized contracts while providing financing that increased volumes traded. In recent years, electronic trading platforms have given an impetus to the consolidation of existing Comex, and the development of regional networks of exchanges and warehousing arrangements. Nonetheless, a common reason why Comex fail is that they do no attract sufficient trading volumes to pay for their operating costs. This is often associated with default on contracts and fears of the market for commodities being cornered by a few larger traders. Of the 23 Comex in Africa, over half are still in their planning or inception stages and, with the notable exception of the agricultural futures and options traded on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange, most of the remaining Comex are thinly traded and receive financial support from government and/or donors.
Farmer Groups As Ict Hubs Findings From A Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial In Malawi
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Author : Ragasa, Catherine
language : en
Publisher: Intl Food Policy Res Inst
Release Date : 2024-07-10
Farmer Groups As Ict Hubs Findings From A Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial In Malawi written by Ragasa, Catherine and has been published by Intl Food Policy Res Inst this book supported file pdf, txt, epub, kindle and other format this book has been release on 2024-07-10 with Political Science categories.
Many rural producer groups face poor management practices, low productivity, and weak market linkages. An information and communication technology (ICT)-based intervention bundle was provided to producer groups to transform them into ICT hubs, where members learn about and adopt improved management practices and increase their productivity and incomes. The intervention bundle includes phone messages and videos, promotion of the call center/hotline, and facilitation of radio listening clubs and collective marketing. The study, a cluster-randomized controlled trial, randomly assigned 59 groups into treatment groups and 59 into control groups. After 18 months of interventions, results show positive but small impact on crop sales (USD65 per household) and no impact on productivity. The income effect was mainly from Kasungu and Nkhota-kota, which experienced increased production and sales of rice, soybean, and groundnut and received higher prices due to collective marketing. Farmers in Kasungu and Nkhota-kota improved a few agricultural management practices, while farmers in other districts did not improve their management practices. Results show more farmers accessing phone messaging on agriculture and markets, greater awareness and use of the call center, more listening groups established, and more farmers—especially women—joining these groups. Nevertheless, coverage and uptake remain very low, which are likely reasons for the limited impact.
Market Information And Access To Structured Markets By Small Farmers And Traders Evidence From An Action Research Experiment In Central Malawi Synopsis
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Author : Ochieng, Dennis O.
language : un
Publisher: Intl Food Policy Res Inst
Release Date : 2020-03-03
Market Information And Access To Structured Markets By Small Farmers And Traders Evidence From An Action Research Experiment In Central Malawi Synopsis written by Ochieng, Dennis O. and has been published by Intl Food Policy Res Inst this book supported file pdf, txt, epub, kindle and other format this book has been release on 2020-03-03 with Political Science categories.
Structured markets are organized platforms where economic agents such as farmers, traders, processors and financial institutions enter transparent and legal trading and financial arrangements (East Africa Grain Council 2013). Structured markets are important for the stabilization of volumes and prices of agricultural commodities (Hernandez et al. 2017) and diversification of foreign exchange earnings (Edelman et al. 2014). If supported by export mandates, structured markets for cereals and legumes could also limit informal cross-border trade and increase agricultural exports (Government of Malawi 2016). They could potentially also provide better statistics on volumes traded to aid in the planning, production, and marketing of crops in Malawi (Baulch and Gondwe 2017).
Improving The Evidence Base On Aflatoxin Contamination And Exposure In Africa
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Author : Okoth, S.
language : en
Publisher: CTA
Release Date : 2016-12-31
Improving The Evidence Base On Aflatoxin Contamination And Exposure In Africa written by Okoth, S. and has been published by CTA this book supported file pdf, txt, epub, kindle and other format this book has been release on 2016-12-31 with Health & Fitness categories.
This report reveals that substantial knowledge is available about the aflatoxin challenge that plagues African farmers, other agri-entrepreneurs, and governments. Commissioned by the ACP-EU Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation (CTA) in collaboration with the African Union Commission - Partnership for Aflatoxin Control in Africa (PACA), this literature review reveals that a wide range of commodities that are traded nationally, regionally and internationally are contaminated by aflatoxins. African citizens and economies are negatively impacted as a result.