scholarly journals How Inclusive Is Inclusive? A Critical Analysis of an Agribusiness Initiative in Kenya

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (19) ◽  
pp. 10937
Author(s):  
Celina Schelle ◽  
Benno Pokorny
Keyword(s):  
Mixed Methods Research ◽  
Business Models ◽  
Value Chains ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Organic Certification ◽  
Recruitment Procedure ◽  
Small Scale Farmers ◽  
Environmental Goals ◽  
Sustainability Standards ◽  
Small Scale Farmer

Inclusive agribusiness considers social and environmental goals in global value chains in agribusiness. However, not all small-scale farmers may be able to benefit from such arrangements. To find out about possible reasons for exclusion, this study investigates an agribusiness initiative in coastal Kenya employing organic contract farming by applying a mixed-methods research design based on household sampling of the recruitment procedure, as well as interviews with the farmers and company representatives. The findings suggest that sustainability standards may impede small-scale farmers’ participation in agribusiness. Specifically, the implementation of organic certification, essential for the functionality of the company business models, contributes most to small-scale farmer exclusion. Companies, clients, and, most importantly, certifiers should be aware of this problem and look for appropriate measures to overcome this unwanted effect of standard-setting in inclusive businesses.

Welfare effects of small-scale farmers' participation in apple and mango value chains in Ethiopia

Agrekon ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 1-17
Author(s):  
Mengistie Mossie ◽  
Alemseged Gerezgiher ◽  
Zemen Ayalew ◽  
Zerihun Nigussie
Keyword(s):  
Welfare Effects ◽  
Value Chains ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Small Scale Farmers

scholarly journals How Fair Is Fair-Trade: How Much Do Coffee Buyers Know About Grower Food Security & Nutrition? (P04-080-19)

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nina Schlossman ◽  
Roberta Lauretti-Bernhard ◽  
Amanda Bridges
Keyword(s):  
Food Security ◽  
Fair Trade ◽  
Secondary Data ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Fair Trade Coffee ◽  
Organic Certification ◽  
Funding Sources ◽  
Specialty Coffee ◽  
Small Scale Farmers ◽  
Food Security And Nutrition

Abstract Objectives There is currently no information on what buyers know about nutrition of their fair trade coffee grower's nutrition and therefore are missing the opportunity to improve the condition of their grower families, many of whom are headed by women. Our objectives are to highlight knowledge and awareness of buyers and consumers; identify best practices to address needs of coffee growers and families to improve nutrition resources; and develop “Nutrition Actions for Coffee Growers” for companies to implement. Methods Review evidence and secondary data; review U.S. Government programs supporting small-scale farmers and their effectiveness to address grower nutrition; conduct key informant interviews with coffee buyers and companies identified during the Specialty Coffee Expo, April 2019 and Sustainability Consortium TSC10 Conference. Research protocol: Internet-search (pubmed, other sources); synthesize evidence from studies, publications, research; attend Specialty Coffee Expo and Sustainability Consortium TSC10; identify key informants among TSC10, International Women's Coffee Association (IWCA), coffee buyers and companies focusing on fair trade coffee; develop interview instruments; conduct interviews. Results This abstract is focused on methods and protocol for our research which will be the first of its kind. Conclusions This study will provide insight into fair trade purchasers’ understanding and recommend actions companies can take to enable women growers and their families to improve family food security and nutrition. Women provide up to 70% of labor in cultivating and harvesting coffee and 20–35% of coffee-producing households are female headed (International Coffee Organization, ICC 121, 2018). Even when growers get a price premium for fair trade or organic certification, it is not enough to support family livelihoods (Bacon, 2008; Méndez, 2010; Beauchelt, 2012, 2011). Better understanding among fair trade coffee buyers and companies will provide opportunities for growers to ensure better household nutrition. These actions could be scaled to other fair trade products like cocoa, essential oils, artisanal textiles. Funding Sources Global Food & Nutrition Inc. provided funding for the literature review and conference participation.

The Promise and Perils of Market-based Sustainability

2017 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 143-162 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer Keahey ◽  
Douglas L. Murray
Keyword(s):  
Good Practice ◽  
Third Party ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Power Dynamics ◽  
Marginal Groups ◽  
Rooibos Tea ◽  
Sustainability Initiatives ◽  
Small Scale Farmers ◽  
Sustainability Standards ◽  
Sustainable Trade

Sustainability standards and certifications increasingly represent multi-billion-dollar brands that partner with corporate firms. We employ the case of South Africa's Rooibos tea industry to analyze the impacts of this shift. Examining five sustainability initiatives, our research focuses on small-scale farmers and the power dynamics shaping their involvement. The Rooibos initiatives engaged multiple approaches, but none realized sustainable outcomes. Third-party and corporate efforts exposed producers to risk and reified dependency, industry actions did not achieve intended goals, and a shared leadership project failed to address material barriers to participation. Yet examples of good practice offer insight into the types of policies needed to improve outcomes. These include shifting from a hierarchical to a relational orientation by reducing certification costs, extending support services, and ensuring inclusivity in planning and governance. We conclude by arguing that markets are a perilous tool for development. Sustainable trade systems nevertheless illustrate the promise of market-based sustainability, as these are providing marginal groups with a platform to demand more equitable arrangements.

scholarly journals Developing agriculture value chain inclusive for small-scale vegetable farmers in the highland of Bedugul, Bali

2021 ◽  
Vol 892 (1) ◽  
pp. 012103
Author(s):  
I M S Utama
Keyword(s):  
Value Chain ◽  
Eating Habits ◽  
Market Competition ◽  
Fresh Produce ◽  
Distribution Channels ◽  
Value Chains ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Vegetable Farmers ◽  
Production And Distribution ◽  
Small Scale Farmers

Abstract As a major global tourist destination, the demand for a large variety of fresh produce in Bali has developed following the country of origins of tourists and their eating habits. The varieties of fresh produce demanded by hotels and restaurants have increased since the 1970s. More than 100 types of vegetables (leafy and fruity vegetables, tubers, roots, shoots, immature flowers) and herbs are produced in the highland of Bedugul, Bali. As the market competition increases, the small-scale vegetable farmers have to be more value-oriented, efficient, and effective in production and postharvest handling. How is the competitiveness of the evolving value chain to meet the dynamic needs of institutional consumers and retail modern markets? Therefore, the aims of the study were to assess the competitiveness of the vegetables value chains and develop a model design of value chain inclusive for small scale farmers for improvement. This study was carried out through surveys and focus group discussions (FGD) involving actors in production and distribution channels. It was found that there were five groups of distribution channels,and most of them are less value-oriented. However, the emerging integrated value chains are shown, mainly to which derive from the institutional consumers (hotels and restaurants) and modern markets. A designed alternative model of value chain system inclusive for small-scale farmers has been developed, especially with the end on institutional consumers and modern markets.

Analysing the effects of information and communication technologies (ICTs) on the integration of East African farmers in a value chain context

2018 ◽  
Vol 62 (1) ◽  
pp. 65-81 ◽  
Author(s):  
Madlen Krone ◽  
Peter Dannenberg
Keyword(s):  
Information And Communication Technologies ◽  
Value Chain ◽  
Communication Technologies ◽  
Knowledge Flow ◽  
Value Chains ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Information And Communication ◽  
Commercial Value ◽  
Small Scale Farmers ◽  
Financial Transactions

AbstractInsufficient access to markets, limited financial transactions, and a lack of information and knowledge often restrict opportunities for small-scale farmers to link up with commercial value chains in Sub-Saharan Africa. Advances in information and communication technologies (ICTs), especially mobile phones and the internet, have expanded the possibility to communicate across geographical distances and to integrate into commercial value chains. By using a novel combination of conceptual considerations on ICTs, value chains, and relational proximity, this paper assesses: 1. How the use of ICTs affects the integration of small-scale farmers into the value chains (by analysing the information and knowledge flow, the financial and market transactions) and 2. to what extent the use of ICTs is on the other side influenced by the value chain context (i.e. the structure and coordination of the chain and the relational proximity between farmer and buyer). Our findings showed that even simple ICTs (phones) can lead to improvements for farmers to integrate into the chain as they facilitate simple information and complex knowledge flow, financial transactions, and market access, even though a greater structural transformation was absent. However, our results showed that the extent of the effects depends on the context in the value chains, in particular their structure, coordination, and the relational proximity between the actors. In this way, this paper contributes to the conceptual discussions on information and communication for development (ICT4D) and the dynamics in value chains.

Creation of an Agricultural Geographical Information System

2018 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 8-15
Author(s):  
Alinani Simukanga ◽  
Madaliso Patrick Muhone ◽  
Joseph Mulenga ◽  
Jackson Phiri ◽  
Mayumbo Nyirenda
Keyword(s):  
Information System ◽  
Planning Process ◽  
Support Program ◽  
Geographical Information ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Gis Technologies ◽  
Time Record ◽  
The Government ◽  
Small Scale Farmers ◽  
Small Scale Farmer

To properly monitor the grain storage facilities, small scale farmer land parcels and track crops grown in the land parcels, we propose an information system that uses GIS technologies. The proposed module would assist in improving food security by providing a real-time record of stock levels in the various strategic grain reserves. It would also help the Government through Farmer Input Support Program (FISP) adequately target small scale farmers of the poorest households by displaying their land parcels. Knowing where farmers are located is vital information for the planning process.

scholarly journals Mekanisme Survival Petani “Gurem” pada Masa Pandemi COVID-19

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 201-214
Author(s):  
Ambayu Sofya Yuana ◽  
Siti Kholifah ◽  
Mohamad Anas
Keyword(s):  
Sugar Cane ◽  
Qualitative Approach ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Economic Downturn ◽  
Economic Prosperity ◽  
Case Study Method ◽  
Paraserianthes Falcataria ◽  
Small Scale Farmers ◽  
Small Scale Farmer

Small-scale farmers in Tlogosari, Pagak, Malang have many limitations, especially economically. Instead of wanting to improve economic prosperity, small-scale farmer makes changes to the commodities they grow from sugar cane to sengon (Paraserianthes falcataria (L) or albizia). But the change in this commodity has an impact on changing the pattern of short to long harvests. This condition has increasingly resulted in the economic downturn of the farming family, coupled with the existence of the COVID-19 pandemic, making farmers increasingly powerless. This research focuses on the survival mechanism of small-scale farmers who switch commodities from sugar cane to sengon during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study uses James Scott's theory of the ethics of subsistence as a knife of analysis and uses a qualitative approach with a case study method. The research informants were determined by purposive sampling with the criteria of small-scale farmer informants who were affected by the COVID-19 pandemic due to the change of sugarcane commodity to sengon. The price of sengon during the COVID-19 pandemic dropped dramatically due to many factories closed, so farmers are also confused looking for sengon buyers. This condition makes small-scale farmers feel like poor famine. Faced with such conditions, smallholders do survival by other work, namely making gatot, tiwul, and corn grits (ampok) as a profitable employment opportunity in the future of COVID-19

Researching Alternative Cash Crops for Small Scale Farmers in Southern Ohio

HortScience ◽  
1998 ◽  
Vol 33 (3) ◽  
pp. 530a-530
Author(s):  
Brad Bergefurd ◽  
Gary Gao
Keyword(s):  
Applied Research ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Extension Agents ◽  
Research Projects ◽  
Cash Crops ◽  
Grant Program ◽  
Culinary Herbs ◽  
Small Scale Farmers

Speciality crops are great alternative cash crops for small scale farmers. Small scale farmers are constantly searching for viable economic crops to grow. We have been conducting applied research on the production and marketing of culinary herbs, oriental vegetables, colored peppers, and muskmelons to name a few. These crops show excellent potential for southern Ohio. Field demonstration, seminars, and surveys were used to gather and disseminate information on these speciality crops. More than 230 people attended our seminars on alternative cash crops. More than 150 people attended our field days. In addition, we had identified many chefs that are willing to purchase from local speciality crop growers. It will be a win-win situation for both chefs and growers. Growers will be able to maximize their profitability while chefs will receive fresh and unique produce. As a result of our research, we were able to show small scale growers what they can grow successfully and how they can market their crops for most profit. These applied research projects received a combined funding of $10000.00 from OSU Extension-Innovative Grant program. These projects are a great way to establish credibility among clients. We would also like to demonstrate how other extension agents can help their clients. A lecture utilizing slides and overhead transparencies will be the format of the seminar.

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