Market chain analysis of goat in south omo zone of SNNPR, Ethiopia

This study was initiated to identify market chain actors and their function in the market, investigate the structure conduct and performance of goat marketing in south omo zones of SNNPR, Ethiopia during the year 2018. Primary data were collected from sampled pastoralists and agro pastoralists, traders and brokers. Before the household survey, key informant interview and focus group discussions were conducted with producers, traders and brokers. Descriptive Statistics and qualitative data analysis techniques were employed to analyze the goat market structure, conduct and performance. The results show that producers, brokers, traders and consumers were the major goat market actors. Regarding the market structure, cattle market is known to be dominated by few traders. Although the degree of competition varies, goat market structure in the study area has an oligopolistic nature. This shows that only few traders have the majority of market share and earn abnormal profit. Besides, goat market is characterized by entry barriers, distant market point, high trucking cost, seasonality of marketing, information asymmetries and unfriendly relation between actors. As the pastoralists and agro pastoralists mainly depend on goat for their livelihoods and other cultural values, traders take advantage of the asymmetric market information towards them. The larger share of the market gains remains with end traders thereby limiting the pastoralists and agro pastoralists chance to realize the economic gains in goat production. Thus, linking producers to market and its benefits, establishing cooperatives and development of infrastructure could play a significant role for optimization of the sector. Int. J. Agril. Res. Innov. Tech. 11(2): 52-60, Dec 2021

Market chain analysis of smallholder coffee producers in debub ari district of south omo zone, SNNPR, Ethiopia

This study mainly aimed at analyzing market chain analysis of coffee in the Debub Ari District. The descriptive and S-C-P model was used. Both primary and secondary data were collected from the study area. The multi-stage sampling technique employed for this study. A total of 194 coffee producer household heads have been randomly selected and interviewed with the help of pre-tested structured questionnaire. The focus group discussion and key informants interviews were conducted to supplement the formal data. The results of S-C-P model indicated that the four firms concentration ratio (CR4) result in the study area was found to be tight oligopolistic for both red and dry coffee which accounts 89.2 and 80.0%, respectively. About 72% of price setting was done by buyers, 27% negotiation and 1% by the producers. There are seven market channels, which have been identified in the study area. The computed marketing margin among different actors and channels indicated that the total gross marketing margin (TGMM) of coffee is high in channel I, II, III whereas the producers marketing margin (GMMp) was highest in channel VII. Therefore, the intervention is needed to improve coffee marketing chain through promoting cooperatives, infrastructural development and timely market information for efficient marketing system in the study area. Int. J. Agril. Res. Innov. Tech. 11(2): 61-68, Dec 2021

The capacity building of an agroforestry demonstration plot: participatory market chain approach

Establishing the Cempaka forestry partnership agroforestry demonstration plot in the Batutegi Forest Management Unit, Lampung Province, should increase small-scale farmers’ participation in planting and enhancing their welfare. They need facilitation and supporting programs to evolve continuously, grow business rapidly, and enable forest sustainability. From previous research, the existing training and the extension supporting programs focus on technological improvements in agroforestry demonstration plots, such as modern nurseries training and incentives awarding. There is minimal understanding of small-scale farmers about the broader market chain beyond their direct market. However, improving the market chain will be sustaining the process of innovation and environmental empowerment. The upscale market chain has an impact on poverty alleviation by enhancing institutional capacity and market linkages. Therefore, integrating a market chain perspective is a crucial priority for planning the demonstration plot capacity program. This research intends to design the procedures for linking small-scale farmers to the market chain using a three-sequence phase usually elaborated in the Participatory Market Chain Approach (PMCA). The data were collected by applying a questionnaire, and then they were described by using a narrative-based qualitative method. The emerging results from this study are the policy implications for improving the performance of the market chain in a standard timeline, namely the assessment phase, the innovation phase, and the action phase. Ideally, policy leaders should pay attention to the assessment phase that identifies interactions among market chain actors. The innovation phase develops on-site learning exercises and tests shared innovation. The action phase promotes in topic meetings and action groups.

Local Strategies to Build Climate Resilient Communities in Bangladesh

Climate risksthreaten forests, riverbanks and agriculture communities in Bangladesh. This chapter examines three cases from Bangladesh where local communities have been using innovative methods for addressing these issues. With the pressure of high density of population, Bangladesh’s forest cover has declined to as low as 10.7% despite the fact that 17.5% of the land is designated as forest land. Foresters across Bangladesh find it difficult to protect these lands due to high demand for fuelwood. The first case shows how developing an appropriate market chain is used to reduce pressure on forests. The second case shows how to use traditional knowledge to protect riverbanks from erosion in remote villages by using local and natural materials, reclaim agricultural land and also promote navigation. Given the threat of climate change and possible sea-level rise, these lands will be threatened with permanent waterlogging. The third and final case show how farmers in Bangladesh have used indigenous knowledge and begun producing agricultural crops using floating beds in waterlogged areas of Bangladesh. This is an effective adaptation strategy to deal with the vulnerability of countries against food insecurity in many of the developing countries.

Assessment of the production and importance of cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) walp]: Cases from selected districts of southern Ethiopia

Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L.Walp) is an important legume in the hot, dry tropics and subtropics of sub-Saharan Africa, serving a multiple role for the livelihoods of millions of relatively low-income people. The entire plant can be used for either human or livestock consumption and with considerable drought-tolerating capacity. Tender young leaves, green pods and matured seeds are used as human food. Moreover, the crop serves for sustainable soil fertility improvement due to its excellent nitrogen-fixing capacity. However, its production and utilization are limited in Ethiopia partly due to dependence on the conventional agronomic practices and lack of information on its wide ranging uses. This study was conducted to assess the cowpea agronomy and the contributions the crop has in the livelihoods of farmers at Loka-Abaya and Humbo districts of Southern Ethiopia. Multi-stage sampling techniques were employed to achieve the set objectives. Both primary and secondary data were collected to solicit the required information. The data were subjected to descriptive and inferential statistics such as multiple linear regression model using the SPSS Software version 20 and STATA 13. Multiple linear regression model results showed that education, land size, climate information access, credit access, lack of market chain, availability of seed of improved varieties, and pests significantly (P<0.001) affected cowpea production in the studied areas. The trend analysis showed that the cowpea yield and production area coverage is increasing in Humbo District whereas, a decreasing trend was observed at the Loka Abaya. According to the household interview data, about 76 % of the respondents reported a decrease in the cultivated area of cowpea. According to the respondents, lack of access to improved seed and lack of extension support services contributed 79 % and 73 %, respectively to the low yield observed in the area. The majority of the respondents cultivate cowpea as intercropping and rotation with cereals and in the main field with the main purpose to replenish soil fertility (97 %). On the other hand, 62 % of the respondents cultivate cowpea for home consumption. According to the survey result, 48 % of the respondents use the matured grain for consumption. The production trends of the cowpea are highly variable mainly due to less attention paid by the extension systems to boost the yield of the crop, reliance of farmers on local varieties, pest occurrence and poor market chain. Therefore, modern production technologies including the supply of improved varieties of seed with their full production package should be introduced to the area so as to improve the yield and optimize its contribution towards achieving food security.

ANALYSIS OF CARP VALUE CHAIN IN BARA DISTRICT, NEPAL

Carp is the major fish produced under polyculture in Nepal. A study was conducted to analyze the value chain of carp in the Bara district from January to April 2020. A total of 120 respondents; 60 each from Simraungadh and Pachrauta municipality on an equal basis was sampled by using the cluster sampling technique. 60 respondents include; 45 carp producers, 10 traders (local collector, district collector, local wholesaler, processor, retailer), and 5 consumers from Simraungadh and Pachrauta municipality were sampled randomly. Data were entered and coded in SPSS 25 and analyzed using STATA 12.1. The study revealed a benefit-cost ratio was 1.76. The maximum share was contributed by the cost of feed (70%) to the total variable cost and cost of pond construction (80%) to the total fixed cost. The unit cost of production of carp under polyculture was NRs. 201.5. The key actors involved in the chains were producer, wholesaler, collector, processor, retailer, and consumer. The price spread was higher in the regional market chain i.e. NRs 66.73 as compared to the local market (NRs 40.38). The producer’s share was higher in the local market chain (87.5%) as compared to the producer’s share in the regional market chain (81.73%). The study revealed that the value chain of carp was dominated by the trader. Consumers kept the freshness of the carp under major consideration while purchasing. The major problem faced by the trader was identified as the unavailability of plastic crates. Carp production is a profitable enterprise, yet producers were not realizing potential benefits due to the involvement of middlemen and their dominant role while determining the price. Thus, carp enterprise could be bolstered through government stringent rules and proper policy to determine the price and to customize the efficient marketing channel.