Version 1
: Received: 5 September 2018 / Approved: 5 September 2018 / Online: 5 September 2018 (11:30:25 CEST)
How to cite:
Wanjala P.O., S.; Karanja, D.; Wambua, S.; Otiep, G.; Odhiambo, C.; Birachi, E. Marketing Arrangements Used by Small Scale Bean Farmers in Kenya: What Needs to Change for Sustainable Trade Volumes?. Preprints2018, 2018090094. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints201809.0094.v1
Wanjala P.O., S.; Karanja, D.; Wambua, S.; Otiep, G.; Odhiambo, C.; Birachi, E. Marketing Arrangements Used by Small Scale Bean Farmers in Kenya: What Needs to Change for Sustainable Trade Volumes?. Preprints 2018, 2018090094. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints201809.0094.v1
Wanjala P.O., S.; Karanja, D.; Wambua, S.; Otiep, G.; Odhiambo, C.; Birachi, E. Marketing Arrangements Used by Small Scale Bean Farmers in Kenya: What Needs to Change for Sustainable Trade Volumes?. Preprints2018, 2018090094. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints201809.0094.v1
APA Style
Wanjala P.O., S., Karanja, D., Wambua, S., Otiep, G., Odhiambo, C., & Birachi, E. (2018). Marketing Arrangements Used by Small Scale Bean Farmers in Kenya: What Needs to Change for Sustainable Trade Volumes?. Preprints. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints201809.0094.v1
Chicago/Turabian Style
Wanjala P.O., S., Collins Odhiambo and Eliud Birachi. 2018 "Marketing Arrangements Used by Small Scale Bean Farmers in Kenya: What Needs to Change for Sustainable Trade Volumes?" Preprints. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints201809.0094.v1
Abstract
This case study assessed marketing arrangements used by small scale farmers in the Lake Basin and Lower Eastern bean corridors of Kenya to determine which markets work for rural producers and what changes are needed to produce and supply sufficient quantities for trade. Using exploratory research, data was collected through focus group discussions with six farmer groups representing a total of 1255 bean farmers and key informant interviews with extension staff. The results indicated that 94% of the farmers produced beans before identifying buyers with only 6% participating in group marketing. Though spot-market transactions with brokers and traders provided ready cash for the farmers, formal buyers were perceived to be more reliable but difficult to find and, operated stringent requirements which were a barrier to entry. A theory of change to integrate smallholders into formal markets to sustainably produce and supply sufficient volumes for trade should entail a transformation agenda at four levels of the value chain: intensification of production through pure stand models with greater use of certified high yielding varieties; stable price guarantees; a market-driven research and extension service and; an enabling political, policy and business environment in the bean value chain. Further research is needed to pilot these changes in a case control study.
Copyright:
This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Received:
5 September 2018
Commenter:
ODHIAMBO COLLINS
The commenter has declared there is no conflict of interests.
Comment:
This article provides ethereal insights into marketing arrangements with smallholder farmers/sellers in mind; and uses Sub-Sahara African setting to open our eyes into bottlenecks to such arrangements. Besides, it propounds deeper theories that help explain behavioral aspects that can be exploited to bring meaning to market failures observed especially in developing countries.
Commenter: ODHIAMBO COLLINS
The commenter has declared there is no conflict of interests.