Category: agri-bussiness

Using experimentation to balance short term agricultural gains with long term value creation

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Climate change and unstable agricultural markets in developing countries are forcing agricultural actors to rely on constant experimentation. Historical knowledge is no longer enough for decision-making as contexts are always shifting. The level of complexity is such that farmers, traders and financial institutions cannot fully depend on individual meticulous planning. There are so many copycats Read more about Using experimentation to balance short term agricultural gains with long term value creation[…]

Why ‘financial inclusion’ may not be the correct terminology

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Over the past few years, financial authorities and development organizations in Africa have become fond of ‘financial inclusion’ as a process of involving many people in banking services. Unfortunately, such a notion reduces everything to money when focus should be on understanding socio-economic dynamics. Progress is less about money but more about grasping socio-economic ecosystems. Read more about Why ‘financial inclusion’ may not be the correct terminology[…]

Which country has achieved economic growth through micro finance?

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If you answer the above question correctly, a ton of pearl millet is waiting for you at eMKambo. When many organisations across the globe are merging in order to sustain some level of competitiveness, why are developing economies finding it sensible to take the micro finance route? There is enormous evidence showing that companies that Read more about Which country has achieved economic growth through micro finance?[…]

Why we need a healthy handshake between numbers and intuitions

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Due to the hype surrounding Big Data, there is a temptation for economic planners in developing countries to over-depend on quantitative data (numbers) at the expense of qualitative data (stories). There are many valid reasons why economic planners should not ignore local intuitions that offer a better interpretation of what is beyond the data (numbers). Read more about Why we need a healthy handshake between numbers and intuitions[…]

Making sense of invisible advantages in rural African communities

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Many rural African communities have seen development programmes and business models come and go. What has kept these communities alive is their invisible advantages in the form of local culture. A community’s culture is basically a collection of unwritten rules, norms and values that influence people’s behavior. The fact that these are unwritten rules makes Read more about Making sense of invisible advantages in rural African communities[…]

How to be a catalyst for better agricultural outcomes in 2017

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Developing countries which embrace a business – as – usual approach to agricultural development will take more than a century to eradicate food insecurity. Continuing with 2016 patterns implies 2017 will not be an improvement of what happened in the past years. It is no longer enough to be an agricultural change agent. All value Read more about How to be a catalyst for better agricultural outcomes in 2017[…]

How can farmers and agribusinesses prepare themselves for success in 2017?

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Most agricultural interventions into African communities do not sufficiently prepare farmers and local agribusinesses for growth and success. That is why as soon as support dries up, most agricultural actors struggle to stay on their feet.  There are many cases where those looking for a market often fail to satisfy it once they find it.  Read more about How can farmers and agribusinesses prepare themselves for success in 2017?[…]

What makes informal institutions superior at embedding Knowledge!

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Where formal organizations try to store their knowledge in the form of corporate processes and procedures, informal institutions like people’s agriculture markets pack their knowledge into routines and memorable metaphors. For many generations, the majority of African communities have thrived on knowledge condensed into idioms, metaphors and routines.  This way of dealing with knowledge has Read more about What makes informal institutions superior at embedding Knowledge![…]

Why some farmers and traders succeed by listening to their own advice

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An increase in advice from diverse sources is becoming counter-productive for smallholder farmers in many developing countries. Besides over-saturation, there is no shortage of conflicting advice. Many farmers are wondering why they are being blamed for not taking farming as a business when the majority of formally educated graduates are busy looking for jobs rather Read more about Why some farmers and traders succeed by listening to their own advice[…]

Lessons from how informal markets keep agricultural knowledge fresh

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Just as agriculture markets prefer fresh fruits, vegetables, meat, eggs and other commodities, knowledge on all these commodities should also be kept fresh. It is through regular visits to the market that farmers are able to keep their knowledge fresh.  Farmers who extend loans to traders in the form of commodities also extend knowledge about Read more about Lessons from how informal markets keep agricultural knowledge fresh[…]