People’s food markets as sources of multiple knowledges

Posted on February 26, 2018 by eMKambo

One of the benefits of continuously observing and learning from informal African food markets is an opportunity to update knowledge and see inevitable trends before everyone sees them. In a recent interaction with informal markets in Zambia and Zimbabwe, eMKambo discovered that these markets do not just classify agricultural commodities into luxuries and necessities. There Read more about People’s food markets as sources of multiple knowledges[…]

Carving and sustaining economic identities in evolving agricultural ecosystems

Posted on February 19, 2018 by eMKambo

While billions of dollars have gone into African agriculture, smallholder farmers and other food producers are yet to be characterized and structured in ways that give them a recognizable economic identity. Unless value chain actors have a clear economic identity, it will remain difficult for them to participate in a fast-moving global agricultural market where Read more about Carving and sustaining economic identities in evolving agricultural ecosystems[…]

The hidden cost of the time lag between marketing and consumption of commodities

Posted on February 5, 2018 by eMKambo

One of the most misunderstood aspects of agricultural value chains in most developing countries is the time lag between marketing and consumption of agricultural commodities. While for farmers, supplying commodities and getting paid immediately is the most important thing, a lot happens between marketing and consumption. The way middlemen are blamed as if they stand Read more about The hidden cost of the time lag between marketing and consumption of commodities[…]

African food systems: a dance between luxuries and necessities

Posted on January 29, 2018 by eMKambo

eMKambo has been in African food markets long enough to notice some invisible patterns that should be known to farmers, financiers, development agencies and policy makers. The new generation of consumers’ tastes and preferences are increasingly defining the extent to which a commodity remains a luxury or becomes a necessity. While tomatoes and leafy vegetables Read more about African food systems: a dance between luxuries and necessities[…]

How informal markets increase access to natural food and natural remedies

Posted on January 22, 2018 by eMKambo

Rising demand for wild foods and local herbs in most African informal markets demonstrate the desire for the public to return to natural remedies. In addition to food, all kinds of natural herbs and medicines are an integral part of the people’s food market ecosystem. This means African scientists have a lot of work in Read more about How informal markets increase access to natural food and natural remedies[…]

Informal food markets as pathways for bringing science closer to society

Posted on January 15, 2018January 15, 2018 by eMKambo

Food demand and supply systems like informal markets can be powerful pathways for bringing science closer to local communities in developing countries. More than 70% of food consumed in African countries passes through informal markets. While food processing companies may have their own laboratories, there is no laboratory for food that gets to consumers through Read more about Informal food markets as pathways for bringing science closer to society[…]

A dozen shades of middlemenship in African agribusiness

Posted on January 8, 2018 by eMKambo

Although it has existed for more than 100 years, middlemenship or intermediation continues to be misunderstood in agro-based African countries. Contrary to what most farmers and policy makers think, it’s not about people acting as middlemen but middlemenship as a practice whose features range from excellent to bad. Depending on type of commodity, market integration Read more about A dozen shades of middlemenship in African agribusiness[…]

Using questions to uncover solutions and spark change in 2018

Posted on January 2, 2018 by eMKambo

While many people have made resolutions for 2018, eMKambo is devoting this brand new year to questions that open doors, uncover solutions and spark positive change among farmers and other agricultural value chain actors in developing countries. In our pursuit for tools and techniques to improve our practices, let us not forget that questions are Read more about Using questions to uncover solutions and spark change in 2018[…]

Using the market to cultivate a global mindset among farmers and entrepreneurs

Posted on December 18, 2017 by eMKambo

One of the most seductive assumptions in African agriculture is that farmers and aspiring agricultural entrepreneurs can succeed through following a specific set of steps. However, as markets become highly networked and competitive, success no longer just depends on what a farmer or an entrepreneur does but on the actions of rivals or competitors. Unless Read more about Using the market to cultivate a global mindset among farmers and entrepreneurs[…]

Succeeding through a secret mix of competencies and data

Posted on December 4, 2017 by eMKambo

The fact that farmers and students exposed to the same capacity building initiatives produce different results suggests training alone does not lead to success. In the majority of developing countries, farmers in the same environment and with access to similar resources achieve different outcomes. On the other hand, agricultural economists and agronomists who did the Read more about Succeeding through a secret mix of competencies and data[…]