ANALYSIS:What has gone wrong with the groundnut market in Zimbabwe?

Posted on January 11, 2017 by eMKambo

Groundnut has traditionally been a famous cash cow in Zimbabwe. Many Cabinet ministers, captains of industry, academics and bankers can testify to have gone to school because their parents were able to raise school fees through groundnut production and marketing. From those who knew him, the founder of Zimbabwe’s largest poultry company Irvine’s Day Old Read more about ANALYSIS:What has gone wrong with the groundnut market in Zimbabwe?[…]

The joys and benefits of learning directly from plants and animals.

Posted on January 9, 2017January 11, 2017 by

In spite of the current obsession with formal learning approaches where people are encouraged to learn from each other, many African farmers remain convinced they can learn more from plants and animals. That is how, over generations, they have acquired knowledge from plant and animal medicines. Every rainy season provides farmers and every curious person Read more about The joys and benefits of learning directly from plants and animals.[…]

How to be a catalyst for better agricultural outcomes in 2017

Posted on January 3, 2017 by

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?

Posted on December 19, 2016 by

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!

Posted on December 12, 2016December 15, 2016 by

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![…]

Rainy seasons show how developing countries struggle with preserving food

Posted on November 28, 2016December 5, 2016 by

While rainfall can easily be associated with high agricultural production, in many African countries abundant rains also come with enormous damage to food that has already been produced. At least 30% of food in Africa is said to be lost before it is consumed. Too much rainfall accounts for a significant proportion of such post-harvest Read more about Rainy seasons show how developing countries struggle with preserving food[…]

Overcoming misconceptions about involving users in creating knowledge

Posted on November 21, 2016 by eMKambo

One of the most enduring misconceptions in developing countries is the notion that if farmers and rural people are not involved in creating knowledge they will not adopt what comes from outside. As a result, billions of US dollars have gone into diverse versions of participatory development approaches. Unfortunately, as soon as donor funding dries Read more about Overcoming misconceptions about involving users in creating knowledge[…]

The hybrid nature of most African economies

Posted on October 31, 2016 by eMKambo

Most African economies are often presented as being dual, comprising the formal and informal economy. However, in real practice the two parts function as a hybrid economy which borrows from the two parts. Nowhere is this scenario more visible than in the agriculture sector where there is a fusion of formal and informal approaches all Read more about The hybrid nature of most African economies[…]

Silent and health competition in African fresh food markets

Posted on October 24, 2016 by eMKambo

A few years ago, it appeared supermarkets were the only place where consumers would find fresh fruits and vegetables in African cities. The situation has changed dramatically. Armed with new food safety knowledge and insights from consumers, informal and open fresh food markets have become preferred destinations for the majority of consumers. Imported fruits and Read more about Silent and health competition in African fresh food markets[…]

Lessons from how farmers view wealth creation as a holistic system

Posted on October 17, 2016 by eMKambo

Although there is a tendency to treat the majority of African smallholder farmers as passive recipients of external information and knowledge, they are very good at learning from their experiences. In Zimbabwe, eMKambo has discovered that farming communities and individual farmers contribute to the national knowledge base more than they will ever know. They have Read more about Lessons from how farmers view wealth creation as a holistic system[…]