Translating common sense into agribusiness models

Posted on by eMKambo

Knowledge generation and sharing has been happening in every community since time immemorial. However, there has not been enough recognition of the way knowledge is structured from individual knowledge to household knowledge to community knowledge and to inter-community knowledge sharing. The way most African communities engage with knowledge is different from academic learning where one Read more about Translating common sense into agribusiness models[…]

Increasing odds of success through characterizing value chain actors

Posted on by eMKambo

A fine-grained view of agricultural opportunities in most developing countries can result from better  characterization of value chain actors such as farmers. In addition to revealing interdependencies between value chain actors, a nuanced understanding of African agriculture can foster dynamic resource allocation. However, accurate farmer characterization remains a pain in the Palahuru for financiers and Read more about Increasing odds of success through characterizing value chain actors[…]

eMKambo Masterclasses – First Session

Posted on by eMKambo

As agricultural niches become congested and highly competitive, evidence-based decision making has never been so important. It is against these trends that eMKambo (www.emkambo.co.zw) will be conducting a series of master classes to answer the following questions: How can farmers and other value chain actors set prices for their commodities without passing through a complex Read more about eMKambo Masterclasses – First Session[…]

Overcoming the limitations of membership based organizations

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Like other arrangements that make sense on the surface, African agriculture and rural development efforts are characterized by membership-based organizations. These range from farmer unions and diverse sizes of cooperatives to chambers of commerce. While coming together for collective bargaining purposes makes a lot of sense, members should be aware of several blind spots. After Read more about Overcoming the limitations of membership based organizations[…]

Responding to narrow margins and slow growth in African agriculture

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The fact that African agriculture is beset by narrow margins and slow growth elevates the need to invest in data and evidence. People who get into agriculture expecting quick returns are often disappointed because African agriculture is no longer a one-step dance. Obsession with quick returns is one reason why opportunists tend to congest one Read more about Responding to narrow margins and slow growth in African agriculture[…]

How and why relationships move more food than markets

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As containers of knowledge, African agricultural markets continue to inspire, clarify and reorient our awareness. Latest evidence gathered by eMKambo shows how and why the movement of food from farming communities to urban markets is based mostly on relationships as opposed to money. Agricultural markets are not just an endless parade of stories and examples Read more about How and why relationships move more food than markets[…]

How informal food markets disrupt and correct the notion of staple foods

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For a very long time, each country has had what it considered a staple food for its citizens.  However, climate change, globalization and changes in consumption patterns are disrupting traditional staple foods. My word web describes staple food as a necessary commodity for which demand is constant. Rather than continue promoting a few staple commodities, Read more about How informal food markets disrupt and correct the notion of staple foods[…]

Learning from Invisible CoPs: The role of informal actors and relationships in African food systems

Posted on by eMKambo

Background Climate change-induced food insecurity and global socio-economic instability compels us to continuously revisit   food demand and supply models, especially in developing countries. Conventional approaches like the notion of formal value chains are no longer enough to fully understand food systems. In many African countries, it seems invisible Communities of Practice (CoPs) such as informal Read more about Learning from Invisible CoPs: The role of informal actors and relationships in African food systems[…]

How market price is not a major determinant of profit in agribusiness

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A keen interest by African farmers to know the price of commodities on the market is understandable. However, tracking activities in informal agricultural markets by eMKambo over the past few years has proved that price is not a major determinant of profit-making in agribusiness. Profit-making is a result of creatively managing production costs, quality, losses Read more about How market price is not a major determinant of profit in agribusiness[…]

Mastering the benefits of adding value to agricultural commodities

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Like many well-intentioned phrases, ‘value addition’ is not just an expression. It is a practice whose dynamics are yet to be fully understood and embedded, especially in African agriculture. More than 80 percent of agricultural commodities in developing countries are consumed in a raw state. Lack of modern value addition technology makes it difficult to Read more about Mastering the benefits of adding value to agricultural commodities[…]