CGIAR Initiative on Rethinking Food Markets

Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://hdl.handle.net/10568/117905

Part of the CGIAR Action Area on Systems Transformation

Primary CGIAR impact area: Nutrition, health and food security

https://www.cgiar.org/initiative/29-rethinking-food-markets-and-value-chains-for-inclusion-and-sustainability/

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Now showing 1 - 20 of 241

The unmet financial needs of intermediary firms within agri-food value chains in Uganda and Bangladesh
(Journal Article, 2025-04) Adong, Annet; Ambler, Kate; Bloem, Jeffrey R.; de Brauw, Alan; Herskowitz, Sylvan; Islam, A.H.M. Saiful; Wagner, Julia
JEL Codes: L14, L81, O13, Q13
Papua New Guinea Rural Household Survey, 2023
(Dataset, 2025-03-16) International Food Policy Research Institute
The Papua New Guinea Rural Household Survey (2023) collected detailed household-level data on agricultural production, food and non-food consumption and expenditure, and livelihood strategies across 14 provinces, covering communities in the highlands, lowlands, and islands of Papua New Guinea (PNG). The survey was designed using a purposive sampling strategy based on defined agro-ecological zones, which allows for the analysis of key factors influencing rural households and communities. It is important to note that the survey is not nationally representative; however, given the careful random selection of survey areas, we expect that generalizable relationships between variables affecting socio-economic and other development outcomes in rural PNG communities will be consistently observed across representative samples and in this survey. These factors include those that contribute to more resilient local food systems, diversified employment opportunities, and improved household wellbeing. The survey encompasses 2,699 households in 270 communities, spanning five agroecological zones. It features detailed modules on a wide range of topics relevant to rural livelihoods, agricultural production, and household wellbeing.
Employment impacts of agrifood system innovations and policies: A review of the evidence
(Journal Article, 2025-03) Berdegué, Julio A.; Trivelli, Carolina; Vos, Rob
The agrifood sector (AFS) constitutes about one-sixth of the global economy and is the world's largest source of employment, supporting the livelihoods of most of the world’s poor and vulnerable people (Corong et al., 2024; Yi et al., 2024). In recent decades, global agricultural productivity has increased due to technological and institutional innovations. This has contributed to poverty reduction and improved food security. Despite these positive contributions, however, poverty remains widespread among rural and agrifood sector producers and workers. The challenge remains to address the constraints these producers and workers face and also enable more inclusive value chain development that would provide decent livelihoods and employment for those currently left behind. To this end, the CGIAR Initiative “Rethinking Food Markets and Value Chains for Inclusion and Sustainability” commissioned a meta study to identify knowledge gaps regarding the impacts of developing countries' agrifood value chain (AVC) integration and modernization processes on employment and income sharing (Berdegué et al., 2023). This paper summarizes its key findings and draws conclusions for further research.
Farmers' pesticide use, disposal behavior, and pre-harvest interval: A case study from Nigeria
(Journal Article, 2025-03-19) Gurmui, Mesay Yami; Liverpool-Tasie, Lenis Saweda O.; Richards, Maiwada; Wossen, Tesfamicheal; Falade, Titilayo; Oyinbo, Oyakhilomen; Yamauchi, Futoshi; Chamberlin, Jordan; Feleke, Shiferaw; Abdoulaye, Tahirou
In Sub-Saharan Africa, small farmers rely heavily rely on synthetic pesticides, the overuse of which poses significant risks to human health, the environment, and food safety. Yet detailed empirical evidence on knowledge of and the knowledge and drivers of pesticide management practices remains scarce, limiting insights for policymakers and development practitioners. To address this gap, we leveraged on data collected from 1556 tomato producers in Northern Nigeria to investigate the determinants of pesticide use behavior using a sequential-exploratory mixed-method approach. We examined a broader range of pest management-related practices than prior literature, including safety equipment usage, pesticide disposal methods, and adherence to pre-harvest intervals (PHIs)-, which is the intervals between the last pesticide application and the crop harvest. We found substantial noncompliance with the recommended practices: 45% of farmers reuse empty pesticide containers for other purposes, 14% discard them on the farm, 15% burn containers in open fires, and 40% harvest tomatoes within 1--5 days after pesticide application, violating the 7-day PHI guideline. These findings suggest that many tomato farmers adopt unsafe practices, which have adverse implications for their health, the environment, and the safety of food available to consumers. We show that training on pesticide disposal and midstream market channels (e.g., wholesalers and aggregators) are strongly correlated with improved pesticide handling and higher PHI compliance. Overall, our results underscore the need for targeted training programs to enhance farmers' awareness of safe pesticide application, disposal practices, and PHI adherence. These efforts should be complemented by stronger regulatory frameworks and mechanisms to align farmer pesticide use practices with consumer preferences for safe products, as observed by in the higher PHI adherence among farmers selling to midstream actors.
Nutritional benefits and consumer acceptance of maize chips combined with alternative flours
(Journal Article, 2025) Rodriguez-Miranda, Jesús; Peña Castellon, C. Meliza; Rivera Leiva, Miriam I.; Donovan, Jason A.
This study evaluated the nutritional composition, techno-functional properties, and sensory acceptance of tortilla chips made from alternative flours derived from local ingredients, including maize, beet, flaxseed, bean, and chia. Three blends were assessed: maize with beans, maize with beet, and maize with chia–flaxseed. Significant differences (p < 0.05) were observed in the flours’ moisture, ash, protein, lipid, and mineral content. Flaxseed flour exhibited the highest protein content (40.03 g/100 g), while chia flour was notable for its lipid (32.25 g/100 g) and fiber (38.51 g/100 g) content. Bean and chia flour were rich in iron and zinc. Sensory evaluations, conducted with 300 consumers in Honduras, revealed general acceptance of all blends, with maize chips enriched with chia–flaxseed showing the highest preference (47.2%). Approximately 50% of participants reported consuming tortilla chips weekly, prioritizing taste, freshness, and price. Notably, over 40% expressed willingness to pay a premium for more nutritious, baked options. These results underscore the potential of alternative flours to enhance local diets and foster healthier eating habits. Moreover, the positive consumer response highlights a significant market opportunity for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), promoting awareness of nutrition and public health in Honduras.
Clustering for global market access in Bangladesh: Endline survey
(Dataset, 2024-12-31) International Food Policy Research Institute
The "Clustering for Global Market Access Survey" was conducted to assess the impacts of shrimp farm clustering interventions implemented by the Department of Fisheries (DoF), the Bangladesh Shrimp and Fish Foundation (BSFF), and a private sector actor. The survey was carried out in two rounds: a baseline in 2023 and an endline in 2024, to evaluate the effectiveness of these interventions. The data presented here are from the endline survey conducted between May 7 and May 31, 2024. Data were collected at the household, cluster, and community levels using a two-stage simple random sampling design and analyzed through a difference-in-differences approach. The household datasets include 1,222 shrimp farms across three districts in southern Bangladesh—Bagerhat, Khulna, and Satkhira. Among these, 622 are cluster farmers, and 600 are non-cluster comparison farmers situated in either the same or adjacent villages to cluster farmers. The data encompass cluster participation, pond characteristics, inputs received from cluster operators, stocking and harvesting, feed and non-feed input use, sales revenue, integrated farming, labor use, credit access, dietary diversity, and food security. The cluster datasets cover 68 shrimp farm clusters, providing insights into cluster composition and training delivered to cluster members. The community datasets provide contextual information on the 136 villages where both cluster and non-cluster farmers reside.
Clustering for global market access in Bangladesh: Baseline survey
(Dataset, 2024-12-31) International Food Policy Research Institute
The "Clustering for Global Market Access Survey" was conducted to assess the impacts of shrimp farm clustering interventions implemented by the Department of Fisheries (DoF), the Bangladesh Shrimp and Fish Foundation (BSFF), and a private sector actor. The survey was carried out in two rounds: a baseline in 2023 and an endline in 2024, to evaluate the effectiveness of these interventions. The data presented here are from the baseline survey conducted between November 14 and December 14, 2023. Data were collected at the household, cluster, and community levels using a two-stage simple random sampling design and analyzed through a difference-in-differences approach. The household datasets include 1,222 shrimp farms across three districts in southern Bangladesh—Bagerhat, Khulna, and Satkhira. Among these, 622 are cluster farmers, and 600 are non-cluster comparison farmers situated in either the same or adjacent villages to cluster farmers. The data encompass cluster participation, pond characteristics, inputs received from cluster operators, stocking and harvesting, feed and non-feed input use, sales revenue, integrated farming, labor use, credit access, dietary diversity, and food security. The cluster datasets cover 68 shrimp farm clusters, providing insights into cluster composition and training delivered to cluster members. The community datasets provide contextual information on the 136 villages where both cluster and non-cluster farmers reside.
How inclusive are smallholder farmers’ access to Digital Agricultural Platforms? Lessons from the EzyAgric Digital Platform in Uganda
(Preprint, 2024) Ajambo, Susan; Kikulwe, Enoch; Birachi, Eliud; Ogutu, Sylvester Ochieng
This study investigates the barriers to accessing digital agricultural platforms in Uganda, focusing on EzyAgric. Using a cross-sectional qualitative design, we analysed 29 scripts from focus groups, interviews, and key informants. The Rapid Inclusivity Assessment tool identified proto-personas at risk of digital exclusion, while the Digital Divide Framework provided a theoretical basis. Three main personas emerged: tech-savvy youth (low-risk), middle-income farmers (medium-risk), and older subsistence farmers (high-risk). Key barriers include financial constraints, limited digital literacy, a lack of trust, and cultural norms. Women face additional challenges, such as financial dependency and time constraints, while elderly farmers struggle with unfamiliarity with and preference for traditional methods. Recommendations include improving the infrastructure, providing targeted digital literacy training, designing user-friendly interfaces, building trust, and considering cultural norms. The study emphasises holistic, intersectional approaches and public-private partnerships to promote equitable access to digital agricultural platforms.
Pathways to resilient dryland food systems in Africa: Strategic and tactical choices for accelerated impacts
(Report, 2024) Marenya, Paswel P.; Narmandakh, Davaatseren; Kirui, Leonard; Odhong, Jonathan A.; Sanni Abdulrahman; Aboudoulaye, Soule B.; Adam, Mamadou; Alex, Gerald; Belko, Marème N.; Bett, Charles; Dembele, Bandiougou; Derik, Sakatali P.; De Pee, Eric; Diatta, Cyril; Faye, Ndeye F.; Gichuru, Lilian; Kone, Bouréma; Kazombo, Samson F.M.; Kisilu, Rachael; Mchau, Devotha; Martey, Edward; Mbulwe, Lloyd; Ndubi, Jerika M.; Templer, Noel A.; Ouédraogo, Nofou; Opie, Hellen; Puozaa, Doris K.; Reoungel, Djinodji; Salegua, Venancio; Sawadogo-Compaoré, Eveline; Sime, Mekonnen; Zemedu, Lemma
Africa’s drylands form vital food systems, supporting a significant portion of its population and agricultural activity. However, they face persistent challenges with low productivity, limited market integration, and acute vulnerability to climate shocks. These issues contribute to structural poverty and high rates of undernourishment, highlighting the need for investments to improve rural incomes, enhance resilience, and foster economic growth.
From awareness to action: How EzyAgric's digital platform boosted farmer engagement and tackled counterfeit inputs
(Blog Post, 2024-12-24) Ajambo, Susan; Kikulwe, Enoch; Birachi, Eliud; Ogutu, Sylvester; Stewart, Ategeka
Digital platforms revolutionize agriculture by resolving supply chain inefficiencies, improving agronomic information dissemination and promoting inclusivity. They provide real-time e-extension and input availability, enabling precise decision-making and boosting productivity. Additionally, these platforms enhance transparency, traceability and profitability by directly linking farmers with input and output markets, especially in fragmented agricultural systems.
Cointegration analysis of sesame prices in Ethiopian commodity exchange warehouses
(Report, 2024-12-24) Tazeze, Aemro; Kassie, Girma T.; Abate, Gashaw T.; Worku, Yonas; Asnake, Woinishet; Minot, Nicholas
This study examines the cointegration of sesame market prices in eight Ethiopian Commodity Exchange (ECX) warehouses and its implications for improving the functioning of sesame markets. We analyzed 489 weekly market price data points for each of the eight ECX warehouses, covering the period from end of 2014 to mid-2024. We estimate the Multivariate Vector Error Correction Model (ECM) to analyze short- and long-term spatial price adjustments across warehouses. Of the eight warehouses, six showed significant spatial integration. The VECM results showed effective price transmission and strong short- and longterm market relationships. Short-term dynamics particularly revealed complex interactions. These findings highlight the varying impacts of price fluctuations between warehouses and the need to understand these interactions for better strategic decision making, resource allocation, and pricing strategy refinement. Furthermore, accelerating the speed of price pass through is vital to improve the livelihoods of sesame farmers in Ethiopia.
How helpful are the “hidden costs of food systems” numbers?
(Journal Article, 2025-02) Brooks, Jonathan; Díaz-Bonilla, Eugenio
Innovations in low-income country food systems
(Report, 2024-12-31) Michelson, Hope C.
The food sector is a critical area of employment and economic activity in most low-income countries, especially for the rural poor, providing incomes and sustenance, employment and growth. In many low and middle-income countries, two configurations, formal and informal, overlap in economically significant grey areas. This overlap between the formal and informal is particularly common and therefore relevant to research and policy in the food sector of low-income countries. This paper is concerned with identifying innovations in the informal sector of food systems in low-income countries, in particular innovations that improve participation and circumstances for those at the bottom: farmers, small traders. This focus requires some distinction between formal and informal; this distinction will abstract away from a lot of the overlap and the dynamism of the sector. We organize the definition of formal and informal primarily around the degree of compliance with official regulatory frameworks and financial systems, acknowledging that this definition has some limitations. For example, the nature of activities and actors in the informal sector—such as smaller firm size or transaction size—can in some cases mean that their operations are not subject to the regulations that apply to larger firms. Formality, in such economies and under such a definition, is then tightly correlated not just with regulatory compliance but also the economic scale of the operations (which may be endogenously determined as a means of avoiding regulation). While this framework helps to clarify the boundaries of what is considered formal or informal, is important to recognize that these boundaries can be fluid, and in many contexts, the distinction may not fully capture the nuanced realities of economic activity.
Training of farmers to raise awareness and usage of EzyAgric’s digital innovation bundles
(Report, 2024-06-01) Ategeka, Stewart; Luyinda, William B.; Arach, Zilla M.; Ogutu, Sylvester; Ajambo, Susan; Birachi, Eliud A.; Kikulwe, Enoch M.
This technical report presents outcomes of EzyAgric’s digital innovation awareness raising campaigns that aimed to enhance awareness and usage of EzyAgric’s digital innovation bundles among farmers and agro-inputs merchants in Luwero, Nakaseke, and Mityana districts. The objectives included fostering knowledge about EzyAgric's digital products and services, promoting quality assurance of agro-inputs, training on the safe use of agro- chemicals and climate-smart agriculture. Overall, 293 farmers were engaged, including 246 target farmers, and 47 non-target farmers. The training emphasized hands-on activities and practical demonstrations of the EzyAgric digital innovations, actual delivery of agricultural products ordered by the merchants. Key topics covered included agro-input requirements for coffee, maize, banana, tomatoes, and climate smart agriculture practices. The initiative saw a 32% increase in participation due to localized training sessions and the involvement of community leaders. Key achievements include 50 new users onboarded on the EzyAgric App, 246 farmers enrolled on EzyAgric’s USSD platform, and some agro-input sales to the newly onboarded merchants. Major challenges were low smartphone penetration, low digital proficiency among the target farmers, and lack of for- mal farmer organization structures. The next steps include continuous farmer engagement, demand aggregation, and timely supply of quality inputs to farmers and agro-input merchants. The report recommends the utilization of farmer organization structures and localized group training as a scalable approach in awareness raising campaigns on the adoption of digital innovations.
An evaluation of farmers' digital literacy and awareness on the adoption and implementation of bundled digital innovations in Uganda
(Report, 2024-12-01) Ogutu, Sylvester; Kikulwe, Enoch; Ajambo, Susan; Ategeka, Stewart; Birachi, Eliud
Global agri-food systems face numerous challenges, including the adverse effects of climate change, low productivity, limited adoption of technologies, and restricted access to input and output markets. These constraints contribute to increased food insecurity, decreased income from agriculture, and stagnated growth rates in many agrarian economies. Digitizing the agriculture sector presents a sustainable solution to these challenges by providing critical information that supports optimal decision-making, enhancing efficiency and productivity. However, the widespread adoption of digital innovations in this sector is hindered by low awareness of existing technologies, limited digital literacy, and prevailing social norms and power dynamics affecting various population segments, particularly women and youth. To overcome these barriers, campaigns aimed at improving digital literacy and raising awareness is essential for promoting the uptake and use of digital innovations. Despite the importance of these initiatives, studies that quantify the impact of such interventions on the adoption and use of bundled digital innovations remain limited. This evaluation report, first, examines the effects of awareness creation and digital literacy trainings on the adoption of bundled digital innovations, differentiated by gender. Second, it evaluates the impact of digital literacy training on input use (improved seeds, fertilizer, agrochemicals (fungicides and herbicides) and mechanization), crop yields (for at least two major annual crops in the study area: maize and beans and two cash crops (banana and coffee), and income, all categorized by gender and other socio-economic characteristics. Data for this study were obtained from a randomized controlled trial (RCT), collected over two waves: a baseline conducted in September 2023 and a follow-up in September 2024. The treatment group comprised 253 households from three districts in Uganda, who received digital literacy training along with basic agronomic training as part of the intervention. In contrast, the control group consisted of 284 households from two districts. Ordinary least squares (OLS) regression models were employed since the covariates were balanced between the treatment and control groups at both the baseline and follow-up stages. ANCOVA was also utilized for validation purposes, incorporating pre-treatment variables to enhance model estimates. The results indicate an attrition rate of 4.5%, with no significant differences observed across the various explanatory variables. This suggests that attrition is nonsystematic. The balance test scores show no evidence of differences in covariates between the treatment and control groups, which supports the use of OLS regression for empirical estimation. The intervention led to a significant increase in the uptake of improved seeds, as well as a positive trend of gross revenues from agricultural production and increased consumption expenditures on both food and non-food items. This study suggests that creating awareness and providing digital literacy training can enhance the adoption of productivity-enhancing inputs, such as improved seeds. Additionally, it is essential to adopt an inclusive, gender-sensitive approach to ensure that awareness and training campaigns have a wider impact.
Employment impacts of agrifood system innovations and policies: A review of the evidence
(Working Paper, 2024-12-31) Berdegué, Julio A.; Trivelli, Carolina; Vos, Rob
The food sector constitutes the largest global source of employment, supporting the livelihoods of most of the world’s poor and vulnerable populations. This article provides an extensive review of the available evidence of the employment effects of innovations and policy interventions in agrifood systems and value chains in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The review was guided by a two-part hypothesis: (1) food systems currently underperform in terms of their potential for generating decent jobs and income opportunities, and (2) this gap is only growing as expanding food markets and existing agrifood supply chain business models skew gains to the disadvantage of smallholders, agrifood small and medium enterprises (SMEs), and food sector workers.
Reinforcing knowledge and business relationships among associated bean producers in Honduras: Endline Report (Preliminary result)
(Working Paper, 2024-12) Reyes, Byron; Espada, Andres; Ceballos Sierra, Federico; Colindres, Mirian; Wiegel, Jennifer
Perspectivas sobre el frijol común en Centroamérica: Tendencias en la producción, distribución y consumo
(Report, 2024-12) Achicanoy, Viviana; Reyes, Byron; Wiegel, Jennifer
La iniciativa Transformando Mercados estudia, entre otros temas, innovaciones que contribuyen a mejor la calidad del grano de frijol producido, el fortalecimiento de conocimientos técnicos de los productores, y el acceso a mercados diferenciados, los cuales demandan un grano de calidad y tienen el potencial de proveer mejores ingresos para los productores. Para complementar este trabajo, la iniciativa hizo un análisis regional incluyendo cinco países centroamericanos, sobre la producción, distribución (comercialización), y consumo del frijol. En este informe se presentan los resultados preliminares del análisis regional realizado. El objetivo principal de este estudio es proveer un análisis situacional de las dinámicas del sector de frijol en la región centroamericana, desde las tres perspectivas (ejes) mencionadas. Esto con el fin de proveer un marco para investigaciones futuras más profundas sobre la interrelación de las dinámicas regionales entre los países que comercializan frijol entre sí.
Accelerating quality upgrading in Ugandan dairy value chains
(Blog Post, 2024-12-19) Van Campenhout, Bjorn
Uganda’s dairy sector has grown significantly over the past two decades, yet challenges in milk quality continue to hinder its potential. A recent study by Richard Ariong and colleagues explores interventions to address these challenges through field experiments targeting Milk Collection Centers (MCCs) and farmers that deliver to these MCCs. The findings provide valuable insights on quality upgrading in value chains in developing countries.
Solar drying technology for post-harvest loss management of horticulture products: Findings from baseline survey in Nigeria
(Report, 2024-12-31) Balana, Bedru; Popoola, Olufemi; Yamauchi, Futoshi; Olanipekun, Caleb; Totin, Edmond; Salaudeen, Kamaldeen Oladimeji; Muhammad, Aminu; Shi, Weilun; Liu, Yanyan
Creating a sustainable food system requires addressing the critical challenges of food waste and loss. This is particularly crucial for small-scale farmers who supply local markets but lack access to modern preservation technologies, leading to significant product losses between harvesting and selling. Research indicates that in low-and middle-income countries, approximately 38 percent of harvested perishable agricultural goods are lost before consumption. Globally, about 22 percent of fruits and vegetables are lost in the supply chain before reaching retailers (FAO, 2019). These postharvest losses have significant impacts to low economic return and household food and nutrition security. Post-harvest losses also contribute significantly to environmental concerns, accounting for roughly 8 percent of yearly global greenhouse gas emissions. Among all food categories, fruits and vegetables experience the highest losses by weight.

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