30 research outputs found
Co-design workshop on consumption traits to inform improved seed promotion
No full textOn Monday February 6th, a co-design workshop was organized in Iganga, Uganda. The objective of the workshop was to get ideas for the design of an intervention that highlights consumption-related traits of improved seed varieties, which in turn is expected to increasing varietal turnover of seed among smallholder farmers
A field experiment on bargaining for seed reveals bias against women agripreneurs: Summary of findings and policy recommendations
No full textThis policy note summarizes results from a Lab-in-the-field experiment1 in eastern Uganda, where a representative sample of 760 smallholder maize farmers were given the opportunity to bargain over a bag of maize seed from either a male or female seller. Specifically, we test whether the gender of the seed seller impacts the seed buyer’s negotiation strategies and the eventual outcomes in bilateral price negotiations. The findings reveal that buyers confronted with a female seller were less likely to accept the seller’s initial offer price and responded with a lower counter price compared to farmers faced with a male seller. Negotiations, on average, took one additional round when the seller was a woman and resulted in a transaction price that was almost 9 percent lower. These results relate to previous research with agro-input dealers in Uganda which showed that female managed/owned agro-input shops are perceived less favorable in terms of quality of seed sold and price competitive ness. Policies and programs working to advance women’s empowerment through agribusiness need to recognize these gendered biases, and increase investment in public campaigns, extension and training to change attitudes towards women entrepreneurs
Seasonality and smallholder market participation in Malawi: A baseline report
No full textSmallholder farmers in low and middle income countries often sell the bulk of their marketable surplus immediately after the harvest, when prices are at their lowest. As part of a field experiment that tests the effectiveness of both income and expenditure planning to nudge farmers into delaying sales of cash crops, we collected detailed information about market participation from a sample of about 3,500 semi-subsistence farmers in Malawi. In this report, we use this data to describe the situation at baseline, before the intervention was implemented. The focus is on three crops that are (also) important to obtain cash. We provide a detailed account of sales transactions in 2021 and also inquire about price expectations in the near future. We also provide suggestive evidence that prices obtained in the past influence price expectations
The risk of demand shocks in dairy value chains in Uganda: Policy lessons from the COVID-19 crisis
No full textThis policy note summarizes results of a study on the impact of COVID-19 on dairy value chains in Uganda. We use a stack survey consisting of 1616 dairy farmers, 695 small-scale milk traders, and 93 milk collection centers (MCCs) that were surveyed in-person in late 2018 as the basis for follow-up telephone interviews in 2020 and 2021. We find that the COVID-19 crisis mainly affected the dairy value chain through a reduction in demand as international trade reduced and households reduced consumption of more expensive foods due to income losses. As a result, prices drastically reduced at multiple stages of the value chain, and the number of actors affected by the price decrease worsened as the pandemic persisted. In general, we see that while dairy business closures during COVID-19 are limited, the joint reduction in demand and price leads to widespread reductions in scale of operation, dairy revenues and household income, although these somewhat recover over time, especially among MCCs. In the long-run, policy efforts to increase and stabilize local and export demand for dairy products seems most promising. For example, the government may institute policies that promote consumption of dairy products in schools and homes through information campaigns or temporary dairy vouchers. Government should also make it a priority to keep international trade flowing
A field experiment on bargaining for seed reveals discrimination against women agripreneurs
No full textThis policy note summarizes results from a Lab-in-the-field experiment1 in eastern Uganda, where a representative sample of 760 smallholder maize farmers were given the opportunity to bargain over a bag of maize seed from either a male or female seller. Specifically, we test whether the gender of the seed seller impacts the seed buyer’s negotiation strategies and the eventual outcomes in bilateral price negotiations. The findings reveal that buyers confronted with a female seller were less likely to accept the seller’s initial offer price and responded with a lower counter price compared to farmers faced with a male seller. Negotiations, on average, took one additional round when the seller was a woman and resulted in a transaction price that was almost 9 percent lower. These results relate to previous research with agro-input dealers in Uganda which showed that female managed/owned agro-input shops are perceived less favorable in terms of quality of seed sold and price competitive ness. Policies and programs working to advance women’s empowerment through agribusiness need to recognize these gendered biases, and increase investment in public campaigns, extension and training to change attitudes towards women entrepreneurs
Informality and the impact of COVID-19 on maize value chains in Uganda: Key findings and policy implications
No full textThis policy note summarizes results of a study on the impact of COVID-19 on maize value chains in Uganda, which are characterized by a high degree of informality. We use a stack survey consisting of 1525 smallholder maize farmers, 341 informal traders, and 174 millers that were surveyed in-person in 2019 as the basis for follow-up telephone interviews in 2020 and 2021. We find that the impact of COVID-19 and associated measures manifests itself more downstream the value chain (at the level of the traders and particularly the millers). Closures and reductions in volumes passing through the chain seemed limited but worsen as the pandemic persists. Government measures such as a reduction of interest rates seemed to have brought some relief for traders and millers. However, all value chain actors report substantial reductions in maize revenues, household income and food security, as actors in informal value chains seem to rely on various activities to make ends meet. As a result, informal value chains such as maize in Uganda may be less able to adapt to common shocks in the long run. The appropriate policy response therefore would be to supplement some of the mitigating policies targeting businesses with more long run social protection policies to also benefit value chain actors upstream
Gender bias in bargaining: Lessons from haggling over the price of seed in rural Uganda
No full textIn developing countries, haggling over prices of goods and services is common practice. A range of personal, economic, social and cultural factors influence strategies used during the bargaining process—and ultimately its outcome. For example, bargaining between a government official who pulls up in an expensive SUV and a poor woman selling tomatoes in a roadside stall is likely to be very different from that of two traders of equal standing cutting a deal involving a few tons of maize.
In a recent study conducted in rural Uganda, we built on prior research that hinted at biased perceptions against female-managed agro-input shops, examining the intricate dynamics that govern bargaining over a bag of maize seed of an improved variety. Employing a lab-in-the-field experiment, we focused on unraveling the complexities of negotiations between sellers and buyers, and in particular on how the gender of the seller shapes the bargaining process and outcomes—finding that women face a distinct negotiating disadvantage
Institutional and technological innovations to foster agro-industrialization in Uganda: Insights from the dairy value chain
No full textThis policy note summarizes findings from a dairy value chain study in Uganda that documented the institutional and technological innovations associated with the transformation of the sub-sector from a USD 2 million industry in 2008 to a USD 150 million industry in 2017. Uganda is now one of the largest exporters of dairy products in Africa. Using primary data obtained from dairy farmers, traders, and processors, we examine the drivers of this transformation of Uganda’s dairy sub-sector. The insights gained can guide policy and investment decisions for upgrading other agricultural value chains that have been prioritized for agro-industrialization in the medium- and long-term national development plans of Uganda
Informality and the impact of COVID-19 on maize value chains in Uganda: Key findings and policy implications
No full textThis policy note summarizes results of a study on the impact of COVID-19 on maize value chains in Uganda, which are characterized by a high degree of informality. We use a stack survey consisting of 1525 smallholder maize farmers, 341 informal traders, and 174 millers that were surveyed in-person in 2019 as the basis for follow-up telephone interviews in 2020 and 2021. We find that the impact of COVID-19 and associated measures manifests itself more downstream the value chain (at the level of the traders and particularly the millers). Closures and reductions in volumes passing through the chain seemed limited but worsen as the pandemic persists. Government measures such as a reduction of interest rates seemed to have brought some relief for traders and millers. However, all value chain actors report substantial reductions in maize revenues, household income and food security, as actors in informal value chains seem to rely on various activities to make ends meet. As a result, informal value chains such as maize in Uganda may be less able to adapt to common shocks in the long run. The appropriate policy response therefore would be to supplement some of the mitigating policies targeting businesses with more long run social protection policies to also benefit value chain actors upstream.Non-PR3 Building Inclusive and Efficient Markets, Trade Systems, and Food Industry; 4 Transforming Agricultural and Rural Economies; 5 Strengthening Institutions and GovernanceDSGD; AFR; PIMCGIAR Research Program on Policies, Institutions, and Markets (PIM
A field experiment on bargaining for seed reveals bias against women agripreneurs: Summary of findings and policy recommendations
No full textThis policy note summarizes results from a Lab-in-the-field experiment1 in eastern Uganda, where a representative sample of 760 smallholder maize farmers were given the opportunity to bargain over a bag of maize seed from either a male or female seller. Specifically, we test whether the gender of the seed seller impacts the seed buyer’s negotiation strategies and the eventual outcomes in bilateral price negotiations. The findings reveal that buyers confronted with a female seller were less likely to accept the seller’s initial offer price and responded with a lower counter price compared to farmers faced with a male seller. Negotiations, on average, took one additional round when the seller was a woman and resulted in a transaction price that was almost 9 percent lower. These results relate to previous research with agro-input dealers in Uganda which showed that female managed/owned agro-input shops are perceived less favorable in terms of quality of seed sold and price competitive ness. Policies and programs working to advance women’s empowerment through agribusiness need to recognize these gendered biases, and increase investment in public campaigns, extension and training to change attitudes towards women entrepreneurs.Non-PRIFPRI5; 3 Building Inclusive and Efficient Markets, Trade Systems, and Food Industry; 4 Transforming Agricultural and Rural Economies; G Cross-cutting gender themeInnovation Policy and Scaling (IPS); Transformation StrategiesCGIAR Gender Platfor
