51 research outputs found
Protected geographical indication in Sub-Saharan Africa: issues and implications
No full textThe emergence of Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) as an intellectual property
right has brought opportunities and challenges to Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). While
many countries have taken measures to protect their origin-linked food products,
countries in SSA seem to lag behind. The difficulty in doing so would not only cause the
usurpation of their intellectual property rights but also preclude them from enjoying
the economic and cultural benefits accruing from PGI. This article aims to examine
the contemporary issues surrounding the establishment of PGI in SSA. We first
briefly present the overview of PGI and then we describe some benefits linked to their
development. We identified 145 potential Geographical Indications (GIs) in SSA and
make a case on why they are yet to be protected. Slightly agreeing with earlier studies,
we conclude that poor institutional framework coupled with inadequate capacity are
the major factors hindering the development of GI in SSA. Finally, we provide policy
considerations to tackle these challenges
Linking value chain partnerships to entrepreneurial learning: implications for agrifood systems resilience
No full textIn today’s increasingly turbulent and rapidly changing agrifood systems, the role of collaborative institutional arrangements in tackling long-standing socio-ecological challenges of food insecurity, poverty, inequality, biodiversity loss and climate changes represents a topic of persistent and lively debate among policy makers, civil society and scientists. However, what remains controversial in this debate is the role governance mechanisms of these collaborative institutional arrangements play in supporting resilience in local agrifood systems. To contribute to this debate, this thesis provides insights on how value chain partnerships, as a form of collaborative institutional arrangements involving private companies, smallholder farmers and other stakeholders organise in ways that stimulate entrepreneurship and support outcomes of agrifood system resilience.Contributing towards this overarching research objective, this thesis addresses four key limitations in extant literature. First, literature on how governance mechanisms of value chain partnerships shape farmer entrepreneurship and support or hamper resilience in agrifood systems is poorly connected and scattered across several disciplines: lacking a coherent and parsimonious framework. Second, there is little empirical research on how governance mechanisms of value chain partnerships provide space for developing entrepreneurial behaviours overtime, and how entrepreneurial behaviours in turn influence outcomes of agrifood system resilience. Similarly, few studies have explored how governance mechanisms of value chain partnerships individually or collectively interplay with individual’s attributes to shape entrepreneurial behaviours. Along with these three limitations, there is limited research assessing farmer entrepreneurship in terms of effectuation and causation behaviours in resource constrained and turbulent rural contexts, either at one point in time, or their development over time.In order to address these four limitations, the first study involves the use of a theory synthesis approach to provide a conceptual framework on how value chain partnerships organise in ways that stimulate farmer entrepreneurship and support agrifood system resilience. Relying on searching for literature across search engines – google scholar, Scopus and Web of science – to explore how the three concepts: governance mechanisms, farmer entrepreneurship and resilience, relate with each other; this chapter results in an integrative framework, corroborated with illustrations. This framework suggests that the governance mechanisms of value chain partnerships in terms of intensity of resource pooling, distribution of decision-making rights and a combination of formal and informal coordination mechanisms influence farmer entrepreneurship. In turn, farmer entrepreneurship supports the resilience of agrifood systems through three outcomes: improved rural livelihoods, valorisation of socio-cultural services, ecological services.Given the lack of research in assessing farmer entrepreneurship in resource constrained and turbulent rural contexts of low-income markets, the second study explores farmer entrepreneurial behaviour in terms of effectuation and causation. Relying on data from 430 smallholder farmers involved in a seed multiplication business initiative, this chapter uses multivariate statistics in the form of exploratory factor analysis, Cluster analysis, Pearson’s chi-squared test and Analysis of Variance. Findings of this study touch upon our understanding of entrepreneurial behaviour in resource-constrained and turbulent rural contexts. Second, this chapter reveals that smallholder farmers are heterogenous in terms of their entrepreneurial behaviours. Four clusters were identified: non-entrepreneurial, goal-driven, means-driven and ambidextrous. Along with entrepreneurial behaviours, these clusters differ significantly in terms of demographics, education levels, farm size, distance to the market, social connections, seasonal sales and farm income.Relying on data from 96 interviews, the third study involves a multiple-case study design in the form of inductive data analysis to explore the processes and patterns of causality between the governance mechanisms of seven value chain partnerships and changes in causation and effectuation behaviours of smallholder farmers, and in turn how changes in these behaviours relate with their livelihood resilience. Contributing to addressing the overarching research question, this partnership-level analysis reveals three insights: first smallholder farmers sustain their livelihood resilience when they develop a combination of effectual and causal behaviours; second, smallholder farmers develop causal behaviours when value chain partnerships involve mandatory resource pooling, centralised decision making and formal coordination mechanism. Vice versa, smallholder farmers develop effectual behaviour when value chain partnerships configure voluntary resource pooling, decentralised decision making and informal coordination mechanisms. In addition, the chapter inductively reveals processes through which causal and effectual behaviours were shaped, and in turn how these behaviours influence their livelihood resilience.To understand how governance mechanisms of value chain partnerships individually or collectively interplay with the individual farmer’s attributes to shape the joint development of causal and effectual behaviours, the fourth study involves a configurational analysis in the form of Qualitative Comparative Analysis QCA – a set theoretic approach used to distil complex causality. The chapter relies on survey data from 423 smallholder farmers involved in seven value chain partnerships in Zimbabwe. The chapter reveals finer grained insights which speaks to our understanding of entrepreneurial learning in value chain partnerships. First the chapter reveals that entrepreneurial learning is complex, and a contingent process, where each causal factor does not exist in isolation but with interactions. In particular, the chapter demonstrates that participation in key decision-making processes over the use of resources and key activities of the partnership is a necessary but not always a sufficient condition for entrepreneurial learning. In addition, this chapter demonstrates that entrepreneurial learning is easier to fail for distant female entrepreneurs than their male counterparts.The four studies in this thesis challenge or at least extend existing debates in the scientific fields of entrepreneurship, organisation of value chain partnerships and international development . These findings have several have several policy and managerial implications, first, on how value chain partnerships communicate value creation in low-income markets; suggesting that leaders of value chain partnerships or external stakeholder such as donors or government may demonstrate legitimacy of a value chain partnership based on the potential to support farmer entrepreneurship. Second, findings of this thesis have implications on entrepreneurship development suggesting that fostering effectual and causal behaviours should be brought to the core of capacity-building among smallholder farmers. Third, rather than distributing resources to individual farmers, governments and donors might better support smallholder farmers by pooling resource on or strengthening institutions of existing value chain partnership they are part of
Economic impact of the composition of public expenditure on agricultural growth: case studies from selected SADC
No full textMSCAECDepartment of Agricultural Economics and AgribusinessDiabetes mellitus is a chronic disease affecting millions of people worldwide. Over 140 million people worldwide were estimated to have type 2 diabetes mellitus in the year 2000 and this prevalence is projected to rise to over 280 million by the year 2025. Diabetes mellitus is a progressive disease that can lead to debilitating complications and premature death if not effectively controlled. The study sought to assess the level of knowledge that diabetic patients have regarding diabetes mellitus and to describe beliefs and practices for diabetes management among such patients. A quantitative descriptive design was used to collect data. A self administered questionnaire was designed and translated into local spoken language (Tshivenda) by experts from the department of African Languages at the University of Venda. Data were analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). Content validity and reliability of the instrument were ensured. As many as 51 (51.0%) of the respondents reported that they knew what diabetes mellitus was, whereas 49 (49.0%) did not know. Knowledge of the role of obesity and physical inactivity in producing diabetes was very low, with only 4 (8.9%) and 7 (15.5%) of the respondents reporting these as risk factors for diabetes mellitus, as compared to 34 (75.5%) of the respondents who had the knowledge that heredity is also associated with being predisposed to diabetes mellitus. Almost 62 (62.0%) of the respondents believed that diabetes could cause complications. A majority of 93 (93%) of the respondents reported that they were able to monitor blood sugar levels regularly. Findings of this study revealed that the level of diabetes knowledge among the respondents was very good. However, knowledge of signs and symptoms of diabetes mellitus was very low, while the danger of blindness was also very low, since the respondents were never examined by eye specialists in
order to rule out eye complications. A comprehensive diabetes education programme is necessary to improve the knowledge of diabetes mellitus
Value chain partnerships and farmer entrepreneurship as balancing ecosystem services : Implications for agri-food systems resilience
No full textBoth in the European Union (EU) and worldwide, the resilience of agri-food systems depends on the human ability to balance between socio-economic and ecological trade-offs. Recent ecosystem services literature acknowledges that smallholder farmers’ participation to stakeholder partnerships and continuous learning influences their balancing ability. Yet, little research has so far focused on how smallholders’ participation in partnerships with other value chain actors - such as companies supplying or procuring from them - shape their learning processes and, in turn, how their mindset and behavioral change influences agri-food systems resilience outcomes. To address this gap, this conceptual paper advances a framework suggesting plausible linkages between: the organization of value chain partnerships; smallholder farmer entrepreneurship (meant as the ability to redeploy resources innovatively in and around farms); and agri-food systems resilience outcomes (such as stabilizing rural livelihoods, supporting ecological services and enhancing socio-cultural services). This framework suggests that value chain partnerships are more effective in supporting the smallholder farmers’ entrepreneurial learning: when they pool more resources (both tangible, like financial or physical assets, and intangible as knowledge or market information) among partners; when they distribute decision-making rights over their use more evenly; and when they balance between formal and informal coordination mechanisms. On the basis of empirical examples, these conceptual arguments suggest that policy incentives – such as the new Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) in the EU – should be directed towards resource pooling, experimentation and learning to effectively support smallholder farmer entrepreneurship and their contribution to the achievement of agri-food systems resilience outcomes
Baseline characterization of aquaculture systems in Kwara State Nigeria
No full textPresentation from the Training in the application of characterization surveys and use of CAPI for enumerators in Kwara, Nigeria
Baseline study: Digital fisheries and scaling postharvest technologies to reduce aquatic food waste and loss in coastal Kenya
No full textThe baseline study on Digital Fisheries and Scaling Postharvest Technologies to Reduce Aquatic Food Waste and Loss in Coastal Kenya provides a comprehensive dataset on the socio-economic characteristics, fisheries management practices, and postharvest challenges faced by fisherfolk and fish traders. Conducted across the coastal counties of Mombasa, Kwale, Kilifi, Lamu, and Tana River, this study employs a mixed-methods approach to assess the adoption of postharvest technologies, digital tools, access to resources and participation, and infrastructural gaps affecting fisheries productivity and fish loss and waste. The findings highlight critical barriers, including limited awareness of digital technologies, inadequate cold storage facilities, and financial constraints that contribute to significant postharvest losses. The dataset serves as a foundational resource for policymakers, researchers, and development practitioners seeking to enhance fisheries management, strengthen fisheries value chains, and promote sustainable aquatic food systems in Kenya’s coastal regions
Dataset for AABS baseline/characterization in Kenya (wp1)
No full textThis study was conducted to understand the use of digital systems in the coastal fisheries sector of Kenya. This study is part of a new project called the Asia Africa Bluetech Superhighway (AABS), which aims to scale digital tools for fisheries management in Kenya. Primary data was collected from 2137 fisherfolk and 319 traders across 4 counties in October 2024. A structured questionnaire was developed and deployed on the KoboToolbox platform, facilitating efficient data collection through mobile tablets. The dataset recorded demographics, fishing activities, cost and revenues, market dynamics, fisheries management, knowledge, access and use of digital tools, access to weather forecast, climate and environment, food and nutrition security, gender, decision making and women empowerment, and poverty
Dataset for Aquaculture Characterization in Kenya
No full textData were collected in August 2024 through computer-assisted personal interviews (CAPIs) conducted on mobile tablets. A KoBo-based questionnaire was administered by 38 trained enumerators. Employing a multistage sampling approach, purposive and simple random sampling techniques were utilized to select 5315 farmers across Kenya. This study aimed to understand aquaculture production practices and associated livelihood activities. The collected data encompasses various aspects, including demographics, land ownership, production details, poverty levels, food security, income sources, livestock holdings, climate factors, and gender dynamics
Technical Guide: Systems-based approach to understanding, steering and guiding change in Aquatic foods
No full textThis guide provides a practical framework for project managers and practitioners to understand and address the complexities of agrifood systems, including aquatic foods. Traditional approaches, like linear Theory of Change (TOC) models, often overlook the intricate relationships and non-linear dynamics within these systems, potentially leading to incomplete assessments of project impacts. The systems-based Theory of Change (STOC) framework addresses these gaps through a four-stage process: identifying challenges within the system, mapping the roles and connections of key actors, envisioning how innovations can drive positive change, and defining stakeholder roles for effective system transformation. By involving stakeholders in a participatory process, this approach fosters collaboration, builds ownership, and ensures that interventions are better aligned with real-world dynamics. The guide complements conventional methods by incorporating systems thinking and mapping, enabling a deeper understanding of both immediate and long-term impacts. Ultimately, it equips users with strategies to design and implement interventions that balance ecological, economic, and social goals, ensuring sustainable and meaningful improvements in agrifood systems
Dataset for Aquaculture Stakeholder Workshop Characterization (Kenya)
No full textData for this study was gathered through participatory workshops conducted with stakeholders across Kenya's diverse landscapes, encompassing the coastal, central, and lake regions. The dataset is further disaggregated by county and sub-county. Relevant traits scored across dimensions: biological, market-driven, environmental, and economic factors. The study identified and ranked challenges encountered: environmental and ecological, socio-economic, technical and infrastructural, policy-related, and regulatory constraints
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