Trading up Building cooperation between farmers and traders in Africa Royal Tropical Institute (KIT), and International Institute of Rural Reconstruction (IIRR), 2008

In much of Africa, smallholder farmers face serious difficulties selling their produce. But farmers, along with development agencies and governments, treat the traders who market their goods with suspicion and mistrust.

Trading Up stands up for traders. It shows how traders struggle to run their businesses in the face of adverse policies and attitudes. With more respect and support, they could develop markets, add value to products, invest in new businesses, and improve the efficiency of the food distribution system. They could generate demand for farm products and help improve the incomes and livelihoods of rural people.

Trading Up’s 15 richly illustrated cases from countries as far apart as Ethiopia, Lesotho and Ghana, cover commodities ranging from soybeans and coffee, to milk and wool. The book shows how relations have been strengthened between the farmers, traders, wholesalers, processors and retailers in the value chain. It describes how they have built institutions (such as market information systems) and agreed on rules (such as standard weights and quality grades) to enable agricultural markets to function better.

Contents

Published 2008 by the Royal Tropical Institute (KIT), and International Institute of Rural Reconstruction (IIRR).

ISBN 978-90-6832-699-4

Available from IIRR Africa

Available from KIT

Download full text 4560 kb

Download individual chapters:

• Cover 349 kb
• Front matter 1215 kb
• 1 Introduction 345 kb
• 2 Understanding African markets 460 kb
• 3 Framework for "trading up" 660 kb
• 4 Strengthening chain relations 882 kb
• 5 Building market institutions 639 kb
• 6 Fostering chain partnerships 655 kb
• 7 Strategies for trading up 319 kb
• 8 Resources 549 kb

• Ordering information (KIT) 117 kb
• Ordering information (IIRR) 913 kb

Role of Paul Mundy: Writeshop manager, editing, desktop publishing, overall responsibility for production

Reviews

New Agriculturist, 2008-06

Finding a market and transporting produce are among the biggest headaches facing smallscale farmers in Africa. Often these farmers are portrayed as being at the mercy of middlemen or traders who exploit their ignorance, vulnerability or desperation. Trading Up seeks to redress the balance, arguing that with more support, Africa's traders could significantly boost the efficiency of food supply chains, increasing the demand for farm produce and improving the livelihoods of rural people. With contributions from 30 traders, farmers and professionals working through the IIRR's 'writeshop' process, this is a highly recommended sequel to Chain Empowerment.

Case studies from seven countries examine how relationships between different players in commodity value chains - including farmers, traders, wholesalers and retailers - can be strengthened. Supportive institutions, such market information networks, and the development of rules, such as standard weights, are also covered. Commodities and countries include livestock and milk (Zimbabwe and Kenya), green bean (Ethiopia), mango (Burkina Faso), tomato (Ghana and Kenya) and coffee (Tanzania). Engaging and accessible, based on first hand information, Trading Up will be of interest to anyone working to improve market chains in the developing world.