Electronic Marketplaces as an Agricultural Value Chain Development Stimulus in Low Income Countries
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Full Text |
Pdf |
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Author |
Evans Tenge, Katherine Wambaya
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ISSN |
2079-8407 |
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On Pages
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178-185
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Volume No. |
5
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Issue No. |
3
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Issue Date |
April 1, 2014 |
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Publishing Date |
April 1, 2014 |
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Keywords |
Electronic marketplaces, value chain development, smallholder farmers
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Abstract
Agriculture is an important sector in Kenya with majority of rural population depending on it. Access and linkage to better markets which is a key to empowering smallholder farmers has conventionally been inaccessible in agricultural value chains – as many of them are isolated in remote rural communities, with minimal communication infrastructure. They also face exploitation from middlemen who dictate prices for their produce. In this paper, we look at this important sector of the economy and how Kenyan county governments should play a major role in addressing this problem, with focus on use of ICT to enhance value chain development through promoting market linkage where farmers are linked to variety of markets and are able to dictate the prices for their produce. To-date, use of mobile based electronic market information system services in high and low income countries has benefited smallholder farmers by strengthening their negotiating position, enabled switch to alternative markets, reduced transaction costs and enhanced their critical planting and selling decisions. Hence, presents an opportunity for Kenyan county governments to empower smallholder farmers.
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