IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/p/ags/iaae06/25590.html

Market Information Systems in Sub-Sahara Africa: Challenges and Opportunities

Author

Listed:
  • Tollens, Eric

Abstract

The paper deals with the emergence and rise of market information systems in sub-Sahara Africa as a result of economic liberalization. There has already been an evolution is such systems and no particular system dominates. Various types of market information systems exist today, public or private, all or not linked to a commodity exchange. The rationale of a commodity exchange is discussed, linked to a market information system. They all struggle with problems of sustainable financing. Very few if any good impact studies exist on such systems, demonstrating their effects on market transparency, information asymmetry, the bargaining power of poor farmers and their market access. Dissemination of the information, using traditional (radio) or modern (ICT) tools is crucial in order to reach the farmers. But market information alone is unlikely to catalyze market supply chains. More is needed to enable poor farmers to gain better access to markets in a more sustainable and remunerative manner.

Suggested Citation

  • Tollens, Eric, 2006. "Market Information Systems in Sub-Sahara Africa: Challenges and Opportunities," 2006 Annual Meeting, August 12-18, 2006, Queensland, Australia 25590, International Association of Agricultural Economists.
    • Handle: RePEc:ags:iaae06:25590
    DOI: 10.22004/ag.econ.25590
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://ageconsearch.umn.edu/record/25590/files/pp060755.pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.22004/ag.econ.25590?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Knudsen, Odin & Nash, John, 1990. "Domestic Price Stabilization Schemes in Developing Countries," Economic Development and Cultural Change, University of Chicago Press, vol. 38(3), pages 539-558, April.
    2. Giovannucci, Daniele & Shepherd, Andrew, 2001. "Market Information Services," MPRA Paper 17193, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    3. Dembele, Niama Nango & Staatz, John M., 1999. "The Impact Of Market Reform On Agricultural Transformation In Mali," Staff Paper Series 11717, Michigan State University, Department of Agricultural, Food, and Resource Economics.
    4. Eric F. Tollens & Christopher L. Gilbert, 2003. "Does Market Liberalisation Jeopardise Export Quality? Cameroonian Cocoa, 1988--2000," Journal of African Economies, Centre for the Study of African Economies, vol. 12(3), pages 303-342, September.
    5. repec:wbk:wbpubs:13852 is not listed on IDEAS
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Felix, N. & Seepersad, G. & Iton, A., 2013. "An Assessment Of The Market And Other Information Needs Of Crop Farmers In Trinidad And Tobago," 49th Annual Meeting, June 30-July 6, 2013, St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands 253492, Caribbean Food Crops Society.
    2. Okello, Julius J. & Kirui, Oliver K. & Gitonga, Zachary M. & Njiraini, Georgina W. & Nzuma, Jonathan M., 2014. "Determinants of Awareness and Use ICT-based Market Information Services in Developing-Country Agriculture: The Case of Smallholder Farmers in Kenya," Quarterly Journal of International Agriculture, Humboldt-Universitaat zu Berlin, vol. 53(3), pages 1-20, August.
    3. Mukhebi, A.W. & Kundu, J. & Okolla, A. & Wambua, M. & Ochieng, W. & Fwamba, G., 2008. "Linking Farmers to Markets through Modern Information and Communication Technologies in Kenya," 2007 Second International Conference, August 20-22, 2007, Accra, Ghana 51988, African Association of Agricultural Economists (AAAE).
    4. Abate, Gashaw T. & Abay, Kibrom A. & Chamberlin, Jordan & Kassim, Yumna & Spielman, David J. & Paul Jr Tabe-Ojong, Martin, 2023. "Digital tools and agricultural market transformation in Africa: Why are they not at scale yet, and what will it take to get there?," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 116(C).
    5. Lee, Guenwoo & Suzuki, Aya & Kim, Yu Ri, 2021. "The Role of Agricultural Market Information on Farmers' Agricultural Outcomes: Evidence from Smallholder Coffee Producers in Ethiopia," Discussion paper series HIAS-E-110, Hitotsubashi Institute for Advanced Study, Hitotsubashi University.
    6. Chelanga, Philemon & Jensen, Nathaniel & Muendo, Kavoi Mutuku, . "Pastoral livestock market integration amidst improvements in physical and communication infrastructure: Evidence from northern Kenya," African Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics, African Association of Agricultural Economists, vol. 17(4).

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Fertő, Imre, 1995. "A mezőgazdasági árak stabilizálásának problémáiról [On the problems of stabilizing agricultural prices]," Közgazdasági Szemle (Economic Review - monthly of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences), Közgazdasági Szemle Alapítvány (Economic Review Foundation), vol. 0(3), pages 256-269.
    2. Christopher L. Gilbert, 2024. "Cocoa: Origin Differentials and the Living Income Differential," The European Journal of Development Research, Palgrave Macmillan;European Association of Development Research and Training Institutes (EADI), vol. 36(4), pages 777-802, August.
    3. KAMINSKI Jonathan & THOMAS Alban, 2009. "Commodity Reform and Extensive Production Growth: Evidence from Burkinabè cotton farmers," LERNA Working Papers 09.01.277, LERNA, University of Toulouse.
    4. Canh Phuc Nguyen & Thanh Dinh Su, 2021. "Export quality dynamics: Multidimensional evidence of financial development," The World Economy, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 44(8), pages 2319-2343, August.
    5. Ruhul Salim & Amzad Hossain, 2006. "Market deregulation, trade liberalization and productive efficiency in Bangladesh agriculture: an empirical analysis," Applied Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 38(21), pages 2567-2580.
    6. Xiao Yu Wang, 2014. "Risk Sorting, Portfolio Choice, and Endogenous Informal Insurance," NBER Working Papers 20429, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    7. Barrera, Carlos, 2010. "¿Respuesta asimétrica de precios domésticos de combustibles ante choques en el WTI?," Working Papers 2010-016, Banco Central de Reserva del Perú.
    8. Ali, Ridwan & Alwang, Jeffrey & Siegel, Paul B., 1991. "Is export diversification the best way to achieve export growth and stability? A look at three African countries," Policy Research Working Paper Series 729, The World Bank.
    9. Delpeuch, Claire & Vandeplas, Anneleen, 2013. "Revisiting the “Cotton Problem”—A Comparative Analysis of Cotton Reforms in Sub-Saharan Africa," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 42(C), pages 209-221.
    10. Dawe, David, 2001. "How far down the path to free trade? The importance of rice price stabilization in developing Asia," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 26(2), pages 163-175, April.
    11. Jha, Shikha & Srinivasan, P.V., 2004. "Achieving Food Security In A Cost Effective Way: Implications Of Domestic Deregulation And Reform Under Liberalized Trade," MTID Discussion Papers 16134, CGIAR, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
    12. Vitale, Jeffrey D. & Bessler, David A., 2006. "The 2004 Niger Food Crisis: What Role Can Price Discovery Play in Famine Early Warning Systems?," 2006 Annual meeting, July 23-26, Long Beach, CA 21316, American Agricultural Economics Association (New Name 2008: Agricultural and Applied Economics Association).
    13. Díaz-Bonilla, Eugenio & Robinson, Sherman & Thomas, Marcelle, 2002. "On boxes, contents, and users: food security and the WTO negotiations," TMD discussion papers 82, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
    14. Narayanan, Sudha & Gulati, Ashok, 2002. "Globalization And The Smallholders: A Review Of Issues, Approaches, And Implications," MSSD Discussion Papers 16227, CGIAR, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
    15. Kizito, Andrew M., 2009. "Estimating the Benefits from Improved Market Information," Graduate Research Master's Degree Plan B Papers 48844, Michigan State University, Department of Agricultural, Food, and Resource Economics.
    16. Jayne, T. S. & Govereh, J. & Mwanaumo, A. & Nyoro, J. K. & Chapoto, A., 2002. "False Promise or False Premise? The Experience of Food and Input Market Reform in Eastern and Southern Africa," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 30(11), pages 1967-1985, November.
    17. Roberto Steiner & Natalia Salazar Ferro & Alejandro Becerra, 2015. "La política de precios del café en Colombia," Coyuntura Económica, Fedesarrollo, vol. 45(2), pages 101-136.
    18. Serge Savary & Sonia Akter & Conny Almekinders & Jody Harris & Lise Korsten & Reimund Rötter & Stephen Waddington & Derrill Watson, 2020. "Mapping disruption and resilience mechanisms in food systems," Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, Springer;The International Society for Plant Pathology, vol. 12(4), pages 695-717, August.
    19. repec:ocp:ppaper:pb-16/07 is not listed on IDEAS
    20. Jonathan Kaminski & Alban Thomas, 2011. "Land Use, Production Growth, and the Institutional Environment of Smallholders: Evidence from Burkinabè Cotton Farmers," Land Economics, University of Wisconsin Press, vol. 87(1), pages 160-182.
    21. Villoria, Nelson & Lee, David R., 2002. "The Andean Price Band System: Effects On Prices, Protection And Producer Welfare," 2002 Annual meeting, July 28-31, Long Beach, CA 19751, American Agricultural Economics Association (New Name 2008: Agricultural and Applied Economics Association).

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:ags:iaae06:25590. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: AgEcon Search (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://edirc.repec.org/data/iaaeeea.html .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.