The Market Channel Preference Among Smallholder Cocoyam Farmers in South Africa: A Food Security Perspective

Abstract

Market channel choice makes important contributions to the incomes and other livelihood attributes among smallholder farmers in developing countries. Often considered from a number of perspectives, the dominant view articulated suggests an advantageous integration into formal market channels. This position is questioned as it has implications for smallholder farmers’ food security and rural incomes. Using a mixed methods approach, the study collected primary data from 174 smallholder farmers and applied both a descriptive and multinomial logit regression model to analyze factors contributing to cocoyam production and market channel choices among respondents in the study area. Findings indicate that financial returns and available markets were key factors in cocoyam production, while amount received was a driver of market channel choice among 89% of respondents who sold directly at farm-gate. Farmers’ age (p=0.044), household size (p=0.043), distance to market (p=0.021), additional income (p=0.017) and amount received (p=0.014) were significant variables (p<.05) in the determinants of market channel choice. The study recommended improving market information provision and strengthening farmer associations which will enable smallholder farmers in rural communities to make informed choices with respect to produce price, access other markets and consolidate their collective market bargaining position.

Capacity Building Needs of Small-Holder Cocoyam (Xanthosoma Sagittifoliuu) Farmers in Selected Rural Communities of Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria

“…This finding implies that about 84.5% of the total cocoyam produced in the study area is marketed and consumed within the vicinity. This finding is in agreement with Nwafor (2018), who found that 89% of the respondents use the farm gate as their major marketing channel. This is an evidence of subsistence nature and low scale production by rural farmers as asserted by Udoh, and Akpan, (2015).…”

Examining The Effect of Relationship Marketing on The Small Farmers' Social, Economic, And Environmental Sustainability Performance

“…As food security issues are increasing, sustainable agriculture has become a concern for governments, policymakers, and researchers alike. Past studies have highlighted that small farmers are the key to solving economic issues (Nwafor, 2020;Mariyono et al, 2019) involving unemployment, hunger, and poverty in rural areas (Mmbando et al, 2017). However, the measurement of the small farmers' sustainability is still at an early stage and not ultimately measured.…”

“…The supply chain participants will function more sustainably when there is trust in their relationships. Likewise, Nwafor (2020) points out that the relationship among the members in the market channel needs to be highlighted as it is a critical factor for a business.…”

Marketing Constraints among Smallholder Farmers in South Africa: An Overview of Potato Market Outlets in Lusikisiki Township

“…The case of smallholder farmers in South Africa is worth exploring, due to the acclaimed disparity within the agricultural sector (Nwafor, 2015) as well as the perception regarding the inflexibility of the economy to engage and reward previously marginalized emerging farmers (Chikazunga and Paradza, 2012). This has discouraged many smallholder farmers from accessing formal markets, leading to their engagement with alternative informal channels for marketing (Nwafor, 2020).…”