Participatory Prioritization of Issues in Smallholder Agricultural Commercialization in Kenya
KIPPRA Discussion Paper No. 64
Abstract
Participation in commercial agriculture has considerable potential for improving the livelihoods of many smallholder farmers. However, numerous constraints hamper their efforts in market-oriented production. This study uses a participatory Rapid Rural Appraisal (RRA) to assess the various constraints in the production and marketing of some important agricultural commodities. The study also uses the views of participants in various stakeholder workshops to understand the drivers of change in agri-food systems and opportunities in agricultural commercialization in one peri-urban and one rural area in Kenya.
The findings demonstrate the relevance of participatory methodologies in investigating pertinent issues in agricultural commercialization. Special considerations for adaptation of the Rapid Rural Appraisal technique are noted. There is a gradual increase in commodity commercialization, especially in peri-urban areas, but fewer smallholder farmers actually participate in the markets directly due to a variety of constraints. There is limited value addition for most commodities at the village level. Furthermore, the importance of production and marketing constraints varies considerably with the mix of market access and market integration at the village level. Notably, areas with poor market access are characterized with poor quality and high cost of inputs, high transportation costs, and exploitation in commodity measurement, while those with high market integration mainly experience widespread on-farm theft, high market charges and unreliable market information.
Various policy measures are recommended to improve commodity production and marketing. In production, the policy focus should be on quality and cost of inputs, water availability, pests and diseases control, and improved rural security. Better pricing, contract enforcement, road maintenance, value addition, cost-effective market information, harmonization of standards, and regulation of the type and frequency of market charges are suggested to enhance market participation and efficiency. Strategies to sustain smallholder farmers' participation in prioritization of key issues in commercial agriculture are proposed.
Further research is suggested on the broader adaptation of the Rapid Rural Appraisal methodology to improve the quantitative rigour in the approach, and incorporate dynamic community-level understanding of agricultural commercialization processes in policy formulation and implementation.
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