Greener Journal of Agricultural Sciences

Greener Journal of Agricultural Sciences, Vol. 5 (7), pp. 240-264, December 2015.

ISSN: 2276-7770 

Research Paper

Manuscript Number: 072513755

 

(DOI http://doi.org/10.15580/GJAS.2015.7.072513755)

 

Sweet Potato Market Chain Analysis: The Case of SNNPR, Ethiopia

 

Getahun Degu¹*, Elias Uragie³, Awole Zeberga², Sadik Musemil⁴ and Tesfaye Adane⁵

 

¹Senior Researcher, Agricultural Economist, SARI/ Hawassa Agricultural Research Center.

²Agricultural Economist, SARI/Areka Agricultural Research Center.

³Breeder, SARI/ Hawassa Agricultural Research Center.

⁴Breeder, SARI/Areka Agricultural Research Center.

⁵Expert, GOAL Hawassa (NGO).

Abstract

 

This study provides primary information of sweet potato market value chain analysis in Sidama and Wolayita\zone in SNNPR. The survey was conducted in two districts for each zone with the total sample of producers 134 and 35 traders for each market participants to diagnose the farming system and identify the market actors and their functions along the value chain. The objective of the study was to develop value chain maps and identify the major sweet potato value chain actors, carry out value chain and economic analyses, identify the constraints faced by sweet potato value chain actors and identify strategic intervention areas for increasing the competitiveness of sweet potato value chain. The analysis was done using descriptive statistics, such as frequency, mean, chi-square and t-test for discrete and continuous variables whether identified factors were statistically significant or not. The economic analysis on the marginal cost-benefit among the markets that participated were calculated.

The results considerably reflected producers having comparative advantage in terms of location and agro ecology in producing sweet potato and improving the productivity. Along with increasing the traditional seed supply system, introducing improved seed production and marketing system can significantly contribute to the solution. The seedling sweet potato producers can then be linked with ware sweet potato producers to create access to market for their business. Thus, improved sweet potato seedlings should be replaced not to lose their genetic potential of the crop with the involvement of the relevant stakeholders like Ministry of Agriculture, Bureaus of Agriculture, Research Institutions, NGOs and Seed Producers. The system should enable farmers replace the improved varieties at regular intervals to improve production and productivity and ably provide significant supply to market participants to sustain the market linkage and competitiveness.

Improving farmers’ access to agricultural equipment through different strategies such as credit would help to increase the participation decision of the farmers’ in Seedling/tuber contract farming for multiplication of new varieties of potato as recommended. On the other hand, efforts aimed at promoting the participation of farmers in contract farming and linkages to market participants ease the marketing transaction in due course.

 

Keywords: Survey, market, value chain map, value chain actors, economic analysis, constraints, strategic intervention and recommendations.

Return to Content         View [Full Article - PDF]

[Full Article - HTML]              [Full Article - EPUB]

Post-review Rundown

    View/get involved, click [Post-Review Page]

References

 

Anandajayaseeram P. and Birhanu Gebremedhin. (2009). Integrating innovation systems perspective and value chain analysis in agricultural research for development: Implications and challenges. Improving Productivity and Market Success (IPMS) of Ethiopian Farmers Project Working Paper 16. ILRI (International Livestock Research Institute), Nairobi, Kenya. 67 pp.

 

Antonelli C. (2001). The microeconomics of technological systems. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK.

 

Barnett A. (2008). Up-scaling knowledge and innovation for development. A paper presented at the IFPRI conference on advancing agriculture in developing countries through knowledge and innovation. Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

 

Boomgard J, Davies S, Haggblade S and Mead D. (1992). A subsector approach to small enterprise promotion and research. World Development 20(2):199–212.

 

Bezabih Emana and Mengistu Nigussie. (2011). Potato value chain analysis and development in Ethiopia: Case of Tigray and SNNP Region.

 

Clark NG. (2002). Innovation systems, technology assessment and the new knowledge market:  Implication for the third world development. Journal of the Economics of Innovation and New Technology11(4–5):353–368.

 

Elliot E. (2008). Evolution of systems thinking: Towards agricultural innovation systems. A paper presented at the IFPRI conference on advancing agriculture in developing countries through knowledge and innovation. Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 7 April 2008.

 

Hall A, Mytelka L and Oyeyinka B. (2005). Innovation systems: Implications for agricultural policy and practice. ILCA Brief 2. ILCA (International Livestock Center for Africa), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

 

Kaplinsky R. (2000). Globalization and unequalization: What can be learned from value chain analysis. Journal of Development Studies 37(2):117–146.

 

Kaplinsky R and Morris M. (2001). A handbook of value chain analysis. Working Paper prepared for the IDRC, Institute for Development Studies, Brighton, UK.

 

Morris M. (2001). “Creating Value Chain Co-operation”, in G. Gereffi and R. Kaplinsky (eds.), IDS Bulletin, Vol. 32, No. 3.

 

Zerihun T. (2009). Role of orphan crops in enhancing and diversifying food production in Africa. In: African Orphan Crops: Their Significance and Prospects for Improvement Afr. Technol. Dev. Forum Jour. Vol. 6, Issue 3/2009.