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Cereal-Legume Value Chain Analysis: A Case of Smallholder Production in Selected Areas of Malawi

Author

Listed:
  • Giacomo Branca

    (Department of Economics, Engineering, Society and Business Organization, University of Tuscia, Via del Paradiso, 47, 01100 Viterbo, Italy)

  • Luca Cacchiarelli

    (Department of Economics, Engineering, Society and Business Organization, University of Tuscia, Via del Paradiso, 47, 01100 Viterbo, Italy)

  • Valentina D’Amico

    (CREA—Consiglio per la Ricerca in Agricoltura e l’analisi dell’economia Agraria, 00198 Roma, Italy)

  • Laifolo Dakishoni

    (Soils, Food and Healthy Communities Organization (SFHC), Ekwendeni P.O. Box 36, Malawi)

  • Esther Lupafya

    (Soils, Food and Healthy Communities Organization (SFHC), Ekwendeni P.O. Box 36, Malawi)

  • Mufunanji Magalasi

    (Faculty of Science, Chancellor College, University of Malawi, Zomba P.O. Box 280, Malawi)

  • Chiara Perelli

    (Department of Economics, Engineering, Society and Business Organization, University of Tuscia, Via del Paradiso, 47, 01100 Viterbo, Italy)

  • Alessandro Sorrentino

    (Department of Economics, Engineering, Society and Business Organization, University of Tuscia, Via del Paradiso, 47, 01100 Viterbo, Italy)

Abstract

This article analyses the cereal-legume value chain in Malawi through a comprehensive VC Map, a SWOT exercise and a policy analysis. VC participation entails a number of challenges for smallholders. Limited access to land, technology and inputs, inadequate knowledge of market functioning, insufficient access to credit and extension services, combined with more general problems of poor infrastructures, often prevent smallholder farmers from accessing profitable market opportunities. The effectiveness of national policies (e.g., public extension service support, inputs subsidy system) oriented to increase smallholders’ market access is often constrained by inadequate financial capacity, an inefficient public extension services system and limited involvement of privates in the extension services scheme. VC interventions should distinguish between VC-ready farmers, namely those provided with the minimum conditions of external and internal factors, and non-value-chain-ready farmers. Market-based interventions (e.g., enhancing VC coordination) are needed for enhancing market access of value-chain-ready farmers. Conversely, while non-market-based interventions (e.g., investments in basic infrastructure, increasing extension services, credit and inputs access) prove necessary to build the minimum asset thresholds for non-value-chain-ready farmers’ participation in the market. A smallholder-friendly VC development relies on the role played by VC actors and the need to harmonise and improve existing policies to remove inadequacies, conflicts and overlaps in the various institutions charged with implementation.

Suggested Citation

  • Giacomo Branca & Luca Cacchiarelli & Valentina D’Amico & Laifolo Dakishoni & Esther Lupafya & Mufunanji Magalasi & Chiara Perelli & Alessandro Sorrentino, 2021. "Cereal-Legume Value Chain Analysis: A Case of Smallholder Production in Selected Areas of Malawi," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 11(12), pages 1-20, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jagris:v:11:y:2021:i:12:p:1217-:d:693650
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Ellis, Frank & Manda, Elizabeth, 2012. "Seasonal Food Crises and Policy Responses: A Narrative Account of Three Food Security Crises in Malawi," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 40(7), pages 1407-1417.
    2. Chagomoka, Takemore & Afari-Sefa, Victor & Pitoro, Raul, 2014. "Value Chain Analysis of Traditional Vegetables from Malawi and Mozambique," International Food and Agribusiness Management Review, International Food and Agribusiness Management Association, vol. 17(4), pages 1-28, November.
    3. Nelson Mango & Lawrence Mapemba & Hardwick Tchale & Clifton Makate & Nothando Dunjana & Mark Lundy, 2018. "Maize value chain analysis: A case of smallholder maize production and marketing in selected areas of Malawi and Mozambique," Cogent Business & Management, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 5(1), pages 1503220-150, January.
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    Cited by:

    1. Dabasis Sharma & Mohammad Jahangir Alam & Ismat Ara Begum & Shijun Ding & Andrew M. McKenzie, 2023. "A Value Chain Analysis of Cauliflower and Tomato in Bangladesh," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(14), pages 1-22, July.

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