Analysing legume market chains to enhance livelihoods and environmental systems within maize-based farming systems in Malawi

Abstract: 
This paper analyzes the marketing of legumes in Malawi with special focus on the seed supply chain, the actors, activities, and the business environment that the commodity goes through as it moves from producers to buyers and consumers. The study found that vendors/private traders usually came from major cities to buy produce in small lots from farmers and mainly used hanging scales. Prices were found to be variable within season and between buyers. Analysis of the seed supply systems indicated that there was mostly informal seed system where farmers either used own-saved seed or seed exchanges.
Cet article analyse la vente des légumineuses au Malawi avec une focalisation spéciale sur la chaîne d’approvisionnements en graines, les acteurs, les activités et l’environnement d’affaires que le produit subit pendant qu’il passe des producteurs aux acheteurs et aux consommateurs. L’étude a constaté que les fournisseurs/commerçants privés sont habituellement venus des villes principales pour acheter le produit dans de petites ventes aux enchères des agriculteurs et ont principalement employé les balances accrochables. Des prix sont avérés variables dans la saison et entre les acheteurs. L’analyse des systèmes d’approvisionnement en graines a indiqué qu’il y avait la plupart du temps un système informel d’approvisionnement en graines où des agriculteurs utilisent soit les graines proprement-gardées, soit les échanges de graines.
Language: 
English
Date of publication: 
2010
Country: 
Region Focus: 
Southern Africa
Collection: 
RUFORUM Conferences and Workshops
Licence conditions: 
Open Access
Access restriction: 
Form: 
Printed resource
Publisher: 
ISSN: 
E_ISSN: 
Edition: 
Extent: 
1587-1591
Notes: 
 
"The 2010 RUFORUM Biennial Conference was the second in the series. The main objective of the Biennial conferences is to provide a platform for agricultural research for development stakeholders in Africa and beyond to actively exchange findings and experiences, while at the same time learning lessons towards improving performance of the agricultural sector and ultimately people’s livelihoods. The biennial conference is RUFORUM’s most comprehensive meeting for the diversity of stakeholers in agriculture. It is especially dedicated to graduate students and their supervisors, grantees in RUFORUM member universities and alumni. It is a platform for peer review, quality control, mentorship, networking and shared learning. This record contains an extended abstract accepted under the theme socio-economics".