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Wed, 4 Apr 2018 17:11:48 +0000
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Hi all,

Here is the aggregated input on Topic #3: "Strategies used by small farms to overcome challenges – a view of the past”

Thanks all for your input! — Peter

Q3.1/7 - Question: "3.1.  Identify the three main challenges which small farms, in your region, have faced in the recent past.”

1/ From: Bernadette Majebelle <[log in to unmask]> (Tanzania)
Bernadette Majebelle is a consultant in market access from Tanzania

Three main challenges for small farms in my region particularly the Southern Highlands Zone in Tanzania:

1. Post - harvest technology access. The main production in the zone is maize to the tune of 4million MT +. Storage is a serious problem and most of the crop is lost because of storage pests and aflatoxin.
2. Access to inputs. Most of small farms produce their crops through loans which have very high interests. After harvest and paying back the loans during the planting season have to go through the same process of loans – a vicious circle.
3. Market access. Most small farms sell at farm gate. Small farms are vulnerable to price changes particularly for maize. Since they do not have efficient storage technologies cannot keep their crops longer and hence have to sell their maize at harvest with marginal prices.

2/ From: Yakubu Musah <[log in to unmask]> (Ghana)
I am Yakubu Musah aspiring PhD candidate, and a consultant to the Palladium group.

In Ghana small holder farmers have several challenges. For example in northern Ghana rice farmers face some challenges from production through harvest and marketing.
The rainfall pattern is such that all operations have to be carried out in a six month window. Thereafter comes the dry period or drought. While farmers are struggling for a market, there is a large processor that is also struggling for raw material (rice).
The problem is that farmers hitherto were not organized and the ecological zone is such that if farmers are not able to harvest early, so the rice loses a lot of moisture. This means the rice has to be parboiled before milling, which in turn means that farmers loss about 25% of the value.

The market in Ghana gives a premium price for "straight milled rice" which have to be milled at relatively higher moisture otherwise it is pulverized. Farmers say that they are not able to mobilize enough labor to harvest on time, at the right moisture content (even if the labor was available I wonder if they could pay for it during a period where all other crops are also being harvest). The milling company also says farmers only supply inferior rice.

To mitigate this problems the mill came up with a proposal (the project is called "Shinkafa Buni" literally means “Rice is Wealth") to support farmers with inputs, extension and some mechanized harvesting, so they can supply quality grains to the mill for a premium price (similar to the Masara N'arziki case I mentioned in an earlier input).
The project is still in its early days, but my experience tells me the project will fail because the soft skills needed to bond the farmers together have not be properly developed and the company cannot control "side selling”, which is bound to happen.





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