Market arrangements used by small scale bean farmers in Kenya: What needs to change for sustainable trade volumes?

Markets and marketing of common beans ( Phaseolus vulgaris L.) is a major issue of concern to small scale farmers and other actors in the bean value chain in Kenya, particularly inconsistency in supplying sufficient volumes required for trade. This case study assessed market arrangements used by small scale farmers in the Lake Basin and Lower Eastern bean corridors of Kenya, to determine which markets work for rural producers and what changes are needed to produce and supply sufficient quantities for trade. Using exploratory research, data were collected through Focus Group Discussions with six farmer groups, representing a total of 1255 bean farmers; and key informant interviews with extension staff. The results indicated that 94% of the farmers produced beans before identifying buyers, while only 6% participated in group marketing. Though spot-market transactions with brokers and traders provided ready cash for the farmers, formal buyers were perceived to be more reliable, but difficult to find, and operated the stringent requirements, which were a barrier to entry. Based on the study findings, sustainable production and supply of sufficient volumes for trade should entail a transformation agenda at four levels of the value chain; namely intensification of production through pure stand models with greater use of certified high yielding varieties; stable price guarantees; market-driven research and extension service; and an enabling policy and business environment in the bean value chain. Further research is needed to pilot these changes in a case control study.Les march\ue9s et la commercialisation des haricots communs ( Phaseolus vulgaris L.) constituent un sujet de pr\ue9occupation majeur pour les petites entreprises les agriculteurs et d\u2019autres acteurs de la cha\ueene de valeur du haricot au Kenya, en particulier les incoh\ue9rences dans l\u2019approvisionnement volumes suffisants requis pour le commerce. Cette \ue9tude de cas a \ue9valu\ue9 les accords de march\ue9 utilis\ue9s par les petites d\u2019agriculteurs dans les couloirs de haricots kenyans du bassin du lac et du Bas-Est, afin de d\ue9terminer les les march\ue9s fonctionnent pour les producteurs ruraux et quels changements sont n\ue9cessaires pour produire et fournir suffisamment quantit\ue9s pour le commerce. \uc0 l\u2019aide de recherches exploratoires, les donn\ue9es ont \ue9t\ue9 recueillies lors de discussions de groupe avec six groupes d\u2019agriculteurs, repr\ue9sentant un total de 1255 producteurs de haricots; et entretiens avec des informateurs cl\ue9s personnel de vulgarisation. Les r\ue9sultats ont montr\ue9 que 94% des agriculteurs produisaient des haricots avant d\u2019identifier acheteurs, alors que seulement 6% ont particip\ue9 au marketing de groupe. Bien que les transactions sur le march\ue9 au comptant avec des courtiers et les commer\ue7ants fournissaient de l\u2019argent disponible aux agriculteurs, les acheteurs formels \ue9taient per\ue7us comme plus fiables, mais difficile \ue0 trouver et appliquait les exigences strictes, qui constituaient une barri\ue8re \ue0 l\u2019entr\ue9e. Bas\ue9 sur r\ue9sultats de l\u2019\ue9tude, la production durable et la fourniture de volumes suffisants pour le commerce devraient impliquer une programme de transformation \ue0 quatre niveaux de la cha\ueene de valeur; \ue0 savoir l\u2019intensification de la production par mod\ue8les de peuplements purs utilisant davantage de vari\ue9t\ue9s certifi\ue9es \ue0 haut rendement; garanties de prix stables; ax\ue9 sur le march\ue9 service de recherche et de vulgarisation; et une politique favorable et un environnement commercial dans le haricot cha\ueene de valeur. Des recherches suppl\ue9mentaires sont n\ue9cessaires pour piloter ces changements dans une \ue9tude cas-t\ue9moins

Market arrangements used by small scale bean farmers in Kenya: What needs to change for sustainable trade volumes?

Markets and marketing of common beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) is a major issue of concern to small scale farmers and other actors in the bean value chain in Kenya, particularly inconsistency in supplying sufficient volumes required for trade. This case study assessed market arrangements used by small scale farmers in the Lake Basin and Lower Eastern bean corridors of Kenya, to determine which markets work for rural producers and what changes are needed to produce and supply sufficient quantities for trade. Using exploratory research, data were collected through Focus Group Discussions with six farmer groups, representing a total of 1255 bean farmers; and key informant interviews with extension staff. The results indicated that 94% of the farmers produced beans before identifying buyers, while only 6% participated in group marketing. Though spot-market transactions with brokers and traders provided ready cash for the farmers, formal buyers were perceived to be more reliable, but difficult to find, and operated the stringent requirements, which were a barrier to entry. Based on the study findings, sustainable production and supply of sufficient volumes for trade should entail a transformation agenda at four levels of the value chain; namely intensification of production through pure stand models with greater use of certified high yielding varieties; stable price guarantees; market-driven research and extension service; and an enabling policy and business environment in the bean value chain. Further research is needed to pilot these changes in a case control study