Final technical report of eARN Africa Project / eAgriculture Research Network : effectiveness of ICT-based interventions in linking African farmers to markets

Abstract

Attempts to improve smallholder farmer access to efficient markets have recently shifted to ICT-based interventions. ICT-based market information services help reduce transaction costs in most of the study countries through: search and screening costs (easier to find a seller/buyer, and compare prices in distant markets); negotiation costs (costs of agreeing on the terms of exchange); and monitoring costs (costs of following up on the transaction arrangements). The eARN project contributed towards an ICT in Agriculture e-source book published by the World Bank titled: “ICT in Agriculture: Connecting smallholders to markets, networks and institutions.” eARN also supported and mentored participating researchers