The Critical Role Markets Play In Access to Information in the Agricultural Value Chain

Open air markets in the hinterlands of Kenya are not just venues for transacting business. Unlike, the ones within Nairobi (Marikiti, Gikomba, Toi Market), Mombasa (Kongowea), Eldoret, and Nakuru, they are also meeting places for relatives, friends who end up passing information about their members from the extended family.

They are a stopover market for fruit and vegetables – these are delivered round the clock from all over the neighboring regions and indeed even neighboring countries for those situated along the borders.

A similar scenario that is always witnessed is that, before dawn, retail traders and the owners of small stalls around the market arrive in to buy their provisions for the day and take them back so as to be able to sell from opening time.

There is great competition for the freshest, the tastiest and the cheapest produce, especially, vegetables and fruits because, most of the small stallholders have developed a keen eye for what are best to buy.

The vegetables are cultivated in kitchen gardens for domestic use, a practice that has persisted over several generations.

Surpluses are sold by small scale female farmers mostly in rural markets to raise cash income to meet household needs. Most of these purchases are done by the female folk who act as brokers, intermediaries who also end up selling the same to other places.

Closer look at most rural open markets justifies that agriculture plays a critical role for the rural economies.

Despite having contributed close to half of their monthly pay, the agriculture extension officer doesn’t show up to advise the farmer; granted that often it is due to lack of transport or poor supervision.Wangare Mumbi, a fresh fruit’s seller at Kamkuywa market in Bungoma County who has been into the business now 20 years, says business is good however, because of the market dynamics they have to sell at a low price to their disadvantage.

“There are so many sellers of the same product; I am forced to reduce the price, every month there are so many bananas, this makes me sell at a loss.”

Leafy vegetables have to be produced close to consumers due lack of facilities to preserve and transport perishable produce to the markets. The supply of these vegetables is also limited during the dry months.

Markets contribute to the four pillars of food security namely food availability, food access, food stability and food utilization.  In Kenya, open-air markets play a fundamental role in ensuring food availability and accessibility especially in the rural areas.

However, market liberalization has left many poor farmers in marginal areas with poor infrastructure and few marketing outlets which have put them at a disadvantage. Farmers are unable to sell their produce at good prices and are