Amos Gyau

Farmer attitudes and intentions towards trees in cocoa (Theobroma cacao L.) farms in Côte d'Ivoire.

Cocoa yields in Côte d’Ivoire are low and falling each year, partly as a result of full-sun cropping systems. Thus, interest is now high in establishing sustainable cocoa agroforestry systems through the re-introduction of shade trees. This article uses data collected from a sample of 400 cocoa farmers in the Soubré region of Côte d’Ivoire to analyze farmers’ current and intention to plant trees in their cocoa farms in the future and the motivation for their decision. Logit regressions are used to assess the various determinants of current tree planting behaviour and future adoption intention. Results show that both current and likelihood of deliberately planting trees with cocoa in the future is significantly affected by extension and certification programs, severity of diseases affecting cocoa, and geographic zone. Future intentions to associate trees with cocoa are further influenced by the age of the farmers, household size and the average age of the cocoa farm. To increase the adoption of tree planting in cocoa fields there is the need to intensify extension messages on the benefit of shade trees in cocoa farms especially in areas where adoption intention is still low. Where awareness is high, adoption can be increased through the supply of seedlings and provision of specific trainings on planting density and management techniques to ensure that agroforestry has the maximum positive effect.

Assessing the Quality of Seedlings in Small-scale Nurseries in the Highlands of Cameroon: The Use of Growth Characteristics and Quality Thresholds as Indicators

In developing countries seedlings are often produced in small-scale nurseries as a means to raise tree planting materials and, provided they are of high quality, these can form the basis for successful forest plantation initiatives. This study uses morphological characteristics to assess the quality of seedlings of three tree species (Persea americana, Cola acuminata and Dacryodes edulis) in the Western Highlands of Cameroon. The growth characteristics and quality indicators of seedlings produced in two nursery categories were compared—three nurseries collaborating with the tree domestication program implemented by the World Agroforestry Centre (Category 1) and three nurseries collaborating with government and non-governmental projects (Category 2). Seedlings produced in nurseries in the first nursery category were found to be uniform in terms of growth characteristics and quality indicators. In the second category, there were relatively higher seedling proportions having measured parameters out of threshold standards for root to shoot ratio and for sturdiness quotient. Significant differences between nursery categories (at αxa0=xa00.05) were detected in root collar diameter of C. acuminata and D. edulis and in shoot dry weight of D. edulis. These differences could be attributed to better nursery management as a results of training and technical backstopping received by nursery operators in Category 1. The level of experience of nursery operators in both categories was found to be insufficient and greater exposure to skills and knowledge could enhance the production of high quality seedlings.

Understanding the Roles of Forests and Tree-based Systems in Food Provision

Forests and other tree-based systems such as agroforestry contribute to food and nutritional security in myriad ways. Directly, trees provide a variety of healthy foods including fruits, leafy vegetables, nuts, seeds and edible oils that can diversify diets and address seasonal food and nutritional gaps. Forests are also sources of a wider range of edible plants and fungi, as well as bushmeat, fish and insects. Treebased systems also support the provision of fodder for meat and dairy animals, of “green fertiliser” to support crop production and of woodfuel, crucial in many communities for cooking food. Indirectly, forests and tree-based systems are a source of income to support communities to purchase foods and they also provide environmental services that support crop production. There are, however, complexities in quantifying the relative benefits and costs of tree-based systems in food provision. These complexities mean that the roles of tree-based systems are often not well understood. A greater understanding focuses on systematic methods for characterising effects across different landscapes and on key indicators, such as dietary diversity measures. This chapter provides a number of case studies to highlight the relevance of forests and tree-based systems for food security and nutrition, and indicates where there is a need to further quantify the roles of these systems, allowing proper integration of their contribution into national and international developmental policies.

Determinants of Consumer Preferences for Honey in the Democratic Republic of Congo

Honey is one of the important non-timber forest products consumed in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and, as such, an important source of income for many households. However, poor knowledge of buyers’ preferences in the marketing of honey presents a major challenge to the profitability of the honey enterprises. The research presented in this article identifies key consumer characteristics that influence the preferences of honey consumers in the DRC. The primary data source used in this analysis is drawn from a survey of 214 consumers. Results show that consumers who are married and have reached at least the level of secondary education have a strong preference for local forest and savannah honey. Those between the ages of 30 and 50 do not prefer honey from beekeeping, but would rather have it imported. We conclude that segmentation of the honey market and increasing consumer awareness must go in tandem in order to develop a good marketing strategy.

Contractual arrangements and commitment in the Indonesian supermarket channel

Purpose – The aim of this paper is to examine the nature of contractual relationships between farmers and buyers in the traditional and supermarket channels, and to explore determinants of farmers commitment in the two channels. Design/methodology/approach – The paper reports the results of a field study of 602 chili farmers in the largest chilli production area in Indonesia, West Java Province. The contractual arrangements were analyzed using descriptive statistics, while determinants of farmers commitment were examined using factor analysis and Ordinary Least square (OLS) regression. Findings – The contractual arrangements between farmers and traders in both traditional and supermarket channels are characterized by verbal agreements. Price is the main aspect of the contract in the traditional channel, while grading aspects are the most important aspects in the supermarket channel. Trust and satisfaction have significant influence on farmers commitment in the two channels, while the actual price has n...

Building long-term relationships between producers and trader groups in the non-timber forest product sector in Cameroon

Summary table of trust items. Elements of trusts Majority of producers trust traders on this item? Majority of traders trusts producers on this item Existence of mutual trusts Honesty information on quantity No No No Honesty information on quality No No No Reliability Yes No No Benevolence No No No Flexibility Yes Yes Yes Total number of yes 2/5 1/5 1/5 producers have less confidence that traders will change initially agreed buying terms when market conditions improve for the better. This interpretation follows producers’ narrative comments during data collection that traders often use fluctuating prices in urban markets to bargain for lower buying price, which according to the producers may not be true. This means that ignorant of reliable information on market prices, producers’ are forced to operate as price takers. In summary for all the five items used to measure trust, a majority of the producers interviewed do not trust traders on three out of the five items, while traders do not trust producers on four out of the five items (Table 2). Mutual trusts exist for one out of the five items. This means that, despite precautions taken at the beginning of the relationship, partners have not been able to build trust amongst them and may account for the low levels of partnership satisfaction.

Price satisfaction and producer loyalty: The role of mediators in business to business relationships in Kenyan mango supply chain

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate which dimensions of price satisfaction influence producers’ trust in buyers and assess the mediating role of such trust in the relationship between price satisfaction and producer loyalty in fresh fruit supply chains. Design/methodology/approach – A cross-sectional study design using both semi-structured interviews and structured questionnaires was used. The study was conducted in the Eastern part of Kenya and included 600 smallholders. Data were analysed using structural equation modelling. Findings – The results show that price fairness, price reliability, and relative price are dimensions of price satisfaction that affect producers’ trust in the buyer. Moreover, trust between the producer and the buyer is found to be a strong mediator between price satisfaction and producer loyalty. The findings support recent studies about trust and its mediating role. Research limitations/implications – The paper is based on a cross-sectional study design, limitin...

Improving smallholders' participation in tree product value chains: experiences from the Congo Basin

In recent years, there has been increasing use of the value chain approach as a strategy to improve smallholder participation in markets. Despite the surge, not much is known about its effectiveness and specificity in the context of lesser known commodities such as non-timber forest products and agroforestry tree products. This paper documents the key lessons learned from the implementation of two major value chain projects related to lesser known species in the Congo basin, specifically in Cameroon and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Results from the project indicate the importance of combining value chain interventions in the domain of production, harvest and post-harvest, with activities that enhance the organisational and institutional environment, promote effective policies to support the commercialisation process, as well as assessing the impact of the interventions. It is recommended that in order to exploit the benefits of agroforestry value chains, it is important to take advantage of complementarities among value chain interventions, use differentiated strategies in order to reach out to the various target groups, understand the product and country specific issues to design interventions as well as promote effective policy environment that will improve domestication and planting of these species. It is concluded that the value chain approach has the potential to enhance smallholder participation in agroforestry products markets, thereby improving their livelihoods.

Contracting and gender equity in Tanzania: using a value chain approach to understand the role of gender in organic spice certification

Value chain development (VCD) initiatives within the horticultural and organic sectors in Africa are promising strategies to improve smallholder welfare. Contracting institutional arrangements are a common feature of VCD initiatives and are increasing in number in sub-Saharan Africa as a way to source organic products from smallholder producers. The objective of this study is to better understand men and womens participation in spice producing households that sell under contract and in conventional market chains in the East Usambaras, Tanzania. We draw on New Institutional Economics, political economy and the value chain analysis framework to assess the potential role of contracting to promote gender equity among smallholder organic horticultural producers. We describe intra-household decision making over resources and marketing, access to benefits of contracting, and labor distribution between men and women in contracting and non-contracting households. We then extend the gender analysis to evaluate the role of gender in contracting and conventional value chains operating within the community and district. Using a cross-sectional research design and data collected through 13 focus group discussions, 54 personal interviews and 156 household questionnaires, we show that contracting reduces transaction costs in the chain compared with the conventional trade. However, norms in the wider political economic context give rise to gendered patterns of participation in both household and chain activities in contracting and non-contracting households. Our findings suggest that contracting does not provide significant opportunities for women in married households to participate and benefit based on limited participation in decision-making and access to trainings. Divorced women and widows gain access to contract employment opportunities to earn income. This study highlights the importance of understanding gender relations in the household and community to guide the development of gender equitable VCD initiatives and contracting approaches.