Dagmar Mithöfer

Smallholder Access to the Export Market The Case of Vegetables in Kenya

Vegetable export production is a major source of income and contributes to the alleviation of poverty in Kenya. However, emerging production standards pose a challenge to continued smallholder involvement. This paper assesses the number of smallholders in export vegetable production in Kenya, their link to the export market and their EurepGAP certification status. In the latter half of 2005, about 11,100 smallholders produced export vegetables in nine districts of Kenya involving about 350 certified smallholders. French beans were the major crop; more smallholders were linked to the export market by middlemen and flexible arrangements than by an export company. In addition to other factors, the export sector can serve as a role model for the domestic sector with respect to production standards.

Biological control of cereal stem borers in Kenya: A cost benefit approach

Abstract Lepidopteran stem borers are the key pests of maize in Sub-Saharan Africa. In the lowland tropics, dry mid-altitude, dry transitional and the moist mid-altitude zones of Kenya, the invasive crambid Chilo partellus (Swinhoe) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) causes up to 73% yield loss. The International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE) started a biological control (BC) program in 1991 to control stem borers in subsistence agriculture in Africa with emphasis on classical BC of C. partellus. The project released the braconid larval parasitoid Cotesia flavipes Cameron (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) in 1993 in coastal Kenya, where it got established and spread to other regions. This study assesses the economic impact of the introduced parasitoid. Temporal data on percentage parasitism by the introduced parasitoid and on stem borer density were collected between 1995 and 2004. Socio-economic data was collected through administration of questionnaires to 300 farmers. Economic impact of the project was calculated as the value of the yield loss abated by the parasitoid based on a model of expected stem borer density and parasitism level. Average annual parasitism increased linearly from the time of introduction to reach 20% parasitism by 2004. The net reduction in total stem borer density over the last 10 years was 33.7%, thus abating 47.3% of yield loss. The region will accumulate a net present value of US

Vegetable production and marketing in Africa: socio-economic research.

183 million in economic benefits in 20 years since release of the parasitoid. Introduction of other parasitoid species targeting the egg and pupal stages of the stem borer life cycle stages would be required for biological control to push yield loss by stem borers to an insignificant level.

What Impact Are EU Supermarket Standards Having on Developing Countries' Export of High-Value Horticultural Products? Evidence From Kenya

Vegetables are a significant component of agricultural farming systems in Africa and have recently moved into the focus of research organizations, development partners and policy makers. Beyond income generating opportunities for producers, vegetable production for domestic and export markets is an important driver for growth due to employment opportunities in production, processing and trade. Providing the latest socioeconomic research methodologies alongside empirical examples, this volume explores the potential for vegetable production to alleviate poverty, the impact of food production standards on various stakeholders, an assessment of markets and marketing potential for different crops and advanced economic approaches to production.