Small scale farmers’ access to and participation in markets : The case of the P4P program in western Kenya

• Main Author: Skjöldevald, Maja
• Format: Others
• Language: English
• Published: Stockholms universitet, Kulturgeografiska institutionen 2012
• Subjects: small scale farmer; maize market; purchase for progress; P4P; Kenya; WFP; AMPATH.
• Online Access: http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:su:diva-77185

The purpose of this thesis is to understand how small scale farmers navigate the market to access and participate in the formal maize market to improve their revenue, utilising the case of the P4P program inKenya. The empirical material was collected during fieldwork in Kenya. Qualitative methods were found to be the most suitable for this thesis. The methods that was utilised were a case study strategy, semi structured interviews, focus groups, observations and analysis of secondary sources. In this study different approaches about farmers’ organisations (FO) and small scale farmers’ access to and participation in markets have been utilised to create an analytical context. The study found that food markets in developing countries are lacking in infrastructure, market information and bank credit. The dynamics of the Kenyan market are even more complicated due to its two different marketing channels. Using collective action has the farmers overcome many of these limitations. One change is in the farmers’ mind set from viewing agriculture as a hobby to a business. The farmers have been criticised for defaulting on their contracts, whereas WFP has been criticised delays in payments. Some FO:s have been more successful than others which are a reflection of the barriers within the P4P program itself.