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.

La volatilité des prix alimentaires est devenue un sujet de préoccupation constante dans les pays en développement suite à la flambée des prix des produits alimentaires en 2007/08 et 2010/11. Cette thèse s’intéresse à la caractérisation de la volatilité des prix au Burkina Faso. La volatilité des prix est définie comme la part imprévisible des variations de prix. Les objectifs de cette thèse sont en particulier i) d’évaluer les caractéristiques de la volatilité des prix du maïs au Burkina Faso, ii) d’analyser ses déterminants et iii) ses impacts sur le comportement des producteurs. Pour répondre à ces questions complémentaires, nous avons combiné des données originales et riches de prix céréaliers sur plusieurs marchés et des données sur l’activité agricole de près de 2000 producteurs sur l’ensemble du territoire Burkinabé. Plusieurs résultats émergent dans cette thèse. Premièrement, ces données ont permis d’isoler le secteur clé du maïs pour ensuite présenter de manière détaillée les données sur les prix du maïs et sur l’activité agricole des ménages utilisés dans la suite de la thèse (chapitre 1). Deuxièmement, l’analyse des séries de prix du maïs sur chaque marché propose le processus ARCH comme modèle de séries chronologiques qui explique le mieux les caractéristiques de la volatilité des prix sur la majorité des marchés. Sur ces marchés les baisses et les hausses de prix ont une contribution similaire sur la volatilité des prix, et seuls les chocs de court terme l’affectent. Les autres marchés sont caractérisés par une persistance de la volatilité avec un effet différencié des variations de prix qui s’expliquent par les caractéristiques géographiques (chapitre 2). Troisièmement, l'analyse des séries de prix en panel révèle que la volatilité des prix du maïs est élevée sur les marchés les plus enclavés (chapitre 3). Quatrièmement, l’analyse des séries de prix du maïs combinés aux données sur l’activité agricole des ménages indiquent qu’une hausse des prix du maïs accroît l'utilisation des engrais chimiques. Toutefois, les variations de prix imprévisibles diminuent le niveau d'utilisation de ces engrais ; tandis que les variations des prix prévisibles n’ont aucun effet significatif sur leur utilisation (chapitre 4). La principale originalité de cette thèse réside dans le traitement des questions relatives à la volatilité des prix à l’échelle des marchés locaux et à un niveau microéconomique avec des données de ménage, alors que cette problématique est généralement perçue sous un angle macroéconomique à l’échelle internationale. / Food price volatility is an ongoing concern in developing countries since the food price spikes in 2007/08 and 2010/11. This dissertation focuses on the patterns of food price volatility in Burkina Faso. Price volatility is defined as the unpredictable component of price variations. The aim of this dissertation is to contribute to a better understanding of three complementary issues i) the nature of maize price volatility in Burkina Faso, ii) its determinants and iii) its impacts on agricultural producers’ behavior. We combine an original database of grain prices on 28 local markets in the last 15 years and a panel database of almost 2,000 farm households’ production choices throughout the. Our results can be summarized as follows. First, these data allowed isolating the key sector of maize and then presenting detailed data on maize price series and the agricultural activity of households used in the remainder of this thesis (chapter 1). Second, the analysis of maize price series in each market suggests that ARCH model as the dominant time-series model to describe price volatility patterns in most markets in Burkina Faso. In these markets, price drops and peaks have a similar contribution to price volatility, and only recent episodes of price variations increase current volatility. Other markets are characterized by long term volatility episodes with a differential effect of price variations due to the geographical position (Chapter 2).Third, the analysis with panel method of maize price series shows that maize price volatility is greater in remote markets (Chapter 3). Fourth, by combining price series on local cereal markets and a panel data set on farm households’ production choices, we find that higher maize prices increase the quantity of chemical fertilizer use. However, unpredictable maize price variations decrease the level of fertilizer use; while predictable maize prices have no significant effect on fertilizer use (Chapter 4). The novelty of this thesis lies in the analysis of price volatility on local markets and at a micro level with household data, whereas this issue is usually perceived at the macroeconomic scale.

traders are perceived to extract monopoly rents from farmers by offering very low prices. However, little attempt has been made to understand the behaviour of private traders and the factors that influence their behaviour. This study, therefore, examines the behaviour of private traders and determines the factors influencing their behaviour by means of the Chi-squared test. It further identifies the characteristics of smallholder farmers and private traders transacting with each other and examines the pricing, grading and weighting systems used by private traders, as well as the relationship that exists between farmers and private traders. Understanding private trader behaviour, factors influencing this behaviour, and the relationship between farmers and these private traders are important questions and have great implications for policy. Primary data was used in this study which involved interviews and direct observations with both private traders and smallholder farmers. The sample sizes for private traders and smallholder farmers were 50 and 200, respectively. The data was collected in the Kalomo District of Zambia between June and August, 2015. Only those farmers that transact with private traders or use assembly traders as the marketing channel were included in this study. The data collected was analysed using gross marketing margin, the Chi-squared test and descriptive statistics. The measure of the extent of opportunistic behaviour was also used to achieve the study objectives. The findings show that the mean price paid by private traders was ZMW 0.989 (USD 0.13) per kg and private traders were the ones who determine the prices and grades of maize. The private traders also weigh the maize and the smallholder farmers have little control on the final weight of the maize, as they do not participate in the weighing. This indicates that the private traders have power in the determination of the weight of maize. The majority of the private traders were found to behave opportunistically, accounting for 58 % of the surveyed traders. Experience and education level of the private traders were found to influence their behaviour. Given the importance of the above factors in influencing private trader behaviour, particularly experience and education, the results suggest that monitoring of the maize trading could potentially significantly reduce opportunistic behaviour among these less-experienced and less-educated traders. Lastly, the study reveals that 68.5 % of the smallholder farmers did not trust the private traders, whereas 46 % of the private traders did trust the farmers. The findings of this study indicate great potential for public sector investments in organisations that ensure standard weights (such as the Zambia Weights and Measures Agency 'ZWMA') and grades for maize. The ZWMA is the Zambian organisation responsible for enforcing weight institutions. An agency enforcing grading institutions for the smallholder maize farmers, however, does not exist in Zambia. Investment in such organisations would increase the levels of trust between farmers and traders, as neither would be suspicious of the weight or grade obtained, and possible opportunistic behaviour would be reduced. The suggestions and recommendations given by this study should help reduce the possibilities for opportunistic behaviour and exploitation of smallholder farmers. Because this study is in line with Zambia's poverty reduction plan to reduce poverty levels through increased agricultural production and improved maize trading among smallholder farmers, the recommendations given will help improve maize trading and the livelihoods of smallholder farmers. This is because they will be able to sell their maize at higher prices owing to reduced opportunistic behaviour of private traders, thus realising profits. The development of a grading system will lead to a better trading environment for both smallholder farmers and private traders, as both parties will be certain of the maize quality. In conclusion, a trading environment where organisations and institutions are in place, monitored and enforced to ensure reliable grading and weighing systems will help improve maize trading by smallholder farmers and private traders in Zambia. The improved maize trading will be the result of reduced opportunistic behaviour. This will ultimately increase the welfare of smallholder farmers and improve their livelihoods, which will contribute towards the reduction of the poverty levels in Zambia. / Dissertation (MSc (Agric))--University of Pretoria, 2016. / Agricultural Economics, Extension and Rural Development / MSc (Agric) / Unrestricted

Submitted by Nara Lays Domingues Viana Oliveira (naradv) on 2015-07-07T15:00:58Z No. of bitstreams: 1 katiane.pdf: 351762 bytes, checksum: 315dcef5eaf98ff120848c68ab48e8aa (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2015-07-07T15:00:58Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 katiane.pdf: 351762 bytes, checksum: 315dcef5eaf98ff120848c68ab48e8aa (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014 / Nenhuma / Este estudo tem como objetivo apontar os determinantes mais relevantes na definição do preço médio do milho exportado no mercado mundial, no intuito de prover informações aos agentes econômicos. Trata do panorama atual do mercado mundial de milho, partindo-se de 2000, quando houve o boom dos preços das commodities. Nesse sentido, o modelo econométrico proposto para o presente estudo consiste no modelo estatístico estruturado com base em dados em painel, com periodicidade anual entre o período de 2000 a 2012. Para uma melhor compreensão das análises, primeiramente apresentou-se, nos primeiros capítulos, uma revisão dos conceitos teóricos e empíricos que abordam os principais fatores determinantes na definição do preço médio do milho exportado. Posteriormente, analisou-se se o exercício desenvolvido trata-se realmente de um modelo de dados em painel, realizando o teste F para significância em conjunto das dummies de país. Também foi definido através do teste de Hausman que o estimador de efeito fixo é o indicado. Assim, foram elaborados quatro modelos, sendo que o modelo D instrumentalizando a variável exportação de milho em kg pela variável exportação de milho em kg defasada em 1 período apresentou os resultados mais consistentes e conclusivos em relação ao embasamento teórico dos capítulos iniciais. Dentre os principais resultados, fica evidenciada que o principal determinante da alteração do preço de exportação do milho é a variável taxa de câmbio real efetiva. Também mostraram-se significativas as variáveis exportações (em kg) de milho do país para o mundo; exportações de carne suína dos principais destinos das exportações de milho do país; e população urbana dos principais destinos das exportações de milho do país. / The objective of this study is to indicate the most important determinants in the worldwide exported maize average price in order to provide information to economic agents. Treats the world maize market current situation, starting at 2000 when there was a boom in commodity prices. This way, the econometric model proposed for this study is structured in the statistical model based on panel data on an annual basis between the period 2000 up to 2012. For the analysis better understanding, a review of theoretical and empirical concepts was previously presented in the early chapters, which deals the main factors in defining the exported maize average price. After, the developed exercise was analyzed performing the F test for significance in all the country dummies, in order to prove that this is really a panel data model. Was also defined by the Hausman test that is indicated the fixed effect estimator to this model. Thus, four models were made, and the D model, instrumenting the variable maize export (in kg) with the variable maize export (in kg) lagged 1 period, and it presented most consistent and conclusive results regarding the theoretical basis of the initial chapters. Among the main results, it is evident that the main determinant of the maize export price variation is the real effective exchange rate variable. Also revealed that the variables country maize exports (in kg) to the world; pork meat exports of the main maize export destinations; and urban population of the main maize export destinations are significant.