Thesis (MScFor (Forest and Wood Science))--University of Stellenbosch, 2005. / This study is about marketing of Uapaca kirkiana fruit in Zambia, a fruit that has great economic
value especially among the rural and urban poor. It contributes to general food security. In
southern Africa, farmers and other stakeholders have identified Uapaca as a priority species for
domestication. Current agroforestry initiatives are promoting integration of indigenous trees into
farming systems to provide marketable products for income generation. Domestication of trees
however, depends on expanding the market demand for tree products. There is considerable
evidence that expanding market opportunities is critical for the success of domestication
innovations but farmers have been introduced to domestication with little consideration for
marketing. The existing market potential can be achieved through sound knowledge on markets
and marketing. Information on the marketing of Uapaca fruit is inadequate. This study,
therefore, aimed at generating information on the marketing of Uapaca kirkiana fruit, including
the basic conditions of demand and supply of the fruit.
The main study was conducted in Chipata and Ndola districts in the Eastern and Copperbelt
provinces respectively, while fruit pricing was conducted in Lusaka district in Lusaka Province.
Questionnaires and participatory research methods were used to collect the data. A total of 37
markets involving 49 collectors, 59 retailers, 189 consumers and 20 government forest workers
are included in the study.
The study reveals that there is demand for the fresh and secondary products of the fruit and hence
substantial fruit trading exists in Zambia. However, the marketing system is characterised by
underdevelopment. There is insufficient capacity to satisfy the demand for the fruit and
institutional /policy support to Uapaca fruit market expansion. Currently, only basic technology
for product development exists. The results suggest a need to address policy and capacity
development for expansion of Uapaca kirkiana fruit industry. To improve the Uapaca trade
industry, the study proposes developing and scaling up policy strategies, fruit processing sector,
research-extension-trader-agribusiness linkages, infrastructure development and knowledge
generation for improved understanding of the Uapaca fruit markets.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/2652 |
| Date | 03 1900 |
| Creators | Moombe, Kaala Bweembelo |
| Contributors | Ham, Cori, Clark, Jeannette, Franzel, Steve, Ackerman, P. A., University of Stellenbosch. Faculty of Agrisciences. Dept. of Forest and Wood Science. |
| Publisher | Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Rights | University of Stellenbosch |
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