AGRIBUSINESS AND MARKET COMPENDIUM

Table of Contents
i
1 INTRODUCTION ........................ 1
1.1 MARKET AND MARKETING DEFINED.........................1
1.2 TYPES OF MARKETS.............................................2
1.3 HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT OF MARKETING...............3
1.4 MARKETING AND OTHER DISCIPLINES......................5
1.5 BASIC APPROACHES TO THE STUDY OF MARKETING .....6
1.5.1 Commodity Approach ................................. 6
1.5.2 Functional Approach................................... 7
1.5.3 Institutional Approach ................................ 7
1.6 MAJOR CLASSIFICATION OF COMMODITIES MARKETED .8
1.6.1 Consumer‟s Goods ..................................... 8
1.6.2 Industrial Goods ........................................ 9
1.7 THE ROLE OF MARKETING...................................10
2 AGRICULTURAL MARKETING....................... 16
2.1 AGRICULTURAL MARKETING DEFINED ....................17
2.2 DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS OF AGRICULTURAL
PRODUCTION AND MARKETING.............................21
2.3 FUNCTIONS OF AGRICULTURAL MARKETING.............23
2.3.1 Utility Generation Function ........................ 27
2.3.2 Resource Allocation Function ..................... 32
2.3.3 Welfare Generation Function ..................... 35
2.4 THE ROLE OF GOVERNMENT IN THE MARKETING
SYSTEM .........................................................36
2.5 COMMON MARKETING PROBLEMS IN DEVELOPING
COUNTRIES.....................................................41
2.6 RISK ELEMENT IN AGRICULTURAL MARKETING .........42

Table of Contents
ii
3 MARKETING INSTITUTIONS AND COMMODITY
CHAINS 45
3.1 MARKETING INSTITUTIONS .................................45
3.2 MIDDLEMEN ....................................................45
3.2.1 Merchant Middlemen ................................ 46
3.3 COMMODITY CHAIN...........................................57
3.3.1 The Nature of Commodity Chain ................ 58
3.3.2 A Typical Commodity Chain for Agricultural
Products .................................................. 59
4 CO-OPERATIVES AND CROP BOARDS........... 62
4.1 CO-OPERATIVE DEFINED ....................................62
4.2 THE RATIONALE OF COOPERATIVE ........................62
4.3 REASON FOR FORMATION OF CO-OPERATIVES..........63
4.4 BASIC PRINCIPLES OF COOPERATIVES ....................64
4.5 WAYS OF FORMING CO-OPERATIVE MARKETING .......68
4.5.1 Government Coerced Co-operative Marketing69
4.5.2 Voluntary Co-operative Marketing............... 69
4.6 DISTINGUISHING FEATURES OF CO-OPERATIVES.......69
4.7 TYPES OF CO-OPERATIVES ..................................71
4.7.1 Machinery Sharing Co-operative................. 71
4.7.2 Production Co-operative............................ 72
4.7.3 Marketing Co-operative............................. 73
4.7.4 Cooperation in Supply of Farm Requisites.... 74
4.7.5 Service Co-operative ................................ 74
4.7.6 Processing Co-operatives .......................... 75
4.7.7 Consumer Co-operative ............................ 75
4.8 THE HISTORY OF CO-OPERATIVE MARKETING IN
TANZANIA.......................................................75

Table of Contents
iii
4.9 FACTORS LIMITING GROWTH OF AGRICULTURAL
MARKETING CO-OPERATIVES ...............................77
4.10 THE FUTURE OF AGRICULTURAL MARKETING CO-
OPERATIVES ....................................................78
4.11 CROP MARKETING BOARDS IN TANZANIA................78
4.11.1 The History of Agricultural Marketing Boards79
4.11.2 Classification of Agricultural Marketing
Boards..................................................... 80
4.11.3 Functions of Marketing Boards................. 82
4.11.4 Failures of Agricultural Marketing Boards... 82
4.11.5 Justification for the Persistence of
Agricultural Marketing Boards...................... 83
4.12 EVOLUTION OF GRAIN MARKETING ORGANISATIONS IN
TANZANIA.......................................................86
5.1 MARKETING MANAGEMENT ........................ 93
5.1 THE MARKETING CONCEPT..................................93
5.2 MARKETING AND PRODUCTION (SELLING) ORIENTATION
CONCEPTS.......................................................95
5.3 THE MARKETING MANAGEMENT PROCESS ...............99
5.4 MARKETING SYSTEM ENVIRONMENT ....................100
5.4.1 External forces ...................................... 101
5.4.2 Internal Forces ...................................... 105
5.5 MARKETING STRATEGY PLANNING.......................107
5.5.1 Target Market ....................................... 107
5.5.2 Marketing Mix........................................ 108
(A) NEW PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT AND PRODUCT
MANAGEMENT ................................................110
5.6 MARKETING DEPARTMENT IN AN ORGANISATION ....119

Table of Contents
iv
6.1 ANALYSIS OF AGRICULTURAL MARKETING
SYSTEM Error! Bookmark not
defined.
6.1 MARKETING EFFICIENCY DEFINEDERROR! BOOKMARK NOT DEFI
6.2 MEASURES OF MARKETING EFFICIENCYERROR! BOOKMARK NOT
6.2.1 Technical EfficiencyError! Bookmark not defined.
6.2.2 Pricing EfficiencyError! Bookmark not defined.
6.3 THE STRUCTURE-CONDUCT-PERFORMANCE-APPROACHERROR! BO
6.3.1 Market StructureError! Bookmark not defined.
6.3.2 Market ConductError! Bookmark not defined.
6.3.3 Market PerformanceError! Bookmark not defined.
6.4 ANALYSIS OF THE PERFORMANCE OF UTILITY
GENERATION MARKETING FUNCTIONSERROR! BOOKMARK NOT D
6.4.1 Storage or Temporal UtilityError! Bookmark not defi
6.4.2 Transport or Transport UtilityError! Bookmark not de
6.4.3 Processing or Form UtilityError! Bookmark not defin
7 MARKETING INFORMATION SYSTEM AND
RESEARCH Error! Bookmark not
defined.
7.1 MARKET INFORMATION SYSTEMSERROR! BOOKMARK NOT DEFIN
7.1.1 Marketing Information System DefinedError! Bookmar
7.1.2 Benefits and Uses of an MkISError! Bookmark not de
7.2 MARKETING RESEARCHERROR! BOOKMARK NOT DEFINED.
7.2.1 The Role of Marketing ResearchError! Bookmark not
7.2.2 Some Limitations of Marketing ResearchError! Bookma
7.2.3 Marketing Research ProcedureError! Bookmark not d
7.2.4 Steps in Marketing ResearchError! Bookmark not de
7.2.5 Sources of Marketing DataError! Bookmark not defi

Table of Contents
v
7.2.6 Techniques for Primary Data CollectionError! Bookmar
7.2.7 Data Analysis TechniquesError! Bookmark not defin

Table of Contents
1
UNIT ONE
1 INTRODUCTION
1.1 Market and Marketing Defined
Market is one of those areas that one could get four
different answers if he posed a question seeking its
meaning to four experts. Clearly, there are many
usages of the term in economic theory, in business in
general, and in marketing in particular. The following
definitions extracted from literature will give you an
idea about what market is:
(a) Market is a place where sellers and buyers meet,
goods or services are offered for sale.
(b) Market is an area in which a businessperson plans
to locate business and from which he or she will
draw customers.
(c) Market is demand made by a certain group of
potential buyers for a product or service.
(d) Market is people with needs to satisfy, money to
spend, and willingness to spend it.
(e) Market exists wherever a supply of goods is
meeting the corresponding demand and price is
being determined.
From the above definitions it can be deduced that
market is not just a place, area or product, it is rather a
condition that enables a group of potential customers

Table of Contents
2
with similar needs who are willing to exchange
something of value with sellers who can satisfy those
needs.
1.2 Types of Markets
There are several types of markets depending on the
criterion used:
(a) Location – e.g. Morogoro market, Kariakoo
market, etc
(b) Product – e.g. Tomato market, used car
market, etc
(c) Time – seasonal market e.g. December
Christmas tree market, etc.
(d) Level - e.g. the retail food market, wholesale
market etc
(e) Media- electronic market (E-commerce)
Similarly, marketing is defined in different way:
(a) Basic definition: Marketing is the process of
goods flow to satisfying human needs by
bringing products to people in the proper form
and at the proper time and place
(b) The product definition: Marketing is the
performance of all the transactions and services
associated with the flow of a good from the point
of initial production to the final consumer

Table of Contents
3
(c) The marketing firm‟s definition: Marketing is
complete management concept through which
the company sells itself as well as its line of
products.
(d) Society‟s definition: Marketing is all the
processes necessary to determine consumers‟
surplus and societal needs and to conceptualise
and effect their fulfilment.
For the purpose of this course, the first definition is
adopted with minor modification. Thus marketing is a
process of satisfying human needs by bringing products
to people at the proper time and place, and in the
proper form they want them. Of course the process of a
commodity to change hands from a seller to a buyer at
(a price) may need some negotiations. This can be
done face-to-face at some physical locations (e.g.
farmers‟ market), or it can be done indirectly through a
complex network that links middlemen, buyers, and
sellers living far apart
1.3 Historical Development of Marketing
The role of marketing in the society dates back to the
immergence of humanity. From the earliest days men
NOTE:
Frequently the term “marketing” is used to include the activities involved in providing consumers
with such services as those offered by insurance, financial institutions (e.g. banks), accounting,
hotel, entertainment, etc. Although this is entirely justifiable, a consideration of services brings
so many complexities into an introductory course of marketing like this one.

Table of Contents
4
realised that different men could make different
products, and that trade could make products available
in different places. Trade started from person to
person, but grew to involve different towns and
different land.
Marketing develops as a society and its economy
develop. The need for marketing arises and grows as a
society moves from an economy of agriculture and self-
sufficiency to an economy built around industrialisation
and urbanisation. In an agrarian economy, the people
are largely self-sufficient. They grow their own food,
make their own clothes, and build their own houses and
tools. Marketing does not exist because there is no
exchange. As time passes, however, the concept of
division of labour begins to evolve. People concentrates
on producing the items in which they excel, the process
known as specialisation. This results in their producing
more than they need of some items. Whenever people
make more than they need or want more than they
make, the foundation is laid for trade, and trade
(exchange) is the heart of marketing.
At first the exchange process is a simple one. The
emphasis is largely on the production of basics, which
usually are in short supply, and the exchanges are very
local - among neighbours or perhaps among
neighbouring villages. In the next step in the evolution
of marketing, small producers begin to manufacture

Table of Contents
5
their goods in large quantities in anticipation of future
orders. Further division of labour occurs, and a type of
business develops to help sell the increased output. The
person doing this business, which acts as an
intermediary between producers and consumers - is
called a middleman. In order to facilitate
communication and buying and selling, the various
interested parties tend to settle near each other.
Trading centres are thus formed. There are nations
today, including Tanzania, which are going through
these earlier stages of economic development
1.4 Marketing and Other Disciplines
Marketing is interdisciplinary in nature, but it draws
heavily form economics. Economics is engaged in the
study of how the society produce, divide, exchange and
use the scarce things people want, i.e. how human
wants are satisfied. Wants clearly cannot be satisfied
without all the other activities necessary to place
tangible goods in the hands of consumers.
Consequently, as a branch of economics, a study of
marketing draws on such economic concepts as the law
of diminishing returns, marginal cost, marginal revenue,
specialization of labour etc.
Apart from being inclined to economics, marketing is
also heavily indebted to many other disciplines
including psychology, which expand marketing
knowledge about consumer motivation, buying habits

Table of Contents
6
and advertising appeals. Indeed marketing managers
of the future will have to be thoroughly grounded in the
concepts and knowledge of psychology. Other fields
include communication skills, sociology, mathematics,
statistics and anthropology.
1.5 Basic Approaches to the Study of Marketing
Marketing is commonly studied through three basic
approaches:
1. Commodity approach
2. Functional approach
3. Institutional approach
1.5.1 Commodity Approach
The commodity approach involves a study of how
goods move (in different forms) from points of
production to the consumer or user on a commodity
basis. For example, we might take a large number of
farm products and study how each of them is
marketed. In such a study, we would note where each
product is produced. Who are the people engaged in
buying and selling it, how it is transported, and what
problems of advertising, financing and storage are
involved. By repeating this procedure for different
products e.g. rubber, cotton, coffee, paddy, gold,
diamond, shoes, cars, radios, we could get a full picture
of the field of marketing.

Table of Contents
7
1.5.2 Functional Approach
A second approach to the study of marketing, known as
the functional approach, is through the classification
and study of specialized activities or functions involved
in transferring goods to consumers. To illustrate: In
the marketing of wheat, certain specialized activities
are performed. Someone must engage in selling
activities, someone else in buying. Still others assume
responsibility for the transportation of wheat to those
places where it is desired or for its storage to meet
future wants.
By a careful investigation how each of these activities
or functions is performer, together with an analysis of
the cost and problems involved, we might obtain an
understanding of marketing.
1.5.3 Institutional Approach
The third major approach to the study of marketing-
the institutional approach – considers the various
middlemen and facilitating agencies, which perform the
marketing functions. This approach emphasizes the
types of middlemen and agencies involved. To
continue with the wheat example, this approach would
require an investigation of the operating methods,
problems, and costs of the local assembler who
purchases the farmer‟s grain, of the wholesaler or
interregional trader, who holds it until another buyer

Table of Contents
8
can be found, and of truck owner and the railway
company, which provides transport action.
Although there are still other approaches (such as the
historical, cost, behavioural systems, and managerial)
through which the students may study marketing, the
aforementioned approaches – commodity, functional,
and institutional – represent those which experience
has proved to be of greatest value, especially to the
beginning student. Put another way, the nature of
marketing is such that it can best be understood if all
three of these approaches are used in covering various
aspects of the subject.
1.6 Major Classification of Commodities Marketed
Marketing is performed for a great variety of
commodities, extending from the primary raw materials
that must be placed in the hands of manufacturers to
the manufactured and agricultural goods, which end up
in the consumer‟s possession. Broadly speaking, these
goods may be divided into two major groups depending
on the final buyer of the good: consumer goods and
industrial goods.
1.6.1 Consumer’s Goods
These are goods which find their final market among
ultimate consumers, that is, persons use them to satisfy
personal or household wants, e.g. bread, TV set, radio,
shirts, cars, bulbs, etc.

Table of Contents
9
1.6.2 Industrial Goods
These are goods destined for use in producing other
goods, e.g. spare parts, raw cotton, steel, metal sheets,
iron bars, automobile batteries, etc. For simplicity,
industrial goods are sharply distinguishable from
consumers‟ goods in three ways:
I. By the market in which they are consumed
II. By the purpose for which they are bought,
III. By the methods by which they are marketed.
IV. By the quantity marketed
As regards to the market, industrial goods are
consumed by enterprises that use them in producing
consumers‟ goods or other industrial goods and
services. Generally their markets lies among companies
engaged in manufacturing, mining and construction
work, as well as the service industries (hotels,
theatres), public and private institutions (hospitals,
schools), commercial institutions (supermarkets, banks,
office buildings), and government institutions. The
distinction based on purpose follows directly from that
based on the market: Industrial goods are bought to
aid in the furthering of production, rendering services
or conducting business enterprises. Regarding the
method, trade channels for industrial goods are shorter
than channels for consumers‟ goods, so that fewer
middlemen are involved and direct sale is relatively
more important.

Table of Contents
10
Certain goods may be classified as either Consumers‟ or
industrial goods, depending upon whether they are
bought for the gratification of personal or household
wants or for use in business. For instance, an
automobile battery sold for use in a family car is a
consumers‟ good, but one sold for use in hospital
vehicle is an industrial good.
1.7 The Role of Marketing
To appreciate the role played by marketing, it is
important to start by seeking an understanding of its
nature. Marketing, serves as the bridge between
production and consumption. It includes all the
activities necessary to place tangible goods in the
hands of consumers (households & firms). In other
words marketing does not include activities involved in
the process of creating the goods themselves i.e.
production. In marketing of agricultural products such
as crops one would say marketing entails all activities
involved in moving a product from a tree to a plate.
The plate may be in the local area or abroad. Examples
of marketing task/ activities in Tanzania:
- The harvesting process of maize, coffee,
cotton, tomatoes, etc.
- Trucks loaded with sacks of maize, cabbage, rice,
tobacco, etc heading to town and cities.
- Factories receiving raw materials.

Table of Contents
11
- Milling machines and plants processing paddy,
maize, cotton, milk, into other forms desired by
consumers.
- Consumer goods being loaded into trucks and
mkokoteni (carts) and sent for sale through dealers
domestically and abroad.
- Salesmen housemen receiving money in exchange
of goods from customers in grocery store, pubs,
shopping centres, etc.
- Matching-gays (machinga) moving up and down
the streets of towns.
- Food vendors alongside roads selling bans, rice etc.
- Railway trains moving in and out from the cities
carrying merchandise.
- Banks carrying out purchase transaction, etc.
If one considered all such activities taking place
throughout the entire United Republic of Tanzania, He
would be amazed at their magnitude. The gigantic
nature of marketing activities is indicated by the fact
that it involves the movement of commodities worth
trillions of money annually. To accomplish the task,
thousands of people are employed as salesmen,
advertisers, retailers, whole sellers, warehousemen,
product planners, market researchers, transporters,
bankers, speculators, and others too numerous to
mention. The role of marketing in the economy can be
summarised in the box below. A student is advised to
find explanation on each of the items in the box.

Table of Contents
12
Social unrest
It is also widely recognised that marketing is vital in
transforming primitive societies into modern ones. This
can be explained by the marketing induced
development theory. The theory explains the transition
process from subsistence to commercial form of
production in the farming sector. Its basic paradigm
holds that efficient marketing system generates prices
that induce economic development through influencing
resource allocation. For this to happen a farm
household should be integrated into the main stream of
the economy. That means the farm household should
stop being a self-sufficient, home–consumption
oriented production unit, which internally decides on
production and consumption without relating to any
external market. That is demand and supply forces are
TThhee RRoollee ooff MMaarrkkeettiinngg
PPoossiittiivvee ccoonnttrriibbuuttiioonn
 FFeeeedd tthhee nnaattiioonn
 IImmpprroovvee lliiffee ssttaannddaarrdd
 EEmmppllooyymmeenntt
 EEccoonnoommiicc ggrroowwtthh
IItt hhaass ssoommee aaddvveerrssee eeffffeeccttss ttoooo ssuucchh aass
 SSpprreeaadd ddiisseeaasseess
 DDeessttrrooyy ccuullttuurree
 WWiiddeenn tthhee ggaapp bbeettwweeeenn tthhee rriicchh aanndd tthhee ppoooorr
 nnnnkk
 SSoocciiaall uunnrreesstt

Table of Contents
13
adjusted internally. All needs of the family are satisfied
out of own production; whatever is needed may be
produced even though at high costs because the farm
may be having a comparative disadvantage in
producing it. Figure 1 shows a transition process when
a self-sufficient family is integrating into the commercial
marketing system. The inner ring shows the self-
sufficient household, which is composed of family,
farm, resources and consumption goods.
Self-sufficient
household
Produce
Farm
Resources
Family
Factor market
Firms
Households
Product market
Consumer
goods
Resources
Production
inputs
Products
Expenditure
Revenue
Input costsHousehold income
Figure 1: A self-sufficient household integrating
into the marketing system
The family uses resources at its disposal, for example
labour and land, to work on the farm and produce
goods, which are in turn consumed by the family.
Outside the household there is the main stream of the

Table of Contents
14
economy, comprised of households, firms, factor
market and consumer goods market. When the
household is exposed to the external world, it starts
producing not only to its local consumption but also to
the needs of the others. The self-sufficient household
disintegrates and its components become absolved in
respective components of the economic system. The
household joins other households, resources join the
factor market, consumption goods find their way to the
consumer goods market and farm joins firms. The
household becomes part of the national marketing
system.
Review questions
1. How would you describe marketing to someone
who has no knowledge of the subject?
2. Marketing, although a branch of economics is
heavily indebted to many other disciplines. Discuss
and illustrate the validity of this statement.
3. In not more than 500 words explain how market
evolved, carefully comparing marketing in the early
days and marketing today.
4. Carefully, distinguish between industrial goods and
consumers‟ goods, using examples in your
explanation. Give examples of three products,
which fit in both classifications.
5. Discuss the role of marketing in the economy of
your country. It is said that marketing can
transform primitive societies from subsistence-

Table of Contents
15
home consumption oriented kind of production to
market oriented societies. Discuss.

Table of Contents
16
UNIT TWO
2 AGRICULTURAL MARKETING
One of the biggest problems that countries in the
transitional stage face is how to market their hard
grown agricultural products, both inland and for export.
The aspect of professional agricultural marketing is
regarded as a way to overcome seasonal agricultural
surpluses and shortages of food supply and also as a
means of generating more income.
The marketing of agricultural produce has its own
unique problems and requires specialised attention due
to the bulkiness and perishable nature of the products
involved. Most of these products are basic foodstuffs,
whose price and distribution are considered strategic by
governments and thus the establishment of statutory
institutions is required within the marketing of
agricultural produce.
Successful marketing of agricultural products is
dependent on the creation of conducive circumstances
as well as the provision of resources and services. The
effective marketing channels have to include
infrastructure and facilities such as storage, handling,
transporting, processing, packaging and retailing
services. It will include product location, timing, types,
quantity, quality, prices and any other information

Table of Contents
17
required by producers and consumers to make
beneficial decisions.
To further enhance the development of export
marketing, one has to invest in the entrepreneurial and
technical skills of personnel from all facets of the
marketing process, including the capability to choose
between different products, types, seasons, markets
and processing options to maximise farming income.
Research must be invested into product varieties, post-
harvest handling, preservation, processing, preparation
and presentation. Development of public and private
services required by the producers to market products
such as: marketing; financing; information
dissemination; market research; predictions and
estimations dispute resolution; representation and co-
ordination is mandatory.
2.1 Agricultural Marketing Defined
Agricultural marketing has been defined in various ways
by different authors depending on one‟s school of
thought. For the purpose of this course the definition
by Kohls and Uhl (1990) has been adopted. They define
agricultural marketing as the performance of all
business activities (marketing functions) involved in the
flow of goods and services from the point of initial
agricultural production until the same goods are in the
hands of ultimate consumers. The entire marketing

Table of Contents
18
process can be conceptualised by looking at the
following example

19
A farmer harvests wheat from his field
He sells wheat to the trader
The trader sells the wheat to the millers
The miller sells the wheat flour to the shop owner
The shop owner sells the flour to the bakeries
The bakeries sell bread to the retailer
The retailer sells the bread to the final consumer
From this example it can be noted that, at one extreme, there is
a producer (farmer) and at the other a consumer. All the
intermediate activities are directly related to marketing.
Marketing decision should recognize the interdependence
between the three key actors in the system i.e. producer,
middlemen and consumer. Economic conflicts always arise
among them:
 Consumers want to secure the highest food value (quality
and quantity) at the lowest possible price.
 Producers are interested in getting the highest possible
returns from the sale of their products.
 Middlemen are seeking to earn the greatest profit possible.
Farmer Middle men Consumer
Marketing

20
From the diagram above, it can be noted that If A is to
increase either:
C should increase while B constant
B decreases while C constant, or
B and C should both increase
This has a significant policy implication. Any policy aimed at
improving the efficiency of the marketing system should
recognise and reconcile these conflicting tendencies. The
general feeling among traditional policy-makers is that
middlemen are exploitative in nature. They exploit producers
and consumers. The issues that a reader may look into critically
are whether middlemen can be eliminated in the marketing
system, and whether middlemen are always exploitative and
why. In other words; what would happen if middlemen were
eliminated in the system, and when do middlemen become
considered exploitative.
Farm-gate price Middlemen‟s profit Retail price
=+
A B C

21
2.2 Distinguishing Characteristics of Agricultural
Production and Marketing
Agricultural marketing deserves a separate treatment from
marketing of manufactured goods because of the nature of
production and commodity characteristics.
(i) Because of its central role in the economy of developing
countries, agricultural production and marketing is
subjected to numerous policy distortions.
(ii) Agricultural production is to a great extent dependent on
weather as well as biological patterns of reproduction. All
these in most cases are beyond the control of the
producer. Thus when consumer demand changes, a
farmer may want to react by changing his output through
planting more or less or breeding more animals or fewer
animals. However the output realized is dependent on
good or bad weather, presence or absence of disease etc.
(iii)Time lag - It takes long to change substantially the
production of some commodities. For example coffee, sisal
must be planted several years in advance before
production can be realized. This in turn means that, during
the time full production is being awaited demand
conditions may change. For example changes in
consumer‟s tastes may find large amounts of agricultural
resources being devoted to the production of something
that is no longer so greatly desired. This may happen if
high prices resulting from shortages of production destroy
the consumer market for that product.

22
(iv)Farmers themselves may also find it difficult to improve
the prices they receive through independent or group
activity. This is made worse by the fact that farmers are
price takers such that they cannot individually influence
the price of their products through decisions on their
outputs. In order to increase the price they receive by
controlling supplies or through advertising programs they
must act as a group e.g. cooperatives. However the fact
that farmers are so many, scattered, sometimes ignorant,
and are faced with different economic circumstances
frustrates any attempts to organize themselves and act
jointly.
(v) There is always a free rider problem and pooling effect.
These free-riders constrain group efforts that require each
member to sacrifice for the overall welfare of the group
when benefits of the group go to everyone regardless of
their participation.
(vi)Cost-price squeeze problem - This is through the fact that
competitive conditions of agriculture tend to keep farm
prices close to the cost of production. The falling farm
prices are not usually accompanied by falling farm cost.
On the other hand rising farm prices attract farmers more
lucrative enterprises and tend to bid up prices/cost of
factors of production. To make things worse we find that
buyers of the farm products have superior bargaining
powers as compared to farmers. This is because these
buyers are usually larger and have better marketing
information than farmers. Also through contractual buying

23
food marketing forms tend to gain some control over farm
decisions as well as farm markets.
2.3 Functions of Agricultural Marketing
The system of production and marketing in agriculture can be
described as the interaction and outcome of decisions by
various actors (stakeholders) in pursuit of a number of specific
activities, each following certain economic principles. In this
setting, the system of production and marketing fulfils three
basic functions: utility generation, resource allocation and
welfare generation. This is shown as interplay of actors and
their activities in Table 1. The actors are farmers, traders,
consumers and public decision makers, each playing a specific
role in the system.

24
nctio Activity
(Economic
principle)
Actors
Private decision makers
Farmers Traders/Middlemen Consumer

25
lity
nerat
n
Transportation
(Profit
maximisation)
Storage
(Profit
maximisation)
Processing
(Profit
maximisation)
Transaction and
price finding
(Marginal
cost=Price=Mar
ginal utility
(MC=P=MU)
From farm to
assembly markets
In small
stores/bags for
own consumption
or sale
For own
consumption
From assembly
markets to
wholesale/retail
markets
Limited storage
because turnover is
more important
Industrial milling
and processing
From
retailer to
home
Hardly any
storage
Partial
processing
and cooking
Opportuni
ty value
of
produce
consumed
at home
or not
sold
First
transac
tion in
assemb
ly
market
s:
produc
er price
Intermedi
ate
transactio
n in trade
sector:
various
market
prices
Transacti
on at
retail
markets:
consumer
price
Opportunity
value of
money not
spent

26
sour
ocati
Direction
(Comparative
advantage)
Intensity
(Maximising
returns)
Extent
(economies of
scale)
High farm prices
Specialisation or
diversification
Intensification,
innovation
Increased
production,
increased
marketed surplus
Low costs
Specialisation or
diversification
Improved capacity
utilisation
Expansion of
enterprise
Lower
consumer
prices
Increase in
quantity of
consumptio
n
Increase in
quality of
consumptio
n
elfare
nerat
n
Market
intervention
(Efficiency
maximisation
subject to
acceptable
equity level
Increase in
producer surplus
vs.
taxation/redistribu
tion
Increase in
efficiency gains vs.
taxation, fees,
increasing
competition
Increase in
consumer
surplus Vs
taxation,
support
schemes

Agricultural Marketing
27
2.3.1 Utility Generation Function/Direct functions
Utility generation is the most obvious function of the
market, and has received great attention from scholars.
The activities involved in utility generation are
transportation, storage, processing, transaction or price
finding and facilitation function.
2.3.1.1 Transportation
Transport generates utility in space (spatial utility). If a
trader finds that a commodity in location A is more
valuable in location B, he will buy and transport it from
A to B, thus increasing its utility. However, if the cost of
transporting the good exceeds the perceived gain in
utility, it will not be transported. Transportation involves
variable costs of moving the goods. This activity is
carried out primarily by private decision makers at all
levels (farmers, traders and consumers). However, the
fixed costs of transportation in providing infrastructure
such as roads and communication systems are
generally borne by the public decision maker (who may,
of course, specifically charge user fees for example,
levying toll fees or market fees for the sake of
sustainability of the infrastructure).
2.3.1.2 Storage
Storage generates utility in time (temporal utility). If
to a farmer a product available at harvest is more
valuable at a later point in time, he will store it for later

28
use or sale, thus increasing its utility in time. However,
if the cost of storing the product exceeds the expected
gain in utility, it will not be stored but used or sold
immediately. Storage is often done in privately owned
warehouses on account of private owners. Storage in
privately or publicly owned warehouses on behalf of the
public is found where the public has been given a
responsibility for stabilizing supplies and prices through
public intervention and stocking of reserves.
2.3.1.3 Processing
Processing generates utility in form (formal utility).
Normally, to a consumer a raw material, (for example
cereal grains), will be useful in a different form (for
example flour). Therefore, some middlemen submit the
product to a process of transformation, thus increasing
its utility by processing it. However if the cost of
transforming the product exceeds the perceived gain in
utility, it will not be processed. Processing of goods is
generally left to the private sector where industrial
processing by middlemen and food preparation at the
household level are the major transformation activities.
Here the public sector generally sees very little scope of
intervening.
2.3.1.4 Transactions
Transactions generate utility in ownership. If a
good is more useful to a buyer than to the seller, then
both will agree to exchange ownership at a price, which

29
makes both participants in the transaction better off.
The seller receives money and the buyer receives the
good. However if the transaction costs of bringing
buyer and seller together exceed the mutually
perceived advantage, the transaction will not take
place. This price finding effect of an ownership change
contains valuable information, which should be treated
as a public good. The prices provide information on the
marginal utility and marginal cost of production,
therefore it is of common interest that prices agreed
upon between two negotiating partners on most
products be made publicly available and reported in
such way that other decision makers have access to
and can make use of this information.
Transactions and price finding is clearly the domain of
the private sector. At the level of transactions between
producers and traders prices are determined in
assembly markets. But farmers also take into account
the opportunity value of grain not sold but kept for
home consumption. Thus farmers are aware that also
for grain not sold, there is a price, which they have to
account for, thus consuming it so that marginal utility
equals price. Similarly, consumers who are purchasing
food for consumption do so by keeping in mind the
marginal utility of money, which is not spent on food
but on other items. However, support of price finding
and price reporting are major investments for the public

30
policy makers, to provide transparency and competition
in the marketing system. This implies organizing
markets in a way that competitive price finding can take
place at minimum costs and that price reporting is done
correctly and effectively.
2.3.1.5 Facilitation Functions
These make possible the smooth performance of the
exchange and physical functions. They include:
(i) Standardisation and grading - Here uniform
measurements are established and maintained.
These measurements could be in terms of quality or
quantity. For example, standardisation of maize may
be based on weight per bag, percent of damaged
kernels, moisture content, and percent of foreign
matter. Other bases of standards are used
depending on the type of good, eg fat content, size,
colour, etc. Once the standards have been
established, the commodity is graded based on
those standards. Both hand and mechanical devices
are employed in the grading or sorting process.
Frequently, grading is carried out on a sample basis.
Standardisation and grading are important to
ultimate consumer and industrial buyers, since
(a) Consumers desire goods of uniform
quality, which they may purchase and again to
satisfy their needs.

31
(b) The costs of buying and selling are
decreased because the need for inspection
and samples is reduced.
(c) Lower transportation costs result from the
fact that only the grades worth transporting
are transported.
(d) Lower storage costs result from space
economisation by storing only the grades
worth storing.
(e) Make financing easier and less expensive,
for financial institutions will loan large
amounts and at a lower interest rates on
commodities of definitely known grade.
(f) Improve market intelligence and reduce
marketing risks. Market information is of
considerable more value when it applies to
specific grade.
(ii) Financing - This involves advancing money in order
to carry on the various aspects of marketing. Since
there is a delay between the time of purchase of
raw materials and the sale of the finished good
capital is tied up in the operation. Thus someon
must finance the holding of goods when storage or
delay on selling is involved. Commercial bank or one
tie up his/her own capital resources.
(iii) Packaging, Market research, Risk bearing, Market
intelligence

32
2.3.2 Resource Allocation Function
The process of agricultural transformation consists of
change in the cropping pattern. Cropping pattern
means the proportion of area under different crops.
Allocation of area to different crops (resource
allocation) undergoes a change as a result of changes
in relative profitability of various crops, which is an
outcome of improvements in productivity and changes
in relative price structure.
Price signals indicate the direction into which a farm
enterprise should change its activities. This implies
specialization or diversification as the comparative
advantage may indicate. Further, the intensity by which
an activity is pursued is decided such as to maximize
returns. The extent, to which an activity is followed,
depends on the economies of scale inherent in an
operation. Thus decisions about direction, intensity, and
extent of activities are implicitly reflecting decisions on
resource allocation. Causal relationships exist between
these decisions so that some of these decisions
reinforce one another and generate self-accelerating
virtuous circular effects involving decision makers at all
levels along the value-chain as shown in Figure 2.

33
Priority setting
High producer price
Specialization/
diversication
Intensification,
innovation
Increased production,
increased marker surplus
Lower costs Lower consumer price
Specialization/
diversification
Improved capacity
utilization
Expansion of
enterprise
Increase in quantity
of consumption
Increase in quality
of consumption
Physical infrastructure
Institutional
infrastructure
Support systems
Farmers Traders Consumers Public
Actors
Figure 2: Virtuous circular effects of a marketing
system
On the part of a farmer, if he receives a clear price
signal, about a price of a product, which he could sell in
a market within his reach, he will immediately calculate
and compare the price with his own costs of
production. If he finds, that the price is and will stay
high enough to promise him a profit, he will decide to

34
redirect his production system by specializing (or
possibly diversifying) into the direction of this
comparative advantage. Once having decided to
specialize or diversify he is likely to increase the
intensity of land use, by utilizing the proceeds from the
market sales for purchasing inputs and for adoption of
improved technologies.
Since farmers in the same village or region operate
under similar agro-climatic conditions, it is quite likely
that the majority will choose to follow similar directions
of specialization and intensification of production with
the results that at aggregate level in the region the
density of marketed surplus will increase. The increase
in marketed surplus is likely to be very large since a
constant quantity is normally used for own
consumption; it is only the residual, which is being
marketed. Any slight increase in productivity will
dramatically increase this residual.
On the part of traders, if they are faced with
dramatically growing densities of production and
market arrivals they will expand their operation,
because their utility generating activities are all subject
to considerable economies of scale, and of capacity
utilization. Likewise, traders will specialize or diversify
according to comparative advantage. Increased density

35
of market surplus implies lower costs of processing and
handling. Under the pressure of competition, these cost
savings are passed on to producers in the form of
higher farm-gate prices and to consumers in the form
of lower consumer prices. Higher farm-gate price
implies more income to the producer, which permits
further intensification. Lower consumer price implies
increased disposable income to the consumers,
especially in urban areas. Marketing services become a
large portion of the consumer food bill and the
composition of the market basket shifts from low-cost,
starchy foods toward high cost livestock products, fruits
and vegetables.
2.3.3 Welfare Generation Function
From the previous discussion, it has been shown that
an efficient marketing system generates gains (welfare)
to the society in terms of reduced marketing costs and
increased output. These gains to the society are
supposedly enjoyed by the key actors in the system.
Farmers benefit from increased farm-gate, traders
enjoy increased profit margin, and consumers benefit
from reduced consumer price.

36
2.4 The role of Government in the Marketing
System
Marketing does not necessarily deliver a socially
desirable distribution of income. The gains may be
enjoyed by producers, consumers or traders. Even
within the same group of key actors the gains from
marketing cannot be distributed equally. For instance,
in an openly competitive market system the larger
farmers will generally be better off (getting more
revenue on account of larger quantities sold, and
accessing more credit on favourable terms on account
of more collateral) than his counterpart small farmer in
the same village. Similarly, those farmers in a
favourably endowed region (good soil irrigation, roads
providing good market access) will on average be
better off than their neighbours in a more remote
region with poor resources. Because of this market
forces tend to accentuate the gap between the rich and
the poor.
In this case the public, through appropriate policies,
should intervene in the production and marketing
process to bring equity and macroeconomic stability. If
consumers are enjoying the welfare gains,
redistribution should take place in favour of producers,

37
and the same applies if the farmers reap the lion‟s
share in the welfare gains.
There are several ways by which the government may
intervene in the production and marketing system,
apart from the use of taxation policy:
(i) Conducting awareness campaigns to change
farmers‟ attitude - farming in developing countries is
carried out on traditional basis. People grow crops
because they inherited them from their ancestors.
The situation could change if farmers were made to
view farming as a business entity, that is, they
become market oriented. Personal aspirations and
opinions will determine how farmers view their
farming activities. So the two identifiable extreme
positions include the production oriented and
marketing oriented tendencies. Production oriented
means that the person looks at the major part of
the business as being concerned with goods, which
he wants to produce for personal consumption
(subsistence).
(ii) Providing Market intelligence/Information - Market
intelligence involves collecting, interpreting and
dissemination of data, which is necessary for
smooth operation of the marketing processes. The
market information systems are designed to track
the factors that can influence the market for

38
product so that changes can be anticipated.
Information provided may include price, places with
excess supply, places with shortage (demand),
population, income levels, sales trends, emerging
business opportunities domestically and abroad,
research results, etc. In Tanzania Marketing
Development Bureau of the Ministry of Agriculture
supplies information. Other means of data
dissemination include Radio broadcast (Kariakoo
market), Newspapers etc.
Once the knowledge of marketing and its problems
is available to the farmer he/she will be in a better
position to make decisions concerning the
operations of the farm. The decision will be
determined by answers to the following questions.
a. What should a farm produce and prepare it for
sale. This has to do with form utility since
different people desire different things e.g.
b. some vegetable varieties are more desired by
consumers than others.
c. When and where to buy or sell. For example
price of commodities will vary depending on
the season of the year. Thus production and

39
storage arrangements can be adjusted
accordingly to take advantage of these
situations. Different channels of distribution,
commodities are used so as to maximize
returns.
d. How much of the marketing job should be
done by the farmer either as an individual or
as a member of a group. For example
transport can be hired or be provided by the
farmer himself. Also someone can be hired to
do the seedling or the farmer can do the task
himself.
e. What can be done to expand markets? This
decision involves advertising schemes and
other techniques of influencing consumers e.g.
reducing the price relative to others.
f. Which marketing arrangements are desirable?.
The farmer can sell by entering into a contract
with a buyer or can sell directly to consumer
without using inter constrain group efforts that
require each member to sacrifice for the
overall welfare of the group when benefits of
the group go to everyone regardless of their
participation.
(iii) Grading and standardizing – provide standards as
benchmarks for actors in the system. For example

40
definition of weights and measures used in the
country, approving grades and standards for various
types of goods. In Tanzania, some of these tasks
are carried out by Tanzania Bureau of Standards.
(iv)Investment in market infrastructure – e.g. roads,
railways, market buildings, telecommunication. All
these reduce marketing costs
(v) Price stabilisation – e.g. price ceiling and price floor
of important or basic goods. Tanzania government
determines the floor price for cash crops. Other
price stabilisation efforts may involve buying excess
output and release it during shortage periods, and
setting production quotas. Example Ruvuma in
Songea (2011).
(vi)Food security programs - e.g. Strategic Grain
Reserve (SGR), subsidising inputs in certain regions,
and distribution of relief food.
(vii) Maintain law and order – e.g. property rights,
contract enforcement, antitrust laws. Antitrust laws
prevent large-scale business from rising monopolies,
which could buy patents to prevent new products
from reaching the market and engage in cutthroat
competition to eliminate competitors. Other
examples include laws against damping practice,
cheating and selling harmful products, quarantines
etc.

41
2.5 Common Marketing Problems in Developing
Countries
i) Barrier to entry due to overwhelmingly
bureaucratic and unclear registration procedures
ii) Lack of economies of scale in transport, storage,
and processing
iii) Poor infrastructure including information
dissemination on important marketing
parameters – that impedes physical flows of
goods and leads to excessive price differences
between markets
iv) High rates of physical losses or spoilage, i.e.
poor post-harvest handling.
v) Wide spread risk aversion attitude among actors
vi)Inadequate capital market to match supply and
demand over time and space.
vii) Absence of standardised grades – varieties,
qualities, weight, etc, which make visual
inspection necessary.
viii) Lack of legal means to enforce contracts,
which inhibit distance trade

42
ix) Low effective demand as a result of low
purchasing power (income) – this calls for small
retail transaction.
2.6 Risk Element in Agricultural Marketing
In the early days‟ when producer market was restricted
to his immediate small community, market risks were
nearly at minimum because the distance was short. In
addition, the seller was also the producer. But today, a
producer and a buyer are typically geographically
separated from each other. In this situation, the
marketing of goods involves a large number of
unavoidable risks, and thus increased marketing cost.
Examples of marketing risks include: physical
deterioration, obsolescence, theft (shoplifting is
common phenomenon in large shops), damage, waste,
bad debts, change in demand and supply with impact
on price, etc. It should be noted that Fresh fruits and
vegetables, which are highly perishable, are highly
risky.
Risks in Agricultural Marketing can be dealt with in
many ways. In some cases a person may transfer some
of his risk to others. For example, losses from fire,
floods and theft may be transferred to insurance
companies. Also, with some commodities, it is possible
to ensure against losses due to price changes through
hedging and futures market. To some degree, some of
the risks, which cannot be transferred to others, may

43
be eliminated or minimised. Thus the development of
cold storage and refrigerated cars has reduced the risk
arising from perishability. The increase in quality and
quantity of marketing information, that is, market
intelligence, is an additional important factor in
reducing risk.

Cooperatives and Crop Boards
44
Review questions
1. In your own words explain the marketing
functions. Discuss the importance of
standardisation and grading function.
2. Based on the library materials and other sources,
prepare a list of 40 different non-traditional crops
which you think your country can produce and
market profitably domestically and abroad
3. What do you consider to be the main bottlenecks
in your county‟s agricultural marketing system?
Suggest ways to solve those problems
4. In your own words, explain why you think
government intervention in the economy is
inevitable. Discuss the various ways by which the
government may intervene in the marketing
system. Give illustration for each.
5. Discuss possible side effects of government
intervention in the marketing system. Use
examples to support your argument
6. One of the ways by which the government may
stabilise prices is through buying excess produces
during bumper season and injects them back to
the system during lean season. (a) Explain how
this may work (b) What are the likely problem with
this approach to stabilise price?
7. In your own words, discuss the nature and ways of
dealing with risks in agricultural marketing.

45
UNIT THREE
3 MARKETING INSTITUTIONS AND COMMODITY
CHAINS
3.1 Marketing Institutions
Marketing institutions consist of those middlemen and
facilitating organisations, which perform the marketing
functions discussed in the previous unit. Middlemen
include, for example, individuals, crop marketing
boards, primary co-operative societies, co-operative
unions and farmers associations. Examples of
facilitating marketing agencies in Tanzania include the
former marketing development bureau (MDB),
chambers of commerce e.g. T.C.C.I.A, C.T.I, rail road
or tracking companies, banks from which buyers
borrow fund, assembly markets, public warehouses and
advertising agents. This course will limit its coverage to
middlemen; facilitating marketing agents will be left for
advanced courses in marketing.
3.2 Middlemen
A middleman is an individual or a business organisation
operating between the producer and the ultimate
consumer or industrial user. Some middlemen actually
take the title to the goods in which they deal, while
others aid in the buying and selling of merchandise

46
without taking title. Based on this, we have two types
of middlemen:
(i) Merchant middlemen
(ii) Agent middlemen
3.2.1 Merchant Middlemen
These are middlemen who take title while performing
marketing functions. They may be divided into two
groups: retailers and wholesaler. This classification of
merchant middlemen rests basically upon the markets
to which these groups cater. Thus, retailers sell mainly
to the ultimate consume, whereas, wholesalers the
main outlet is other middlemen (e.g. retailers),
industrial users (large private and public companies) or
both. Retailing is further subdivided into small
independent shop/store and large-scale retailing (e.g.
supermarkets). Similarly, different types of wholesalers
exist, but for the sake of keeping the course at a
manageable level will not be discussed in this course.
3.2.2.3 Retailers
(a) The Small Independent Retailer
The typical independent retailer is a small, non-
integrated middleman lacking any appreciable degree

47
of specialisation in management or employees. The
owner of the business usually acts as its manager. If
the shop happens to be very small, he or she may
perform all the essential functions himself.
(b) Large-scale Retailing: Supermarkets
One of the large-scale retail institutions, which are
developing in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSB), is the
supermarket. They are proliferating fast beyond middle-
class big cities into smaller towns and poorer areas.
Supermarkets are overwhelmingly transforming the
food retail sector in the region, with a lot of potentials
and challenges in supplying them. By definition, a
Supermarket is a departmentalised retail shop having
annual sales worth several billions of shillings in a
variety of merchandise (cloth, soft drinks, liquor,
meats, fruits and vegetables, dairy products, etc), and
in which the sale of commodities is on a self-service
basis. The major characteristics of a supermarket are:
i) Relatively low prices, due to economies of large
size
ii) Minimum customer service, (operate on self-service
basis)
iii)Ample parking area
iv)Increased departmentalisation
v) Skilful promotion in television, radios etc.
vi)Wide variety of merchandise (a one-stop shopping
centre), though foodstuff dominate

48
vii) Have a closer cooperation with manufacturers
viii) Owned by shareholders
ix)Part of a larger network of supermarkets
Although supermarkets operate profitably, they do face
some problems, which include:
(i) Because of space requirement, it becomes
difficult to find good location
(ii) Stiff competition among themselves and
between other retailing shops
(iii)Start-up investment cost is exorbitantly high, it
takes billions of shillings to stock the store
(iv)Low purchasing power of the people in
developing countries
(v) Lack of bargaining repels some customers
(vi)Because of self-service system, shoplifting is a
significant source of losses
3.2.2.4 Wholesaling Agricultural Consumers’
Goods
Many farm products are particularly ready for the
ultimate consumer when they leave the farm. Among
such products are fluid milk, eggs, poultry, and fresh
fruits and vegetable. Of course, some of these are used
as raw materials in processing industries (fruit canning,
wineries, milk drying and evaporation, etc). This section
will concentrate on the marketing of farm products,
which go to the consumer without any significant

49
change in form. As discussed previously, marketing of
agricultural products is influenced greatly by the factors
involved in production and consumption.
Characteristics such as small-scale and seasonal
production, widely distributed throughout the country,
variation in quantity and quality grown each year,
owing to changeable weather conditions and improved
technology, bulkiness and perishability and others serve
to complicate the marketing problems for farmers and
to necessitate the use of wholesale middlemen of
various types. Wholesalers dealing in agricultural
consumers‟ goods operate in one or two, sometimes
three different markets collectively known as central
markets. Central market is a broad concept and may
mean something different to some scholars. But it is
simply a convenient place where buyers and sellers can
meet one-on-one to exchange goods and services. It
can be categorised into three levels namely local or
primary, secondary, and tertiary markets. More often
than not central and tertiary market terminologies are
used interchangeably.
As stated in previously, central market is a convenient
place where buyers and sellers can meets one-on-one
to exchange goods and services. This is very typical in
primitive market. In our information age, central
markets as exhibited in the western world, take a
variety of forms – ranging from suburb shopping

50
centres to website that operate in a cyberspace such as
www.e-bay.com and www.amazon.com.
(a) Reasons for Development of Central Markets
Central markets help the exchange process. To
understand this, imagine a small village of five families
– each with a special skill for producing some need
satisfying product (assume no money is involved). After
meeting basic needs, each family decides to specialise.
It is easier for one family to make two pots and another
to make two baskets. Specialisation makes labour more
efficient and more productive. It can increase the total
amount of form utility created.
If the five families, each specialises in one product,
they will have to trade with each other. As Figure 3
shows, it will take the five families 10 separate
exchanges to obtain some of each of the products. If
the families live near each other the exchange process
is relatively simple. But if they are far apart, travelling
back and forth will take time. Faced with this problem,
the families may agree to come to central market and
trade on a certain day. Then each family makes only
one trip to the market to trade with all the others. This
reduces the total number of trips to five, which makes
exchange easier, leaves more time for producing and
consuming, and also provides for social gathering.

51
Figure 3: Number exchanges when a central market is used and when it is not used
The monetary system simplifies trading. While a central
place simplifies exchange, the individual bartering
transactions still take a lot of time. Bartering only works
on double coincident of wants, that is, someone else
wants what you have and you want what someone else
has. A common monetary system changes all this.
Sellers only have to find buyers who want their
products and agree on the price.
(b) Types of Central Market
Local or Primary Markets
The first step in assembling products from farmers is
carried out in the local market. Such markets are
necessarily located near the farmers; consequently
there are many of them. This market may be merely an
open-air meeting place, either at cross road point or at
A. Ten exchanges are required when a
central market is not used
B. Only five exchanges are required when a
middleman (intermediary) in a central market is
used
Pots
Hats
Hoes Knives
Pots
Baskets Hats Baskets
KnivesHoes
Central
market
middleman

52
established places in villages and towns, where farmers
with products to sell may contact one or more buyers.
Or the meeting place may be the office of potential
buyer located fairly close together in a small town. Still,
in other cases the market may be established, where
special facilities exist for handling the product; for
instance, a local market for orange may grow up
around a large cold-storage warehouse. Sales at local
markets usually result from direct negotiation between
buyers and sellers.
Secondary Markets
From local markets or directly from the large growers,
agricultural consumers‟ goods are frequently
concentrated still more by moving them into a smaller
number of small central or terminal markets. These
markets are located in important transportation centres
and, in contrast with many local markets which lack
special handling facilities, are well equipped to perform
all the handling functions, including storage, for the
wide variety of products entering them by tracks, rail or
ship. Here, also, are found additional facilities such as
auctions and financial institutions.
Tertiary Markets

53
From the secondary markets products move to tertiary
markets. Many agricultural consumers‟ goods move
directly from the tertiary market to the retailer‟s
warehouse or to retail shops, especially for large-scale
retailers. However, in many cases, tertiary markets
constitute the main source of supply for many of the
smaller secondary markets in surrounding towns,
although some of the products sold in such markets
come directly from the growers. It should be
emphasized here that, with economic development
secondary and tertiary markets tend to be bypassed but
cannot be eliminated (Figure 4). The reasons for
bypassing them are as following:
(i) the growth of large scale retailers (e.g.
supermarkets) and large consumers (eg. big
hotels and restaurants), who can send buyers
into local markets
(ii) improved roads and transportation by truck,
which makes it convenient for the farmers to
deliver to retailers, and for the retailers to buy at
the farm or in the local markets
(iii) increased market intelligence among farmers

54
Farmers
Local markets
Secondary
market
Tertiary market
Retail markets
Consumer
Major flows
of
goods
through
the
markets
Some flows bypass certain markets
Figure 4: Concentration and dispersion of
agricultural consumers’ goods
3.2.2.5 Agent Middlemen
These are the middlemen who negotiate concerning
buying and/or selling without taking title to goods.
Some of these include brokers, commission men,
purchasing agents, selling agents and auction
companies. Only brokers, commission men and auction
companies will be discussed here.
Brokers
The broker is an important agent for such farm
products as cotton, grain, and fruits and vegetables. He

55
or she represents either the buyer or the seller, but his
relations with any particular buyer or seller are not
continuous. A typical broker takes no title to goods he
sells or buys. He serves his main purpose by bringing in
bringing buyer and seller together, and is paid a
commission for his service. Since he is usually well
informed about market condition, he is a valuable
source of market information to his clients. However,
his powers over prices and terms are limited by his
client (product owner or principle)
Commission Men
Commission men are often confused with brokers, but
they are really a distinct group because they actually
handle the products whose sale they negotiate. They
usually operate in central markets, receive goods,
which they prepare for market and sell, deduct their
commission and other charges from the proceeds of
sale and remit the balance to the client. Different from
brokers, they may sell without having specific approval
by the client.

56
Purchasing Argents
They differ from brokers in that they have continuous
relationship with their principals and operate only in
buying side of the transaction. They often combine the
orders of a number of wholesalers and retailers to gain
economies of scale. Some are paid on commission
basis, whereas others receive a flat fee per month.
They are commonly known as resident buyers. For their
small clients they serve as a valuable source of
information. Since they are independent businessmen,
they should be sharply distinguished from the
purchasing officer of an industrial enterprise, who is not
in business for himself but is employed to buy for one
particular company.
Selling Argents
Selling argents are independent operators who function
as the sales department for their clients. They handle
the entire output of their clients on continuous basis
and have unlimited sales area with a large degree of
authority over prices and terms of sales. In addition,
they often render financial aid both to their clients and
to those to whom they sell. They are used often by
small companies in the sales of industrial goods,
clothing food stuffs, etc.
Auction Companies
Auction companies in connection with agriculture,
operate mainly in wholesaling fresh fruits and

57
vegetable, livestock, and leaf tobacco. They provide
facilities through which goods turned over for sale to
them can be displayed to prospective buyers. At stated
times and under definite rules of trading, these goods
are offered for sale and sold to the highest bidder.
Charges and commissions are deducted, and the
balance is sent to the client. In performing their selling
functions, they provide some storage services, and at
times they extend credit to purchases, but their main
activity is in negotiating sales.
3.3 Commodity Chain
The commodity on its way from the producer to the
consumer follows what is known as a commodity chain
(sometimes referred to as channel of distribution, trade
channel, value chain, or supply chain), which adds
value (utility) to the product. Commodity chains for
different products may have different lengths;
depending upon how much utility a consumer wants to
have been added before he consumes the product.
Generally, the more utility added when transforming
the raw material into a final consumer good, the larger
the cost margin and consequently the lower the
farmer's share in the consumer price. Under the
condition of effective competition among traders, the
margins of traders cannot exceed the actual costs
involved in the transformation process plus a normal
profit margin. A normal profit margin in this case refers
to the level of profit, which is equivalent to the interest

58
a businessman would get if he deposited the money
(used in business) in the financial institutions.
Competition among traders is a necessary condition for
an efficient functioning of the commodity chain.
3.3.1 The Nature of Commodity Chain
A commodity chain consists of middlemen and any
other buyers or sellers involved in the process of
moving a good from producer to consumer. In other
words, it is the route used by a producer to move his
product to the consumer. In the marketing of wheat,
we find that the following channel is common:
If we wish to add the trade channel for the flour made
from the wheat, this might be represented as follows:
Finally, when the flour is turned into bread, the latter
may reach the ultimate consumer through this
commodity chain:
From the foregoing examples, it is evident that a
commodity chain is usually thought of as extending
from one producer to the next consumer who
significantly changes the form of the product regardless
Farmer Local assembler interregional trader Miller
Miller Baker
Baker Wholesaler Retailer Consumer

59
of whether this consumer is or is not the ultimate
consumer. Thus the commodity chain for wheat begins
with the farmer and ends with the miller; that for the
flour begins with the baker and ends with the ultimate
consumer. Thus, getting wheat from the farmer to the
consumer in the form of bread really involves three
distinct products and three commodity chains. Unless
one thinks of a chain in this sense, it would be difficult
to trace, for example, the commodity chain for rubber
and its products, which reach the industrial user and
ultimate consumer in many forms and through
numerous kinds of middlemen, the functions of whom
vary from product to product.
3.3.2 A Typical Commodity Chain for
Agricultural Products
There are numerous types of commodity chains the
main ones being:
(i) Producer to retailer to consumer
(ii) Producer to wholesaler to Industrial user
(iii) Producer to wholesaler to retailer to consumer

60
(iv) Producer to agent to wholesaler to retailer to
consumer
Of all, Producer to wholesaler to retailer to consumer,
often referred to as the “orthodox” channel, is the most
widely used, not only for moving manufactured goods
to consumers, but also large quantities of agricultural
commodities follow the same route. Each product has
its own distribution chain. The chain might be longer or
short, depending on the number of changes in the
forms to be done on the product. Also, its links and
extensions may differ from one commodity to another.
Several of these chains, including the input supply
chains form the marketing system, coordinated by price
signals. In terms of number of actors involved in
different function along the chain, a typical commodity
chain for a particular commodity assumes an 8-figure
shape, in the sense that there are a few input suppliers,
many producers, a few assemblers, very few
wholesalers, a few retailers, and many consumers
(Figure 4). The shape is necessary for the system to
operate sustainably. Think of a situation where each
farmer or consumer has his own (one) supplier! He or
she will have to meet all the cost involved in the
marketing process.

61
Input suppliers
Producers
Assemblers
Wholesale
Retailers
Transporters, Warehousemen, Processors
Consumers
Figure 5: Relative numbers of actors along a
typical commodity chain
UNIT FOUR

62
4 CO-OPERATIVES AND CROP BOARDS
4.1 Co-operative Defined
In general co-operatives are legally institutionalised
voluntary organizations which are set up to serve and
benefit those who are going to use them and their
group can compete within the framework of other types
of business organisation. Thus co-operatives are
established on basis of equal participation in terms of
providing capital, management, distribution of profits
and liability when losses occur.
4.2 The Rationale of Cooperative
The aim of co-operation is to reduce the weakness of
farmer operating individually in the market since his/her
influence on the market is severely limited by the
relative smallness of the scale of operation compared to
the people with whom he/she is trading. Cooperation
brings about synergistic returns because of the
increased scale of operations. Synergy is sometimes
defined as “2 + 2 = 5 effect” This takes place when the
combined return on the resources is greater than the
sum of its parts. In the case of cooperation synergy
would mean that when farmers cooperate there is a
combination of a variety of resources including
management and marketing competence. It is this
pooling/combining effect, which will result in increased
returns enjoyed by the farmers for their products.

63
4.3 Reason for Formation of Co-operatives
1. Attempt to increase prices for products sold – the
co-operatives has been used simply as a
bargaining association; based on the fact that,
while the farmer as an individual has weak
bargaining power, this weakness is minimised by
united efforts.
2. Absorbing the middleman‟s profit – Co-operative
marketing organisations, with a few exceptions,
serve to replace other middlemen in the channel of
distribution. If the formed organisation can be run
efficiently as the private businessman, the profits,
which would be earned by the latter, will accrue to
the former.
3. Reducing the cost of marketing - Like in any other
business, vertical integration in farmers‟ co-
operatives, is a factor in reducing cost. Co-
operatives find that it is advantageous to own the
production, transportation facilities and processing,
and in some cases the retailing or wholesaling
parts of the marketing system. Such kind of
integration reduces marketing costs through
elimination of some of the traders.
4. Lowering the cost of production – In addition to
their main function of performing essential
marketing activities in the sale of their members‟
products, many co-operative associations effect
substantial savings in the cost of supplies,
equipment, and machinery to their members

64
through purchasing them co-operatively. Similarly,
excessive transport charges on inputs and products
can be reduced.
5. To provide marketing services which were not
being provided before. This is possible in Tanzania,
where the transport system was nationalised for a
long time because private operators will not risk
sending their vehicles to remote markets. People
must therefore co-operate to arrange for transport.
4.4 Basic Principles of Cooperatives
Cooperative societies have a long history. The first
cooperative societies were attempted in European
countries long before 1844, the date at which modern
cooperative movement places its origin. These earlier
cooperatives, however, were not successful, and they
gradually went out of business. It remained for a group
of flannel weavers in Rochdale, England, who organised
as the Rochdale Society of Equitable Pioneers, to
develop certain basic principles which, when applied to
the earlier-formed cooperative idea , led to the success
of cooperatives. These principles collectively known as
the “Rochdale Plans” are six in number:
1)Open membership
2) democratic control
3) sales at prevailing prices and with patronage
dividends
4) limited interest on capital
5) sales for cash

65
6) Educational activities.
i. Open membership – The Rochdale Plan places
no limitation on membership. Whether or not a
person joins a cooperative society is a voluntary
matter; but if he desires to join, the possibility is
open to him regardless of his political and religious
views. To become a member, all he has to do is to
subscribe to one or more shares of the society‟s
stock. In many cases the full value of the stock
need not be paid at once but on an instalment
plan or out of dividends.
ii. Democratic control – The Rochdale pioneers
opposed the domination of a society by a few
individuals, and maintaining open membership was
one way of avoiding clique control. A more direct
way of achieving this same end was found in
limiting the number of votes per member. In
modern corporation, voting is based on the
number of shares held by the voter; but in a
cooperative society, only one vote per member is
allowed, regardless of the number of shares.
Furthermore, any member may be elected to the
board of directors, an additional safeguard against

66
clique control is provided, in some societies, by
preventing re-election of a member to the board
until after a certain period has elapsed. Other
societies however, have found that in the interest
of efficiency, it is wise to allow certain directors to
be re-elected indefinitely. This decision illustrates
one of the many points where cooperative
principles and efficiency in operation come into
conflict.
iii. Sale at prevailing prices and patronage
dividends – Some of the cooperative societies
which failed in the years before the development
of Rochdale principles had attempted to pass
savings to their members by selling at prices below
those charges by other merchants. This procedure
had the obvious advantage of making it clear to
member that he was realising saving but, by not
allowing for the accumulation of adequate
reserves, often led to failure. In addition, it gave
non-members the same price advantage as
members. The Rochdale plan calls for sale at going
market prices so as to allow the society to make a
profit (referred to as a saving or a surplus in
cooperative language) out of which reserves may

67
be accumulated. Any earning in excess of those
needed in the business is returned to members,
thus returned in a lower net cost of merchandise
for the members. These dividends to members are
paid according to patronage, on the theory that
they should go to those who make them possible
by using the cooperative.
iv. Limited interest on capital – In contrast with
the owners of common stock of a modern
corporation, members owning stocks issued by
cooperative societies receive a definitely limited
rate of dividends - commonly 4-6 percent –
because the cooperatives prefer to return the bulk
of their savings to members on a patronage basis.
Although limiting the return on capital invested in
a cooperative makes it more difficult to raise fund,
a number of other ways to obtain money are open
to the cooperative. Weekly fees or annual dues
may be collected. Members may make loans to the
society. Profits or savings may be retained. Once a
society is successfully established, borrowing in
the name of the cooperative is possible just as it is
to the private firm.

68
v. Sales for cash – Although many cooperative
societies transact part of their business on credit
basis, the original Rochdale plan called for all sales
for cash. By eliminating the cost of credit
extension, the cooperative was to be in a better
position to sell at prevailing prices and return a
large patronage dividend to its members.
vi. Educational activities – From the beginning, the
cooperatives have realised the necessity of
educational activities to foster the cooperative
spirit, urge loyalty to the movement, and
encourage its development. Consequently, the
majority of present-day cooperatives make some
efforts in this direction by using part of each year‟s
profits for financing lectures, distributing
literatures, and sponsoring classes in cooperation.
4.5 Ways of Forming Co-operative Marketing
Co-operative marketing can take place in two ways:
1)The government can coerce the individual
producers
2)Individuals can cooperate voluntarily

69
4.5.1 Government Coerced Co-operative
Marketing
This takes place when the government, understanding
the importance of cooperation, forces farmers to unite
in marketing of farm products. However, the
sustainability of such cohesion is often not sustainable.
As we shall see later, this might be one of the reasons
why co-operative failed in Tanzania.
4.5.2 Voluntary Co-operative Marketing
In this case farmers cooperate on their own will having
realised that the small output of their typical farms, the
great distance to the market, and the financial
requirements involved are among the factors limiting
profitability of their farms. And thus, by joining
together, they can make it possible to perform all or
part of the marketing functions on a more economical
basis. Also, apart from marketing their products, the
organisation formed can assist them in purchasing
some of the supplies needed to operate their farms,
such as fertiliser, seeds, herbicides, machinery, and
other services.
4.6 Distinguishing Features of Co-operatives
Agricultural marketing co-operative, although
incorporated, differs from the ordinary business
corporation in several significant respects. These

70
differences emanate from the basic principles presented
in section 4.3 above. They include:
(i) Democratic control by member patrons. Thus,
each stockholder has but one vote, regardless of
the number of shares of stock he owns. In an
ordinary corporation a man owning of 51% of the
stock obtains control (more say) over company
affairs.
(ii) Some co-operatives will receive products for
sale from both members and non-members, but
most of them restrict their business to members.
(iii) Services at cost for member patrons. That is,
business operations are concluded in order to
approach a cost basis, such that, any returns
above cost are returned to the patrons. This
means therefore overcharges or under-payments
are returned to the owner-patrons. In contrast
business corporations tend to maximise returns
over costs for the benefit of the owner-investors.
(iv) Limited return on equity capital. Instead of
returning the profits of the business to the
stockholders in relation to the number of shares
held (just like ordinary corporations do), co-
operatives pay the stockholders a set rate of
interest on their shares and distribute the
reminder as a patronage dividend. A patronage
dividend is paid to members in proportion to the

71
sales or purchases, which members have made
through the co-operative.
(v) In a co-operative venture the patron-owner
invests money primarily in order to get desired
services. On the other hand in a non-co-operative
business investors offer their money in expectation
of profitable return on it.
4.7 Types of Co-operatives
There are 7 most important types of co-operative
organisations: they include machinery sharing,
production co-operative, marketing co-operative, supply
of farmer‟s co-operative, service co-operative,
processing co-operative and consumer co-operative
4.7.1 Machinery Sharing Co-operative
Here the farmers share many kinds of farm machinery
and equipment. This would enable the farm to take
advantage of up to-date, efficient and labour–saving
equipment at less than the cost which would be
required if the purchase were made independently such
machines or equipment in most cases could not be
justified economically for an independent purchase. For
example, suppose there were 100 farmers, each
owning 2 acres of land. It would be cost ineffective for
a single farmer to buy a tractor for farming his land.
But if those farmers joined effort and bought a tractor
to farm their 200 acres, or they hired a tractor, the

72
savings could be immense. Some of the advantages of
machinery sharing include:
(i)There is a reduction in capital investment
requirements
(ii) The fuller use and availability of high capacity
machinery results in reduced running costs per
hectare.
(iii) The money that is saved as a result of the
reduced capital investment can be put into other
uses.
4.7.2 Production Co-operative
This requires a greater commitment from member.
Here the machinery is shared and in addition labour is
pooled along pre-arranged lines to operate the
production process in union. Such co-operatives may be
introduced for production of livestock. For example the
farmer can have mixed grazing of many types of land
e.g. cattle, sheep, goats, poultry etc. The members also
can decide to purchase jointly quality bulls or top
quality heifers, which individually may not be able to
afford. Also substantial proportions of the farms are
likely to be committed to co-operative management and
utilization such that production cooperation should be
entered into very carefully. Some of the guidelines
(aspects) to be considered that may contribute to the
success of production coops are as follows:

73
1. Compatible membership. This should take into
account the number of partners, their location,
farm size as well as the system of farming. Large
and small-scale farmers should not belong to the
same association.
2. There should be sound organizational structure.
This should be included in the partnership
agreement with a record kept of decisions made
and with administration and finance agreed upon
by all members of the co-operative.
4.7.3 Marketing Co-operative
Here the farmers join together to market part or all of
the produce of their farms. The basis of co-operation is
related to three major factors:
(i)The Bargaining power of the farmers
This is increased because individually the farmers
are weak and disorganized in relation to the
buyers. Therefore the farmers can get favourable
prices.
(ii) Market economies of scale
It is possible to reduce the costs of marketing by
improving the efficiency of existing services or
achieving scale economies in certain operations
e.g. can have more vehicles for collection of
produce, can have effective arrangement of farm
supplies/requisites
(iii) Marketing investment

74
Co-operation provides an additional investment
opportunity so that marketing covered by the co-
operation is considered as an additional enterprise
to those already carried out by the farmers e.g.
storage, buying posts, weighing scales. In
addition, agricultural marketing groups are a
direct application of the theory of horizontal
integration. This involves bringing together units
of production involved in the same stage of the
production process. Horizontal integration allows
for considerable economies of scale. This is
because the materials required by the group can
be purchased in bulk, transport and distribution
services can be combined and the capital reserves
of one unit can be used to finance the expansion
of another.
4.7.4 Cooperation in Supply of Farm Requisites
This involves buying in bulk e.g. from the factory in
order to reduce costs by getting requisites/inputs as
efficiently and as economically as possible. There are
savings essentially coming from lower prices or from
higher quality and better-adapted supplies and
equipment.
4.7.5 Service Co-operative
These are organized in order to provide their members
with improved services or with services they could not

75
otherwise obtain. These may include credit, insurance,
electric power, irrigation drainage etc.
4.7.6 Processing Co-operatives
These may be organized to engage in the packing or
processing of the farmers product.
4.7.7 Consumer Co-operative
This is usually undertaken to reduce food costs. And by
forming consumers co-operative, the consumers
participate fully in food retail decisions.
4.7.8.Saving and Credit Cooperatives(SACCOS)
SACCOS are democratic, member driven, self help
financial institutions. They are owned and governed by
members who share the same common bond. SACCOS
are revolutionalizing the microfinance system.
4.8 The History of Co-operative Marketing in
Tanzania
The Co-operative movement in Tanzania has a long
history. Between 1932 and 1967 co-operative were
owned and controlled by the members on democratic
principles. After 1967, co-operatives were perceived as
vehicles for furtherance of socialistic policies. Since then
co-operatives have been characterised by excessive
political interference. The worst scenario was in 1976
when co-operative unions and agricultural marketing

76
societies were dissolved to give way to parastatal crop
authorities to handle all agriculture marketing functions.
This had a disastrous impact on the sector.
By 1980 the problems related to the new set up had
become so alarming that the government decided to re-
establish the co-operative movement in 1982. However,
primary societies and unions were hastily formed,
without regard for economic viability or managerial
capacity while crop marketing and processing system
collapsed. This chaos, coupled with external pressure
from financial supporters, led to the establishment of
the 1991 Co-operative Act, which provided for the
formation of an independent, member-controlled, co-
operative movement based on co-operative principles.
The process of restructuring the movement is being
carried out but at a slow pace. The recently formed
Ministry of Co-operatives and Marketing guided by the
Co-operative Development Policy (CDP) of 1997 will
probably transform co-operative movement into
independent, voluntary and economically viable
institutions for providing and dissemination of
agricultural inputs for the betterment of small-scale
farmers.

77
4.9 Factors Limiting Growth of Agricultural
Marketing Co-operatives
(i) Inefficient business methods - Success in co-
operative marketing is lessened to a considerable
degree by a failure to adopt effective business
methods. Because the yearly cash income of many
farmers is relatively low, it is difficult for them to
grasp the necessity of adequate salaries to attract
capable managers. As a result, in many cases,
adequate accounting is neglected, sufficient capital is
not raised, and reserves are depleted by excessive
payments of patronage dividends, etc.
(ii) Lack of co-operative spirit - An inherent limitation
on the growth of co-operatives has been the fact
that many farmers have little desire to cooperate.
They place a high value on the freedom to sell to
whom they like, in the quantity they please and at
prices arrived at through their own bargaining with
buyers. This may explain why many marketing co-
operative members are entirely loyal to their
associations – remember the free riding problem
discussed Unit 2.
(iii) Other factors include monetary benefits below
expectations, lack of adequate leadership, dislike of
pooling arrangement, production and selling
conditions

78
4.10 The Future of Agricultural Marketing Co-
operatives
It is not uncommon for co-operative marketing to fail.
Inefficient management, lack of member interest,
limited volume of business, insufficient capital, too few
members, too liberal extension of credit, and
inadequate accounting and control are some of the
reasons for these failures. Despite many failures,
agricultural co-operatives do possess merit as a method
of rising the income of many farmers by securing
higher prices, by eliminating other middlemen and
absorbing their profits, by more efficient marketing, and
by lowering farmers‟ production costs.
Looking to the future, agricultural marketing co-
operatives should take four courses of action:
(i) Gear up for more effective long range planning
(ii) Updating management know-how by attracting
qualified personnel
(iii) Placing greater emphasis on the modern
financial techniques
(iv)Developing more of their own applied research
programs
4.11 Crop Marketing Boards in Tanzania
A marketing board is a legalised single government
agency charged with the responsibility of marketing
nation‟s total output of particular commodity. Marketing

79
boards are one form of direct involvement by
governments in marketing. In other words, the boards
are marketing agencies/institutions with government
power over essential export crops.
4.11.1 The History of Agricultural Marketing
Boards
Agricultural Marketing Boards in Tropical Africa are a
result of Great Depression and World War II when
colonial governments found their principal sources of
revenue severely depressed and both European and
African populations financially stressed. Agricultural
Marketing Boards are essentially of British origin
although French and Belgium Africa also advocated
them. The first Agricultural Marketing Boards were
authorised partly in response to wider belief that
(a) They would increase prices, farm incomes and
exports,
(b) Government control would reduce marketing costs
to the benefit of producers and consumers. In Eastern
and Southern Africa they were meant to protect white
farmers against natives and provide food to British
territories in Asia during the Second World War.
Marketing Boards held back some of their proceeds
from farmers to establish “stabilisation funds that could
be used to cushion the fall of their prices later. But
these funds (initially meant to develop agriculture) were

80
used as government revenues and hence used in other
ways. Marketing Boards were also initially meant for
exporting crops but by the 1960s Agricultural Marketing
Boards controlled even domestic trade. In more recent
years, governments have often felt compelled by their
urban populations to reduce food prices regardless of
marketing costs, making losses on their accounts and
paying out less to farmers. This has led to increased
movement of staples through illegal channels and
shortages in official ones.
4.11.2 Classification of Agricultural Marketing
Boards
There are basically two types of marketing Boards
(a) Cash crop/Export marketing boards and
(b) Food marketing boards.
4.11.2.1 Cash Crop Marketing Boards
Exporting marketing Boards have the following
features:
i) They are instructed to get the highest price
possible for the crop they sell.
ii) They enjoy some protection from international
commodity agreements such as the international
Coffee Agreement (ICA).

81
iii) They make use of the export parity pricing
mechanism (that is, producers prices are the
difference between export price and domestic
marketing costs).
iv) They have relatively more realistic crop yield
forecasts because negligible quantities of produce
are consumed domestically.
v) For overvalued domestic currencies exported
crops become less competitive in the world
market when the export price is converted into
local currency at the official exchange rate.
4.11.2.2 Food Crop Marketing Boards
Food marketing boards differ from export marketing
boards because in that
i) Prices for food crops are mostly set by the
government. This leads to smaller marketing
margins because most governments want to
please both producers and consumers.
ii) They face seasonal supply fluctuations while
demand is always constant. This necessitates the
holding of stocks.
iii) They face uncertainty about farmers‟ decisions on
retention of produced food and about the
competition in dual marketing systems involving
both the official and open markets.

82
4.11.3 Functions of Marketing Boards
Seven basic functions are common to marketing boards
1) Market analyses and forecasts
2) Setting of domestic quotas and prices
3) Estimating export demand
4) Issuance of marketing permits
5) Establishment of producers‟ marketing pools
6) Domestic licensing
7) Effecting payments to producers
4.11.4 Failures of Agricultural Marketing Boards
1) Several reasons have been advanced as
causing the failure of AMBs. Most prominent of
them are:
Misuse of funds and inefficiency of operations
2) Monopoly power which leads to higher costs,
corruption and poor physical performance
3) Differential pricing over time, space and form
4) Deficiencies are attributed to political
favouritism in allocation of supplies and
selection of staff. This implies that inefficient
performance of basic functions of storage,
transport and processing – and because
bureaucracy which inhibits on-the-spot-
decision making will prevail.
5) Major failures of the food crop marketing
boards has been in estimating domestic

83
supplies and requirements and inability to
control more than a small share of domestic
transactions, especially in times of shortage
giving room for black market distribution.
4.11.5 Justification for the Persistence of
Agricultural Marketing Boards
Despite these deficiencies and in efficiencies in the
boards to date governments still officially endorse the
existence of AMBs. It has been argued that their
presses are vital because:
1. Bargaining power. African farmers are at a great
bargaining disadvantage when negotiating the sale
of their crops to traders. It is expected that AMBs
will increase farmers bargaining capacity because
of three reasons: First, international trading firms
may fail to collude with their rivals and to corrupt
vigilant AMB officials as they may with other
government officials. Second, in well settled areas
there are enough buyers and markets so that
collusion among wholesalers and assemblers is
difficult. Finally, ethnic monopolies tend to
decrease dishonesty and unfair competition.
2. Inertia: An elemental reason for the persistence of
AMB after independence in Africa is simply that
they were already there acting as a source of
employment.

84
3. Political Stability and National Unity: AMBs have
acted as sources of investment for many
governments. In addition, they limit private
domestic monopolies and assist in maintenance of
reserve stocks.
4. Disaster: Insurance against the disaster of food
shortages resulting from war crop failure.
5. The Poor: Case for the disadvantaged is also an
appropriate task for government and sometimes
may be in a form of food supplements or
subsidised prices.

AGRIBUSINESS AND MARKET COMPENDIUM

AGRIBUSINESS AND MARKET COMPENDIUM

Recommended

Recommended

More Related Content

Similar to AGRIBUSINESS AND MARKET COMPENDIUM

Similar to AGRIBUSINESS AND MARKET COMPENDIUM (20)

More from musadoto

More from musadoto (20)

Recently uploaded

Recently uploaded (20)

AGRIBUSINESS AND MARKET COMPENDIUM