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English to Swahili: Translation of radio scripts for farm radio program broadcasters and producers General field: Other Detailed field: Agriculture
Source text - English
Pack 95, Item 9
Type: Broadcaster info doc
December 2012
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An introduction to value chains
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Introduction
A value chain is not an object that you can see. Rather, a value chain is simply a useful way of understanding how the world of producing, buying and selling things works.
We are all part of value chains in one way or the other as producers, consumers of goods and services, processors, retailers, finance providers, etc. As consumers we all eat and we all wear clothes, and so we are linked to many value chains – chains of grain crops, roots and tubers, fruits and vegetables, legumes, oils, and textiles. These chains stretch from growers to our kitchens, eating tables, clothing, and beyond.
At one end of the chain are the producers – the farmers who grow crops and raise animals. At the other end are the consumers who eat, drink, wear and use the final products. And in the middle are many thousands of men and women, and small and large businesses. Each person and each business performs one small step in the chain, and each adds value along the way – by growing, buying, selling, processing, transporting, storing, checking, and packaging.
Other people and other businesses have important roles supporting the chain. Banks provide loans; governments establish laws and policies, and agricultural research organizations develop ways for farmers to more successfully participate in value chains.
Radio stations also have an important supporting role. Radio can inform farmers about prices, value chain successes and innovations, opportunities for farmers to be involved in value chains, and help farmers understand how value chains work. And radio can also help farmers engage more effectively in value chains.
An agricultural value chain is defined as the people and activities that bring a basic agricultural product like maize or vegetables or cotton from production in the field to the consumer, through stages such as processing, packaging, and distribution.
The United States Agency for International Development defines a value chain as the “full range of activities that are required to bring a product or service from its conception to its end use, including all the market channels available to all firms.”
Even subsistence farmers are part of value chains. The vast majority of subsistence farmers grow some crops or raise some animals for sale. Even in the most remote areas, many subsistence farmers are connected to markets, and sell small amounts of their produce in local markets or to traders who visit the farm.
Really, value chains are all about human interactions. They are about linkages between people and businesses who transfer or exchange products, money, knowledge and information.
In an effective value chain, people at different stages of the chain actively support each other. When everyone in the chain supports everyone else, everyone does their job more efficiently, and everyone’s livelihood is improved. Each person in the chain shares the common goal of satisfying consumer needs in order to increase their own profits.
Examples of value chains
Each value chain is unique, and contains a unique combination of “links.” In the Tanzania cassava value chain, for example (see the diagram below), you could say that the farmers who grow the cassava and the co-ops they belong to or sell to, the traders, the processing companies, and the various market players are the primary links in the value chain, in addition to consumers. But there are other important links. These include the shops and people who sell the farmer inputs such as fertilizer and agrochemicals to grow the cassava. There are also raw cassava wholesalers, transporters, and other players. Of course, all links are affected by the national and global policy environment.
The diagram below shows how value is added at each link in three different value chains. In the yam value chain in Ghana, for example, the work that the travelling trader performs adds value so that the price the trader charges for a kilo (or tonne) of yams is 50% higher than the price she pays the farmer for the yams.
Next, the wholesaler adds value so that the price he charges the retailer is 13% higher than the price he pays the travelling trader. And the price the retailer charges the consumer is 18% higher than the price the retailer pays the wholesaler. In the language of value chains, each person in the chain charges an “economic rent” at his or her stage of the chain.
Yam value chain, Ghana
Actor
Value added*
Kaja Apple value chain, Pakistan
Actor
Value added*
Cocoa value chain, Ivory Coast
Actor
Value added*
*Value added = price received by actor – price paid by actor
Source: World Economic Forum 2009.
Why talk about value chains?
Small-scale farmers in Africa and elsewhere in the world often say that receiving low prices for their harvest is a major challenge. Typically, a farmer waits for traders to visit his farm. The trader offers a low price and won’t buy the entire crop. The farmer is unhappy – her time and effort are not well-rewarded. She may blame the trader for her problems.
Farmers and traders often fight over prices. Farmers may cheat traders by putting low-quality produce at the bottom of crates, and traders may cheat farmers by using inaccurate weights and measures. There is often a lack of trust between the two. This results in the value chain not working as well as it could, which means worse outcomes for everyone.
The trader sells the farmer’s produce to a processor, who supplies a wholesaler, who supplies a retailer, who supplies a consumer, with transport and other links in between. Each player in this chain adds value, and in return receives an economic return, usually called “economic rent.” The amount each actor in the chain receives varies between different products and value chains. But the price the farmer receives for his raw goods is only a small fraction of the price paid by the consumer.
As individuals, small-scale farmers are often at a disadvantage in these kinds of value chains. Because many farmers grow crops or raise animals on an individual basis, they have little bargaining power. They have little or no influence on the price traders pay them for their produce, or the price they pay input suppliers for seeds, fertilizers, pesticides, etc.
Also, farmers often lack information about the market for their produce. For example, they may not know how much their produce is really worth, and how much more they could earn if, for example, they transported it to a nearby market rather than selling it to a trader. They may not know who the other players in the market are; they may not know what happens to their produce after they sell it; and they may not know what types of products consumers want. In many cases, the farmer is growing the wrong crop for the market. For all these reasons, it is difficult for African farmers to benefit fully from the value chains they are already involved in.
In part, farmers unknowingly contribute to their own problems. For example, a farmer might produce mangoes of all kinds. Some are large and healthy, others small and spotty. The farmer packs all her mangoes together in a crate. The trader doesn’t know what quality to expect, so offers a low price.
To increase their income and capture more of the value (“economic rent”) in the value chain, farmers need to “upgrade” their involvement in the value chain. There are many ways to do this. One step they must take is to become a “crop specialist.” A crop specialist is a farmer who has improved his or her farming practices and is producing goods for the market in an efficient and productive way. For example, by using better farming practices, the farmer can produce more mangoes – and higher quality mangoes. This satisfies both the buyer and the consumer. We will look at other ways of upgrading later in this info doc.
What are the benefits of taking a value chain approach?
The value chain approach considers the role of existing chain actors, supporting actors, and the policy environment. It allows us to look at current challenges in a value chain, as well as the opportunities for improving the efficiency of the value chain and the benefits for everyone involved. From a farmer’s perspective, being part of a well-functioning value chain can bring greater income.
Analyzing a value chain – identifying its challenges, weakness, and strengths – can help to identify new income-generating opportunities.
Sometimes, participating in a well- functioning value chain brings farmers not higher incomes or prices, but a more stable and predictable income.
Well-functioning markets and value chains can attract young people to farming or persuade them not to leave rural areas by offering better ways to earn money.
Participating in value chains can help a farmer learn new skills and adopt improved practices. Instead of piling vegetables in a crate and trucking them to a trader or market, farmers can earn more money by doing basic processing on the farm. Even cleaning and grading produce can make a difference. Washing and packaging lettuce or tomatoes and delivering them to a local store or supermarket can earn a higher price. Peeling and cutting fruit can be an effective way of getting into the growing market for ready-to-eat food products near urban areas.
Who benefits from value chains?
Everyone who participates in a value chain adds value as the product moves from the beginning of the chain towards the consumer. In exchange for adding this value, all participants receive an economic rent. That is the main benefit or incentive for participating in a value chain.
The people most likely to benefit from value chains are entrepreneurial, have a willingness to communicate with people in different parts of the value chain, and have the farm and financial resources and the knowledge to develop new markets or participate more effectively in current markets.
Farmers who have little land, who are more remote from markets, who have fewer assets, who have language barriers, who have no irrigation, and who are not involved in effective farmer organizations may find it more challenging to benefit from a value chain.
The importance of farmer groups
Farmers need to be well organized to compete in an increasingly demanding marketplace. Like becoming a crop specialist, joining a farmer organization is a necessary step for small-scale farmers who want to increase their income and capture more value in the value chain. Unlike individual farmers, farmer organizations have the resources to attract and build relationships with different links in the value chain, both locally and further afield.
Farmer organizations help individual farmers by combining the harvests of a number of producers, buying bulk inputs at lower prices on farmers’ behalf, and giving farmers access to farm support services. By their sheer size, co-operatives have enough market power to raise the prices received by individual farmers and ensure that farmers receive a steadier, more secure income. Many farmer groups also include savings and loan schemes for their members. These schemes help farmers work with money, keep records, and learn financial skills that are essential to improve their businesses.
What role can radio broadcasters play in value chains?
In a value chain, essentially three things flow: the product moves from producers to consumers, the money moves from consumers to producers, and the flow of information goes both ways.
Radio can act as an information and knowledge broker. This means that radio stations can pass on information about value chains to their listeners. Radio can help farmers understand the benefits of upgrading their involvement in the value chain. Radio can also pass along information about effective and innovative ways to be involved in value chains.
Radio can advertise marketing opportunities or contract opportunities that could help small-scale farmers.
Radio can publicize success stories, and help farmers understand the benefits of linking with other firms and businesses in the value chain.
It’s important that broadcasters use appropriate language when talking about value chains. Talk to a few farmers in your audience. Find out the best words in the local language for “value chain” and “link” and other value chain terms. Choose words that convey the meaning accurately and which your audience understands.
As always, it’s important not to talk down to farmers, either with your tone of voice or by using language that few in your audience understand. Before you make programs about value chains, make sure that you thoroughly understand what value chains are and how they can help farmers. If you do not understand fully, talk to extension agents, representatives of food industries, or others who can help you understand what value chains are, and how they operate in your listening area.
Broadcasters should find out all they can about local value chains. Find out who the players are in the dominant value chains in your listening communities. Talk to farmers and processors and retailers and others in the value chain. Find out what arrangements are working well, and what is not working well. By interviewing people involved with specific value chains on-air, broadcasters can pass along accurate information about these chains.
There are benefits to broadcasters from interacting with different links in the value chain. Connecting with processors, retailers, distributors, as well as farmers can help you diversify your advertising sources, and uncover new business possibilities for your station.
Upgrading
For a farmer, upgrading means improving her farming and business skills in ways that allow her to capture more of the value in a value chain. Upgrading can help farmers find new practices, new partners and new ideas to get products to market. Or it can improve their activities in existing value chains. Upgrading can increase profits and it can reduce risks, or both.
There are many ways for a farmer to upgrade his involvement in a value chain. Following are four major upgrading strategies.
Process upgrading: For farmers, process upgrading means increasing yields or reducing the costs of producing a given volume of a crop, for example decreasing the total costs involved in growing and harvesting 100 kilos of cassava. Process upgrading includes improved farming practices – better planting techniques or planting materials, irrigation, better pest control or storage. It may also include better marketing and packaging. These practices can result in higher yields, more sales, or more food on the family table.
Process upgrading is about transforming farming inputs (labour, fertilizer, planting materials, pesticides, etc.) into farming outputs (crop yields) more efficiently. For the grower, this step has been called becoming a “crop specialist.” To capture more value in the value chain, farmers must become crop specialists.
Horizontal coordination: A second kind of upgrading is horizontal coordination. Horizontal coordination is coordinating your activities with others who occupy the same stage of the chain, for example farmers collaborating with other farmers in producer groups or co-operatives. When farmers buy inputs together and sell their crops together, their costs go down and they have access to more markets.
Horizontal coordination makes individuals more creditworthy. This improves a farmer’s financial stability, allows her to make investments in equipment and other things, and gives her access to cash to buy what she needs when she needs it. This increases individual and household income, and increases food security because of greater spending on food.
Horizontal coordination can also help farmers enter markets which require certification, such as organic and fair trade markets, and can give farmers stronger negotiating power within a value chain.
Vertical coordination: A third type of upgrading is called vertical coordination. Vertical coordination involves moving away from one-time-only buyer-seller interactions and towards longer-term business relationships. For a farmer, vertical coordination means coordinating his activities with people and businesses at different stages of the value chain, for example, processors or supermarkets.
One type of vertical coordination is contract farming, in which a processor, retailer or exporter signs a contract with outgrower farmers to produce a certain volume of crops of a specific quality and by a specified deadline.
Vertical coordination usually involves a lead firm – often a large buyer or a supermarket – which coordinates actions all along the value chain. In vertical relationships, the large firm often provides the farmer with discounted inputs, access to credit and technical support, and equipment.
Vertical coordination can provide farmers with greater certainty and security about future sales and income. But vertical coordination involves building trust between sellers and buyers, which can be a slow and difficult process. Trust can only grow when everyone is confident that he or she will benefit.
Functional upgrading: Functional upgrading occurs when farmers perform more tasks in the chain, for example, processing, packaging or even sales. This can allow farmers to capture more economic rent, which means to earn more income. Examples include farmers who produce cassava flour or cassava chips, farmers who wash and pre-cook fonio, or who sell cassava snacks.
This may sound like an attractive idea. But in order to be successful at taking on these new tasks, farmers must have the equipment and know-how to do them successfully, as well as good financial resources and very strong organizational skills.
When value chains are short, for example when vertical coordination involves grinding maize and putting it in a sack, this option can be effective. But the longer the chain, the higher the risks, especially for those with little experience.
Other types of upgrading: Other forms of upgrading, which are not described in detail here, include:
• product upgrading: moving into more complex or sophisticated and higher value products
• inter-chain upgrading: applying skills gained in one link of a chain to a different chain
• meeting standards and certifications (for example, organic and fair trade). This could be called product upgrading, and is driven by market changes associated with changing consumer preferences.
Keeping records and getting market information
One important step in becoming an efficient grower or a “crop specialist” is keeping good records. By keeping track of labour and inputs on the farm, a farmer can better understand the costs involved in producing his crops. When she knows the costs of production, a farmer can make better-informed decisions, such as calculating selling prices more precisely.
Market information is also important. If farmers are well-informed about current prices and market trends, they are able to bargain more effectively with buyers.
Chain vision
To work with other links in the value chain, farmers should develop a “chain vision.” This means that they see how their value chains work, as a network of specialized companies that need each other to make money.
Farmers should acknowledge the position of other links in the chain, and respect that their interests are also legitimate. Different links in the chain should understand the need for cooperation rather than fighting against each other. They should understand that, though sellers and buyers will always have opposed interests – a high price and a low price, respectively – they have a shared interest in satisfying the consumer. When the consumer is satisfied, the businesses of both the seller and the buyer will grow. For a value chain to be successful, everyone in the chain must benefit and must feel that they are being treated fairly.
Remember: Value chains are not just about export crops
When African farmers (and other people) hear about value chains, they often think of export crops such as flowers, coffee, cocoa, and fruits and vegetables, bound for European and other global markets.
But it is not always a good idea to link small-scale farmers with large exporters. Small-scale farmers in Africa and elsewhere generally try to minimize the risks of failure by growing a number or crops and raising animals. Focusing exclusively on a single crop is risky. It may be better for farmer groups to consider regional and domestic markets as well as, or as alternatives to, export markets. Because of rapid urbanization and a growing middle class in Africa, regional and domestic markets in Africa are becoming increasingly important for growers.
Gender and value chains
In many agricultural value chains, women can face more difficult conditions than men. For example, in fruit and vegetable export chains, women are often hired as temporary or casual workers, while permanent workers are usually men. In Kenya’s fruit and vegetable export businesses for example, women occupy 80% of the positions in packing, labelling and bar-coding produce. Women workers usually receive lower wages than men.
Joining a farmer organization can help women. When backed by the strength of an organization, women may be more successful in negotiating better deals.
It’s important to pay attention to some of the unexpected consequences of upgrading in the value chain. Here are three examples: First, if a family shifts most of its effort and land to high-value crops grown by men, men will have more control over the resources linked to those crops, such as land and water. Women’s crops and family food security may suffer.
Second, if market opportunities improve for women’s crops, men may start to take over women’s activities, for example by restricting their access to land.
Third, if the family participates in contract farming, it may require opening a bank account. Bank accounts are usually opened in the man’s name. This means that the women’s access to money may be increasingly through her husband. In communities where women hold onto cash from selling crops, sometimes by hiding it and using some for household expenses, this can harm family food security.
Overall, it’s important to consider not only how men and women participate differently in value chains, but how upgrading their activities can benefit (or not benefit) both men and women.
Conclusion
As we mentioned above, over the next five years, Farm Radio International will distribute many scripts and other items on value chains. For more information about value chains, talk to people in the Ministry of Agriculture, to NGOs involved in value chains, and to farmers involved in value chains. See below for a list of selected online documents for more general information on value chains.
Acknowledgements
Contributed by: Vijay Cuddeford, Managing editor, Farm Radio International
Reviewed by: Yogesh Ghore, Senior Program Staff, Coady International Institute,
St. Francis Xavier University, Antigonish, Nova Scotia, Canada; Blythe McKay, Manager, Resources for Broadcasters, Farm Radio International; Rex Chapota, Executive Director, Farm Radio
Translation - Swahili
Kifurushi 95, Kipengele 9
Aina: Waraka wa habari wa mtangazaji
Desemba 2012
___________________________________________
Utangulizi katika mikufu ya thamani
___________________________________________
Utangulizi
Mkufu wa thamani sio kitu unachoweza kukiona. Bali, mkufu wa thamani ni njia nzuri ya kuelewa namna ulimwengu wa uzalishaji, ununuaji na uuzaji vitu unavyofanya kazi.
Sisi sote ni sehemu ya mkufu wa thamani kwa namna moja ama nyingine kama wazalishaji, walaji wa bidhaa na huduma, wasindikaji, wauzaji wa rejareja, wafadhili, nk. Kama walaji sote tunakula na kuvaa nguo, na kwa hiyo tumeunganishwa kwenye mikufu mingi ya thamani – mikufu ya mazao ya nafaka, mizizi, matunda na mbogamboga, kunde, mafuta, na nguo. Mkufu huu huanzia kwa wakulima kuja jikoni kwetu, meza za chakula, mavazi na kuendelea zaidi.
Katika upande mmoja wa mkufu huu kuna wazalishaji – wakulima wanaopanda mazao na kufuga mifugo. Katika upande mwingine kuna walaji ambao wanakula, kunywa, kuvaa na kutumia bidhaa za mwisho. Na katikati kuna maelfu mengi ya wanaume na wanawake, na bishara ndogo na kubwa. Kila mtu na kila biashara hupiga hatua moja ndogo katika mkufu, na kila mtu huongeza thamani kadri unavyosonga mbele kwa kupanda, kununua, kuuza, kucsindika, kusafirisha, kuhifadhi, kukagua na kufungasha.
Watu wengine na biashara nyingine zina jukumu muhimu katika kusaidia mkufu. Benki hutoa mikopo, serikali huanzisha sheria na sera, na mashirika ya utafiti wa kilimo huweka njia kwa ajili ya wakulima kushiriki kwa ukamulifu katika mkufu wa thamani.
Vituo vya redio pia vina jukumu muhimu la kusaidia. Redio huweza kutoa taarifa kwa wakulima juu ya bei, ubunifu na mafanikio ya mikufu ya thamani, fursa kwa wakulima katika kuhusihwa kwenye mikufu ya thamani, na kuwadaidia wakulima kufahamu namna mkufu wa thamani unavyofanya kazi. Pia redio huweza kuwasaidia wakulima kushiriki kikamilifu katika mikufu ya thamani.
Mkufu wa thamani wa kilimo ni watu na shughuli zinazozalisha bidhaa muhimu za kilimo kama vile mahindi au mbogamboga au pamba kutoka mashambani hadi kwa walaji, kupitia hatua kama vile kusindika, kufungasha na kusamabaza.
Shirika la Marekani la Maendeleo ya Kimataifa linafasili mkufu wa thamani kuwa ni “shuguli zote zinazohitajika kuleta bidhaa au huduma kutoka katika hatua yake ya awali ya uzalishaji hadi katika hatua yake ya mwisho ya matumizi, ikiwa ni pamoja na njia zote za masoko zilizopo katika biashara.”
Hata wakulima wadogo nao ni sehemu ya mikufu ya thamani. Idadi kubwa ya wakulima wadogo hulima baadhi ya mazao au hufuga baadhi ya mifugo kwa ajili ya kuuza. Hata katika maeneo ya ndani sana, wakulima wengi wadogo wamegunganishwa na masoko, na huuza kiasi kidogo cha mazao yao kwenye masoko ya palepale au kwa wafanya bishara wanaokwenda mashambani kwao.
Kwa kweli, mikufu ya thamani inahusu maingiliano ya binadamu. Inahusu miunganiko kati ya watu na wafanyabiashara wanaosafirisha au kubadilishana bidhaa, fedha, maarifa na habari.
Katika mkufu wa thamani imara, watu katika hatua tofautitofauti za mkufu husaidiana. Ambapo kila mmoja katika mkufu humsaidia kila mtu, kila mtu hufanya kazi zake kwa ufanisi zaidi, na maisha ya kila mmoja huimarika. Kila mtu katika mkufu hushiriki katika lengo moja la kutosheleza mahitaji ya walaji kwa kusudi la kongeza faida zao wenyewe.
Mifano ya mikufu ya thamani
Kila mkufu wa thanmani ni wa pekee, na unajumuisha mchanganyiko wa pekee wa “miunganiko.” Kwa mfano nchini Tanzania mkufu wa thamani wa muhogo, (tazama jedwali hapa chini), unaweza kusema kuwa wakulima wanaolima muhogo na mashirika humilikiwa na au huuzwa kwa wafanyabiashara, makampuni ya usindikaji, na washirika mbalimbali wa masoko, hivi ni viungo muhimu katika mkufu wa thamani kwa walaji. Lakini kuna viungo vingine muhimu. Hii huhusisha maduka, na watu wanaouza pembejeo za kilimo kama vile mbolea na dawa za kilimo kwa ajili ya kulima muhogo. Pia kuna wauzaji wa jumla wa mhogo ghafi, wasafirishaji, na washirika wengine. Hata hivyo miunganiko yote huathiriwa na mazingira ya sera za kitaifa na za kimataifa.
Mchoro hapa chini huonyesha namna thamani inavyoongezwa katika kila kiungo kwenye mikufu ya thamani mitatu tofauti. Kwa mfano, katika mkufu wa thamani wa kiazi kitamu nchini Ghana, kazi anayoifanya mchuuzi inaongeza thamani, kiasi kwamba bei anayoitoza mfanyabiashara kwa kilo (au tani) ya kiazi kitamu ni asilimia 50 zaidi ya bei anayomlipa mkulima kununua viazi vitamu.
Anayefuata ni muuzaji wa jumla, naye huongeza thamani kiasi kwamba bei anayomtoza muuzaji wa rejareja ni asilimia 13 zaidi ya bei anayomlipa mchuuzi. Na bei ambayo muuzaji wa rejareja anamtoza mlaji ni asilimia 18 zaidi ya bei ambayo muuzaji wa rejareja anamlipa muuzaji wa jumla. Kwa lugha ya mkufu wa thamani, kila mtu katika mkufu hutoza “faida ya ziada” kwenye hatua yake ya mkufu.
Mkufu wa thamani wa kiazi kitamu, Ghana
Mdau
Thamani iliyoongezeka*
Mkufu wa thamani wa Tufaha Kaja, Pakistan
Mdau
Thamani iliyoongezeka*
Mkufu wa thamani wa Kakao, Ivory Coast
Mdau
Thamani iliyoongezeka*
*Thamani iliyoongezeka = bei aliyoipata mdau – bei aliyoitoa madau
Chanzo: Mkutano wa Kimataifa wa Uchumi 2009.
Kwa nini tuzungumze juu ya mkufuwa thamani?
Wakulima wadogowadogo Afrika na kwingineko ulimwenguni huwa wanasema kuwa kupata bei ya chini kwa mavuno yao ni changamoto kubwa. Kwa uhalisia, mkulima humsubiri mchuuzi kumtembelea shambani kwake. Mchuuzi ananunua kwa bei ya chini na hatanunua mazao yote. Mkulima anakuwa hana furaha, muda wake na juhudi zake hazikulipwa vizuri. Anaweza kumlaumu mchuuzi juu ya matatizo yake.
Wakulima na mchuuzi mara nyingi hugombana juu ya bei. Mkulima anaweza kumdanganya mfanyabiashara kwa kuweka bidhaa hafifu chini ya gunia, na mchuuzi anaweza kumdanganya mkulima kwa kutumia uzito na vipimo visivyofaa. Siku zote kunakuwa hakuna imani kati ya hawa watu wawili. Hii inasababisha mkufu wa thamani usifanye kazi kama ambavyo ungetakiwa kufanya, na hivyo kumaanisha matokeo mabaya kwa kila mmoja.
Mchuuzi huuza mazao ya mkulima kwa msindikaji, naye husambaza kwa muuzaji wa jumla, anaye sambaza kwa muuzaji wa rejareja, ambaye naye husambaza kwa mlaji kwa usafiri na viungo vingine katikati. Kila mshirika katika mkufu huu huongeza thamani, na baadae hupata faida, ambayo huitwa “faida ya ziada.” Kiasi apatacho kila mshirika katika mkufu huzidiana kati ya aina ya bidhaa na mikufu ya thamani. Lakini bei anayopata mkulina ni kijisehemu tu cha bei inayolipwa na mlaji.
Kama mtu mmojammoja, wakulima wadogowadogo siku zote wanapata hasara katika aina hii ya mikufu ya thamani. Kwa sababu wakulima wengi hulima mazao au hufuga mifugo kama mtu mmojammoja, wana nguvu ndogo ya kujadili bei. Wana ushawishi mdogo au hawana kabisa juu ya bei ambazo mchuuzi huwalipa kununua mazao yao, au bei wanayolipa kuwalipa wasamabazaji wa pembejeo kwa ajili ya kununua mbegu, mbolea, viuatilifu, nk.
Pia, mara nyingi wakulima wanakosa taarifa juu ya masoko ya mazao yao. Kwa mfano, wanaweza wasijue mazao yao yana thamani kiasi gani, na kiasi gani zaidi wangepata endapo, kwa mfano, wangesafirisha kwenda katika soko la jirani kuliko kuuza kwa mchuuzi. Wanaweza wasijue wadau wengine katika soko ni akina nani;wanaweza wasijue nini kinatokea katika mazao yao baada ya kuyauza; na wanaweza wasijue ni aina gani ya bidhaa wanayohitaji walaji. Katika mifano mingi, mkulima analima zao lisilofaa sokoni. Kwa sababu hizi zote, ni vigumu kwa mkulima wa kiafrika kufaidika katika mkufu wa thamani ambao amekwisha jihusisha nao.
Kwa kiwango fulani, wakulima kwa kutojua wanachangia katika matatizo yao wenyewe. Kwa mfano, mkulima naweza kulima maembe ya aina zote. Baadhi ni makubwa na yenye afya na mengine ni madogo na yenye madoadoa. Mkulima anafungasha maembe yote katika gunia. Mchuuzi hajui yatakuwa na ubora gani, kwa hiyo anatoa bei ya chini.
Ili kuongeza kipato na kupata faida zaidi (“faida ya ziada”) katika mkufu wa thamani, wakulima wanatakiwa kuongeza uhusika wao katika mkufu wa thamani. Kuna njia nyingi za kufanya hili. Hatua moja wanayopaswa kuchukua ni kuwa “wakulima wa zao maalum.” Mkulima wa zao maalum ni mkulima ambaye ameboresha njia zake za kilimo na anazalisha bidhaa kwa ajili ya soko kwa njia ya ufanisi na yenye tija. Kwa mfano, kwa kutumia njia bora za kilimo, mkulima anaweza kuzalisha maembe mengi na yenye ubora wa juu. Hii huwaridhisha wanunuaji na walaji. Tutaangalia baadae njia nyingine za kuboeresha katika waraka huu.
Kuna faida gani katika kutumia njia ya mkufu wa thamani?
Njia ya mkufu wa thamani huangalia kazi za wadau wa mkufu waliopo, wafadhili, na mazingira ya sera. Inatusaidia kushughulikia changamoto zilizopo katika mkufu wa thamani, na vilevile fursa ya kuboresha ufanisi wa mkufu wa thamani na maslahi ya kila mtu anayehusika. Kwa mtazamo wa kumwangalia mkulima, kuwa sehemu ya mkufu wa thamani unaofanya kazi vizuri kunaweza kuleta kipato kikubwa zaidi.
Kuchanganua mkufu wa thamani – kutambua changamoto zake, udhaifu, na faida kunaweza kusaidia kutambua fursa mpya za kuongeza kipato.
Wakati mwingine, kushiriki katika mkufu wa thamani unaofanya kazi vizuri, hakuwapi wakulima kipato cha juu tu au bei za juu tu, bali kipato imara zaidi na kinachoweza kutabirika.
Masoko na mikufu ya thamani inayofanya kazi vizuri huweza kuwavutia vijana katika shughuliza kilimo au kuwashawishi ili wasiondoke vijijini kwa kuwapatia njia bora za kupata pesa.
Kushiriki katika mkufu wa thamani kunaweza kumsaidia mkulima kujifunza mbinu mpya na kutumia njia zilizoboreshwa. Badala ya kurundika mbogamboga kwenye gunia na kuzipakia kwenda kwa mchuuzi au sokoni, wakulima wanaweza kupata pesa kwa kufanya njia za awali za usidikaji wakiwa shambani. Hata kusafisha na kutenganisha mazao kwa viwago vyake huweza kuleta tofauti. Kuosha na kufungasha saladi au nyanya na kuzipeleka katika soko la palepale au katika maduka makubwa wanaweza kupata bei ya juu. Kumenya na kukatakata matunda kunaweza kuwa ni njia rahisi ya kuingia katika soko linalokua karibu na maeneo ya mijini la bidhaa za vyakula vilivyotayari kwa ajili ya kula.
Nani ananufaika katika mkufu wa thamani?
Kila mtu anayeshiriki katika mkufu wa thamani anaongeza thamani kadri bidhaa inavyosonga mbele kutoka mwanzoni mwa mkufu kuelekea kwa mlaji. Na matokeo ya kuongeza thamani hii, washirika wote hupata faida ya ziada. Hii ndio faida kubwa au kifuta jasho katika kushiriki katika mkufu wa thamani.
Watu wengi wanaofaidika katika mkufu wa thamani wana silka ya kiujasiriamali, yuko radhi kuwasiliana na watu katika sehemu mbalimbali za mkufu wa thamani, na wana shamba na rasilimali fedha na maarifa kutengeneza masoko mapya au kushiriki kikamilifu zaidi katika masoko yaliyopo.
Wakulima ambao wana ardhi ndogo, ambao wako mbali na masoko, ambao wana vitega uchumi vichache, ambao wana vikwazo vya lugha, na ambao hawajihusishi katika vyama vya wakulima wataono ni vigumu sana kufaidika katika mkufa wa thamani.
Umuhimu wa vikundi vya wakulima
Wakulima wanatakiwa wawe wamejipanga vizuri ili kushindana katika soko linalokua sana. Kama vile kuwa wakulima wa zao maalum, kujiunga katika vikundi vya wakulim ni hatua muhimu kwa wakulima wadogowadogo wanaohitaji kuongeza kipato chao na kupata faida zaidi katika mkufu wa thamani. Tofauti na mkulima mmojammoja, vikundi vya wakulima vina rasilimali kwa kuwavutia na kujenga uhusiano na miunganiko mbalimbali katika mkufu wa thamani, kitaifa na kimataifa.
Vikundi vya wakulima husaidia mkulima mmojammoja kwa kukusanya pamoja mazao ya wakulima wengi, kununua pembejeo nyingi kwa bei ya chinini kwa niaba ya mkulima, na kuwawezesha wakulima kupata huduma za shamba. Kwa ukubwa wake, vikundi vina nguvu ya kutosha ya masoko, kupandisha bei zinatolewa kwa mkulima mmojammoja na kuhakikisha kuwa wakulima wanapata kipato cha uhakika. Vikundi vingi vya wakulima pia huhusisha utaratibu wa kuweka na kukopa kwa wanachama wao. Utaratibu huu huwasaidia wakulima kutumia vizuri pesa zao, kutunza kumbukumbu, na kujifunza mbinu za kifedha ambazo ni muhimu sana kukuza biashara zao.
Mtangazaji wa redio ana wajibu gani katika mkufu wa thamani?
Kimsingi kuna mtiririko wa vitu vitatu katika mkufu wa thamani: bidhaa hutoka kwa wazalishaji kwenda kwa walaji, pesa hutoka kwa walaji kwenda kwa wazalishaji, na mtiriko wa habari huenda sehemu zote.
Redio huweza kutenda kama wakala wa habari na maarifa. Hii ina maana kwamba vituo vya redio huweza kupeleka habari juu ya mkufu wa thamani kwa wasikilizaji wake. Redio pia huweza kupeleka habari juu njia mpya na makini katika kuhusishwa kwenye mkufu wa thamani.
Redio huweza kutangaza fursa za masoko au fursa za kufanya mkataba ambazo huweza kuwasaidia wakulima wadogowadogo.
Redio inaweza kutangaza habari za mafanikio, na kuwasaidia wakulima kuelewa faida ya kuunganishwa na biahara nyingine katika mkufu wa thamani.
Ni muhimu watangazaji kutumia lugha inayostahili pale wanapozungumzia mikufu ya thamani. Zungumza na wakulima wacahche katika hadhira yako. Tafuta maneno mazuri zaidi katika lugha izungumzwayo katika eneo lako yanayoweza kufafanua zaidi istilahi “mkufu wa thamani” na “muunganiko” na istilahi nyingine zinazohusika na mkufu wa thamani. Chagua maneno yanayotoa maana kwa usahihi na ambayo hadhira yako inayaelewa.
Kama kawaida, ni muhimu kutozungumza na wakulima kwa dharau, ama kwa toni ya sauti yako au kwa kutumia lugha ambayo wachache katika ahadhira yako ndio wanaifahamu. Kabla hujafanya kipindi juu ya mikufu ya thamani, hakikisha kwamba unajua kwa undani mikufu ya thamani ni nini na jinsi gani inaweza kuwasaidia wakulima. Kama huelewi vizuri , ongea na wakala wa uenezi, wawakilishi wa viwanda vya vyakula au mwingine anayeweza kukusaidia kujua mikufu ya thamani ni nini na jinsi inavyofanya kazi katika eneo la wasikilizaji wako.
Watangazaji wanatakiwa kufanya wawezalo kuelewa juu ya mkufu wa thamani mahalia. Kutafuta kujua washirika wanaohusika katika mkufu wa thamani unaofahamika sana katika jumuia yako ya wasikilizaji. Zungumza na wakulima, wasindikaji na wauzaji wa rejareja na wengine katika mkufu wa thamani. Fahamu mipangilio inayofanikiwa zaidi na ile isiyofanikiwa. Watangazaji wanaweza kutoa taarifa sahihi juu ya mikufu hii kwa kuwahoji watu hewani wanaohusika katika mkufu mahususi.
Kuna faida kwa watangazaji katika kuchangamana na miunganiko tofautitofauti katika mkufu. Utajiunganisha na wasindikaji, wauzaji wa rejereje, wasambazaji, vilevile mkulima anaweza kukusaidia kupanua vyanzo vyako vya utangazaji, na kugundua fursa mpya za kibiashara kwa ajili ya kituo chako.
Kupanda daraja
Kwa mkulima, kupanda daraja kunamaanisha kuboresha ujuzi wake wa kilimo na biashara kwa namna ambayo humwezesha kupata faida zaidi katika mkufu wa thamani. Kupanda daraja kunaweza kuwasaidia wakulima kupata njia mpya, wabia wapya na mawazo mapya ya kupeleka biadhaa kwenye soko. Au kunaweza kusaidia kuboresha shughuli zao katika mkufu wa thamani uliopo. Kupanda daraja kunaweza kuzidisha faida na kunaweza kupunguza hasara, au vyote.
Kuna njia nyingi kwa mkulima kustawisha uhusika wake katika mkufu wa thamani. Zifuatazo ni mbinu kuu nne za kupanda daraja.
Kupanda daraja kimkakati: kwa wakulima, kupanda daraja kimkakati humaanisha kuongeza mavuno au kupunuza gharama za kuzalisha kiwango fulani cha mazao, kwa mfano kupunguza gharama ya jumla iliyohusika katika kupanda na kuvuna kilo 100 za muhogo. Kupanda daraja kimkakati kunahusisha njia bora za kilimo – mbinu bora za upandaji au mbegu za kupanda, umwagiliaji, udhibiti bora wa wadudu na ufungashaji. Njia hizi huweza kusababisha mavuno mengi, mauzo zaidi, au chakula cha kutosha kwenye meza ya familia.
Kupanda daraja kimkakati ni kubadili pembejeo za kilimo (wafanyakazi, mbolea, mbegu za kupanda, viuatilifu, nk.) kuwa mavuno yenye ufanisi zaidi. Kwa mlimaji, hatua hii inaitwa “kuwa mkulima wa zao maalumu.” Ili kupata faida zaidi katika mkufu wa thamani, wakulima ni lazima wawe wakulima wa zao maalumu.
Uratibu mlalo: aina ya pili ya kupanda daraja ni uratibu mlalo. Uratibu mlalo ni kwamba unaratibu shughuli zako pamoja na wengine ambao wapo katika hatua sawa katika mkufu, kwa mfano, wakulima kushirikiana na wakulima wengine katika vikundi vya wazalishaji au ushirika. Kununua pembejeo kwa pamoja na kuuza mazao yao kwa pamoja, gharama zao za uzalishaji hupungua na wanakuwa na uwezo wa kufikia masoko.
Uratibu mlalo hufanya watu kuheshimika zaidi. Hii huimarisha hali ya kiuchumi ya mkulima, humwezesha kuwekeza katika vifaa na vitu vingine, na humpatia uwezo wa kupata pesa za kununulia kile anacho kihitaji wakati anapokihitaji. Hii huongeza kipato cha mtu na familia, na huongeza usalama wa chakula kwa sababu ya matumizi makubwa ya mazao kwa ajili ya chakula.
Uratibu mlalo pia huweza kuwasaidia wakulima kuingia katika masoko yanayohitaji cheti cha uthibitisho, kama vile masoko huria, na huweza kuwapa wakulima nguvu kubwa ya kujadiliana bei katika mkufu wa thamani.
Uratibu wima: Aina ya tatu ya kupanda daraja inaitwa uratibu wima. Uratibu wima huhusisha kusonga mbele muingiliano wa mara moja tu wa mnunuzi-muuzaji na kwenda mahusiano ya muda mrefu ya kibiashara. Uratibu wima humaanisha kuratibu shughuli zake pamoja na watu na biashara katika hatua tofautitofauti za mkufu wa thamani, kwa mfano, wasindikaji au maduka makubwa.
Aina mojawapo ya uratibu mlalo ni kilimo cha mkataba, ambacho kwacho msindikaji, muuzaji wa rejareja au msafirishaji husaini mkataba na wakulima kuzalisha kiwango fulani cha mazao cha ubora mahususi na kwa kipindi mahususi.
Uratibu wima mara nyingi huhusisha makampuni makubwa – mara nyingi ni wanunuzi wakubwa au maduka makubwa ambao huratibu vitendo vyote katika mkufu wa thamani. Katika uhusiano wima, makampuni makubwa mara nyingi huwapa wakulima pembejeo kwa punguzo la bei, uwezo wa kupata mikopo, msaada wa kiufundi na vifaa.
Uratibu mlalo huweza kuwapa wakulima uhakika na usalama juu ya mauzo na mapato ya baadae. Lakini uratibu mlalo huhusisha kujenga imani katika ya wauzaji na wanunuzi, hatua ambayo inaweza kuwa ya taratibu na ngumu. Imani inaweza kukua pale ambapo kila mmoja ana imani kwamba atafaidika.
Upandaji daraja wa kiutendaji: Upandaji daraja wa kiutendaji hutokea pale ambapo wakulima hufanya kazi nyingi katika mkufu, kwa mfano, kusindika, kufungasha au hata kufanya mauzo. Hii huweza kuwasaidia wakulima kupata faida zaidi ya ziada, kitu kinachomaanisha kupata kipato zaidi. Mfano huhusisha wakulima wanaozalisha unga wa muhogo au vipande vya muhogo na wakulima wanaouza kumbwe za muhogo.
Hili linaweza kuonekana kuwa wazo zuri. Lakini ili kufanikiwa kufanya mazoezi haya mapya, wakulima lazima wawe na vitendea kazi na lazima wajue jinsi ya kuyafanikisha, vilevile wawe na rasilimali nzuri ya kifedha na wawe na ujuzi mzuri wa kupangilia mambo.
Kwa mfano, mikufu ya thamani inapokuwa mifupi ambapo uratibu wima unapohusisha kusaga mahidi na kuyaweke kwenye kiroba, njia hii inaweza kuwa thabiti. Lakini kadri mkufu unavyozidi kuwa mrefu ndivyo hasara inavyozidi kuongezeka, hasa kwa wale wenye uzoefu mdogo.
Aina nyingine za kupanda daraja: Mifumo mingine ya kupanda daraja ambayo haikujadiliwa hapa kwa kina ni pamoja na:
• Upandishaji daraja wa bidhaa: kwenda katika bidhaa chanagamani na zenye ubora wa juu
• Upandishaji daraja ndani ya mkufu: kutumia ujuzi ulioupata kutoka katika kiungo kimoja cha mkufu na kuutumia katika mkufu mwingine
• Kukidhi viwango na vyeti vya uthibitisho (kwa mfano, katika soko huria). Huu unaweza kuwa upandishaji daraja wa bidhaa, na huendeshwa na ubadilikaji wa soko unaohusishwa na uchaguziwa walaji.
Kutunza kumbukumbu na kupata taarifa za masoko
Hatua moja muhimu ya kuwa mkulima fanisi au “mkulima wa zao maalum” ni kutunza kumbukumbu nzuri. Kwa kufuatilia wafanyakazi na pembejeo shambani, mkulima anaweza kujua gharama zilizohusika katika kuzalisha mazao yake. Anapojua gharama ya uzalishaji, anaweza kufanya maamuzi mazuri yaliyojikita katika taarifa kama vile kukukotoa gharama za kuuza kwa ufanisi zaidi.
Taarifa za masoko ni muhimu pia. Endapo wakulima watafahamishwa vizuri juu ya bei zilizopo na mwelekeo wa soko, wanaweza wakajadiliana vizuri juu ya bei na wanunuzi.
Mkufu wenye maono
Ili kufanya kazi na viungo vingine katika mkufu wa thamani, wakulima wanatakiwa kuendeleza “mkufu wenye maono.” Hii inamaanisha kuwa wanaona jinsi mkufu wao wa thamani unavyofanya kazi, kadri mtandao wa makampuni unavyochangiana kila mmoja katika kutengeneza faida.
Wakulima wanatakiwa watambue nafasi ya viungo vingine katika mkufu, na kuheshimu kuwa nia zao pia ni halali. Miunganiko tofautitofauti katika mkufu lazima waelewe ulazima wa kushirikiana kuliko kugombana wao kwa wao. Wanatakiwa kuelewa kuwa ingawa wauzaji na wanuuaji siku zote watakuwa na matamanio yanayopingana – bei ya juu na bei ya chini mtawalia – lakini wana lengo sawa la kumridhisha mlaji. Mlaji anaporidhika biashara ya wote, wauzaji na wanunuzi itakaua. Ili mkufu wa thamani ufanikiwe, kila mtu katika mkufu lazima afaidike na ahisi kwamba wote wanachuliwa sawa.
Kumbuka: Mikufu ya thamani sio tu juu ya kusafirisha mazao
Ambapo wakulima wa kiafrika (na watu wengine) wanaposikia juu ya mikufu ya thamani, mara nyingi hufikiri juu ya kusafirisha mazao kama vile maua, kahawa, kakao, na matunda na mbogamboga kwenda ulaya na masoko mengine ya kimataifa.
Ila sio wazo zuri siku zote kuwaunganisha wakulima wadogo na wasafirishaji wakubwa. Wakulima wadogowadogo Afrika na kwingineko kwa ujumla wanajaribu kupunguza hatari ya kushindwa kupanada mazao mengi na kufuga mifugo wengi. Kujikita katika zao moja tu ni hatari zaidi. Inaweza kuwa vema zaidi kwa wakulima kuangalia soko la kikanda na la ndani vilevile, kama njia mbadala ya masoko ya kimataifa. Kwa sababu ya ongezeko la makazi ya mjini na ukuaji wa tabaka la kati Afrika, masoko ya kikanda na ya ndani yanakuwa muhimu sana kwa wakulima.
Jinsia na mikufu ya thamani
Katika mikufu mingi ya kilimo, wanawake wanaweza kukabiliana na hali ngumu kuliko wanaume. Kwa mfano, katika mikufu wa thamani wa kusafirisha matunda na mbogamboga, wanawake mara nyingi wanaajiriwa kama wafanyakazi wa muda, ambapo wafanyakazi wa kudumu huwa ni wanaume. Kwa mfano, katika biashara ya kusafirisha matunda na na mbogamboga nchini Kenya, wanawake wanachukua asilimia 80 ya nafasi katika kufungasha, kuweka nembo na kutengene karatasi za msimbo. Wafanyakazi wa kike siku zote wanapewa malipo ya chini kuliko wanaume.
Kujiunga na vikundi vya wakulima kunaweza kuwasaidia wanawake. Wanapokuwa wanasaidiwa na nguvu ya kikundi, wanaweza kufanikiwa zaidi katika kujadili biashara kubwa.
Ni muhimu kuchukua tahadhari katika athari zisizotarajiwa za kupandisha ngazi mikufu ya thamani. Hii hapa ni mifano mitatu: kwanza, kama familia hutumia nguvu zake zaidi na ardhi katika mazao ya thamani zaidi yanayopandwa na wanaume, wanaume watakuwa na udhibiti mkubwa juu ya rasilimali zinazohusika na mazao hayo, kama vile ardhi na maji. Mazo ya wanawake na na usalama wa chakula unaweza ukapata shida.
Pili, endapo fursa za masoko zikiongezeka kwa mazao ya wanawake, wanaume wanaweza kuanza kuingilia kazi za wanawake kwa kuwazuia wasitumie ardhi.
Tatu, endapo familia itashiriki katika kilimo cha mkataba, itahitaji kufungua akaunti ya benki. Akaunti za benki siku zote huwa zinafunguliwa kwa jina la mwanaume. Hii inamaanisha kwamba ili mwanamke apate pesa itamlazimu kupitia kwa mume wake. Katika jamii ambazo wanawake hupata pesa kwa kuuza mazao, wakati mwingine huzificha kwa matumizi ya nyumbani, hii inaweza kudhuru usalama wa chakula wa familia.
Kwa ujumla, ni muhimu kuangangalia sio tu jinsi wanaume na wanawake wanavyojihusisha katika mikufu ya thamani kwa namna tufautitofauti, bali jinsi ambavyo kupandisha kiwango shuguli zao kunaweza kuwanufaisha (au kutowanufaisha) wanawake na wanaume kwa pamoja.
Hitimisho
Kama tulivyoeleza hapo juu, katika kipindi cha miaka mitano ijayo, Farm Radio International itasambaza maandishi mengi na taarifa nyingine juu ya mikufu ya thamani. Kwa taarifa zaidi juu ya mikufu ya thamani, ongea na watu katika wizara ya kilimo, mashirika yasiyo ya kiserikali, na wakulima wanaohusika katika mikufu ya thamani. Kwa taarifa za jumla juu ya mikufu ya thamani angalia orodha ya nyaraka mbalimbali za mtandaoni.
Shukrani
Imechangiwa na: Vijay Cuddeford, Mhariri mtendaji, Farm Radio International
Imepitiwa upya na: Yogesh Ghore, Msimamizi mkuu wa kipindi, Taasisi ya Kimataifa ya Coady, Chuo kikuu cha Mtakatifu Francis Xavier, Antigonish, Nova Scotia, Canada; Blythe McKay, Meneja, Nyenzo kwa Watangazaji, Farm Radio International; Rex Chapota, Mkurugenzi mtendaji, Farm Radio Malawi.
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