Quiet Revolution by SMEs in the midstream of value chains in developing regions: Wholesale markets, wholesalers, logistics, and processing

Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the midstream (processors, wholesalers and wholesale markets, and logistics) segments of transforming value chains have proliferated rapidly over the past several decades in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Their spread has been most rapid in the long transitio...

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Autores principales: Reardon, Thomas, Liverpool-Tasie, Lenis Saweda O., Minten, Bart
Formato: Journal Article
Lenguaje:Inglés
Publicado: Springer 2021
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/142579
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author Reardon, Thomas
Liverpool-Tasie, Lenis Saweda O.
Minten, Bart
author_browse Liverpool-Tasie, Lenis Saweda O.
Minten, Bart
Reardon, Thomas
author_facet Reardon, Thomas
Liverpool-Tasie, Lenis Saweda O.
Minten, Bart
author_sort Reardon, Thomas
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the midstream (processors, wholesalers and wholesale markets, and logistics) segments of transforming value chains have proliferated rapidly over the past several decades in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Their spread has been most rapid in the long transitional stage between the traditional and modern stages, when value chains grow long and developed with urbanization but are still fragmented, before consolidation. Most of Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, and parts of the other regions, are in that stage. The midstream SMEs in output and input value chains are important to overall food security (moving about 65% of food consumed in Africa and South Asia), and to employment, farmers, poor consumers, and the environment. The midstream of value chains is neglected in the national and international debates as the “missing middle.” We found that it is indeed not missing but rather hidden from the debate, hence “the hidden middle.” The midstream SMEs grow quickly and succeed where enabling conditions are present. Our main recommendations are to support the SMEs further growth through a focus on infrastructure investment, in particular on wholesale markets and roads, a reduction of policy-related constraints such as excessive red tape, and regulation for food safety and good commercial practices.
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spelling CGSpace1425792024-10-25T07:54:37Z Quiet Revolution by SMEs in the midstream of value chains in developing regions: Wholesale markets, wholesalers, logistics, and processing Reardon, Thomas Liverpool-Tasie, Lenis Saweda O. Minten, Bart value chains policies logistics employment wholesale markets small farms food supply small and medium enterprises developing countries food security food processing Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the midstream (processors, wholesalers and wholesale markets, and logistics) segments of transforming value chains have proliferated rapidly over the past several decades in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Their spread has been most rapid in the long transitional stage between the traditional and modern stages, when value chains grow long and developed with urbanization but are still fragmented, before consolidation. Most of Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, and parts of the other regions, are in that stage. The midstream SMEs in output and input value chains are important to overall food security (moving about 65% of food consumed in Africa and South Asia), and to employment, farmers, poor consumers, and the environment. The midstream of value chains is neglected in the national and international debates as the “missing middle.” We found that it is indeed not missing but rather hidden from the debate, hence “the hidden middle.” The midstream SMEs grow quickly and succeed where enabling conditions are present. Our main recommendations are to support the SMEs further growth through a focus on infrastructure investment, in particular on wholesale markets and roads, a reduction of policy-related constraints such as excessive red tape, and regulation for food safety and good commercial practices. 2021-10-13 2024-05-22T12:10:42Z 2024-05-22T12:10:42Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/142579 en Open Access Springer Reardon, Thomas; Liverpool-Tasie, Lenis Saweda; and Minten, Bart. 2021. Quiet Revolution by SMEs in the midstream of value chains in developing regions: Wholesale markets, wholesalers, logistics, and processing. Food Security 13: 1577–1594. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12571-021-01224-1
spellingShingle value chains
policies
logistics
employment
wholesale markets
small farms
food supply
small and medium enterprises
developing countries
food security
food processing
Reardon, Thomas
Liverpool-Tasie, Lenis Saweda O.
Minten, Bart
Quiet Revolution by SMEs in the midstream of value chains in developing regions: Wholesale markets, wholesalers, logistics, and processing
title Quiet Revolution by SMEs in the midstream of value chains in developing regions: Wholesale markets, wholesalers, logistics, and processing
title_full Quiet Revolution by SMEs in the midstream of value chains in developing regions: Wholesale markets, wholesalers, logistics, and processing
title_fullStr Quiet Revolution by SMEs in the midstream of value chains in developing regions: Wholesale markets, wholesalers, logistics, and processing
title_full_unstemmed Quiet Revolution by SMEs in the midstream of value chains in developing regions: Wholesale markets, wholesalers, logistics, and processing
title_short Quiet Revolution by SMEs in the midstream of value chains in developing regions: Wholesale markets, wholesalers, logistics, and processing
title_sort quiet revolution by smes in the midstream of value chains in developing regions wholesale markets wholesalers logistics and processing
topic value chains
policies
logistics
employment
wholesale markets
small farms
food supply
small and medium enterprises
developing countries
food security
food processing
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/142579
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