The unmet financial needs of intermediary firms within agri-food value chains in Uganda and Bangladesh

Intermediary firms within agri-food value chains operating between the farmgate and retailers typically account for at least as much, if not more, value added as the primary agricultural production sector of the economy, but little is known about how these small and largely informal firms conduct th...

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Autores principales: Adong, Annet, Ambler, Kate, Bloem, Jeffrey R., de Brauw, Alan, Herskowitz, Sylvan, Islam, AHM Saiful, Wagner, Julia
Formato: Artículo preliminar
Lenguaje:Inglés
Publicado: International Food Policy Research Institute 2024
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/151859
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author Adong, Annet
Ambler, Kate
Bloem, Jeffrey R.
de Brauw, Alan
Herskowitz, Sylvan
Islam, AHM Saiful
Wagner, Julia
author_browse Adong, Annet
Ambler, Kate
Bloem, Jeffrey R.
Herskowitz, Sylvan
Islam, AHM Saiful
Wagner, Julia
de Brauw, Alan
author_facet Adong, Annet
Ambler, Kate
Bloem, Jeffrey R.
de Brauw, Alan
Herskowitz, Sylvan
Islam, AHM Saiful
Wagner, Julia
author_sort Adong, Annet
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description Intermediary firms within agri-food value chains operating between the farmgate and retailers typically account for at least as much, if not more, value added as the primary agricultural production sector of the economy, but little is known about how these small and largely informal firms conduct their business. Drawing on a set of innovative surveys implemented amid the arabica coffee and soybean value chains in Uganda and the rice and potato value chains in Bangladesh, we describe the financial activities of the firms that transform agricultural produce into food. We document four sets of results. First, across all intermediary actors in our data the overwhelming majority of transactions are cash-based. Second, although many intermediary actors are un-banked, access to financial accounts varies considerably by value chain segment, commodity, and country. Third, while most intermediary actors report using mobile money for personal purposes, especially in Uganda, very few use mobile money to facilitate business transactions. Fourth, although intermediary actors frequently report exposure to risk, very few effectively manage this risk. We conclude by discussing how intermediary agri-food value chain actors represent an underappreciated population for the promotion of new technologies both to improve the stability of the agricultural sector and to improve outcomes among smallholder farmers.
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spelling CGSpace1518592025-12-02T21:03:24Z The unmet financial needs of intermediary firms within agri-food value chains in Uganda and Bangladesh Adong, Annet Ambler, Kate Bloem, Jeffrey R. de Brauw, Alan Herskowitz, Sylvan Islam, AHM Saiful Wagner, Julia agrifood systems finance mobile phones technology value chains Intermediary firms within agri-food value chains operating between the farmgate and retailers typically account for at least as much, if not more, value added as the primary agricultural production sector of the economy, but little is known about how these small and largely informal firms conduct their business. Drawing on a set of innovative surveys implemented amid the arabica coffee and soybean value chains in Uganda and the rice and potato value chains in Bangladesh, we describe the financial activities of the firms that transform agricultural produce into food. We document four sets of results. First, across all intermediary actors in our data the overwhelming majority of transactions are cash-based. Second, although many intermediary actors are un-banked, access to financial accounts varies considerably by value chain segment, commodity, and country. Third, while most intermediary actors report using mobile money for personal purposes, especially in Uganda, very few use mobile money to facilitate business transactions. Fourth, although intermediary actors frequently report exposure to risk, very few effectively manage this risk. We conclude by discussing how intermediary agri-food value chain actors represent an underappreciated population for the promotion of new technologies both to improve the stability of the agricultural sector and to improve outcomes among smallholder farmers. 2024-08-26 2024-08-26T15:22:30Z 2024-08-26T15:22:30Z Working Paper https://hdl.handle.net/10568/151859 en Open Access application/pdf International Food Policy Research Institute Adong, Annet; Ambler, Kate; Bloem, Jeffrey R.; de Brauw, Alan; Herskowitz, Sylvan; Islam, AHM Saiful; and Wagner, Julia. 2024. The unmet financial needs of intermediary firms within agri-food value chains in Uganda and Bangladesh. IFPRI Discussion Paper 2266. Washington, DC: International Food Policy Research Institute. https://hdl.handle.net/10568/151859
spellingShingle agrifood systems
finance
mobile phones
technology
value chains
Adong, Annet
Ambler, Kate
Bloem, Jeffrey R.
de Brauw, Alan
Herskowitz, Sylvan
Islam, AHM Saiful
Wagner, Julia
The unmet financial needs of intermediary firms within agri-food value chains in Uganda and Bangladesh
title The unmet financial needs of intermediary firms within agri-food value chains in Uganda and Bangladesh
title_full The unmet financial needs of intermediary firms within agri-food value chains in Uganda and Bangladesh
title_fullStr The unmet financial needs of intermediary firms within agri-food value chains in Uganda and Bangladesh
title_full_unstemmed The unmet financial needs of intermediary firms within agri-food value chains in Uganda and Bangladesh
title_short The unmet financial needs of intermediary firms within agri-food value chains in Uganda and Bangladesh
title_sort unmet financial needs of intermediary firms within agri food value chains in uganda and bangladesh
topic agrifood systems
finance
mobile phones
technology
value chains
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/151859
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