Over 60% of Africa’s population consists of smallholder farmers, who grow 80% of the continent’s food
More than 50% of small-scale farmers in East Africa report difficulties in transporting their produce to markets
Approximately 70% of the rural population in East Africa relies on agriculture for their livelihood
When smallholder farmers have access to market information, they can make better decisions that increase their incomes by up to 30%
In one project in western Kenya, household incomes increased by 154% in three years when young farmers were supported to improve production, post-harvest technology and marketing of horticultural products
In Ethiopia, 70,000 farmers gained access to high-quality supplies within three years when a network of six local suppliers was established in Amhara
Potential Benefits of Direct Farmer-Consumer Connections
Farmers’ markets allow farmers to earn 40-70% more for their products compared to selling through wholesale outlets
The Localized Agri-Food System (LAFS) framework suggests the foundation for establishing farmers’ markets exists in Uganda but needs to be strengthened through stakeholder coordination
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Super platforms connecting farmers to markets have the potential to increase farmers’ incomes by 50% or more
Smallholder farmers make up more than 60% of Africa’s population and grow 80% of its food
Consumer expenditure on the continent has grown at a compound annual rate of 3.9% since 2010 and reached $1.4 trillion in 2015. This figure is expected to reach $2.1 trillion by 2025, and $2.5 trillion by 2030
By 2030, a single continental market for goods and services through the Continental Free Trade Area (CFTA) could offer a potential market of 1.7 billion people