This study examines sustainability and gender dynamics of coffee value-chain development intervention in Ethiopia. The data were collected from male and female farmers and other stakeholders using key informant interviews, focus group discussions, and a questionnaire survey. The study found that some of the introduced technologies/practices were adopted and sustained whereas others were dropped or adapted depending on technical, institutional, and socio-economic factors. The value-chain intervention was generic and not gender-sensitive. Although the intervention generated positive changes and benefits for all household members (by improving coffee quality, market access, and their income), it had mixed outcomes for women. Although women were not primarily targeted by the intervention, their increased involvement in coffee harvesting and processing fostered women’s skills, confidence, and decision-making power. However, some of the new technologies/practices required additional labour, while others were labour saving and eased their work. As a result of increasing the wholesale trading of coffee, the role for marketing largely shifted to men. This study underscores the need for a proper gender analysis and embedding gender-sensitive approaches in designing development interventions to ensure women’s fair representation, and thus equitable and sustainable benefits. Such efforts should entail a paradigm shift from production to promoting women’s role and integration into the entire value chain, as well as improving their access to productive resources and services. Moreover, value-chain development interventions should consider technical, institutional, social, and economic factors that could influence their effectiveness and sustainability.

Agriculture is vital for economic growth in sub-Saharan Africa. In Rwanda and Zambia, the sector drives economic output, particularly the horticulture sector, which has emerged as a significant contributor to export revenue and employment for resource-poor rural communities. As agri-food value chains become globally connected, there are increasing concerns about food safety and both the social and environmental sustainability benefits of production, which has underscored the need for producers to comply with certain regulatory standards. This paper uses a value chain analysis approach to assess the factors influencing compliance among smallholder fresh fruit and vegetable (FFV) producers in Zambia and Rwanda, and identify practices essential for achieving widespread compliance, to enhance the competitiveness of the sector. The data were gathered from 340 FFV farmers and key informants using structured questionnaires. The results reveal that the value chains for target FFVs are still traditional, predominantly targeting local markets. These markets pose low barriers to entry for smallholders, and often with few safety and quality requirements. As such, there remains a paucity of understanding of market needs and regarding quality and safety standards amongst smallholders, which, coupled with low-input, low-technology farming methods, and inadequate pre- and post-harvest handling, limit the market potential. To bridge these gaps, this study recommends organising farmers into legally recognised entities, to enable access to compliance information, reduce transaction costs, and provide access to high-quality niche markets through public–private partnerships. Countries also need to develop industry codes of practice and quality management systems and support farmers to adhere to them.

This study examined the effects of a partial credit guarantee in increasing lending to credit constrained farmer cooperatives under the Ethiopian context. The data were generated through questionnaire survey, key informant interviews, focus group discussions, and from banks’ and cooperatives’ records. The scheme improved financial additionality among the targeted cooperatives, but it had limited reach and impacts on terms and conditions of loans. Factors related to borrower cooperatives, lending banks, scheme design and operation, regulatory and business environments affect its effectiveness. This calls for broader interventions that enable loan guarantees to be effectively utilised and generate the desired outcomes.

This study examined the use of crop health advices that farmers received at village-based plant clinics and their determinants in Ethiopia. Data were collected from 210 randomly selected plant clinic users from three districts of Ethiopia, and analysed using descriptive statistics and a binary logistic regression model. Plant clinic users were smallholders with an average landholding of 0.8 ha, predominantly male, with a mean age of 46 years. Most recommendations for pest management were a combination of monitoring, cultural practices and pesticides, in line with Integrated Pest Management (IPM) principles. About 64% and 34% of the clinic users fully or partially, respectively, applied the recommendations. After visiting plant clinics, farmers demonstrated improved knowledge and practices in using pesticides, although no significant difference was observed between the types of pesticides they used. Stability of plant doctors, distance to plant clinics, and education significantly and positively influenced the use of plant clinic advice, whereas age was negatively associated. The findings suggest that plant clinics provide relevant and practical advice that address plant health problems of farmers. Thus, such project-based intervention should be fully integrated into regular programmes to ensure their sustainability.

This paper explores the potential role of the private sector, particularly the crop protection industry, in enhancing emergency pest prevention, preparedness and response (EPPPR) in relation to invasive pests. By leveraging their position and knowledge, private companies can contribute significantly to mitigating pest-related risks, enabling sustainable responses. We outline a comprehensive framework for EPPPR, covering prevention, preparedness, early detection, emergency response and integrated pest management, and we discuss how the private sector can contribute to this framework. We highlight the value that greater private sector involvement could bring to emergency pest prevention, preparedness and early pest detection through its on-the-ground networks and data-sharing capabilities with national plant protection organisations. Additionally, we stress the importance of robust and agile regulatory frameworks and policies for creating an enabling environment for the effective management of emergency pest outbreaks. We also emphasise the potential opportunities provided by private sector investment in research and development in driving innovation in pest management technologies. By fostering partnerships with governments, international organisations, local communities and other stakeholders, the private sector can play a vital role in building a resilient agricultural system capable of withstanding pest challenges.