Thumbnail Image

The role of small and medium agrifood enterprises in rural transformation – The case of rice processors in Kenya

Year of publication 2022

Place of publication Rome, Italy ;

Pages 92 p.

Author ​Ilie, E.T., Hickey, A., Kelly, S.

Publisher FAO ;

Product type Book (series)

ISBN 978-92-5-135881-8

Series title FAO Agricultural Development Economics Technical Studies

Series number No. 17

Synopsis (short abstract) This study looks at the business models of small and medium sized rice processors in Kenya in order to better understand the policy and technical support they need to grow and fulfil their role in agrifood systems transformation. More specifically, by employing semi-structured interviews with Kenyan rice millers, the technical study identifies challenges in their day-to-day business activities, including procurement, inbound and outbound logistics, in-house operations, financing, and human resources management. Additionally, the publication looks at opportunities for improving the business enabling environment in which these enterprises operate, providing a set of policy options to foster their role. The methodology cross fertilises different disciplinary perspectives in order to gather evidence for formulating policy in a way that integrates several policy fields and cross-cutting issues such as food safety, quality and nutrition; farmer-market linkages; decent rural employment and gender equality; or rural investment. The paper showcases how small and medium agrifood manufacturers respond to the business enabling environment and also contribute to local development from multiple angles.

Cite this content as:

Ilie, E.T., Hickey, A. and Kelly, S. 2022. The role of small and medium agrifood enterprises in rural transformation – The case of rice processors in Kenya. FAO Agricultural Development Economics Technical Study No. 17. Rome, FAO.

https://doi.org/10.4060/cb8953en

Read on Google Books and buy online

Language English

Also available in:
No results found.

Related items

Showing items related by metadata.

  • Thumbnail Image
    Book (series)
    The role of small and medium agrifood enterprises in food systems transformation - The case of rice processors in Senegal 2021
    Also available in:
    The objective of this publication is multifold. First, it aims to learn from small and medium sized agrifood manufacturers about the role they play in food systems transformation in Senegal and the policy reforms required to harness their potential. Second, and more specifically, it gleans lessons from structured interviews with Senegalese rice millers, based on their day-to-day realities, highlighting the business creativity used by these firms in order to deal with difficult enabling environments. Third, the methodology adopts a food systems approach to analyze the target enterprises; cross fertilizing different disciplinary perspectives in order to develop evidence for the public sector on integrated policy making that better supports the role of small agrifood enterprises in sustainable transformation. Finally, the study shares ideas about innovations related to procurement, operations, logistics, finance, marketing and sales, human resources, and strategic partnerships. An important contribution of this work is to demonstrate the multidimensional and complex nature of the environment within which agrifood manufacturers do business, and the need for the public sector to harness their potential to reduce poverty through off-farm employment generation and to improve food security through the sustainable supply of affordable and nutritious food to domestic and export markets.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Book (stand-alone)
    Policies and institutions shaping the business enabling environment of agrifood processors in Senegal
    An analytical review of the literature for integrated policy making
    2022
    Also available in:
    No results found.
    Small and medium agrifood enterprises (SMAEs) such as processors, transporters and other service providers, play an important role in achieving sustainable development objectives. For instance, they connect farmers to urban markets; make significant investments in rural areas; provide employment to vulnerable populations such as women and youth; and propel the modernization of agrifood value chains. In sub-Saharan Africa, where agriculture comprises 53 percent of total employment and 15.5 percent of gross domestic product, supporting SMAEs can have great implications for pro-poor growth and rural transformation. To support SMAEs in fulfilling their potential, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has been dedicating research to better understand their policy and technical needs. This publication is such output and aims to provide an assessment of the policy and institutional framework in Senegal shaping the business models of small and medium agrifood processors. This systemic appraisal of Senegal’s business enabling environment for SMAEs was cross-fertilized with an analysis of the business models of three rice millers, resulting in a related FAO technical study 'The role of small and medium agrifood enterprises in food systems transformation: the case of rice processors in Senegal'. The analyses were carried out using a multidisciplinary agrifood systems approach, which looks at policies and institutions related to procurement, operations, logistics, finance, marketing and sales, human resources, and strategic partnerships. Due to its well-articulated policy documents and the extensive research on various aspects of the business enabling environment conducted in the country, Senegal represents a compelling case to illustrate the links between policies and the activities of agrifood processors.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Brochure, flyer, fact-sheet
    Leveraging small and medium-sized enterprises for nutrition-sensitive food systems in Kenya 2021
    Also available in:
    No results found.
    This policy brief provides an overview of some of the key nutrition challenges faced in Kenya. While highlighting the importance of adopting nutrition-sensitive food systems approaches, the brief proposes entry points and recommendations for leveraging the role of local small and medium-sized enterprises to improve nutrition.
Show more

Users also downloaded

Showing related downloaded files

No results found.