Beyond the Farm Gate: Can Social Capital Help Smallholders to Overcome Constraints in the Agricultural Value Chain in Africa?

Abstract

The agricultural sector is typically the biggest employer of labour in most African countries, yet it is also typically the most under-capitalised and most neglected by policymakers. While a number of studies have highlighted the positive impact of innovations on farm productivity, increased productivity does not necessarily lead to improved income or profit. For many smallholders, the most consequential, and often the most ignored, constraints exist beyond the farm gate in the value chain. These constraints include the lack of information and technological capacities for post-production processing and packaging, the challenge of quality requirements and delivery for high-valued markets, lack of connections to established market actors, and weak transportation networks. This chapter, therefore, reviews the existing knowledge, and proposes a framework that illuminates the potential of social capital to help smallholders overcome constraints in the agricultural value chain. As well as setting out a new research agenda, this chapter aims to contribute to the design and implementation of more effective interventions.