A non gouvernemental MIS for vegetables in Madagascar: the SIELMadagascar: the SIEL

Relevance and issues of the systeme e a ce a d ssues o t e syste

Aurélien Penche March, 29, 2010

Plan for the presentationPlan for the presentation

Problematic and methodologygy

Description of SIEL, context and particularitiesp , p

Diffusion strategy

Information reported and producers needs

Uses and limits of market information idi di iti b t dproviding, disparities between producers

Problematic and methodologyProblematic and methodology

What are the information needs of vegetableproducers?

Does SIEL answer properly to these needs ?

What must be improved?

Study based on 97 farmers surveys in 8 areas where work SIELareas where work SIEL

Presentation of the SIELPresentation of the SIEL

Context and history of SIELContext and history of SIEL

2003 : Starting of the program « Support to the g p g pphorticulture sector on the Highlands of Madagascar » lead by the NGO FERT and a malagasy farmer federation FIFATAfederation FIFATA

Capacity building (field technical advisers, horticultural training center)Support to farmer marketing groupsHad to face difficulties, did not work as well as expected

Display that farmers had to face information issues2006 : Set up of a MIS to:p

Bring more transpency in horticulture sectorEncourage producers to more reactivity in marketing

Localisation of SIEL activities

DiffusionRelevéMarchéRégion DiffusionRelevéMarchéRégion

DIEGO-SUAREZ

xArivonimamoxAmparyxxManazaryxxImerintsiatosikaxxAnalavory

Itasy

xArivonimamoxAmparyxxManazaryxxImerintsiatosikaxxAnalavory

Itasy

MAJUNGA

xxEnvironsd’AmbatondrazakaAlaotra-Mangoro

xAntsirabexAnosizatoxAnosibeAnalamanga

(Antananarivo)

xxEnvironsd’AmbatondrazakaAlaotra-Mangoro

xAntsirabexAnosizatoxAnosibeAnalamanga

(Antananarivo)TAMATAVE

xxAmbositraAmoron'ManiaxxFaratsihoxxAlakamisy-AmbanoxxBetafo

xAntsirabe

Vakinankaratra

xxAmbositraAmoron'ManiaxxFaratsihoxxAlakamisy-AmbanoxxBetafo

xAntsirabe

VakinankaratraANTANANARIVO

ANTSIRABE

xxIhosyIhorombexAmbohimasoaxIkalamavonyxxAmbalavao

xFianarantsoa

Haute Matsiatra

xxIhosyIhorombexAmbohimasoaxIkalamavonyxxAmbalavao

xFianarantsoa

Haute Matsiatra

FIANARANTSOA

xTulearAtsimo-Andrefana

xIlakakaxMananovy

Anosy

xxIhosyIhorombe

xTulearAtsimo-Andrefana

xIlakakaxMananovy

Anosy

xxIhosyIhorombeTULEAR

Diffusion seuleRelevé seulRelevé et diffusion

Informations diffusedInformations diffused

ProductsTomato (Olivetti, round) Carotte

Potato Oignon

Products

Green bean

QuotationsPM Maximum price

Representing best and worst qualitypm Minimum priceMod Modal Price Most frequent price, standard product

+ Few products on the market

Volume exchanged

++ Normal activity

+++ Lot of products on the market

Particularities of SIELParticularities of SIEL

Included in a global program for horticulture g p gsector, managed by a NGO (FERT) and a farmer national federation (FIFATA)W k th k t fi ld t i d iWorks thanks to field agents experienced in horticulture and local parteners (Governmentagents, NGO…)agents, NGO…)

MIS close to the field: personnalizedpLight and flexible system (10 000 €/year)Technical support combined to information bringing

Diffusion strategy of SIELDiffusion strategy of SIEL

A diffusion strategy based on notice boards…

On weekly marketEnliven by the person in charge for SIEL localyCheap and easy to set up

… Which turned out not very suitable to the situation

Many transactions take place outside the marketMany transactions take place outside the marketMany producers which don’t go to the weekly market do not have access to the information boardSIEL is unknown of many farmers in some areas

Education level is usually low in the countriside,y ,Peasants have difficulties to understand boards

The Radio : a promising media for SIEL i th Hi hl d f M dSIEL in the Highlands of MadagascarRadio broadcasting exist and works well in 2 areas :g

Knowledge of SIEL is noticeably increased (91%)Comprehension is easier for farmers

Many local radios exist on the Highlands, they are very popularvery popular

Make SIEL accessible to much more producers

Favorite broadcasting way for 72% of producers

Develop radio broadcasting is a priority for SIEL future

Information reported and d l dproducers real needs

Information needs of producers are now identified…Good knowledge of local and regional marketGood knowledge of local and regional marketsituation

Many different information sourcesy

Lack of informations about consumption marketsI f ti tl i b t d hi h tInformations mostly given by traders, which are not judged as reliable by producersStrategical information, judged necessary by 66%Strategical information, judged necessary by 66% of producers

Important demand concerningImportant demand concerninginformation about consumption markets.

But not enough fullfield by SIEL… But not enough fullfield by SIEL

SIEL collect prices on :p10 production marketsNot very interresting for producersAre not totally accurate

6 urban wholesale markets6 urban wholesale marketsImportant ones are well reported (Antananarivo…)Not enough coverage of big consumption marketsNot enough coverage of big consumption markets

SIEL have to focus on consumption marketsi f ti b t ll t th i iinformation… but collect these prices is more difficult and more expensive for the system

Uses and limits of market information b d i di i i b dbroadcasting, disparities between producers

Market decisions constraintsMarket decisions constraints

High cost of transportHigh cost of transportHigh marketing risks on new markets or with new productsp

Negociation ability often limited for producersNegociation ability often limited for producers (oligopsonistic situation, perishable products…)

Securing strategies : interlinked transactions, local specialisation in a few productsLimits in using market information

Disparities between producers for use of i f iinformation« Small » producers, (usualy small land owners):

N d t i th l f th i t blNeed to increase the value of their vegetablesNeed non agricultural incomesLook for more lucrative market chanel (selling directly to consummer re selling products in a city )consummer, re-selling products in a city…)Interested in a good marketing information

« Medium » Producers :V bl d d i i h i fVegetables are secondary production in their farmFocus on production activitiesMaximum securing strategies

« Big » producers (often important land owners)Financial capacity to invest and to take risksTry to « maximize their profits » (new markets/products…)y p ( p )More capacity to use informations as marketing decisioncriteria

ConclusionConclusionSIEL impact is not yet significant…… however information needs are importants

Some technical improvement should be done toSome technical improvement should be done to adapt SIEL to needs and capacities of producers :

Radio broadcastingFocus on consumption markets rather than productionFocus on consumption markets rather than production markets…

But constraints to marketing choices remain high… But constraints to marketing choices remain highfor many producersAssiation with other actions should be done ?( i di /i f k i ?)(micro credit/insurance for marketing ?)

MERCI DE VOTRE ATTENTIONMERCI DE VOTRE ATTENTION

And sorry to not have spoken… And sorry to not have spokenin english!