Managing seasonality in West African informal urban vegetable markets: The role of household relations

Abstract
Seasonality influences African informal agricultural markets, but existing literature inadequately explores its interactions with market actors' social relations and livelihood outcomes. Thus, agricultural commercialisation policy ineffectively supports such actors to manage seasonality. Across Bamako, Ouagadougou and Tamale, we conducted interviews, focus group discussions, and a survey of farmer and marketer profits across seasons. Hot, dry season lettuce transactions performed by marketers are more likely to make profit. Farmers and marketers rely on household and community relations and reproduce gendered skills to optimise profit and secure future income streams. Policies supporting household reproduction, and infrastructure, may best support their marketing activity.
Description
International Journal of Development, 2021;1–20
Keywords
Gabin Korbéogo, agricultural markets, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Mali, performance, seasonality, social relations, West Africa, CEFORGRIS, Joseph Ki-Zerbo University and Ouaga II University
Citation
Bellwood‐Howard, I., Ansah, I. G. K., Donkoh, S. A., & Korbéogo, G. (2021). Managing seasonality in West African informal urban vegetable markets: The role of household relations. Journal of International Development, 33(5), 874-893.
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