Charity Irungu St Paul’s University

1. Developing the Value Chain for Neglected and Under-Utilized Species: A Case Study of Africa Leafy Vegetables around Nairobi Charity Irungu St Paul’s University

2. PRESENTATION OUTLINE • Introduction: ALVs and Case study • Developing a value chain for under-utilised species using a case study of ALVs in Kenya • Lessons to draw from the case study • Points for learning and teaching Agro-biodiversity in Universities

3. Introduction Introduction • Over 210 ALV species • Importance of ALVs • Health (nutritive and medicinal value) • Economic • Socio-cultural • Contribution to bio-diversity

4. Production for Market Irrigated African nightshade - Peri-urban Nairobi Flowering spider plant for seeds - Kisii

5. Introduction Commercialization of ALVs • Low commercialization of ALVs in the mid 1990s • This is attributed to a number of factors including - Low consumer perceptions (poor man’s crop) • Strong fear in Nairobi that ALVs were grown using waste water • Ignorance of nutritive value • Poor market outlets • Unavailability outside production areas and selected market outlet frequented by specific tribes • ITK on preparation and preservation eroded with time

6. Value Chain Activities Solar drying Moringa leaves by a farmers’ group in Kilifi Cowpeas leaves in Nkubu Market

7. Ambiguous role of Market development 1

8. Ambiguous role of Market development 2

9. Results Demand drivers of market development • Promotional and awareness activities • Increased general health awareness and consciousness among Nairobi people • Improved ALVs presentation in supermarkets and upmarket groceries

10. Results Supply drivers of market development • Production promotion in growing areas • Provision of external market support to farmers • Capacity for self organisation (farmers’ groups) • Vertical coordination through the supply chain • Improvement in communication technology

11. Results Inhibiting factors of ALV market dev Are mainly factors associated with market and policy failures • Physical Infra-structural development -Poor Roads, lack of market space, storage facilities • Lack of policy guideline and support from the government • Lack of capacity to regulate supply • Lack of value-adding aspects • Lack of support services (credit, market information, etc.)

12. Lessons from the case study • Exploratory survey (Biodiversity) • Value chain, supply chain and market potential analysis • Influence demand and match it with supply • Capacity building for horizontal coordination (producer organizations) • Improve traditional markets • Link the POs to high value supply chains • Influence policy in favour of SSF and pro-poor marketing • Rural support services

13. Learning points in the Agro-biodiversity studies (value chain development ) • Biodiversity conservation (what/why) • Marketing issues and the market system • Pro-poor growth, market and rural livelihoods • Agro-value chain analysis and management • Agribusiness supply chain • Group organisation /capacity building • Support Services in Agro-value chains • Public Policy analysis and influence

14. End Thank You