Title: Barriers of food supply chains in Africa - a Delphi study

Authors: Stefan Gold; Stefan Seuring; Ajang Nnoko Ngaaje Jeff

Addresses: Production and Logistics Management, Faculty of Economics and Business, University of Neuchâtel, Avenue du 1er-Mars 26, 2000 Neuchâtel, Switzerland. ' Department of Supply Chain Management, Faculty of Business and Economics, University of Kassel, Untere Königsstraße 71, 34117 Kassel, Germany. ' Eurovoyages Group, Rue de Narvick, P.O. Box 3067, Yaoundé, Cameroon

Abstract: By means of the Delphi method, the study reveals structural and technological issues on the firm level as well as national policies as most relevant barriers of food supply chains in Africa. Second-rank issues are international trade and technology transfer as well as supply chain management. Regarding national governmental policies, the expansion and upgrading of infrastructure, primarily roads, rails, harbours and communication networks, are of main concern. On a farm or firm level two priority areas may be distinguished: On the producer stage, traditionally managed small-sized farms should be opened to technological, institutional and managerial innovations, while at the food processor stage innovations regarding the pre-treatment, preservation, handling and packaging of food need to be implemented. The findings are discussed against the background of previous research and the challenges involved. Productive food supply chains providing the local, regional and export market represent major weapons for considerably reducing poverty among smallholder farmers, poverty in general and for mitigating hunger.

Keywords: millennium development goals; MDGs; agriculture; Sub-Saharan Africa; poverty alleviation; malnutrition; food supply chains; food processing; integrated chain management; ICM; supply chain management; SCM; smallholder farmers; food policy.

DOI: 10.1504/IJARGE.2012.050351

International Journal of Agricultural Resources, Governance and Ecology, 2012 Vol.9 No.3/4, pp.228 - 246

Accepted: 02 Oct 2012
Published online: 29 Jul 2014 *

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