Download or read book Consumer-food Security Nexus Framework for Understanding Agri-food Value Chains written by Emmanuella Ellis and published by . This book was released on 2020 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "The value chain approach has been applied to improve the performance of firms over the years and recently in agri-food value chains. Although the output of value chain activities is targeted towards the consumer, their satisfaction is largely ignored in value chain analysis. There are currently no frameworks developed that adequately captures the link between food value chains, consumer preferences and food security. The disconnect between consumer satisfaction and the way food value chains are assessed creates a gap. To address this gap, a methodological framework for agri-food value chain analysis was formulated based on a consumer-food security nexus. The framework is an integrated value chain analysis (VCA) approach that introduces different dimensions into the analysis and determines how they influence consumer preferences (and food security). The framework effectively captures consumers' preferences and translate those preferences into measurable value chain actions. Consumer preferences are categorized and linked to food security indicators. Following these indicators, criteria and dimensions are identified as output parameters to evaluate the performance of the chain in meeting consumer requirements and food security indicators. The tool calculates performance values for each broad food security indicator (FSI) using the value chain dimension scores. After the design of the conceptual framework, the next step was to apply it practically to evaluate the performance of a selected value chain to ascertain its validity. In doing this, the first step was to assess consumer preferences and the factors influencing demand, and consumption of common beans. Hedonic price analysis revealed that consumers were found to be willing to pay premiums for larger size beans (0.3% of the average price), bright-colored beans (18%), and packaging (10%). Discounts were paid for beans with a higher level of damage (11%) and beans which causes flatulence (10%). Overall, the findings show that affordability, accessibility, convenience, appearance taste, and low flatulence were considered important. The next step was to evaluate the performance of the value chain in meeting consumer preferences and food security indicators. Consumers' preferences and needs were not found to be adequately met because performance assessment revealed low scores of food security indicators. The common beans value chain scored below average for all indicators, 36% for availability, 48% for accessibility, 46% for affordability, 41% for acceptability and 39% for utilization. The low-performance scores can be attributed to inefficient performance and management of activities along the value chain, low stakeholder involvement, lack of financial and technical capacity etc. These factors are reflected in the low-performance scores for the value chain dimensions used in measuring the efficiency of activities and their effect on food security indicators. The value chain obtained lower scores for agility (37%) and management (39%) dimension and a higher score for the economic dimension (54%). Changes in value chain activities must not only provide value to consumers but benefit value chain actors. The results of the study showed that consumers were willing to pay additional amounts ranging from 13% to 25% of the average price to have their desired bean attribute levels. This was an indication that investment in the meeting consumer preferences will be worth it. However, storage methods and conditions resulted in significant changes in colour, shine, cooking time and quantity. Due to this, profit margins decreased from 27% to 65%. This has implications for consumer satisfaction, food security and profitability. The study recommends the design and implementation of interventions to strengthen the capacity of value chain actors to scale up production and marketing and also produce quality, affordable and value-added bean products"--