Towards an Integrated Horticultural Market to Stabilize Supply Chain Vulnerabilities in Zimbabwe
Abstract
This research investigates how an integrated horticultural market can stabilize supply chain vulnerabilities now found in Zimbabwe. Chapter 1 starts by giving a brief background of how Zimbabwe was the breadbasket of Africa before the 1980s, but fall from its glory in the 1990s. This research is motivated by the fact that, horticulture industry in Zimbabwe is not governed by any policy that support supply chain plays which is crucial for ensuring the supply of produce across the nation and globally. Hence, this research looked at (1) investigating how access to market information can affect horticulture supply chains, (2) understanding the nature of coordination among horticulture supply chains, (3) accessing how quality standards affect access to local and foreign markets, (4) examined the challenges being experienced by players in the horticulture industry. Chapter 2, started by providing academic discussions on integrated horticulture markets supply chains, theoretical models such as the structural change model, multi-agent systems among others were critically examined and their relevance explained. Literature on marketing information, coordination of supply chains, quality standards available in horticulture and challenges faced by horticulture farmers was evaluated with empirical researches included and research gaps acknowledged. Chapter 3 provides a detailed analysis on the interpretivist-qualitative research approach adopted. The research study included small- scale horticulture farmers, horticulture associations and service organisations, processors, wholesalers and retailers who were sampled using convenience and purposive sampling. Thematic data analysis was employed utilising NVivo 15 for Windows. Chapter 4, results show that there is lack of information sharing among horticulture supply chains. The research also shows that there is lack of coordination among horticulture supply chain that has led to duplication of roles by players in the industry and some have become negligent. Additionally the research shows that players in the horticulture industry are not familiar with quality standards such as Global GAP, BRC, IFS and this is affecting their ability to supply high value markets locally and globally. Chapter 5 the researcher recommended that the government of Zimbabwe establish a horticulture board that offers horticulture industry with inputs such as finance, seed, machinery, cold chain facilities among other resources. The board should also provide a link (in the form of an organisation) between farmers and the other players in the industry. The researcher also recommended that sound horticulture policies be established that protect horticulture farmers and industry. An integrated horticulture market model was developed at the end of the chapter showing how all this could be achieved.