Institute for Development Studies, University of Nairobi

The crucial role of agricultural marketing systems in the process of economic development has often been overlooked in the past. This seems to be true for Kenya, as well as for other developing countries, particularly as far as food marketing systems are concerned. With this background, a proposal is made for further studies on the marketing of maize and beans, the two main staple food crops in Kenya. In the respective marketing systems, the proposed research intends to analyse aspects of marketing effectiveness with regard to the objectives of:- - keeping marketing risks low, particularly for small-scale producers and urban low income consumers, - improving pricing or allocating efficiency (preventing excess profits and market distortions), and - improving operational efficiency (lowering marketing costs). This research should be seen in conjunction with the Marketing Development Programme launched by the Government of Kenya with assistance of UNDP/FAO. The researchers will try to contribute some of the necessary information which will be required if feasible programmes are to be developed to improve maize and bean marketing in Kenya.