PASHFARM
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- PublicationBridging Gender Productivity Gaps in Cameroon’s Agrifood Micro-Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises(AERC, 2026) Ousmanou Njikam; Coralie Paloma Mbengono; Valentin Désiré Guiama• Rigorous decomposition analysis reveals both the extent of the gender productivity gap and the underlying drivers shaping Cameroon’s agrifood micro-, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs). • The analysis distinguishes between formal and informal agrifood MSMEs, uncovering important differences in how gender gaps manifest across enterprise types. • Differences in returns to inputs drive the gender gap in both formal and informal agrifood MSMEs, pointing to persistent structural constraints and potential gender-based discrimination. • Structural determinants of the gender gap operate in two levels: common factors across sectors, including sectoral segregation, number of children, and vocational training and apprenticeship, and sector-specific and sector specific constraints, such as low education attainment, limited business networks and social connections, restricted access to bank credit, and low awareness of public policies). • Mechanisms driving productivity disproportionately affect enterprises established through bank loans, small-sized enterprises (10-25 employees), and agrifood MSMEs operating for more than three years. • Gender-responsive policy interventions are critical to achieving productivity parity. Priority should be given to reduce inequalities in (i) family and social responsibilities, (ii) educational attainment and training, (iii) access to formal finance, (iv) sectoral choice, (v) networks and social capital, and (vi) awareness and uptake of public support policies.
- PublicationSafeguarding Nutrition in Togo: Policy Responses to Rising Food Prices(AERC, 2026) Amy KA; Assion Lawson Sipoaka; Françoise Okah Efogo; Mamatchi MelilaRising food prices significantly reduce food consumption and worsen the nutritional status of households in Togo. The impacts are gender-differentiated and vary between urban and rural areas. Universal policy responses can cushion shocks but place substantial pressure on public finances. Well-targeted, nutrition-sensitive cash or in-kind transfers are the most effective short-term policy response.
- PublicationEnhancing Fish Consumption Through Retail Market Policy Interventions in Kenya(AERC, 2026) Kevin Okoth Ouko; Clarietta Chagwiza; Modock Oketch; Maureen Jepkorir Cheserek; Florence Achieng Opondo• Promoting fish consumption provides an affordable, nutrient-dense approach to addressing nutrition challenges in Siaya County, Kenya. Policy support for locally available fish can enhance dietary quality, particularly for children, pregnant and lactating women, and low-income households. • Household fish consumption is shaped by market systems including infrastructure, food safety, and pricing, with rural and peri-urban households facing the greatest access barriers, underscoring the need for targeted market investments.
- PublicationProtecting Household Nutrition in Senegal amid Food Price Shocks: Policy Options to Safeguard Vulnerable Populations(AERC, 2026) Amy KA; Françoise Okah Efogo,; Assion Lawson SIpoaka; Mamatchi MelilaFood inflation poses a major threat to food and nutrition security in Senegal. In November 2022, food inflation reached 14.1%, significantly reducing households' purchasing power and access to quality food. While progress has been made in reducing chronic malnutrition, acute malnutrition has increased, highlighting a growing vulnerability to price shocks. This policy brief assesses the effects of rising food prices on Senegalese households using a computable general equilibrium model (CGE) combined with a household-level microsimulation module. The results show that an increase in international food prices leads to a 0.34 per cent decline in food consumption, a deterioration in energy intake (+0.28 nutritional poverty points), and a marked deterioration in essential micronutrient intake.
- PublicationUnlocking the Potential of Food SMEs to Boost Income and Food Security in South Africa(AERC, 2026) Selma T. Karuaihe; Wegayehu Fitawek; Enoch Owusu-Sekyere; Herbert Ntuli; Hettie C. SchönfeldtFrom the business side, women dominate the food SME sector in South Africa, with majority being Black South Africans. • The type of food SME (i.e., spaza shops, restaurants and fruit and vegetables) has a significant impact on income1. ● SMEs operating restaurants generate the highest weekly income, making cooked foods more profitable than selling fruits and vegetables, which is the least profitable of all. ● In terms of food security, nearly half (48%) of households had an adequate diet, consuming more than six food groups in the study area. ● The food security status of the household was determined by multiple socio-economic factors, including the household age, sex, education level, family size, ethnicity, number of working adults, household income and food expenditure. ● The informal food markets play a crucial role in ensuring food and nutrition security, with over 60% of consumers purchasing fruits and vegetables from street vendors. ● Spaza shops serve as key sources of grains, nuts, legumes, dairy, poultry, and meat, making them essential for food accessibility and affordability in low-income communities. • Policy recommendations to support SMEs selling fruits and vegetables should include training on proper handling, cooling, and temperature management of fresh produce