Thokozani Chikuni|F. T. M. Kilima
Smallholder farmers' market participation and mobile phone?based market information services in Lilongwe, Malawi
African Institute for Development Policy|Moshi Co-operative University
abstract growing interest development technologybased systems empower farmers africa paper determines effect mobile phonebased market information services mis farmers decisions participate maize markets lilongwe malawi study reveals insufficient evidence suggest mis influence farmers market participation decisions knowledge prevailing prices may necessarily guarantee farmers market participation especially buyers determine market prices transaction costs high consequently farmers access alternative markets fail improve marketing outcomes findings suggest channelling governments resources towards improving extension services increasing farmers productivity ideal ways promote participation smallholder farmers agricultural markets findings also underscore need integrate radio mobile phones agricultural mis provide farmers information related agricultural production addition market prices recommendations could realized better coordination market access initiatives involving smallholder farmers government departments ngos mobile network operators media houses