OVERCOMING THE FIRST MILE - LESSONS FROM FARMERS IN KENYA TANZANIA

摘要

Two small-scale pilot studies were undertaken investigating the initial ‘First Mile’ farm tornmarket transport constraints faced by onion farmers in Nyeri County Kenya and tomatornfarmers in the Kilolo District Tanzania. Data on transport loads, costs and mode ofrntransport were collected together with other information on transport challenges facedrnincluding transport delays and crop losses. In both locations, hired head and back loadingrnwas the prime method of movement on the initial journey (typically from one to four km) tornthe first point of consolidation. This method of transport could be over 20 times asrnexpensive (on a per ton/km basis) than movement by truck. It was also found that therninitial movements could account for between 10% and 40% of the total farmer’s croprnearnings. Crop losses from bruising, getting wet and unpredictable delays were alsorncommon.rnIn Kenya farmers groups had attempted to overcome the challenges through both loadrnconsolidation, to gain advantages of the economies of scale of truck transport, and byrndeveloping a better route to take their produce. However it was found that the new routernhad major limitations, on vehicle movements that could be easily solved by simplerntechnical advice.