Market and Value Chains
Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12348/4
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- This research aims to incentivise key public and private actors to perform critical market and support functions more effectively and inclusively. It also aims to sustain change beyond project timelines through adaptive, market-driven models.
- This study provides a comprehensive analysis of the coastal and marine aquaculture market in the key Nigerian states of Lagos, Ogun and Ondo. It is based on a robust mixed-methods approach involving 903 survey respondents (452 fish farmers and 451 fish consumers), 53 key informant interviews (KIIs) and 18 focus group discussions (FGDs). The study identifies a critical misalignment between production and consumption that hinders the sector’s potential. Research reveals that while catfish and tilapia monoculture dominates production, consumer demand is for a greater diversity of species, with a strong preference for the perceived superior quality of wild-caught fish. Key findings indicate that the sector faces significant constraints, primarily high input costs, limited access to finance and inadequate storage infrastructure. These challenges inflate prices and reduce profitability. The market structure is traditional, relying heavily on intermediaries, which limits producers’ market access and margins. Despite these challenges, the study uncovers a remarkable readiness for sustainable innovation and overwhelming stakeholder support for integrated multitrophic aquaculture (IMTA).
- This report presents the findings of a comprehensive market assessment conducted by Asia–Africa BlueTech Superhighway (AABS) in Bangladesh, focusing on the coastal and marine aquaculture sector. The study examined both supply-side factors (producers of shrimp, finfish, shellfish, bivalves, and seaweed) and demand-side factors (consumers) across five key regions: Cox’s Bazar, Khulna, Bagerhat, Patuakhali, and Satkhira. A mixed-methods approach was employed, including 1,200 semi-structured surveys (600 consumers and 600 producers), Key Informant Interviews (KIIs), and Focus Group Discussions (FGDs), alongside field observations. The study also explored the adoption of Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA) as a sustainable farming practice.
- This study assessed the role of IMTA in promoting employment in coastal Kenya, focusing on five counties: Lamu, Tana River, Kilifi, Mombasa, and Kwale. Data collection was done using Kobotoolbox and structured questionnaires, 600 respondents were surveyed, alongside interviews and site visits. The study explored job creation opportunities, especially for youth and women across IMTA value chain. Findings highlight IMTA as a climate-smart solution to the economic vulnerabilities faced by coastal communities, such as overfishing, climate change, and limited livelihood options. Employment opportunities exist across the IMTA value chain—from hatchery operations to farming, post-harvest processing, distribution, and marketing. To fully harness IMTA’s potential, strategic investments in training, policy support, market infrastructure, and ecosystem restoration are essential. This report provides actionable recommendations for policymakers, practitioners, and private sector stakeholders to scale IMTA and drive inclusive, sustainable growth in the blue economy.
- The rapid growth of aquaculture in Bangladesh over the past 30 years has been accompanied by a proliferation of wholesalers. Wholesalers are often assumed in academic and public discourse to be exploitative and inefficient: extracting rents rather than driving technological change. This view gives rise to development programs that seek to bypass marketing intermediaries or upgrade their practices. However, there has been little rigorous research on the behavior of wholesalers and its implications for outcomes of value chain performance, including food security. To address this gap, we implemented a statistically representative survey of 229 aquatic food wholesalers in 31 markets in one of Bangladesh’s most important aquaculture zones. We found the following. (1) The wholesale segment of the aquaculture value chain has grown rapidly. (2) Markets are increasingly competitive, with open auctions leading to disintermediation and transparent pricing. (3) Wholesale businesses operate on thin margins. (4) Very little food loss or waste occurs in the farm, wholesale, or retail value chain segments in the study zone. (5) Trading aquaculture products generates substantial employment for men but little for women. Contrary to popular belief, the midstream of the aquaculture value chain in southern Bangladesh is dynamic and efficient. The paper contributes to a growing literature highlighting the contributions that micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the “hidden middle” segments of agri-food value chains make to food security.
- The study area is Nigeria's three coastal states in the southwest region, namely Ondo, Ogun, and Lagos. The two-month study was structured to involve structured questionnaires and focus group discussions with participants from the coastal states to obtain quantitative and qualitative data respectively for the study. The objectives were to elucidate the recruitment pattern for aquaculture-related jobs, determine gender-specific challenges of acquiring and venturing into aquaculture in the area, find the opportunities for job creation and assess the intervention that can promote the employability of these marginalized groups of people for the jobs that would be created in the IMTA value chain when implemented.
- This brief highlights the vision, objectives, outcomes and strategy for WP3 of the AABS project - Climate-smart technologies for reducing aquatic food loss and waste: Scaling affordable and accessible climate-smart food preservation, processing and storage technologies to reduce aquatic food loss and waste.
- This brief highlights the vision, objectives, outcomes and strategy for WP3 of the AABS project - Climate-smart technologies for reducing aquatic food loss and waste: Scaling affordable and accessible climate-smart food preservation, processing and storage technologies to reduce aquatic food loss and waste.
- This brief highlights the vision, objectives, outcomes and strategy for WP3 of the AABS project - Climate-smart technologies for reducing aquatic food loss and waste: Scaling affordable and accessible climate-smart food preservation, processing and storage technologies to reduce aquatic food loss and waste.
- This brief highlights the vision, objectives, outcomes and strategy for WP3 of the AABS project - Climate-smart technologies for reducing aquatic food loss and waste: Scaling affordable and accessible climate-smart food preservation, processing and storage technologies to reduce aquatic food loss and waste.
- This document provides an overview of WorldFish's contributions to aquatic food systems in Cambodia, focusing on sustainable development, food security, rural livelihoods, and environmental resilience. Since 2006, WorldFish has worked to integrate fish into rice-based agricultural systems, establishing over 160 Community Fish Refuges (CFRs) that have restored wild fish populations, improved rural diets, and enhanced ecosystem health. These efforts have benefited 80,000–127,000 households and sustainably managed over 200,000 hectares of rice–fish landscapes. The document highlights Cambodia's challenges, including rural poverty, food insecurity, climate risks, and water security issues. It emphasizes the importance of integrated, climate-smart approaches such as rice–fish systems, homestead aquaculture, and wetland conservation to address these challenges. WorldFish has also contributed to policy development, including the National Aquaculture Strategy and Action Plan for Cambodia 2021–2030, and capacity building for government agencies, local communities, and women.
- This study summarizes a market assessment conducted in Kenya by Asia-Africa BlueTech Superhighway (AABS), led by WorldFish and supported by the UK’s COAST program under the Blue Planet Fund (BPF). The assessment is part of the AABS work package, which aims to scale Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA) between 2023–2027 to support climate adaptation, food security, and livelihoods in Kenya, Bangladesh, and Nigeria. IMTA is a system integrating species like fish, shellfish, and seaweed to boost aquaculture sustainability and environmental resilience. The study focused on producers (shrimp, finfish, shellfish, seaweed) and consumers across five key coastal counties of Kenya: Kwale, Mombasa, Kilifi, Tana River, and Lamu.
- Small-scale fisheries and aquaculture (SSFA) sustain nearly half a billion people worldwide but face major challenges, including post-harvest food loss. This guidebook provides a practical, adaptable resource to help practitioners understand and reduce loss across diverse contexts. Designed for researchers, agencies, civil society, and value-chain actors, it combines tools for data collection, systems change, and community engagement. A central focus is building strong relationships and mobilising local agencies to create effective, lasting solutions.
- The TAAT II Fish Compact Fact Sheet provides a concise overview of the project’s objectives, technologies, and impacts for partners and stakeholders:” The initiative promotes fast-growing, climate-resilient fish species, low-cost quality feed, and climate-smart processing technologies. It builds capacity among farmers, youth, women, and value chain actors while strengthening aquabusiness development and innovation platforms. Expected outcomes include 80% farmer access to improved fish seed, a 20% rise in production, and a 20–30% reduction in fish imports, contributing to improved nutrition, job creation, and sustainable aquaculture growth across Africa. The TAAT II Fish Compact, led by WorldFish and supported by the African Development Bank, aims to enhance aquaculture productivity and value chain development in 11 African countries.
- The transformation of global food systems is essential for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and fulfilling the Paris Agreement commitments, especially in vulnerable regions like East and Southern Africa (ESA). In such regions, small and medium enterprises (SMEs) across food systems value chains can drive transformative innovations, but often require external support to build capacity. Business accelerators, originally from the corporate and tech sectors, have emerged as key players in supporting early-stage ventures, yet their role in agriculture and food systems remains underexplored. This paper presents findings from the first cohort of the CGIAR Food Systems Accelerator (CFSA), which supports agribusinesses in ESA in scaling climate-smart innovations. Through its science-backed, tailored approach, CFSA enhances investment readiness and technical capabilities among SMEs. The assessment, based on interviews with agribusiness founders (n = 10), reveals perceived improvements in entrepreneurial skills, partnership opportunities, and organizational capabilities, though challenges related to financial constraints and enabling environment remain. This study highlights the potential of non-profit accelerators in fostering food systems transformation through SME development, with important implications for poverty reduction, food security, and climate adaptation. Expanding such programs and studying their long-term impacts is crucial for driving sustainable growth in food systems in the Global South.
- This report presents outcomes, important takeaways, and suggestions from the digital fisheries information system component of PROFISHBLUE project's execution in Zambia and Malawi. The project is officially known as the Programme for Improving Fisheries Governance and Blue Economy Trade Corridors in the SADC region and funded by the African Development Bank (AfDB) and coordinated by the SADC Secretariat. Despite the blue economy being critical to the livelihoods of artisanal fisherfolks and smallholder aquaculture farmers and overall economic growth, it remains vulnerable to climate change. The project was based on the need to strengthen the resilience of aquatic food systems to climate change. In this context, Digital Climate Information and Advisory Services (DCIAS) for aquaculture and fisheries information systems were seen as essential for informed and data-driven decision making to deal with climate risks for building resilience, enhancing food, nutrition, and livelihood security across aquatic food systems..
- This paper offers new insights into gender norms, roles, participation, relations, and benefits derived by women and men engaged in the aquaculture sector in Ogun and Delta States in Nigeria. Data were collected using mixed methods, including structured surveys of 410 farmers, 175 market actors, and 53 input suppliers, 116 semi-structured key informant interviews, and 11 focus group discussions (FGDs). Overall results of the study revealed the linkages within the aquaculture value chain, which was highly gendered, with men dominating all the three main stages of the value chain as indicated by Duncan's index of dissimilarity of 17.35%. Results also revealed a gender difference in the value of assets, ownership, and wage rate among men and women participants in paid labor in the input supply and fish trading segments. Men tended to realize more profits than women, indicating an imbalance in the distribution of benefits by gender along the aquaculture value chain. Results revealed that the participation of women in decision-making was relatively high, attributable to their involvement in aquaculture value chain activities. The findings highlight the need for governments, development agencies, and non-governmental organizations to address gender disparities in policies designed to improve the imbalance in the distribution of benefits between women and men.
- This Results Framework (RF) is based on the updated WorldFish (WF)’s Theory of Change (ToC) version in May 2023. The RF is built around a conceptual framework that focuses on determining the extent to which there is control over research results and contribution to development impacts. This document covers the details at all the above-mentioned levels as well as identifying roles and responsibilities and the ways of tracking the different outputs and outcomes. The high-level indicators were endorsed in 2023, during the annual retreat, taking reference of CGIAR indicators. This document also helps to identify (a) how the framework is operationalised and, (b) the key MEL activities and timelines to ensure the improvement of the program quality and efficiency of WF. For the full result framework table please refer to Annex 1, which provides more details of how each indicator will be reported, ways of segregation and aggregation, and frequency of data collection.
- In 2024, significant strides were made in advancing aquatic food systems that are climate-resilient, inclusive, and nutrition-sensitive. Through targeted innovation, scientific research, and strategic policy engagement, efforts supported communities in building resilience to climate-related shocks. The application of digital technologies, sustainable aquaculture practices, and co-management approaches contributed to improved livelihoods, while inclusive value chains and emerging technologies enhanced opportunities for women and youth. Nutrition-focused interventions further demonstrated the critical role of small fish and fish-derived products in addressing micronutrient deficiencies. Collectively, these developments highlight the growing importance of aquatic foods in global strategies for food security, public health, and climate adaptation.
- The 2024 annual FASA workshop was held in Lusaka, Zambia, on November 11–15, 2024. During the workshop, key achievements, challenges and solutions were highlighted and discussed. This event brought together FASA partners from Kenya, Nigeria, Zambia, Sweden and Malaysia, providing an opportunity to reflect on the progress made in Year 2 and strengthen collaboration for the project’s next phase in Year 3. In its second year, the FASA project continued to make progress toward achieving deliverables for the year despite facing challenges, such as delays in some activities. Building on the foundation established in its first year, the project successfully completed a scoping study to identify and select alternative raw ingredients for fish feed. It also continued its research on the nutrient requirements of fish, strengthened capacity building efforts and fostered engagement with stakeholders to achieve the project’s milestones. In addition, FASA’s partners remained dedicated to delivering project activities despite challenges that arose.