byTraditional markets and small-format shops currently account for 80 to 90 per cent of urban food retailing in African cities, a report has shown.
The report said small farmers reach urban food markets primarily via traditional wholesale markets. “The efficient operation of these markets, therefore, becomes key to small farmer access and competitiveness,” reads the report. While recognising the debilitating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and its role in exacerbating existing economic and social inequalities, the report defines five focus areas in a bid to overcome the problem of urban under-nutrition and accelerate the urgency of urban food system planning.
Domestic food distribution systems, intra-African trade and food safety are the other themes of the report leading to the conclusion that improved urban food system governance and performance can create new opportunities for Africa to transform its agricultural endeavors into thriving businesses.