Improving Agricultural Market Performance:

Developing Agricultural Market Information Systems

OVERVIEW OF MIS IN NON-OIC COUNTRIES

3.1

INTRODUCTION

In the preceding chapter, we traced the evolution of agricultural MIS in many developing

countries from the first to second generations. In this chapter, we review examples of MIS from

non-OIC countries including 1GMIS as well as 2GMIS and recent enhanced versions. The impact

and important lessons from the reviewed cases are summarised in the concluding section of the

chapter.

3.2

ZAMIS: TYPICAL EXAMPLE OF FIRST GENERATION MIS (1GMIS)

MODEL

The Zambia Agricultural Market Information System (ZAMIS) is an example of anMIS which was

set up following the liberalisation of the agricultural sector. As briefly reported in Box 2, Zambia

liberalised its agricultural sector, including abolishing the parastatal grain marketing company

– the National Agricultural Marketing Board (NAMBOARD) – in 1989. ZAMIS was subsequently

set up in 1993 as part of measures to promote transparent private trade in agricultural

commodities, especially maize which is the most important staple grain in the country.

As was typical of such systems during the 1980-90s, the Ministry of Agriculture run ZAMIS.

Wholesale and retail prices, as well as information on volumes traded, were collected by the

field staff of the Ministry frommajor urban and rural markets. The staff involved were not solely

dedicated to this function but usually undertook core functions such as the provision of farm

extension services. The price data was collected mainly through visiting markets and asking the

traders.

Box 2: Zambia Agricultural Market Information System (Zamis)

Zambia begun implementation of major reforms in the agricultural sector in the late 1980s, including

abolishing the National Agricultural Marketing Board (NAMBOARD) in 1989. Prior to its abolition

NAMBOARD controlled the marketing of especially maize, the principal staple grain in the country.

To foster active involvement of private traders in the maize trade, the government set up ZAMIS to

provide market information in 1993. The service was coordinated by the Ministry of Agriculture and

involved collection of wholesale and retail prices from major urban markets, covering maize, mealie

meal (processed maize flour), other crops, fertiliser and seeds by Provincial Marketing officers. The

information was collated and processed by staff at the head office of the Ministry in Lusaka.

Dissemination, which was free, was through three channels: weekly radio broadcasts by a

government-owned broadcaster, twice-weekly market bulletins published in government-owned

newspapers, and postings on price boards in rural markets.

Accumulated debts led to the cancellation of broadcasts; rising postal charges hampered

transmission of price data to the central processing unit, resulting in the price information being

outdated. and publication of bulletins. Very few farmers were reported to have consulted the price

bulletin boards for a number of reasons including the following: the farmers had difficulty

interpreting the reported price data, which was also out of date. Sustainability of ZAMIS was also an

issue, even though at a point a local bank co-sponsored the radio and print media publications.

Source: Shepherd (1997)