Improving Agricultural Market Performance:
Developing Agricultural Market Information Systems
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3.6 PRIVATE 2GMIS MODELS Two types of private 2GMIS platforms are discussed in this section: independent, private
providers and commodity exchange-based MIS.
3.6.1 INDEPENDENT PRIVATE 2GMIS MODELS Private MIS are usually set up by private enterprises which are profit orientated and usually
cover both regional/national levels (Galtier et al., 2014). Their aim is to improve market
efficiency by improving information flows that allow for better production/trade decisions
(ibid). Most private MIS platforms collect and disseminate information on a wide range of
commodities and products including cereals, pulses, fish, fruits, poultry and livestock products.
An example is ESOKO which operates in several countries in West and Central Africa.ESOKO collects and disseminates price data for over 60 commodities and products. The price
data is collected mainly through market-level interviews and observations by its enumerators,
who also provide additional advisory services, usually by telephone to farmers and other
parties. These platforms are reported to be by far the most advanced in terms of uptake of
innovative technology, typically relying on mobile telephony and the internet for dissemination
of information (Chiatoh and Gyau, 2016). In Ghana and Kenya, ESOKO has broadened its services
into providing a platform for agriculture-related commerce, targeting especially producers in
rural areas. This service includes maintaining a database of producers and rural inputs
distributors. This makes it possible to link these players and facilitate inputs trade beyond
dissemination of prices. Figure 12, for instance, shows a rural farm inputs distributor who is
part of the ESOKO network in Ghana. Through the network inputs distributors are able to offer
discounts when they sell in bulk to groups of farmer with their details in the ESOKO database.
Figure 12: ESOKO Partner Rural Farm Inputs Distributor in Ghana
SourceESOKO maintains a similar database of produce aggregators and major buyers. This provides a
means to facilitate output trade. The company, with support from donor-funded organisations
such as AGRA, organises trade forums close to the harvest season. During such forums, informal