With the growth of vegetable exports from Africa, vegetables are increasingly recognised as providing an important contribution to rural incomes. Yet the characteristics of this contribution and the socio-economic challenges inherent in vegetable value chains have been comparatively little researched. This book addresses this gap by bringing together a collection of papers presenting the results of detailed socio-economic research on vegetable production and marketing in Africa.

The 16 chapters span theoretical discussion of concepts and methodologies, and analysis of the economic impact of interventions in vegetable value chains, such as the Global Good Agricultural Practice (GAP) standards, together with studies of domestic and regional vegetable markets and price behaviour. Factors promoting effective knowledge acquisition and sharing are also examined. The chapter on theoretical concepts argues for a more theory-driven approach to socio-economic research and the need for methods to capture the complex nature of the horticulture sector.

Several studies examine the impacts of private standards on smallholder vegetable producers and household welfare, noting tendencies towards concentration of production in fewer larger farms. However, the potential for mutual benefit from exporter investment in smallholder vegetable production is also elaborated. Income and poverty reduction benefits may be realised through labour markets as illustrated by a case study from Senegal. However, an analysis of supply chains for indigenous vegetables in Kenya and Uganda found that women earned the lowest incomes in the supply chain.

The selection of studies in this book successfully combines theoretical rigour and empirical interest. The book will be of great interest to researchers and students and also to those with a more general interest in horticultural value chains.