Background:

I am a Kenyan National, married and have two daughters. I hold a Bachelor of Science Degree (General Agriculture) and Masters Degree (Agricultural Economics) from University of Nairobi, Kenya.  As an employee of the Ministry of Agriculture, I have over 15 years’ work experience in capacity building, technology acquisition and outreach programs in rural and urban agri-food systems.

Study Area:

Agribusiness 

Project Title:

A systems approach to value management and performance improvement: the case study of a fresh vegetable supply chain in Nairobi, Kenya.

Project Outline:

This study is about urban agri-food systems in developing countries and their ability to deliver consumer preferences in an efficient, effective and sustainable way. Such requirements have become critical due to globalization, urbanization and westernization of consumption cultures. The food systems are made up of supply chains that link large numbers of small producers in the peri-urban interface with consumers in cities. However, despite their economic returns to actors and stakeholders, the chains are not in tune with and responsive to the needs and wants of the final consumers; complex processes and relationships between chain players; and natural and policy environment in which they operate. Thus the primary focus in this study is to investigate how the performance of fresh vegetable supply chains can be sustainably improved so as to optimize value for consumers and returns to actors and other stakeholders. This case study research of the Kales/Spinach supply chain will be conducted in Embakasi Division, Nairobi. Research subjects will largely include purposively sampled consumers (different segments), actors (growers, packers, distributors, retailers) and stakeholders (credit, input, and research and extension service providers) in the supply chain. This study is constructivist research, and will also involve an interdisciplinary stakeholder reference group in investigating the constraints that limit integration of consumer value and performance improvement from chain players’ perspectives. The study findings are expected to promote a systemic and holistic view of performance improvement based on consumer value as a driver of sustainable urban agri-food chains.

Advisory Team:

1. Principal advisor      Associate professor Ray Collins
School of Integrative Systems (SIS), Gatton
Email: ray.collins@uq.edu.au

2. Associate advisor     Dr. Paul Dargusch
School of Integrative Systems (SIS), St Lucia
Email: p.dargusch@uq.edu.au

Contact Details:

• Phone: 07 5462 5296
• Mobile: 041 324 9307
• E-mail: john.macharia@uqconnect.edu.au
• Postal: 3/71 Woodlands Road, QLD, Gatton 4343.