Market study is an analysis of market demand for a particular product or service. It analyses how factors such as location, demand, and competition may or may not affect the value of property. It is the study of market dynamics in regard to a specific product or service. The process involves gathering, analyzing and interpreting information about a market, a product or service to be or has been offered for sale in that market. It analyses the past, present and potential customers for the product or service, their characteristics, spending habits, location and their needs on quality and quantity.
Portfolio
Kenya Market Trust
Signature Issue
In August 2016, Right Track Africa carried out a market study for Kenya Market Trust (KMT), in Kenya. KMT commissioned the study “Animal feed study: Mapping animal feed manufactures and ingredient suppliers” to establish the factors that affect feed costs and quality and limit their effective utilization at farm level. The study was carried out between August and October 2016, by a study team from Right Track Africa (RTA) and Nutrimix Limited. The report developed findings and recommendations in pertinent areas such as populations and distribution, ingredient demand and supply, quality control (internal and policies), supply chain and pricing models.
Overview
The study sought to establish the total population of feed manufacturers and raw material suppliers in the country, their location, infrastructural capacity and volumes of product handled. The total population of the feed operators encountered was 305, consisting of 115 who only manufactured feed, 96 who supplied raw materials (or ingredients) and 94 who did both. Hence a total of about 210 feed millers, which more than twice the number established in a 2008 survey by the Ministry of Livestock Development. A revelation that emerged as soon as the study got underway was that a large number of raw material suppliers did not have fixed physical addresses. They (the suppliers) worked by connecting ingredient sources to ordering customers (manufacturers, distributors and even retailers) through their distribution and transport systems.
The study used data collected from feed manufacturers, raw material or ingredient suppliers, farmers and key informants along routes regions and towns where intensive feed manufacturing is expected to take place. This included Nairobi city and its environs, central Kenya and upper Eastern, Rift Valley, Western and Nyanza, and lower Eastern and Coastal. Census data was collected from all the feed dealers and a survey of a few selected as sample. Key informants and relevant literature was also collected from institutions and organizations, including the Association of Kenya Feed Manufacturers (AKEFEMA), the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS), the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock, KARLO, ILRI and ICRAF, Egerton University, and the University of Nairobi. The team also collected information from farmers using focus group discussions along the routes.
SNV – MAMASE project – Value Chain
Signature Issue
In March 2016, a team from Right Track Africa carried out a Livestock Value Chain Analysis for SNV-MAMASE project – Livestock Market Development. SNV commissioned a value chain analysis (VCA) to map the actors, the flow of demand and supply of livestock and livestock products (meat, hides and skins), assess the inputs and support services with focus on markets, value addition and commercial oriented production. The study also analysed market constraints and opportunities for the various livestock products that could be maximized, locations, quantities, quality management, linkages with end markets and barriers to competitiveness. The study, followed a value chain and market analysis approach. This entailed a mapping and analysis of livestock production from the Mara region, related trading and processing functions in order to understand the primary actors and systemic conditions that could be addressed to achieve higher levels of performance. The study was conducted in targeted production areas of Narok County and serving markets. Data was collected using focus group discussions, informant interviews and literature review. The key respondents included the pastoralist producers, their input suppliers, local and visiting buyers, market and processing representatives. Data was also collected from development agencies, and technical officers.
Overview
The study provides a detailed synthesis of the Mau Mara livestock value chain and recommendations to improve the Mau Mara communities’ participation in the livestock production value chain through sustainable use of their land. The study addressed the following objectives; to map the livestock value chain actors, the flow of demand and supply of livestock and livestock products (meat, hides and skins), to assess the inputs and support services markets with focus on markets, value addition and commercial oriented production and to analyse market constraints and opportunities for the various livestock products that could be maximized, locations, quantities, quality management, linkages with end markets and barriers to competitiveness.
SNV’s Mau Mara Serengeti (MaMaSe) Sustainable Water Initiative project is promoting water safety and security in the Mara River Basin (MRB) to support structural poverty reduction, sustainable economic growth, and conservation of the basin’s forest and rangeland ecosystems. It’s Sustainable Livestock Production and Marketing component focuses on determination of livestock off-take, better stocking rates for improved local livelihoods and more space for wildlife, improving market access by creating a competitive enabling institutional and financial framework that will improve land owners’ benefits in such a way as to not exhaust land productivity.