Micro-, small and medium-sized enterprises increase supply of nutritious food in local markets

FAO;

Micro-, small and medium-sized enterprises increase supply of nutritious food in local markets

Success stories from Kenya and Malawi

Year of publication 2025

Place of publication Rome, Italy ;

Pages 10 p.

Author FAO;

Publisher FAO ;

Full item page

Synopsis (short abstract) Micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) are key players in local food supply chains, handling about 65% of the food consumed in regions like Africa and South Asia. Therefore, they are a key entry point to promote and increase the local availability of nutritious food and improve the food environment, while being a source for income and employment, and instrumental for the economic inclusion and self-reliance of women and youth.The success stories presented in this publication showcase MSMEs in Kenya and Malawi increasing their production of nutritious food and suppling these to the local markets as the result of a specifically designed mentoring and coaching program. The program promoted their knowledge and skills in production, food safety, conservation and proper handling, diversification of products, and marketing of nutritious food, complemented by general business and financial management skills and reinforced by the investment in basic equipment. The success stories show that MSMEs enhanced their capacities to introduce and sustain strategic improvements that increase their supply of nutritious food; that unmet local demand for nutritious and diverse food bears opportunities for MSMEs; that the mentoring and coaching program, by identifying individualized business solutions, is applicable to all food products and stages of the food supply chains, and that these activities are therefore adaptable to the food system priorities of each territory.

Language English

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