Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/246478 
Year of Publication: 
2021
Series/Report no.: 
ZEF Working Paper Series No. 209
Publisher: 
University of Bonn, Center for Development Research (ZEF), Bonn
Abstract: 
Over the last seven years, digital agricultural platforms offering a broad range of products and digital services to smallholder farmers have gained a dominant position on the African market. This paper examines the predictions of platform theory using case study evidence from six companies in SubSaharan Africa. The platform companies profiled in this paper are DigiFarm, FarmCrowdy, AgroMall, Twiga Foods, Tulaa and AgroCenta. While in theory platforms limit themselves to establishing linkages between user groups, the platform companies profiled in this paper have built vertical structures of control and integration into their business model, albeit to a varying degree. These include the maintenance of a field force that advises and accompanies the farmers, logistics and, above all, the direct sale of the farmers' produce on the platform company's own account. Thus, very different platform models are all subsumed under the term ' digital agricultural platforms '. With recourse to economic theory on platforms, the paper proposes categories with greater discriminatory power. In addition, it describes how platform companies make key strategic decisions as set out in economic theory. Finally, owing to varying contexts, the paper concludes that there is no silver bullet for the establishment of a digital agricultural platforms.
Subjects: 
Sub Saharan Africa
rural development
digital agricultural platforms
digital services for agriculture (D4Ag)
agricultural value chain management
theory on platforms
JEL: 
D21
Q12
Q13
Q19
O32
O33
Document Type: 
Working Paper

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