Generation of pro-poor development benefits from upgrading agri-food value chains requires an understanding of markets and transactions, and the actors involved. This paper attempts to characterize pig traders in Uganda, their market linkages, perceptions of potential for value addition by way of valuation of product attributes, and perceptions of constraints. Past analyses of traders in other contexts has not reported robust methods for sampling, nor methods for engagement of traders for data collection. The current paper compares different sources of sample frames, and reports a workshop process for delivery of individual observations on traders. Characterization of traders reveals that many of them are also engaged in retail businesses, and that there is a separation between traders buying and selling piglets, and those dealing with grown pigs only. Market channels used are described. Source of sampling frame was found to affect the survey results obtained, and that this is a logical consequence of the nature of traders identified form different sources, principally their experience in the business. This disaggregation was most evident in the analysis of constraints faced.

This study analyzed pig traders in Mukono district in Uganda. The main objective was traders' characterization in terms of trading activities, seasonal fluctuations, networking, and business constraints. A second objective was comparison of results across sampling sources, and to assess the extent to which these sources influence research results. Data on traders was collected through a survey questionnaire. The survey employed samples from 3 separate sample frames: traders identified by each of retailers, farmers, and local authorities.

The results indicated a limited number of intermediaries (actors), in the pig value chain in the locality studied. A large proportion of traders are also involved in the retailing function (principally as butchers). Farmers/producers remain the main suppliers to pig traders, whereas retailers/butchers, and in lower proportion small scale producers, are the main customers of these traders. Pig traders are facing many constraints in their day-to-day operations. Limited funds, transport costs and poor transport facilities are the most-cited constraints to traders' buying activities. Business environment constraints (lack of customers, high competition between traders, unpredictable market conditions, etc.) are the most frequently-cited constraints to selling activities.

Traders were segmented into two groups in the basis of their sampling list origin: a first group composed of those drawn from the producers' or retailers' lists, and a second group composed by traders drawn from the local authority's list. Results indicated that the former group is mainly composed of young and inexperienced traders, in contrast to the second group which is composed of aged and experienced traders. Traders groups' constraints analysis showed that the two groups of traders are experiencing different constraints, especially the young and inexperienced traders who cited a large number of problems. These results highlight the importance of the sampling source.

Growth in population and income, as well as urbanisation, are contributing to the growing consumption of high-value foods in developing countries. However, public and private investments targeting high-value agricultural markets are constrained by limited information on the quality dimensions of the market, the nature of traditional retail formats, and consumer segmentation. This paper presents a simple and appropriate methodology to provide such information, and applies it in Tanzania to animal-sourced foods. It features a rapid survey, which is then aligned with nationally representative survey data. The results show that Tanzanian consumers demand, and are anticipated to continue demanding, relatively good-quality animal products but in rather low-valued product forms. Consumer segments are differentiated by level of wealth and by choice of retail format and retail product form, rather than by quality per se.