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Understanding the role of network effects in digital platforms to unlock market access for smallholder farmers
Mini Dissertation (MBA)--University of Pretoria, 2024.
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| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | English |
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University of Pretoria
2025
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| _version_ | 1867613483888017409 |
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| access_status_str | Open Access |
| author2 | Matthee, Marianne |
| author_browse | Matthee, Marianne |
| author_facet | Matthee, Marianne |
| collection | Thesis |
| dc_rights_str_mv | © 2024 University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria. |
| description | Mini Dissertation (MBA)--University of Pretoria, 2024. |
| format | Thesis |
| id | oai:repository.up.ac.za:2263/101855 |
| institution | University of Pretoria (South Africa) |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2026-06-10T12:36:52.413Z |
| license_str | Other — see source repository |
| provenance_str_mv | Harvested via OAI-PMH from UPSpace — University of Pretoria Institutional Repository |
| publishDate | 2025 |
| publishDateRange | 2025 |
| publishDateSort | 2025 |
| publisher | University of Pretoria |
| publisherStr | University of Pretoria |
| record_format | dspace |
| source_str | UPSpace — University of Pretoria Institutional Repository |
| spelling | oai:repository.up.ac.za:2263/101855 Understanding the role of network effects in digital platforms to unlock market access for smallholder farmers Matthee, Marianne ichelp@gibs.co.za Ahmed, Nabeel Razvi UCTD Network effects Digital platforms Market access Mini Dissertation (MBA)--University of Pretoria, 2024. Food insecurity and high unemployment is a major concern in South Africa. Smallholder farmers in South Africa can contribute towards alleviating these issues if they are able to enter markets and contribute towards improving accessibility to food and job creation in rural South Africa. It is important for smallholder farmers to grow from subsistence farmers as smallholder farmers are the key into improving the economy. This study seeks to understand the role of digital platforms with network effects in assisting smallholder farmers gain access to formal markets. Existing literature does not cater for how digital platforms with network effects can assist smallholder farmers gain access to markets. There is literature that touches on market access, smallholder farmers and digital platforms with network effects, however the combination of the three is novel. A qualitative exploratory approach was conducted in this research. A total of 14 semi-structured interviews were conducted with 12 interviews being smallholder farmers who use digital platforms with network effects and two interviews were buyers of agricultural goods in formal markets, to triangulate the data. The findings show that smallholder farmers can gain access to formal markets depending on how digital platforms with network effects are used. However, there are still many constraints that cannot be overcome on digital platforms with network effects, such as the need for touch of agricultural goods and connectivity issues. The limitations of the research are that all smallholder farmers were looked at and all digital platforms were included, leaving nuances in the different types under investigated. Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) MBA Unrestricted Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) SDG-09: Industry, innovation and infrastructure 2025-04-02T07:51:04Z 2025-04-02T07:51:04Z 2025-05-05 2024-11 Mini Dissertation * A2025 http://hdl.handle.net/2263/101855 en © 2024 University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria. application/pdf University of Pretoria |
| spellingShingle | UCTD Network effects Digital platforms Market access Understanding the role of network effects in digital platforms to unlock market access for smallholder farmers |
| title | Understanding the role of network effects in digital platforms to unlock market access for smallholder farmers |
| title_full | Understanding the role of network effects in digital platforms to unlock market access for smallholder farmers |
| title_fullStr | Understanding the role of network effects in digital platforms to unlock market access for smallholder farmers |
| title_full_unstemmed | Understanding the role of network effects in digital platforms to unlock market access for smallholder farmers |
| title_short | Understanding the role of network effects in digital platforms to unlock market access for smallholder farmers |
| title_sort | understanding the role of network effects in digital platforms to unlock market access for smallholder farmers |
| topic | UCTD Network effects Digital platforms Market access |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/2263/101855 |