Creating a Profitable Market for Mozambican Family Farmers : A case study of how an intermediating actor works to strengthen farmers’ position in Mozambique 

Sammanfattning: This study investigates how an intermediating actor interoperates with non-governmental organisations (NGOs), the government, and farmers in the rural areas of Mozambique in order to strengthen the farmers’ position and connect them to a profitable market. By investigating two different triadic business relationships involving these actors, this study aims to answer how the intermediary operates in order to overcome present market obstacles for the farmers. The study was carried out as a case study where four different locations in the south of Mozambique were being visited. The primary data is based on 25 interviews with farmers, representatives from the intermediating actor, and from an NGO. The study shows that the intermediary forms its operations with a long-term perspective starting from the farmers’ needs. Educating the farmers is the most important operation according to the results. The intermediary successfully manages to mediate between the farmers and NGOs thanks to mutual trust in the relation. In the relation between farmers and the government, the intermediating does not work in the same adequate way due to one-sided communication controlled by the government.