African mass markets provide better solutions to opportunity costs

IF there were no mass markets, most African farmers would not be able to benefit from the seasonal nature of most production practices.

 Smallholder grain producers often ask themselves questions like: Which is better earning US$240 from a tonne of oil seeds in the mass markets immediately and using that income to invest in seasonal horticulture or wait for more than three months to be paid US$500 a tonne?

Being awake to the danger of missing opportunities for re-investing in their enterprises if they wait for a payment that comes through formal channels like banks after several months, most smallholder farmers would rather get less cash immediately and reinvest in other low hanging opportunities.

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