Browsing by Author "Makindara, Jeremia Ramos"

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Effect of changes in business environments on traded medicinal plants products in Tanzania: an explorative study
(Heliyon, 2022) Mpelangwa, Eziacka Mathew; Makindara, Jeremia Ramos; Sorensen, Olav Jull; Bengesi, Kenneth Michael Kitundu; Mabiki, Faith Philemon
In Tanzania, a complex rural to urban supply network for the medicinal plants' products trade has developed over time driven by changes in business environments at the macro level notably in the policy and regulatory frameworks and the micro level resulting from traders’ reactions and responses to those changes and pandemics. These changes in business environments and responses of traders have shaped the current trade practices. However, the response of traders to changes in business environments and the evolutionary paths over time are not well documented. Therefore, this paper aimed to synchronize changes in business environment over time and empirically determine how the trade has evolved concerning the responses of the medicinal plants' traders in Tanzania. The study applied economic evolution theory to describe the interactions of changes in business en- vironments and responses of traders to demarcate the evolutionary stages. Primary data were collected from traders, regulators, and researchers through ten focus group discussions and sixteen in-depth interviews from five regions of Tanzania. The results indicated that the traders of medicinal plant products responded by improving product appearance and modernizing both practices and business premises. The study findings have identified four evolutionary stages of trade in medicinal plant products in Tanzania: The first stage was the colonial era (1882–1961), the second is the government supremacy era (1961–1984), the third is the emergence of the private sector era (1985–2004), and the fourth is the market and regulation integration era (started in 2005). Moreover, because of the partial implementation of the regulatory framework, the fifth stage of trade evolution is also ex- pected. This stage is expected to be demarcated when the regulatory framework and market forces work together. Therefore, the study recommends that proper enforcement measures be put in place to ensure desired results whenever there are changes in business environments in traditional medicines practice. This is due to the expectation of the fifth stage whereby one of its characteristics is stiff competition among traders and which will require robust business models to survive in business.
Trade evolution of medicinal plants’ products in Tanzania: an explorative study
(Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, 2022) Mpelangwa, Eziacka Mathew; Makindara, Jeremia Ramos; Kenneth, Olav Jull Sorensen; Bengesi, Michael-Kitundu; Mabiki, Faith Philemon
In Tanzania, a complex rural to urban supply network for the medicinal plants' products trade has developed over time driven by environmental changes and the response of traders. The environment changes include policy, regulatory frameworks, and pandemics. These environmental changes and responses of traders shaped the current trade practices. However, the response of traders to environment dynamics and the evolution paths over time to the current status is not well documented. Therefore, this paper aimed to synchronize environment dynamics incidences for a period of time and empirically determine the respective responses of the medicinal plants' traders in Tanzania with respective evolution paths. The study applied economic evolution theory to describe the interactions of environmental changes and responses of traders and to determine the evolution stages. Primary data were collected from traders, regulators, and researchers through 10 focus group discussions and 16 in-depth interviews from five regions of Tanzania. The traders followed the market in urban areas and establish supply chains to meet market demand. While environment changes caused de-coordination, the traders responded by re-coordination to explore market opportunities. Four evolution stages of trade in medicinal plants products were identified in Tanzania: Colonial era (1882 -1961), government supremacy era (1961 - 1984), emergency of private sector era (1985- 2004), and the market and regulation integration era (started in 2005). As a result of the partial implementation of the regulatory framework, the fifth stage of trade evolution is expected. The fifth stage is when the regulatory framework and market forces will work together. The study recommends proper enforcements measures to be put in place to ensure desired results whenever there are environmental changes in traditional medicines. Because the fifth stage is expected, potential business models to be adopted can be studied to ensure firms' survival during stiff competition.
The value chain of traded products of medicinal plants in Tanzania: the emerging role of formulators
(African Journal of Economic and Management Studies, 2021-10-04) Mpelangwa, Eziacka Mathew; Makindara, Jeremia Ramos; Sørensen, Olav Jull; Bengesi, Kenneth Michael-Kitundu
Products of medicinal plants play significant roles in management of diseases. Their accessibility through trade plays a key role in health, economic and livelihood improvement. However, the traceability of the production process from their source in Tanzania is lacking. This study aims to depicture the production process of formulated products of medicinal plants. Design/methodology/approach. The study applied the value chain theory using qualitative data from literature review and survey to practitioners of traditional medicine. Survey data were collected through 15 indepth interviews and ten focus group discussions in five regions of Tanzania. Findings. Input to output structure is performed through a five actors’ value chain. The raw material is provided by harvesters who collected medicinal plants from wild. The processing is conducted by wholesalers and formulators. The wholesalers add value by drying, milling and bulk packaging of individual medicinal plants. Formulators mix different medicinal plants to create readymade products for specified diseases. Distribution is done by retailers and healers. There were six regulating and two supporting organizations. Private supporters were millers and transporters. Governance structure was deduced to be relational. Relational governance was a result of lack official standards along the value chain. Originality/value. The described value chain can be used to guide investments in production of products of medicinal plants by improving formulation technology