Trader Interview: Individual Competition and Characteristics Wholesale and retail food staple traders Interview only food traders who sell at least food commodities (e.g., maize, posho, beans, sugar, oil). It is important to speak with the person who understands how this business operates and regularly manages the affairs of the business in this market. This person will likely be the business owner or co-owner / co-operator (e.g., spouse or family member). Oral Consent Thank you very much for your willingness to participate in our study. The goal of this study is to understand issues around livelihoods, markets and relief during periods of food insecurity in this community. We are talking to traders to see how markets are affected and respond to emergencies. Your answers will help us understand how markets impact food insecurity in this community and help us to develop better programs for poor and ultra-poor households. We are, specifically interested in learning about: • Your career as a food trader and the conditions of markets where you operate, • What your costs are, and • Whether you think you can increase your trade in food, if there was additional demand. The interview will take approximately 1 hour. There is no direct benefit to you for participating in this survey. However, this survey can help us to understand how markets operate in this area. You may ask questions now or anytime during the interview. All the information you give will be strictly anonymous and confidential. Your name will not be associated with any of your responses or to anyone outside our project. Please answer questions honestly. If you do not know an answer, that is ok. Please tell us you do not know the answer. If you would rather not answer any questions, just say so. You may opt out of this interview at any time you wish. Your cooperation is greatly appreciated, as it will help us to understand the problems that face markets in this area. Do you have any questions for me? May we proceed with the interview? interview date: SURVEY #: time: end time: Market name: District name: Business Name: Respondent NAME: Owner Name: Respondent Contact number: NATURE OF TRADE: INTERVIEWER: Primary Language of Interview: Reviewer: DATA ENTRY COMPLETED DATE: data entry clerk: TRADER CHARACTERISTICS
Please tell us some basic information about you and your business Name of respondent: (Family Name, Given Name) Respondent’s relation to 0: 1: Family Business 2: Spouse 3: Relative (specify) 4: Non-relative manager 5: Non-relative employee Gender: 1= Male 0= Female Primary language used by trader: Primary Ethnic Number of years trading experience (years) What percentage of owners’ income is trading? 0: 0%-25% 1: 26%-50% 2: 51%-75% 3: 76% - 100% Approximately how many different types of food products do you sell? [_________] For what fraction of your total sales revenues does your trade in each of the three food commodities account? Commodity Percent* Maize grain Maize flour Beans *This column may add up to less than 100% (but should not exceed 100%) For maize traders who sell maize flour, indicated which grade(s) of maize flour you sell (if grades are locally divided separately or called by different names, note the local name; identify how they correspond to the most prevalent ‘standard’ grades as sold in Kampala). Grade 1 _____________ Grade 1.5 ___________ Grade 2 _____________ For bean traders, what percentage of your trade in beans is Nambale Long?__________ Enumerator Note: If the respondent trades only in beans and does not trade in Nambale Long, thank the trader for his/her time and end the survey. If beans account for the highest percentage and Nambale Long is traded, proceed with the rest of the survey only for beans. For volumes purchased/sold and prices, ie through Question B1, refer only to Nambale Long; for transport, storage and stocking costs, answer for all beans generally. If maize grain and/or maize flour are the highest percentage, proceed with the rest of the survey only for maize grain and flour. Commodity chosen for remainder of survey: MAIZE / BEANS (circle) Identify your suppliers (circle the primary supplier, by volume purchased). Complete the questions on the right for indicated suppliers.
7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. Select the top two markets (by volume purchased) above, and answer the following. Markets chosen from above Distance to the market you purchase from (one way) How do you usually transport goods from this market to the market where you sell? (use codes below) Rent / Own (circle) Volume in vehicle (specify actual volume packed in vehicle, NOT official volume of vehicle) Cost / unit 1. Rent / Own 2. Rent / Own Codes for mode of transport used 0= Within the market (no transport) 4=Small vehicle 7=Supplier arranges for delivery 1=Bicycle 5=Lorry 8= ________________ 2=Motorcycle 6=Truck Codes for transportation costs units 0= Within the market (no transport) 3=100 KG bag 6=Other:__________ 1=KG 4=metric ton 2= 50 KG bag 5= per vehicle Using only the primary market selected above, answer the following questions for that market. Commodity From above: Name of primary market (for aggregators: name of location) In the past year, how frequently did you purchase this commodity from this source market in the peak season? (use code below) Current number of wholesalers of this commodity at this source market (for aggregators: farmers—if exact number not known, use ranges below) How many sellers of this commodity do you buy from in this market? (If exact number not known, use ranges below) Maize grain Beans Codes for frequency of visit to market 1=At least once a week 3=At least once a month 5=Others (specify):______ 2=At least once every two weeks 4=At least once every three months Ranges for number of wholesalers/farmers/retailers/buyers (if exact number not known) 0-5 11-25 More than 100 6-10 26-100