Instructions to fill out the worksheet:

Step 2

a and 2b should be completed directly on a blank copy of the worksheet.

Using 

steps 2c and 2d

 of the above instructions, the following maps were

constructed:

LUAPULA

NORTHERN

LUAPULA

NORTHERN

LUAPULA

NORTHERN

EASTERN

NORTH WESTERN COPPERBELT

EASTERN

NORTH WESTERN COPPERBELT

EASTERN

CENTRAL

COPPERBELT

CENTRAL

NORTH WESTERN

CENTRAL

LUSAKA

WESTERN

LUSAKA

WESTERN

LUSAKA

SOUTHERN

WESTERN

SOUTHERN

SOUTHERN

       Most important                        Second most important                 Third most important

          staple food                                      staple food                                    staple food

         flows: Maize                                 flows:  Cassava                       flows: Sorghum/Millet

The final step in the process of identifying the national marketing patterns is to

summarize the information gathered during this process.  The questions in

 step

2e

 should be written out, and then discussed with  major traders and millers in a

country and discuss the structure and performance of the marketing of specific

commodities.

In the example from Zambia, there are some important aspects of the national marketing

pattern for the country's main staple food that are noteworthy for price analysis.  First, the

marketing of maize, the most important marketed agricultural commodity, has the most

dynamic marketing pattern.  The other staple crops are only marketed locally (within

province). Lusaka and  Copperbelt both have large urban populations are both major

maize consuming areas.

An additional area that needs examination is the seasonality of the marketing of agricultural

products.  Showing similar maps, as presented above, for each quarter (3 months) of the

year could do this.  This would highlight marketing patterns at different times of the year.

3.2.4 External trade patterns

Understanding trade patterns with other countries is also important in price  analysis.  The

main issue to understand is the flow of the major commodities into the country (imports)

and out of the country (exports).  This flow influences the level of supply (and therefore the

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