13/11/2026
Meet Kayalethu Sotsha
This week, we feature Kayalethu Sotsha, who leads the Smallholder Market Access Unit within the Markets and Economic Research Centre (MERC) at the NAMC.
With a Master's degree in Agricultural Economics and more than eight years of experience at the NAMC, Kayalethu's work focuses on understanding and improving market access for smallholder farmers. Through research and evidence-based analysis, he helps identify practical solutions that promote productivity, competitiveness, and inclusive growth in agriculture.
His work contributes to key programmes and initiatives, including the Agriculture and Agro-processing Master Plan (AAMP), where he serves as a value chain coordinator. He also contributes to research publications, policy briefs, commentaries, and stakeholder engagements that inform decision-making across the agricultural sector.
Through the Smallholder Market Access Unit, Kayalethu and his team generate knowledge that helps shape interventions aimed at improving participation in agricultural markets and strengthening smallholder farmer development.
"Research plays a critical role in identifying opportunities that can unlock growth and improve market participation for smallholder farmers."