Extension Program Report:
Understanding Market
Forces at Kasalika Market
•Student Name: mwayi Palani
•Registration No.: 23321502013
•Program: Bachelor of Business Administration
•University: DMI-St. John the Baptist University
•Date: September 2025
INTRODUCTION
•I spent one month at Area 49 Proper Market (also known as Kasalika Market) and Panda Shop to study business
operations and market dynamics.
•The goal was to apply business administration theories to a real-world setting.
•My report, "Market Forces," focuses on how supply, demand, and other factors influence business in this local market.
OBJECTIVE
What I Aimed to Achieve:
• Efficient Price Setting: Learn how prices are set based on supply, demand, and
competition.
• Resource Allocation: Understand how goods and commodities are distributed
according to customer demand.
• Customer Awareness: Observe how business owners attract and inform
customers.
• Improving Quality: Advise sellers on the importance of offering better quality
products to compete effectively.
• Promoting Competition: Recognize how new sellers can bring variety and
stabilize prices.
KEY FINDING AND IDENTIFICATION
• Market Challenges:
• Poor Transportation: Bad roads make it hard for sellers to get goods, leading
to spoilage (e.g., tomatoes).
• Government Policies: High taxation (raised from MK50 to MK200)
discourages new sellers and slows market growth.
• Lack of Storage: Poor storage facilities damage goods, reducing sales and
profit.
• Poor Sanitation: Improper waste disposal pollutes the environment and
river, risking waterborne diseases.
• Market Congestion: Uncoordinated display of goods on market days makes
it difficult for customers to move freely.
My Action Plan &
Implementation
• How I Helped:
• Sanitation: I worked with the chairperson to implement a plan.
• We introduced trash bins for proper waste disposal.
• We established a new rule: a MK200 fine for mishandling waste.
• Sellers are now responsible for sweeping their own areas daily.
• Congestion: We developed a plan to organize the market.
• Sellers are now allocated specific, coordinated spaces before the market day
begins to ensure clear pathways for customers.
• Business Advice: I provided direct advice to sellers.
• I taught a maize seller the importance of using pesticides to preserve quality.
• I educated small business owners on how to forecast sales and use the
equilibrium price graph to predict profitable selling times.
• What I Needed:
• Transportation: Travel to the market (10km from Mponela)
was a major cost and logistical challenge.
• Time: The program required significant time to observe,
interact, and plan solutions with the community.
• Note Pad: This was essential for data collection and
RESOURCES & summarizing information to prepare for teaching sessions.
• Challenges I Faced:
CHALLENGES • High Transport Costs: The expense of getting to and from
the market.
• Heavy Rain: Rain frequently disrupted the program and my
planned visits.
• Limited E-commerce Access: The rural location meant
limited access to digital tools and platforms for both sellers
and me.
Community Feedback &
Recommendations
• Feedback:
• The community's response was positive. Small business owners
were grateful to get practical business advice.
• They now have a better understanding of how to overcome their
challenges and improve their businesses.
• Recommendations for Future Improvement:
• Infrastructure: Construct better roads to solve transportation issues
and new buildings for better services.
• Power: Invest in more power generators to deal with frequent power
outages.
• Agriculture Regulation: The Ministry of Agriculture should authorize
ADMARC to regulate maize prices, benefiting both vendors and
consumers.
CONCLUSION
• My Main Takeaway:
• This program gave me a deeper, hands-on understanding of Business
Administration.
• It helped me bridge the gap between classroom theory and real-world practice.
• I gained valuable experience in administration, problem-solving, and building
relationships within a community.
• This internship has prepared me to enter the professional world with confidence
and practical skills.
