Papers available: Research Workshop on Collective Action and Market Access for Smallholders

The CAPRi Research Workshop on Collective Action and Market Access for Smallholders was held on October 2-5, 2006 in Cali, Colombia to enhance the conceptual and empirical understanding of the role of collective action institutions (e.g. rules and norms, producer organizations, cooperatives, etc.) in improving market access for the rural poor.

The opportunity for smallholders to raise their incomes from agricultural production, natural resource management and related rural enterprises increasingly depends on their ability to compete in the marketplace. Not only are they competing with fellow farmers, they are also more and more in competition with farmers from overseas and agribusiness sectors in national and international markets. To maintain their position in the market, farmers need to be better organized, have access to new technologies and tap into new information systems, particularly if they are to tap into the new opportunities for high value markets.

One of the key issues that research, public and private sector, and civil society development projects and programs are addressing is to strengthen the ability of agricultural producers to organize themselves to compete on local, national or even international markets, and to help them invest in value addition and marketing of their produce.

More details in Resources