Strengthening agribusiness linkages with small-scale farmers Case studies in Latin America and the Caribbean

by Pilar Santacoloma, Ruth Suárez, Hernando Riveros

Agricultural Management, Marketing and Finance Service (AGSF),Agricultural Support Systems Division, FAO. Rome, 2005

The main objective of the project "Strengthening agribusiness linkages between the farmer and agribusiness" is to identify the agribusiness linkages and the key factors associated with them at the socio-economic and institutional levels. The project will also identify the main trends in socio-economic development and regulatory policies designed to increase agribusiness linkages. Finally, the limitations and opportunities will then be evaluated.

To this end, 12 cases of agribusiness linkages in 7 countries are analysed - in Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, and Guatemala. The cases refer to small-scale producers who participate in an associative way with the intervening organization in either the processing or trade of the production of agricultural origin.

Nine of the 12 cases relate to fruits, dairy products and horticultural crops. The other three cases relate to special market niches.

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