A response to the World Food Crisis: Small Holder Agriculture, Food Security and Rural Development in Africa

billv — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 11:52:53 +0000

The high-level meeting on Africa's development needs will took place at United Nations headquarters in New York on 22 September 2008. The theme of the meeting was: "Africa's development needs: state of implementation of various commitments, challenges and the way forward."

Africa: Country Information Sheets available from Regoverning Markets

billv — Sun, 17 Jun 2007 12:09:38 +0000

This series of Information Sheets provides a summary of market changes taking place at national level within key high value agrifood commodity chains. The intention is to serve as a point for public sector, donor and private sector discussions with particular focus on securing and improving income among the rural poor through their participation in new and dynamic markets.

The Information Sheets were prepared in association with a working meeting 15-17 May 2007, in Zambia, of the Regional Resource Centre for Rural Development (RRD)-Sida together with the Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

New book: ‘Farmers Views on the Future of Food and Small Scale Producers'

billv — Sun, 28 Jan 2007 12:02:29 +0000

edited by Michel Pimbert, Khanh Tran-Thanh, Estelle Deléage, Magali Reinert, Christophe Trehet, Elizabeth Bennett

The outcomes of an electronic conference on the 'Future of Food and Small Scale Producers' are presented in this report. The electronic discussion primarily involved indigenous, small and family farmers, landless and fisherfolk as well as their representative organisations. The focus was on small-scale food producers - women and men who produce and harvest field and tree crops as well as livestock, fish and other aquatic organisms. The E-Conference process was thus specifically designed to allow the excluded to voice their views, analysis and priorities on the future of food, farming, environment and human well being. Contributors were invited to describe the practice and underlying rationale of farmers and indigenous peoples' alternatives to the modernization and industrialization of food, agriculture and land/water use. The views and analysis of small scale producers that are summarised in this report offer a deeper understanding of alternative movements in rural and urban areas. Contributors explain why keeping farmers and indigenous peoples on their land is of fundamental importance for the well being of society and nature throughout the world.

RELIANCE urges Indian government to let in foreign retailers

billv — Thu, 12 Oct 2006 12:33:01 +0000

PlanetRetail.net 9 October 2006

In a recent press interview, the chairman of Reliance Industries in India, Mukesh Ambani, has said that he is in favour of the government allowing foreign retailers such as Tesco, Wal-Mart and Carrefour into the Indian market, "Companies like Tesco and Wal-Mart would contribute to this economy hugely and keep local companies on their toes. We should welcome Tesco because it's good for competition, and that's good for Reliance."

The participation of the poor in supermarkets and other distribution value chains

billv — Thu, 05 Oct 2006 14:41:49 +0000

Authors: Moustier, P. (et al.)
Produced by: International Finance Corporation (IFC) (2005)

The study assesses conditions for an increased involvement of the poor in the food value chains driven by supermarkets and other value-adding outlets. The trends of the different distribution chains were analysed through the gathering of secondary data. Surveys on poor consumers' access to different retailing points were made in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Moc Chau, as well as comparison of prices between the different points of sale in these cities. Four case studies investigated poor farmers' and traders' participation in distribution value chains.

Store expansion plans agreement postponed in Thailand

billv — Sun, 24 Sep 2006 14:56:59 +0000

Planet Retail 14 September 2006

The Thai government yesterday failed to convince large store chains to curb their store expansion plans. The signature of a pact presented by the Commerce Ministry to 15 retailers, including Tesco Lotus, Carrefour and Casino owned Big C, has had to be postponed to next Wednesday. "We summoned store operators to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) today, but they have not responded to our request because several companies, especially Tesco, said they did not know what was in the MoU," Deputy Commerce Minister Preecha Laohapongchana told reporters. "We'll give them a week to study it and if they still decline to sign, we will issue a ministerial regulation to make them comply in two weeks."

Controversy over expansion heats up in Thailand

billv — Thu, 05 Oct 2006 14:45:59 +0000

In Thailand, the Commerce Ministry has established a special committee, which met yesterday for the first time, to establish new rules, principles and guidelines for the expansion of retailers. The ministry plans to announce its results in 30 days. Karun Kittisataporn, permanent secretary for the commerce ministry, has also threatened hefty fines or even prison sentences for big retailers who mistreat their suppliers. According to ministry guidelines unveiled earlier in the week, retailers are prohibited from "unfair practices" such as selling products below cost, asking suppliers for deep discounts, demanding higher "introduction fees" for new products, and returning products without valid reason. Violators may be fined up to THB6 million (USD160,000), or jailed for up to three years.