New publication from Wageningen International and Regoverning Markets

Modern agrifood markets are dynamic. Rapid changes in how food is produced, processed, wholesaled and retailed affects the entire value chain - from producer to consumer. Particularly in countries with developing and emerging economies, the pace of change brings significant challenges for small-scale producers, policy makers and business.

This guide provides concepts and tools for working with actors along the entire value chain so that modern markets can be more inclusive of small-scale producers and entrepreneurs.

by Andrew Shepherd (FAO)

This Occasional Paper examines experiences of linking farmers to markets, in order to reach some tentative conclusions regarding success factors. It mainly considers examples of linkages promoted by outside organizations such as NGOs. Issues discussed include the choice of markets, the capacity of the linking organizations, and the relationship between the private sector, NGOs and farmers. Linking farmers to new markets invariably involves farmers organizing into formal or informal groups. Experiences with group organization are reviewed, as is the question of finance. Problems faced by farmers in maintaining linkages are examined and sustainability and scaling-up of linkage activities considered. A check-list of issues to address when planning market linkages is provided as an annex. The paper also considers the enabling environment that governments must provide if linking farmers to markets is to prove successful.

The paper is aimed at staff of NGOs, both those working at the policy level and in the field; at donor organizations and the projects they support; and at ministry of agriculture policymakers and extension services. It should also be useful for private sector companies seeking to develop linkages with small farmers.

KIT BookKIT | Faida MaLi | IIRR |

This is a book of hope for Africa's smallholder farmers. It shows how they can earn more from their crops and livestock by taking control over the value chains they are part of - chains that link them with consumers in Africa's towns and cities, as well as in other countries.

The book describes two basic strategies that groups of farmers can use to improve their incomes: vertical and horizontal integration. Vertical integration means taking on additional activities in the value chain: processing or grading produce, for example. Horizontal integration means becoming more involved in managing the value chain itself - by farmers' improving their access to and management of information, their knowledge of the market, their control over contracts, or their cooperation with other actors in the chain.

This book contains 19 case studies showing how groups of farmers throughout Africa have adopted one or both of these strategies to improve their incomes. It shows how development organizations have helped them do this - how they have succeeded, and how they have sometimes failed. It shows the need to invest in improving the quality of existing products, developing new products, establishing market linkages, and building farmer organization and capacity.

The book provides numerous insights for those striving to empower smallholder farmers to develop markets. It will be of particular interest to government policymakers and staff involved in agricultural development, non-government organizations, university faculty and students, trainers, evaluators, and donors seeking ways to promote agriculture in Africa and elsewhere in the developing world.

The book is written in easy-to-understand language and is richly illustrated with line drawings.

Authors: Tracey-White, J.
Produced by: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) (2005)
 
Food supply and distribution systems in most developing countries are undergoing major changes following rapid urban population growth. This guide offers a simple planning methodology and framework to assist policy makers, non-government organisations and farmer groups to respond to these changes and ensure that rural producers have better access to markets for their products. It focuses on produce flows and the identification of how marketing channels work.

The guide covers evaluating existing marketing systems and identifying infrastructure improvements to meet the needs of expanding towns and cities. As well as offering an outline of key issues in the marketing of rural produce, the guide provides methodologies for:

• undertaking a market linkage study
• participatory approaches to identifying and assessing farmers' marketing practices
• drawing up improvement proposals, using a regional planning approach on which to base marketing infrastructure investments
• assessing supply constraints and potential flows through the marketing channels
• estimating rural supply and the demand from urban areas and intermediate centres
• undertaking participatory monitoring and evaluation
• participatory agricultural marketing surveys
• approaches to evaluating rural transport proposals

Each topic chapter includes forms, survey questions and checklists as a guide to activities such as community participatory rural appraisals (PRAs), preliminary market inventory, consumer surveys and produce movement surveys.

Case studies examples are drawn from countries such as Bangladesh, Albania, Nepal, Cambodia, and Indonesia.

The guide also provides references for previous FAO guides on the planning and design of wholesale, retail and rural markets.

Paper by Bart Minten, Lalaina Randrianarison and Johan F.M. Swinnen 2005