This document summarizes a research brief about outgrower systems (also known as contract farming) and their potential role in promoting inclusive agricultural growth and combating food insecurity in Sub-Saharan Africa. The brief details the history and controversies around outgrower systems. It also outlines best practices for firms, smallholder farmers, and governments to ensure optimal outcomes. The goal is to identify practices that increase farmer bargaining power and the likelihood of positive results for both businesses and smallholders.
This report examines challenges smallholder farmers face in accessing finance to improve productivity and strengthen livelihoods. It discusses how smallholder farmers produce much of the world's food but face low incomes and food insecurity. Access to finance is identified as one of the biggest challenges, as smallholders receive only 3% of the formal bank financing demanded, limiting their ability to invest in better technologies and increase yields. The report aims to understand how businesses can strengthen smallholder incomes and ensure robust, inclusive supply chains.
The poultry sector has undergone major structural changes during the past two decades due to the introduction of modern intensive production methods, genetic improvements, improved preventive disease control and biosecurity measures, increasing income and human population, and urbanization
More Details: https://pixelsutra.com/poultry-industry
This document discusses Concern Universal's submission to an inquiry regarding approaches to supporting smallholder farmers. It provides three examples of successful programs:
1) The "Gambia is Good" initiative links smallholder farmers in Gambia to the tourism industry, increasing farmers' incomes by 500% on average.
2) A project in Malawi enabled 700 smallholders to supply potatoes to a chip manufacturer, increasing their annual incomes 20-fold.
3) A program in Bangladesh improved the livelihoods of 10,000 smallholder farmers through public-private partnerships, better marketing, and income support.
The document argues more should be done to support smallholders through cross-sector collaboration, understanding how to
Food insecurity is a major problem affecting 868 million people globally, with 98% of undernourished people living in developing countries, including one third living in Sub-Saharan Africa. Addressing food security in Sub-Saharan Africa could not only help end hunger but also unlock economic potential for the region. Key challenges include low agricultural productivity, degraded land, high fertilizer costs, and a growing population expected to reach 2 billion by 2050 that will increase demand for food. Lessons can be learned from successes in China and Brazil to help Sub-Saharan Africa achieve sustainable agricultural growth and food security.
CIMMYT is an international organization that works to sustainably increase the productivity of maize and wheat systems to improve global food security and livelihoods. It has over 70 years of experience in genetic research and development. CIMMYT leads research programs on maize and wheat, develops improved varieties, stores genetic resources, trains thousands of professionals annually, and partners with hundreds of organizations across developing countries. Its work benefits smallholder farmers by increasing yields, improving nutrition, and strengthening agricultural systems.
The document discusses agriculture innovation and social inclusion in Brazil. It summarizes how Brazil's Bolsa Familia program provides cash transfers to families living in poverty, helping to double the number of families covered from 2004 to 2009. It also discusses improvements in child mortality, health, and declines in fertility from health and social policies. The document outlines growth in harvested area, production, and meat industries from the 1990s to 2000s. It then discusses various agriculture innovations in Brazil around crop varieties, post-harvest processing, no-tillage farming, and their economic and social impacts.
The document summarizes lessons learned from the 2007-2008 global food crisis. It discusses how rising food prices led to food insecurity for millions and how future price volatility is likely due to climate change and other structural issues. Key lessons included a lack of purchasing power for the poor, insufficient support for small farmers, over-reliance on food imports, and inefficient biofuel policies. Moving forward, the document calls for increased investment in agriculture, support for rural livelihoods, reform of global food governance, and a fairer deal for developing countries in trade negotiations.
1) The document discusses a case study of an intervention in Nigeria that introduced improved Noiler chicken breeds to increase incomes and nutrition for smallholder farmers, particularly women. Noiler birds are a hybrid breed that are hardier than exotic breeds but provide higher yields than local breeds.
2) The intervention supported the establishment of "Mother Units" that bred Noiler chicks and sold them to smallholder farmers. This improved access to the improved breeds. Farmers reported higher profits from Noiler chickens compared to other breeds.
3) While the intervention benefited women, cultural norms still give men more control over finances and decision making. The intervention helped increase women's incomes but did not fully address underlying gender inequalities. Expand
This report examines challenges smallholder farmers face in accessing finance to improve productivity and strengthen livelihoods. It discusses how smallholder farmers produce much of the world's food but face low incomes and food insecurity. Access to finance is identified as one of the biggest challenges, as smallholders receive only 3% of the formal bank financing demanded, limiting their ability to invest in better technologies and increase yields. The report aims to understand how businesses can strengthen smallholder incomes and ensure robust, inclusive supply chains.
The poultry sector has undergone major structural changes during the past two decades due to the introduction of modern intensive production methods, genetic improvements, improved preventive disease control and biosecurity measures, increasing income and human population, and urbanization
More Details: https://pixelsutra.com/poultry-industry
This document discusses Concern Universal's submission to an inquiry regarding approaches to supporting smallholder farmers. It provides three examples of successful programs:
1) The "Gambia is Good" initiative links smallholder farmers in Gambia to the tourism industry, increasing farmers' incomes by 500% on average.
2) A project in Malawi enabled 700 smallholders to supply potatoes to a chip manufacturer, increasing their annual incomes 20-fold.
3) A program in Bangladesh improved the livelihoods of 10,000 smallholder farmers through public-private partnerships, better marketing, and income support.
The document argues more should be done to support smallholders through cross-sector collaboration, understanding how to
Food insecurity is a major problem affecting 868 million people globally, with 98% of undernourished people living in developing countries, including one third living in Sub-Saharan Africa. Addressing food security in Sub-Saharan Africa could not only help end hunger but also unlock economic potential for the region. Key challenges include low agricultural productivity, degraded land, high fertilizer costs, and a growing population expected to reach 2 billion by 2050 that will increase demand for food. Lessons can be learned from successes in China and Brazil to help Sub-Saharan Africa achieve sustainable agricultural growth and food security.
CIMMYT is an international organization that works to sustainably increase the productivity of maize and wheat systems to improve global food security and livelihoods. It has over 70 years of experience in genetic research and development. CIMMYT leads research programs on maize and wheat, develops improved varieties, stores genetic resources, trains thousands of professionals annually, and partners with hundreds of organizations across developing countries. Its work benefits smallholder farmers by increasing yields, improving nutrition, and strengthening agricultural systems.
The document discusses agriculture innovation and social inclusion in Brazil. It summarizes how Brazil's Bolsa Familia program provides cash transfers to families living in poverty, helping to double the number of families covered from 2004 to 2009. It also discusses improvements in child mortality, health, and declines in fertility from health and social policies. The document outlines growth in harvested area, production, and meat industries from the 1990s to 2000s. It then discusses various agriculture innovations in Brazil around crop varieties, post-harvest processing, no-tillage farming, and their economic and social impacts.
The document summarizes lessons learned from the 2007-2008 global food crisis. It discusses how rising food prices led to food insecurity for millions and how future price volatility is likely due to climate change and other structural issues. Key lessons included a lack of purchasing power for the poor, insufficient support for small farmers, over-reliance on food imports, and inefficient biofuel policies. Moving forward, the document calls for increased investment in agriculture, support for rural livelihoods, reform of global food governance, and a fairer deal for developing countries in trade negotiations.
1) The document discusses a case study of an intervention in Nigeria that introduced improved Noiler chicken breeds to increase incomes and nutrition for smallholder farmers, particularly women. Noiler birds are a hybrid breed that are hardier than exotic breeds but provide higher yields than local breeds.
2) The intervention supported the establishment of "Mother Units" that bred Noiler chicks and sold them to smallholder farmers. This improved access to the improved breeds. Farmers reported higher profits from Noiler chickens compared to other breeds.
3) While the intervention benefited women, cultural norms still give men more control over finances and decision making. The intervention helped increase women's incomes but did not fully address underlying gender inequalities. Expand
The document discusses research findings on agriculture for food and nutrition security. It notes that while smallholder farmers produce much of the world's food, their work and knowledge remain understudied and under-supported by policies. Effective approaches focus on integrating smallholders into markets while strengthening rural employment and including smallholders in development. However, agricultural innovation often overlooks indigenous knowledge and focuses only on technology and productivity. The role of smallholder farmers in food production requires more research funding and a new paradigm that values their knowledge and sees them as part of the solution to food insecurity.
Influence of Farmer Group Membership on the Practice of Improved Agricultural...paperpublications3
The study examined the influence of farmer group membership on the practice of improved agricultural technologies by farmers in Nyamusi division of Nyamira County. Multi-stage and stratified sampling techniques were applied for sample selection. Data collection was done by use of semi-structured questionnaires. Both descriptive and inferential statistical techniques were used for data analysis. Among the descriptive statistic techniques used included Mean, Standard Deviations and frequencies. For Inferential statistics, chi-square and cross tabulation were used to establish relationships between dependent and the independent variables. A total of 332 questionnaires were filled by the sampled farmers but only 304 were completely and adequately filled and analysed. The analysed data was presented using tables. From the analysis 229(75.3%) of the farmers belonged to a farmer group while 75(24.7%) were not members of any farmer group. The results indicated that the relationship was significant at 0.005 and 0.006 for the practice of greenhouse farming and Artificial insemination respectively. It can be concluded that membership in a farmer group increased the chance of a farmer practice of greenhouse farming and Artificial insemination. The study recommends that government should facilitate the Farmer Groups to transform their organizations into cooperatives in order to gain legal identify to transact business, increase their bargaining power and intensify their collective voices in policy engagement.
This document summarizes the progress being made towards increasing food production in sub-Saharan Africa. It discusses how cereal yields have risen 50% between 2005-2013 after stagnating for decades below 1 metric tonne per hectare. Interventions across the agricultural value chain, including improved seeds and fertilizers, extension services, storage, processing, markets and financing, have contributed to this rise. Continued efforts to address inputs, production practices, and market access could help lift yields to 3 metric tonnes per hectare across the region and eventually to 5 metric tonnes, though significant challenges remain.
On both a pilot and large-scale basis, Bangladesh has pioneered much of the safety-net approach to food security and has led in planning and developing much of the basis for longterm solutions to food security problems. I was in Professor Nurul Islam’s home for the fateful speech that, in certain respects, marked the inception of the nation, and I have continued to learn from Bangladesh through my friends and many visits over the last four decades. During that time span, the food security of Bangladeshis has increased immensely, but there is more to be done, obviously, and, fortunately, a way to do it.
Awakening Africa’s Sleeping Giant Prospects for Advancing Inclusive and Susta...Francois Stepman
This document summarizes a presentation given at the Fifth World Summit on Agriculture Machinery in Istanbul, Turkey on January 21, 2016. It discusses the importance, challenges, and opportunities for agriculture in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), as well as current efforts and future prospects for advancing inclusive and sustainable agricultural mechanization. Specifically, it notes that agriculture accounts for 20% of GDP in SSA on average but faces challenges of high poverty, food demand increases, and climate change impacts. Mechanization has stagnated in SSA compared to other regions due to underinvestment historically. However, new policies and investments are supporting mechanization through strategies, loans, and public-private partnerships. The future market potential in SSA is seen as
Comparison of-supply-chain-model-in-urban-food-production essay sample from a...https://writeessayuk.com/
This document presents a research proposal that aims to compare supply chain models for urban and peri-urban food production. The objectives are to study different ownership structures and markets, research intensive crop yields with limited inputs, identify suitable management structures, analyze the effectiveness on economic development and food supply, find the production-consumption balance, and analyze purchasing solutions. The proposal outlines a literature review on the topic and need to support urban agriculture given population growth. It proposes methodologies to determine and analyze current supply chains and improvements to benefit societies, firms, and farmers.
The document summarizes the launch event of the Agricultural Policy Research in Africa (APRA) program. APRA is a five-year research program analyzing pathways to agricultural commercialization in Sub-Saharan Africa. It aims to understand the impacts of commercialization on empowering women and girls, reducing poverty and improving food security. The launch event provided an overview of APRA's research methodology, focus countries, and expected outcomes to inform policies promoting equitable agricultural development in Africa.
FERTILIZER ORGANISATION SEEKS TO CURB COUNTERFEIT SEEDS AND FARM INPUTS Anthony Kiganda
1) The document discusses the growing problem of counterfeit seeds and farm inputs in Kenya, which is negatively impacting small-scale farmers and food production. A survey found that 4 out of 10 seed packets and 3/4 of farmers have used fake seeds.
2) The proliferation of counterfeits is attributed to high demand for cheaper products and limited enforcement. It can have devastating impacts like poor crop yields, higher costs, and environmental damage. Farmers are resorting to saved seeds or informal markets due to fear of counterfeits.
3) The International Fertilizer Development Center is working with partners to curb counterfeits through training, linking farmers to reputable suppliers, and encouraging the use of
Roasted Bambara groundnut (Vigna subterranea): an emerging income source for ...IFPRI-PIM
This poster was given by Charlie Mbosso (Bioversity International), as part of the Annual Scientific Conference hosted by the CGIAR Collaborative Platform for Gender Research. The event took place on 5-6 December 2017 in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, where the Platform is hosted (by KIT Royal Tropical Institute).
Read more: http://gender.cgiar.org/gender_events/annual-scientific-conference-capacity-development-workshop-cgiar-collaborative-platform-gender-research/
This briefing explores the environmental, social and governance (ESG) risks facing the factory farming sector. It discusses how the intensive confinement of animals raises animal welfare issues as well as risks related to climate change, antibiotic use, land rights and more. These interconnected issues pose legal, regulatory, reputational and production risks for companies involved in factory farming. However, there are also opportunities for investors who engage with companies to improve sustainability practices and adapt to higher regulatory and consumer standards regarding farm animal welfare and environmental protection. The briefing recommends investors ask questions of companies to better understand how they are managing these risks and opportunities related to factory farming.
Ensuring livestock livelihoods and animal source food securityILRI
The document discusses trends in the global livestock sector and the role of smallholder producers in developing countries. It makes three key points:
1) Demand for animal-source foods will continue rising significantly in developing countries, where most production already occurs among smallholder farmers who both produce and consume locally.
2) Smallholder livestock systems present opportunities to address technical constraints around health, feed, genetics, and markets to boost production in a sustainable way that benefits livelihoods.
3) Coordinated efforts to improve smallholder and commercial systems can expand the supply of animal-source foods while transforming rural development.
Global challenges to food security and poverty alleviationAlain Vidal
Conference given at University Paris-Saclay / AgroParisTech on 19 November 2018 as part of Master CLUES (Sequence "Everyone Eating Well within Environmental Limits)
Farmers necessitate vast information to sustain their farmhouse activities. Information is
required not just on better and best practices & advanced technologies for production of crop
which is gained through Green Revolution but as well information about post harvest
perspectives including handling, processing, promoting, storage & marketing. Farmers need
access to convenient, firm, and pertinent information that can support intricacy inside which
their farm activities work. Even though farming expansion today has a wide array, this survey
demonstrates that in spite of pluralistic augmentation methods in India, the scope &
utilization of the said services are constrained. The purpose of this paper is to analyze rural
extension programs in of general society, private and third parts in India. The paper
investigates; fundamentals of extension, significance of rural extension, agribusiness
extension methodologies in India, general difficulties and limitations of agricultural extension
This document provides 25 business ideas related to agriculture that can be started in rural villages or towns. Some of the top ideas mentioned include urban crop cultivation, rabbit rearing, selling fresh fruits, foodstuff retailing, fish farming, herbs/flower farming, livestock feed production, and poultry farming. The document also discusses opportunities to source raw materials from rural areas for urban manufacturing companies, connect rural farmers to exporters, and help export Nigerian foodstuffs internationally.
how small scale farmers can save the worldchris claes
The document discusses several questions around feeding the world sustainably and the role of small-scale family farming. It argues that family farming has advantages like environmental protection, job creation, and productivity when farmers have access to knowledge. However, globalization and market concentration have shifted power to large agri-corporations, squeezing small farmers. It calls for supporting small farmers through access to resources, markets, and price stability to boost food security and rural development. New approaches like agroecology that empower farmers are needed to overcome "business as usual" thinking and transition to more sustainable food systems.
This document summarizes a presentation on a systems approach to food security in Qatar. It discusses Qatar's reliance on food imports, challenges around domestic food production due to lack of water and arable land, and high levels of food waste. The SAFE-Q project aims to develop a systems model to understand causes of food waste and support policy to strengthen Qatar's food supply chain resilience, promote a circular economy approach, and better understand consumer behaviors to reduce waste. Recommendations include improving infrastructure, education around supply chains, policies for recycling and reuse, and engagement between policymakers, producers and consumers.
India has great potential to be the food basket of the world due to its diverse agricultural resources and large workforce in agriculture. However, currently 20% of food produced in India is wasted due to an inefficient supply chain and lack of cold storage infrastructure and food processing industry. Building an efficient supply chain using modern techniques could help India serve its population with value-added food while ensuring good prices for farmers. The food processing industry has an important role to play in linking farmers to consumers in India and abroad. Developing a fully integrated cold chain logistics system including cold storage, transportation, packaging and information management could help reduce waste and make India a leading global food supplier.
Product review reminder allows you to send your clients email reminders autom...Joe Hendrix
The document discusses the Product Review Reminder tool which allows businesses to automatically send email reminders to customers to leave product reviews. It summarizes the key advantages of reviews for businesses such as increasing credibility, SEO benefits from fresh content, and higher conversion rates. The document also provides an overview of the Rich Snippets Suite Extension and how it can help businesses dominate search engines and boost click-through rates by adding structured data to search results.
The document discusses research findings on agriculture for food and nutrition security. It notes that while smallholder farmers produce much of the world's food, their work and knowledge remain understudied and under-supported by policies. Effective approaches focus on integrating smallholders into markets while strengthening rural employment and including smallholders in development. However, agricultural innovation often overlooks indigenous knowledge and focuses only on technology and productivity. The role of smallholder farmers in food production requires more research funding and a new paradigm that values their knowledge and sees them as part of the solution to food insecurity.
Influence of Farmer Group Membership on the Practice of Improved Agricultural...paperpublications3
The study examined the influence of farmer group membership on the practice of improved agricultural technologies by farmers in Nyamusi division of Nyamira County. Multi-stage and stratified sampling techniques were applied for sample selection. Data collection was done by use of semi-structured questionnaires. Both descriptive and inferential statistical techniques were used for data analysis. Among the descriptive statistic techniques used included Mean, Standard Deviations and frequencies. For Inferential statistics, chi-square and cross tabulation were used to establish relationships between dependent and the independent variables. A total of 332 questionnaires were filled by the sampled farmers but only 304 were completely and adequately filled and analysed. The analysed data was presented using tables. From the analysis 229(75.3%) of the farmers belonged to a farmer group while 75(24.7%) were not members of any farmer group. The results indicated that the relationship was significant at 0.005 and 0.006 for the practice of greenhouse farming and Artificial insemination respectively. It can be concluded that membership in a farmer group increased the chance of a farmer practice of greenhouse farming and Artificial insemination. The study recommends that government should facilitate the Farmer Groups to transform their organizations into cooperatives in order to gain legal identify to transact business, increase their bargaining power and intensify their collective voices in policy engagement.
This document summarizes the progress being made towards increasing food production in sub-Saharan Africa. It discusses how cereal yields have risen 50% between 2005-2013 after stagnating for decades below 1 metric tonne per hectare. Interventions across the agricultural value chain, including improved seeds and fertilizers, extension services, storage, processing, markets and financing, have contributed to this rise. Continued efforts to address inputs, production practices, and market access could help lift yields to 3 metric tonnes per hectare across the region and eventually to 5 metric tonnes, though significant challenges remain.
On both a pilot and large-scale basis, Bangladesh has pioneered much of the safety-net approach to food security and has led in planning and developing much of the basis for longterm solutions to food security problems. I was in Professor Nurul Islam’s home for the fateful speech that, in certain respects, marked the inception of the nation, and I have continued to learn from Bangladesh through my friends and many visits over the last four decades. During that time span, the food security of Bangladeshis has increased immensely, but there is more to be done, obviously, and, fortunately, a way to do it.
Awakening Africa’s Sleeping Giant Prospects for Advancing Inclusive and Susta...Francois Stepman
This document summarizes a presentation given at the Fifth World Summit on Agriculture Machinery in Istanbul, Turkey on January 21, 2016. It discusses the importance, challenges, and opportunities for agriculture in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), as well as current efforts and future prospects for advancing inclusive and sustainable agricultural mechanization. Specifically, it notes that agriculture accounts for 20% of GDP in SSA on average but faces challenges of high poverty, food demand increases, and climate change impacts. Mechanization has stagnated in SSA compared to other regions due to underinvestment historically. However, new policies and investments are supporting mechanization through strategies, loans, and public-private partnerships. The future market potential in SSA is seen as
Comparison of-supply-chain-model-in-urban-food-production essay sample from a...https://writeessayuk.com/
This document presents a research proposal that aims to compare supply chain models for urban and peri-urban food production. The objectives are to study different ownership structures and markets, research intensive crop yields with limited inputs, identify suitable management structures, analyze the effectiveness on economic development and food supply, find the production-consumption balance, and analyze purchasing solutions. The proposal outlines a literature review on the topic and need to support urban agriculture given population growth. It proposes methodologies to determine and analyze current supply chains and improvements to benefit societies, firms, and farmers.
The document summarizes the launch event of the Agricultural Policy Research in Africa (APRA) program. APRA is a five-year research program analyzing pathways to agricultural commercialization in Sub-Saharan Africa. It aims to understand the impacts of commercialization on empowering women and girls, reducing poverty and improving food security. The launch event provided an overview of APRA's research methodology, focus countries, and expected outcomes to inform policies promoting equitable agricultural development in Africa.
FERTILIZER ORGANISATION SEEKS TO CURB COUNTERFEIT SEEDS AND FARM INPUTS Anthony Kiganda
1) The document discusses the growing problem of counterfeit seeds and farm inputs in Kenya, which is negatively impacting small-scale farmers and food production. A survey found that 4 out of 10 seed packets and 3/4 of farmers have used fake seeds.
2) The proliferation of counterfeits is attributed to high demand for cheaper products and limited enforcement. It can have devastating impacts like poor crop yields, higher costs, and environmental damage. Farmers are resorting to saved seeds or informal markets due to fear of counterfeits.
3) The International Fertilizer Development Center is working with partners to curb counterfeits through training, linking farmers to reputable suppliers, and encouraging the use of
Roasted Bambara groundnut (Vigna subterranea): an emerging income source for ...IFPRI-PIM
This poster was given by Charlie Mbosso (Bioversity International), as part of the Annual Scientific Conference hosted by the CGIAR Collaborative Platform for Gender Research. The event took place on 5-6 December 2017 in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, where the Platform is hosted (by KIT Royal Tropical Institute).
Read more: http://gender.cgiar.org/gender_events/annual-scientific-conference-capacity-development-workshop-cgiar-collaborative-platform-gender-research/
This briefing explores the environmental, social and governance (ESG) risks facing the factory farming sector. It discusses how the intensive confinement of animals raises animal welfare issues as well as risks related to climate change, antibiotic use, land rights and more. These interconnected issues pose legal, regulatory, reputational and production risks for companies involved in factory farming. However, there are also opportunities for investors who engage with companies to improve sustainability practices and adapt to higher regulatory and consumer standards regarding farm animal welfare and environmental protection. The briefing recommends investors ask questions of companies to better understand how they are managing these risks and opportunities related to factory farming.
Ensuring livestock livelihoods and animal source food securityILRI
The document discusses trends in the global livestock sector and the role of smallholder producers in developing countries. It makes three key points:
1) Demand for animal-source foods will continue rising significantly in developing countries, where most production already occurs among smallholder farmers who both produce and consume locally.
2) Smallholder livestock systems present opportunities to address technical constraints around health, feed, genetics, and markets to boost production in a sustainable way that benefits livelihoods.
3) Coordinated efforts to improve smallholder and commercial systems can expand the supply of animal-source foods while transforming rural development.
Global challenges to food security and poverty alleviationAlain Vidal
Conference given at University Paris-Saclay / AgroParisTech on 19 November 2018 as part of Master CLUES (Sequence "Everyone Eating Well within Environmental Limits)
Farmers necessitate vast information to sustain their farmhouse activities. Information is
required not just on better and best practices & advanced technologies for production of crop
which is gained through Green Revolution but as well information about post harvest
perspectives including handling, processing, promoting, storage & marketing. Farmers need
access to convenient, firm, and pertinent information that can support intricacy inside which
their farm activities work. Even though farming expansion today has a wide array, this survey
demonstrates that in spite of pluralistic augmentation methods in India, the scope &
utilization of the said services are constrained. The purpose of this paper is to analyze rural
extension programs in of general society, private and third parts in India. The paper
investigates; fundamentals of extension, significance of rural extension, agribusiness
extension methodologies in India, general difficulties and limitations of agricultural extension
This document provides 25 business ideas related to agriculture that can be started in rural villages or towns. Some of the top ideas mentioned include urban crop cultivation, rabbit rearing, selling fresh fruits, foodstuff retailing, fish farming, herbs/flower farming, livestock feed production, and poultry farming. The document also discusses opportunities to source raw materials from rural areas for urban manufacturing companies, connect rural farmers to exporters, and help export Nigerian foodstuffs internationally.
how small scale farmers can save the worldchris claes
The document discusses several questions around feeding the world sustainably and the role of small-scale family farming. It argues that family farming has advantages like environmental protection, job creation, and productivity when farmers have access to knowledge. However, globalization and market concentration have shifted power to large agri-corporations, squeezing small farmers. It calls for supporting small farmers through access to resources, markets, and price stability to boost food security and rural development. New approaches like agroecology that empower farmers are needed to overcome "business as usual" thinking and transition to more sustainable food systems.
This document summarizes a presentation on a systems approach to food security in Qatar. It discusses Qatar's reliance on food imports, challenges around domestic food production due to lack of water and arable land, and high levels of food waste. The SAFE-Q project aims to develop a systems model to understand causes of food waste and support policy to strengthen Qatar's food supply chain resilience, promote a circular economy approach, and better understand consumer behaviors to reduce waste. Recommendations include improving infrastructure, education around supply chains, policies for recycling and reuse, and engagement between policymakers, producers and consumers.
India has great potential to be the food basket of the world due to its diverse agricultural resources and large workforce in agriculture. However, currently 20% of food produced in India is wasted due to an inefficient supply chain and lack of cold storage infrastructure and food processing industry. Building an efficient supply chain using modern techniques could help India serve its population with value-added food while ensuring good prices for farmers. The food processing industry has an important role to play in linking farmers to consumers in India and abroad. Developing a fully integrated cold chain logistics system including cold storage, transportation, packaging and information management could help reduce waste and make India a leading global food supplier.
Product review reminder allows you to send your clients email reminders autom...Joe Hendrix
The document discusses the Product Review Reminder tool which allows businesses to automatically send email reminders to customers to leave product reviews. It summarizes the key advantages of reviews for businesses such as increasing credibility, SEO benefits from fresh content, and higher conversion rates. The document also provides an overview of the Rich Snippets Suite Extension and how it can help businesses dominate search engines and boost click-through rates by adding structured data to search results.
Awethu Scaffold is a professional scaffolding, insulation, and corrosion protection company based in Rustenburg with branches in Gauteng and Limpopo. The company has over 40 years of experience in the industry and 350 employees. Awethu Scaffold aims to ensure safe working environments and complies with all relevant safety standards and regulations.
Vincent Downey has over 20 years of experience in business intelligence, data analytics, and database administration. He holds a BSc in Astrophysics and a Post Graduate Diploma in Data Analytics. Currently he works as a Data Analyst for the Food Safety Authority, and has previously consulted for many large companies as a Business Intelligence expert. He is skilled in technologies like Oracle, SQL, and Microsoft Office.
Bauer Media would be the best institution to distribute the author's music magazine, as they have experience distributing similar magazines like Mojo and Kerrang. Bauer Media targets the same younger-middle aged audience as the author's magazine. Distributing through Bauer Media could help the magazine follow the success of Mojo, their largest music magazine in the UK. While other institutions like Time Inc. and IPC Media may also be options, they already distribute at least one music magazine, so may be less likely to take on another.
Lauren Costella has over 10 years of experience in biomaterials research, specializing in electrospinning, wound healing, and proposal writing. She has successfully obtained over $2.6 million in federal funding, bringing in 50% of submitted proposals. At Luna Innovations, she established an electrospinning program that has generated $4 million in company funding. Her work has included developing biomimetic materials for ocular wound healing and controlled drug delivery dressings for burn wounds.
Bauer Media would be the best institution to distribute the author's music magazine, as they have experience distributing similar magazines like Mojo, Q, and Kerrang. Bauer Media targets the same younger-middle aged audience as the author's magazine. Distributing through Bauer Media could help the magazine follow the success of Mojo, their largest music magazine in the UK. While other institutions like Time Inc. and IPC Media may also be options, they already distribute at least one music magazine, so may be less likely to take on another.
The final verdict on merging the National Spot Exchange Ltd (NSEL) with its parent company Financial Technologies India Ltd (FTIL) was delayed by one month. The Ministry of Corporate Affairs granted both companies a hearing on July 7-8 but further hearings were postponed by four weeks. Additionally, the CLB barred FTIL from selling company assets until September 2nd, 2015 in relation to the government's petition to remove the FTIL board due to the NSEL crisis. The MCA also announced a share swap ratio of 3 FTIL shares for every 8 NSEL shares if the merger is approved.
The document discusses the various hardware and software technologies used to create a music magazine. It describes using an iMac computer running macOS and software like Photoshop, Safari, PowerPoint, and InDesign. Hardware such as the Nikon D3100 and Panasonic DMC FS16 cameras along with additional equipment like strobe lights and soft boxes were used to take professional quality photos for editing in Photoshop. Word was used to write articles which were then incorporated into pages designed in InDesign. Throughout the process, Safari was used for research and a blog hosted work to keep it organized.
Stephanie Jacobs has over 14 years of experience in customer service and 3 years of management experience. She has a proven track record of excellent customer service skills and strong sales performance. She is highly organized, detail-oriented, and able to supervise up to 15 employees. She has diverse experience in retail management roles and is knowledgeable in operational standards and small business services.
What I Learnt About Building Great Products - Founders Institute - May 2016Ilter Dumduz
This document outlines the key steps to building a great product:
1) Define what constitutes a great product by having a clear value proposition, resonating with the target audience, and providing the simplest path between supply and demand.
2) Ideate new product ideas through listening to customers qualitatively and quantitatively, using intuition, and identifying strong use cases.
3) Prioritize ideas using an ROI framework considering impact, cost, and ease while practicing saying no and focusing on the core.
4) Execute by thinking visually, setting goals and hitting them, moving fast in the right direction, derisking, doing retrospectives, and always networking.
This document discusses strategies for attracting the target audience for a new rock magazine. It describes the target reader as Jonny, a 23-year-old man who enjoys small live music venues and major rock festivals. To attract Jonny and others like him, the magazine cover features a rock artist looking directly at the camera with an attitude that rock fans will appreciate. The magazine also lists featured artists down the side, uses dark colors associated with rock, includes a pull quote from the cover artist, and promises a chance to win tickets to a big concert. An iconic slogan and intriguing photos throughout aim to attract and engage the target rock audience.
The document summarizes the various hardware used to create a music video, album cover, and other media projects. It discusses using an iMac for research, planning, and construction of the projects. It also mentions using a Nikon D3100 DSLR camera, iPhone 4s, tripod, strobe light, soft box, flash trigger, and SD card for photographing album artwork and filming the music video. The iMac allowed access to software like Final Cut Pro, Photoshop, PowerPoint, and Safari which were used for video editing, graphic design, presentations, and research.
Teen singer chilla kiana is making a breakthrough in her young career & being...Joe Hendrix
Teen singer Chilla Kiana from Indonesia was chosen to sing the Indonesian version of the Disney song "The Glow". She said working with Disney was a dream come true. Chilla has been developing her skills as a musician, artist, and entrepreneur for 12 years. Though passionate about music, she also studied business in university to learn about the industry. Chilla hopes to continue evolving as an artist while staying true to herself.
The document provides a guide for implementing marketing brand initiatives in a digitally enabled world. It identifies key components of the evolution to digital marketing, including how data is changing planning, data collection practices, building brand audiences, ecommerce, programmatic advertising, owned media, digital video, virtual experiences, storytelling, and new marketing frameworks. The guide highlights considerations across various regions, such as rising expectations in Asia, the continued popularity of television in EMEA, the rise of digital TV and over-the-top content in Latin America, and how technology is enabling new creative opportunities in North America.
The new book from CTA and Cgiar Research Program on Climate Change & Food Security, "Evidence of impact: Climate-smart agriculture in Africa", showcases many innovative climate-smart agriculture practices with the capacity to increase productivity and build resilience in Africa
This document summarizes the key policy perspectives that emerged from discussions at the African Livestock Conference (ALiCE 2013) in Nairobi, Kenya. The perspectives covered increasing investment and reforms in the livestock sector in Africa to take advantage of growing global demand, developing standards and regulations for animal health and genetics that benefit producers and consumers, creating policies and partnerships to help smallholders access high-value markets, and establishing frameworks and institutions to support specific livestock industries and address issues like genetic diversity, diseases, and aflatoxin management. The document calls for policies that strengthen research, extension services, and pan-African cooperation to develop the livestock sector in a sustainable and competitive way.
This document provides an executive summary and overview of a research paper on the South African food security paradox. The research objectives were to assess food (in)security in urban and rural areas, review government interventions, evaluate private sector programs, and identify opportunities for corporate social investment. Key findings include that while South Africa produces enough food, 54% of the population experiences hunger or food insecurity, particularly in rural (37%) and urban informal (32%) areas. The document then outlines various government policies and programs, as well as case studies of four private sector food security initiatives focusing on food gardens, school feeding, and smallholder agriculture. It concludes with recommendations around partnership opportunities between government and business to address this issue.
Establishing the effects of COVID-19 on agribusiness and food systems in East...Francois Stepman
The ripple effect of COVID-19 on Agribusiness value chains - Sydney Kurai Zharare: DevPact.
15 April 2020. FANRPAN and the Graça Machel Trust (GMT) in conjunction with its African Women in Agribusiness Network, organised a Webinar o establish the effects of COVID-19 on food systems and agribusiness in the Eastern and Southern African (ESA) region.
This document discusses agriculture in Pakistan and strategies for agricultural development. It provides background on agriculture's importance to Pakistan's economy and outlines the typical phases of agricultural transformation: increasing productivity, tapping surpluses, integrating the sector into the macroeconomy, and managing agriculture similarly to other industries. It also addresses limitations to intervening in industrialization and strategies like technical change, increasing land and labor productivity, and applying biotechnology research.
This document summarizes the proceedings of a brainstorming workshop organized to discuss approaches for linking smallholder farmers to markets in order to promote inclusive growth.
The workshop consisted of two sessions. The first included presentations on the role of price policy, building farmers' institutions, private sector initiatives, and financing agricultural value chains. The second session involved discussions on successful models for linking farmers to markets through contract farming and the prospects of producer companies and self-help groups.
Key recommendations included the need to improve market infrastructure, information systems, food safety standards, and risk management tools to better integrate smallholders in agricultural value chains. Case studies on innovative models were seen as important to quantify their impacts and potential for scaling up.
This document summarizes the proceedings of a brainstorming workshop organized to discuss approaches for linking smallholder farmers to markets in order to promote inclusive growth. Key points discussed include:
- Smallholder farmers make up over 85% of farmers in India but face challenges in marketing their produce profitably. Integrating them into markets is important for their livelihoods and agricultural development.
- The workshop included presentations on the role of price policy, building farmers' institutions, supply chain management, financing models, and the IMOD framework to enhance smallholder participation in markets.
- Recommendations focused on improving market infrastructure, facilitating direct buyer-seller links, increasing access to information, and promoting high-value crop cultivation
ToR for the policy dialogue relative to the IYFFFatimata Kone
TERMS OF REFERENCE FOR THE POLICY DIALOGUE RELATED TO THE INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF FAMILY FARMING (IYFF) IN BAMAKO
THEME : BUILDING RESILIENCE TO FEED WEST AFRICA: PROPOSALS FROM FAMILY FARMERS
The study examined how the relationship between the management problem and the food
production. The goal is show that the management problem is trying to overcome in the food production. This
has been done by examining the food production concept to address the management problem. The study
analyzes the management problem in food production through telephone number directory sampling of 53
farmers interviewed by telephone in 2014. Data collection and data analysis was used a quantitative approach
through questionnaire survey. Upon the examination of the phenomenon, it becomes clear that the food
production concept cannot deal with the management problem. Through showing that the food production
concept not affects the management problem, this research highlights the importance of deal with the
management problem
HLM2 Nairobi Side Events - ShambaPlus Concept NoteKelvin Wahome
Shambaplus aims to enhance technology in agriculture and industry for food security and national growth. By 2050, food production will need to increase by 70% to feed a global population of over 9 billion people. Smallholder farms currently produce 70% of the world's food, so supporting smallholder farmers through access to information, resources, and markets will be key to achieving this increased production. Shambaplus proposes using ICT technologies like data analysis and forecasting to advise farmers on the best crops to grow based on weather predictions, market prices, and their farm conditions in order to realize food security and economic growth.
This document provides an overview of key concepts related to livelihoods and food security. It discusses definitions of food security, including its four main dimensions: availability, access, stability, and utilization. Livelihoods are defined as the capabilities, assets, and activities required for a means of living. The sustainable livelihoods approach views livelihoods as comprising various assets that households use to undertake activities to ensure livelihood security and meet basic needs like food. The document outlines common livelihood activities and assets, and explains how livelihoods and food security are interconnected, with livelihood activities and outcomes determining a household's food security.
Rising Food Prices and Small Farmers Access to SeedSeeds
1) The document discusses the impacts of high food prices on small farmers and proposes policy options to improve farmers' access to quality seed. It summarizes research conducted by IFPRI in India, Kenya, and Mali on how village grain markets serve as important sources of seed for crops grown in dry, risky environments.
2) The research found that local traders in grain markets help preserve valuable landrace varieties and provide farmers with well-adapted seed, even after poor harvests. This challenges the view that grain markets are unreliable seed sources.
3) The briefs propose policy options to improve seed availability, reduce costs, and increase information sharing to help farmers in semi-arid areas cope with food price rises
Impact of technology on productivity on foodDebmalyaSingha
1) The document discusses how technology can help address issues of food availability, accessibility, utilization, and stability to improve food security. It provides examples of genetic modification, irrigation technologies, and post-harvest processing technologies.
2) It also discusses how countries can develop innovative food systems through building local innovation capabilities, infrastructure, policies, and knowledge sharing. This would help facilitate technology dissemination.
3) Ensuring food security by 2030 requires harnessing technologies like synthetic biology, AI, and tissue engineering through investments in research, human capital, and infrastructure. It also requires enabling environments and gender-sensitive technology development.
AgriSmart is a Zambian NGO focused on innovative technology and research to promote sustainable agriculture for small farmers. It conducts applied research to enhance viability of small farms and addresses issues such as lack of access to information, gender inequality, and compliance with international food safety standards. AgriSmart partners with universities and organizations globally and locally to implement programs related to nutrition, horticulture innovation, and introducing technologies to improve yields while reducing poverty and improving health for smallholder farmers in Zambia. Its projects identify factors important for technology adoption and its primary goal is introducing technologies that can be adopted by smallholder farmers with limited resources.
This document discusses agricultural transformation and rural development. It begins by quoting several experts emphasizing the importance of agriculture for economic development. It then provides statistics on rural populations in developing regions. Key challenges discussed include stagnating productivity in Sub-Saharan Africa, unequal land distribution in Latin America, and land fragmentation in Asia. The document categorizes world agriculture systems and discusses traditional peasant agriculture patterns in different regions. It emphasizes the need for government policies to address market failures and ensure the poor benefit from agricultural growth.
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Chicken dung and fish farming by ivo arrey mbongayaivo arrey
Chicken Dung/manure and Fish Farming
Author: Ivo Arrey Mbongaya
Founder/Director
African Centre for Community and Development.
https://www.youtube.com/user/AfricanCentreforCom
https://www.facebook.com/pages/African-Centre-for-Community-and-Development/103686769685856
This article explores the advantages of integrating fish farming with poultry in order to reap benefits from chicken dung/manure. In this article wastes or chicken feces/poop has been used loosely to include manure made out of chicken poop as well as chicken poop itself. It is based on academic literature and research conducted by African Centre for Community and Development.
Chicken dung and fish farming by ivo arrey mbongaya
researchbrief28-ccaps-web-f
1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The CCAPS Food Security in Africa Series is
composed of four briefs that focus on combating
food security vulnerability in Sub-Saharan
Africa. This fourth brief in the series details the
history and controversy surrounding contract
farming—also known as outgrower systems—
and their potential role as a vehicle for inclusive
agricultural growth. The purpose of this brief is
to pinpoint practices that increase the bargaining
power of farmers and the likelihood of positive
outcomes for both firms and smallholders.
It outlines the benefits and risks of contract
farming, and lists best practices for firms,
smallholders, and government to ensure optimal
outcomes for all participants.
AUTHOR
Jesse Libra is a master’s candidate in Global
Policy Studies at the LBJ School of Public
Affairs and in Energy and Earth Resources at the
Jackson School of Geosciences at the University
of Texas at Austin.
EDITOR
CatherineWeaver is an associate professor at the
LBJ School of Public Affairs and distinguished
scholar at the Robert S. Strauss Center at the
University of Texas at Austin.
Combating food insecurity is one of the biggest challenges facing
development in Sub-Saharan Africa, where approximately 30 percent of
the population is undernourished.1
The effect of uncertainty in seasonal
temperatures and rainfall patterns on agricultural production, combined
with growing urban populations, makes the task of achieving food security
increasingly daunting. One of the largest barriers to food security is lack
of access to food, which the Food and Agriculture Organization defines as
individuals having “adequate resources for acquiring appropriate foods for
a nutritious diet.”2
Resources refer largely to economic resources, especially
income. Raising incomes is thus an essential step towards achieving food
security for people who cannot afford food with adequate calories or food
containing sufficient nutritional value.
The agricultural sector, which employs 70 percent of the population in Sub-
Saharan Africa, has huge potential for growth.3
If done inclusively—where
smallholder farmers as well as large agricultural firms reap the economic
benefits—this growth could raise rural incomes and therefore rural access
to food. Simultaneously, such growth in the rural agriculture sector has
the potential to increase yields available to feed growing urban populations
while providing technology to smallholders to decrease their vulnerability
to erratic weather patterns.
Current trends in large-scale agricultural investment, however, include the
crowding-out of smallholder farmers and the devotion of large tracts of land
to cash crop production, both of which could negatively affect rural food
security and livelihoods.4
Smallholders are at a disadvantage since they lack
the capacity to achieve commercial-scale agricultural growth on their own.
They also often lack new technologies, market linkages, access to financing,
and the business experience to operate in modern markets.5
Through the
adoption of fair outgrower practices, agribusiness has the opportunity to
spur socially responsible economic growth.
Outgrower systems, also referred to as contract farming systems (CF), are
business models wherein an agricultural firm contracts out production to
R E S E A R C H B R I E F N O . 2 8
RESEARCH BRIEF – DECEMBER 2014
FOOD SECURITY IN AFRICA SERIES:
OUTGROWER SYSTEMS FOR INCLUSIVE AGRICULTURAL GROWTH
2. 2
CCAPS PROGRAM
RESEARCH BRIEF NO. 28
small-scale farmers or an organized group of farmers. Firms
commonly provide farmers with inputs and advanced
technology to ensure adequate supply, while farmers’
access to land and labor reduces the firms’ capital costs.
Positive development outcomes seen in the past include
raising rural incomes, increasing farmers’ access to markets
and new technologies, and improving farmers’ knowledge
of business.6
Outgrower systems, therefore, present a
potential avenue for inclusive agricultural development;
however, they also have the potential to be exploitive
due to asymmetries in bargaining power between firms
and smallholders.
First, this brief will discuss the controversy surrounding
outgrower systems and smallholder welfare, especially as it
relates to food security. A case study of inclusive outgrower
rice production in Ghana will be examined, followed by
best practices and recommendations for firms, farmers,
and governments.
OUTGROWER SYSTEMS AND
SMALLHOLDER WELFARE
There are a number of different types of outgrower systems,
but all hinge on the development of mutually beneficial
relationships between companies and smallholder farmers,
wherein companies, or buyers, provide inputs and technical
support to farmers in return for access to their product.
Typically, farmers are motivated to enter into such contracts
to ensure a stable selling price, access to technology and
information, and subsidized or free inputs. The buyer
is typically attracted by the higher levels of control over
the type and quality of their product and the lower costs
of investment.7
Sub-Saharan Africa has experienced a dramatic increase
in private sector outgrower systems over the last 20 years,
primarily resulting from the industrialization of the global
food industry. This shift is the combined result of demand-
side factors, including population growth, new preferences
for organic and fair trade products in developed countries,
and increased urbanization, as well as supply-side drivers,
such as the liberalization of production chains, new high-
yield technologies, and advances in communication and
informational systems.8
The place of smallholders in
the growing world of industrialized African agriculture
is uncertain. Accompanying increased industrialization
is the fact that, unlike 20 years ago, a large proportion
of the firms involved in outgrower systems are firms
from developing countries such as Novos Horizontes,
a poultry company in Mozambique,9
Mondi, a South
African paper company,10
or GADCO, a Ghanaian rice
processing company.11
Outgrower systems have attracted political and academic
interest over the last quarter century. During the 1980s, the
literature concerning contract farming was highly polarized,
with a large proportion focusing on the risk of smallholder
exploitation, a risk that still exists today.
Outgrower systems today are very different from those
that were prominent 25 years ago. This change is due to
many factors, including increasing participation of firms
from developing countries and firms focused on organic
farming and fair trade, as well as heightened visibility due
to improved communication technology. Additionally,
the literature on outgrower systems overwhelmingly
finds a positive correlation between farmer participation
in outgrower systems and income growth.12
Outgrower
systems generally are seen in a positive light, and a number
of agricultural development organizations, including the
International Fund for Agricultural Development, the
World Bank, and the International Food Policy Research
Institute (IFPRI), endorse outgrower systems as a vehicle
for development.
The implementation of outgrower systems varies widely,
in terms of their structure, contract terms, and on-the-
ground management. This variability causes equally varied
effects on smallholders, ranging from exploitive to highly
beneficial. A number of individual case studies and analyses
over the past 10 years have indicated that outgrower
systems, if managed correctly, can be an effective private-
sector-led strategy for poverty reduction.13
HOW OUTGROWER SYSTEMS
AFFECT FOOD SECURITY
There is a substantial body of evidence that outgrower
systems improve the income and livelihoods of farmers
involved, but does that translate into improved food
security?14
Studies examining the relationship between
food security and outgrower systems, which date almost
exclusively from the late 1980s and 1990s, suggest that
increases in income from outgrower systems were typically
controlled by males, and so did not translate to increases
in the percentage of income spent on food, which was
typically purchased by women. Instead, additional income
from contract farming was most likely to be spent on
school fees and housing.15
This does not necessarily mean
that food budgets did not increase in terms of absolute
value, but it does suggest that the increases in income may
not significantly improve food security.
In the late 1980s and mid-1990s, a number of reports were
released suggesting that contract farming could exacerbate
food insecurity by taking resources away from subsistence
farming; however, in most cases land devoted to contracted
3. 3
FOOD SECURITY IN AFRICA SERIES:
OUTGROWER SYSTEMS FOR INCLUSIVE AGRICULTURAL GROWTH
crops was previously dedicated to cash crops, thus land
was typically not diverted from subsistence production.16
Studies investigating the effect of contract farming on
nutrition and food security have come to a wide range of
conclusions.17
Many attributed the relationship between
contract farming and decreased food security to contract-
enforced monocropping, a practice where farmers plant
only one crop. At the time, it was common for firms to
discourage raising livestock and require farmers to focus all
their resources on production of the contracted crop, due to
health and quality concerns. This practice is detrimental to
food security because it often forbids subsistence farming,
which decreases the variety of foods available to farming
families and is detrimental to nutrition. Furthermore,
repeatedly planting the same crop depletes soil fertility,
potentially hurting farmers’ income and productivity in
the future.
There is a large gap in the literature concerning the effect
of today’s outgrower systems on nutrition and food
security.18
Contracted monocropping is out of vogue, in
part due to the harsh criticism it received in the 1990s.
A growing number of firms specializing in organic and
fair trade products have begun using outgrowing systems
as a means of production, and it is common for them to
encourage intercropping, agroforestry, and crop rotation
as techniques to improve food security and prevent soil
degradation. Firms using outgrower systems have also
noticed that income differentials from contract farming
often do not transfer to food budgets.19
As a result, many
systems today work actively to recruit women farmers, as
a wide body of research suggests that increasing women’s
income will result in increased food budgets. Given this
shift, a new assessment of contract farming’s effects on food
security is necessary.
OUTGROWER MODELS
The purpose of this brief is to identify outgrower best
practices, a hefty task given the variety of approaches, both
in terms of structure and firm motivation.
There are a number of different outgrower models, which
vary in level of formality and decentralization. The ideal
model for success in terms of farmer and buyer satisfaction
depends on the properties of the crop, the needs of the firm
and farmers, and the specific country context. Each model
is geared towards different types of crops and has different
contract properties. More centralized models tend to be
more successful in terms of farmer welfare. This is because
firms using these models are typically required to build
local facilities. Given the high sunk cost, firms are anxious
to maintain good relations with local communities and are
not afraid to invest in extension services. The local presence
often results in a more intimate firm-farmer relationship,
OUTGROWER SYSTEMS:
BENEFITS AND RISKS20
FARMERS:
Benefits
• Low-cost or free inputs
• Increased access to credit
• Greater access to markets
• Decreased price risk
• Guaranteed buyer
• Free technical advice and assistance
• Free technology
Risks
• Buyer contract default
• Buyer exploitation of farmers,
manipulation of contract quantity
of price
• Farmer contract default as a result
of erratic weather
• Farmers that fail to produce may
become indebted
BUYERS:
Benefits
• PR benefits/socially responsible
• Works around land constraints
• Less risk than purchasing on
open market
• More consistent quality than
purchasing on open market
• More flexibility to adapt to market
preferences (e.g. switch to organic)
Risks
• Farmers may sell outside the contract
(side-selling)
• Insecurity if the farmer lacks
land tenure
• Farmers may use inputs for other crops,
reducing their yields of contracted crops
• Farmer discontent resulting from poor
buyer management
4. 4
CCAPS PROGRAM
RESEARCH BRIEF NO. 28
which decreases the likelihood of contract default.21
Models
where firms are less invested in the area are more likely to
default and have issues with farmer loyalty.
The important factors that differentiate successful models
break down into structural elements that affect smallholder
bargaining power or capacity to produce. A firm’s approach
to each of these has direct implications for the welfare of
their contracted farmers and the success of the venture.
Elements include farmer access to inputs, the clarity of
firm-farmer agreements, how growers are managed, and
the type of firm participating.22
Furthermore, following
certain guidelines can lower the risk of farmer default in the
form of ‘side-selling,’ a major concern for firms involved in
outgrower systems.
Access to Inputs
Rural smallholder productivity is largely constrained by
limited access to inputs and credit. Outgrower systems
with large buyer investment mitigate this issue. However,
the willingness of buyers to contribute to inputs often
depends on the specifications of the crop under contract.
Commodities that require specific inputs to meet standards
or inputs that are not available on the open market are usually
supplied on credit at either market price or subsidized prices;
then, after harvest, the buyer subtracts what is owed from
the farmer’s pay. This can be extremely beneficial to farmers
in remote areas with poor market linkages, but only if the
contract price reflects the commodity’s actual market value.
A 2012 study examining farmer preferences with respect to
contract farming concluded that access to inputs and credit
was the primary driving force behind farmer participation in
outgrower systems.23
Access to Extension Services
Buyers often provide extensions services and technological
support to farmers. Again, this is most likely when the
crop under contract requires specialized inputs or care,
but also can occur with staple or bulk crops. Extension
services can provide farmers with knowledge about how to
use new technologies, different farming approaches (e.g.
agroforestry, organic farming, or conservation farming),
and safety standard compliance. Farmers can then apply
this knowledge to crops outside of their contracted fields,
such as subsistence crops, or crops intended for local
markets. Transfer of technology and information is thus
one of the most beneficial aspects of outgrower systems.
In fact, there are many documented cases of smallholders
becoming independent commercial farmers by using
the technical expertise gained during participation in
outgrower systems.24
Provision of extension services depends heavily on buyer
capacity, or the availability of a third party firm to carry
out extension services. Ideally, buyers carry out the
service themselves, which raises credibility and increases
community trust. This, again, decreases the likelihood
of side-selling and increases farmer loyalty. Extension
services are important for buyers, too; a recent survey cited
extension services as vital to firms receiving their desired
product in terms of quantity and quality.25
Firm-Farmer Agreements
Outgrower systems involve agreements between buyers
and farmers, which can range in formality from verbal
agreements to clearly delineated contracts. Transparency in
determining the contract terms and clarity in the contract
itself is vital, as disagreements over contract terms are the
primary source of contention between farmers and buyers.26
Firms often prefer ambiguous terms, with only the contract
volume explicitly stated. This allows price to fluctuate with
the market, but can also allow firms to severely lower their
buying price if the product does not meet ambiguously
defined quality specifications. Vague terms are a recipe for
failure of outgrower systems. Such contracts often lead to
misunderstandings and resentment and, in the worst cases,
outright exploitation of farmers by firms.
Farmers, too, prefer arrangements that allow buyer price
to fluctuate with the market. In fact, one of the main
deterrents for farmers considering entering a contract is
fear of underpayment due to market price rising above the
contract price.27
Contract price, therefore, should be flexible
enough to fluctuate with the market price while not dipping
below a pre-determined minimum.
In short, farmers prefer contracts that are in a written form,
provide inputs (seeds and fertilizers), provide technical
assistance, allow for variable output quality, and allow for
variable pricing.
Attention to these preferences lowers the likelihood of side-
selling and other forms of farmer default, while increasing
farmer welfare. Due to the high costs of extension
services and technical support, such arrangements are
expensive and may not be economically sustainable for
smaller firms. Firms without the capacity to comply
with these specifications are generally ill-suited to
outgrower systems.
Grower Management
The structure used to organize growers and manage
service provision affects system longevity and the level of
benefits available to the community. Whether through
farmers’ groups, the firm itself, or a third party, availability
of extensions services, farmer organizations, and other
systems of farmer support are key to the success of
outgrower systems.28
5. 5
FOOD SECURITY IN AFRICA SERIES:
OUTGROWER SYSTEMS FOR INCLUSIVE AGRICULTURAL GROWTH
Management that engages with smallholders in a
transparent manner and supports community development
can vastly improve the farmer-buyer relationship. One
way to do this is through dealing exclusively with farmer
organizations or establishing farmer groupings. Due to
their cohesive nature, farmers’ groups raise smallholder
bargaining power, increasing the likelihood that contracts
will reflect farmers’ needs. Farmers’ groups are advantageous
for firms as well, as they increase peer accountability and
lower the risk of side-selling. Using groups also allows
farmers to take leadership roles in management activities
like input supply coordination and harvest logistics.
NGOs or firms themselves can also carry out these tasks,
but they require higher levels of firm investment. The
multipartite, centralized, and nucleus estate models are
most effective at providing these services because larger
firms capable of such investments generally use them.
Centralized systems also have more potential for longevity
because of high sunk costs and the firm’s close proximity to
the farmers.29
Type of Firm
Large processing firms have higher levels of capacity
for providing inputs, extension services, and additional
support. Additionally, as processors they rely heavily on
growers for a constant supply of raw material. This reliance
increases farmers’ bargaining power, while firm capacity
for input provision and support increases the likelihood of
farmer loyalty.30
EQUITY QUESTIONS
Outgrower systems can perpetuate inequality within a
community through preferentially contracting farmers with
high access to resources—a move that cuts transaction and
organizational costs.31
Firms that do work with smallholders
sometimes require proof of land tenure, access to labor,
and adequate soil quality. As a result, most smallholders
involved in outgrower systems are already middle-class, not
the poorest of the poor.32
When poor farmers are included,
they often must undergo training before being accepted as
full-time contracted members—a time commitment that
many cannot afford. Trainings and farmer requirements,
however, function as a safeguard to prevent contract default
or farmer indebtedness, both of which have higher negative
consequences for smallholder welfare. It has been argued that
farmers involved in outgrower systems are likely to employ
larger numbers of workers, and therefore increase community
welfare at-large; however, there is little evidence to support
this claim.
Inequality has a number of negative consequences for
food security. 33
In this context, rising rural inequality has
the potential to raise local food prices to the detriment of
the poorest households. 34
To avoid worsening inequality,
firms must participate in community outreach and holistic
community development.
Ideally, contract farming is a mutually beneficial arrangement. However, an apparently mutually beneficial
system can quickly become exploitive due to the monopsonistic relationship between the firm and the farmer.35
In other words, the firm in a given arrangement has more bargaining power—and as such is more likely to force
the farmer into a disadvantageous position—because the firm is the only buyer to which farmers can sell their
goods. The firm is then free to lower its buying price the following year, forcing the farmers to accept lower
prices. Many firms in outgrower systems follow this pattern, which is termed “agribusiness normalization,”
or the tendency of firms to invest heavily in inputs, training, and other promotional programs in the first few
years to ensure outgrower loyalty, before switching to a more profit-oriented business model.36
The practice of agribusiness normalization often breeds dissatisfaction and distrust between farmers and firms;
however, if properly informed, growers can still profit after normalization occurs. The most successful farmers
in these situations are farmers that dedicate only the minimum amount of land to the contracted crop, while
maintaining production of subsistence and other cash crops. This diversification not only allows the farmer
another source of income (and food), but it can also serve to increase farmer bargaining power and push up
contract prices.37
Diversification, though, is not always possible, as a firm may relocate or ban intercropping
in the contract itself. It is here that both government oversight and contract clarity become essential.
THE POTENTIAL FOR EXPLOITATION
6. 6
CCAPS PROGRAM
RESEARCH BRIEF NO. 28
RECOMMENDATIONS
The wide range of practices encompassed by the term
‘outgrower system’ makes it difficult to come to a single
conclusion regarding their impact on smallholder
livelihoods. However, if a system follows certain best
practices, it is more likely to have a positive impact on
its partner communities. Systems that are centralized
and have a high capacity for provision of services
tend to give farmers more bargaining power and
more benefits.
The success of outgrower systems in terms of sustainable
economic development and increased smallholder welfare
is heavily reliant on how the firm structures the system.
Firms should be especially cautious of negative externalities
that can result from contract farming—especially those
associated with food insecurity—and take specific steps to
mitigate such risks, such as encouraging crop rotation and
crop diversification.
Profits are always a primary concern for firms, and as
such, regulation and oversight are necessary. NGOs,
international organizations, or governments can participate
in oversight efforts, but smallholders must have some legal
recourse in situations that become exploitative. Below is
a list of policy recommendations for firms, smallholders,
and governments.
For Firms
• Explicit Terms: Contracts must explicitly explain the terms
of the agreement. Even without malicious intent, vagueness
and misunderstandings can damage trust between farmers
and buyers, and in some cases cause economic damage to
farmers. Terms should never require monocropping.
• Extension Services and Inputs: Heightened access to inputs,
knowledge, and technology are the biggest benefits that
farmers glean from outgrower systems. Systems not
only disseminate new technologies to farmers, but also
teach farmers how to manage their farms like a business,
thus increasing their capacity outside of the contractual
framework. The importance of extension services, hands-
on management, and input provision imply that firms
with the capacity to provide these are most beneficial
for smallholders.
• Community Engagement: Even when outgrower systems
incorporate these recommendations, they can result
in increased inequality or negative impacts on food
prices. Cooperation with farmers concerning grower
management, and engagement with the wider community
can lessen the impact of these negative externalities.
• Transparency: Transparency about risks and benefits,
as well as pricing mechanisms is of utmost importance
for creating farmer loyalty and building trust. If a
firm is planning to decrease levels of support over
time, farmers must be notified so they can invest their
earnings accordingly.
For Smallholders
• Contract Terms: Farmers should not enter into outgrower
systems unless the terms of the contract are both specific
and clear. Contracts must delineate quality specifications
and quantity requirements, mechanisms for payback of
credit, and the consequences of default.
• Diversifying: Growing a variety of crops increases the
bargaining power of smallholders, but also raises
food security in terms of access (through alternative
income) and availability. By investing initial
increased income from systems in diversification
and more land, farmers can to avoid the trap of
agribusiness normalization.38
• Formation of Farmer Groups: By forming and
engaging with firms through farmer’s groups, farmers
can increase their bargaining power, especially in
situations where firms are already heavily invested in
a particular region. This increases the likelihood that
the firm will provide extension services and other
beneficial investments.
For Governments
• Regulation: In areas where government has the capacity
to enforce regulations, governments should develop
labor regulations specific to contracted farmers.
These should prohibit contract terms that can
negatively affect food security, such as monocropping.
Forms of exploitation possible under contract
farming must be clearly defined and prohibited.
The ideal model for success in terms of
farmer and buyer satisfaction depends on the
properties of the crop, the needs of the firm
and farmers, and the specific country context.
7. 7
FOOD SECURITY IN AFRICA SERIES:
OUTGROWER SYSTEMS FOR INCLUSIVE AGRICULTURAL GROWTH
Informal: The informal model involves annual
or seasonal sourcing on an ad hoc or loosely
formal basis, and very low levels of firm-to-farmer
coordination. Typically employed by smaller firms,
buyers enter into agreements with a small number of
farmers. Agreements are not always formalized, and
farms under contract are generally small. This model
works best for crops that require little processing
and few inputs, such as fruits or vegetables. It
does not require high government capacity to
operate.39
Advantages are low costs and a high level
of flexibility. Disadvantages are that there is little
buyer investment in financial or technical support,
a low level of control over production, and a high
risk of contract breach.
Intermediary: The intermediary model is when a
smaller private firm uses an intermediary to carry
out contracts with smallholders. The intermediary,
often a lead farmer or buying agent, then becomes
the point person for both farmers and the firm. The
intermediary is in charge of managing outgrowers
and providing support services. This model
can be used with any size farm and is especially
effective with farmers’ organizations. This model
is most appropriate for procurement of staple food
crops, like rice, maize, and potatoes, and crops
that have a low value-bulk ratio.40
Advantages
are low-risk, better supply chain management
than the informal model, and a high level
of flexibility. Disadvantages are low visibility
between buyer and farmer and low buyer investment
in support and technology.
Multipartite: The multipartite model involves a
joint venture between two larger entities, often
a public private partnership, wherein the buyer
sources from farmers’ groups but growers are
managed and provided inputs through a partner
organization. This model implies a high degree
of firm-farmer coordination and on-site technical
staff. Farms are usually small, and often members
of farmers’ organizations.41
Advantages are less
cost and investment because of cost-sharing with
partner organization, less risk of weather-related
issues because of spatial spread of farms, and more
technical and input support available to farmers.
Disadvantages are higher risk of side-selling and
high transport costs.
Centralized: The centralized model pairs a large
private firm, usually a processor, with a large number
of small, medium, and large-scale farmers. The
buyer provides inputs and technical support directly
and purchases the crop at the end of the season.
Contracts typically have strict quality and quantity
requirements, and the relationship between firms
and farms requires a high level of coordination. On-
site staff are generally available. This model is best
suited to crops that require a lot of processing before
retail, such as sugarcane, coffee, cotton, or milk.
Advantages are high level of control over product,
close interaction between firm and farmer prevents
side-selling, and provision of support and inputs.
Disadvantages are high cost of technical support
and post-harvest transport.
Nucleus Estate: The nucleus estate model is when a
large firm, typically a processor, operates centralized
production while supplementing that production
through contracting a large number of small and
medium scale farms. The contracts usually involve
strict quantity specifications. Nucleus-estate models
are typically used when dealing with perennial
crops and other crops that display economies of
scale. Outgrower systems are especially useful for
processors because plants require a steady flow of
material for optimal capacity. This model is most
appropriate when dealing with perishable crops
that have high variations in quality and a high
value-bulk ratio.42
Advantages are simplified farmer
support and oversight and control over supply
chain. Disadvantages are high production costs,
higher crop related risk, geographic constraint in
terms of farmer selection, and risk of plantation-like
spillover effects.
These categories provide a simple framework
in which to organize outgrower systems.
However, myriad hybrids exist between
the models listed here. Each model can be
successful at decreasing farmer vulnerability and
improving livelihoods, depending on certain
structural elements.
TYPES OF OUTGROWER SYSTEMS
This appendix describes five commonly cited models and the contexts in which they are most applicable.