Small-scale agriculture is the main livelihood of the majority of the world’s rural poor. Smallholder farmers in the global South play a crucial role in maintaining biodiversity, as well as contributing to food security in their countries. However, they need to be connected to markets to see sustained rises to their incomes and food availability. Smallholder Agriculture and Market Participation discusses the evolution of policies for smallholder development, including the role of value chains. Poor farmers face steep barriers to participation in different types of markets, including the lack of financing, and the unwillingness of commercial finance organizations to lend to remote, dispersed, small-scale farming households. Newer, innovative financial mechanisms and linked initiatives are outlined, and their potential to improve the availability of financial services and reduce market transaction costs. Risk management for agricultural smallholders is covered, together with the increasing role of insurance as a mechanism for risk management among smallholders. Empirical data are used to illustrate the more conceptual work. The last part of the book provides case studies of selected commodity value chain investments involving smallholders in Africa (Ethiopia, Tanzania and Zimbabwe) and South America (Peru), implemented by FAO. The lessons concern project design and targeting, product and market analysis, regulatory issues, sustainability and improved natural resources management. The final chapter draws conclusions addressing the earlier themes of the book.
This book should be read by researchers and students of agriculture, agriculture economics and international development as well as policy makers within government departments and international development agencies.

Nigel Poole
Nigel David Poole is a Reader in Development Policy, SOAS, University of London.

The Role of Indigenous Vegetables to Improve Food and Nutrition Security: Experiences From the Project HORTINLEA in Kenya (2014–2018)

Bokelmann, Wolfgang

Huyskens-Keil, Susanne

Ferenczi, Zoltan

Stöber, Silke

Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems, Vol. 6 (2022), Iss.

https://doi.org/10.3389/fsufs.2022.806420 [Citations: 1]

The implication of intra-rural migration on crop output commercialization in Ethiopia

Abate, Kibrom Adino

Alemu, Bamlaku Alamirew

Habteyesus, Degye Goshu

Migration and Development, Vol. 11 (2022), Iss. 1 P.126

https://doi.org/10.1080/21632324.2020.1723212 [Citations: 0]

Determinants of Intensity of Biomass Utilization: Evidence from Cassava Smallholders in Nigeria

Adeyemo, Temitayo

Amaza, Paul

Okoruwa, Victor

Akinyosoye, Vincent

Salman, Kabir

Abass, Adebayo

Sustainability, Vol. 11 (2019), Iss. 9 P.2516

https://doi.org/10.3390/su11092516 [Citations: 3]

Determinants of market participation decision by smallholder haricot bean (phaseolus vulgaris l.) farmers in Northwest Ethiopia

Andaregie, Adino

Astatkie, Tessema

Teshome, Fentaw

Yildiz, Fatih

Cogent Food & Agriculture, Vol. 7 (2021), Iss. 1

https://doi.org/10.1080/23311932.2021.1879715 [Citations: 0]

Determinants of profit efficiency among smallholder sheep farmers in South Africa

Nyam, Y. S.

Ojo, T. O.

Belle, J. A.

Ogundeji, A. A.

Adetoro, A. A.

African Journal of Science, Technology, Innovation and Development, Vol. 14 (2022), Iss. 3 P.620

https://doi.org/10.1080/20421338.2021.1879510 [Citations: 1]

An exploration of government administrative processes in supporting agro-smallholders’ access to municipal markets in eThekwini Municipality, KwaZulu-Natal Province

Nyawo, Jabulani C.

Mubangizi, Betty C.

Africa’s Public Service Delivery and Performance Review, Vol. 9 (2021), Iss. 1

https://doi.org/10.4102/apsdpr.v9i1.528 [Citations: 0]

Selling at the farmgate? Role of liquidity constraints and implications for agricultural productivity

Ateka, Josiah M.

Onono-Okelo, Perez Ayieko

Etyang, Martin

Agrekon, Vol. 60 (2021), Iss. 4 P.388

https://doi.org/10.1080/03031853.2021.1980409 [Citations: 0]

African Handbook of Climate Change Adaptation

Economic Analysis of Climate-Smart Agriculture Technologies in Maize Production in Smallholder Farming Systems

Mujeyi, Angeline

Mudhara, Maxwell

2021

https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-45106-6_17 [Citations: 0]

Value chain analysis of malt barley in North western part of Ethiopia

Kassaw, Metadel

Teshome, Akalu

Chanie, Essa

Addis, Yonnas

Omer, Siddig Adam

Cogent Social Sciences, Vol. 7 (2021), Iss. 1

https://doi.org/10.1080/23311886.2021.1980260 [Citations: 0]

Factors driving Thailand rice farmer decision-making in the choice of marketing channel

Thamthanakoon, Nithicha

Huang, Iona Yuelu

Eastham, Jane

Ward, Shane

Manning, Louise

British Food Journal, Vol. 124 (2022), Iss. 1 P.331

https://doi.org/10.1108/BFJ-11-2020-1040 [Citations: 1]

Factors determining income and product type of Robusta coffee farming in Central Java, Indonesia

Prasetyo, Edy

Listiyaningsih, Dini

Setiadi, Agus

Mukson, Mukson

Roessali, Wiludjeng

Ekowati, Titik

(2022)

https://doi.org/10.1111/issj.12362 [Citations: 0]

Small growers’ direct participation in the market and its impact on farm income

Paul, Ujjwal Kanti

Das, Gurudas

Das, Malabika

Mathur, Tanuj

Journal of Agribusiness in Developing and Emerging Economies, Vol. 11 (2021), Iss. 3 P.241

https://doi.org/10.1108/JADEE-05-2019-0067 [Citations: 1]

Factors affecting commercialisation of vegetables by central Vietnamese smallholders

Hoang, Hung Gia

African Journal of Science, Technology, Innovation and Development, Vol. 14 (2022), Iss. 4 P.896

https://doi.org/10.1080/20421338.2021.1911911 [Citations: 0]

Are agriculture and nutrition policies and practice coherent? Stakeholder evidence from Afghanistan

Poole, Nigel

Echavez, Chona

Rowland, Dominic

Food Security, Vol. 10 (2018), Iss. 6 P.1577

https://doi.org/10.1007/s12571-018-0851-y [Citations: 13]

Factors affecting the choice of marketing outlet selection strategies by smallholder farmers in Swaziland

Dlamini-Mazibuko, Bongiwe Porrie

Ferrer, Stuart

Ortmann, Gerald

African Journal of Science, Technology, Innovation and Development, Vol. 11 (2019), Iss. 5 P.569

https://doi.org/10.1080/20421338.2018.1554323 [Citations: 10]

African Handbook of Climate Change Adaptation

Economic Analysis of Climate-Smart Agriculture Technologies in Maize Production in Smallholder Farming Systems

Mujeyi, Angeline

Mudhara, Maxwell

2020

https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-42091-8_17-1 [Citations: 0]

Joint market participation choices of smallholder farmers and households’ welfare: evidence from Senegal

Camara, Alhassane

Goundan, Anatole

Henning, Christian

Savard, Luc

Beye, Assane

(2022)

https://doi.org/10.1108/JADEE-08-2021-0201 [Citations: 0]