Smallholder Participation in Agricultural Value Chains: Comparative Evidence from Three Continents

Christopher Barrett, Maren E. Bachke, Marc Bellemare, Hope Michelson, Sudha Narayanan and Thomas F. Walker

MPRA Paper from University Library of Munich, Germany

Abstract: Supermarkets, specialized wholesalers, and processors and agro-exporters’ agricultural value chains have begun to transform the marketing channels into which smallholder farmers sell produce in low-income economies. We develop a conceptual framework through which to study contracting between smallholders and a commodity-processing firm. We then conduct an empirical meta-analysis of agricultural value chains in five countries across three continents (Ghana, India, Madagascar, Mozambique, and Nicaragua). We document patterns of participation, the welfare gains associated with participation, reasons for non-participation, the significant extent of contract non-compliance, and the considerable dynamism of these value chains, as farmers and firms enter and exit frequently.

Keywords: Agricultural Value Chains; Contract Farming; Africa; Asia; Latin America (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: L23 L24 O13 O14 Q12 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2010-12-30
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (14)

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