Thumbnail Image

The role of small and medium agrifood enterprises in food systems transformation - The case of rice processors in Senegal














Ilie, E.T. & Kelly, S. 2021. The role of small and medium agrifood enterprises in food systems transformation: the case of rice processors in Senegal. FAO Agricultural Development Economics Technical Study No. 10. Rome, FAO.





Also available in:

Related items

Showing items related by metadata.

  • Thumbnail Image
    Book (series)
    Technical study
    The role of small and medium agrifood enterprises in rural transformation – The case of rice processors in Kenya 2022
    Also available in:
    No results found.

    This study looks at the business models of small and medium sized rice processors in Kenya in order to better understand the policy and technical support they need to grow and fulfil their role in agrifood systems transformation. More specifically, by employing semi-structured interviews with Kenyan rice millers, the technical study identifies challenges in their day-to-day business activities, including procurement, inbound and outbound logistics, in-house operations, financing, and human resources management. Additionally, the publication looks at opportunities for improving the business enabling environment in which these enterprises operate, providing a set of policy options to foster their role. The methodology cross fertilises different disciplinary perspectives in order to gather evidence for formulating policy in a way that integrates several policy fields and cross-cutting issues such as food safety, quality and nutrition; farmer-market linkages; decent rural employment and gender equality; or rural investment. The paper showcases how small and medium agrifood manufacturers respond to the business enabling environment and also contribute to local development from multiple angles.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Book (stand-alone)
    General interest book
    Policies and institutions shaping the business enabling environment of agrifood processors in Senegal
    An analytical review of the literature for integrated policy making
    2022
    Also available in:
    No results found.

    Small and medium agrifood enterprises (SMAEs) such as processors, transporters and other service providers, play an important role in achieving sustainable development objectives. For instance, they connect farmers to urban markets; make significant investments in rural areas; provide employment to vulnerable populations such as women and youth; and propel the modernization of agrifood value chains. In sub-Saharan Africa, where agriculture comprises 53 percent of total employment and 15.5 percent of gross domestic product, supporting SMAEs can have great implications for pro-poor growth and rural transformation. To support SMAEs in fulfilling their potential, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has been dedicating research to better understand their policy and technical needs. This publication is such output and aims to provide an assessment of the policy and institutional framework in Senegal shaping the business models of small and medium agrifood processors. This systemic appraisal of Senegal’s business enabling environment for SMAEs was cross-fertilized with an analysis of the business models of three rice millers, resulting in a related FAO technical study 'The role of small and medium agrifood enterprises in food systems transformation: the case of rice processors in Senegal'. The analyses were carried out using a multidisciplinary agrifood systems approach, which looks at policies and institutions related to procurement, operations, logistics, finance, marketing and sales, human resources, and strategic partnerships. Due to its well-articulated policy documents and the extensive research on various aspects of the business enabling environment conducted in the country, Senegal represents a compelling case to illustrate the links between policies and the activities of agrifood processors.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Book (stand-alone)
    Technical book
    Small and medium enterprises and nutrition: understanding linkages, seizing opportunities
    Discussion paper
    2024
    Also available in:
    No results found.

    Multiple actors should be mobilized to ensure that agrifood systems help meet nutrition and sustainability objectives. Among these, small and medium enterprises (SMEs) engaged in the supply of food are of crucial importance as they constitute the bulk of agrifood enterprises in most countries. However, there are still few examples of policies, programmes and initiatives aimed specifically at leveraging SMEs due, inter alia, to the novelty of the debate and to the limited understanding of their specific needs and challenges.Based on a literature review, complemented with FAO's experience in capacity development for SMEs, this publication is targeted at programme developers, experts and technical advisors to policymakers. Its objectives are: a) to improve the understanding of the linkages between topics that are traditionally dealt with separately; and b) to promote the inclusion of an SME perspective in nutrition and agrifood system policies, programmes and strategies.

Users also downloaded

Showing related downloaded files

  • Thumbnail Image
    Book (series)
    Technical study
    Making the most of agricultural investment
    A survey of business models that provide opportunities for smallholders
    2010
    Also available in:

    Recent years have witnessed a renewed interest in agricultural investment. In many cases, this new momentum has translated into large-scale acquisitions of farmland in lower- and middle-income countries. Partly as a result of sustained media attention, these acquisitions have triggered lively if polarised debates about “land grabbing”. Less attention has been paid, however, to alternative ways of structuring agricultural investments that do not involve large-scale land acquisitions. These include a wide range of more collaborative arrangements between large-scale investors and local small-scale farmers and communities, such as diverse types of contract farming schemes, joint ventures, management contracts and new supply chain relationships.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Book (stand-alone)
    Manual / guide
    Report of the Third Expert Meeting on Socially and Environmentally Responsible Horticulture Production and Trade
    Theme: Building partnerships for responsible trade
    2003
    Also available in:

    The Third Expert Meeting on Socially and Environmentally Responsible Horticulture Production and Trade was held in Nuremberg, 16 February 2003. Various representatives of standard setting and certification bodies, as well as producers and traders of fresh produce presented their experiences and opinion on the theme of the meeting: "Building partnerships for socially and environmentally responsible horticultural trade". In the afternoon discussions were held in three groups. The debate on "buil ding partnerships" concentrated on the responsibilities of the actors in the supply chain and the need for transparency. It was felt that small farmers should organize to increase their marketing and bargaining powers and to be able to create partnerships with market operators on a more equal level. Both the costs and the value addition associated with social and environmental improvements should be distributed in a fair way among the parties. The debate on responsible pricing concentrated on the transparency of price building along the supply chain, especially on the part of the retailers. Such transparency would facilitate negotiations of fair prices. The group saw no evidence that price guarantees to cover the cost of production would stimulate overproduction, as low prices have often triggered increased output. The debate on the role of certification in partnerships concentrated on the role of certification bodies beyond verification. It was recommended that the certification bodies organize open training sessions and provide more information on buyer and consumer requirements. Certification bodies could help to evaluate the certification systems by sharing their experiences in standard implementation with accreditation agencies, producers and consumers.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Book (stand-alone)
    General interest book
    COVID-19 – Rapid impact assessment on the agrifood sector and rural areas in Türkiye 2023
    Also available in:
    No results found.

    This report assesses the impacts of the COVID-19 on the agrifood sector and rural areas in Türkiye. Taking a panoramic picture of the agrifood sector in the country during the COVID-19 period, the study portrays how the pandemic impact on agrifood chains, smallholders and rural economies in Türkiye. The report titled “COVID-19 Rapid Impact Assessment on Agri-Food Sector and Rural Areas in Türkiye” is an outcome of a joint study by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), and the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry of Türkiye. Besides assessments on how the pandemic has affected agrifood sector, the report presents policy recommendations for sector preparedness and response, and agricultural and rural resilience. Moreover, the report sheds light on the connection between its suggestions and the Sustainable Development Goals. Authors of this study aims to contribute to the COVID-19 Socio-Economic Impact and Response Task Team (SEIRTT) in United Nations Türkiye, co-led by United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Resident Coordinator’s Office. In thematic terms, the report supports efforts to analyse socio-economic dimensions of the COVID-19 in Türkiye. Moreover, the report sets the basis for further institutional engagement with Government and other relevant partners and stakeholders in the short to medium term with respect to agriculture and food sectors.