Thumbnail Image

Pluralistic market-oriented services

Year of publication 2017

Pages 8p.

Author May Hani and David Kahan

Publisher FAO ;

Product type Brochure, flyer, fact-sheet

ISBN No ISBN

Edition 1

Synopsis (short abstract) For smallholder agriculture to prosper and transform itself, access to rural services is essential. Rural services that enable smallholders to overcome constraints to increase their productivity, manage their farms as a sustainable business, link to inputs and outputs markets and act collectively to improve their livelihoods are a first line of action to reduce rural poverty. Undoubtedly, improving rural services has long been on the development agenda. Yet, ensuring equitable access to rural se rvices remains a challenge that governments and their development partners need to address to improve rural livelihoods and overcome rural poverty. The pluralistic Market-Oriented Services (MOS) programme aims to address the critical role of rural services in enhancing agriculture-based livelihoods and reducing rural poverty . Emphasis is placed on advisory, financial and support services needed for smallholders to improve productivity, gain access to markets and increase their income to move o ut of poverty. This note outlines the conceptual framework for the pluralistic market-oriented services (MOS) programme, and briefly describes its objective, main dimensions and fields of action.

Language English

Also available in:
No results found.

Related items

Showing items related by metadata.

  • Thumbnail Image
    Book (stand-alone)
    Advancing rural advisory services in Arab countries to promote market orientation and inclusive transformation
    A regional study
    2023
    Also available in:
    No results found.
    Small-scale family farmers are the backbone of rural communities in the Near East and North Africa (NENA) region. Despite their extensive participation in the agricultural sector, these types of farmers and their farms are disproportionately affected by poverty, ultimately constituting about 70 percent of the poorliving in the region. Apart from adverse agroclimatic conditions, smallscale farmers experience several challenges that stem from their limited assets, land fragmentation and weak capacities, with negative impacts on their productivity, profitability and income. Specific constraints include low volume and quality of produce, high transaction costs, high costs of inputs, low prices and weak access to market information and postharvest facilities – all of which adds up to a limited ability to reach and compete in markets. Small-scale farmers need services that enable them to make informed decisions and facilitate their access to quality inputs, post-harvest facilities and more profitable markets. They also need to reinforce their capacities to act collectively and develop effective organizations that can articulate their demands, amplify their voice, and facilitate their access to services and markets. As a result of persisting gender-based social norms, women typically face more challenges than men in terms of owning assets, accessing quality inputs and services, reaching markets and achieving fair prices.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Book (stand-alone)
    Market-oriented advisory services in Asia - a review and lessons learned 2011
    Also available in:
    No results found.
    Market liberalization and globalization are changing the agricultural environment at unprecedented speed. The urban population in the region is increasing dramatically, accompanied by higher incomes and changing nutritional diets that create greater demand for high-value products. This is juxtaposed by declining public investment in agricultural development, particularly in extension services. The future for many small farmers is bleak unless they can adapt their farming systems to these changes . Agricultural extension plays a key role in raising productivity by offering technical advice on new technologies, helping farmers to identify problems and opportunities and sharing information. This publication presents the findings of a regional study in Asia on the design and delivery of market-oriented advisory services to farmers and rural entrepreneurs. Examples of 'successful cases' in the region found through Internet searches, field studies and literature review are highlighted. The ex amples, together with the recommendations provided, should provide practical advice to all those who are seeking to help farmers improve their livelihoods by linking farmers to markets, enhancing farm income and ultimately contributing to rural poverty alleviation in Asia.
  • Thumbnail Image
Show more

Users also downloaded

Showing related downloaded files

No results found.