For developing countries to move towards more equitable and sustainable development requires attention to factors that inhibit the market participation of the poorer segments of rural populations, including small-scale farmers. This paper addresses problems small farmers face in accessing marketing information. It begins with a discussion of the asymmetric nature of marketing information and then relates some recent experiences that FAO has had helping small-scale farmers develop their own marketing informationsystems. It concludes with a presentation of some issues to consider when designing communication strategies that target marketing information for small-scale farmers.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
Andre, P.Q.J.
(1996) Communicating agricultural information in remote places. Quarterly Bulletin of the International Association of Agricultural Information Specialists, vol. XLI, no. 1.
2.
Bay-Petersen, J.
(1996) Marketing information for geographically remote places. Quarterly Bulletin of the International Association of Agricultural Information Specialists, vol. XLI, no. 1.
3.
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
(1996) Marketing in forestry and agroforestry by rural people. Bangkok: Forestry Department, FAO.
4.
Haavisto, P
and J. Ofversten (1996) Agronet: a network for agri-business. Quarterly Bulletin of the International Association of Agricultural Information Specialists, vol. XLI, no. 1.
5.
Koppell, C.
(1995) Marketing information systems for non-timber forest products. Community Forestry Field Manual. Rome: FAO.
6.
Shepherd, A.W.
and A.J.F. Schalke (1995) An assessment of the Indonesian horticultural market information service. Rome: Marketing and Rural Finance Service, Agricultural Support Systems Division, FAO.
7.
Shepherd, A.W.
(1997) Market information services: theory and practice. AGS Bulletin No. 125. Rome: Marketing and Rural Finance Service, Agricultural Support Systems Division, FAO.
8.
Smith, L.D.
and A.M. Thomson (1991) The role of public and private agents in the food and agriculture sectors of developing countries. FAO Economic and Social Development Paper 105. Rome: FAO.
9.
Richardson, D.
(1996) The Internet and rural development: recommendations for strategy and activity. Rome: Research, Extension and Training Division, FAO.
