Guide to Developing Agricultural Markets and Agro-enterprises

released 2002, updated 2004

Addressing the needs of agricultural market systems can present many new opportunities and innovative ways of tackling some of the most pressing problems facing developing countries: food security, economic competitiveness, poverty alleviation, and rural development.

This guide brings together the work of experts from around the world to help development practitioners better understand key issues in agricultural marketing and agro-enterprises and to enhance their ability to initiate, plan, and monitor supportive activities and analytical work.

By presenting a broad array of 'tools' in a simple and accessible format, this work intends to facilitate a more comprehensive understanding of the field as a system rather than a series of components. It also aims to present the most useful roles that can be played by both the private sector, government and development agencies to leverage each others' assets toward achieving the goal of development.

• Agricultural Market and Agribusiness Assessments
• Competitiveness
• Finance, Investment, & Risk Management
• Market Information Food Safety & Standards
• Policies & Regulations
• Post-Harvest, Processing, and Other Technologies
• Supporting Associations & Cooperatives
• Supporting SMEs and Agro-Enterprises
• Trade & the International Dimension
  

These web page contains papers on various aspects of Agricultural Markets and Agro-enterprises. The papers were contributed by staff from the Bank, other agencies, and the private sector. Many others provided support in reviewing texts and papers. The work was edited and organized by Daniele Giovannucci (consultant) under direct guidance from Michel Debatisse and Steven Jaffee. In 2004 Jock Anderson (consultant) prepared revisions.