Markets and Agroenterprises

Private agribusiness can drive rural development and increase agricultural productivity to meet social goals of poverty reduction, economic growth, and environmental conservation.

Private agribusinesses provide inputs and services needed for on-farm production and markets for farm products. Agribusinesses also provide important employment opportunities in rural areas and contribute to the growth of the larger private sector.

In many developing countries private agribusiness is called upon to expand into areas opened up with the retreat of inefficient parastatal operations in input supply and marketing and to respond to opportunities growing out of the liberalization of economies and globalization of trade.

While private agribusiness growth depends principally on private initiatives, the public sector maintains an important role in creating a facilitating policy environment and fostering development of free and fair markets. The World Bank seeks to help client countries promote growth of efficient agribusinesses and markets.

The Agriculture Investment Sourcebook contains investment notes in  Agribusiness & Market Development.

A comprehensive collection of papers on various aspects of Markets and Agroenterprises is found in the Guide to Developing Agricultural Markets and Agro-enterprises.