Background

Tags: Worldwide , Small Producers Agency

Three-quarters of the world’s 1.2 billion poor people live in rural areas. Many are small-scale producers who depend on agriculture and natural resources for their livelihoods. International markets have been seen as a way out of poverty and food insecurity for small-scale producers. These markets comprise traditional food and fibre commodities, but also new markets for quality products, biodiversity conservation and mitigation of climate change.

Increasing volatility and stringent requirements in these markets, as well as international trade agreements, present smallholders and their organizations with multiple opportunities and risks. Higher value has to be weighed against the costs of meeting international standards and certification for quality products and the imbalance of market power when trading with large companies. Imports can push small producers out of their home markets. The roles of producer organizations, governments and big business in making global and regional markets work better for development are all disputed. Each organization has its own set of assumptions and recommendations about the risks and opportunities for small-scale farmers. Should producer organizations and their federations focus on rights-based approaches that recognize farmers’ rights as citizens, or market-based approaches that recognize the entrepreneurial nature of smallholder agriculture? Should government revive its traditional role in the regulation of markets in the face of uncertainties in the global economy? Can international companies change their business models to include small-scale producers in fair and equitable trading relationships? For smallholders and their organizations to position themselves and make effective choices – in other words, to build agency – in the face of this complex agenda requires knowledge and capacity to organize their interests and take effective action. But it also requires a widening and reshaping of the debate. These are the core objectives of the Knowledge Programme “Small Producer Agency in the Globalized Market,” run by Hivos, IIED and a global learning network. The Programme has set out to map, elicit and integrate knowledge on the dilemmas confronting small-scale producers in global, regional and national markets. It aims to work with different actors to bring new voices, concepts and insights into the global debate. It thereby seeks to support the development community, policy makers, producer organizations and businesses in their search for better informed policies and practices.

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