Video Changing perspectives in Latin America

Small producers in globalised markets

Tags: Latin America , Small Producers Agency
Additional tags: Video , Farmers , Agency

Today, more than ever, after the food crisis of 2007 - 2008, governments and private sector are showing greater interest in agriculture and food supply for a fast growing and more urban world population. Today small scale farmers are facing great challenges. This video is a contribution for the debate by: IIED, Hivos and Mainumby.

Associate to compete?

Give their products value added?

Make part of Supply Chains ?

Diversify products and markets?

Manage information and regulations?

Which public policies might be favorable?

These dilemmas show some of the knowledge gaps that small scale farmers have to fill in order to position themselves in more and more globalized markets and make informed decisions.

Today, more than ever, after the food crisis of 2007 - 2008, governments and private sector are showing greater interest in agriculture and food supply for a fast growing and more urban world population. Today small scale farmers are facing great challenges.

Four stories show us some of the great challenges or questions that small scale farmers face. The goal is to ensure that they and future generations can live from their work with dignity.

Get organized as enterprises to compete?

Become part of supply chains?

What to produce?

For which markets?

The world demand for food also challenges the private sector, that needs to assure its supplies. Could they do it with more just and inclusive business relationships?

And the State, from central or municipal governments, can it still play a regulating and facilitating role for a more favourable environment?

A shift from seeing and treating small scale farmers as a social problem to valuing them as economic actors who play an important role in the development of their localities and countries is, no doubt, the greatest challenge to face for all those involved in the world of agriculture and food.

This is a contribution for the debate by: IIED, Hivos and Mainumby. As a part of the Knowledge Programme: Small Producers Agency in globalized markets, with the support of the Latin American Network