Agricultural markets and small-scale producers: access and risk management tools. Information note

This information note provides a review of some tools that contribute to improving smallholder access to agricultural markets: market information system, inventory credit, agricultural commodity exchanges and contract farming. In addition, two risk management tools that have recently emerged are briefly examined: index-based insurance and smoothing funds. Examples of measures are set out in the annexes. The paper concludes with a series of general recommendations.

EuropeAid – May 2012