Connecting Smallholders to Markets 2015 - CFS

High-Level Forum on Connecting Smallholders to Markets 25 June 2015 - 9.30-17.00 – Red Room, FAO

The Forum, held at FAO Headquarters, Rome, Italy on 25 June 2015, brought together a wide range of stakeholders to discuss policy implications, challenges and lessons learned from concrete examples of how farmers have found opportunities to engage in beneficial and sustainable linkages to markets.

It was emphasized that smallholders are essential for achieving food security and nutrition but also that their contribution goes far beyond, to include rural poverty reduction, and the conservation of natural, social and cultural capital. It is important that they are considered as key actors for their contribution to food security and nutrition when dealing with access to markets.

The lessons that were presented, the key messages that were shared and the comments that were submitted are synthesized: Collective action, smallholder organizations and cooperatives are a crucial link that facilitates access of smallholders to markets. Financial and non-financial services and linkages in value chains are particularly important for smallholders. Partnerships with the private sector can have positive impacts on smallholder families and communities, when they aim to give a “hand-up” instead of a “handout” through community-led initiatives towards self-sustainability. These partnerships must keep smallholder livelihoods at the centre of their strategies. The role of governments, and public governance, by investing in physical infrastructure, research and transfer of knowledge and technology directly applicable by farmers, and developing policy frameworks, has been stressed as a critical issue.

i. There is a data gap regarding informal local food markets and how they function. It is crucial to provide greater visibility as well as to promote a better understanding of informal local markets to efficiently support improved smallholder livelihoods and food security.

ii. Investments (from public sector, other private business partners, or smallholders themselves) must be further channelled towards smallholders’ needs, including small scale fishermen.

iii. Access to financial and insurance services for smallholders and other actors should be improved.

iv. There is still a need for more transfer of innovative technologies from research to smallholders.

v. Smallholder farming must stay attractive for young generations, women and men. Collective action and leadership is needed to increase effectiveness and address changing contexts and challenges.

vi. Strengthening rural non-farm employment and income generating opportunities are crucial factors in order to face declining farm sizes stemming from demographic pressures and complement diversification and risk management practices.

summary of the proceedings; conference website