Making Rural Markets work for the Poor:
A European Community funded project on Improving Market Access for Drylands Communities
Markets are important for agricultural growth and sustainable development. The lack of markets not only affects farmers and livestock herders locally in rural areas, but is a drain on the potential of entire countries. If countries do not produce products that are in high demand, the only way of meeting demand will be through increased imports. Creating local and national market demands allows specialization and diversification into new agricultural products that make profits for rural households and decrease poverty and hunger. Farmers all over the world are sensitive to market signals, and where there are sufficient incentives, they will invest effort and capital into improving land management and will shift to higher value crops. In absence of markets there is little incentive for investment, and farmers grow only a limited range of low value food crops. Pastoralists who do not have access to the markets where high quality meat is demanded will tend to keep large herds of poor quality animals rather than specialize in smaller numbers of well-managed and fattened livestock.
The European Union and other donors are funding this UNDP initiative on improving market access for drylands commodities.
Location - Project Sites
Implementation of the Market Access Project is underway in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. Field level activities including identification of project beneficiaries, familiarization visits and introduction of the project to the communities and other stakeholders; sensitization meetings and inception workshops with project beneficiaries and partners; and baseline studies have taken place.
Target communities have been identified in the following areas in Turkana, Kenya; Namoruputh; Letea, Kapus, Nachuro; Kakuma and Oropoi; Karamoja, Uganda - Moroto District; Kajiado, Kenya - Namanga, Maili Tisa, Namanga –Ormanie and Karero, Nkiito/Mailwa; Munduli; Tanzania – Monduli District community environment committees.
Sample of products identified by communities in Moroto District (Uganda) include:
1) Limestone/marble
2) Tamarind
3) Honey
4) Aloe
5) Handicrafts
6) Livestock and livestock products
7) Vegetables
Bottlenecks to production and marketing highlighted by communities in Turkana and Moroto Districts include:
1) Lack of markets
2) Poor transport means (vehicles, draft animals such as donkeys)
3) Poor infrastructure (roads, communication – no telephones, no ICT)
4) Insecurity
5) Lack of appropriate technology for production; and lack of tools and equipment (gold mining, and farming)
6) Lack of water for gold panning
7) Fluctuating prices of products in the market
8) Lack of pasture (livestock)
9) Lack of information on external markets
10) Lack of exposure to markets; business and clients
11) Lack of financial assurance and credit facilities
Primary recommendation to overcome marketing hindrances
a. Identification of markets for available products
b. Provision of business loans and credit facilities
c. Business skills development and management training (capacity building)
d. Market learning skills (exchange visits)
e. Address policy issues that adversely affect the availability of credit (e.g. collateral)
For more information, please contact our Market Access Project Manager .
Improving Market Access for Dryland Products and Services of the MENA Region:
A regional initiative supported by the DDC-AS programme
The DDC-AS programme is launching a regional initiative to promote the marketing of products and services from the Drylands of the MENA and particularly from Lebanon, Morocco and Tunisia. A concept note has been developed to this end adopting an innovative approach building on the needs, requirements and potential offered by each country. The initiative will support promising interventions, which ultimately aim at enhancing the livelihoods of dryland people through:
a) Improving the access of dryland communities to information and market linkages;
b) Promoting the marketing of high value commodities derived from the Drylands;
c) Enhancing the access of dryland commodities to local, sub-regional and international markets;
d) Promoting livelihood diversification including the promotion of eco-tourism;
e) Using indications of origin and quality as tools to promote the distinctions of dryland products within the economy and to add value to traditional products;
f) Using innovative methods of trade (such as Fairtrade) to support the livelihoods of dryland people;
g) Disseminating lessons learned and good practices for market access in the region and strengthening regional cooperation.
To date and within the framework of this initiative, the programme participated in a workshop entitled “Geographical Indications for Agriculture and Food Exports from the Middle East and North Africa”. The workshop was organized by the World Bank in collaboration with the French Government and the European Commission. Participants included delegates from Jordan, Morocco, Lebanon, Tunisia and Iran - as well as from France, Spain and Italy. The purpose of the workshop was to identify the process for developing GI labels for agricultural products, rewarding specific quality and traditional know-how that are acknowledged by the market, thus resulting in higher producer prices. As a follow-up to the workshop, the programme supported Lebanon in writing a proposal to the World Bank IDF (International Development Fund) and a request for technical assistance to the French Ministry of Agriculture (MAAPAR).
Other Documents...
