Virtual Conference on Linking Farmers to Markets: Barriers, Solutions, and Policy Options

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  Agenda Click to view

  Biographies of the Speakers Click to view

Time of Event

Day 1: 11:00-17:15 Tokyo time
Day 2: 11:10-17:15 Tokyo time
Day 3: 11:00-13:50 Tokyo time

Summary

Better access to domestic and international markets allows rural farmers to sell their products at higher prices, motivating them to increase the quantity, quality, and diversity of the goods they produce and sell more. Reliable market access is also beneficial to regional income growth, food security, and poverty and hunger alleviation. Despite these significant benefits, smallholder farmers’ market access has been constrained by a wide range of factors, such as remote locations, information asymmetry, high transaction costs, and the lack of business skills. These issues are more common in developing and emerging countries.

This ADBI virtual international conference will feature new research that discusses the linkages between farmers and markets in Asian countries. It will also highlight policy approaches for improving smallholder farmers’ market access and promoting sustainable agricultural, rural, and social development.

Objectives

• Examine farmers’ market access barriers and drivers
• Discuss the impacts of farmers’ market access on farm economic performance, marketing performance, well-being, women’s empowerment, and sustainable food system transition
• Spotlight policy solutions and practices that improve smallholder farmers’ market access and promote sustainable agricultural, rural, and social development

Target Participants

• Policy makers, researchers, practitioners, and students

Output

• A greater understanding of the linkages between smallholder farmers’ access to national and international markets and sustainable agricultural, rural, and social development
• Identification of related measures and policy instruments for improving farmers’ market access
• Research presented at the conference will be considered for publication in the Economic Analysis and Policy journal special issue

Partners

• Lincoln University, New Zealand
• Zhejiang University, People’s Republic of China