Contract farming for inclusive market access

"Contract farming is one such mechanism that has been widely discussed in world literature over the last few decades. It involves several aspects worthy of consideration: economic, institutional, social, legal, etc. The potential benefits of contracting for helping small farmers will depend, inter alia, on the product category and the requirements of the end market. Differences in potential benefits will also depend on country and local circumstances, including such factors as sector policy and availability of services. Against this backdrop, FAO's book on contract farming for inclusive market access is a welcome addition to the body of knowledge on farmer to market linkages and on the roles of contracts in this regard. The book presents a range of cases covering different commodities and country contexts, competitively commissioned from researchers and development professionals worldwide, all of which illustrate the multifaceted nature of contracting as an agrifood chain coordination mechanism to promote inclusiveness and efficiency in supply chains. It also contributes to the treatment of conceptual issues in this general discussion and to the achievement of FAO's Strategic Objective Four: Enable inclusive and efficient agricultural and food systems."--Foreword.