Agricultural Value Chain Development in Practice: Private Sector-Led Smallholder Development

36 Pages Posted: 3 Nov 2015

See all articles by Shashidhara Kolavalli

Shashidhara Kolavalli

International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI)

Akwasi Mensah-Bonsu

University of Ghana - Department of Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness

Saima Zaman

International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI)

Date Written: September 10, 2015

Abstract

Value chain development is adopted widely as a private sector-led approach to agricultural development that can benefit smallholders. The objective of this research is to understand how development organizations are conceptualizing and developing agricultural value chains in Ghana to include smallholders. The study is based on case studies of five programs supported by various donors. A typology is employed to categorize the intervention. Common to all the programs are interventions to encourage the development of interlinked vertical contracts between smallholders and buyers and investments to improve the operations of actors downstream. The study explores issues related to expectations, scaling up of activities to reach a significant portion of the population, technology transfer, and participatory development of value chain strategies and identifies some indicators to examine the outcomes of value chain interventions.

Keywords: Ghana; West Africa; Africa South of Sahara; Africa; smallholders; agricultural development; private sector; value chains; vertical contracts; inclusion

Suggested Citation

Kolavalli, Shashidhara and Mensah-Bonsu, Akwasi and Zaman, Saima, Agricultural Value Chain Development in Practice: Private Sector-Led Smallholder Development (September 10, 2015). IFPRI Discussion Paper 1460, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2685303

Shashidhara Kolavalli (Contact Author)

International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) ( email )

1201 Eye St, NW,
Washington, DC 20005
United States

Akwasi Mensah-Bonsu

University of Ghana - Department of Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness ( email )

Accra
India

Saima Zaman

International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) ( email )

2033 K Street, NW
Washington, DC 20006
United States

HOME PAGE: http://www.ifpri.org

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