Forum

An agricultural value chain is all the steps involved in bringing food from the farm to the plate: from growing and rearing food, to storing and processing it, to transporting and selling it.

Agricultural value chains are complex, involving producers, agro-dealers, suppliers, food processors, transporters, traders, retailers, exporters and others.

Many smallholder farmers only produce enough food for their own consumption. Some may sell a small surplus in local markets. This makes it hard for them to thrive, with limited income to improve the quality of life or to grow their businesses. Moreover, they could struggle to recover from a single bad harvest.

Launched in 2005, the Farmers’ Forum is a bottom-up dialogue between IFAD, our Member States and farmers’ organizations representing rural producers. Farmers’ leaders from around the world represent the millions of smallholders and rural producers who interact with IFAD and partner institutions.  

The Forum strengthens IFAD’s partnerships and collaboration with farmers’ organizations, while building their capacity and engaging in policy dialogue.  It is crucial for accountable rural development.  

Global meetings are held every four years, while regional consultations are held in between to decentralize the process. 

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Small-scale farmers produce about a third of the world’s food. Food production is critical for their own food security and nutrition, in addition to supplying their communities and nations. Yet many rural people lack access to the markets, services and financing they need to sustainably grow their businesses. Millions of young rural people enter the job market each year only to find few opportunities, 

As official development aid for agriculture stagnates these gaps can only be closed with the support of the private sector.  

While private investors increasingly recognize the urgent need, many still lack the expertise and capacity to engage effectively with small-scale farmers and rural businesses. Investors are often discouraged by the perceived high risk, small investment sizes and high transaction costs.