This theme examines the question of how to raise productivity in the agricultural sector, and how smallholder farmers can participate in markets and improve livelihoods. Recognising that the liberalisation orthodoxy focusing on markets has not worked (or at least only partially), we focus on institutional questions, particularly in conditions where markets are weak, thin and interlocking. 
High and unstable food prices have been high on international agendas in recent years, amid concerns about population, demand and environmental constraints.
A new paper by Andrew Dorward argues that much greater attention needs to be paid to understanding and monitoring the links between food prices, poverty, and agricultural labour – in the context of increasing global constraints on high external inputs to agriculture.
FAC Commercialisation theme convenor Steve Wiggins is quoted in an IRIN article considering the outlook for global food security in 2013.
After the 2012 drought affecting the USA, maize prices fell slightly, but from a relatively high position. Cereal prices have declined by a modest 2.4 percent, largely the result of lower demand as economies stagnate, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) reported in early January 2013. But we are already in an era of high prices.
A new FAC Working Paper, Food price volatility and financial speculation (pdf), looks at the link between different forms of speculation on financial markets, and unstable or inaccurate food prices.
In a post on the FAC blog, the paper's author, Stephen Spratt, suggests that despite the existence of financial mechanisms to stabilise prices, speculation should still be a cause for concern.
Blog: Why we should worry about speculation in food markets by Stephen Spratt, 23 January 2013
Over 30 agricultural development practitioners from four eastern African countries participated in a ‘Smallholder Café’ in Nairobi on 11 July 2012.
The event was the second of three regional workshops, organised by Future Agricultures Consortium, and co-hosted by the Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources Policy Analysis Network (FANRPAN), the Overseas Development Institute (ODI), and Agriculture for Impact (A4I) at Imperial College London.
Page 1 of 4
Village studies are being carried out in Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi and Tanzania.
In each case, areas were selected where some small farmers have commercialised more than others. Households have been surveyed, while interviews with key informants and group discussions have been held to supply complementary qualitative insights.
Overall, the literature has been reviewed and the first round of results from the village studies has been synthesised.
We aim to understand more of what is happening and with what outcomes, so as to engage with policy debates.
Three sets of questions are addressed:
Change and processesOutcomes
Policy lessons and implications
Market Coordination
Supermarkets and Standards
Commercialisations
