Challenges and strategies for improving the agricultural marketing environment in developing countries: Evidence from Ghana

Abstract

Millions of smallholder farmers in developing countries face incredible challenges marketing their farm produce. This article isolates lack of market information, collusion among middlemen, and thus price determination, and lack of transportation facilities as the main challenges facing smallholders in many developing regions. The findings also show the emergence of spontaneous farmer marketing associations involved in price setting and determination. This offers a valuable opportunity for stakeholder support in strengthening these informal institutions and in integrating them into formal agricultural marketing and contracting.