Interest in NGOs’ contribution to agricultural development has grown significantly during the past few years. This is because of the many ways this group can help make agriculture sustainable. It can also help farmers get the best out of their crops, which can be an excellent way to encourage farmers to invest in the industry.
Government
Agriculture policies are used by nations to boost agricultural output, lower food costs, ensure food supply, enhance social welfare, and redistribute revenue. Government participation in agricultural growth is crucial. Food and other agricultural products are produced and distributed by government organizations.
Government policies also determine the size of farming operations, transportation infrastructure, and extension contact with farmers.
Governments’ policy instruments include Agricultural Credit, Integrated Pest Management, and crop insurance. These policies help farmers achieve self-sufficiency while ensuring food security. These policies also reduce food prices and provide cheap food to consumers.
Agricultural production has been a critical driver of well-being for centuries. The development of agriculture-based industries can increase the incomes of smallholder farmers. However, many smallholder farmers remain trapped in poverty. Agricultural policies also contribute to environmental sustainability.
Governments need to promote the production of agricultural commodities for both local consumption and export. They must also promote health-promoting foods, as non-communicable diseases are expensive for governments.
Policies have been used to improve agricultural productivity, but researchers have found that their impact is not uniform. Studies have suggested that a coherent approach to agricultural product production requires strategic engagement across ministries.
The study finds that government supports for agriculture vary depending on the country’s rural population share, real GDP per capita, and arable land share. It also finds that compared to Asia, Africa spends less on agriculture. Government policies have also been used to provide cheap food to consumers, secure food supplies, and improve social welfare.
Agricultural policy interventions are complicated by decades of government withdrawal from market activities. In many developing countries, subsidies are used to limit fair competition. These subsidies also influence the welfare of consumers in importing countries.
In countries like Poland, the government increased its support for agricultural production after integrating with the EU. This has increased agricultural income. The Government of Ethiopia has also committed to investing in irrigation schemes to boost agricultural production.
ICT applications can reduce post-harvest loss, decrease rural-to-urban migration, and minimize income gaps between rural and urban areas. It can also contribute to environmental protection, reduce the risk of distress sale of agricultural produce, and improve the nutritional standards of rural people.
Irrigation
Agricultural development is a process that involves a range of interactions between farmers and markets. It is not limited to the agricultural sector but reflects changes embedded in the social and economic context of the area.
In many cases, irrigation development responds to changes in agriculture and the socioeconomic environment. These changes have resulted in substantial investments from farmers and governments.
There are many reasons for the limited success of large-scale irrigation development. Among them is the lack of adequate water management and unsustainable groundwater use. The unsustainable use of groundwater can damage the environment, economy, and future generations. It can also provide short-term food production gains.
In sub-Saharan Africa, sustainable irrigation development could generate US$ 14-22 billion annually. This would bring benefits to 113-369 million rural people. However, water resource management must be adequately understood to achieve sustainable irrigation development.
In addition, this development requires substantial investments from farmers, governments, and international development partners.
Farmer-led irrigation development involves the adaptation of water management technologies to local conditions. This involves various actors, including farmers, governmental agencies, non-governmental organizations, agents from the private sector, and traders.
The success of such interventions depends on several factors, including the enabling environment, the maturity of the supplier market, and the risk preferences of the farmer.
There are issues of legitimacy and sustainability regarding farmer-led irrigation development. This is because many farmer-led interventions are built on the investments of other actors, such as government and development partners.
These investments are often motivated by changes in agriculture, the socioeconomic environment, and development policy. However, the issues of legitimacy, sustainability, and legality may impact whether such initiatives are sustainable.
It has been noted that small-scale horticultural producers in Africa have developed important irrigated areas. This occurs as a result of urban centers having an increasing demand for fresh fruit. However, small-scale horticultural producers produce most of these fruits in the informal sector.
Small-scale horticultural producers also often use wastewater for irrigation. This can be diluted, a process that can pose serious health risks.
Marketing Infrastructure
Agricultural marketing is moving products from a place of production to a place of consumption. It involves all aspects of the market structure, from pre- and post-harvest operations to marketing functions, quality certification, research, government policy, and price spread.
An efficient agricultural marketing system is essential to developing the agricultural sector. It reduces losses from inefficient storage and transportation and increases marketable surplus. It also increases productivity, promotes modern inputs, and enhances farmers’ income.
It helps farmers to make informed decisions about producing and selling their products. It reduces the number of middlemen in the industry and ensures better prices for farm products.
Agricultural marketing is the critical multiplier in the agricultural development process. It is also one of the essential components of an economic development plan. It enhances farmers’ income and increases the productivity of a nation’s gross national product.
It improves food security by transferring food from surplus areas to deficit areas. It improves the livelihoods of millions of people. It is a significant driver in the structural transformation of the economy. It is essential to consider its benefits and drawbacks and to make an appropriate law to support it.
The marketing system provides jobs to millions of people, including those engaged in agriculture and other industries. It also helps to increase a nation’s net national product. It increases the economy’s efficiency, helps to reduce poverty, and improves the quality of life.
An efficient marketing system has the following attributes:
- The ability to distribute modern inputs effectively.
- The ability to increase the productivity of farms.
- The ability to increase the income of farmers.
- The ability to reduce malpractices in the marketing of farm products.
- The ability to expand the market for farm products.
It also reduces the number of middlemen, increases the marketable surplus, and provides better prices for farm products.
The marketing system is essential for the success of any development program. It is the heart of the development process and is essential to the overall development process of the economy.
Co-operative farming
Agricultural cooperatives are organizations that deal with agricultural production. They provide small and medium-sized farms inputs, advocacy, services, and economic support. They can be formal or informal.
Agricultural cooperatives provide members with access to markets and credit. They also offer training, information, and technical assistance. Agricultural cooperatives can also improve the quality of goods produced and reduce input costs. They also provide members with job openings.
Agricultural cooperatives are also a way to increase farmer income. Farmers can also sell their products without middlemen fees. They can sell goods to larger markets and increase their profits. They also help struggling farmers become more competitive.
The agricultural cooperative model is the most widely practiced in farming. Studies on agriculture cooperatives have focused on various aspects, including social advancement, economic development, and farm income. They also document the positive impacts of cooperative membership on farm income, market participation, and technology adoption.
Small farms form 85% of farms in the world. They face many challenges, including high input costs, supply problems, and market imperfections. They also do not have access to commercial banks because of high-interest rates and a lack of collateral. In many countries, banks will refuse credit if the farmer does not have collateral.
Agricultural cooperatives are a unique type of organization. They can be formal or informal, have limited members, and are designed for self-support. Their benefits include increased efficiency, higher profits, and lower input costs.
Agricultural cooperatives are beneficial in overcoming market imperfections, improving the quality of goods, and improving farmers’ income. They also improve the social security of residents. However, they have not been well-documented in studies on their environmental impact. Those studies that do exist report only a limited positive impact.
In the Netherlands, cooperatives sold 60 percent of all produce in 2012. Cooperatives processed 84 percent of all milk in 2001, 63 percent of all sugar beets, and 95 percent of all flowers. In addition, cooperatives supplied 54 percent of all compound feed.
Agricultural cooperatives are a vital tool for economic development. They can help a farmer achieve better financial outcomes and are a vital tool for reducing poverty.
