How can farmers capture more value? The most
common way is by selling their regular fresh produce
directly to consumers. Another way is to sell high-value
products such as organic products. Instead of producing
commodities that are undifferentiated, farmers produce
commodities that are differentiated such as organic fruit,
a unique type of meat or other specialised products for
a limited “niche” market. A niche market can also be
created when produce is produced at a time of the year
when few other farmers can compete.
Another way of adding value is to enter into
production and marketing contracts. Contracts are
increasingly being used between farmers and input
suppliers, farmers and processors and between farmers
and other buyers for the production and supply of fresh
or processed agricultural produce.
Finally, another way to capture value along the
value chain is by integrating with or buying into the value-
adding enterprises along the value chain. There are a
number of ways – individually and collectively – to do this: