Markets and Private Sector
Development programmes and projects aim to address the many challenges faced by smallholder farmers and producers. These range from having access to good inputs, strengthening the delivery of business and financial services, facilitating access to markets, and providing timely market information to strengthen the negotiating and bargaining power of smallholder producers. Today, increasingly this is possible through a public-private partnership. The various sessions will showcase examples of:
- innovative public-private partnerships discuss innovative approaches to target nomadic communities
- developing a value-based market for smallholder producers
- different value-chain approaches
Microfinance to support Gum Arabic Producers Associations GAPAs (Seed fund) (156)
This session will address efforts to provide microfinance to small-scale gum producers in Sudan. Typically denied credit from the formal financial sector, they are forced to accept exploitive terms from village traders and merchants. After learning about microfinance and credit, the producers form groups and receive loans before starting production. So far 19 per cent of the participants are women. Session attendees will participate in developing a list of priorities and challenges and outlining proposals for action.
Hashim Hamza Elhassan
Revitalizing the Sudan Gum Arabic Production and Marketing Project
IFAD