ISHS Acta Horticulturae 1103: XXIX International Horticultural Congress on Horticulture: Sustaining Lives, Livelihoods and Landscapes (IHC2014): XVII International Symposium on Horticultural Economics and Management and V International Symposium on Improving the Performance of Supply Chains in the Transitional Economies
Linking smallholder vegetable producers to high value markets: challenges, experiences and lessons from marketing clusters in the Southern Philippines |
| Authors: | R.H. Bacus, R.R. Real, S.B. Concepcion, M.O. Montiflor, R.T. Aguinaldo |
| Keywords: | high value vegetable market, supply chain management, marketing clusters, market access, partnerships |
| DOI: | 10.17660/ActaHortic.2015.1103.8 |
| Abstract:
Institutional markets in the Philippines are becoming more sophisticated and the demand for high value vegetables is steadily rising. Smallholder producers, who dominate vegetable production in the Philippines, have an opportunity through the formation of marketing clusters to access these markets. This paper looks into the challenges, experiences and lessons of smallholder vegetable farmers who have collaborated to supply high value markets. Data from farmer surveys, case studies, project documents and narratives are used. Results indicate that supplying high value markets leads to greater market access, more open communication and feedback, premium prices and higher income. However, accessing these markets requires farmers to improve product quantity and quality, to have competent marketing and business officers, improved logistics and better farm-to-market roads. Linking the marketing clusters to high value markets requires production protocols to be upgraded and long-term relationships established with buyers and various stakeholders. | |
Download Adobe Acrobat Reader (free software to read PDF files) | |
