How the Private Sector is Working to Include Smallholder Farmers
Working Paper
A new working paper by experts from KIT Institute sheds light on the complex dynamics of smallholder inclusion in global agrifood value chains. Titled Understanding Smallholder Inclusion Efforts of the Private Sector – A Grounded Analytical Framework, the paper explores how lead firms are engaging smallholders through various inclusion programs—and why a deeper, more nuanced understanding of these efforts is urgently needed.
Despite two decades of research and policy work on inclusive value chains, the authors argue that current models and analyses often fall short of capturing the full complexity of smallholder realities. To address this gap, the paper draws on four KIT project cases, blending microeconomic analysis with a broader examination of smallholder perspectives, contextual factors, and farmer agency.
The publication presents a grounded analytical framework for evaluating private sector inclusion strategies and concludes with four guiding questions to inform KIT Institute’s ongoing learning agenda on inclusive agrifood systems.
A list of publications
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Understanding Smallholder Inclusion Efforts of the Private Sector
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Working Paper
Large (buying) companies in global value chains are increasingly seeking to integrate smallholder farmers into their supply chains. Accordingly, they have developed programs to promote smallholder inclusion through productivity growth, market access, quality improvement, and other initiatives. The complexity of these initiatives highlights the need for a deeper understanding of smallholder inclusion models, applying both […]
- Year of publication
- March 2025
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