Liberalised Markets And Rural Households

Abstract

The primary objectives of the research are to gain a better understanding and a more detailed picture of how liberalised markets are functioning in smallholder farming areas and how this affects rural households as producers and consumers. In addition, the characteristics of private traders and nature of investment of traders in marketing services in rural areas are being investigated. Although the reform of maize marketing is probably the most important of all adjustment policies for smallholder producers and consumers, the study also covers markets for smallholder cash crops such as cotton and oil seeds and other food crops such small grains. In addition, the markets for livestock, labour, agricultural inputs and horticultural crops are also being monitored.