Recent years have seen an increased interest in Market Information Services (MIS). Efficient market information can be shown to have positive benefits for farmers, traders and policymakers. Up-to-date market information enables farmers to negotiate with traders and also facilitates spatial distribution of products from rural areas to towns and between markets. Well-analysed historical market information permits decisions by farmers on new crops to grow and by traders on the viability of inter-seasonal storage. It also improves planning and policy decisions.

This AGS Bulletin reviews the main features which need to be considered if a commercially useful and sustainable MIS is to be established. The Bulletin will be a valuable starting point for countries wishing to establish such services or to improve existing ones. Donor organizations and consultancy firms working in this area should also find it useful. A brief introductory chapter offers a definition of an MIS. Chapter 2 then reviews in some depth the theoretical benefits of such services. This is followed by an evaluation of experiences with MIS around the world. Chapter 4 draws conclusions from those experiences and identifies points that must be reviewed in depth prior to the establishment of a new service. These include the need to research the way the marketing system functions and identification of appropriate institutional arrangements for operation of the service,as well as collection, analysis and dissemination of the data and the choice of products and markets to be covered.

"Market Information Services - Theory and Practice" by Andrew W. Shepherd (AGS Bulletin No. 125; US$7.00) can be downloaded in pdf format (see below) or ordered from FAO's Publications Section.

Market Information Service - Theory and Practice

Table of Contents and Preface
Chapter 1 - Introduction
Chapter 2 - The Theory
Chapter 3 - Experiences with Market Information Services
Chapter 4 - Setting Up a Market Information Service
Chapter 5 - Concluding Remarks
Bibliography