AGRIBUSINESS AND ENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT
Regular Programme
Within the overall framework and approach to address the issues of sustainable and economically efficient farming systems, regular programme Agricultural Support Systems aims to promote market-oriented farm production and support farmers in increasing their productivity, efficiency and farm/household incomes. This programme also supports FAO objectives related to the transition to efficient market-oriented agriculture and support for the diversification and sustainable intensification of production systems.
Assistance in transition of member countries to efficient market-oriented agriculture, and increased farm and non-farm sector opportunities, particularly for resource-poor farmers, are among others, determined as strategic objectives of Agricultural Support Systems Division (AGS). Strategies to achieve those objectives include development of farm, agro-industry and market information systems to improve decision-making and resource-use efficiency, support the transition to market-oriented and efficiently-integrated agriculture, as well as improved environmental impact and economic viability of new technologies and farming systems.
Responding to Subregional needs and AGS strategic approach to address the issues of sustainable and economically efficient farming systems, key priorities in the area of farming systems development for CEE, planned to be pursued within the regular programme during the 2002-03 biennium are:
- Enhancing small farmer livelihoods through appraisal and promotion of opportunities for increasing farm incomes needed for small farm commercialisation, and provision of advice for supportive policies for improved rural livelihoods and reduced poverty.
- Sustainable provision of support services aiming to create an enabling environment for public-private partnership and improved access to marketing, rural finance, advisory and support services.
- Capacity building to support the development of country-based farm economics, agricultural marketing and rural finance information systems, including promotion of field guides, software and training materials for farm data collection and analysis.
Objectives of those programme components are to improve the support provided by public sector and civil society organisations to small farmers, including adjustments in their livelihood strategies, improved farm business management and income generation in the context of agricultural commercialisation and globalisation, overall enhancement of capacity in countries for data collection, information access, and decision making in agriculture.
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