Small‐scale
 agriculture
 is
 one
 of
 the
 few
 tools
 available
 to
 support
 improved
rural


livelihoods
on
a
 significant
 scale
in
South
Africa.
Access
 to
output
markets
is
a
key


obstacle
 for
 small
 farmers
 in
 generating
 higher
 incomes.
 Thus,
the
 rise
 of
modern


markets
 (supermarkets
 in
 particular)
 is
 generally
 viewed
 as
 positive
 for
 the
 rural


poor,
 although
 most
 commentators
 accede
 that
 there
 are
 challenges
 to
 be


overcome
 in
 obtaining
 access
 to
 such
 markets.
 A
 literature
 survey
 indicates
 a


mainstream
point
of
view
about
the
reasons
for
modern
market
exclusion,
as
well
as


the
 most
 appropriate
 policy
 responses.
 This
 viewpoint
 is
 characterized
 by
 an


assessment
that
the
“fault”
 for
market
exclusion
lies
largely
with
small
producers
–

their
personal
characteristics,
their
production
methods,
and
their
location
–
rather


than
with
 these
markets
 themselves.
The
corresponding
logic
is
 that
if
these
issues


are
 addressed
 small
 farmers
 will
 almost
 certainly
 be
 included
 in
 modern
 market

supply
chains.