Securing a decent income for farmers – Metrics and strategies for achieving living income in cash crop supply chains

This seminar examines the methodologies used to establish a Living Income Benchmark for smallholder
farmers in cash crop value chains such as cocoa and coffee. It also examines related policy instruments aimed
at narrowing the gap between the actual income smallholder farmers earn and a Living Income. The living
income concept refers to the net annual income required for a farmer household to achieve a decent
standard of living for all members (Living Income Community of Practice (LICoP), 2021). Unlike traditional
monetary poverty measures, which primarily focus on basic subsistence, the living income approach
recognizes that the cost of a decent standard of living sets a threshold that often exceeds conventional
poverty lines.

This webinar, divided in two days, will provide 1) an overview the most well-documented methodologies that
are used to calculate the cost of attaining a Living Income and the gap between this benchmark and the actual
income of smallholder farming households in major cash crops agrifood value chains in developing countries,
and 2) an overview of the most common strategies employed to reduce this gap such as minimum or reference price setting.

day 1 SPEAKER:

Katia Covarrubias: Economist, Agrifood Economics and Policy Division FAO

Discussants:

Martha and Richard Anker Anker Research Institute
Beyene Teklu: Hawassa University
Victor Prada FAO: World Banana Forum

DAY 2 SPEAKER:

Carla Velhuyzen: Sr. Advisor Sustainable livelihoods, Fairtrade International

DISCUSSANTS:

Davide DelPrete: Economist, Agrifood Economics and Policy Division FAO (15 min)
Christina Archer: Livelihoods Strategic Advisor, Living Income Community of Practice 

Webcast