Nelly Bassily | April 19, 2010
Outgrower agreements, such as those discussed in our story from East Africa, can offer opportunities for farmers to boost their income. An effective arrangement can provide farmers with a reliable market for their products. Farmers may also benefit from supports such as training on how to improve crop yields and quality, as well as access to inputs and/or credit. However, before committing land to a crop desired by a particular company, farmers must ensure that they can trust the company to uphold its part of the bargain.
The following questions may help you develop a news story, either about an existing outgrower arrangement in your area, or one that is being proposed:
-What do you know about the company proposing the outgrower agreement? Is it a new or an established company? Is it locally-based or international?
-Does the company have a track record of working with local farmers in other areas?
-How will farmers be paid for their products? Is the purchase price established in advance or guaranteed? Will the company buy all of the crops produced, or only a certain amount?
-What additional support has the company offered to provide ? for example, training, inputs, access to credit, etc?
-Are there contracts in place to guarantee that the company will fulfill its promises?
-What other steps will farmers take to ensure food and income security for their family? For example, will they continue to devote a portion of their field to family food crops? Will they grow cash crops for other buyers?
Of course, not all farmers have the chance to participate in outgrower agreements. But all farmers try to get a good price for their products. You may wish to host a call-in/text-in show that allows farmers to discuss the local market situation – the challenges they face and methods they have used to obtain better prices. Here are some questions to ask:
-How do farmers in your area typically sell their products? Do they feel that this system allows them to earn a fair price?
-How do farmers get information about current market prices?
-Do farmers in your area store their crops until the market price is favourable? How do they prevent damage to their stored products?
-Do farmers organize selling co-operatives to strengthen their bargaining power?
If there are farmers’ groups in your area, you may wish to prepare a news story or arrange an on-air interview which profiles the group and their marketing efforts:
-Who are the members of this group? Are they grouped by area, the type of crop they produce, etc?
-When did they come together? What were individual farmers’ experiences with selling their crop prior to forming the group?
-Ask the members to describe in detail the process they use to find markets for their crops, gather them together, and sell them. Did they try other methods before determining that one method worked best?
-How much extra income do farmers earn as a result of group marketing? What are the other benefits of working as a group (saving time, learning from each other, etc.)?
Finally, you may wish to revisit Farm Radio International’s script series on marketing agricultural products, To Market, To Market, which was published as part of Package 66 in March 2003:
–Episode 1: Trusting the trader: the importance of reliable information
–Episode 2: A glut in the market – how supply and demand affect prices
–Episode 3: Where to sell: making the best choice
–Episode 4: Marketing: calculating your costs
–Episode 5: Farmers’ helpers: radio and extension help farmers plan