Feeding the Market

* Provides Southern perspective on the globalization and farming debate * Interviews with small farmers, government agencies, NGOs, and corporations Globalization grants small farmers in South America new opportunities for agricultural exports, but it also makes them vulnerable to global market fluctuations. Feeding the Market gives a voice to the rural poor who are striving to benefit from rapid market integration. Presenting vivid vignettes from the vast grasslands of Patagonia to the coffee farms of Ecuador, the authors highlight the practical obstacles that farmers encounter in trying to meet rising market demands. Hellin and Higman elucidate the changes in policies and markets that are needed, and the interventions through which development professionals can have a genuine impact.

Jon Hellin has a PhD in Geography from Oxford Brookes University where he is also an Honorary Research Associate. He has worked in Latin America, the Caribbean and East Africa and currently leads ITDG's international programme on markets and livelihoods Sophie Higman works for ProForest Ltd and specializes in sustainable forest management and certification. She has worked as a forester in Honduras and Guyana and travelled extensively throughout Latin America

Foreword

ix

Jon Snow

Preface

xi

Acknowledgements

xiii

Acronyms

xv

Map of South America

xviii

Introduction

1

(9)

Ubiquitous markets

1

(1)

A global picture

2

(2)

Smallholders, agriculture and development

4

(1)

The human face of globalization

5

(5)

Green gold: Ecuador's banana producers

10

(26)

Introduction

10

(1)

Green gold

11

(2)

The banana sector in Ecuador

13

(4)

Contract farming: partnership or exploitation?

17

(4)

Organic and fair trade: a better deal for producers

21

(10)

The transatlantic banana dispute

31

(3)

Aiming for diversity

34

(2)

Niche markets: a solution to the coffee crisis?

36

(28)

Introduction

36

(1)

Low and fluctuating prices

37

(6)

Quality and niche markets

43

(12)

Obstacles to accessing niche markets

55

(4)

What does the future hold?

59

(5)

Potatoes and Andean tubers: losing diversity?

64

(25)

Introduction

64

(1)

Why is potato diversity important?

65

(4)

Impact of the market

69

(10)

Conservation through use

79

(8)

The way forward

87

(2)

Quinoa and food security

89

(26)

Introduction

89

(1)

Diverse, robust and nutritious

90

(1)

Quinoa's contribution to food security

91

(5)

Focusing on the domestic market

96

(2)

An Andean grain goes global

98

(6)

The export market: increased income, increased risk?

104

(4)

Ways forward for an ancient grain

108

(5)

Food security revisited

113

(2)

Coca eradication and alternative development

115

(25)

Introduction

115

(1)

A long history

116

(3)

Alternative development and farmers' livelihoods

119

(7)

Making alternative development more effective

126

(6)

The Yungas: coca and coffee

132

(3)

Uncomfortable truths

135

(5)

Wine and Pisco: success or sour grapes?

140

(16)

Introduction

140

(1)

Some history

141

(1)

Improving quality

142

(3)

The nation's favourite drink

145

(4)

Can smallholder farmers make the change?

149

(2)

The story elsewhere

151

(3)

Success for small farmers?

154

(2)

Sheep in Patagonia: blown by the winds of change

156

(15)

Introduction

156

(1)

The flock from the Falklands

157

(1)

Boom and bust

158

(3)

Crisis in the sheep industry

161

(2)

Which way forward?

163

(6)

No easy answers

169

(2)

Forestry and livelihoods: making trees pay

171

(24)

Introduction

171

(1)

Sustainable forestry: have your cake and eat it

172

(6)

Eco-tourism: bringing the money to the forest

178

(6)

Non-timber forest products and services: looking beyond the trees

184

(4)

Agroforestry: bringing the trees to the farmers

188

(4)

Weighing up the evidence

192

(3)

Conclusions: the need for trade and aid

195

(23)

Welcome to the globalized world

195

(1)

Barriers to market participation

196

(8)

Practical assistance

204

(7)

The policy context

211

(5)

Making markets work better for farmers

216

(2)

Notes

218

(10)

Select Bibliography and Reading List

228

(4)

Index

232

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