Expert Consultation on Agricultural Innovations: Linking Farmers to Market,

The issue of linking farmers to markets (LFM) is currently a major agenda for both developed and developing countries. Despite advances in technology and increases in trade flows, many are still poor in the developed countries. Many farmers worldwide are facing difficulty coping with the rapidly changing market environment. The challenge is how to reduce the cost of doing business so that farmers and producers mutually benefit from the process. Farmers need to be empowered and integrated in the value-chain. Government should institute policy reforms conducive to innovations,enterprise development and investment.

The Asia-Pacific region is extremely diverse. Asia is the home for 60 per cent of the world population. It is projected that by 2025, Asia’s population will increase by over 35 per cent, thus reaching 4.7 billion. Paradoxically, most of this population is concentrated in the rural areas facing problems of poverty, food insecurity and malnutrition.