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Enabling rural producers to understand and better satisfy the product, process and delivery standards required by buyers

Published by:
Publication date
26/05/2008
Language:
English
Type of Publication:
Other
Focus Region:
Global
Focus Topic:
Agricultural Value Chains / Agri-Businesses
Type of Risk:
Biological & environmental
Managerial & operational
Commodity:
Crops
Source
http://www.dfid.gov.uk/r4d/PDF/Outputs/CropPostHarvest/4MeetingStandardsWalkerfinal24Feb.pdf
Author
Walker, D.

Standards are required for efficient trade in agricultural commodities and products. In this context the term standards to taken to encompass the term grades. Potential benefits for developing countries conforming to standards include: reduced transaction costs, access to premium markets, increased earnings, more stable market, reduced post-harvest deterioration, improved health and safety of workers and consumers, and greater provision for worker welfare and environmental issues. There is potential for producers to access the growing local and regional food aid market. The potential negative aspects of standards include: the creation of non-tariff trade barriers, costs of conformity are significant and possibly prohibitive, substandard food that cannot be exported being consumed by the poor, the potential for malpractice and the possible marginalisation of small-scale producers.