Rural Business Development Services

- Key readings
- Case studies
- Resource guide
- Queries

Key readings

• New: Agricultural innovation systems : an investment sourcebook | The World Bank | 2011
  The Agricultural Innovation Systems Sourcebook describes how the need for rural business development services is embedded in a wider context of capacity in R&D, collective action and coordination, exchange of knowledge among diverse actors, and incentives and resources available to form partnerships and develop business.
  The World Bank | Agriculture and Rural Development | 658 pp.
• Agricultural service systems : a framework for orientation | Albert, H. | 2000
  This conceptual framework for agricultural services takes a systems perspective and looks at the types of services, the actors involved, functional relationships between them, and the level, scope, and frame conditions of the service system.
  GTZ | Services for Rural Development | 28 pp.
• Common Framework on Market-Oriented Agricultural Advisory Services | Chipeta, S., Christoplos, I., & Katz, E. | 2008
  Pro-poor MOAAS (market-oriented agricultural advisory services) are knowledge services which assist smallholder and other value-chain actors to get better access to markets and secure benefits from commercialization.
  Neuchatel Group | 37 pp.
• Mobilizing the potential of rural and agricultural extension | Christoplos, I. | 2010
  This paper presents the case for a relationship between agricultural research and extension which recognizes that farmers and other market actors are making a range of demands on agricultural service providers, most of which are not about technology transfer per se.
  FAO/GFRAS | 58 pp.
• Extension in sub-Saharan Africa: overview and assessment of past and current models and future prospects | Davis, K. | 2008
  This overview of extension experience in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) includes a typology of extension models, evidence of their success or failure, and examples of innovative models in SSA extension today. A framework for analysing extension and prospects for its future of extension are discussed.
  Journal of International Agricultural and Extension Education, 15(3) | p. 15–28. 
• Institutional changes and challenges for agricultural advisory services in Africa | Davis, Kristin, Faure, G., Silim Nahdy, M., & Chipeta, S. | 2009 
  This description of current challenges of different approaches to agricultural advisory services (AAS) concludes with an initiative to build capacity to provide market-oriented AAS in Africa. Key issues include the development of sustainable institutions, governance of AAS, and financing.
  ESEE | Theory and practice of advisory work in a time of turbulences | Perugia, Italy | p. 41-45
• Business services in support of farm enterprise development: a review of relevant experiences | 2007 
  This paper presents findings on approaches to the design and delivery of business (development) services (BDS) to farmers and rural entrepreneurs. It analyses case studies and discusses service performance, impact and sustainability.
  FAO | 59 pp.
• Farm business school: training of tarmers programme South Asia: manual | 2011
  The FAO has developed the concept of the Farm Business School (FBS) to build farmers’ capacity in entrepreneurial and management skills. The Farm Business School enables farmers to learn and improve their knowledge, change their attitudes and enhance their skills toward improved farm commercialisation.
  FAO | pp. 135
• “From idea into action” : the implementation and metamorphosis of the BDS concept | GTZ | 2006
• New: Thematic Note 1: Pluralistic Extension Systems | Heemskerk, W. & Davis, K. | 2011
  Pluralism in advisory services makes it possible to capitalize on the competitive advantages of different actors. The public sector’s primary role is to ensure that this mix of providers of rural business development services achieves jointly developed objectives.
  The World Bank | The World Bank | Agriculture and Rural Development | p. 194-203
• New: Thematic Note 2: Farming as a Business and the Need for Local (Agri-) Business Development Services | Heemskerk, W., & Davis, K. | 2011
  The primary element for success in establishing local business development organizations is to base the intervention on local human and financial resources, which means that practitioners must emphasize linking with product marketing and processing, creatiing links with savings and credit activities, developing cooperatives, and building capacity.
  World Bank | p. 204-212.
• Heemskerk, W., Nederlof, S., & Wennink, B. (2009). Outsourcing agricultural advisory services : enhancing rural innovation in sub-Saharan Africa ( No. 380). KIT Bulletins. Amsterdam: KIT Publishers.  http://www.kit.nl/net/KIT_Publicaties_output/ShowFile2.aspx?e=1433
• Market-oriented advisory services in Asia : a review and lessons learned | Kahan, D. G. | 2011
  An overview of a range of market-oriented advisory services (MOAS) in Asia and their performance is presented. Although it is still early to draw conclusions about what may or may not work, some of the perceived „good practices‟ could already be highlighted. The publication also addresses some discussion points and identifies outstanding issues and recommendations.
  FAO/RAPA | pp. 99
• Proceedings of the consultation workshop on market-oriented agricultural extension | Kahan, D. G., & Singh, K. M. (Eds.) | 2011
  A workshop was held in Bangkok in 2010 to raise awareness of issues facing extension services and identify ways to meet the changing conditions and the challenges that exist. The proceedings include overviews of Asian country experiences with market-oriented agricultural extension (MOAE), project profiles, training material, and websites.
  FAO | pp. 47
• Dealing with small scale producers : linking buyers and producers | Mangnus, E. & de Steenhuijsen Piters, B. | 2010
  Development practitioners and private sector actors struggle with linking farmers' organizations to businesses. There is great diversity in producer organizations. This publication focuses on producer organizations and different arrangements to enhance business relationships.
  KIT | pp. 78
• Sulaiman, R. V., & Hall, A. (2004). Towards extension-plus : opportunities and challenges.  http://www.ncap.res.in/upload_files/policy_brief/pb17.pdf
• Swanson, B. E., & Rajalahti, R. (2010). Strengthening agricultural extension and advisory systems: procedures for assessing, transforming, and evaluating extension systems. World Bank. http://siteresources.worldbank.org/INTARD/Resources/Stren_combined_web.pdf
• UNDP. (2004). Business development services : how-to guide.  http://europeandcis.undp.org/poverty/show/FA14BD48-F203-1EE9-BFE68960B3314C1D
• Van Weperen, W. (2011). Market Oriented Agricultural Advisory Services : Guidelines for setting up MOAAS pilots. http://www.kit.nl/smartsite.shtml?ch=KIT&id=72984
   

Case studies

• Arnoldus, M., Belt, J., Boomsma, M., de Koning, M., Laven, A., Peppelenbos, L., Steenhuijsen Piters, de B., et al. (2011). Facilitating pro-poor business. Why advice goes further when it’s backed by investment (Bulletin No. 394). Amsterdam: KIT Development Policy & Practice.  http://www.kitpublishers.nl/33740/KIT-Publishers/KIT-Publishers- Catalogue?ItemID=3005&title=Facilitating-pro-poor-business
• Blum, M. L., & Mbaye, A. (2009). A participatory process approach for developing a pluralistic, demand led and market oriented advisory system : case study of Niger. Theory and practice of advisory work in a time of turbulences. Perugia, Italy: ESEE.  http://www.agraria.unipg.it/ESEE2009PERUGIA/files/Proceedings.pdf#page=44
• Christoplos, I. (2010). Mobilizing the potential of rural and agricultural extension. FAO/GFRAS.  http://www.fao.org/docrep/012/i1444e/i1444e.pdf
• Davis, K., Faure, G., Silim Nahdy, M., & Chipeta, S. (2009). Institutional changes and challenges for agricultural advisory services in Africa. Theory and practice of advisory work in a time of turbulences. Perugia, Italy: ESEE.  http://www.agraria.unipg.it/ESEE2009PERUGIA/files/Proceedings.pdf#page=54
• FAO. (2011). Market-oriented advisory services in Asia : a review and lessons learned. http://www.fao.org/docrep/014/i2324e/i2324e00.pdf 
• Giné, X. (2005). DrumNet case study.  http://siteresources.worldbank.org/DEC/Resources/DrumnetCaseStudy.pdf
• Horton, D., Akello, B., Aliguma, L., Bernet, T., Devaux, A., Lemaga, B., Magala, D., et al. (2010). Developing capacity for agricultural market chain innovation: Experience with the “PMCA”in Uganda. Journal of International Development, 22(3), 367–389. http://www.scribd.com/doc/37228888/Developing-capacity-for-agricultural-market-chain-innovation-experience-with-the-%E2%80%98pmca%E2%80%99-in-Uganda
• Jenkins, B., Akhalkatsi, A., Roberts, B., & Gardiner, A. (2007). Business Linkages: Lessons, Opportunities and Challenges. IFC.  http://www.ifc.org/ifcext/sustainability.nsf/AttachmentsByTitle/p_BusinessLinkages/$FILE/Business+Linkages.pdf
• Kahan, D. G. (2003). Rural entrepreneurship programmes in Asia: case studies and implications. http://www.fao.org/fileadmin/user_upload/ags/publications/AGSF_WD_13.pdf
• Kubzansky, M., Cooper, A., & Barbary, V. (2011). Promise and Progress : market-based solutions to poverty in Africa.  http://www.mim.monitor.com/downloads/PromiseAndProgress-Full-screen.pdf
• Mundy, P. (Ed.). (2006). Chain empowerment : supporting African farmers to develop markets. Value Chain Series. [Royal tropical institute (KIT) [etc.].  http://www.search4dev.nl/nl/record/343503
• Wennink, B., Nederlof, S., & Heemskerk, W. (2007). Access of the poor to agricultural services : the role of farmers’ organizations in social inclusion ( No. 376). KIT Bulletins. Amsterdam: KIT Publishers.  http://www.kitpublishers.nl/net/KIT_Publicaties_output/ShowFile2.aspx?e=1333
   

Resource guide

• AFAAS. African Forum for Agricultural Advisory Services http://www.afaas-africa.org/
• AFMA. Agricultural and Food Marketing Association for Asia and the Pacific. http://www.afmaasia.org/

• APF. Agri-ProFocus. http://www.agri-profocus.nl/

• BMA. Business Minds Africa. http://businessmindsafrica.org/

• DCED. Promoting private sector development : knowledge portal. http://www.enterprise-development.org/ 
• FAO. Capacity Development Portal. http://www.fao.org/capacitydevelopment/en/
• FAO. Corporate Document Repository. http://www.fao.org/docrep  
• FAO. Rural Infrastructure and Agro-Industries Division. http://www.fao.org/ag/ags/en
• FARA. Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa. http://www.fara-africa.org/
• GFRAS.  Global Forum for Rural Advisory Services. http://www.g-fras.org/en/about-us/about-us
• GRET. Services aux entreprises formation professionnelle. http://www.gret.org/themes/services-aux-entreprises-formation-professionnelle/
• IFAD. Rural Poverty Portal. http://operations.ifad.org/web/guest/home
• IFPRI. Agricultural Extension. http://www.ifpri.org/book-770/ourwork/researcharea/agricultural-extension
• ILO. VCD and BDS Resource Guide. http://www.ilo.org/empent/Links/WCMS_143120/lang--en/index.htm
• KIT. Value chains for development portal. http://portals.kit.nl/-/12505/KIT-Portals/Value-Chains-for-Development
• M4P. M4P Hub : sharing knowledge on making markets work for the poor. http://www.m4phub.org/
• MEAS. Modernizing Extension and Advisory Services. http://www.meas-extension.org/
• Regoverning markets. http://www.regoverningmarkets.org/
• Rural Finance. http://www.ruralfinance.org
• RUFORUM. Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture. http://www.ruforum.org
• SEEP. Small Enterprise Education and Promotion network. http://www.seepnetwork.org/Pages/Default.aspx
   

KIT Library and Portal queries

• Query in the KIT Information Portal on Rural Innovation Systems: “agricultural extension” OR “advisory services”.

• Query in the KIT Information Portal on Value Chains for Development: “agricultural extension” OR “advisory services” .

• Query in KIT Library: “agricultural extension” OR “advisory services” .

   

• Tags:
• rural development |
• rural businesses |
• business development |
• agribusiness |
• agricultural advisory services